India

Elephant carried by flood waters from India to Bangladesh

The four-ton female was separated from its herd in floods in northeast India in late June.

It is thought to have traveled around 620 miles, a journey that included crossing the mighty Brahmaputra River, on its way to northern Bangladesh.

The animal first became separated from the herd in Assam, India. The weak and exhausted beast spent several weeks stranded in a flooded area and nearly drowned in a rescue attempt Thursday.

But Friday -- World Elephant Day -- the pachyderm finally set its feet back on dry land.

'Food crisis' hits 10,000 laid-off Indians in Saudi Arabia

Sushma Swaraj said "large numbers" of Indians had lost their jobs in the kingdom, leaving them with not enough money to buy food.

The Indian community in Jeddah, with the government's help, has distributed food to those in need at the weekend.

Growth has slowed in Saudi Arabia as the country suffers the effect of lower oil prices.

Ms Swaraj appealed on Twitter for the three-million-strong Indian community in the country to "help your fellow brothers and sisters".

Bollywood filmmaker convicted of raping American

A New Delhi trial court found Farooqui, best known as co-director of the 2010 film, "Peepli (Live)," guilty Saturday of raping the 35-year-old woman in the nation's first conviction for an oral sex rape, prosecution lawyer advocate Vrinda Grover told CNN.

India has been taking a closer look at its rape laws after the notorious gang rape and murder of a 23-year old woman on a bus in 2012 as it circled through the streets of New Delhi.

Bollywood fighting 'irrational' censorship in India

But a month ago, the makers of the film worried if it would ever release, due to censorship issues. BBC Asian Network's Haroon Rashid speaks to Bollywood actors and writers about creative freedom and censorship in India.

The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) had asked the Udta Punjab filmmakers to make 94 cuts, including removal of expletives, references to cities in Punjab and any shots of drugs being consumed, ironically in a film about drug abuse.

India rejects Google Street View plan over security concerns

Officials told the BBC there were concerns that the service would compromise the country's security.

Google Street View collects high definition images to give its users 360 degree views of streets, tourist spots, hills and rivers.

Google's data collection has caused concern in numerous countries.

The Press Trust of India agency reported that India's interior ministry had informed Google that its plans to cover India through the service had been rejected.

Woman in India turns up at police station with dismembered genitals of alleged rapist

The 32-year-old woman, who walked into the station with her three children, said it was the only way for him to be stopped, reported the Times of India. 

Police from the Sidhi district of Madhya Pradesh rushed to call for medical aid for the injured man, but he had taken his own life before help arrived.

Bus driver 'killed by a meteorite' in India

But there was nothing V. Kamaraj could do when, as he washed his face at an outdoor water tower during his lunch break, he became the first person in modern recorded history to be struck dead by a meteorite.

Arrest warrant issued for India captain

The case had been brought by a member of the Hindu nationalist movement, who said the publication of the picture in 2013 had hurt religious sentiment.

A drawing appeared on the front of Business Today in April 2013 showing the 34-year-old as a Hindu deity.

Woman injured after football-sized mass of frozen human waste falls from plane

Rajrani Gaud, from the village of Aamkhoh in India's Sagar district, was going about her usual chores when a "monster" chunk of ice smashed through her roof, reported the Times of India. She sustained shoulder injuries. 

Aviation experts believe the giant ice block was a ball of frozen poo and urine that fell from the toilet of a passing commercial plane.

Gang rapist's release sparks protests

Legal challenges failed to prevent the release. The victim's parents were among those detained later at a rally.

The rapist, who cannot be named as he was a minor at the time of the crime, was sentenced to a maximum three years in a reform facility in August 2013.