Topic: West Bengal

Hillary Clinton to drill India on Iranian oil

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is on a three-day visit to India. At the top of the agenda is the country's imports of Iranian oil despite US sanctions.

Prohibition: India's and America's shared lessons in fight against alcohol

This week's death toll of more than 100 in the Indian state of West Bengal point to India's well-intentioned motives but mixed record in restricting the sale of alcohol.

Deadly fire prompts review of India's booming hospitals

New hospitals are popping up around India, but last week's hospital fire that killed more than 90 in Kolkata raise questions about safety regulations and oversight.

What's next for India's Communist Party?

The distrust of the Communist Party, once a powerhouse in parts of India, could signal a major change in Indian politics. Here's what its leaders plan to do to keep their old mission alive.

Arab Spring, Indian Summer?

For sheer drama, the Arab Spring is a hard act to follow. But as an indicator of democracy's long-term prospects in the developing world, the coming Indian Summer will be just as profound.

In India, communists ousted in 2 of 4 state elections

The elections in four Indian states were read as something of a 'midterm' referendum, highlighting mounting concerns over corruption and lagging development.

India train crash: Another Maoist attack?

A train crash Monday killed more than 60 people in West Bengal, India, home of Maoist insurgents known as Naxilites. Authorities say it's too soon to say if it was sabotage.

A passion for learning results in a school for India's poorest children

Babar Ali, just a teenager himself, has started a free school in his parents' backyard for the poorest children in his village in India's West Bengal region.

India's 2010 census considers taboo question: What's your caste?

India abolished caste divisions decades ago, and now uses quotas to help bottom-caste members get jobs and education. Updating caste data in the 2010 census could help refine the quotas, but critics see it as a regressive step.

Third suspected Maoist attack on India train kills 65

Rebel Maoists in eastern India are suspected of causing a passenger train to derail and collide with an oncoming freight train in West Bengal Friday. It would be their third deadly attack in two months, signaling the insurgency's growing momentum.

Some Indian villages prefer to put women in power

India’s parliament erupted at a proposal last month to reserve one-third of seats for women. But village-level quotas putting women in power have won many supporters.

India Maoist rebels kill 73 in major attack

India Maoist rebels, who claim to champion the poor, have been labeled the country's worst internal security threat, with 12,000 fighters and a presence in 22 of 28 states. A Tuesday massacre of 73 police officers is the worst in recent memory.

In India, local tribe battles UK giant Vedanta over bauxite mining

The Dongria Kondh tribe aims to defend its 'sacred' Niaymgiri hills in India from the bauxite mining bid of UK giant Vedanta. The conflict highlights India’s growing dilemma: how to balance badly needed industrial growth with residents’ connection to the land.

Women reservation bill: India sets quota for female lawmakers

The women reservation bill passed Tuesday night in India's upper house of parliament, setting the stage for women to hold one-third of all legislative seats.

In India initiatives fall short of sheltering Delhi's homeless

The Supreme Court of India last month ordered Delhi to provide shelter for all the of the city's estimated 150,000 homeless. So far the city has opened only 37 shelters .

Maoists' hijacking of Indian train reveals new audacity

Some 300 Naxalite rebels hijacked a swanky passenger train Tuesday. The attack ended peacefully, but the urban target shocked India and deepened concern about the rebels' reach.

India's longtime battle with Maoist rebels heats up

The government warned of more attacks Monday after Naxalites called a two-day strike to protest an offensive in Lalgarh, West Bengal.

Are terror groups finding a haven in Bangladesh?

Police have uncovered South Asian terror operatives in the country. Reports allege that Bangladeshi and Pakistani intelligence services are involved.

Why India's ruling party triumphed

Despite economic downturn, voters gave the Congress Party a surprisingly strong mandate.

India's election: Rahul Gandhi brings youth appeal to old dynasty

Fans climbed trees and hopped fences in eastern India Friday to glimpse the political scion, who's campaigning nationwide amid parliamentary elections.

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