India bans WhatsApp from sharing user data with Meta platforms

SEOUL, November 20 (AJP) - The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has prohibited WhatsApp, operated by Meta, from sharing user data with other Meta-owned platforms for the next five years. The regulator also imposed a $25.4 million fine for violating antitrust laws. According to reports on Tuesday, the state-run CCI found WhatsApp's privacy policy, which permitted the sharing of user data with Meta platforms such as Facebook and Instagram, to be inappropriate. The commis

November 20, 2024

Schedule for Putin's visit to India will be revealed soon: Kremlin

SEOUL, November 20 (AJP) - Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to visit India within the next few months. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Tuesday that preparations are underway for Putin’s visit, mentioning that the schedule will be revealed soon. If the visit takes place, it will mark Putin's first trip to India since December 2021, two months before the Russia-Ukraine war began. During that trip, Putin held an annual summit with Indian Prime Ministe

November 20, 2024

India overtakes China as top source of international students in US

SEOUL, November 19 (AJP) - India has surpassed China as the top source country for international students studying at U.S. universities. According to a report published by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and the nonprofit Institute of International Education on Monday, the number of Indian students studying at U.S. universities during the 2023–2024 academic year increased by around 23 percent from the previous year to 331,602. Th

November 19, 2024

Fire at Indian hospital claims lives of 10 newborns

SEOUL, November 18 (AJP) - A fire broke out in a neonatal intensive care unit at a hospital in India, resulting in the deaths of 10 newborns and leaving 16 others critically injured. According to news reports on Saturday, the fire occurred at 10:45 p.m. the previous day at Maharani Laxmibai Medical College in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, about 450 kilometers south of New Delhi. Local fire authorities reported that 49 newborns were in the hospital at the time of the incident. The fire

November 18, 2024

India successfully test-fires hypersonic missile

SEOUL, November 18 (AJP) - India has announced that it successfully test-fired an indigenously developed hypersonic missile. Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh said on Sunday via X (formerly Twitter) that the test launch had been successfully conducted the previous day from Abdul Kalam Island in Odisha, eastern India. Singh said, "This is a historic moment and this significant achievement has put our country in the group of select nations having capabilities of such cri

November 18, 2024

Indian comedy drama film 'Lost Ladies' to be screened in Seoul

SEOUL, November 15 (AJP) - Lost Ladies (formerly known as Laapataa Ladies), directed by Kiran Rao, will be screened at a film festival on Nov. 26. in Seoul. The 2023 Hindi-language film offers a lighthearted exploration of identity and patriarchy, following the accidental swap of two brides during a train journey. It will be showcased at the Indian Film Festival at the Cinematheque KOFA in Mapo-gu, Seoul. The five-day event, which kicks off on Nov. 26, is organized by the Korean

November 15, 2024

Severe air pollution worsens in Delhi

SEOUL, November 15 (AJP) - Delhi's air pollution has worsened to a "severe" level. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) said that Delhi's average Air Quality Index (AQI) soared to 432 on Wednesday, reaching the "severe" level. India's Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) classifies AQI as follows -- 0–50 "Good," 51–100 "Satisfactory," 101–200 "Moderate," 201–300 "Poor," 3

November 15, 2024

India's industrial production rises 3.1% year-on-year in September

SEOUL, November 14 (AJP) - India's industrial output grew 3.1 percent in September from a year earlier, exceeding market expectations amid rebounds in manufacturing and mining sectors, government data showed Wednesday. The Industrial Production Index (IIP) rose to 146.7 from 142.3 in September 2023, according to the Ministry of Statistics. The growth surpassed analysts' forecast of 2.5 percent. The September increase marks a recovery from August's 0.1 percent decline,

November 14, 2024

Adani Group to invest $10 billion in US energy, infrastructure projects

SEOUL, November 14 (AJP) - India's conglomerate Adani Group plans to invest $10 billion in energy and infrastructure projects in the United States to strengthen the strategic business relationship between the two countries. Adani Group's Chairman Gautam Adani posted on X (formerly Twitter) that the group is "committed to leveraging its global expertise" and will invest in projects in the U.S. that are expected to create 15,000 jobs. This U.S. investment comes af

November 14, 2024

India reaffirms commitment to strengthening economic ties with Russia

SEOUL, November 13 (AJP) - India has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening economic cooperation with Russia. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi discussed ways to enhance economic cooperation with Russia's First Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Denis Manturov, who was visiting India on Monday. The areas of cooperation to be strengthened include trade, economic ties, and energy sectors. During the meeting, Modi expressed his anticipation of an opportunity to communicate

November 13, 2024