30 August 2016

United States, India agree to boost anti-terror cooperation

Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj, right, shakes hand with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry in New Delhi, India, Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2016. Kerry is on a three-day visit to India.
The United States and India agreed Tuesday to boost counterterrorism cooperation by expanding intelligence sharing about known or suspected extremists and terrorist threats.
Speaking after conclusion of the second U.S.-India strategic dialogue in New Delhi, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj said the two countries also renewed their commitment to track down and prosecute perpetrators of several terrorist attacks on Indian soil, including the 2008 strike in Mumbai that killed 172 people and a January 2016 attack on the Pathankot Air Force base. India has blamed Pakistan-linked groups for the attacks.

24 August 2016

India plans surrogacy ban for foreigners, unmarried couples

In this Nov. 5, 2015 file photo, a couple from Britain hold their baby, born on Oct. 17 by a surrogate, in Anand, India.The Indian government hopes to ban foreigners, single parents and gay couples from using India's surrogacy services in order to protect poor women from exploitation. A new legislation will soon be introduced in Parliament, where the governing Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party commands a majority in the lower house.
The Indian government plans to ban foreigners, single parents and gay couples from using India's surrogacy services under a proposed law intended to protect poor women from exploitation.
Only infertile couples who have been married for at least five years could seek a surrogate, who must be a close relative, Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj said Wednesday.