From India to Russia: A cyclist's dream of meeting Argentina's Lionel Messi

After a shock 3-0 loss to Croatia and only one game left to redeem itself, could Argentina be out of the World Cup? Clifin Francis certainly hopes not.

After all, the 28-year-old mathematics teacher from southern India has cycled more than 2,900 miles to Russia to get his bike signed by Argentinian superstar Lionel Messi.

While Francis initially planned to ride his bike all the way from his home town in Alappuzha, difficulties in getting a Pakistani visa forced him to start his journey in Iran.

Strong cyclone kills at least 12 in southern India

A strong cyclone over the southeast Arabian Sea has triggered heavy rains and strong winds, damaging hundreds of huts, power lines and trees in southern India and killing at least eight people, officials said Saturday.

More than 1,000 people have taken shelter in relief centers in Kanyakumari and Tirunelveli districts in Tamil Nadu state, officials said.

The India Meteorological Department said heavy rains and strong winds lashed Lakshasweep, a group of 36 islands, on Saturday.

Abducted Indian priest rescued in Yemen after 18 months

An Indian Catholic priest who was kidnapped by militants from a home for senior citizens in Yemen has been rescued after 18 months, an Indian official said Tuesday.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said on Twitter that Tom Uzhunnalil had been rescued, saying later Tuesday that he had reached Vatican City. He is expected to meet Pope Francis. Swaraj gave no other details.

Uzhunnalil had worked for more than four years as a chaplain at the home in Aden in southern Yemen established by Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity.

3 detained after Dalit law student raped, murdered in India

Police detained three men for questioning Tuesday in the rape and murder of a law student whose body was found mutilated in southern India, officials said.

The case has drawn comparisons to the deadly 2012 gang rape of a woman on a New Delhi bus that sparked widespread outrage and nationwide protests demanding an end to the widespread sexual assault and abuse of women across India.

Police say 5 connected to India temple surrender after fire

Five people who fled after a weekend fire killed at least 110 people at the southern Indian temple where they are board members have surrendered to police to face prosecution, police said Tuesday.

Police officer Madhusudan said the five were taken into custody late Monday after a two-day hunt by police.

Fireworks accident at temple in India kills more than 100

The Hindu temple in southern India was packed with thousands for a religious festival early Sunday when the fireworks began — an unauthorized pyrotechnic display that went horribly wrong.

Explosions and a massive fire swept rapidly through the Puttingal temple complex about 3 a.m. in the village of Paravoor, killing 102 people and injuring 380 others, officials said.

6 new Catholic saints at a glance

Pope Francis on Sunday canonized six new saints, two Indians and four Italians, all of whom dedicated their lives to helping the poor.

Here is a look at the new saints: 

Pope canonizes 2 Indians, 4 Italians

Pope Francis has canonized six new saints, including a priest and a nun from the Indian state of Kerala, in a packed ceremony in St. Peter's Square.

Vikramadithyan is an upcoming 2014 Malayalam coming-of-age drama film directed and produced by Lal Jose.

Going for the kill: Fat pay packet triggers hangmen's rush in Kerala

Kerala has gone for the kill with a fat pay-packet for the man who does the dirty job – hang the death row convicts. 

Facing an acute shortage of jail hangmen, the jail department submitted a suggestion to hike their fee from Rs. 500 to Rs. 2 lakh.

The move has virtually opened the floodgates.

In the state 16 convicts are facing gallows now and it is the duty of the jail department to keep hangman ready.

"According to 1957 jail manuals a hangman gets Rs. 500 for a single execution. Since it wasn't renewed all these years a suggestion was given to renew it substantially.  It really triggered a massive response," said Kannur central jail superintendent  Ashokan Arippa.

46 Indian nurses stranded in Iraq return home

Dozens of Indian nurses stranded in territory held by Islamic extremists in Iraq returned home to southern India on Saturday aboard a special flight, officials said.