INDIA

At Baburao Ladsaheb's "Five Star Acting Dancing Fighting Classes" in Mumbai's Dharavi, pupils learn the steps to famous Bollywood dances

The Bollywood Dream Factory In Mumbai's Slums

In a windowless attic in Dharavi in Mumbai, one of Asia's biggest slums, some are looking to become a Bollywood star -- or at least get a bit part.It is in this studio, accessible via a narrow ladder and rope, that larger-than-life Baburao Ladsaheb offers what a hand-painted sign calls "Five Star Acting Dancing Fighting Classes"."I've been running these classes for 35 years and have trained over 15,000 students," says Ladsaheb, taking a break from classes where he blows a whistle as his pupils learn the steps to famous Bollywood dances.
Siddharth Desai (centre) is grabbed by Puneri Paltan players in a Pro Kabaddi League match at the Thyagaraj Sports Complex in New Delhi

New Cars, Tattoos: The Lifestyles Of India's Kabbadi Millionaires

Siddharth Desai grew up in humble surroundings but now he's living the life of a millionaire sportsman, driving a souped-up jeep and taking selfies with fans -- and it's all thanks to kabaddi.The ancient game has undergone a glitzy makeover through the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL), creating a new group of sports stars in a country traditionally obsessed with cricket.Kabaddi -- which roughly translates to "holding hands" -- is a tag-meets-rugby contact sport widely believed to have originated in the South Asian nation thousands of years ago.
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The country's once-booming auto sector -- seen as an important barometer of overall economic health -- is in the slow lane, with sales slumping for the 10th-straight month in August

Blame Game As Wheels Come Off India's Auto Sector

When India's Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman claimed that a preference by millennials for ride-hailing apps was contributing to a painful slump in car sales, it sparked an online backlash from furious youngsters.They started a campaign using ironic hashtags such as #BoycottMillennials and #SayItLikeNirmalaTai last week to push back against older generations blaming them for today's problems in society.
India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi (L) says he enjoys a "special" relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin

India Challenging China’s Influence In South China Sea With Russia's Backing

India and Russia have agreed to launch a sea route that will extend from Vladivostok, a major port city in Eastern Russia, to Chennai, on the Bay of Bengal in eastern India. The agreement could present a challenge to China as the maritime route will include parts of the South China Sea where China continues to flex its muscle.
Pakistan has denied India's president the right to fly through its airspace in a new escalation of tensions; India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi (R) is pictured welcoming India's President Ram Nath Kovind in New Delhi on August 21, 2019

Pakistan denies use of airspace to Indian president

Pakistan has denied India's president the right to fly through its airspace in a new escalation of tensions; India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi (R) is pictured welcoming India's President Ram Nath Kovind in New Delhi on August 21, 2019

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