Fans of Harry Potter are responsible for a recent wave of owl disappearances in India by taking them from the wild and keeping them as pets, says India's environment minister. That, and they're being used in black magic rituals. [AFP]

The headline says it all here, honestly. Here's a video that Science Channel host Danny Forster took with his iPhone (and posted to his Twitter page) this morning of two goats, in Mumbai, tied to—and dancing around!—a box.

[Russell Brand hides bride-to-be Katy Perry in a sweater to hustle her past photographers waiting at the airport in Jaipur, India, where the pair is getting married this weekend. Image via Getty]

Barack Obama will wisely flee the country and its many newly elected Republican officials immediately after election day, for Asia. During the India portion, however, he may not visit a historic Sikh temple because of its head-covering requirement.

Board-track racing was a popular event in the early days of automobiles, but once the cars got too fast and the centrifugal forces too strong, it became an attraction for only the craziest motorcycle daredevils... at least in the US.

Indian tycoon Mukesh Ambani is about to move into his new house, the world's largest: a 27-story skyscraper in Mumbai. It has three helipads, a parking garage and 600 staff members. It's worth £630 million, or about $9 bajillion.

[British synchronized swimmers Olivia Allison and Jenna Randall compete earlier today in the 2010 Commonwealth Games in India. Also today, 15 swimmers reported having a stomach virus, which has been blamed on dirty pool water. Image via Getty]

The Commonwealth Games are approaching! Host nation India has taken heat for having the grossest athletes' housing ever, but that's nothing: The vuvuzela is lurking. At least 10,000 shitty plastic faux-traditional horns have already been sold in New Delhi.

The Gallup World Giving Index ranked the world's countries by how generous they are. The fat, rich, spoiled United States of America came in fifth. Fifth! It's a national shame! So who's first?

[A child dressed as Hindu God Krishna looks on during festivities to mark Janmashtami at a school in Mumbai, India.](Pic AP)

[Newly graduated members of India's paramilitary Central Industrial Security Force mug for the camera today in Hyderabad. The force is tasked with guarding nuclear installations and power plants. Image via AP]

Feel like you don't know enough about disco in India in the 1980s? Try reading this.

A 23-year-old in India is believed to have been killed by an exploding phone after being found "near his farm along with remains of mobile phone and battery." Sounds like he was using... a bomb pilot. [Puts on sunglasses] YEEAAAOWWW!

What do you get when you cross a wooden pole and orange Speedos with moves that would make the 1996 Women's Olympic gymnastic team jealous? Why, the sport of Indian pole gymnastics of course!

[India-hating Time "satirist" Joel Stein might not like this, but Sunday was India's Independence Day! Happy Independence Day, India! These are some schoolchildren performing for the celebration in Bangalore. Pic via AP.]

When a liquor store wouldn't serve a man in Kadapa, India, he auctioned off his daughter to pay his tab. He got $21. When police found out, they (justifiably) beat him. The man who bought the child left her behind.

Hospitals in Britain are on alert after a new drug-resistant "superbug" was found in around 50 patients, many of whom recently had cosmetic surgery in Pakistan and India. Experts warn it coud produce infections that are "almost impossible to treat."

What happened this weekend? Major flooding killed hundreds in Asia and displaced thousands in Europe, while Russia battled back against peat fires blanketing Moscow in smog. Here, check out some of the breathtaking pictures.

Anthony Bourdain takes a trip to Kerala, India where he is greeted with hospitality and some uncommon shellfish found in the murky backwaters of India. Needless to say he was a bit tentative to eat the mussels.

Congratulations to Udaya Kumar Dharmalingam! The graduate student's design for a new Indian rupee symbol, which beat out 3,000 others, was approved by India's cabinet on Thursday. The symbol combines the Roman "R" with the Devanagari "Ra." [Reuters]