India

NEW DELHI (AP) — India has reported 41,100 new cases of the coronavirus, raising the country’s overall tally since the pandemic began to 8.79 million a day after it celebrated Diwali, a major Hindu festival.

The Health Ministry on Sunday also reported 447 deaths in the same period, driving total fatalities to 129,635.

New Delhi, Nov 14 (PTI) Delhi's air quality turned "severe" on Diwali with stubble burning accounting for 32 per cent of the city's PM2.5 pollution and calm winds worsening the situation as they allowed accumulation of pollutants, weather officials said.

The Ministry of Earth Sciences' air quality monitor, SAFAR, said, "Even a small increase in local additional emissions is likely to have significant deterioration impact on Sunday and Monday."

It said peak levels of PM10 and PM2.5 are expected between 1 am and 6 am in case of additional internal emissions.

Srinagar, Nov 14 (PTI) The moderate Hurriyat Conference on Saturday said India and Pakistan should hold talks to resolve the Kashmir issue and to stop the "senseless bloodshed" of people along the Line of Control (LoC).

In a statement, the Mirwaiz Umar Farooq-led amalgam expressed grief and dismay at the escalation along the LoC in which several lives were lost on Friday.

Jammu, Nov 14 (PTI) The Army on Saturday started a pre-recruitment training camp in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district with an aim to provide employment opportunities and prepare the local youth to join the armed forces, a defence spokesperson said.

The camp was conducted at Salotri area of Poonch district and was heavily subscribed by youth seeking to join the Army, the spokesperson said.

Mumbai, Nov 14 (PTI) Market benchmark BSE Sensex rallied 381 points to a fresh lifetime high in the opening trade of the special Muhurat session on Saturday to mark the beginning of Hindu Samvat year 2077.

The 30-share index was trading higher by 380.76 points, or 0.88 per cent, at 43,823.76 in the first few minutes of trade.

Similarly, the broader NSE Nifty surged 117.85 points or 0.93 per cent to its new record of 12,808.65.

All BSE sectoral indices were in the green, led by telecom, capital goods, industrials and finance.

Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 15 (PTI) 'Jail-made' hawai chappal will soon be available in your next-door shop or marketin Kerala as a central prison here has started manufacturingthe rubber slippers now.

After dishing out a variety of products, including delicious but cost-effective food items, and successfully venturing into organic farming and beauty parlour business to running a petrol pump, the inmates of the Poojappura Central Prison here are now making footwear.

Imphal, Nov 15 (PTI) Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Sunday said that he has tested positive for COVID-19.

The chief minister requested all who came in close contact with him in the last few days to get themselves tested.

Taking to Facebook, the chief minister said, "Friends, I have tested COVID positive today after having some symptoms... I am fine at the moment."

The chief minister is undergoing home isolation, a health department official said.

Muzaffarnagar (UP), Nov 14 (PTI) A 19-year-old woman was allegedly raped by a youth in Uttar Pradesh's Shamli district, police said on Saturday.

The teenager was alone in the house in Kairana when Rizwan came on Saturday and took her to his friend's house on the pretext of some work, according to a complaint.

The woman was raped by the friend, Aftab, and she was threatened with dire consequences if she tell anyone. A case was registered against the two suspects, who are absconding, police said,

Srinagar, Nov 13 (PTI) The Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) on Friday joined the People's Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD), an amalgam of several parties in the union territory seeking restoration of the erstwhile state's special status.

Two Congress leaders participated in a meeting of the alliance at PDP president Mehbooba Mufti's 'Fairview' residence at Gupkar here.

Mufti is also the vice chairman of the alliance, led by National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah.

New Delhi, Nov 13 (PTI) India's exports fell 5.12 per cent to USD 24.89 billion in October after recording positive growth in September, on account of drop in shipments of petroleum products, gems and jewellery, leather and engineering goods, according to government data released on Friday.

Trade deficit in October narrowed to USD 8.71 billion as against USD 11.75 billion, as imports also fell 11.53 per cent to USD 33.6 billion during the month under review.