India has reported less than 50,000 new daily cases of Covid-19 for the eighth continuous day, a trend which assumes wider significance as many other countries continue to see a surge in their daily numbers. Meanwhile, religious places across western Maharashtra state reopened for devotees to offer prayers from Monday after several months of closure due to the lockdown imposed in a bid to control the COVID-19 pandemic. The air quality in Indian capital New Delhi continued to remain in the 'very poor' category on Monday despite light spells of rain on Sunday evening. However residents expressed they got a slight relief after the rain as the pollution levels had worsened over the weekend due to bursting of firecrackers during festival of lights, Diwali. India and Afghanistan have slammed Pakistan over allegations that New Delhi was funding terrorists and training them on Afghan soil. India's Foreign Ministry said the claims were "fabricated" and instead blamed Islamabad of sponsoring terrorists who launch attacks in India. Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan's PTI, the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf party on Monday led with at least 9 seats in the hotly-contested election held in the illegally-occupied region of Gilgit Baltistan, according to unofficial results. The two other main contenders - the Pakistan Peoples Party and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz complained about irregularities and alleged rigging in the election held on Sunday. Bangladesh earlier this month opened its first Islamic religious school for transgender students. In the latest effort to give the minority group more rights in the conservative Muslim-majority nation, Bangladesh's law minister has said the transgender people will soon be able to inherit property from their families. A 17-year-old activist Sadat Rahman, from Bangladesh, who created a mobile application to give a voice to young victims of cyberbullying has won the 2020 International Children's Peace Prize this year. According to Rahman, almost half of all teenagers present online in Bangladesh have experienced cyberbullying. Hindus across Nepal and India on Monday celebrated 'Bhai Dooj', which is also called 'Bhai Tika', a sibling festival which marks the significance of the relation between the brothers and sisters. Bhai Dooj also marks the end of celebrations of the Hindu festival of lights 'Diwali'. Kedarnath Temple, one of the holiest Hindu shrines, in India's northern Uttarakhand state on Monday received fresh snowfall causing a significant dip in the temperature levels of the hills. Devotees from across the country who reached there were seen enjoying the snow even as the portals of the temple closed for winters.
Show more
Show less
