Synopsis

National

PM Modi pays tribute to Indira Gandhi on death anniversary

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday paid tribute to former prime minister Indira Gandhi on her 36th death anniversary. The then prime minister was assassinated by her bodyguards here in 1984.

"AP govt's borrowings for first half of 2020-21 fiscal far exceeded revenues"

The Andhra Pradesh government''s borrowings for the first half of the 2020-21 fiscal far exceeded revenues and the revenue deficit touched a staggering Rs 45,472.77 crore, according to the state finance accounts released by the Comptroller and Auditor General.

Rajasthan: Gurjar stir over reservation from November 1

A major Gurjar organisation on Friday said it will begin an agitation over reservation for the community from November 1. Ahead of the agitation, mobile internet services were suspended in Karauli, Bharatpur, Jaipur and Sawai Madhopur. Additional police forces have been put on alert to deal with any law and order situation, a senior police official said.

International

Trump pitches 'back to normal' as Biden warns of tough days

Waterford Township: President Donald Trump dangled a promise to get a weary, fearful nation back to normal as he looked to campaign past the political damage of the devastating pandemic.

Trump and Biden intensify their election campaigns

Washington: US President Donald Trump and his Democratic rival Joe Biden have intensified their poll campaigns for the November 3 presidential elections, both on the ground and in the virtual domain, making a case before Americans as to why they should vote for them.

Australia to spend on vaccines for wider region

Australia has announced it will spend 500 million Australian dollars (USD 351 million) to secure COVID-19 vaccines for the Pacific and Southeast Asia as part of a shared recovery for our region from the pandemic. The government said it would use a range of advance purchase agreements with manufacturers via the global COVAX Facility plan, which aims to ensure virus vaccines are shared with all nations.

Thai king hands out diplomas at protest movement stronghold

Thailand''s king presided over a university graduation ceremony Friday at a stronghold of a protest movement seeking to reduce the monarchy''s powers, after activists issued a call for students to boycott the event.

Armenia, Azerbaijan vow to avoid targeting residential areas

Armenia and Azerbaijan have promised to avoid shelling residential areas amid the fighting over Nagorno-Karabakh, a pledge that follows a day of talks in Geneva even as Azerbaijani troops pushed deeper into the separatist territory.

Mahathir says remarks on French attacks taken out of context

Former Malaysian leader Mahathir Mohamad stood by his widely condemned comments on attacks by Muslim extremists in France, saying Friday that they were taken out of context and criticising Twitter and Facebook for removing his posts.

Business

Nafed floats bids for supply of 15,000 tonnes of imported red onions by Nov 20

New Delhi: Cooperative Nafed invited bids from importers for supply of 15,000 tonnes of red onions by November 20 in order to boost the domestic availability and check price rise.

Ather Energy opens full payment window for two variants in Bengaluru, Chennai

Electric two-wheeler startup Ather Energy opened the full payment window for its 125-cc 450 Plus and 450X e-scooters for the customers in Bengaluru and Chennai from Saturday. Bookings for the rest of the cities will open before Diwali, the company said in a release. The EV maker had recently announced an assured buyback scheme for the two variants of its Ather 450 . Ather Energy has opened the full payment window for 450 Plus and 450X from October 31 and the scooters will be delivered within three weeks of payment, the company said.

Chinese manufacturing expands in October but at slower pace

China''s manufacturing activity expanded in October for the eighth straight month, though at a slightly slower rate than in September, the National Bureau of Statistics said Saturday.

GM hires new chief financial officer from Delta Airlines

General Motors has hired away Delta Airlines'' CFO to fill the automaker''s top financial job.

Disney World to lay off 11,000 amid pandemic

Walt Disney World says it plans to lay off more than 11,000 unionized workers because of the new coronavirus, bringing the total number of pandemic-related job casualties at the Florida resort to almost 18,000 positions.

Entertainment

Ethan Hawke, daughter Maya to star in 'Revolver'

Los Angeles: Hollywood star Ethan Hawke is teaming up with his daughter Maya Hawke for coming-of-age feature "Revolver".

Kajal Aggarwal marries Gautam Kitchlu in intimate ceremony

Actor Kajal Aggarwal tied the knot with entrepreneur Gautam Kitchlu in a pirvate ceremony here. The couple got married on Friday with their immediate families and close friends in attendence. While Aggarwal opted for a scarlet bridal ensemble, styled with a pale pink embellished dupatta, Kitchlu was dressed in a silver sherwani. Hours before her wedding, Aggarwal had shared a black and white picture of her on Instagram.

Scott Derrickson to direct Blumhouse horror film Black Phone'

"Doctor Strange" helmer Soctt Derrickson has come on board to direct Blumhouse Productions and Universal Pictures'' horror movie "Black Phone".

Elisha Cuthbert, Eoin Macken roped in for 'The Cellar'

Actors Elisha Cuthbert and Eoin Macken will play the lead roles in Ireland-set horror feature "The Cellar".

Sigourney Weaver, Elizabeth Banks to topline 'Call Jane'

Hollywood veteran Sigourney Weaver and actor Elizabeth Banks are part of the star-studded cast of upcoming women''s rights drama "Call Jane".

Sports

Sports Minister Rijiju flags off Fit India Walkathon

Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju on Saturday flagged off the 200-km long ''Fit India Walkathon'' here on the occasion of National Unity Day, observed to celebrate the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. The event has been organised by Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and will go on for three days in which over 100 ITBP jawans and personnel of various central armed police forces (CAPFs) are walking for over 200-km.

MI thrash Delhi Capitals by 9 wickets, ensure top-2 finish in league stage

Mumbai Indians ensured a top-two finish in the IPL league table with a clinical nine-wicket decimation of an already battered Delhi Capitals, who wilted under relentless pressure from Trent Boult and Jasprit Bumrah.

There are lot of flaws in our game: Shreyas Iyer

A distraught Delhi Capitals captain Shreyas Iyer admitted that there are too many "flaws" in their gameplan and execution as his side slumped to its fourth straight defeat, here on Saturday.

We still need to do a bit to make the play-offs: Smith

Abu Dhabi: A seven-wicket win over Kings XI Punjab ensured Rajasthan Royals maintained their new-found momentum in the ongoing IPL but skipper Steve Smith acknowledged they still "need to do a bit" for keeping their play-offs prospects alive.

Lahiri battles windy conditions and rises to tied 12, Atwal exits

India''s Anirban Lahiri battled windy conditions and shot one-under 70 to rise to tied 12th position and stay in the race at the Bermuda Championship after his second round.

Amit Panghal, Sanjeet strike gold at French boxing tourney

World silver-medallist Amit Panghal (52kg) and Sanjeet (91kg) struck gold in their first competition after a coronavirus-forced break, claiming the top honours at the Alexis Vastine International Boxing Tournament in Nantes, France.

Wolves share EPL lead after beating Crystal Palace 2-0

Wolverhampton earned a share of the English Premier League lead after beating Crystal Palace 2-0.

Djokovic upset by 42nd-ranked Sonego in Vienna quarters

Novak Djokovic won just three games in a lackluster quarterfinal performance at the Erste Bank Open, losing 6-2 6-1 to 42nd-ranked Lorenzo Sonego.

GK Snapshots on 31 October 2020

1. Harsh Vardhan Launches DST Initiative SERB–POWER for Women Scientists

2. India and Maldives get Three new UNESCO Biosphere Reserves

3. President signs Ordinance to Constitute Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR & Adjoining areas

4. Kabartal Wetland of Bihar Designated as Ramsar Site

5. Cabinet Approvals on October 29, 2020

6. Cabinet approval with Foreign Countries on October 29, 2020

7. PM Modi Inaugurates 4th Edition of 2020 India Energy Forum by CERAWeek

8. Nitin Gadkari: Feni Bridge connecting India & Bangladesh to be completed By December 2020

9. India, Mexico hold 8th Joint Commission Meeting; agree to strengthen ‘Privileged Partnership’

10. IFSCA approves Bullion Exchange Regulations, 2020 & Global In-House Centres Regulations, 2020

11. RBI Revises Norms for Housing Finance Firms: October 2020

12. Remittances to India to Fall by 9% in 2020: World Bank Report

13. Justice Bansi Lal Bhat gets 3rd Extension as Officiating Chairperson of NCLAT till December 31, 2020

14. Indian Navy Warship INS Kora Test-fires Anti-Ship Missile (AShM) in Bay of Bengal

15. Mesut Yilmaz Former PM of Turkey & Veteran Politician Passed Away at 72

16. UP Governor Anandiben Patel Released World’s First Scientoon Book “Bye Bye Corona” on COVID-19

17. Punjab Govt Signed Mou With Game to Support MSMEs

18. Tamil Nadu Governor gives Assent to 7.5% NEET Quota Bill; Government School students to benefit