1. States asked to work in tandem with Centre for Covid vaccine distribution: The health ministry on Tuesday said it has asked the state governments to refrain from making isolated plans for vaccine distribution. He said they have been advised to create a database according to the blueprint issued by the central government and also take stock of the storage and transport facility for the distribution.
2. US election 2020: Race for White House heats up: After a never-seen-before campaign amid a resurgent pandemic, polls have finally started to close in the United States – starting with the East Coast. Donald Trump and Democratic hopeful Joe Biden are splitting traditional strongholds in early results. Battleground states, which may hold the key to the White House, are still too close to call.
3. Punjab CM to lead protest at Rajghat after President declines to meet him: Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh announced a relay protest of Congress lawmakers at Rajghat on Wednesday after President Ram Nath Kovind refused to meet a delegation led by him over the Centre’s controversial new farm laws and the northern state’s rapidly worsening power crisis.
4. Naravane begins 3-day visit to Nepal: Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane will kick-start his three-day visit to Nepal on Wednesday. The visit assumes great significance as it is an attempt to restore Indo-Nepal ties which suffered a setback due to a recent bitter border row.
5. Three new Rafale jets to arrive today: The second batch of the Indian Air Force’s three Rafale fighter jets will arrive at the Jamnagar airbase in Gujarat directly from France on Wednesday as the air force prepares to form its first Rafale squadron at Ambala, officials familiar with the developments said.
6. Facilitate return of Indian workers: Jaishankar tells Gulf states: India has asked the members of the Gulf Cooperation Council to facilitate the return of a large number of Indian workers and professionals who want to resume work amid the easing of Covid-19-related restrictions. External affairs minister S Jaishankar raised the issue during India’s annual political dialogue with the GCC troika.
7. UK increases terrorism threat level to ‘severe’: Britain on Tuesday upgraded the country’s terrorism threat level from “substantial” to “severe”, after a deadly shooting rampage in Vienna and several attacks across France.
8. Kerala Congress chief booked for remarks on rape victims: Kerala Congress chief Mullappally Ramachandran was on Tuesday booked by police for his controversial remarks on rape victims, comments that had sparked strong reactions from woman leaders, including from his own party, prompting him to tender an apology.
9. Karnataka may ban crackers; BSY will take final call: The Karnataka government is mulling a ban on firecrackers this Deepavali, worried over the deleterious impact it may have on Covid-19 patients. Disclosing that the ban is under consideration, state health minister K Sudhakar said “the final decision will be taken after discussions with the chief minister”.
10. K’taka bypolls: Varying voter turnout keep parties guessing: The contrasting voter turnouts in Sira (over 84 per cent) and RR Nagar (about 45 per cent) on Tuesday left parties and candidates guessing about the possible outcomes. While the bypoll results won’t change party positions in the Assembly, the BJP, Congress and the JD(S) are all hoping to tick off a win to signal continued or new momentum for their camps.
