News in pictures: Typhoon kills many in Philippines; Gold seized in Kerala; Exam malpractice in India; Russia tightens virus restrictions...

TYPHOON MOLAVE KILLS AT LEAST 9 IN PHILIPPINES: Typhoon Molave killed at least nine people and left 13 others missing in the Philippines, according to disaster-response officials, before heading over to the South China Sea on its way to Vietnam. The storm affected more than 900,000 in the Philippines before exiting. https://gulfnews.com/world/asia/philippines

INDIA DAILY COVID-19 CASES SLOW: India's daily infections fell below 40,000 for the first time in more than three months. https://gulfnews.com/world/asia/india

CZECHS IMPOSE CURFEW: The Czech Republic imposed a nationwide curfew starting at 9 pm as of Wednesday to stem the record spread of the coronavirus. Retailers, with the exemption of pharmacies and petrol stations, must be closed on Sundays and after 8 pm on other days. The government also said that all employees in public and private sectors should work from home when possible. https://gulfnews.com/world/europe

EU MOVES TO EASE ONE SHARE-TRADING HEADACHE AFTER BREXIT: European Union regulators took a step to minimize disruptions in equity markets after the end of the Brexit transition period. Even if no alternative arrangements are put in place, investors in the bloc will be allowed to buy and sell European shares on UK exchanges if the trading occurs in British pounds, the Paris-based European Securities and Markets Authority said. It's a specific case that concerns less than 50 issuers and amounts to less than 1% of EU trading activity, it said. https://gulfnews.com/business

GOLD SEIZED AT KERALA AIRPORT: Officials at the south Indian state of Kerala's Kozhikode International Airport have seized 435.5 grams of gold from a passenger who arrived from a gulf country, said the Commissionerate of Customs (Preventive) said on Tuesday. According to officials, the gold was concealed in two capsule-shaped packets in the rectum of the passenger. https://gulfnews.com/world/asia/india

MASS COPYING USING WHATSAPP GROUPS IN KERALA: Twenty-eight mobile phones have been seized in connection with exam malpractice reported in four engineering colleges during supplementary examinations held on October 23. Of these, 16 were confiscated from one college, 10 from another college and one each from the other two colleges. This information emerged during an online hearing conducted by the Kerala Technological University (KTU) Syndicate examination sub-committee with the principals and examination department teachers of these colleges today. https://gulfnews.com/world/asia/india

BOLLYWOOD STAR KAREENA KAPOOR FLAUNTS BABY BUMP: Actor Kareena Kapoor Khan, who is expecting her second child, was on Tuesday seen flaunting her baby bump while working on an upcoming project with her celebrity sister Karisma Kapoor. Karisma took to Instagram to post a short boomerang video featuring herself along with the 'Mom-to-be' getting ready for the shoot. https://gulfnews.com/entertainment/bollywood

'KERALA GOLD SMUGGLING CASE REVELATIONS ONLY TIP OF THE ICEBERG': The Congress party on Tuesday said that the numerous revelations coming out in the gold smuggling case in the south Indian state of Kerala are only the tip of the iceberg as the role of the office of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is being highlighted in scams and allegations. Speaking to the media here Leader of Opposition Ramesh Chennithala said ever since the gold smuggling case surfaced, Vijayan has been saying that his office has no role in it at all. https://gulfnews.com/world/asia/india

ZETA MAKES LANDFALL IN MEXICO: Zeta made landfall along the northeast coast of the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico, where it slowed but is forecast to pick up strength again as it heads to the US Gulf. https://gulfnews.com/world/americas

FIGHTING COCK KILLS POLICE CHIEF IN PHILIPPINE RAID: A Philippine police officer was killed during a raid on an illegal cockfight after a rooster's blade sliced his femoral artery, an official said Tuesday. Cockfighting is a popular blood sport in the archipelago where money is bet on the outcome of a fight - often to the death - between two colourful birds armed with bladed spurs. It has been banned along with other sporting and cultural events during the coronavirus pandemic to prevent large crowds from gathering and spreading the contagion. Monday's freak accident in the central province of Northern Samar happened when Lieutenant Christian Bolok picked up a fighting cock as he gathered evidence of the unlawful event. https://gulfnews.com/world/asia/philippines

AMOUNT OF PLASTIC DUMPED IN MEDITERRANEAN SEA TO DOUBLE IN 20 YEARS: Nearly 230,000 tonnes of plastic is dumped into the Mediterranean Sea every year, a figure which could more than double by 2040 unless "ambitious" steps are taken, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature said Tuesday. https://gulfnews.com/world/

RUSSIA TIGHTENS VIRUS RESTRICTIONS AS CASES SPIKE: Russia on Tuesday tightened anti-coronavirus restrictions including mask-wearing in public spaces after registering a record daily spike in virus deaths. According to the country's consumer safety regulator, face masks are to be worn in crowded areas, on public transport, in taxis and lifts from Wednesday. https://gulfnews.com/world/europe