• National

Modi, Wickremesinghe held talks in Delhi

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi held talks with his Sri Lankan counterpart Ranil Wickremesinghe on 20 October 2018.
• They discussed a range of issues related to bilateral ties, including the progress of India-assisted development projects in the island nation.
• Wickremesinghe is on a three-day visit to India for boosting ties in a range of areas, including trade, investment and maritime security.

• National

Prez Kovind to inaugurate Peace Conference

• President Ram Nath Kovind will inaugurate a three-day ‘Vishwa Shanti Ahimsa Sammelan’ (peace conference) in Nashik district of Maharashtra on October 22, 2018.
• ‘Vishwa Shanti Ahimsa Sammelan’ is organised by Bhagwan Rishabhdev Murti Nirmaan Samiti.
• President Kovind will also present the first international ‘Bhagwan Rishabhdev Award’ to Teerthanker Mahaveer University.

• International

Druk Nyamrup to form new govt in Bhutan

• The Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa (DNT) will form the new government in Bhutan.
• The party has won 30 seats in 47 member National Assembly.
• DNT President Dr Lotay Tshering won from South Thimphu constituency and he is set to form the new government.
• This is the first time in Bhutan’s decade-old parliamentary democracy that a new party has been chosen to form the government.

• Economy and Business

RBI opposes the idea of PRB

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has opposed a proposal to set up a separate and independent regulator for the payments industry.
• An inter-ministerial committee was set up by the Department of Economic Affairs to finalise amendments to the Payment & Settlement Systems (PSS) Act, 2007.
• The committee has proposed the establishment of an independent Payments Regulatory Board (PRB).

• Economy and Business

IFC launched $1 billion masala bond programme

• International Finance Corporation (IFC) has launched a $1 billion masala bond programme to fund its investment activities in India.
• The first tranche of $100 million under the programme was issued on London Stock Exchange.
• Masala bonds are rupee-denominated borrowings issued overseas.
• IFC is a member of the World Bank Group.

• Awards

Minal Patel awarded at White House

• Minal Patel Davis has been honoured with a Presidential award by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
• She has been awarded for her extraordinary contribution towards combatting human trafficking in Houston.
• She is the Special Advisor on Human Trafficking to Houston Mayor.
• She is a past speaker at the United Nations World Humanitarian Summit.

• Awards

Piyush Goyal received Carnot prize

• Kleinman Center for Energy Policy at the University of Pennsylvania awarded 4th annual Carnot Prize to Union Minister Piyush Goyal.
• Carnot Prize is the Kleinman Center’s annual recognition of distinguished contributions to energy policy through scholarship or practice.
• Carnot Prize is named after French physicist Nicolas Sadi Carnot.

• Appointments

Sajaan Jindal elected as treasurer

• World Steel Association (worldsteel) has elected JSW Steel CMD Sajjan Jindal as its treasurer.
• The association has also appointed Tata Steel MD TV Narendran and ArcelorMittal Chief L N Mittal as its members.
• The new officers are elected for a one-year period.
• World Steel Association is the international trade body for the iron and steel

industry.

• Important Days

World Osteoporosis Day observed on 20 October

• World Osteoporosis Day 2018 is observed on October 20.
• The day is meant to raise awareness about osteoporosis, a condition which causes the bones to become weak and brittle.
• World Osteoporosis Day 2018 calls for global action in order to improve bone health and prevent fractures caused by osteoporosis.
• The day is organized by the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF).

• States

Punjab extends 50% reservation for women

• The Punjab Cabinet decided to extend the enhanced 50% reservation for women in the matter of rotation for the office of the panchayat sarpanch to the office of the chairperson of panchayat samitis and zila parishads.
• The state government had enhanced reservation for women in these bodies from 33% to 50% in 2017.
• The cabinet has now approved amendments to the Punjab Panchayati Raj Act, 1994.

• Miscellaneous

World’s longest bridge to be opened on 24 Oct

• The world’s longest sea bridge ‘Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge’ will be opened on 24 October 2018.
• The 55-kilometre-long bridge is situated in the Lingdingyang waters of the Pearl River Estuary.
• The bridge connects the cities of Hong Kong, Macau and Zhuhai across the South China Sea.
• The construction of the bridge begun in December 2009.