Title Daily Current Affairs Capsule 18th October 2020

Title
Daily Current Affairs Capsule
            Title 2020
      18th October

New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern secures second term with historic victory

New Zealand voted to award Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern a second term in office.

      Prime Minister Ardern's liberal Labour Party won a historic mandate by securing 49 per cent of the vote
       in comparison to the 27 per cent bagged by its primary challenger.
      This is the first time since New Zealand implemented a proportional voting system 24 years ago that a
       single party (Labour) won an outright majority of seats in Parliament.
      During the 2020 elections, New Zealanders also voted on two key issues- whether to legalise marijuana
       and euthanasia.

J&K LG announces ‘My Town My Pride’ programme

Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha has announced that the government is coming up with a
movement called ”My Town My Pride”.

      It aims to provide governance at the doorstep in urban areas on the pattern of the ‘Back2Village (B2V)’
       programme.
      The program has three main objectives — public outreach in towns, strengthening grassroots democracy
       and service delivery at doorsteps.
      The programme will also ensure on-the-spot grievance redressal, instant delivery of services to the masses,
       and on the ground speedy execution of people-centric projects.

RBI to conduct first OMO for state bonds worth Rs 10,000 cr on Oct 22

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will conduct first Open Market Operations (OMOs) to buy State Developments
Loans (SDLs) aggregating Rs 10,000 crore through auction on October 22, 2020 to improve liquidity and pricing
for these bonds.

      The size may be enhanced in the subsequent auctions, depending on market response
      On October 9, RBI had announced intent in the Statement on Developmental and Regulatory Policies
       OMOs to purchase state government bonds.
      The central bank said it will buy bonds maturing between January 2029 and March 2031.
      It is offering to purchase bonds issued by 15 states including Assam, Bihar, Gujarat, Jammu & Kashmir,
       Kerala, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.

UP Government launches Mission Shakti for security of women in the state

The Uttar Pradesh government launched ‘Mission Shakti’ programme for the security of women in the state.

      Mission Shakti has been started with the hopes of guaranteeing respect and safety to every woman of UP.
      The chief minister also stated that over 1,500 police stations all over the state would now have a separate
       room for women’s complaints.
      In these dedicated rooms, the complainants would be attended by a female constable and the complaints
       would be acted upon with urgency.

Supreme Court appoints Former Justice M B Lokur as one-man panel to prevent stubble burning

The Supreme Court has appointed Justice (retd) Madan B Lokur, a former judge of the apex court, as a one-man
monitoring committee to prevent stubble burning in the states of Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.

      These states are known as the main source of pollution in Delhi-national capital region (NCR).
      The new committee will monitor the stubble burning and take preventive steps.
      The panel shall submit its report on stubble burning within 15 days to the apex court.

Union Bank of India CEO Rajkiran Rai is new chairman of IBA

Indian Banks' Association (IBA) said Union Bank of India's MD and CEO Rajkiran Rai G has been elected as the
association's chairman for the term 2020-21.

      State Bank of India's Chairman Dinesh Kumar Khara has been elected as the deputy chairman of the
       association.
      IBA is an association of banks and other entities in the banking ecosystem in India catering to its members.

Vishal V Sharma appointed India’s next permanent representative to UNESCO

Vishal V Sharma has been appointed as the next permanent representative of India to the United Nations
Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

      Sharma has succeeded Jawed Ashraf.
      Sharma is expected to take up the assignment shortly.
      UNESCO headquarters: Paris, France.
      Founded: 16 November 1945
      Head: Audrey Azoulay

IWF appoint Michael Irani as interim president

The International Weightlifting Federation announced the appointment of Michael Irani as its interim president.

      Irani is chair of the IWF Medical Committee and a former chair of the IWF Anti-Doping Commission.
      He has extensive experience of the fight against doping and in safeguarding athlete welfare.
      Prior to this, Michael Irani was serving as the chairman of the IWF Medical Committee.

Rohan Jaitley elected unopposed president of Delhi and District Cricket Association

Rohan Jaitley, the 31-year-old son of former finance minister late Arun Jaitley, has been elected unopposed as
the new president of Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA).

      Rohan is slated to remain in the post till June 30, 2021.
      Rohan, a lawyer by profession, had filed his papers on the last day of nominations.
      Notably, late Arun Jaitley had also served as the president of DDCA between 1999 and 2013.
      The DDCA was a headless body for nearly a year after Rajat Sharma resigned from the post citing
       corruption and unprofessionalism in the association.

Shashi Tharoor announces book titled ‘The Battle of Belonging’

Renowned Author and Politician, Shashi Tharoor is set to release his new book titled “The Battle of Belonging”
is set to be released in November 2020.

      The book is published by Aleph Book Company.
      Shashi Tharoor described this book as his “magnum opus” on the Theory, evolution and practice of
       Nationalism across the globe and especially in India.
      The book appears to be an extension of his book “Why I Am a Hindu”.