1. 14 June: World Blood Donor day
a) World Blood Donor day is observed worldwide on 14th June every year with an intent to raise awareness of the need for safe blood and blood products, and to appreciate blood donors for their voluntary, life-saving gifts of blood.
b) The theme of the 2016 World Blood Donor Day campaign is Blood connects us all. The slogan for 2016 WBDD is Share life, give blood. The slogan focuses on voluntary blood donation systems. It plays an important role in encouraging people to care for one another and promoting community cohesion.
c) World Blood Donor day was first established in the year 2004 to raise awareness for safe transfusion and encouraging blood donations. The date also collides with the birth anniversary of Karl Landsteiner (founder of Blood group system).
2. India, and Ghana sign three pacts
a) India and Ghana signed three bilateral agreements to strengthen co-operation in varied fields.
The agreements were signed during the six-day African tour of President Pranab Mukherjee to Ghana.
b) The three agreements signed with Ghana, after delegation level talks between Mr. Mukherjee and his Ghanaian counterpart John Dramani Mahama, included one for visa waivers for holders of diplomatic and official passports and one for setting up a Joint Commission.
c) The commission will periodically review various aspects of the multidimensional ties between the two countries. A mutually convenient date for its first meeting will be decided later.
d) After hosting the third India Africa Forum Summit (IAFS) in New Delhi in October 2015, India is working on a plan to consolidate and further strengthen its engagement with Africa.
3. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar launched Child Labour Tracking System
a) Bihar CM Nitish Kumar recently inaugurated ‘Child Labour Tracking System (CLTS)’ with an intent to keep a track of rescued child labour for their proper rehabilitation. Also, a financial help of Rs. 25,000 will be given to every rescued child from Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.
b) The money credited in children’s account will instil a sense of confidence and security in the child. Also, the rescued child tracking system would assure if the child is pushed back into the trap again.
c) The prominent demands of rescued children are – more schools with all facilities, residential schools for such children, training facilities in order to get job, a year (from Aug. 15, 2016 to Aug. 14, 2017) be declared and celebrated as child year etc.
4. Indian Railways launches Janani Sewa, optional catering Scheme on pilot basis
a) Railways minister Suresh Prabhu has launched three passenger service initiatives-a Janani Sewa for mothers, optional catering in Rajdhani and Shatabdi trains on a pilot basis and a children’s menu on trains.
b) Janani Sewa includes hot milk, hot water and baby food which will be available at 25 railway stations including New Delhi, Mumbai, Howrah, Chennai, Surat and Lucknow. Originally, the service was meant to have been introduced on trains.
c) The catering charges of Rs.340 for 1 AC and Rs.295 on 2AC/ 3AC would be deducted from the cost of the Rajdhani ticket for passengers opting out from catering services. Similarly for Shatabdi ticket, Rs.260 and Rs.220 for executive and chair car categories would be deducted respectively.
d) The railways have launched items like french fries, noodles, burgers and meal combos through IRCTC to enhance the travelling experience of children. Food items can be ordered by the passengers through the e-catering website of IRCTC, a specified phone number, SMS, mobile app or a four digit all-India toll free number-1323.
5. Microsoft to buy LinkedIn for $26bn
a) Microsoft struck a landmark deal to acquire LinkedIn for $26 bn. This deal is one of the biggest tech deals in history.
b) The deal combines Microsoft, which dominates the global market for computer systems, with LinkedIn, known as the main social network for professionals.
c) Microsoft wants to use LinkedIn as a database of professional information and distribution channel for its software systems. LinkedIn gains additional financing and access to millions of people who could potentially join its network.
d) The purchase of LinkedIn will allow Microsoft to link the professional network with its intelligent digital assistant, Cortana, and its customer relationship management software.
6. Israel for the first time wins UN committee chair
a) Israel won an election to chair the United Nations’ legal committee. It is the first time that it will head one of the world body’s six permanent committees since joining the U.N. in 1949.
b) Also knows as sixth committee, the committee oversees issues related to the international law. The General Assembly has six standing committees that report to it, on: disarmament, economic and financial issues, human rights, decolonization, the U.N. budget, and legal issues.
c) Israel was a candidate for the regional Western European and Others Group (WEOG) and received a comfortable majority of votes – 109 out of 175 valid votes cast in the 193-nation assembly. Sweden was runner-up with 10 votes.
7. Gujarat island Shiyal Bet gets electricity after 70 years of independence
a) Shiyal Bet, an island located off Pipavav port in Amreli district, got electricity for the first time since Independence. Gujarat CM Anandiben Patel inaugurated the Rs 18.35-crore project to supply grid power to the island through marine cables.
b) The 18.5 crore project completed in two years span mainly involved laying of cables in high density polyethylene pipes on the seabed, installation of transformers, transmission and feeder lines and 500-2000 power connections.
c) Located around 1.5 kms away from Pipavav port in Amreli, state-run Paschim Gujarat Vij Company Limited (PGVCL) is supplying power to the island through a 6-km undersea cable through Chanch island in neighbouring Bhavnagar district.
8. Maharashtra reports India’s 1st case of Harlequin Ichthyosis
a) India’s first case of Harlequin Ichthyosis reported in Nagpur at Lata Mangeshkar hospital. The baby girl was born to a farmer family.
b) Harlequin Ichthyosis is a rare genetic disorder in which the child is born without external skin. The baby was covered with hardened cracked skin and her internal organs were visible.
9. Ranu Langthasa – first woman chairperson of NCHAC Assam
a) Ranu Langthasa was unanimously chosen as the chairperson of the NC Hills Autonomous Council in Assam at a special session held in the NCHAC.
b) With this, she will be the first woman chairperson to be appointed to the post since the formation of N C Hills Autonomous Council in 1951.
10. Justice Rakesh Ranjan Prasad takes charge as Chief Justice of Manipur HC
a) Justice Rakesh Ranjan Prasad has been appointed as the Chief Justice of Manipur HC. He is the senior most Judge of Manipur HC.
b) He will succeed Laxmikant Mohapatra, who retired on 9th June, 2016.
11. RBI introduces Scheme for Sustainable Structuring of Stressed Assets
a) With a view to further strengthen the lender’s ability to deal with stressed assets and to put real assets back on track by providing an avenue for reworking the financial structure of entities facing genuine difficulties, the Reserve Bank of India has issued guidelines on a ‘Scheme for Sustainable Structuring of Stressed Assets’.
b) Highlights of the Scheme:
. RBI formulated the Scheme for Sustainable Structuring of Stressed Assets
(S4A) as an optional framework for the resolution of large stressed accounts.
. The S4A envisages determination of the sustainable debt level for a stressed borrower.
. It also envisages bifurcation of the outstanding debt into sustainable debt and equity/quasi-equity instruments which are expected to provide upside to the lenders when the borrower turns around.
. To ensure the transparency of exercise, S4A envisages that the resolution plan will be prepared by credible professional agencies.
. An Overseeing Committee will independently review the processes involved in preparation of the resolution plan for reasonableness and adherence to the provisions of these guidelines. It will be set up by the Indian Banks Association and will comprise of eminent experts.
. The scheme is meant for projects that have started commercial operations having an outstanding loan of over 500 crore rupees.
12. Jal Marg Vikas Project on river Ganga to enable commercial navigation
a) ‘Jal Marg Vikas’ (National Waterway-1) project, which envisages developing a fairway between 1,620km Allahabad and Haldia stretch, has taken off with a $3.5 million funding from the World Bank.
b) The project involves construction of multi modal terminals, jetties, river information system, channel marking, navigational lock, river training and conservancy works. The project is expected to be complete in six years.
c) The fairway with three metres depth is expected to enable commercial navigation of at least 1500 ton vessels on the river.
13. Eminent Hindi writer Mudrarakshasa passes away
a) Famous Hindi novelist and critic Mudrarakshas passed away at the age of 82 following old age related causes.
b) Born on June 21, 1933 in Lucknow, his original name was Subhash Chandra, who wrote novels and other forms of Hindi prose besides producing literature for children with his pen name. He had also edited Hindi journal Anuvarta and was also associated with All India Radio. His write-ups invariably hinged on various vital social causes and issues.
c) His works of theatrical criticism includes Rang Bhumikayen and a book on Nemichandra Jain.
14. Jupiter-like planet, Kepler-1647b, orbiting two stars discovered
a) Scientists, using NASA’s Kepler Space Telescope, have discovered a Jupiter-like planet orbiting a system of two stars, making it the largest such cosmic body ever found.
b) Kepler-1647 is 3,700 light-years away and about 4.4 billion years old and it also has one of the longest orbits ever recorded for a transiting planet, taking 1,107 days to complete its circuit.
c) Kepler-1647b is a gas giant making the planet unlikely to host life. Yet if the planet has large moons, they could potentially be suitable for life.
15. World Elder Abuse Awareness Day observed
a) The World Elder Abuse Awareness day is observed on 15th June every year with an aim to focus global attention on the problem of physical, emotional, and financial abuse of elders.
b) The purpose of the WEAAD is to encourage people to identify the problem of elderly abuse, and for countries to create policies that foster respect for elders and provide them the tools to continue to be productive citizens.
c) It was first observed in 2012, and was marked by meetings and conferences at the UN headquarters in New York. In addition to the WEAAD, the UN also observes an International Day of Older Persons on October 1 every year to recognize the contributions of older persons and to examine issues that affect their lives.
16. Pedro Pablo Kuczynski wins Peru’s Presidential Election
a) Peruvian economist Pedro Pablo Kuczynski has been elected to become Peru’s next President.
b) With 95.5% of votes counted, 77-year-old former World Bank executive Pedro Pablo Kuczynski had a lead of 0.28 percentage points over Keiko Fujimori.
17. Gunit Chadha quits as CEO of Deutsche Bank Asia Pacific Region
a) Gunit Chadha resigned from the post of CEO of Deutsche Bank Asia Pacific Region. His successor will be announced in due course of time.
b) Under his leadership, Deutsche Bank had started its investment banking, retail banking and institutional broking business in India. Prior to Deutsche Bank, he was CEO of IDBI Bank Ltd.
18. Tata Power signed agreement to acquire Welspun Renewables
a) In a bid to expand its clean energy portfolio, Power Producer Tata agreed to acquire renewable energy company Welspun Renewables Energy Pvt. Ltd.
b) It is the largest transaction in renewables space in India to be made at an enterprise value of 9249 crore rupees.
c)The company has about 1,140 mw of renewable power projects which includes about 990 mw solar power projects – largest solar projects in the country and about 150 mw of wind power projects spread across ten states in India.
19. Usain Bolt wins the 100m in 9.88 seconds at Racers Grand Prix 2016
a) Top ace Jamaican athlete Usain Bolt has bagged the men’s 100 metres at the inaugural Jamaica National racers grand prix.
b) He completed the distance in just 9.88 seconds giving his second best timing ever.
c) Nickel Ashmeade (9.94s) & Yohan Blake (9.94s) came at the second and third position respectively.
20. Lewis Hamilton wins 2016 Canadian Grand Prix of Formula 1
a) Veteran F1 racer Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes won the Formula 1 Canada Grand Prix 2016 title. He defeated his competitor Sebastian Vettel of Ferrari in the final race held in Montreal, Canada.
b) This is Hamilton’s fifth win in his career and 2nd win in the row. He has recently won the Monaco Grand Prix this year. Previously, he had secured titles in 2007, 2010, 2012 & 2015.
21. Peter Thomson of Fiji elected as President of 71st session of United Nations General Assembly
a) Permanent representative of Fiji, Peter Thompson is elected as president in it’s upcoming 71th session.
b) He defeated Andreas Mavroyiannis of Cyprus in a rare secret ballot vote. Peter Thompson will replace the current General Assembly President Mogens Lykketoft.
c) Mr. Thompson id the Fiji’s permanent representative to the UN since 2010. Previously, he had also served as President of the Executive Board of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the United Nations Office of Project Services (UNOPS).