Important Current Affairs 14th June 2016

14th-June: World Blood Donor Day

1. World Blood Donor Day is celebrated by the people all around the world on 14th June.
2. It is celebrated every year on the day of birthday anniversary of Karl Landsteiner on 14th of June in 1868.
3. This event celebration was first started in the year 2004 aiming to raise the public awareness about the importance of blood donation.
4. The theme 2016 ‘Blood connects us all’.

RBI Unveils Scheme to Tackle Bad Loans

1. RBI has came out with a scheme for resolution of bad loans of large projects wherein a portion of the debt will be converted into equity or other instruments.
2. The Scheme for Sustainable Structuring of Stressed Assets (S4A) will cover projects which have started operations & have outstanding loan of over Rs 500 cr.
3. S4A  envisages bifurcation of the outstanding debt into debt & equity instruments.

Microsoft to Buy LinkedIn for $26bn

1. Microsoft has struck a landmark deal to acquire LinkedIn for $26.2bn.
2. The deal will help Microsoft boost sales of its business and email software.
3. LinkedIn is a business-oriented social networking service, founded in Dec 14, 2002.
4. Jeff Weiner will stay on as CEO of LinkedIn and will report to Nadella.
5. As of March 2016, LinkedIn has more than 400 million users & more than 106 million are active.

New Norms to Hire Professionals in Govt.

1. The Centre has notified new rules to allow hiring of private sector professionals in senior positions at the Central Public Sector Enterprises.
2. Candidates from private sector,will be considered as non-internal candidates for a period of five years..
3. The amendment will provide a wider pool of professionals for selection.
4. The Cabinet had on June 1 given ex-post facto approval to the proposal.

India Clinch ODI Series Against Zimbabwe

1. India has clinched the three-match ODI series against Zimbabwe.
2. The visitors defeated Zimbabwe by eight wickets at Harare in second ODI to earn an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series.
3. Indian bowlers bowled out Zimbabwe for a lowly 126 in 34.3 overs,.
4. MS Dhoni’s men chased down a target of 127 in less than 27 overs with eight wickets to spare.

Former England Captain Donald Carr Dies

1. Donald Carr, former England skipper and one of the well-known cricket administrators has passed away.
2. Carr played twice for England, once as captain on the 1951-52 tour of India.
3. He had started his career as left arm spinner in 1945 & scored around 20,000 runs in his career span.
4. From 1974 to 1986, he had also served as the secretary of the Test and County Cricket Board & the Cricket Council.

Prez Refuses Assent to Delhi Govt Bill

1. The President has refused to give assent to the Delhi govt Bill to exclude the post of Parliamentary Secretary from the office of profit.
2. The refusal puts a question mark over the membership of 21 AAP MLAs who have been appointed Parliamentary Secretaries.
3. Petitions have been filed seeking disqualification of the these MLAs.
4. As they occupied office of profit in violation of Constitution

Israel Elected to Chair UN Committee

1. Israel has been elected to chair a UN committee for the first time in the world body’s 71-year history.
2. Israeli Ambassador Danny Danon won the chair of the legal affairs committee of the General Assembly.
3. The Legal Committee or Sixth Committee oversees issues related to international law.
4. The General Assembly has six standing committees that report to it.

India, Ghana Sign Three Agreements

1. Ghana & India have signed three agreements after Bilateral talks between Ghana President John Mahama & his India counterpart Pranab Mukherjee.
2. The first agreement is for exemptions on visa requirements for holders of diplomatic passports.
3. The second & third were on the establishment of a joint commission as well as cooperation between both countries foreign ministries.

Norway Announces Ban on Deforestation

1. Norway has become the first country to stop clear-cutting of trees, a huge step toward curbing global deforestation.
2. The Norwegian Parliament pledged that the government’s public procurement policy will be deforestation-free.
3. Any product that contributes to deforestation will not be used in the Scandinavian country.
4. It is also in the process of restricting the sales of gas-powered cars by 2025.