Daily Current Affairs, 15th June 2018

1) World Blood Donors Day: 14 June

•Every year, on 14 June, countries around the world celebrate World Blood Donor Day. The theme of the World Blood Donors Day 2018 is ‘Be there for someone else. Give blood. Share life’.

•The event serves to thank voluntary, unpaid blood donors for their life-saving gifts of blood and to raise awareness of the need for regular blood donations.

2) PM Modi Inaugurates Developmental Projects In Chhattisgarh

•Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on a one-day visit to Chhattisgarh where he dedicated the modernised and expanded Bhilai steel plant to the nation. He also took part in programmes in Naya Raipur - the upcoming capital city of the state.

•The PM inaugurated Integrated Command and Control Centre at Naya Raipur. Thereafter, in Bhilai, he inaugurated Raipur-Jagdalpur air service, laid the foundation stone for the new building of Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Bhilai. He also inaugurate air connectivity between Raipur and Jagdalpur under the Centre's 'Udaan' scheme.

3) Niti Aayog’s Composite Water Management Index: Gujarat Tops, Jharkhand Lowest

•Minister for Water Resources Nitin Gadkari released Niti Aayog’s composite water management index report in New Delhi. Gujarat topped the list while Jharkhand was adjudged as the worst performer. Gujarat is followed by Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra. 

•In the northeastern and Himalayan states, Tripura has been adjudged as the top state in 2016-17 followed by Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim and Assam. Niti Aayog has ranked the states through first of its kind index on the composite water management, comprising 9 broad sectors with 28 different indicators covering various aspects. 

4) Conference On Implementation Of NPS By The CABs Held In Delhi

•A Conference on Implementation of National Pension System (NPS) by the Central Autonomous Bodies (CABs) was organized by Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) in Delhi.

•The prime objective was to provide a forum to all the CABs, where the progress in the implementation of NPS with respect to compliance of timelines in various NPS related activities could be brought to the fore and a way forward could be provided.

5) Former World Bank Economist Omar Al-Razzaz Sworn In As Jordan PM

•Former World Bank Economist Omar al-Razzaz was sworn in as Jordan's Prime Minister after King Abdullah issued a decree approving the new government.

•The 58-year-old, who studied at Harvard University, was tasked with reviewing the country's disputed tax system. Omar succeeded Hani al-Mulki who resigned following mass protests over price hikes and other government economic policies.

6) Georgia's PM Giorgi Kvirikashvili Resigns

•Giorgi Kvirikashvili, prime minister of Georgia, has announced his resignation amid a disagreement with Bidzina Ivanishvili, the leader of the ruling party.

•Kvirikashvili, 50, has been the country's prime minister since 2015. The prime minister's resignation comes amid growing popular discontent over his government's handling of the economy and after mass protests in recent months.

7) Fitch Ups India Growth Forecast To 7.4% For FY'19

•Fitch Ratings raised India growth forecast for 2018-19 to 7.4% from 7.3% but cited higher financing costs and rising oil prices as risks to growth.

•For 2019-20, it estimated the country to grow at 7.5%. The economy grew at 6.7% in 2017-18 and 7.7% in January-March quarter.

8) Smriti Mandhana To Become 1st Indian To Play In England's Kia Super League

•India Women's Cricket team opener Smriti Mandhana will become the first Indian player to appear in Kia Super League - the women's cricket super league in England.

•Smriti was signed by Western Storm and will represent them in the upcoming edition of the tournament that features six teams. The 21-year-old India opener has scored over 826 runs with the highest score of 76 in the 40 T20Is that she has played so far.