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Consumer
complaint mobile app launched by Ad Council
India>
Advertising
The
Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI), the self-regulatory
body for content in Indian advertising, has launched the country’s
first consumer complaint mobile app — ASCIonline, where all
grievances related to misleading advertisements can be conveniently
lodged online. The app will also help track the status of the
complaints which the customers register on the portal. The app is
easy to use and a consumer can lodge a complaint by providing
advertisement details and the objection. Users can also attach files
like image or video or YouTube link of the advertisement.
First
International Day of Yoga sets world records
Days
> International
Day of Yoga
On
21 June 2015 the world celebrated the first International Day of Yoga
to spread awareness about yoga globally and saw participation from
192 countries. The celebrations of first International Yoga Day at
Rajpath in New Delh ailso led to setting of new world records that
include participation of most individuals and individuals from the
largest number of nationalities performing asanas at a single venue.
China
blocked India's move at UN for action against Pakistan over Lakhvi's
release
India
> Zakiur
Rehman Lakhvi release
At
the UN Sanctions Committee meeting convened at India's request,
Chinese representatives blocked India's proposal for action by the UN
against Pakistan over the release of jailed LeT commander Zakiur
Rehman Lakhvi, the mastermind of the Mumbai attacks. China, known to
block India’s moves in the UN Security Council against terrorist
groups based in Pakistani territory in the past said India didn't
provide “sufficient information” regarding the matter. The
incident is likely to affect India-China relations in future.
Karnataka
government appeals in SC against the acquittal of Jayalalithaa in
disproportionate assets case
India
> Others
The
Karnataka government has challenged the Tamil Nadu high court's
decision of giving a clean chit to AIADMK chief J Jayalalithaa in a
case of disproportionate assets, which saw her return as the chief
minister of the state. If stay order is levied on the TN high court's
verdict, Jayalalithaa will be ineligible to contest assembly
by-polls, which are due this month, thereby threatening her post as
the CM. Jayalalithaa was convicted for amassing illegal wealth as a
Bengaluru trial court sentenced her to four years in jail and slapped
a fine of Rs. 100 crore in September 2014. She and four others
accused in the case were acquitted on May 11 by the High Court.
Others
Pope
Francis appeals to people to save the planet
World
> Pope
Francis
In
the wake of “unprecedented destruction” that could soon be
wreaked by climate change in a worldwide decree, Pope Francis has
sent his encyclical to 5,000 bishops around the world regarding the
same. He said that reliance on fossil fuels was aggravating the
problem, alongside deforestation, and called for stringent policies
to restrict greenhouse gas emissions and increase use of renewable
energy. However, the energy lobby was quick to criticize the
encyclical and its anti-fossil fuel message.
Global
Peace Index for 2015 released by IEP
World>
Global Peace
Index
Institute
for Economics and Peace (IEP) on 16 June 2015 released the Global
Peace Index (GPI) 2015 which measured peace, its causes and its
economic value during 2014. The index ranked 162 nations according to
their level of peacefulness and India stood at 143rd position.
Iceland led the list for being the most
peaceful country, followed by Denmark
and Austria at second and third positions, respectively. The Index is
composed of 23 indicators, ranging from a nation’s level of
military expenditure to its relations with neighbouring countries and
the percentage of prison population in 162 countries.
Police
find Jitender Singh Tomar's migration certificate to be fake
Politics
and Government > Jitender
Singh Tomar
Former
Delhi Law Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Jitender Singh
Tomar, who was arrested in a fake degree case, was taken to the
Bundelkhand University to verify his migration certificate, which the
police claim is fake. The certificate was used by Tomar to obtain his
law degree from Tilka Manjhi Bhagalpur University in Bihar.
Salt,
sugar and fat to come under the regulation of FSSAI
India
> FSSAI
The
central food safety regulator, Food Safety Standards Authority of
India (FSSAI) will issue guidelines to issue salt, sugar and fats.
The decision was taken as junk food, which is high in all three
ingredients – salt, sugar and fats are a serious health concern.
The Delhi high Court has asked the FSSAI to form a panel in order to
thoroughly examine salt, sugar and fat products in India.
Opposition
reads between the lines of LK Advani's emergency statement
Politics
and Government >
Others
BJP
leader LK Advani's interview with a leading English daily, where he
revealed his apprehensions about another emergency has been cashed on
by opposition parties. Advani also said that the BJP had moved apart
from the ideals set by party veterans like, Shyam Prasad Mookerjee,
Atal Bihari Vajpayee and etc. and is pursuing one man's interest,
thereby taking a jibe at the current PM. The BJP stalwart's statement
was echoed by parties like RJD, JD(U), AAP and the Congress to some
extent.
IT
department plans to take strict action against frequent tax evaders
Economy
> Tax
The
Income Tax department has decided to take stringent action against
habitual tax evaders, after a meeting of top IT officials in New
Delhi, which was held recently. The decision comes on the back of
frequent cases of tax evasion engaged in by many defaulters and the
willingness to curb black money circulation. There are many high net
worth individuals who engage in fraudulent activities like under
reporting their incomes, changing of addresses etc. to avoid huge tax
payments, and the IT department plans to go hard against such people.
Afghanistan
Parliament attacked
World
>
Terrorism
During
a meeting of Afghan politicians inside the Afghan parliament to
appoint a defence minister, the Taliban carried out an attack on the
parliament building with a suicide car bomber and gunmen. All the six
gunmen have been reported to have been killed during the attacks,
which killed more than 30 people. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi
has condemned the attacks.
Trinity
College, Kerala launches satellite building project
Science
and Technology > College
Satellite
Trinity
College in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala has kicked off a student
satellite project, which will be completed by 2018. The project has
been named Trinity Adrak Student Satellite, since its funding has
come from an Oman-based company called Al Adrak. The project will
mainly be aimed at building CubeSats and NanoSats at a regular pace.
Government
proposes tax rebate for card payments
Economy
> Income
Tax
With
a view to surge towards a cashless economy and reduce tax avoidance,
the government recently proposed rebates for consumers who pay a
proportion of their expenditure through credit or debit cards. In
order to make card payment more hassle-free the government is looking
at the possibility of removing convenience fee, service charge, and
surcharge for card payments at petrol pumps, gas agencies and for
railway tickets. Even the merchants can benefit from this proposal by
accepting electronic payments.
Mamta's
nephew makes threatening remarks at an event
Politics
and Government > Mamta’s
nephew
While
addressing a meeting of Trinamool Congress workers and leaders,
Mamata Banerjee's nephew Abhishek has warned that anybody harbouring
“evil intentions” towards West Bengal will have their eyes gouged
out and their hands chopped off. In his speech, he has criticized BJP
accusing the Prime Minister of selling the country. Earlier fellow
party lawmaker Tapas Pal had said “If you insult the mothers and
daughters of Trinamool workers, then I won't spare you. I will let
loose my boys in your homes and they will commit rape.” Abhishek
Banerjee's remarks have received criticisms from various political
parties.