30th June 2015 - Important Current Affairs updates

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National Affairs

• Delhi Assembly has passed Value Added Tax (Amendment) Bill 2015. 
• This bill makes enabling provisions for levy of VAT in respect of certain goods like liquor, tobacco, aerated drinks and some other items at flexible rates instead of a flat slab of 20 per cent.
• Indo Nissin Foods has ordered the withdrawal of its instant noodles brand Top Ramen from the Indian market following an advisory from central food safety regulator, FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India).
• The move came in the wake of the controversy over Maggi noodles, after which the FSSAI had ordered the testing of all instant noodles, pastas and macaroni brands sold by seven companies to check compliance of norms. 
• According to a research published by the World Economic Forum, Two Indian organizations Indian Army and Indian Railways are among the world's biggest employers, together employing a whopping 2.7 million people, said a report.
• Note : The US department of Defense is the world's biggest employer (with 3.2 million employees).
• Indian Railways ranked at the Eighth place followed by Indian Army.
• Top 10 world’s biggest employers in the List : 
1. US department of Defense 
2. People’s Liberation Army (PLA) 
3. Walmart 
4. McDonald’s 
5. National Health Service of UK 
6. China National Petroleum Corporation 
7. State Grid Corporation of China 
8. Indian Railways 
9. Indian Army 
10. Hon Hai Precision Factory

Business & Economy

• India joins Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).
• India and 49 other founding countries, have signed an agreement which provides a legal framework for the AIIB.
• Seven more countries are due to sign by the end of the year.
• About Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB)
• This is an '100 Billion' US Dollar international financial institution proposed by the government of China.
• Formed on : 24th October 2014
• Secretary General : Jin Liqun
• Headquarters : Beijing, China
• Members :
• 50 Founding Members
• 7 Prospective Founding Members
• 3 Applicants
• Note : 
• China is highest contributor to AIIB with 30.34 percent stake in authorized capital.
• India is the second largest shareholder with 8.52 per cent stake.
• Russia is the third largest shareholder with 6.66 stake.

Science & Technology

• Facebook has launched Facebook Lite, a new version of its app for Android phones in India.
• Aimed at emerging markets, Facebook Lite is a lighter version that has been optimized for slower data connections.
• The two important aspects of the new app were its small size (430 KB) and low data usage.
• This lighter version supports all core functions of the social network, like news feed, status updates, photos, messenger, notifications, etc.
• However, it does not support videos and there is no in-built browser.
• Researchers, including one of Indian-origin, have successfully produced the first 3-D anatomic model of a patient's heart using two common imaging techniques, aiming to enhance diagnosis and surgical planning.
• Note :  This is the first time the integration of Computed Tomography (CT) and Three-Dimensional Transesophageal Echocardiography (3DTEE) has successfully been used for printing a hybrid 3D model of a patient's heart.

Sports

• Australia and New Zealand will make history in November, contesting the First day-night Test.
• This historic match will be played at the Adelaide Oval from November 2. T 
• The test match which will be played with a pink Kookaburra ball and it will be the third and final match of the series between Australia and New Zealand.
• Chile reach Copa America Final for the first time in 28 years (by beating Peru).
• Important Note : Chile won the Finals by beating Argentina on 4th July 2015

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