# Service charges

• The central consumer protection authority issued guidelines here on Monday asking hotels and restaurants not to collect service charges from the customers.
• These establishments should not add service charge automatically or by default to the food bill, the guidelines say.
• The guidelines added that component of service is inherent in the price of foods and beverages offered by the restaurant or hotels.
• Guidelines say that service charge is voluntary, optional and at consumer’s discretion.

# Alluri Sitaram Raju

• Prime minister Narendra Modi on Monday said an Alluri Dhyana mandir would be constructed at Mogallu, the birth place of freedom fighter Alluri Sitaram Raju, in West Godavari district of Andhra pradesh.
• The prime minister virtually unveiled the 30 feet bronze statue of Alluri Sitaram Raju at ASR nagar.
• PM Modi was attending the 125th birth anniversary celebration of Alluri sitaram Raju.

# Mekong Delta nations

• Myanmar’s military government on Monday hosted the first high level regional meeting since the army took power last year with China’s foreign minister Wang yi and counter parts from Mekong Delta regions.
• State broadcaster MRTV reported that Mr wang met with his colleagues from Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam at Lancang-Mekong cooperation group meeting.
• The meeting was held under the theme “solidarity for peace and prosperity” in the central City of Bagan, a UNESCO world Heritage Site.

# Trade deficit

• India’s merchandise trade deficit hit a fresh high of $25.63 billion in June.
• Imports surged 51% to $63.6 billion, significantly surpassing the 16.8% rise in exports, preliminary trade data shows.
• The Previous record trade gap was May’s $24.3 billion.