GS-II

Wonderla, a leading amusement park operator, has threatened to scrap its investment plans in Tamil Nadu if the government does not withdraw the 10% local body tax (LBT). Amusement parks in the State pay a 10% LBT levied by the Tamil Nadu government over and above the 18% Goods and …

The Kerala government has asked the Centre to go by the 2016 National Disaster Management Plan (NDMP) while taking a call on the UAE government’s offer of Rs. 700 crore in assistance or compensate the State for the loss of such a hefty sum. “Prime Minister Narendra Modi had welcomed …

Singapore has laws against homosexuality Paris Jackson has apologised for appearing on the front cover ofHarper’s Bazaarmagazine in Singapore, which has laws against homosexuality, after the bisexual actress came under fire for ‘hypocrisy’. She sparked a storm of criticism after posting an Instagram picture of the cover of the September …

Two-day negotiations begin today China said on Tuesday that it remains hopeful of “good results” from trade talks in Washington this week after U.S. President Trump threw cold water on the prospects for a breakthrough. U.S. and Chinese officials are set to hold two days of talks in Washington starting …

‘Terror, not discrimination, behind crisis’ Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi on Tuesday defended her government’s actions in Rakhine State, where about 7,00,000 Rohingya Muslims fled from a brutal counterinsurgency campaign to neighbouring Bangladesh. Ms. Suu Kyi said terrorism, not social discrimination or inequality, triggered the crisis. She made the …

Group has accepted our offer: Russia The Taliban plans to take part in Afghanistan peace talks in Moscow on September 4, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was quoted as saying by Interfax news agency on Tuesday. Mr. Lavrov’s Ministry said in a statement that Russia had invited 12 countries, including …

Official also welcomes Pak. PM’s remark on peace in S. Asia Opening up trade with India is a key priority of the Trump administration, a senior official of the U.S. State Department has said. Briefing reporters on the administration’s Asia-Pacific policy, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian …

‘Maybe Clapper is being nice to me so he doesn’t lose his security clearance’ U.S. President Donald Trump stayed the course of his conflict with professional spies and strategists of the U.S. on Tuesday as debate continued on his decision last week to revoke the security clearance of former Central …

The Centre suggested working together with institutions like the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, National Environment Engineering Research Institute, Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO), Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to deal with Diwali pollution. It suggested setting up of Raw Material Characterisation Facilities to check the presence of …

“When Mr. Narendra Modi became Prime Minister of India, he invited heads of SAARC nations including former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for the swearing-in ceremony. Mr. Sharif was accorded a warm welcome when he reached India,” Mr Sidhu said. “Former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had gone to Lahore …