GS-II

French President Emmanuel Macron’s government on Tuesday defended a financial relief package to quell the “yellow vest” revolt over taxes and living standards, hoping to end protests which have spiralled into violence in Paris and other cities. Over 21 million people watched a visibly contrite Mr. Macron declare a “state …

Time magazine on Tuesday named a group of journalists, including Jamal Khashoggi and a pair of Reuters journalists imprisoned by Myanmar, as its “Person of the Year”, in a cover story headlined “The Guardians and the War on Truth.” The honour went to a series of journalists including Reuters journalists …

German leader Angela Merkel ruled out further negotiations on Brexit on Tuesday but said efforts were being made to give the U.K. reassurances after Prime Minister Theresa May abruptly pulled a vote at home because she faced defeat. With less than four months left until the United Kingdom is due …

Kremlin rejects accusations as ‘nothing but slander’ France is looking into claims that Russia-linked social media accounts are trying to stir up trouble by spreading misinformation designed to amplify the ‘yellow vest’ protests. A source close to the inquiry said that the Prime Minister’s Security and Defence Directorate was coordinating …

For Chandrani Mendis, the political crisis gripping Sri Lanka since October 26 has had a specific cost — her pension for November. “After my husband died, I had been receiving 250 rupees (roughly Rs. 100) a month as an allowance, but they stopped it last month,” said the 60-year-old, seated …

A meaningful vote on the British government’s Brexit withdrawal deal is set to be postponed till as late as January as, faced with certain defeat, British Prime Minister Theresa May said on Monday that she will be returning to emergency negotiations with Brussels in an attempt to wrestle new concessions. …

An official of the Indian High Commission in Pakistan staged a walkout during a SAARC meeting in Islamabad over the presence of a Minister from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) at the event, according to sources here. Diplomat Shubham Singh left the meeting to register India’s protest over the presence of PoK …

The Tamil Nadu government on Monday turned down Karnataka government’s offer of talks over the contentious proposal for a dam project across the Cauvery at Mekedatu, citing the proceedings in the Supreme Court over the issue and contending that it was sub judice. Affecting proceedings Referring to a letter of …

The Supreme Court on Monday decided to examine a plea challenging the legality of amendments brought in by Tamil Nadu and four other States, which allow authorities to bypass the need to take farmers’ consent before their land is acquired for large infrastructure projects. A Bench of Justices Madan B. …

As ‘Cope India 2018’ — the 12-day joint exercise between the U.S. and Indian Air Force being held at the Kalaikunda air station in West Bengal’s Paschim Medinipur district — draws to a close, officials of both countries called for such joint exercises to be held more frequently. More than …