GS-II

Tensions with Afghanistan, faltering relations with the U.S., and chronically poor ties with India. Pakistan today stands isolated, observers say, and bringing it back into the fold is a formidable task for its new premier Imran Khan. “We have a very big foreign policy challenge right now. If there is …

The Joint Opposition in the Maldives, a political grouping challenging President Abdulla Yameen, has expressed deep concern over reports of former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom’s “rapidly deteriorating” health in prison. It has sought the international community’s help in pressuring the Government of Maldives to shift Mr. Gayoon, 80, at his …

The U.S. slapped steep tariffs on another $16 billion in Chinese goods on Thursday, triggering a swift tit-for-tat retaliation from Beijing, even as negotiators from both sides seek to soothe trade tensions. The latest action completes the first round of $50 billion in Chinese products that President Donald Trump had …

Senior BJP leader from Uttar Pradesh Lalji Tandon was sworn in as Bihar Governor on Thursday. He replaced Satya Pal Malik, who was appointed Governor of Jammu and Kashmir on August 21. Mr. Tandon was administered oath of office by Patna High Court Chief Justice Mukesh Rasik Bhai Shah. Bihar …

Like in most towns of northeast India, dusk descends quickly in Gangtok. As shops start winding up, the only places that continue to buzz with activity are three casinos, located within 10 km of Sikkim’s capital city. Sherap Lepcha, general manager of Casino Mahjong, is busy overseeing the casino which, …

India and China on Thursday agreed to work towards full implementation of ongoing confidence-building measures (CBM) along the border as well as improve military to military interactions. This was agreed during bilateral consultations between Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and visiting Chinese State Councillor and Defence Minister General Wei Fenghe. “It …

The Supreme Court on Thursday sought the response of the Election Commission of India on separate petitions filed by Congress leaders Sachin Pilot and Kamal Nath highlighting that lakhs of voters have been found to be fake and that only a small portion of VVPAT (Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail) …

Kerala Chief Secretary Tom Jose on Thursday filed a sworn affidavit in the Supreme Court detailing the trauma and scale of rescue and relief operations during the most devastating floods the State has seen in a century. The affidavit pays tribute to the overwhelming help received from unexpected quarters, including …

He took rest for three months after he underwent kidney transplant Union Minister Arun Jaitley on Thursday resumed duties as the country’s Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister after a gap of three months during which he underwent a kidney transplant surgery. Mr. Jaitley spent the day meeting senior officials in …

The government is considering a proposal to provide interest-free loans up to Rs. 1 lakh for families in flood-hit areas to return home and start life afresh. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said this was one of the initiatives on the anvil to provide succour for people who had suffered heavy …

The Kerala government on Thursday claimed in the Supreme Court that sudden releases of water from the Mullaperiyar dam was a cause for the floods in the State. In an affidavit, Kerala slammed Tamil Nadu for allegedly ignoring its repeated entreaties for controlled release of water from the reservoir to …

The West Bengal government has signed pacts with BSE and NSE to raise awareness among the State’s MSMEs to tap the capital market as an alternate funding source. The State has the highest number of micro, small and medium enterprises — 52.7 lakh in 2016-17, employing about 1.1 crore people, …

U.S. President Donald Trump’s National Security Adviser warned on Wednesday that the United States would respond “very strongly” if Syrian President Bashar al-Assad uses chemical weapons in an offensive to retake Idlib province. “We now see plans for the Syrian regime to resume offensive military activities in Idlib province,” John …

An Indian in Canada has been allegedly racially abused over a parking dispute by a White woman who yelled “go back to your country” and called him a “Paki”, according to a media report. Rahul Kumar, who moved from India to Canada seven years ago, was also called a “loser” …

Satyapal Malik, the newly-appointed Governor of J&K, will be administered the oath of office on Thursday, ending the five-decade-long practice of retired bureaucrats being appointed to the post, officials said on Wednesday. Mr. Malik,72, has experience of working with almost all political hues of the country, and will be the …

The Quad grouping is one of the many avenues for interaction among India, Australia, Japan and the U.S. and should not be seen in an exclusive context, a senior Japanese diplomat said on Wednesday. “We should not really regard Quad in any comparative or in an exclusive context. This four-country …

The Congress has started taking steps to rebuild and strengthen its grassroots network and restore the party’s lost ground in Odisha ahead of the Lok Sabha and Assembly polls in the State early next year. A three-day meeting of the newly constituted State executive committee of Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee, …

A national effort is needed to develop and produce advanced and exotic materials to drive the future space programme, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chairman K. Sivan has said. Along with high propulsion systems for its launch vehicles, the ISRO is pursuing materials that have extraordinary properties, such as aluminium …

The appointment of Satyapal Malik as J&K Governor on Tuesday, the first politician to hold that post since militancy hit the State in the 1980s, is a clear pointer to the government’s thinking. According to senior sources in the Union government, the choice of Mr. Malik, a seasoned politician who …

China on Wednesday offered to play a “constructive role” to ease tensions between India and Pakistan. “We welcome the positive remarks made by the Indian and Pakistani leaders on improving their bilateral relations,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang said at his regular media briefing. Mr. Lu was referring to …