‘Favoured Country of Interest’: Switzerland removes India from list
- Switzerland has removed India from its ‘Favoured Country of Interest’ list.
- As a result, Indian companies operating in the country will have to pay additional taxes.
- The country has taken this action in response to the order issued by the Supreme Court of India against the Swiss multinational company Nestle.
- The Swiss Finance Ministry has announced that this action will come into effect from January 1, 2025.
- As a result, Indian companies operating in European Union countries will also have to pay additional taxes on their income.
- Indian companies in Switzerland will also have to pay 10 percent tax on the dividends they earn through investments.
2025 Maha Kumbh Mela: Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh
- The Maha Kumbh Mela is held once every 12 years in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh.
- In the run-up to the Maha Kumbh Mela, 167 infrastructure projects worth Rs 5,500 crore have been taken up in Prayagraj.
- This place, where the rivers Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati meet, is a spiritual land.
- It plays a major role in uniting people from all walks of life.
- Historical places related to Ramayana, Lord Krishna and Buddhism are being developed.
Suthu coral beads found in Vembakottai excavation:
- Cone-shaped and blue round-shaped Suthu coral beads have been found in the 3rd phase of excavations underway in Vembakottai.
- The third phase of excavations is underway in the Vijayakarisalkulam Mettukadu area near Vembakottai in Virudhunagar district, which began on June 18.
- More than 2,850 artifacts, including gold coins, copper coins, broken clay figurines, chess pieces, glass beads, round chips, and conch bracelets, have been discovered so far in this excavation.
- The raw materials used to make the Suthu coral beads, which have been found in the third phase of excavation, are available only in the northern state of Rajasthan.
December 14: National Energy Conservation Day
- December 14 is celebrated as National Energy Conservation Day and December 14 to 20 is Energy Conservation Week.
Important Facts:
- Elon Musk, the founder of SpaceX and CEO of Tesla, has become the first person in world history to reach a net worth of $400 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
- US President-elect Donald Trump has expressed his opposition to the Joe Biden-led administration’s decision to allow Russia to fire missiles that his country had supplied to Ukraine.