Bali airport forced to close amid volcanic ash
Bali, June 29 : Indonesian authorities on Friday closed the airport in the resort island of Bali amid volcanic ash spewed from Mount Agung which erupted a day earlier.
The Ngurah Rai international airport will remain closed till 6 p.m. and an assessment of the situation will be made at 11 a.m., reports Xinhua news agency.
A total of 239 domestic flights and 207 international flights have been affected due to the shutdown of the airport.
Agung began a phase of volcanic activity on November 21, 2017, which had forced the closure of the airport, located 60 km to the south of the volcano, affecting more than 100,000 passengers. Located in the east of the island, Mount Agung is far from most tourist attractions.
In 1963, the ejection of magma from Agung lasted almost a year and caused more than 1,100 deaths.
The Indonesian archipelago sits within the so-called Ring of Fire in the Pacific, an area of great seismic and volcanic activity that is shaken by thousands of tremors every year.
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GST Council clarifies on popcorn taxation
Jaisalmer, Dec 21: The GST Council on Saturday agreed to issue a clarification on the taxation of popcorn, stating that pre-packed and labelled ready-to-eat snacks will attract a 12% tax, while an 18% GST will be levied if the popcorn is caramelised.
There is no change in the tax rate for popcorn, and the GST Council has decided that the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) will issue a circular clarifying the current taxation regime for popcorn.
"Ready-to-eat popcorn," which is mixed with salt and spices and has the essential character of namkeens, currently attracts a 5% GST if it is not pre-packaged and labelled.
If it is supplied as pre-packaged and labelled, a 12% GST is levied.
However, when popcorn is mixed with sugar (caramel popcorn), its essential character changes to that of a sugar confectionery, and it would therefore be classified under HS 1704 90 90, attracting an 18% GST, as per the clarification.
