The US has placed Venezuelan Vice President Tareck El Aissami under its narcotics kingpin sanctions list for allegedly helping international drug traffickers.
The action is the culmination of a multi-year investigation under the Kingpin Act to target significant narcotics traffickers in Venezuela.
China's Grand Plan
In what may further escalate the tussle over ownership of South China Sea, China has announced that it will develop floating nuclear power plants in the disputed waters.
As per China, nuclear power plants are necessary to provide stable power to offshore projects and promote gas exploration in the resource-rich region.
The project has been made a part of country's five-year economic development plan.
Researchers have found that climate change harmed nearly half of endangered land mammals and a quarter of birds.
As per reports, endangered primates and elephants are among the groups squeezed the hardest by global warming. It is because they reproduce slowly and take longer to adapt to rapid environmental changes.
While most studies seek to predict global warming's future impact on animal survival, the new analysis states that for "large numbers" of threatened species, the damage was already being done.
The Wholesale Price Index grew 5.25% in January on the back of accelerating inflation in the crude oil and minerals sectors.
The index saw its growth accelerating from 3.39% in December 2016.
The minerals segment saw the rate of inflation almost doubling in January to 25.4%.
In the fuel and power category, inflation accelerated sharply to 18.14% in January.
Tata Motors’ Net Plunges
Tata Motors reported a 96% slump in its consolidated net profit for the third quarter ended December 31.
This is due to a decline in the sales of medium and heavy commercial vehicles and a squeeze in margins from the Jaguar-Land Rover business.
SIDBI and MCCIA Sign MoU
The Small Industries and Development Bank of India (SIDBI) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Mahratta Chambers of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture (MCCIA) to facilitate loans of up to Rs. 50 lakh to member MSMEs on a preferential basis.
The MoU will target micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the Pune region that are members of the MCCIA.
MCCIA has membership of about 1,600 MSMEs from Pune and its adjoining region.
Usain Bolt won the 'Sportsman of the Year' trophy, while gymnast Simone Biles clinched the top honour in the women's category at the Laureus World Awards.
Bolt, who won this award in 2009, 10 and 13, walked away with the 'Oscar of Sports' for the fourth time, thereby joining tennis legends Roger Federer and Serena Williams, and surfer Kelly Slater as four-time Laureus award winner.
In a major setback for V. K. Sasikala, which dashed her ambition to become the Tamil Nadu, the Supreme Court restored her conviction and four-year jail sentence in a disproportionate assets case.
The verdict held her guilty of entering into a conspiracy with late AIADMK supremo J Jayalalithaa.
The immediate fallout of the top court verdict is that Sasikala is out of the electoral field for 10 years.