The European Union imposed new sanctions on North Korea in line with the UN Security Council`s resolution adopted after a ballistic missile launch.
According to the European Council (EC), the new sanctions include further restrictions on material transactions, new export and import bans and restrictions on North Korean diplomats` real estate and bank accounts in the EU.
The new measures will also give EU member states legal permission to prevent North Korean citizens from accessing training or education that could contribute to the country`s nuclear and ballistic missiles programme.
Gratuity Ceiling for Private Sector Employees Raised
The Central government has increased the gratuity payment limit from the existing Rs. 10 lakh to Rs. 20 lakh.
The recommendation to raise the gratuity limit was made by of the Seventh Pay Commission panel in its report.
ONGC May Acquire HPCL
State-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) may acquire India's third-biggest fuel retailer HPCL in an about Rs. 44,000 crore (USD 6.6 billion) deal as part of the government's plan to create an integrated oil giant.
The government is looking at creating an integrated oil company and the idea is to merge an oil producer with a refiner.
There are only six major companies in the sector - ONGC and Oil India Ltd being the oil producers, Indian Oil Corp (IOC), HPCL and Bharat Petroleum Corp Ltd (BPCL) in refinery business and GAIL in midstream gas transportation business.
Ankur Mittal bagged the biggest prize of his career - a silver medal in the men’s Double Trap event at the ISSF World Cup.
Ankur’s father Ashok Mittal and elder brother Ajay Mittal are also renowned shotgun shooters.
Earlier, Heena Sidhu and Jitu Rai clinched the gold medal in the 10m Air Pistol mixed team event at the International Shooting Sport Federation World Cup.
89th Academy Awards
Moonlight bagged the best picture award; Damien Chazelle won best director award.
Some other awards are:
Casey Affleck won the best actor award
Emma Stone won the best actress award
Zootopia won the best animated film award
The Salesman (Iran) in Persian won the best foreign language film award
Gopal Baglay has been appointed as the new spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
In his last role, Baglay headed the MEA territorial division of Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran.
He replaces Swarup who has been appointed as the High Commissioner of India to Canada.
INS Viraat to be Decommissioned
As per reports, the second aircraft carrier in the Indian naval fleet will be decommissioned in March.
INS Viraat is the second centaur class aircraft carrier in service which has spent 30 years in the Indian Navy. Before spending 30 years in the Indian Navy it spent 27 years in the Royal Navy of UK.
She was the oldest aircraft carrier in service in the world.
INS Viraat was commissioned into the Indian Navy in May 1987.