US sanctions: Washington eases curbs on Lukoil outlets outside Russia; exemption valid till April 2026

A dispatch rider passes in front empty building of the Lukoil headquarter in Sofia, Bulgaria (Picture credit: AP) The United States has temporarily lifted some restrictions on Lukoil-branded fuel stations operating outside Russia, allowing them to continue running despite sanctions placed on the parent company. The treasury department confirmed on Thursday that these stations —…

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NPCI says programmable CBDC already live

BENGALURU: At India Blockchain Week in Bengaluru on Monday, Rahul Sanskrityayan, Specialist Consultant for Blockchain at NPCI, said the Reserve Bank of India’s programmable central bank digital currency (CBDC) is already live with participating banks and is being used by the government for targeted subsidy transfers.Sanskrityayan said programmable CBDC allows funds to be restricted for…

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Ultraviolette raises $45 million from Zoho, Lingotto

BENGALURU: Bengaluru-based electric motorcycle maker Ultraviolette has raised $45 million in fresh growth capital from Zoho Corporation and European investment firm Lingotto as part of its ongoing Series E round.The company said the funding will be used to scale production and sales of its flagship F77 electric sportbike and the new X‑47 crossover, and to…

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