Japan on May 26 approved additional sanctions against Russia over its war on Ukraine, including freezing the assets of dozens of individuals and groups and banning exports to Russian military-related organisations.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno told reporters the Cabinet approval shows Japan is in step with the rest of the Group of Seven countries that agreed during their summit in Hiroshima last week to maintain and strengthen sanctions against Russia.

He said Japan is committed to working with other G7 countries and the broader international community "to improve the situation" for Ukraine.

Matsuno also sharply criticised the signing of a deal between Russia and Belarus on May 25  formalising the deployment of Moscow's tactical nuclear weapons in its ally's territory as a move that "further escalate tensions."

"As the world's only country to have suffered nuclear attacks, Japan finds Russia's threats of nuclear weapons and their use absolutely impermissible," Matsuno said.

Japan's additional sanctions and export restrictions reflect the G7's aim to prevent the evasion of sanctions by third countries and include a ban on exporting materials that would help strengthen Russia's industrial base, Matsuno said.

According to a statement jointly issued by the foreign, trade and finance ministries, 24 individuals and 78 organisations were added to a list of those subject to asset freezes, including those who allegedly helped to divert and evade sanctions.

Japan also imposed an export ban on 80 Russian military-related organisations, including machinery makers.

The provision of construction, engineering and other services for Russia will also be banned.

Japan has been closely cooperating with the G7 to impose sanctions against Russia over its war on Ukraine amid growing concern about the conflict's impact in Asia, where China has been expanding its military presence and threatening to use force to exert its control over self-governed Taiwan.

A fabled sword found in the private bedchamber of 18th century Mysore ruler Tipu Sultan has broken all auction records for an Indian object for Bonhams in London by fetching over GBP 14 million at its Islamic and Indian Art sale this week.

The sword, from Tipu Sultan's reign between 1782 and 1799, is described as a fine gold koftgari hilted steel sword referred to as sukhela- an emblem of authority.

It was found in the private apartments of Tipu Sultan and presented to Major General David Baird by the Army of the East India Company as a token of their high esteem of his courage and conduct in the assault which resulted in the killing of Tipu Sultan known as the Tiger of Mysore.

"This spectacular sword is the greatest of all the weapons linked to Tipu Sultan still in private hands," said Oliver White, Bonhams' Head of Islamic and Indian Art and auctioneer.

The sword had a guide price between GBP 1,500,000 and 2,000,000 but went on to surpass that estimate to fetch GBP 14,080,900.

According to historians, of the many weapons removed from the palace of Tipu Sultan after the fall of his royal stronghold at Seringapatam in May 1799, few have such resonance or such a close connection to Tipu Sultan.

Unquestionably part of Tipu's own arsenal, the bedchamber sword is dubbed among the finest and most important of weapons with a proven personal association with the ruler.

As described by Francis Buchanan in his on-the-spot account of India from the time, a sword lay within reach of Tipu Sultan while he slept.

On constant alert against attack, Tipu Sultan slept in a hammock suspended from the ceiling of his locked and bolted bedchamber with a pair of pistols and this sword by his side.

It was manufactured by Mughal swordsmiths following the model of German blades introduced to India in the 16th century.

The hilt is inlaid in exquisitely executed gold calligraphy with the qualities of God and invocations calling on God by name.

Tipu Sultan famously pioneered the use of rocket artillery in wars both against neighbouring states and also the East Indian Company, of which he was an implacable opponent until Major General led the company's soldiers to end a month-long siege of Seringapatam with the killing of the ruler on May 4, 1799.

Ola Electric, country’s largest electric two-wheeler seller, is said to be in talks with financial institutions to make its market debut by launching what can be one of the largest initial public offerings (IPOs) of recent times.

According to reports, the Softbank-backed company is eying to hit the public market early 2024. The company is believed to be in talks with Kotak, Goldman Sachs and other financial firms as banking partners for the IPO. Some reports suggest that Ola Electric may eye a pre-listing valuation of as high as $10 billion and would raise around $1 billion through the IPO. The initial offering is expected to be a mix of fresh issue of shares as well as offer-of-sale by existing investors.

It increased interest to go public comes as the firm is reported to have raised $300 million in a latest funding round at a valuation of $6 billion. While the electric vehicle maker hasn’t disclosed this funding, it was last valued at $5billion in 2022 when it had raised $200 million from Tekne Private Ventures, Alpine Opportunity Fund, and Edelweiss among others.

Ola Electric continues to lead the electric two-wheeler market. As per Vahan data, its vehicle registrations stood highest among EV makers at 21,957 units. Going forward, the company has aggressive expansion plans, both in terms of new launches and capacity expansion. Bhavish Aggarwal, founder and CEO had said that Ola Electric was expecting its two-wheeler EV business to turn profitable in 2023. The company had previously said that it plans to launch more electric two-wheeler models in 2023 and 2024, including a mass market scooter and a mass market motorcycle.

The government has notified an increase in the tax exemption limit for leave encashment benefits received by non-government employees at the time of retirement from Rs 3 lakh to Rs 25 lakh, as promised in the Union Budget.

This comes into effect from April 1.  Taxation on leave encashment, compensation against unutilised paid leaves, depends on the time when it is received. Usually, if it is availed while on job, the mount received is taxable. However, if availed on retirement, it is fully exempt for central and state government employees and partially exempted for non-government employees up to a limit of Rs 25 lakh.

In her budget speech, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in February this year proposed the increase in the tax exemption on leave encashment on retirement. 

Q1. The government has notified an increase in the tax exemption limit for leave encashment benefits received by non-government employees at the time of retirement from Rs 3 lakh to

1. Rs 15 lakh
2. Rs 20 lakh
3. Rs 25 lakh
4. Rs 30  lakh
5. None of These

Q2.  Name the Senior IPS officer  who took over as the new CBI director on May 25 and he will be in the post for two years ?

1. Praveen Sood
2. Rajiv Jain
3. Anil Kumar Dhasmana
4. Alok Mohan
5. None of These

Q3. Name the country which on May 26 has  approved additional sanctions against Russia over its war on Ukraine, including freezing the assets of dozens of individuals and groups and banning exports to Russian military-related organizations ?

1. US
2. Japan
3. Germany
4. France
5. None of These

Q4. Name the  country’s largest electric two-wheeler seller which is  said to be in talks with financial institutions to make its market debut by launching what can be one of the largest initial public offerings (IPOs) of recent times ?

1. Ampere
2. Bajaj Chetak
3. Hero Electric
4. Ola Electric
5. None of These

Q5. Name the former health minister of Delhi who  has been granted interim medical bail in a money laundering case for six weeks ?

1. Manish Sisodia
2. Satyendar Jain
3. Kapil Mishra
4. Amanatullah Khan
5. None of These

Answers

1-----------------3   Rs 25 lakh

2-----------------1  Praveen Sood

3-----------------2  Japan

4-----------------4   Ola Electric

5-----------------2   Satyendar Jain

The world appreciates the way India has strengthened its economy over the past few years despite various challenges, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on May 25  while flagging off the Delhi-Dehradun Vande Bharat Express via video conference.

The prime minister also inaugurated 100 per cent electrification of railway tracks in the state.

Four accused in the 2018 Rakbar Khan mob lynching case were sentenced to seven years of imprisonment by a court in Rajasthan's Alwar. One accused, Naval Kishor Sharma, a member of Vishwa Hindu Parishad, was acquitted in the case due to lack of evidence.

Rakbar Khan was lynched to death in Rajasthan's Alwar district in 2018 on suspicion of cow smuggling.

Rakbar Khan and his friend Aslam were beaten up severely by a group of people on suspicion of cow smuggling in an area under the Ramgarh police station area in Alwar district on July 20, 2018.

They had allegedly purchased the cows from Ladpura village and were taking them to their village in Haryana through a forested area near Lalawandi village when they were attacked by the accused.

Aslam had managed to escape but Khan succumbed to injuries at the hospital.

AAP leader and former Delhi minister Satyendar Jain was on May 25  admitted to the Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital in Delhi after he collapsed in Tihar Jail due to dizziness.

Jain has been lodged in prison since his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with a money laundering case in May.