Category:

Eco/Invest/Demography

LIC may be valued around $109-bn for its mega IPO

The government is considering selling a 5%-10% stake in the company, which could raise between Rs 40,000 crore and Rs 1 trillion, according to people with knowledge of the matter, who asked not to be identified as the matter is private.

The potential valuation is based on preliminary talks and may change after further discussions, due diligence and an official valuation report, the people said. A spokesperson for the finance ministry declined to comment.

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Cabinet clears auto PLI scheme for EVs, hydrogen fuel cell vehicles

This PLI scheme for automotive sector along with the already launched PLI scheme for Advanced Chemistry Cell (Rs 18,100 crore) and Faster Adaption of Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles (Rs 10,000 crore) will enable India to leapfrog from traditional fossil fuel-based automobile transportation system to environmentally cleaner, sustainable, advanced and more efficient Electric Vehicles (EV) based system.

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Yellen, Harris to push childcare investments as boost for overall economy

Congress is considering a $3.5 trillion package of measures that would include free preschool for all 3- and 4-year olds; boost pay for childcare workers, 95% of whom are women; cut the costs of such care in half for most families; and make permanent a child and dependent care tax credit.
“A well-funded child care sector will help parents remain in the labor force, work the number of hours and schedule that are best for their career and family, earn a living and join in our shared economic prosperity,” it said.

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Indian study finds big drop in COVID antibodies within four months of vaccination

Waning antibodies do not necessarily mean that immunised people lose their ability to counter the disease, as the body’s memory cells may still kick in to offer substantial protection, said the director of a state-run institute that did the study.

“After six months, we should be able to tell you more clearly whether and when a booster would be needed,” Sanghamitra Pati of the Regional Medical Research Centre, based in the eastern city of Bhubaneswar, told Reuters on Tuesday.

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South Korean politician tops presidential polls with talk of universal basic income

As governor of Gyeonggi province,Lee Jae-myung, advocated for universal basic income and instituted cash payments to all 24-year-old people for a year. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, all province residents also received regular payments
“Keeping people from disasters and infectious diseases by providing public medical service is one of the government’s most fundamental duties, and my political career began from there,” Lee told Reuters in December.

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Australian media outlets liable for Facebook comments, court finds

“The acts of the (media companies) in facilitating, encouraging and thereby assisting the posting of comments by the third-party Facebook users rendered them publishers of those comments,” Justice Rothman found.

At the time the comments were published, Facebook did not allow page moderators to turn off comments on posts, however it has changed that.

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