Timeframe: 9th July – 15th July 2021
Contributors:
Sabyasachi Karmaker, Musarrat Sarwar Chowdhury, Mansib Khan, and Farhan Uddin Ahmed.
1. Economics & Business
Zomato is raising $1.3 billion in India’s biggest IPO of the year
Zomato, a food delivery startup, plans to raise $1.3 billion in an initial public offering in Mumbai this week, according to a recent regulatory filing. It expects to close its books on Friday, and it is the country’s largest offering in 2021 thus far. The company intends to sell shares priced between 72 and 76 rupees (97 cents to $1.02) per share. Zomato would be valued at almost $8 billion at the upper end of the spectrum.
Source: CNN
2. Politics
EU sues Hungary and Poland over LGBTQ discrimination
The European Commission has started legal steps against Hungary’s law banning LGBTQ content for minors and Poland’s “LGBTQ-free” zones.
The European Commission on Thursday launched legal cases against Hungary and some regions in Poland over LGBTQ discrimination.
Hungary has faced wide condemnation from the European Union since its parliament passed a law that bans information about LGBTQ issues for minors.
Source: DW
3. Significant Corona Update
Karaoke drives cases in Singapore amidst another emerging virus hotspot in Indonesia
Singapore plans to continue re-opening to the world in spite of 56 new cases based on a karaoke lounge cluster. In contrast to the success story of Singapore, Indonesia overtakes India in daily COVID-19 case numbers marking Asia as the epicenter of new outbreaks of covid variants. After Sydney’s first covid death, Australia continues to keep the city under shutdown till July.
Vaccination drives gather apace with renewed commitments from Chinese vaccine manufacturers to commit to COVAX global initiative. Most covid vaccines are now proven to significantly reduce hospitalizations from delta variant covid cases – making a strong scientific case to get vaccinated with whichever vaccine is available.
4. Science & Technology
Apple Plan ‘Buy Now, Pay Later’ Service
Apple Inc. is working on a new service that will let consumers pay for any Apple Pay purchase in installments over time. The upcoming service, known internally as Apple Pay Later, will use Goldman Sachs Group Inc. as the lender for the loans needed for the installment offerings. The buy now, pay later system could help drive Apple Pay adoption and convince more users to use their iPhone to pay for items instead of standard credit cards.
Source: Bloomberg
5. RMG/ Agriculture
Regenerative Agriculture’s Promise of a Better Food System
Regenerative agriculture entails implementing better practices on agricultural land. It involves facilitating soil health and restoring long-term resilience to the land while fostering diversity and system health. These farming practices can improve the value of land as well as provide additional external benefits such as improved water quality and sequestered carbon.
Source: Environmental Leader
6. Social and Education
The Great Job Reset has just begun as 40% plan to quit
Gen Z in particular is bearing the brunt of digital burnout – according to a Microsoft survey. The solution is perhaps a mix of work-from-home blended with in-person work coupled with an empathetic manager. A rare find in at least one sector as a top global bank CEO Howard Lutnick from Cantor Fitzgerald LP suggests bankers return to work in-person or choose another profession.
Source: World Economic Forum, Bloomberg
7. Environment
UK’s first net-zero power plant to be built on Teesside
The UK’s first-ever net-zero power station is to be built on Teesside if plans are approved. The 300-megawatt complex would produce clean electricity by combusting natural gas with oxygen, rather than air, to reduce waste pollution. All carbon emissions would be captured and stored under the North Sea.
Source: BBC
8. Expert Opinion
Erdogan’s Big Lie: Why Turkey’s President Rewrote the History of the 2016 Coup- Waldman
For five years since the dramatic, bloody coup attempt, Erdogan has claimed traditional allies abandoned Turkey in its hour of need, justifying ongoing purges and his pivot towards Russia, China, and Iran. Haaretz’s Simon Waldman writes what actually happened and why, as Turkey tries to reset ties with the West, it still matters.
Source: Haaretz
Disclaimer: The information provided here is obtained solely from the third parties mentioned above. Youth Policy Forum (YPF) is not responsible for any misinformation or misrepresentation.