Tag: Subsidies
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Budget 2026: What gets cheaper and costlier for India’s aam aadmi
Budget 2026 at a glance: A quick read for the aam aadmi On a lazy Sunday afternoon, millions of Indians will be keenly calculating the impact of Budget 2026 on their wallets. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has presented her ninth Budget, focused on reviving growth while guiding households through a shifting inflationary landscape. The big…
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Tycoon’s Fuel Dream Cost Taxpayers $80m: What It Means for the Public Purse
Overview: A high-stakes bet with a public bill The headline, “Tycoon’s fuel dream cost taxpayers $80m,” captures a moment when a private ambition collided with public funding. In recent years, billionaire investors and private energy ventures have often sought to accelerate national fuel strategies, from clean energy pilots to controversial fuel projects. When public funds…
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Malaysia to Bar Foreigners from Subsidised Cooking Oil Sales Beginning March 1
Overview: Subsidy Reform Aims to Target Domestic Consumers Malaysia is moving to tighten access to subsidised cooking oil by prohibiting sales to non-citizens, with the rule slated to take effect on March 1. The measure, announced by Datuk Seri Armizan Mohd Ali, aims to ensure that subsidised essentials reach Malaysian households first and foremost. As…
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Three Hours of Free Power Scheme Could Favor the Well-Off
Policy Idea Sparks Debate Three hours of free power a day is being pitched by some policymakers as a targeted measure to help households cope with rising electricity costs. The proposal envisions a daily window during which energy consumers would receive free electricity, potentially funded by the state or redistributed through market mechanisms. While supporters…
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Navigate the Health Insurance Maze and Save More in the New Year
Understanding the Health Insurance Landscape Choosing a health insurance plan can feel like entering a labyrinth. With a sea of plans from various providers, each with different premiums, deductibles, copays, and networks, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. The good news is that with a clear strategy, you can simplify the process and save money while…
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Navigating the Confusing Maze of Health Insurance Plans—and Saving Money
Introduction: Why the Health Insurance Maze Feels Impossible Choosing a health insurance plan often feels like decoding a foreign language. For many young people and new families, the sheer number of plans, benefits, and jargon can be overwhelming. Yet a little planning at the start of the year can lead to meaningful savings and better…
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No Time for Kenkey Parties: COPEC Boss Warns Against Economic Complacency Despite Recovery
Introduction: A Warning That Recovery Needs Guardrails Ghana’s economic recovery, though promising on the surface, has not earned a triumphal roar from the nation’s petroleum watchdog. Duncan Amoah, Executive Secretary of the Chamber of Petroleum Consumers (COPEC), cautioned that the island of recovery is not a free pass to loosen fiscal discipline. While the worst…
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Iran Protests: Shortages, Handouts, and Crackdowns
Rising pressures: why Iran is seeing widespread protests From the northeast to the Persian Gulf, millions of Iranians have joined demonstrations that began as a reaction to economic distress but quickly evolved into a broader call for accountability and reform. In provinces hit hardest by inflation, unemployment, and rising living costs, crowds have converged on…
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Namibia Warns Against Tuition Hikes as Free Tertiary Education Subsidies Continue
Namibia’s Free Tertiary Education Push Faces Scrutiny Namibia is in a delicate balancing act as the government supports free tertiary education for thousands of students while education authorities push back against tuition fee increases. Education Minister Sanet Steenkamp recently underscored that higher education institutions must align with the government’s subsidy framework. With 134,000 students benefiting…
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Iran Currency Slump: Rial Hits New Low Amid Protests
Iran’s Rial at a New Low as Protests Reshape the Economic Narrative The Iranian currency has plunged to a fresh low, trading around 1.47 million rials per U.S. dollar in parallel markets, underscoring deepening economic strain and mounting public frustration with living costs. The sharp depreciation comes as households confront soaring prices for essentials, from…