3:37 PMPM Narendra Modi lays foundation stone of Light House Projects
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday laid the foundation stone of Light House Projects under the Global Housing Technology Challenge-India (GHTC-India) at six sites across six states, a programme that seeks to build over 1,000 houses each in these cities in 12 months. Speaking at the event organised virtually, Modi said housing for the poor and the middle class has been a priority for his government.
He said various measures taken by his government in the last six years has restored the confidence of the common man that he can own a house.
Earlier, he said, people's dream of having a house of their own was shaken as despite spending money they would often not get the promised home in time and were not sure of legal support, if needed. High interest rate was also a dampener, he added. Construction sector acts as a force multiplier for the economy, he noted and added that his government has taken a number of steps to boost the real estate sector and will continue to do so.
2:35 PMNYSE to delist three Chinese telcos to comply with US executive order
Amid growing concerns of security, the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) said on Friday that it will delist three Chinese companies to comply with a US executive order that imposed restrictions on companies that were identified as affiliated with the Chinese military, reported South China Morning Post (SCMP).
The three companies -- China Mobile, China Telecom and China Unicom Hong Kong -- will be delisted between January 7 and January 11 and proceedings to delist them have started, according to a statement by the NYSE.
These companies having separate listings in Hong Kong generate all the revenue for China without any meaningful presence in the US. Thus using the US soil to generate investments in China - an abusive business practice. These companies are involved in civilian and military production with money from US investors.
1:57 PMGlobal challenge of Covid-19 has given scope to innovate: Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday laid the foundation stone of the Light House Projects (LHP) under the Global Housing Technology Challenge (GHTC-India) and said the worldwide challenge of Covid-19 has given the scope to innovate and incubate with new technology.
The six LHP has been conceptualised by the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. The project aims to identify and mainstream several innovative technologies from across the world which are sustainable and disaster-resilient.
Speaking on the occasion, Modi said: "This global challenge of Covid-19 has given us the scope to innovate and incubate with new technology. From today, work is starting on six Light House Projects at different locations. These projects will be completed by modern technology and innovative processes."
1:30 PMMaruti Suzuki December sales up 20 pc to 1.6 lakh units
Maruti Suzuki, the country's largest passenger car manufacturer, posted total sales of 1.6 lakh units in December, marking a growth of over 20 per cent from 1.33 lakh units in the same month of last year. At the same time, export sales rose by more than 31 per cent to 9,938 units from 7,561 units in December 2019, it said on Friday. On the other hand, domestic sales moved up 17.8 per cent to 1.46 lakh units from 1.24 lakh units. The compact-segment (WagonR, Swift, Celerio, Ignis, Baleno, Dzire, Tour S) witnessed nearly 18 per cent jump in domestic sales at 77,741 units from 65,673 units in the same period.
1:18 PMPartnership between Centre-States 'has strengthened cooperative federalism': PM
The Light House Projects (LHPs), being set up in six states across the country, gives a new direction to housing projects in the country and has strengthened cooperative federalism, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday. "Today, the country is getting new technology for the construction of houses for the poor and the middle class. I believe that these six projects will be like a pillar of light just like the name 'Light House' suggests. This will take housing construction to a whole new direction," Prime Minister Modi said at the launch of Light House Projects across six states. "States from all four directions of the country took part in this, strengthening the feeling of cooperative federalism," PM Modi added.
1:11 PM2021 will be year of growth, vows Pak PM
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday said the new year will be a year of economic growth for the country. He said that the country was already moving in the right direction with essential industries increasing output. Speaking at an event in Islamabad, the Prime Minister said the construction industry was already on its way up, which he said was evident from rising cement sales in the country, the Dawn reported. "When cement sales are increasing it is a clear sign that construction activity is on the rise," he said.
1:01 PMOMCs hold petrol, diesel prices for 25th consecutive day
Petrol and diesel remained unchanged on Friday across the four metropolitan cities. Retail fuel prices were unchanged for the 25th consecutive day after they were last revised on December 7. In the national capital, petrol price was at Rs 83.71 per litre. In Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata, the fuel was sold for Rs 90.34, Rs 86.51 and Rs 85.19 per litre, respectively.
12:55 PMDrass freezes at -26.8, Gulmarg at -9 degree C
Extreme cold wave conditions continue in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh on Friday as the minimum temperatures plunged well below the freezing point everywhere in Kashmir and Ladakh. "We are expecting light to moderate snowfall between January 4 and 5. Till that time the present cold wave is likely to continue unabated," an official of the MeT department said. The ongoing 40-day long period of harsh winter cold known locally as the 'Chillai Kalan' will end on January 31. Srinagar had minus 6.4, Pahalgam minus 7.8 and Gulmarg minus 9 as the minimum temperatures of the day.
12:42 PMTendulkar says shouldn't take mother nature for granted
Former Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar on Friday extended New Year wishes to fans and penned down the invaluable lesson he learned from 2020.
The gloomy 2020 had brought the world to a standstill with sporting events getting postponed or cancelled due to the coronavirus before the England-West Indies series marked the resumption of international cricket. The 'Little Master' said we must be consciously grateful for things and should not take mother nature for granted. The legend hoped for a "safer and happier" 2021 and also pointed out that we must value relationships and to keep in touch with our loved ones.
As we start afresh, hoping for a safer and happier 2021, let's carry forward invaluable lessons from last year: to be consciously grateful for things and not take mother nature for granted. To value relationships and to keep in touch with our loved ones," Tendulkar tweeted.
12:39 PMTendulkar says shouldn't take mother nature for granted
Former Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar on Friday extended New Year wishes to fans and penned down the invaluable lesson he learned from 2020.
The gloomy 2020 had brought the world to a standstill with sporting events getting postponed or cancelled due to the coronavirus before the England-West Indies series marked the resumption of international cricket. The 'Little Master' said we must be consciously grateful for things and should not take mother nature for granted. The legend hoped for a "safer and happier" 2021 and also pointed out that we must value relationships and to keep in touch with our loved ones.
As we start afresh, hoping for a safer and happier 2021, let's carry forward invaluable lessons from last year: to be consciously grateful for things and not take mother nature for granted. To value relationships and to keep in touch with our loved ones," Tendulkar tweeted.
12:31 PMProgram underway to promote research and startups in modern housing: PM
Affordable Sustainable Housing Accelerators -India (ASHA-India) program is being run in the country to promote research and startups in modern housing technology: PM Narendra Modi at the launch of Light House Projects across six statesAffordable Sustainable Housing Accelerators -India (ASHA-India) program is being run in the country to promote research and startups in modern housing technology: PM Narendra Modi at the launch of Light House Projects across six states.
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