Новости за 21.12.2024

A thick fog enveloped Delhi on Saturday, reducing visibility and intensifying the ongoing cold wave. The minimum temperature dipped to 7.6°C, with the maximum likely to reach 23°C. Air quality in the national capital remained near the 'severe' category, with Anand Vihar recording an AQI of 414. The IMD predicts an extended cold wave for much of North India, with severe conditions in Himachal Pradesh and parts of Rajasthan, Punjab, and Jammu. Light snowfall is anticipated in higher reaches later in the week.

Amid overall weak market sentiments, 22 smallcap stocks stood out by delivering impressive double-digit returns. Leading the pack was Fairchem Organics with a remarkable 49% gain, followed by Tanfac Industries at 28%, and Vakrangee and Five-Star Business, both posting 18% returns.

NCRTC is leasing commercial space at six RRTS stations. The corporation aims to create commercial hubs. These hubs will generate non-fare revenue. Parking spaces will also be developed. The project will improve the commuter experience. Namo Bharat trains are already running on part of the corridor. The entire corridor will connect Delhi to Meerut.

World Meditation Day, observed annually on December 21, emphasizes the significance of meditation for mental and physical well-being. The UN recognizes its benefits, including stress reduction, improved memory and focus, better sleep, and reduced anxiety and depression. The practice involves finding a quiet space, focusing on breathing, and observing thoughts without judgment.

Manipur government denies the existence of the Kuki-Zo Council. The council insists it was formed in October 2024. The government questions the council's origins and location. Violence and unrest continue in Manipur. The government urges caution and trust in official sources. An investigation is underway.

Voting for Punjab's Municipal Corporation elections began in Ludhiana on Saturday, with polls open from 7 am to 4 pm. AAP candidates and voters urged enthusiastic participation, emphasizing the importance of development and exercising voting rights. The elections, announced on December 9, encompass municipal corporations, councils, and Nagar Panchayats across the state.

Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) flocked to Indian markets in early December, pouring ₹22,766 crore, primarily into financial services, IT, and real estate. However, oil and gas, auto, and FMCG sectors witnessed outflows. While financials saw significant withdrawals throughout 2024, telecom and services experienced renewed interest after November's outflows.

Capital goods stocks stumbled on Friday, led by Siemens' 10% drop, after the company reported a lack of significant private capital expenditure growth in India. Despite this, analysts maintain a positive outlook for the sector, driven by government spending and a private capex cycle focused on decarbonization and energy transition.

Bangladesh has witnessed a disturbing rise in attacks on its Hindu minority, with recent incidents of idol vandalism in Mymensingh and Dinajpur districts. The violence has surged since the ousting of Sheikh Hasina's government in August 2024. India has expressed serious concerns, urging the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus to ensure the safety of minorities. These events highlight the growing communal tensions in Bangladesh and their implications for its relationship with India.

The US dollar fell from a two-year peak. It was still set for a third weekly rise. Inflation slowed. The Federal Reserve cut interest rates. The Fed signaled fewer cuts in 2025. Inflation remains above target. The US government faced a potential shutdown. The dollar weakened against several currencies.

U.S. stocks rebounded on Friday following a cooler-than-anticipated inflation report and dovish Fed commentary, easing rate hike concerns. The PCE index rose 2.4% annually, slightly below estimates. Despite the rally, major indexes closed the week lower. Traders now anticipate Fed rate cuts in March and October 2025. Congressional efforts to avoid a government shutdown also influenced market activity.

Wall Street rallied and the dollar weakened as cooler-than-anticipated inflation data eased fears of runaway price growth. This positive news overshadowed concerns about a potential government shutdown and new tariff threats. Major U.S. stock indexes climbed over 1%, while gold prices surged and Treasury yields retreated. European stocks, however, experienced their worst week in months due to tariff concerns.

Gold prices rallied on Friday, boosted by a weaker dollar and falling Treasury yields following U.S. economic data pointing to slowing inflation. However, the Federal Reserve's hawkish interest rate outlook limited gains, keeping gold on track for a weekly loss. Weaker personal consumption expenditure data also contributed to gold's rebound.

The authority fined on Friday OpenAI 15 million euros ($15.58 million) after closing an investigation into use of personal data by the generative artificial intelligence application.

Security forces in Manipur arrested two individuals in Churachandpur district and seized a large cache of arms and ammunition during search operations. Recovered items included a carbine, pistol, ammunition, and a vehicle. Separate operations in Churachandpur and Imphal East yielded additional weapons and a camouflage t-shirt. These operations follow ongoing ethnic violence between Meitei and Kuki communities.

India secures a USD 350 million loan from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to bolster its logistics sector. This funding, part of the Strengthening Multimodal and Integrated Logistics Ecosystem (SMILE) program, will support policy reforms aimed at enhancing efficiency, attracting private investment, and improving supply chain resilience. The program will also promote sustainable economic growth and job creation.

Companies are added to the list for activities contrary to U.S. national security and foreign-policy interests. Exporters are then barred from shipping goods and technology to them without a license, which is likely to be denied. China's Huawei, a telecommunications equipment maker and technology conglomerate, was placed on the list in 2019. Since 2020, it has been a violation to ship even foreign-made chips to the company without a license.

A week of courtroom arguments and deliberations ended in a mistrial after the jury failed to resolve one of three questions put before it in the trial between the two chip giants. Qualcomm said the result affirmed its right to innovate, but Arm vowed to seek a new trial.

CM Yogi Adityanath raised compensation for Jewar Airport land to Rs 4,300 per square meter. The airport, touted as Asia's largest, is set to open in April 2025. It will connect with major roads and potentially a rapid rail system. The project aims to boost the region's development and create jobs. Farmers welcomed the increased compensation.

US billionaire businessman Frank McCourt vision for TikTok includes revamping the company's advertising model so that users will have control over the ads and type of content they want to see. Over time, TikTok could earn revenue through ecommerce and licensing data for artificial intelligence training models - with users' consent - which will diminish the business' reliance on ads.

A U.S. judge ruled against NSO Group in a lawsuit filed by WhatsApp, accusing the Israeli spyware firm of exploiting a bug to install surveillance software. The judge found NSO liable for hacking and breach of contract, with the case now proceeding to trial to determine damages.

Authorities prevented Mirwaiz Umar Farooq from delivering Friday sermon at Srinagar's Jama Masjid for a third week. Locals criticized the move as interference in religious affairs. The Anjuman Auqaf condemned Mirwaiz's house arrest. Devotees expressed disappointment at being deprived of their religious leader. Mirwaiz was previously detained for four years. He was released in September 2023 but again confined.

The US has withdrawn a $10 million reward for the capture of Ahmed al-Sharaa, Syria's new leader and head of HTS, following talks in Damascus. This marks the first visit by US officials since President Assad's ouster. The US aims to support an inclusive political transition in Syria while continuing counterterrorism operations against ISIS.

A car rammed into a bustling Christmas market in Magdeburg, Germany, killing two people, including a child, and injuring 68 others. The suspect, a Saudi Arabian doctor, was arrested at the scene. Authorities are investigating the motive, with eyewitnesses recounting the chaos and families narrowly escaping harm. The tragedy has reignited concerns about public safety at festive events, drawing parallels to past attacks in Germany.