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Number of new homes falls to near-decade low despite Labour’s housebuilding pledge

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Number of new homes falls to near-decade low despite Labour’s housebuilding pledge


The number of new homes in England has fallen to its lowest level for nearly a decade, in a blow to Labour’s hopes of meeting one of its key manifesto pledges.

Keir Starmer has promised to build 1.5million new homes in five years, an average of 300,000 homes per year, but official figures show just 208,600 were created in England in 2024/25, down 6 per cent from 221,409 the previous year.

The number of additional new homes is the lowest for a financial year since 2015/16, when the figure was 195,534.

Housing secretary Steve Reed said the statistics showed “the extent of the housing crisis” Labour inherited, but the Tories said the figures showed Labour “have no plan for delivering new homes”, adding that numbers had fallen to a level “below what the Conservatives achieved during a global pandemic”.

Labour has pledged to build 1.5 million homes by the next election, but will need to increase the pace of building if it is to meet its target (Gareth Fuller/PA) (PA Wire)

Mr Reed said Labour had taken over “a planning system that blocked rather than built, and high inflation and soaring construction costs that created a perfect storm holding back housebuilding”.

He insisted the 1.5 million homes target was “not just a number – it’s a way to give children a secure home, for young people finally to move out and enjoy independence, and for working families to have place to call their own”.

But Sir James Cleverly, the shadow housing secretary, said: “The Labour government’s record on housing is abysmal. Their own statistics are a damning indictment of their failed housing policy. New builds are down to a level below what the Conservatives achieved during a global pandemic.

“Labour’s much-trumpeted target of 1.5 million homes is dead in the water. Clearly, they have no plan for delivering new homes. So much for ‘build, baby, build.’”

There were 190,602 new builds, 17,708 properties that saw a change of use from non-domestic to residential, plus 3,846 conversions between houses and flats, according to data published by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG).

A further 1,076 other types of homes were added, such as caravans and house boats, while there were 4,632 demolitions.

The number of new homes supplied in England – defined as “net additional dwellings” – is based on local authority estimates of gains and losses.

The government has pledged to deliver 1.5 million new homes in England over the course of this parliament, which is due to last until summer 2029.

Separate figures published by the MHCLG alongside the annual data suggest 124,800 new homes have been delivered in England so far this financial year (from April 1 to November 9), while 275,600 have been delivered since the start of the current parliament on July 9 2024.

Net additional dwellings are “the primary and comprehensive measure of total housing supply”, the MHCLG said.

The annual total hit 248,591 in 2019/20: the highest number of new homes in any financial year so far this century.



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EV adoptions gathers pace in 2025: Sales hit 2.3 million units; UP, Maharashtra lead sales – The Times of India

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EV adoptions gathers pace in 2025: Sales hit 2.3 million units; UP, Maharashtra lead sales – The Times of India


India sold were at 2.3 million units of electric vehicle in 2025, making up 8 per cent of all new vehicle registrations, according to a new report by the India Energy Storage Alliance, based on Vahan Portal data, cited by ANI. This boost was driven by incentives offered by the government and festive seasons. The majority portion of the sales were two-wheelers at 1.28 million units.The total registrations recorded in the overall passenger car market in the year 2025 stood at 28.2 million. Two-wheelers marked the most registrations 20 million registrations, while passenger cars were at 4.4 million and agricultural vehicles recorded 1.06 million. The recorded sales rose steadily throughout the year though slightly improved in the festival seasons due to GST benefits.Electric two-wheelers were the stars of the EV market, grabbing 57 per cent of sales. Three-wheelers came second with 0.8 million units (35 per cent), while four-wheelers logged 175,000 units. The report spotted good progress in electric delivery vehicles, especially in smaller commercial segments.Uttar Pradesh was at the forefront in this, with 400,000 units sold, taking an 18 percent market share in India’s EV segment. Maharashtra followed, with 266,000 units sold, contributing 12 percent to the segment, followed by Karnataka, with 200,000 units sold, contributing 9 percent to the market. The three accounted for over 40 percent in the country’s EV sales.Some smaller states recorded a very encouraging uptake of EVs. Delhi, Kerala, and Goa were able to reach an EV-to-ICE ratio of 14 percent, 12 percent, and 11 percent respectively. Meanwhile, states from the Northeast, Tripura, and Assam, achieved ratios of 18 percent and 14 percent, respectively.A major achievement was recorded in the three-wheeler segment, which attained a market penetration of 32 per cent. The government also created a record with their biggest ever order of electric buses—10,900 unit—valued at a massive Rs 10,900 crore through the PM E-DRIVE scheme.The report also stated that that while smaller vehicles led EV adoption, government efforts to electrify larger commercial vehicles and develop charging infrastructure were setting up India’s EV sector for continued growth beyond 2025.



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PTA warns consumers against fake calls and UAN numbers, reason revealed – SUCH TV

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PTA warns consumers against fake calls and UAN numbers, reason revealed – SUCH TV



Pakistan Telecommunication Authority has warned users against fake calls and UAN numbers.

A video message released by PTA states that scammers are impersonating PTA, FIA, and banks to steal your personal and financial information. No government agency will ever ask you for OTP, PIN, identity card or biometrics over a call or message. Mobile users should be vigilant and verify only through official channels.

It should be noted that earlier, PTA had warned users in a statement that using a SIM registered in the name of another person is a violation of relevant regulations.

The PTA had stressed that the full responsibility for any misuse of the SIM will lie with the registered user, therefore, users should ensure responsible use of their SIMs and mobile connections at all times. Registered users will be held individually accountable for all calls, messages and data usage made through their SIMs or devices.

The PTA further appealed to users to abide by all relevant laws and regulations, warning that action will be taken in case of violation.



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Budget 2026: CII pitches demand-led disinvestment plan; proposes four-step privatisation roadmap – The Times of India

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Budget 2026: CII pitches demand-led disinvestment plan; proposes four-step privatisation roadmap – The Times of India


The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) suggested a four-fold privatisation process in their recommendations on the Union Budget 2026-27. They called for faster and more predictable disinvestment. The industry body claimed that a calibrated privatisation approach would help sustain capital expenditure and fund development priorities, particularly in sectors where private participation can improve efficiency, technology adoption, and competitiveness. CII Director General Chandrajit Banerjee highlighted the role of private enterprise in India’s growth. “A forward-looking privatisation policy, aligned with the vision of Viksit Bharat, will enable the government to focus on its core functions while empowering the private sector to accelerate industrial transformation and job creation,” he said, as quoted by ANI. To accelerate the government’s exit from non-strategic Public Sector Enterprises (PSEs), CII outlined a four-pronged strategy. First, CII recommended adopting a demand-led approach for selecting PSEs for privatisation. Contrary to short-listing entities and then checking the appetite for them, it was proposed that government needs to start by measuring market interest for a larger list of entities and short-list those with better interest and valuation. Second, the industry body called for announcing a rolling three-year privatisation pipeline in advance. According to CII, greater visibility would give investors time to plan, deepen participation, and improve price discovery. Third, CII proposed setting up a dedicated institutional mechanism to oversee privatisation. This would include a ministerial board for strategic direction, an advisory panel of industry and legal experts, and a professional execution team to handle due diligence, market engagement, and regulatory coordination. Fourth, acknowledging that complete privatisation is complex and time-consuming, CII suggested a calibrated disinvestment route as an interim measure. The government could initially reduce its stake in listed PSEs to 51 per cent, retaining management control, and later bring it down further to between 33 per cent and 26 per cent. CII estimated that lowering government ownership to 51 per cent in 78 listed PSEs could unlock nearly Rs 10 lakh crore. In the first two years, disinvestment in 55 PSEs could raise about Rs 4.6 lakh crore, followed by Rs 5.4 lakh crore from 23 additional enterprises. “A calibrated reduction of government stake balances strategic control with value creation,” Banerjee said, adding that the proceeds could fund healthcare, education, green infrastructure, and fiscal consolidation while maintaining control in strategic sectors. The Union Budget for 2026–27 will be presented on February 1.



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