Tesla has unveiled its largest sales and service hub in India, located in Gurugram, a northern city. This state-of-the-art facility integrates an experience showroom, charging infrastructure, and after-sales services under one roof. Despite this significant investment, Tesla continues to face challenges in the Indian market, with only around 100 cars sold since its high-profile debut in July this year, according to dealership data. Sources close to the company reveal that Tesla is now focusing on bolstering India’s EV ecosystem to rejuvenate its sales momentum. The company has not directly addressed inquiries regarding its underwhelming sales figures. Since its launch in July, Tesla has struggled to gain traction in India, with media reports indicating that it received bookings for just over 600 cars by mid-September. However, only a fraction of these bookings have translated into actual sales, even as competitors like BMW, BYD, and Mercedes Benz have reported robust sales, driven by festive demand and tax incentives. Tesla’s strategy to enhance its market presence includes a three-pronged approach: increasing EV adoption, expanding the charging station network, and improving customer experience. High taxes and slow adoption rates remain significant barriers to EV growth in India, with Tesla’s steep upfront prices posing an additional challenge. Speaking at the launch event, Tesla India head Sharad Agarwal highlighted the long-term cost benefits of owning a Tesla, estimating that buyers could save up to two million rupees ($22,400) over four years on fuel and maintenance costs. He also emphasized the advantages of remote software updates and the low cost of home charging. Despite the current low sales figures, industry experts like Hormazd Sorabjee, editor of Autocar India, believe that Tesla’s entry into the Indian market is strategic and holds potential for future growth. EVs currently account for less than 3% of passenger vehicle sales in India, and the country’s charging infrastructure remains underdeveloped, with only around 25,000 charging stations. Tesla is expanding its network, including superchargers that can deliver about 170 miles of range in just 15 minutes. Tesla’s struggles in India are part of a broader slowdown in demand across its major markets, including Europe, China, and the US. The company reported a 37% drop in profits for the third quarter of 2023, despite achieving record revenue of $28 billion. In India, Elon Musk has shown little interest in local manufacturing, opting instead for an import-led strategy, despite government incentives aimed at attracting global EV manufacturers.
标签： Asia
亚洲
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Anti-fraud effort defends public’s property, dignity
China’s relentless fight against telecom and online fraud has become a cornerstone of its efforts to safeguard public property and dignity. This year marks the fifth anniversary of Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law, which has guided the nation’s intensified crackdown on fraudulent activities. Beijing police officer Xing Yunwei highlights the challenges in convincing victims of scams, emphasizing the importance of protecting not just finances but also the peace of mind of the public. In one notable case, an elderly woman, targeted by online scammers, was persuaded to cooperate after persistent efforts by law enforcement, leading to the recovery of most of her stolen funds. The Anti-Telecom and Online Fraud Law, enacted in December 2022, has been pivotal in clarifying responsibilities across government departments, telecom operators, and financial institutions, ensuring efficient and accountable law enforcement. From 2021 to July 2025, China’s public security organs have solved nearly 1.74 million telecom-fraud cases, arrested 366,000 suspects, and intercepted billions of scam calls and messages. The national anti-fraud center has issued over 20 million fund early-warning alerts, and local police have conducted face-to-face visits to prevent potential victims from transferring money. Joint operations with countries like Myanmar, Thailand, and Cambodia have led to the apprehension of over 80,000 suspects. The campaign reflects China’s commitment to addressing urgent public issues, dismantling criminal organizations, and protecting legitimate rights and interests. Guided by Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law, law enforcement agencies continue to serve the people, ensuring a safer and more secure society.
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Cairo conference on Gaza reconstruction postponed
The highly anticipated Gaza reconstruction conference, initially scheduled for November in Cairo, has been postponed indefinitely due to escalating violence in Gaza and the West Bank. This delay has cast a shadow of uncertainty over the next phase of the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas. Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly had previously confirmed Egypt’s readiness to host the event during his speech at the G20 summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, but did not specify a date. According to Arabic outlet Asharq Al-Awsat, an Egyptian source revealed that the conference’s postponement stems from the ongoing Israeli escalation and repeated violations, which have left many countries demanding guarantees against future destruction in Gaza. These guarantees remain unsecured, further complicating the situation. Recent weeks have seen both Israel and Hamas accusing each other of breaching the truce, with the United Nations and various media outlets reporting Israeli strikes resulting in civilian casualties, including children. The Israel Defense Forces have justified their actions by claiming that Hamas fighters are emerging from underground tunnels and posing threats to their troops. Meanwhile, the Israeli Prime Minister’s office has emphasized that Hamas must uphold its commitments to mediators and return all hostages, including the remains of two captives still missing in Gaza. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has urged parties to maintain the ceasefire and capitalize on the diplomatic momentum, describing the October agreement as a ‘glimmer of hope.’ However, the postponement of the Cairo conference coincides with a new UN report highlighting the dire economic crisis in the occupied Palestinian Territory, which has erased 69 years of human development. The report estimates that the cost of Gaza’s reconstruction exceeds $70 billion, placing it among the top 10 worst global economic crises since 1960. Omer Behram Ozdemir, a lecturer at Ibn Haldun University in Turkiye, stressed that prolonged negotiations have exacerbated Gaza’s infrastructure damage and eroded its commercial potential. He called for significant funding from Gulf countries and Egypt to restore normalcy in Gaza, emphasizing that mere reconstruction of the city will not suffice.
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Political prisoners released in Myanmar mass amnesty
In a significant move ahead of the December 28 elections, Myanmar’s military rulers have granted amnesty to over 3,000 individuals detained for opposing army rule, while dropping charges against more than 5,500 others. The mass release, announced by state-run broadcaster MRTV on Wednesday, aims to ensure eligible voters can participate in the upcoming polls. On Thursday, at least eight buses carrying prisoners departed from Yangon’s Insein Prison, where families and friends eagerly awaited their loved ones since early morning. Among those released were Kyi Toe, a member of the National League for Democracy’s (NLD) central information committee, and freelance journalist Zaw Lin Htut, both arrested in 2021. However, there was no indication that former leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been held incommunicado since the 2021 military coup, would be freed. Critics argue that the election will lack fairness, citing the absence of free media and the imprisonment of most NLD leaders. The amnesty includes 3,085 prisoners convicted under the incitement law, which criminalizes spreading comments that create public unrest or fear. Additionally, 724 prisoners received conditional release, while 5,580 individuals facing incitement charges were granted amnesty. According to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, 22,708 political detainees, including Suu Kyi, remain in custody. The 80-year-old Suu Kyi is serving a 27-year sentence following what supporters describe as politically motivated prosecutions. The 2021 military takeover sparked widespread nonviolent resistance, which has since evolved into an armed struggle.
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BBC on the scene of the Hong Kong apartment block blaze
A devastating fire engulfed a residential building in Hong Kong, resulting in the tragic loss of at least 44 lives. The blaze, which broke out unexpectedly, required an arduous 18-hour effort by local firefighting teams to fully extinguish. Emergency responders faced significant challenges in controlling the inferno, highlighting the intensity and complexity of the situation. The incident has sent shockwaves through the community, raising concerns about fire safety measures in densely populated urban areas. Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the fire and to assess whether existing safety protocols were adequately followed. This tragedy underscores the urgent need for enhanced fire prevention strategies and improved emergency response systems in Hong Kong’s residential infrastructure.
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More than 30 dead and 14 missing as heavy rains trigger landslides and floods in Sri Lanka
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka — Sri Lanka has been plunged into chaos as relentless heavy rains triggered catastrophic landslides and widespread flooding, claiming the lives of over 30 people and leaving 14 others missing, officials reported on Thursday. The disaster has particularly ravaged the central provinces of Badulla and Nuwara Eliya, renowned for their tea-growing mountainous terrain, located approximately 300 kilometers east of the capital, Colombo.
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Muslim Brotherhood says Trump’s terror designation is ‘detached from reality’
The Muslim Brotherhood has strongly criticized U.S. President Donald Trump’s executive order to designate certain chapters of the group as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs), labeling it as ‘detached from reality’ and politically motivated. In a statement released via their official X account on Wednesday, the group asserted that Trump’s claims of their involvement in terrorist activities were ‘unsupported by evidence.’ They argued that the order lacked credible legal or security foundations and warned that it sets a dangerous precedent. The statement further accused Trump of succumbing to pressure from Israel and the UAE, two nations historically hostile to the Brotherhood, and claimed the order undermines U.S. national security and regional stability. The Muslim Brotherhood emphasized that independent organizations in Muslim countries, while sharing a common Islamic ideology, operate autonomously and lawfully within their respective nations. They highlighted their long history of peaceful social, religious, and political engagement. The Brotherhood, founded in Egypt in the late 1920s, gained prominence during the 2011 Arab protests but has faced significant opposition from regional powers like Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. The group’s brief political ascendancy in Egypt ended with the 2013 coup that ousted President Mohamed Morsi. The Brotherhood remains a contentious issue in the region, with many monarchies viewing it as a threat to their rule.
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Epstein and Alan Dershowitz colluded to attack John Mearsheimer over ‘Israeli lobby’ paper: Report
Newly uncovered emails reveal that convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and prominent lawyer Alan Dershowitz collaborated to discredit political scientists John Mearsheimer and Stephen Walt following their controversial 2006 paper on the influence of the Israeli Lobby in the US. The emails, reported by Drop Site News, show Epstein praising Dershowitz’s rebuttal titled “Debunking the Newest – and Oldest – Jewish Conspiracy” and promising to circulate it among his contacts. Epstein, who was later convicted of sexual offenses, described Dershowitz’s attack on the academics as “terrific.” Dershowitz, a Harvard law professor and frequent media commentator, has long defended Israeli policies, including illegal settlements and actions in the occupied West Bank and Gaza. At the time of their collaboration, Dershowitz was also representing Epstein in a legal case that resulted in Epstein’s 2008 guilty plea for a sexual offense. Mearsheimer and Walt’s work, which later became the book *The Israeli Lobby and US Foreign Policy*, faced intense backlash from pro-Israel groups and was criticized by prominent figures like Strobe Talbott of the Brookings Institution. The authors argued that powerful supporters of Israel, including think tanks and philanthropic organizations, exerted undue influence on US foreign policy. Despite their academic credentials, Mearsheimer and Walt faced significant pushback, including the cancellation of a scheduled talk by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs. Mearsheimer, a leading realist theorist, has gained recent recognition for his accurate prediction of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, though his views on NATO’s role in the conflict have sparked controversy in Washington.
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Asahi says 1.5 million customers’ data leaked in cyber-attack
Japanese beverage giant Asahi has disclosed the severe impact of a ransomware attack that struck its operations in September, potentially compromising the personal information of over 1.5 million customers. The cyber-attack, which targeted Asahi’s data centers, forced the company to revert to manual processes, significantly disrupting its production and distribution systems. Asahi confirmed that the personal details of individuals who interacted with its customer service centers were likely exposed, including names, genders, addresses, and contact information. Additionally, data belonging to approximately 107,000 current and former employees, along with 168,000 family members, were also potentially leaked. The attack, attributed to the ransomware group Qilin, encrypted Asahi’s data and demanded a ransom for its release. While credit card details were not compromised, the breach has raised significant concerns about data security. Asahi has delayed its full-year financial results to focus on mitigating the attack’s fallout and restoring its systems. The company has assured that its European operations, including brands like Peroni and Fuller’s Brewery, remain unaffected. Asahi’s president, Atsushi Katsuki, apologized for the disruptions and emphasized efforts to strengthen cybersecurity measures. The attack has also led to temporary shortages of Asahi products in Japan, where the company holds a 40% market share. This incident follows a series of high-profile cyber-attacks on global corporations, highlighting the growing threat of ransomware in the digital age.
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Watch: Dawn aerial vision reveals scale of Hong Kong blaze
A devastating fire broke out at Wang Fuk Court in Hong Kong, with over 800 firefighters mobilized to combat the raging inferno. The blaze, which continued into the early hours of the morning, was captured in dramatic aerial footage, revealing the sheer scale of the disaster. The footage, taken at dawn, showed thick plumes of smoke billowing into the sky and flames consuming multiple structures. Emergency services worked tirelessly to contain the fire, with the situation remaining critical as the day progressed. Authorities have yet to determine the cause of the fire, but initial reports suggest it may have started in a residential area. The incident has raised concerns about fire safety measures in densely populated urban areas. No casualties have been reported so far, but the extent of property damage is significant. The community has been urged to remain vigilant and follow safety protocols as investigations continue.