China's Great Wall Motor has shelved plans to invest $1 billion in India and laid off all employees at its operations after failing to obtain regulatory approvals , three sources with direct knowledge of the matter said on Friday. The Chinese automaker has been planning to enter the Indian market since 2020 but now becomes one of the biggest casualties of New Delhi's increased scrutiny of investments from Beijing . Without directly commenting on the exit, a Great Wall statement said the company "would like to thank all the members of Indian team for their contribution", adding that it would continue to study the Indian market and look for opportunities in the future. Key market for Great Wall Great Wall's India entry plan was announced with great fanfare during the country's biennial auto show in January 2020. India was a key market for the Chinese SUV manufacturer's global expansion plans and the company had envisioned a plant that would be its biggest outside China. … [Read more...] about China’s Great Wall Motor shelves $1 billion India plan, fires all employees
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GM calls off plan to sell India car plant to China’s Great Wall
General Motors (GM) said on Friday it had called off the sale of a shuttered Indian plant to China’s Great Wall Motor after they failed to obtain regulatory approvals, amid a tougher stance by New Delhi towards investments from Beijing. GM struck a deal in January 2020 to sell the plant to Great Wall, with the Chinese SUV-maker expected to pay up to $300 million as part of a broader plan to invest $1 billion to establish a presence in India's growing car market. The agreement, which was extended twice, expired on June 30. “We have been unable to obtain the required approvals within the time frame of the deal,” George Svigos, executive director of communications at GM International, told Reuters . “Our strategy in India remains unchanged and we will now explore further options for the sale of the site,” he said, adding the company “hopes to achieve a price that reflects the value of the asset”. “Great Wall Motor will keep its attention to the Indian market in the future and … [Read more...] about GM calls off plan to sell India car plant to China’s Great Wall
Transfer News: Chelsea Joins Hunt for Barcelona Midfielder Frenkie de Jong
With plenty of uncertainties hovering around Frenkie de Jong’s potential transfer to Manchester United, a new club have arrived as a possible new destination for the Barcelona footballer. As per media reports, Chelsea are set to earmark De Jong in the ongoing summer transfer window as a potential target. A report published by The Guardian claims that the London club are closely following the progress of the 25-year-old’s transfer talks and will not waste any opportunity if his potential move to The Red Devils eventually breaks down. The report further states that United had agreed on a fee of €65 million (£56.2 million) plus add-ons for De Jong. Further negotiations will be evolving around De Jong’s personal terms. It is believed that the Dutchman is ready to sign for Manchester United despite earlier stating that he has no intention at all to leave Barcelona. ALSO READ | Mohamed Salah Becomes Liverpool’s Highest-paid Footballer after New Contract Chelsea’s interest in De … [Read more...] about Transfer News: Chelsea Joins Hunt for Barcelona Midfielder Frenkie de Jong
Biden Administration Seems Content With High Gas Prices As Americans’ Wallets Take A Hit
The Biden administration is doubling down on having Americans suffer through high gas prices in order to hit back at Russia for its invasion of Ukraine. Americans across the country continue to struggle with high gas prices, with the national average sitting at over $4.80 a gallon as of Friday morning, according to AAA. Meanwhile, President Joe Biden and top officials within the administration have tried to fully skirt blame for the prices, dubbing the high costs “Putin’s Price Hike.” Although Russia’s invasion of Ukraine back in February – and Biden’s subsequent decision to ban Russian oil imports – have played a role in skyrocketing prices, the cost of gas had been rising long before the war. Now, as the midterm elections loom and questions swirl around whether Biden is the best man for the job in 2024, the administration is continuing to argue that the price Americans are paying is necessary. (RELATED: ‘An Incredible Transition’: Biden Suggests Soaring Gas Prices Are … [Read more...] about Biden Administration Seems Content With High Gas Prices As Americans’ Wallets Take A Hit
Jon Stewart: This Is the Moment GOP Ditches Trump for DeSantis
On the same day that Joe Rogan endorsed Florida Governor Ron DeSantis for president in 2024, Jon Stewart convened a “special emergency session” of the podcast that seems to have replaced his Apple TV+ show to explain why he believes this week’s bombshell Jan. 6 Committee hearing will be the last straw for Donald Trump in the Republican Party. “I think the larger development from yesterday,” Stewart said, referring to Cassidy Hutchinson’s testimony, “is that more Republicans have decided Ron DeSantis is a better option. This is just too much.” While there was “nothing surprising” about how we now know Trump behaved on the day of the insurrection, the host said the difference now is that Republicans have a clear alternative. “Now they know where they’re going,” he said. “And they can steer away from Trump feeling confident. He’s lost his utility. They never fucking liked him. But he’s starting to lose his utility.” “They’re starting to realize they’ve got a guy who they … [Read more...] about Jon Stewart: This Is the Moment GOP Ditches Trump for DeSantis
Danai Gurira on Starring in Robert O’Hara’s ‘Richard III’: ‘It Should Be a Historical Play, But It’s Actually a Political Thriller’
Click here to read the full article. Robert O’Hara , the Tony Award-nominated director and acclaimed playwright, sat beneath a tree near the side of the Delacorte Theater in Central Park. On the opening night of “ Richard III ,” a searing adaptation of Shakespeare’s tragedy mounted by O’Hara and The Public Theater in Central Park this summer, the director shied away from the photographers and the spotlight. Before taking his seat in the back of the house, watching restlessly as directors do on opening nights, he sat beneath a tree in the quiet and talked about Richard. More from Variety Shakespeare in the Park to Return With 'Richard III' Featuring Danai Gurira and 'As You Like It' 'Reopening Night' Documentary Chronicles Shakespeare in the Park During COVID: 'We Opened in Chaos' How Rudy Valdez Brought Shakespeare in the Park's 'Reopening Night' to Life for HBO “We all look more like the devil than we think we do,” O’Hara told Variety , breathing … [Read more...] about Danai Gurira on Starring in Robert O’Hara’s ‘Richard III’: ‘It Should Be a Historical Play, But It’s Actually a Political Thriller’
Theft during ‘I-T raid’: two more persons arrested
The special investigation team (SIT) probing the theft of 300 grams of gold and a sum of ₹1.8 lakh from the house of a goldsmith in Aluva, reportedly by a four-member gang who posed as Income Tax officials, arrested two more persons from Goa on Friday. The arrested are David Diaz, 35, and Ramee Vas, 52, of Bogmallo and Panaji respectively. The police had earlier arrested two persons, a native of Goa and another from Kannur, in the case. The theft took place at Sanjay’s house during the day on June 5. Sanjay, originally from Maharashtra but settled in Ernakulam for over three decades, sought the identity documents of the accused. They reportedly flashed their “ID cards” on their mobile phones, and claimed that the “raid” was in the wake of a tip-off about illegal gold trade. The accused reportedly seized the mobile phones of the family members and made them sit in the drawing room, as they rummaged through the house for around one-and-a-half hours. They allegedly took away 200 … [Read more...] about Theft during ‘I-T raid’: two more persons arrested
P.C. George arrested, released on bail in sexual assault case
The Museum police on Saturday arrested Kerala Janapaksham (Secular) leader, P. C. George on the charge of behaving in a sexually inappropriate manner towards a woman named as prime accused in the politically stormy solar investment fraud case. The police booked him on the charge of outraging the modesty of a woman under Sections 354 and 354 (A) of the Indian Penal Code. A magistrate court released Mr. George on conditional bail. High drama and vindictive politics marked Mr. George’s high-profile arrest. Mr. George alleged the case was “false, fabricated and orchestrated by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to exact political vengeance.” He warned Mr. Vijayan to brace for a "decent" payback. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) State president K. Surendran said Mr. George was the victim of a political witch hunt. Of late, Mr. George had expressed support to the Sangh Parivar cause. Mr. George said the complainant was the architect of an elaborate scheme to defraud investors by falsely … [Read more...] about P.C. George arrested, released on bail in sexual assault case
Andhra Pradesh: APSRTC defends diesel cess hike
Amid protests by the opposition parties against the hike in diesel cess imposed by the AP State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC), the corporation management has defended the move citing recent hike in the price of diesel. In a statement on Saturday, corporation’s Executive Director (Operations) K.S. Brahmananda Reddy said due to the hike in the price of diesel, the APSRTC was left with no choice but to increase the cess on diesel, which resulted in marginal hike in ticket rates. He said the corporation had taken care to ensure that the common man was not overburdened by the move, and appealed to the public to understand and extend their cooperation. He said even in the wake of serious financial constraints faced by the corporation, which had made the maintenance of buses an uphill task, APSRTC had not increased the bus fare keeping in mind the welfare of the public. “The recent cess hike is inevitable. The marginal increase in the diesel cess effected in April this year was … [Read more...] about Andhra Pradesh: APSRTC defends diesel cess hike
Poll: Trump Towers over 2024 Field, Has 40-Point Lead over Closest Competitor
A 2024 Republican presidential primary poll shows former President Donald J. Trump holding a colossal 40-point lead over the rest of the potential field if he decides to run. The Harvard CAPS-Harris poll, obtained by the Hill , reveals that Trump drew 56 percent of respondents’ support, while 16 percent chose Gov. Ron Desantis (R-FL), making him the second leading candidate. Former Vice President Mike Pence garnered seven percent of the response if Trump were to run. Trump has repeatedly teased and hinted at a 2024 bid since December 2020, including at CPAC earlier this year and a Georgia rally in March. He more recently told the New Yorker he is “very close to making a decision.” Trump recently spoke about the possibility squaring off with DeSantis in the 2024 primaries. “I don’t know if Ron is running, and I don’t ask him,” he told the New Yorker . “It’s his prerogative. I think I would win.” The idea of a Trump-DeSantis ticket in 2024 has also made headlines, … [Read more...] about Poll: Trump Towers over 2024 Field, Has 40-Point Lead over Closest Competitor