Willing to share...: China as Iran eyes its 'Vigorous Dragon' jets after drubbing
With its 12-day conflict with Israel crippling its air defences, and exposing the vulnerability of its air force, Iran has reached out to China to modernise its ageing Cold War-era jets.The J-10C, a 4.5th-generation multirole aircraft, has only been sold to Pakistan by China so far. China has positioned the jet as an alternative to the French Rafale and the US F-16.While Iran, the largest oil supplier to China, has previously expressed interest in the J-10C jets, the conflict with Israel has acted as a catalyst to revamp its air force.This is so because, as Israel and the United States struck its nuclear facilities, Iran couldn't even scramble its jets, let alone intercept the airstrikes.Iran's move comes after a deal to purchase Russian Su-35 aircraft made no headway. Moreover, Iran's faith in Russia seems to have diminished, with Moscow offering little more than diplomatic support it during the conflict, which left over 600 dead.Days after Iran agreed to a ceasefire with Israel, its defence minister, Aziz Nasirzadeh, visited China for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit and met defence officials on the sidelines.Reports said during the meeting with Chinese defence officials, Nasirzadeh explored the possibility of purchasing the J-10C jets.- Ends
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Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Caviar is making its way to desi dinners and shop shelves as India develops a taste for the exotic
On a recent afternoon in Mumbai, shoppers at Food Square's Worli gourmet store paused to inspect the contents of a glass counter. There were tins of French caviar—sleek, chilled and ready to be scooped onto warm blinis or canapés. Not many moons ago, these translucent pearls of roe were not found in neighbourhood stores. They were confined to billionaires' banquets or the hush of first-class cabins. But now caviar—saltcured fish eggs, traditionally from sturgeon—is quietly crossing into India's retail stores. Paris-based Kaviari has landed in India with 30 gram-jars. Meanwhile, Bengaluru-based Caviar India promises two-day delivery across metros while Catch of Norway, also from the same city, claims it can drop fresh tins at a doorstep in Kerala or Karnataka by sundown. A 30 g jar of royal beluga caviar, the finest, costs over ₹20,000. As global luxury recalibrates to make space for the aspirational Indian consumer, caviar has become both a culinary curiosity and a discreet social flex. Demand has grown enough to spark exclusive import tie-ups, B2B partnerships with fine-dining restaurants and pop-up tasting events. 'The demand has remained robust, with a strong growth potential,' says Lalit Jhawar, cofounder and CEO of Food Square, the gourmet grocery store based in Mumbai. 'Our audience keeps expanding—culinary enthusiasts, chefs and individuals seeking a luxurious lifestyle.' Live Events FLYING FISH If there's one reason caviar is turning up on Indian dining tables and Instagram feeds, it's because importers and retailers have learned to package the old-world delicacy as accessible luxury. Instead of 250-gram tins reserved for private clubs, today's consumers can buy 10or 30-gram jars—just enough for a special dinner or a house party. 'We are seeing a growing demand for smaller tins,' says Jhawar. 'Customers want to indulge without the commitment of large quantities.' At Food Square, which began selling caviar soon after its launch in late 2023, smaller pack sizes and reliable cold chain logistics have been crucial. Rugved Vartak , category head at Food Square, says, 'In the past, caviar would arrive grainy or mushy because the cold chain was compromised. Now, we fly in new batches every fortnight and check every shipment.' The store lists Kaviari's 30-gram tins for around ₹8,000. They also stock mother-ofpearl spoons that are traditionally used to scoop caviar instead of steel or silver cutlery that could leave a metallic aftertaste. Vartak adds, 'We also work closely with chefs like Varun Totlani (Masque and Paradox), Hussain Shahzad (Papa's Cafe), Prateek Sadhu ( Naar ) and Will Aghajanian (Table), so the product reaches diners in some of the most creative formats.' Restaurants have played their part in familiarising diners with caviar. At Paradox in Mumbai, Totlani serves caviar in many ways: with warm cheese bread and herb dip, or in a cocktail called Cheap Date laced with caviar, or as 'caviar bump' where the roe is dolloped on the back of a guest's hand. Says Totlani, 'A lot of our guests are world travellers, so they have tried caviar before. But even those ordering it for a lark love it. Our tins are flying off the shelves.' Diners are increasingly curious about provenance and grade, asking chefs whether the tin contains the roe of beluga, ossetra or sevruga. 'People ask me which caviar I have,' says Manu Chandra, founder-partner, Manu Chandra Enterprises , which runs, among others, the Bengalurubased restaurant Lupa and the bespoke catering service Single Thread. 'They know that ossetra is high-grade and that provenance matters.' Vartak says his regular clients host caviar parties, sometimes pairing it with champagne. WALKING ON EGGSHELLS While there is demand, importing caviar into India is neither simple nor cheap. Every batch must carry paperwork from the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) to prove the sturgeon wasn't poached, a step that has grown stricter as the Caspian Sea populations dwindle. Wild beluga sturgeon is now classified as critically endangered. Most caviar sold in India comes from farmed stocks in Europe or China, where large aquaculture facilities have ramped up production. Strict cold-chain requirements to maintain texture and import duties can swell prices by up to 50%. 'The biggest challenge is ensuring the supply chain stays intact,' says Vartak. 'Even minor temperature fluctuations can ruin a tin.' Improvements in cold chain facilities have made premium brands more confident about entering the Indian market. However, ethical questions remain. According to animal welfare organisation Beauty Without Cruelty, production of caviar almost always involves killing the fish. Large aquaculture facilities that supply most of the world's caviar are trying to allay these fears. They promise traceability and less impact on wild stocks with controlled breeding tanks and highlight sustainability certifications on tins, noting details such as farm of origin, ethical harvesting practices and traditional malossol (low-salt, preservative-free) curing. Importers say these labels have become a selling point for discerning buyers. Even farmed caviar is highly regulated, tightly rationed and eternally expensive—a reason why caviar cannot truly be a massmarket luxury. MAKE IN INDIA? If importing caviar is complicated, producing it domestically is even more improbable—at least for now. Yet the idea persists in India's culinary circles: what if the country could someday farm its own sturgeon and sidestep the costs and uncertainties of global supply chains? Globally, aquaculture is the only scalable way to produce caviar without driving wild sturgeon to extinction. China has sprawling tank farms while French and Italian producers have invested heavily in recirculating aquaculture systems. In India, this possibility has flickered to life in policy discussions. The National Fisheries Development Board has funded feasibility studies and pilot projects on sturgeon farming. Jhawar believes the model is technically viable: 'Globally, the caviar industry is embracing recirculating aquaculture systems, and that approach could work here too.' But the reality is different. Sturgeon are slow to mature, often taking 7 to 14 years before they yield roe suitable for harvesting. They require cold, clean, spring-like water conditions—far from typical Indian aquaculture environments. Regulatory hurdles are steep, with strict controls on importing live sturgeon or fertilised eggs for breeding. Even as caviar becomes more visible, it remains among the most expensive delicacies in India's food ecosystem. Chandra, who occasionally serves ossetra roe by the tin, describes caviar as a costprohibitive, perishable indulgence that few diners request more than once: 'It's still a high-luxury product, and prices have never really rationalised in India.'
Fibre2Fashion
an hour ago
- Fibre2Fashion
Uncertainty over AGOA puts African apparel exports at risk
Pic: Pinar Alver / Insights Rising uncertainty and new Trump-era tariffs are destabilising fragile African textile industries. Lesotho has already declared a national state of disaster. With AGOA expiring soon, fears are growing across sub-Saharan Africa. The rollback or expiry of AGOA could stall two decades of economic progress. As the US shrinks aid, countries including China and India are working to establish closer ties. To read the full story, become a PRIME member today. All Corporate Members and TexPro Subscribers are eligible to access F2F PRIME CONTENT using the same login credentials. Latest News Insights Latest News Insights Exclusive Industry Articles & Features Exclusive Industry Articles & Features Detailed Article Analytics & Insights Digital Edition of Fibre2Fashion Magazine Digital Edition of Fibre2Fashion Magazine Get notified in your mailbox
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Donald Trump announces 30% tariffs on EU, Mexico
US President Donald Trump on Saturday announced he's levying tariffs of 30 per cent against the and Mexico starting Aug 1, a move that could cause massive upheaval between US and two of its biggest trade partners. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Trump detailed the planned tariffs in letters posted to his social media account. They are part of an announcement blitz by Trump of new tariffs with allies and foes alike, a bedrock of his 2024 campaign that he said would set the foundation for reviving a US economy that he claims has been ripped off by other nations for decades. In his letter to Mexico's leader, President Claudia Sheinbaum, Trump acknowledged that the country has been helpful in stemming the flow of undocumented migrants and fentanyl into US. But he said the country has not done enough to stop North America from turning into a "narco-trafficking playground". "Mexico has been helping me secure the border, BUT, what Mexico has done, is not enough," Trump added. Trump in his letter to the European Union said that the US trade deficit was a national security threat. EU says it still wants US trade deal "We have had years to discuss our Trading Relationship with The European Union, and we have concluded we must move away from these long-term, large, and persistent, Trade Deficits, engendered by your Tariff, and Non-Tariff, Policies, and Trade Barriers," Trump wrote in the letter to the EU. "Our relationship has been, unfortunately, far from Reciprocal." The letters come in the midst of an on-and-off Trump threat to impose tariffs on countries and right an imbalance in trade. Trump in April imposed tariffs on dozens of countries, before pausing them for 90 days to negotiate individual deals. As the three-month grace period ended this week, Trump began sending his tariff letters to leaders but again has pushed back the implementation day for what he says will be just a few more weeks. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now If he moves forward with the tariffs, it could have ramifications for nearly every aspect of the global economy. European Union Commission president Ursula von der Leyen responded by noting the bloc's "commitment to dialogue, stability, and a constructive transatlantic partnership." "At the same time, we will take all necessary steps to safeguard EU interests, including the adoption of proportionate countermeasures if required," von der Leyen said in a statement. Von der Leyen added that the EU remains committed to continuing negotiations with the US and coming to an agreement before Aug 1. Trade ministers from EU countries are scheduled to meet Monday to discuss trade relations with the US, as well as with China. European leaders joined von der Leyen in urging Trump to give negotiations more time and warnings of possible new tariffs on Washington. "With European unity, it is more than ever up to the Commission to assert the Union's determination to resolutely defend European interests," French President Emmanuel Macron said in a statement posted on X. Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni's office said "it would make no sense to trigger a trade war between the two sides of the Atlantic". European leaders had held out hope that they would avoid receiving a letter, and that a deal would be worked out. The bloc collectively sells more to the US than any other country. US goods imports from the EU topped $553 billion in 2022, according to the Office of the US Trade Representative. Europe's biggest exports to the US were pharmaceuticals, cars, aircraft, chemicals, medical instruments and spirits. Trump has complained about the EU's 198 billion-euro trade surplus in goods, which shows Americans buy more goods from Europe than the other way around. However, American companies fill some of the gap by outselling the EU when it comes to services such as cloud computing, travel bookings, and legal and financial services. With the reciprocal tariffs, Trump is effectively blowing up the rules governing world trade. For decades, the United States and most other countries abided by tariff rates set through a series of complex negotiations known as the Uruguay round. Countries could set their own tariffs, but under the 'most favoured nation' approach, they couldn't charge one country more than they charged another
