Harsh Goenka posts old pic of 3 Indian CEOs in Azerbaijan. Can you name them?
'In better times, when I visited Baku, Azerbaijan, I took this photo from behind of three CEOs/friends whom I had gone with! How many can you identify?' he wrote.Take a look at the post here:Two individuals in the image were identified almost immediately. The man on the left was recognised as Vikram Mehta, the former CEO of Shell India, who holds degrees from St. Stephen's College and Oxford University. The person in the centre was none other than Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani. In the image, Ambani was seen strolling without any visible security, while holding an older model of the iPhone.The identity of the third person remains unknown, with Goenka refusing to reveal it. He confirmed that the man is neither Harsh Mariwala nor Sanjeev Bikhchandani, names many had guessed in the comments.advertisementThe post not just gained traction for the mystery around the unidentified CEOs but also for Goenka's blunt assessment of Baku. In a reply to one of the comments, he described the city as a 'useless place.'His comment comes at a time when Indian travellers are distancing themselves from Azerbaijan following its public support for Pakistan after 'Operation Sindoor'. Turkey too backed Pakistan during the same period.Trending Reel
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Time of India
29 minutes ago
- Time of India
Stalin urges centre's intervention for release of 7 fishermen held by Sri Lanka
Madurai: Chief minister M K Stalin has urged the Union government to take urgent diplomatic steps to secure the release of seven Rameswaram fishermen apprehended by the Sri Lankan navy in the early hours of Sunday. In a letter to Union external affairs minister S Jaishankar, Stalin expressed concern over the recurring arrests of Tamil Nadu fishermen and called for immediate measures to end the continued harassment of those operating in the Palk Strait. "I urge the Union government to engage all available diplomatic channels to bring an end to these continued apprehensions. I further request that urgent and effective steps be taken to secure the release of all detained fishermen and their boats at the earliest," he said. Stalin also highlighted that 50 fishermen and 232 Tamil Nadu fishing vessels remain in Sri Lankan custody this year, compounding the economic and emotional hardship faced by their families. The latest incident occurred around 2 am on Sunday when a mechanised trawler (IND-TN-10-MM-746), owned by V Isaac Paul of Thangachimadam, was intercepted near Neduntheevu by the Sri Lankan navy. The boat, which had left Rameswaram with valid fishing tokens issued by the fisheries department, was reportedly operating close to the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) when it was seized. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like What Is a Family Trust, and How Do You Set One Up? SmartAsset Learn More Undo The arrested fishermen were identified as B Ruther, 40, P Edison, 48, K Anbalagan, 45, M Jegadeesh, 42, all from Thangachimadam; A Shanmugam, 56, F Dalvin Raj, 42 from Rameswaram; and M Sakthivel, 43, from Keerathurai in Madurai. They were initially detained at Kankesanthurai port and later remanded to judicial custody in Jaffna prison. In a separate incident, the same morning, another mechanised boat (IND-TN-10-MM-1040), owned by Maria Seeron of Rameswaram, reportedly sustained significant damage after being hit by a Sri Lankan navy patrol vessel between Katchatheevu and Neduntheevu. However, the seven fishermen on board, Stalin, Muneeswaran, Viyakulam, Columbus, Nagesh, Stephen, and Sarath Kumar, escaped unhurt and returned safely to the Rameswaram jetty. In the past two weeks alone, aside from this latest arrest, 15 Indian fishermen have been remanded to judicial custody in two separate incidents, with their custody extended after initial hearings. J R Jesu Raja, leader of the Rameswaram Fishermen Association, condemned the arrests, stating, "The fishermen had no intention to violate international boundaries. The Sri Lankan navy is harassing them under the pretext of enforcement. One of the boats was even damaged while being chased." He appealed to both the Union and state governments to take a firm stand to ensure the safety of Indian fishermen. MSID:: 122420464 413 |
Indian Express
40 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Indian fertilizer firms sign pacts for yearly import of 3.1 mn MT of DAP from Saudi
Three Indian fertilizer companies — IPL, KRIBHCO and Coromandel — have signed agreements with Ma'aden, the Saudi Arabian major, for importing 3.1 million metric tonnes of Diammonium Phosphate (DAP) per annum for five years from 2025–26. The agreements were signed during Chemicals and Fertilizers Minister JP Nadda's visit to Dammam and Riyadh between July 11 and 13. Saudi Arabia is a major source of India's fertilizer imports, and Ma'aden is a leading producer. In 2024–25, India imported 19.05 LMT of DAP from the kingdom, a 17 per cent increase over 16.29 LMT during 2023–24. 'With the signing of these long-term agreements for DAP, the supply of DAP will enhance to 30 LMT from FY 2025–26 onwards,' said an official statement. According to officials, Nadda's visit to Saudi Arabia focused on enhancing bilateral cooperation in the field of chemicals and fertilizers. He led a delegation that included the secretary and other senior officials from the Department of Fertilizers and Ministry of External Affairs. On the last day of his visit, Nadda held discussions with the Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, Bandar bin Ibrahim Al Khorayef, in Riyadh on mechanisms to strengthen partnerships in the fertilizer, petrochemical and pharmaceutical sectors. 'The two Ministers also witnessed the signing of Long-Term Agreements between Ma'aden and Indian companies—viz. IPL, KRIBHCO and Coromandel Fertilizers & Chemicals Co.—for supply of 3.1 million MT of DAP fertilizer per annum for five years from 2025–26 onwards, with further extension of five years with mutual consent,' said a statement. 'Both sides underscored their commitment to broadening the scope of bilateral relations to include other key fertilizers such as Urea along with DAP and NPKS, aiming to further ensure India's fertilizer security. Discussions were also held on facilitating mutual investments, with a focus on exploring opportunities for Indian Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) to invest in the Saudi fertilizer sector, and reciprocally, Saudi investments in India,' the statement said. 'Additionally, the leaders deliberated on avenues for collaborative research, especially in developing India-specific customised and alternative fertilizers to enhance agricultural productivity and sustainability. In addition, a joint team has been set up, led by the Secretary (Fertilizer) on the Indian side and the Vice Minister for Mining Affairs in the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources on the Saudi side, to explore long-term collaboration in this sector,' it added. During his visit, Nadda also held a bilateral meeting with Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman Al Saud, Minister of Energy, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and co-chair of the Economy and Investment Committee of the Strategic Partnership Council between India and Saudi Arabia, on ways to enhance the economic partnership between the two countries. The Prince also hosted a lunch in honour of Nadda. Nadda also met Abdulaziz Al-Rumaih, Saudi Vice Minister of Health in Riyadh on July 13. 'They discussed ways to enhance cooperation in the medical sector, health services, pharmaceuticals, digital health solutions, and knowledge exchange,' said the statement. In this context, they noted the significance of the bilateral MoU on Health signed during the recent State Visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Saudi Arabia. Nadda 'highly' appreciated Saudi Arabia's support to Indian pilgrims during Haj 2025 and discussed medical arrangements for the forthcoming Haj 2026, as per the statement. On the second day (July 12) of his visit, Nadda, along with the accompanying delegation, visited Ma'aden facilities at Ras Al Khair and had a tour of the phosphate production plant. 'They were received by Mr. Hassan Al Ali, Chairman, Ma'aden Phosphate, and other senior officials of Ma'aden,' the statement said. On the first day (July 11) of Nadda's visit, the Chairman of the Saudi-India Business Council, Abdulaziz bin Abdul Hadi Al Qahtani, hosted a dinner in honour of the Minister of Chemicals & Fertilizers in Dammam in the presence of the business community from the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. Nadda's visit highlighted the strong economic ties between India and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, particularly in the area of fertilizers, as per sources. 'The visit secured important commitments for the long-term supply of fertilizers from Saudi Arabia to India,' it said Harikishan Sharma, Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express' National Bureau, specializes in reporting on governance, policy, and data. He covers the Prime Minister's Office and pivotal central ministries, such as the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare, Ministry of Cooperation, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Ministry of Rural Development, and Ministry of Jal Shakti. His work primarily revolves around reporting and policy analysis. In addition to this, he authors a weekly column titled "STATE-ISTICALLY SPEAKING," which is prominently featured on The Indian Express website. In this column, he immerses readers in narratives deeply rooted in socio-economic, political, and electoral data, providing insightful perspectives on these critical aspects of governance and society. ... Read More
Indian Express
2 hours ago
- Indian Express
Tibet-related issues thorn in India-China relations: Envoy
Tibet-related issues including reincarnation of the Dalai Lama are a 'thorn' in India-China bilateral relations and they have become a 'burden' for New Delhi, the Chinese embassy said Sunday. The remarks came ahead of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar's visit to China to attend a conclave of the SCO. It would be Jaishankar's first visit to China since 2020 military standoff along the LAC in eastern Ladakh. In the last few months, India and China have initiated a number of measures to repair the bilateral ties after completing the disengagement of troops from the last of the two face-off sites in October last year. Earlier this month, the Dalai Lama asserted that a trust of Tibetan Buddhists will have the sole authority to recognise his future reincarnation. China reacted angrily to the remarks by the Dalai Lama. In a social media post on Sunday, Chinese embassy spokesperson Yu Jing said that members of the strategic and academic communities, including former officials, had made 'improper remarks' regarding the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama 'contrary' to Indian government's public stance.
