Latest news with #Jafar
Indian Express
3 days ago
- Business
- Indian Express
Around Town: Why everyone — from Salman Khan to Azim Premji — stops by Worli's iconic 80-year-old City Bakery
Businessman and philanthropist Azim Premji may be based in Bengaluru, but the former Wipro chairman makes a special pit stop whenever he visits Mumbai. On his way from the airport to his residence, he stops at the iconic City Bakery on Annie Besant Road in Worli, steps out of the car, and picks up fluffy pavs and jeera butter for himself — a ritual that, as we learn from the third generation running the bakery, has been going on for decades. Spend just ten minutes outside the bakery, and you'll see a wide range of customers making quick dashes, some stocking up on daily essentials like bread, pav, and biscuits, others indulging in their beloved buttercream pastries. The bakery, which boasts a now-defunct but iconic chimney with City Bakery boldly painted in red, was established in 1945 as a 'pav bakery' by an Iranian gentleman, Haji Mohammad Jarrahiam, a man of sharp business acumen who came to Bombay during World War II. 'Back then, every cross-section of the city had at least four Irani restaurants because Hindus considered the corner shops inauspicious and avoided setting up shop there. It was also common for one person to have small stakes in multiple restaurants, similar to owning shares in different companies,' shared Jafar Dashti, 60, who, along with his younger brother Mehdi, 53, represents the third generation custodian of the bakery. 'My maternal grandfather was a visionary. Although very small, he had stakes in as many as 78 restaurants in the city. He built significant wealth through this model.' But there was a supply issue — all those restaurants needed pav, and Jarrahiam was struggling with suppliers. 'When he found a vacant plot (the current premises on Annie Besant Road), he and two Parsi bawas decided to set up their own bhatti and make their own pav. He had enough restaurants of his own that even without external customers, the bakery could do well,' Jafar said. Parallelly, Jafar's father — a young Habib Dashti — arrived in Bombay by train during Partition. 'He did multiple odd jobs, including cleaning at restaurants, eventually made a name for himself, and earned some wealth using the same model of owning small stakes in multiple restaurants. It wasn't as much as my grandfather's, but it was still significant. When he proposed to marry my mother, my grandfather accepted,' said Jafar. He added that his grandfather also made another proposal: Sell all those small restaurant stakes and buy out the two Parsi partners in the bakery. Habib agreed and became a partner in City Bakery in the 1960s. From there, the bakery began to grow. The 1970s saw the addition of biscuits, and cakes followed in the 1980s, and the rest gradually expanded. Today, they sell around 95 items across categories like biscuits, breads, snacks, pastries, birthday cakes, tea cakes, all made in two shifts: one overnight for the morning batch and one through the day for the evening crowd. Among the most sold items are Chocolate Chip Cake (Rs 330 for 500 gm), Jam Shrewsberry (Rs 460/kg), Chocolate Eclair (Rs 70 per piece), and Palmier Biscuit (Rs 540/kg). Although the original wood-fired ovens have long been replaced with PNG-run ones, the tall chimney still stands. 'It's free advertising,' Jafar laughed. 'Whenever someone asks where exactly we are in Worli, we just tell them to look up!' The latest addition? Sourdough bread. 'We've started making it recently,' said Jafar, who, along with Mehdi, began learning the ropes at the bakery during summer vacations as children. Today, City Bakery, which opens at 5 am and shuts by 10 pm, serves a wide range of customers: the common man who values both price and quality, office goers who stop by for a post-lunch treat or a quick sandwich before catching their train, and commercial clients — including caterers, restaurants, and hotels like Ginger Hotel and Thane's Cafe Irani. 'To be honest, everyone comes here. There are many people who park their cars and send their drivers to pick up an order. But our biggest customer base is still the grassroots. They're the ones who suggested we stop giving plastic bags to keep costs low. They bring their own,' Jafar said with quiet pride. When we pushed him for an anecdote, he hesitantly shared one about Salman Khan and their coconut cookies. 'It was right after Covid-19. Lockdown was being lifted, but we hadn't resumed operations yet when we got a request for coconut cookies. We said, 'Sorry, we're not open.' His team replied, 'Bhai ko khaana hai (Bhai really wants to eat them). What's the minimum order to make it happen?' They placed an order for 5 kg of cookies,' Jafar chuckled as he signed off.
The Star
6 days ago
- Sport
- The Star
Indonesian pair Jafar-Felisha capable of going further in world meet
Indonesia's Jafar Hidayatullah (front) and Felisha Alberta Nathaniel Pasaribu play a point during their mixed doubles semi-final against China's Jiang Zhenbang and Wei Yaxin at the China Open badminton tournament in Changzhou, in China's eastern Jiangsu province on July 26, 2025. (Photo by AFP) / China OUT PETALING JAYA: Watch out for fast-rising Indonesian mixed doubles shuttlers Jafar Hidayatullah-Felisha Pasaribu in the World Championships. Jafar-Felisha only combined a year ago but have clicked quickly and rose to No. 1 in the mixed doubles in Indonesia. The world No. 11 duo are set to pose a threat to their rivals in their first appearance in the world meet from Aug 25-31 in Paris. Jafar-Felisha proved their capabilities by bagging the World Tour Super 300 Taiwan Open title in May. The pair also captured bronze in their debut Asian Championships in April and reached the semi-finals of the Super 1000 China Open last month. Indonesian doubles coach Rionny Mainaky has backed Jafar-Felisha to defy the odds again and reach the final in Paris. 'I have seen that Jafar and Felisha are capable of handling pressure. 'I want them to prove themselves in the World Championships,' said Rionny in an interview posted in the Indonesian National Badminton Association website. 'They have the skills and they are ready. Now, it only depends on their commitment and fighting spirit. 'They only lost matches in Super 750 and 1000 tournaments due to small mistakes. We have analysed these and they know where they went wrong now. 'If they are fully focused and can stay fit, I'm confident they can reach the final in Paris. They are young and have plenty of potential,' added Rionny. Tantowi Ahmad-Liliyana Natsir were the last Indonesians to win the mixed doubles gold in the world meet when they triumphed in the 2017 edition in Glasgow. Tantowi-Liliyana also won the title in 2013 in Guangzhou. Indonesia have struggled to hit similar heights in the mixed doubles since the legendary pair's retirement. Jafar, 22 and Felisha, who only turns 20 next month, could be the ones to finally fill the void left behind by Tantowi-Liliyana. The youngsters will be keen to prove that they can follow in their seniors' footsteps with a good showing in Paris.
The Star
7 days ago
- Sport
- The Star
Young Indonesian pair Jafar-Felisha capable of going the distance in Paris
PETALING JAYA: Watch out for fast-rising Indonesian mixed doubles shuttlers Jafar Hidayatullah-Felisha Pasaribu in the World Championships. Jafar-Felisha only combined a year ago but have clicked quickly and rose to No. 1 in the mixed doubles in Indonesia. The world No. 11 duo are set to pose a threat to their rivals in their first appearance in the world meet from Aug 25-31 in Paris. Jafar-Felisha proved their capabilities by bagging the World Tour Super 300 Taiwan Open title in May. The pair also captured bronze in their debut Asian Championships in April and reached the semi-finals of the Super 1000 China Open last month. Indonesian doubles coach Rionny Mainaky has backed Jafar-Felisha to defy the odds again and reach the final in Paris. "I have seen that Jafar and Felisha are capable of handling pressure. I want them to prove themselves in the World Championships," said Rionny in an interview posted in the Indonesian National Badminton Association (PBSI) website. "They have the skills and they are ready. Now, it only depends on their commitment and fighting spirit. "They only lost matches in Super 750 and 1000 tournaments due to small mistakes. We have analysed these and they know where they went wrong now. "If they are fully focused and can stay fit, I'm confident they can reach the final in Paris. They are young and have plenty of potential," added Rionny. Tantowi Ahmad-Liliyana Natsir were the last Indonesians to win the mixed doubles gold in the world meet when they triumphed in the 2017 edition in Glasgow. Tantowi-Liliyana also won the title in 2013 in Guangzhou. Indonesia have struggled to hit similar heights in the mixed doubles since the legendary pair's retirement. Jafar, 22 and Felisha, who only turns 20 next month, could be the ones to finally fill the void left behind by Tantowi-Liliyana. The youngsters will be keen to prove that they can follow in their seniors' footsteps with a good showing in Paris.
Indian Express
29-07-2025
- Indian Express
Man held for renting employer's bike to mobile phone snatchers for Rs 5,000 a night: Delhi Police
A 31-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly renting out his employer's motorcycle to his friend, who used it for snatching a mobile phone in the high-security Civil Lines area of North Delhi, the police said Monday. According to the police, Nitin Kumar, a technician working at an internet service provider's shop in Khajuri Khas of Northeast Delhi, charged Rs 5,000 per night for the bike. The police added that the alleged snatcher, Jafar, was arrested along with Kumar on July 26. A police officer said Kumar's employer, Ankit, went on the Amarnath Yatra and asked him to look after his blue TVS Apache bike and use it for work-related purposes. When Kumar met Jafar for their weekly session of drinks on July 19, his friend asked him for help. 'Jafar told Nitin that he was going through financial hardship. He said he planned to snatch a couple of mobiles with an associate but didn't have a bike for it,' a police officer said. Jafar then offered Kumar a deal — Rs. 5000 for renting out Ankit's bike for a day. Kumar agreed and gave the bike to Jafar. On July 20, Jafar and a man named Afzal snatched a mobile phone and sold the device to Aftab Mansori, who lives in Karol Bagh, the police said. The police registered a complaint at the Civil Lines Police Station, and a team analysed the CCTV footage in the area, and traced the bike through its number plate. They found the bike at Ankit's shop, who was unaware of the crime. 'The motorcycle is registered in the name of Satyaveer, who is from Shamli, Uttar Pradesh. Satyaveer had given the vehicle to his son, Ankit, who operates a WiFi business in Khajuri, Delhi. Subsequently, Ankit handed over the motorcycle to his employee Nitin for work-related use,' a police officer said. When the police questioned Kumar, Jafar's scheme unravelled. Based on Kumar's interrogation, the police raided Jafar's house in Shastri Park near Buland Masjid. Jafar, who has cases pending under the Arms Act as well as charges of snatching, was arrested. At his instance, the police also arrested Afzal.
Gulf Today
10-07-2025
- Business
- Gulf Today
Sustaining global gas demand will require $4.3tr in investment by 2030
Total investments of $4.3 trillion are needed in the coming 5 years to keep up with fast-growing demand for natural gas and make up for a lost decade of underinvestment, Majid Jafar, CEO of Crescent Petroleum, the Middle East's oldest and largest private upstream oil and gas company, told ministers and energy industry leaders in Vienna. The world must invest more to maintain and grow the current energy systems particularly in the developing world where demand is growing fastest, Jafar said in his remarks on the opening day of the 9th OPEC International Seminar. 'The world faces a massive energy challenge, with demand set to grow at the fastest pace in decades,' Jafar said. 'The era of renewables growing at the expense of other energy sources is over—now, all forms of energy must expand together. We need an 'and, and' strategy: gas, oil, and renewables must all grow to meet surging global needs.' Jafar made his comments on a high-level roundtable session titled 'Policies and Regulations: A Just and Realistic Energy Future,' which discussed the need for sound and reliable energy policy with respect to sustainability. He was joined in the session by Tengku Muhammad Taufik the Chief Executive Officer of Petronas; Rovshan Najaf, President of SOCAR; and Francesco La Camera the Director-General of IRENA based in Abu Dhabi. The developing world is where most energy growth will come in the future, Jafar said, because it is where population growth, urbanisation and air condition will require the most new resources. More than 1.2 billion people in the developing world lack access to reliable electricity, a gap that has actually grown in recent years, he said. To meet that demand, the developing world must be enabled to develop its plentiful indigenous natural gas resources, replacing dirtier fuels and delivering cleaner, more reliable power, Jafar said. 'The 'energy trap' in developing countries leads to more coal burning, undermining both climate and development goals,' he said. Demand growth from AI data centres worldwide will further boost demand, requiring the equivalent of Japan's entire power demand by 2030. Data centres driven by AI will require an estimated $720 billion in global grid investment particularly in the West to support the surge in demand, he said. 'Reliable, affordable natural gas is a fundamental pillar for a just and equitable energy system which ensures technological progress, economic growth, and societal well-being,' he noted. Just by converting the world's coal power use to natural gas would reduce global emissions by 15%, making a far greater impact than the trillions invested renewables so far. The International Energy Agency estimates that global energy demand grew by 2.2% in 2024, well above average over the past decade, with electric power surging 4.3%, about a third higher than the average. This growth is driven by growing needs in developing countries as well as electrification and digitalisation from the AI revolution, which has grown energy demand in the Western world, after decline for years. In turn natural gas saw the strongest growth in demand among hydrocarbons, rising by 115 billion cubic metres (bcm), amounting to 2.7% in 2024, compared with an average 75 bcm annually over the past decade. The 9th OPEC International Seminar welcomed nearly 1,000 of the highest-level energy sector leaders, including ministers of OPEC member states, senior leaders from the oil and gas industry, policymakers, NGOs and invited guests. The two-day event, held at the historic Hofburg Palace in Vienna under the banner, 'Charting pathways together: the future of global energy' takes place on July 9 and 10. The themes focused on during the seminar included energy security, market stability, sustainability, investments and finance, low-carbon technologies, just energy transitions, energy poverty and diversification. Crescent Petroleum is the Middle East's first and largest private oil and gas company, with over fifty years of experience operating internationally. Headquartered in the UAE, Crescent Petroleum maintains operations and offices across the Middle East and beyond, and is the largest shareholder in Dana Gas, the region's leading private-sector natural gas company. Meanwhile the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) will launch the 19th edition of its World Oil Outlook (WOO) during the 9th OPEC International Seminar in Vienna, Austria. The event been held in the Hofburg Palace yesterday (Thursday). Haitham Al Ghais, Secretary General of OPEC, will deliver opening remarks, followed by a panel session with management and analysts from the OPEC Secretariat's Research Division, which will discuss the publication's key findings. First published in 2007, the WOO, one of the OPEC's flagship publications, provides an in-depth review and analysis of the global oil and energy industries and offers assessments of various scenarios in their medium- and long-term development.
