Latest news with #NDAs
Mint
8 hours ago
- Business
- Mint
Oil India in talks with ExxonMobil, Total, Petrobras for joint bids in new auction round
New Delhi: State-owned Oil India Ltd is in talks with global exploration and production (E&P) majors, including ExxonMobil, TotalEnergies and Petrobras, to jointly explore hydrocarbon blocks in India, said two people in the know of the developments. Oil India's one-on-one talks with these companies are largely focused on a possible partnership for the 10th round of auctions under the country's Open Average Licensing Policy (OALP-X). In this round, the government plans to offer 2.5 lakh sq. km. area for exploration. The OALP-X round was launched in February and the deadline for submission of bids is 31 July. According to one of the people cited above, there is likelihood of an extension of the deadline. 'Talks are underway with major global players, Total, ExxonMobil and Petrobras. It is being looked at if Oil India can get a partner for the upcoming 10th round of auctions for deep and ultradeep water blocks," said the person mentioned above. 'The partner would also have the option to come together for blocks bagged in the previous round (ninth)." Queries sent to Oil India, TotalEnergies, Exxonmobil, and Petrobras remained unanswered till press time. Apart from this, Oil India is also scouting for a technical service partner in its old and legacy oilfields, where it is looking to increase production. In an interview to Mint in May, Ranjit Rath, chairman and managing director of Oil India, had said several overseas national as well as private oil companies have shown interest in jointly bidding for blocks in the upcoming auction round. 'We have several engagements currently going on," Rath had said. 'With some of them, we have got NDAs (non-disclosure agreements) signed, and we are having data exchanges," the chairman said. In February, the Maharatna company had signed a memorandum of understanding with Petrobras, Brazil's state-owned oil firm, to collaborate in the exploration and production of hydrocarbon resources in India's offshore regions. Global collaborations are critical to bring in expertise for deep and ultra deepwater blocks. 'For shallow water and onshore exploration and development, most of the companies have the required technologies. But in the case of deep and ultra deepwater blocks, there are challenges in every stage, exploration, development and production, due to the ocean weight, the pressure that the ocean creates," said Gaurav Moda, partner and energy sector leader at EY-Parthenon India. 'Only a few global players have the expertise to explore and produce oil from such blocks. They also require different kind of equipment compared to shallow water and onshore exploration and extraction." Noting the urgency in India's aim to harness its domestic reserves, Moda said that rather than trying to indigenously develop such technologies, striking a partnership with a global player would be more beneficial. Under the OALP-IX round, Oil India bagged nine blocks, adding 51,000 sq. km. to its exploration portfolio. Three of the blocks--one each in Cambay, Mahanadi and Assam Shelf basins--were won in partnership with its public sector peer Oil and Natural Gas Corp Ltd (ONGC), while another six were acquired on its own. ONGC, together with UK-headquartered BP plc and Reliance Industries Ltd, won the bid to explore Saurashtra basin under OALP-IX, marking BP's foray into India's upstream oil and gas space. Oil India's move to scout for global partnerships is in line with the government's push to attract overseas investments in the upstream space in a bid to raise local production and reduce the country's dependence on imports. During his visit to Vienna for the 9th OPEC International Seminar earlier this month, union minister for petroleum and natural gas Hardeep Singh Puri met chiefs of global energy giants and discussed potential collaborations in light of India's ambitious E&P plans. The minister had said India is set to explore nearly 2.5 lakh sq. km. in new offshore and onshore areas under OALP-X, which will make it one of the world's largest bidding rounds. In FY25, Oil India produced 3.46 million tonne (MT) of crude and natural gas, amounting to 3.25 MT of oil equivalent. This took its total hydrocarbon production to 6.71 MT of oil equivalent, the highest ever for the company. It aims to achieve oil and gas production of 10-12 MT of oil equivalent by the end of the decade. In 2020, under the third round of auctions, Oil India had won two blocks in the Andaman basin, touted as an oil-rich region.
News18
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Did Guests Sign NDAs At Jeff Bezos And Lauren Sanchez's Wedding? Close Friend Reveals
Last Updated: Details of the extravagant three-day affair were recently shared by Lauren Sanchez's close friend and guest, Sara Foster. Lauren Sanchez and Jeff Bezos exchanged vows in a stunning wedding ceremony held in Venice, Italy. The romantic celebration brought together close family and a star-studded guest list, including Oprah Winfrey, Orlando Bloom, Tom Brady, Kim Kardashian and Leonardo DiCaprio. The extravagant three-day affair was recently described by Sanchez's close friend and guest, Sara Foster. During a conversation with her sister, Erin Foster, curiosity sparked over just how private the event was, including whether guests were required to sign NDAs to protect the couple's privacy. Erin, during the episode of The World's First Podcast, started by saying that she had tried calling Sarah many times during the wedding to get some inside details and fun updates. But her sister didn't answer any of her calls. Erin jokingly asked if Sarah had signed something that stopped her from talking about the wedding. She wondered if FaceTiming was not allowed and was curious why Sarah wasn't saying anything. Erin even felt like Sarah was trying too hard to keep everything secret. Sarah Forster said, 'The time gave me no information. No one signed NDAs. There's nothing. It's so interesting how the optics were this over the top, you know, protesters. It's not what it was. It actually felt very intimate. It's kind of interesting to me that I would have never imagined that going to a friend's wedding would translate…" Erin then interrupted her and asked, 'A friend's wedding? Sarah, don't play dumb with us. You went to Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez's wedding. Okay. 'A friend's wedding'." Sarah then explained, 'The problem is that you can't say anything anymore without being attacked. I swear to God. It never occurred to me once that anybody would take issue with people attending a wedding. Truly, it really didn't. It didn't. When I was posting these fantastic pictures of me, all these gorgeous Monique Lhuillier dresses, it just didn't occur to me that it was going to be such a polarising. It really didn't. I guess I'm stupid. Maybe I'm stupid." Erin Foster teased Sarah by saying it was disappointing that such a big, fancy wedding turned out to be a mess. The host even admitted that she really just wanted to hear fun stories, gossip or something exciting from the event. But she was annoyed that Sarah didn't share anything, no celebrity names, no dance moments, not even outfit details. In response, Sarah explained that there were actually many guests at the wedding who were never photographed. She said it was surprising how many well-known people stayed out of the spotlight. Lauren Sanchez and Jeff Bezos' wedding caused anger among some people in Venice. Locals, already upset about too many tourists, showed their frustration during the event. They came up with posters and stickers around the city against the Amazon founder. Many Venetians felt like the wedding just added more trouble to the city's growing tourist problems. Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
The Herald Scotland
2 days ago
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
New NDA legislation set to shatter the culture of silence
Fast forward to today, and whilst the machinery of industry has evolved dramatically, the need for fair treatment and worker protection remains as relevant as ever. Supporting companies by advising and guiding in the application of employment law and HR best practice remains a key pillar of what we do, and once again this year our team have been busy ensuring our members are updated for the changes that they will want to make sure they are on top of. Read more: Among the most significant of these changes is an amendment currently progressing through the UK legal system: a reform to the Employment Rights Bill which focuses squarely on the use – and misuse – of non-disclosure agreements (NDAs). Historically, NDAs served a clear and legitimate purpose. They were designed to protect sensitive business information such as intellectual property, trade secrets, or commercial strategy. But over time, their use has drifted beyond this original intent, and increasingly, NDAs have been used to draw a line under disputes involving allegations of workplace harassment, bullying, and discrimination. In some cases, that use risks silencing victims or witnesses of harassment or discrimination, leaving them unable to speak about their experiences, even to friends or family. This is where the changes seek to end their misuse to conceal misconduct or criminal acts. Read more: Building on the Worker Protection (Amendment of Equality) Act 2024, which introduced a proactive duty on employers to prevent harassment, the proposed new legislation aims to make void any NDA that seeks to gag individuals from speaking out about inappropriate behaviour. That includes clauses in settlement agreements and employment contracts which have traditionally served to keep such allegations confidential. The shift is seismic, both legally and culturally. At its core, this legislation reasserts what many have argued all along: that no one should be contractually forbidden from reporting abuse or discrimination. Victims and witnesses must be able to speak openly without fear of retaliation or legal consequence. The timing of this reform is no coincidence, with the last few years having seen a reckoning across multiple sectors including retail, entertainment, politics and tech, where high-profile figures have faced serious allegations of misconduct. In many cases, NDAs were reported as instrumental in suppressing these claims for years, allowing harmful behaviours to persist unchecked. With that backdrop, the reform is about more than just legal compliance. It reflects a growing public consensus that transparency and accountability are non-negotiable in modern workplaces, removing a potential route that retains a culture of silence. Read more: But as with all sweeping changes, this one is not without its cautions, as some legal experts and advocates for victims have expressed concern that a blanket restriction on NDAs could, unexpectedly, negatively impact those it aims to protect. For some individuals, confidentiality is not a muzzle but a shield, providing the comfort of a private path to closure. Removing the option entirely may limit choices for victims who don't wish their most vulnerable moments to become public knowledge. As the legislation takes shape, lawmakers and employers will have to strive to strike the right balance: preserving the right to speak out whilst also allowing those who want privacy a means to achieve it. Employers are currently required not only to respond appropriately to allegations but to demonstrate that they have created a working environment where harassment and discrimination are not just dealt with, but also that they have actively put preventative measures in place. If they fail to do so they will no longer be able to rely on NDAs to avoid adverse publicity and reputational damage. The emphasis here is to shift from reactive crisis management to proactive culture-building. For organisations, this is a moment of reckoning. Reputational, legal, and ethical stakes are high and, in an age where trust and transparency are paramount, failing to evolve is not an option. Paul Sheerin is chief executive of Scottish Engineering.
Perth Now
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Jeff Bezos ‘didn't make any of his wedding guest VIPs sign gagging contracts'
Jeff Bezos didn't make any of the VIPs at his wedding sign gagging contracts, one of his guests claims. The Amazon founder billionaire, 61, and his partner Lauren Sanchez, 55, exchanged vows at the end ofd June during a weekend of celebrations held at a private venue in Venice. And one of the couple's guests, 44-year-old actress and podcast host Sara Foster has now spoken candidly about attending the lavish ceremony. Sara, who is the daughter of music producer David Foster, revealed behind-the-scenes details of the three-day celebration in Italy during an episode of The World's First Podcast, which she co-hosts with her sister Erin Foster. She said: 'No one signed NDAs. No NDAs.' Jeff and Lauren's wedding, which took place on 27 June, brought together a guest list of more than 200 people, including some of the world's most high-profile names. Sara added the event felt far more intimate than the public had been led to believe. She said: 'There's nothing – it's so interesting how the optics were this over the top, you know, protesters… it's just not, it's not what it was. 'It actually felt very intimate.' The ceremony, reported to have cost around $50 million, attracted global media attention and saw the presence of celebrities such as Mick Jagger, 80, Oprah Winfrey, 70, Leonardo DiCaprio, 49, Sydney Sweeney, 26, Jerry Seinfeld, 70, Orlando Bloom, 47, Jessica Alba, 43, Bill Gates, 68, Brooks Nader, 27, and Ivanka Trump, 42. Members of the Kardashian-Jenner family were also in attendance, including Kim Kardashian, 43, Khloé Kardashian, 40, Kendall Jenner, 28, Kylie Jenner, 27, and Kris Jenner, 68. Sara addressed the criticism she received online after sharing photos from the wedding on Instagram. 'Here's the problem. You can't say anything anymore without being attacked,' she said. Sara added: 'I swear to God, it never occurred to me once that anybody would take issue with people attending a wedding. Truly. It really didn't. It didn't.' She also hinted at the discretion of some attendees. Sara went on: 'There were definitely a lot of people that were not photographed. 'I can't. I mean, that's, like, so lame. I'm not gonna do that. But it's very interesting how many people went un-photographed. It was definitely a very interesting setup.'
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Now we know if Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez made their wedding guests sign NDAs
Attendee Sara Foster just spilled new details about the billionaire couple's over-the-top Venice nuptials. Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez's Venetian wedding extravaganza made global headlines for its over-the-top scale, celebrity guest list, and parade of paparazzi gathering all the details in Venice throughout the days-long events, not to mention the protest movement it triggered against billionaire tourism in a city already plagued with overtourism-related issues. But one detail had remained unclear, until now. On the latest episode of The World's First Podcast, actress and model Sara Foster, who attended the June wedding, confirmed that guests were not asked to sign nondisclosure agreements. 'Absolutely not. There were no... no one signed NDAs,' she told her sister and cohost, Erin Foster. Foster emphasized that despite the media frenzy, the event itself felt more personal than people might assume. 'It actually felt very intimate,' she said, pushing back on some of the widespread perceptions of the affair. Read more: Jeff Bezos' wedding ignited a protest movement in Venice — why locals are fed up with billionaire tourism Foster also acknowledged the tense public reaction some guests have faced just for attending. 'You can't say anything anymore without being attacked,' she said, referring to 'polarizing' responses to her Instagram posts about the weekend — especially the Monique Lhuillier dresses she wore for the festivities. 'I guess I'm stupid,' she joked, 'but it really didn't occur to me people would take issue with going to a wedding.' While the guest list included over 200 names, Foster noted that many attendees 'were not photographed' — though she declined to spill names. 'I mean, that's, like, so lame. I'm not gonna do that,' she said. The wedding was far from low-key. Local officials in Venice estimated a $1.1 billion economic impact — mainly attributed to the dollar value of the publicity around it. Protesters, meanwhile, made their feelings known with signs and banners plastered across historic landmarks like the Rialto Bridge and St. Mark's Square, reading 'No Space for Bezos.' Yes, the whole world was watching, of course. But as Foster tells it, guests weren't contractually obligated to help control the narrative. Read more: The invitation to the Bezos-Sanchez destination wedding in Venice has leaked — and the internet has thoughts Solve the daily Crossword
