German Deputy Envoy Georg Enzweiler was summoned by officials in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and told that the German Foreign Ministry’s remarks on Kejriwal’s arrest were interference in India’s judicial process and any “biased assumptions” were “most unwarranted”.

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As the world’s second-biggest sugar producer, India had previously directed sugar mills not to use cane juice or syrup for ethanol due to concerns over production as drought-hit key-producing states like Maharashtra and Karnataka.

However, on Friday, the government opted to permit the diversion of cane juice and B-heavy molasses for ethanol production, capping it at 1.7 million metric tons for the 2023/24 marketing year started on Oct. 1, according to officials.

“A quota will soon be allocated for sugar mills and distilleries,” said a senior government official, who preferred not to be named, following official rules.

The available sugar supply would still be adequate to meet local demand, even with the diversion of sucrose for ethanol production, the official added.

The government move will assist the industry, which has invested billions of dollars over the last five years to boost ethanol production capacity, said a senior industry official, also preferring anonymity.

Uneven rainfall in the primary sugar cane-growing states of Maharashtra and Karnataka has sparked concerns about this year’s output.

Anticipated production decreases have driven local sugar prices to their highest levels in nearly 14 years.

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In a significant stride towards a more sustainable and circular fashion industry, the Fashion for Good initiative has unveiled a groundbreaking toolkit designed to harness the untapped potential of textile waste in India. This milestone follows the successful completion of the organization’s “Sorting for Circularity India” pilot project, which brought together a powerful coalition of industry players to explore new sorting technologies and closed-loop systems.

The toolkit, which provides valuable insights, assessments, and practical guidance, represents a critical step in advancing recycling and circularity within India’s textile industry. By leveraging the findings and learnings from the pilot project, this comprehensive resource aims to equip stakeholders with the necessary tools to transform textile waste into a valuable resource, fostering a waste-free future.

India, with its vast textile industry and significant waste generation, presents a unique opportunity for circular innovation. The “Sorting for Circularity India” project recognized this potential and brought together a diverse array of partners, including major fashion brands, retailers, manufacturers, and sustainability organizations, to explore the intricacies of the Indian textile waste landscape.

Through this collaborative effort, the project not only mapped the current challenges and roadblocks but also identified the commercial opportunities that lie within India’s textile waste sector. The resulting toolkit serves as a roadmap for concrete actions, providing stakeholders with a comprehensive guide to navigate the complexities of textile waste management and unlock the economic and environmental benefits of circularity.

“This incredibly strategic collaboration will be a game-changer in that it brings together three critical ingredients needed to scale the adoption of next-generation fashion materials globally – textile waste as the feedstock, the market in terms of brand commitments, and sizable investments,” said Anita Chester, managing director of Laudes India, highlighting the transformative potential of this initiative.

By leveraging the insights and recommendations outlined in the toolkit, India has the opportunity to position itself as a leader in the next-generation textiles sector, fostering sustainable practices and driving innovation within the industry. The toolkit’s holistic approach, which addresses the infrastructure, investment requirements, and potential financial scenarios, provides a robust foundation for stakeholders to make informed decisions and implement targeted strategies.

As the global fashion industry grapples with its environmental impact, initiatives like Fashion for Good’s toolkit represent a beacon of hope, demonstrating that sustainable solutions are not only possible but also economically viable. By unlocking the potential of textile waste and embracing circularity, India can pave the way for a more responsible and resilient fashion ecosystem, one that harmonizes economic growth with environmental stewardship.

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The scheme is aimed at ensuring food and nutrition security for 813.5 million people, Information Minister Anurag Thakur told the media after a federal cabinet meeting.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Nov. 4 announced his government would extend the welfare scheme, which was due to end in December, by five years.

The announcement, which came ahead of general elections due early next year, was approved by the cabinet on Wednesday.

“Free food grains will strengthen food security and mitigate any financial hardship of the poor and vulnerable sections of the population,” the government said in a statement.

Economic Affairs Secretary Ajay Seth, at a separate event, said the government is confident of meeting its fiscal deficit target for the current financial year despite higher spending on the free food grain scheme.

The government aims to cut fiscal deficit to 5.9% of gross domestic product (GDP) for the year ending March 31.

Seth added that India is committed to lowering the fiscal deficit to 4.5% of GDP by 2025/26.

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Before every BRICS summit, a recurring view gets traction: the potential of this group to offer an alternative to the dominating Western-led global order. Delving into historical gross domestic product (GDP) data, often juxtaposed with the comparison of member countries with the Group of Seven (G7) or Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD), those who bet on the BRICS’ future fuel even more speculation about the upcoming rise of these developing economies. At one juncture, rumours of a common currency were circulating, although it was underscored that such deliberations would not take centre stage at the forthcoming summit. The threshold is low, indicating the focus is on localised transactions.

The rise of the BRICS media narrative is rooted in the never-ending anti-Western sentiments of some political figures within BRICS. Nevertheless, despite the antagonistic rhetoric, a long queue of hopeful candidates still aspires to get portions of the financial pie.  Uruguay, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Egypt and Bangladesh already participate in the New Development Bank (NDC), seeking commercial opportunities from this inter-governmental organisation. But can BRICS genuinely challenge the established Western-led rules, as disputed? A succinct yet resolution response beckons: very unlikely.

A group of different voices

Woven with a tapestry of divergent interests, the BRICS grouping is a curious ensemble within the Western-dominated global economic paradigm. Its raison d’être ostensibly extends beyond economic cooperation, to encompass the cultivation of a nuanced anti-American consciousness. Yet, herein lies a paradox: discordant aspirations simmer beneath the surface of this collective organisation, eroding every semblance of commonality. One might posit that diversity is not problematic, per se but, in the international arena, the need for a more abrasive glue is a necessary condition for the success of such alliances.

In essence, BRICS is akin to a patchwork of nations more united in their disparities than their commonalities.  Delving into various potential scenarios, a conspicuous truth emerges. Take, for example, the aspiration harboured by numerous emerging economies to share in the BRICS fold; even on this matter, the notion of a cohesive front seems elusive. China and Russia unfurl the banner of anti-American sentiment, envisaging expansion as a conduit to foster a counter-balancing coalition worldwide.

Paradoxically, the ambivalent position of India within this union conveys a different narrative. Prime Minister, Narendra Modi’s India cannot afford the luxury of unequivocal anti-Americanism. For Modi, the US is more than just pecuniary gains; it intertwines with intricate geopolitical engagements. It is pertinent to remember that India shares a convoluted history of territorial disputes with its commercial partner, China. Thus, while the maxim extolling the virtues of diversity echoes in diplomatic corridors, the unvarnished truth is this: when contemplating the unrelenting complexities of the international stage, such platitudes find themselves relegated to the periphery.

Ideas matter

While appearing to strive for an inside-out capture of the existing system, there is a need for these actors to possess enough awareness to calculate the associated risks. Establishing an international order is not just about material capabilities; a profound ideational foundation must also exist. Despite its many flaws, the Western-led system is based on shared values, including a liberal package encompassing the rule of law, democracy, liberties and individual rights. If an alternative is sought, it has to extend beyond merely focusing on commerce and paying some lip service to the causes of the Global South.

Similarly, another question is: who among the BRICS qualifies for the role of leader in the future? In such a situation, one would assume that China would not easily relinquish this privilege to India, or naively think of sharing such a position. Likewise, India would not nurture the idea of ​​being sidelined. Let us entertain the idea that China gains leadership; what ideational alternative could it lay for a global order? Concepts derived from Confucianism or Chinese President Xi Jinping’s frequent notions of harmonious society, or socialism with Chinese characteristics? While nothing is wrong with these principles, they are not necessarily shared by the rest of the world.

Hence, despite recurrent commitments to the UN Charter, for China to have pre-eminence within the system, it has to have more power of attraction in terms of ideology. Considering present conditions, this endeavour is still a distant possibility.

The Western-led international system is facing discontent, sharp inequalities and structural imbalances due to a lack of fair representation in international bodies, like the United Nations Security Council. However, the solution can be sought by reforming the system and not necessarily dismantling it, replacing the hitherto established order with a new one with even more discrepancies and complications than opportunities.

Lastly, BRICS is a product of the existing system and acts within its porous contours. To different degrees, all members benefit from the structure and capabilities of the system and have no genuine interest in, or willingness to challenge it, at least for the foreseeable future. They know reality well and have neither the will nor the capability to overpower it.

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The Foreign Ministers of the SCO was held in the Indian Coastal resort state of Goa on May 5.

“The unfolding situation in Afghanistan remains at the center of our attention. Our efforts should be directed towards the welfare of the Afghan people,” Said S. Jaishankar, Indian Foreign Minister.

“Our immediate priorities include providing humanitarian assistance, ensuring a truly inclusive and representative government, combating terrorism and drug trafficking, and preserving the rights of women, children and minorities,” he said.

On the other hand, Russia’s Sergei Lavrov said Moscow expected the Taliban leadership to “deliver on their promises to come up with an inclusive government”.

“The assurances that were given in regards to human rights, security in the territory of Afghanistan, and the eradication of terrorist threats, drug trafficking, we are keeping an eye on this,” Lavrov said.

Pakistan’s Foreign Minister, Bilawal said, “After being the playground for great powers, time and time again, we owe it to the people of Afghanistan to not repeat the past mistakes,” he said.

“A united international community must continue to urge the Afghan authorities to adopt universally accepted principles of political inclusivity and respecting the rights of all Afghans, including girls’ right to education.”

Since the Taliban took control of the power, no country has recognized them as a legitimate government.

Meanwhile, as Afghanistan struggles with its economy and humanitarian crisis under Taliban rule, concerns over the stability of the country are growing.

Amid a dire humanitarian crisis, the de facto authorities introduced harsh suppressive policies against women’s presence in the public scene, including education and work with International organizations.

The recent ban on UN aid workers confronted massive criticism and called against universal human rights.

However, the Taliban de facto authorities reiterated their stand against human rights, mainly women’s and girls’ rights, saying it is an internal matter.

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India has rejected Chinese attempts to rename places in what New Delhi regards as its eastern state of Arunachal Pradesh, which Beijing claims as part of its territory.

China and India fought a war along parts of their poorly demarcated 3,800km (2,360-mile) frontier in 1962 and clashes in mountainous regions in recent years have seriously strained relations between the nuclear-armed neighbors.

The latest angry exchange of words was triggered on Sunday when China’s Ministry of Civil Affairs issued a statement in which it said it had “standardized” the names of 11 places, including five mountains, in what China calls its southern Tibet region.

The statement included a map that showed the 11 places renamed by China as being within “Zangnan”, or southern Tibet in Chinese, with Arunachal Pradesh included in southern Tibet and China’s border with India demarcated as just north of the Brahmaputra river.

India’s foreign ministry rejected the move.

“We have seen such reports. This is not the first time China has made such an attempt,” Indian foreign ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said on Twitter. “Arunachal Pradesh is, has been and will always be an integral and inalienable part of India.”

But a spokesperson at the Chinese foreign ministry said the name changes were “completely within the scope of China’s sovereignty”.

“The southern Tibet region is Chinese territory,” the spokesperson, Mao Ning, told a regular media briefing in Beijing on Tuesday.

At least 24 soldiers, including 20 Indians, were killed when the two sides clashed in the Ladakh region, on the western part of their border, in 2020 but the situation calmed down after diplomatic and military talks.

In the aftermath of the 2020 clash, India banned hundreds of mobile applications of Chinese origin, including the popular social media platform TikTok.

Chinese firms operating in India, including cellphone makers Xiaomi and Huawei, have been raided by the tax authorities.

However, bilateral trade remains robust at approximately $100bn a year, with India importing from China far more than it exports there.

In December last year, troops from the two sides engaged in scuffles in the Tawang sector of Arunachal Pradesh.

Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said last month the situation in Ladakh was fragile and dangerous, with military forces deployed very close to each other in some places.

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