India's Ministry of New and Renewable Energy is discussing expanded cooperation with France's AFD development agency on small hydropower projects, which have less environmental impact than large dams. AFD India Director Lise Breuil said France has extensive small hydro experience that could aid India's promotion efforts in the 25MW-and-under category. Past AFD hydro collaborations include 80 million euros for Himachal Pradesh projects. Apart from clean energy financing, AFD also runs the Green Indian Financial System platform supporting India's green finance ecosystem. Solar remains another AFD priority via partnerships with SECI. Despite India's significant 145GW hydro potential, only 29% has been tapped so far, trailing utilization rates abroad.

India strongly condemned a statement by the 57-member Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) expressing "concern" over a Supreme Court verdict upholding the revocation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir. The OIC, an influential grouping of Muslim majority nations, called the 2019 move to scrap Kashmir's autonomy "illegal" and demanded its restoration. Responding sharply, India's foreign ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said the country "rejects the statement" as "both ill-informed and ill-intended." In a veiled jab at rival Pakistan, Bagchi said the OIC's actions are at the "behest of a serial violator of human rights and an unrepentant promoter of cross border terrorism makes its action even more questionable.” He said such statements “undermine OIC’s credibility."

In a strategic move, India's government plans to extend the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan (PMGS-NMP) globally, initially offering it to neighboring countries like Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. This integrated digital tool aims to streamline infrastructure planning globally. Already showcased to 30 countries in Central and Southeast Asia, the tool garnered interest from private companies seeking efficient project clearances. The PMGS-NMP, which digitizes land records and integrates economic planning, aligns with India's vision for regional and global infrastructure development, marking a significant step towards enhancing cross-border collaborations.            

Senior officials from British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's team are in Delhi to boost negotiations for an India-UK free trade agreement. While no official confirmation exists, both countries aim to finalize the deal by February, strategically aligning with the upcoming elections in 2024. The trade agreement, initiated in January last year, has seen 13 rounds of negotiations. Despite challenges, officials express optimism, emphasizing the importance of a fair and balanced deal. The UK seeks a significant reduction in import duties, while India demands enhanced market access for skilled professionals and goods. Progress suggests a potential breakthrough.

Walmart reveals the debut of the first "Made-in-India" bicycles in selected US stores, aligning with their commitment to triple exports by 2027. Taranjit Singh Sandhu, India's envoy to the US, expresses delight, emphasizing the significance of "Make in India." Manufactured by Hero Ecotech, the cruiser-style bicycles use over 90% Indian raw materials. Walmart's Vriddhi initiative, launched in 2019, contributes to the Make in India initiative, empowering MSMEs. Andrea Albright, EVP of Sourcing at Walmart, highlights the partnership's role in strengthening global supply resilience and fostering economic growth. The move aligns with India's push for global manufacturing prominence.            

Smital Dhake, a 26-year-old British-Indian data scientist from Maharashtra, has won the Newcomer of the Year award at the UK's prestigious RailStaff Awards 2023. Born in Jalgaon and educated in England, Dhake works at Alstom's office in Hatfield as their first and only data scientist. She was recognised for her stellar contributions to developing innovative technologies like Alstom’s Modular Advanced Route Setting system, which uses machine learning to enable efficient railway operations. Described as an inspiration for women in STEM fields, Dhake visits schools to promote engineering careers. Her award caps a meteoric rise at one of the world’s leading rail mobility companies. Dhake’s grandparents motivated her to work hard and apply her skills, a mindset that led to this triumph. (Image Courtesy: @AlstomUK on X)

FBI Director Christopher Wray assured the National Investigation Agency (NIA) of an "aggressive" investigation into attacks on the Indian Consulate in San Francisco. During high-level talks, NIA's Dinkar Gupta highlighted the expanding nexus of terrorists and gangsters reaching the US. The July 2 attack by pro-Khalistan supporters followed the killing of Khalistan Tiger Force chief Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Wray emphasized common ground with NIA and discussed cyber threats, terror financing via cryptocurrency, and challenges posed by encrypted apps. Both agencies pledged to enhance cooperation against evolving terrorism threats. Wray's visit aims to strengthen collaboration between US and Indian security agencies.

US President Joe Biden is unlikely to visit India next month to be the Chief Guest at the 2024 Republic Day celebrations, despite Prime Minister Narendra Modi having extended an invitation in September, according to sources. The invitation has not been officially confirmed by India yet. Separately, the proposed Quad summit dates in late 2024 were found not suitable for all partners, so new dates are being considered for the meeting to be hosted by India. Biden gracing the Republic Day celebrations as Chief Guest was uncertain already, and the postponement of the Quad summit makes the January 26 date impossible. With no revised timeline yet for either event, Biden's India visit next month seems implausible now.

A 30-year-old man, Tyler Anderson, was arrested in Dover, New Hampshire, for threatening Indian-origin Republican US presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy. Anderson responded to a campaign text with disturbing messages, stating, "Great, another opportunity for me to blow [the candidate's] brains out!" and "I'm going to kill everyone who attends and then f**k their corpses." Mr. Ramaswamy's campaign promptly alerted law enforcement, leading to Anderson's swift arrest. Expressing gratitude, Ramaswamy commended the team for ensuring his safety. Anderson faces potential imprisonment up to five years, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.

Licypriya Kangujam, a 12-year-old climate justice advocate from India, made a bold statement at the COP28 climate summit in Dubai. Rushing onto the stage with a sign proclaiming "End fossil fuels. Save our planet and our future," she was later escorted away as the audience applauded. Sharing the protest video on social media, Kangujam expressed being detained for over 30 minutes and subsequently ousted from COP28. In a powerful statement, she urged governments to phase out fossil fuels, emphasizing the impact on children. COP28 director-general applauded her enthusiasm, highlighting the limited public protests allowed at the UN talks.