Akashvani , National news, All India Radio News

NAMASKAR! A warm welcome to 'World News: an Indian perspective on All India Radio. This is ADITI LOOMBA bringing glimpses of the major developments of the day from across the globe. Over the next half an hour, we shall bring to you the latest from the world of politics, economy, sports, entertainment and more.

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THE HEADLINES:

⦁ India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi distributes appointment letters to 71 thousand   recruits in government departments.

⦁ India becomes first country to extend assurance to Sri Lanka for its debt restructuring.

⦁ Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani says India has made a case for economic gender justice; World Economic Forum at Davos recognises giant strides taken by India in several areas.

⦁ IT giant Google to lay off 12,000 employees due to difficult economic situation.

⦁ In Women's cricket, India beat South Africa by 27 runs in first match of tri nation T20 series at East London.

⦁ And in Men's World Cup Hockey, Australia thrash South Africa 9-2 while Belgium defeat Japan 7-1 in Odisha.

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PM-ROZGAR MELA

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi has distributed nearly 71 thousand appointment letters virtually to newly inducted recruits in various Central government departments and organisations in New Delhi on Friday. This is the third tranche of Rozgar Mela. Earlier, in November last year, the Prime Minister had distributed 71 thousand appointment letters and in October, he handed over 75 thousand appointments letters to newly inducted government recruits. Addressing the newly recruits, the Prime Minister said, appointments in various government departments will bring a new ray of hope in the lives of thousands of families. He said, Rozgar Mela is the goverment's endeavour to empower the country's youth and more recruitments will be done in the coming years.

The Prime Minister said, the government is working towards making the recruitment process more transparent, streamlined and time bound. He asked the newly recruits to focus on the service delivery by following the mantra, 'Citizen is always right'. Mr. Modi said, in the last eight years, infrastructure development in the country has opened up new avenues of self employments for the people. He said, the government is working to provide broadband services in villages, through Bharat Net, which is creating more job opportunities. The Prime Minister interacted with some of the appointees on the occasion. The newly recruits congratulated the Central Government for providing the job opportunities and highlighted the importance of Karmayogi Prarambh module in developing and upgrading the skills among the new recruits.

The new recruits and selected candidates from across the country will join various positions and posts like Junior Engineers, Loco Pilots, Technicians, Inspectors, Sub Inspectors, Teachers, Nurses, Doctors among others. The experience of newly inducted officials who learned from the Karmayogi Prarambh module will also be shared during the Rozgar programme.

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JAISHANKAR-VISIT

External Affairs Minister Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar has said that India is a reliable neighbour, a trustworthy partner and one who is prepared to go extra mile when Sri Lanka feels the need. He said his visit expresses India’s solidarity with Sri Lanka in difficult times in line with the ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy of Prime Minister Modi. He added that it was India’s intention to clear the way for Sri Lanka to move towards recovery and growth. India has become the first creditor nation to extend assurance towards restructuring the debt of Sri Lanka as the island nation makes efforts to unlock a bridge financing package from IMF.  Dr Jaishankar made the announcement during his just concluded two day visit to Sri Lanka.

The Sri Lankan Foreign minister Ali Sabry thanked Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the generous and timely assistance India extended during the previous year. He also expressed his gratitude for the assurance extended towards restructuring of debt.

Dr Jaishankar has said India will encourage greater investment in core areas of energy, tourism and infrastructure in Sri Lanka. He expressed confidence in Trincomalee to emerge as an energy hub and India would support Sri Lanka in such initiatives. The minister announced that the two countries have agreed in principle on a renewable energy framework.

Earlier, Dr Jaishankar called on Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremasinghe and discussed the political and economic situation, and stressed on the need to pay special attention to the requirements of Indian Origin Tamils. The visit also witnessed signing of MoU on High Impact Community Development Projects and participated in 3 virtual inauguration ceremonies.

Having secured the financial assurance from India, Sri Lanka has expressed its gratitude to Indian government for the assurance given to IMF for restructuring Sri Lanka’s debt.  The assurance comes at a time when Sri Lanka makes efforts to unlock a $2.9 billion bridge financing from IMF. During bilateral discussions, connectivity, tourism , energy security and trade were discussed. During the visit, several initiatives were concluded which includes signing of  MOU on Indian Grant Assistance for implementation of High Impact Community Development Projects. Dr Jaishankar also participated in  virtual inauguration ceremonies to handover Kandyan Dance Academy and over 300 houses in various parts of Sri Lanka.  for world news  Dr. Ahmed Muyeen Farooqi/Colombo/MAIL/2012 HRS

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HOTSPOT

In today's Hotspot Section, we bring you a news India-Maldives Ties set for growth.

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SMRITI IRANI-DAVOS

Union Minister Smriti Irani said India has made a case for economic gender justice with Prime Minister Narendra Modi telling the world to see women led development on Friday. She was speaking during an open session on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos. Ms Irani highlighted efforts made by Mr Modi to centralise needs of women in policy decisions, there by making them equal partners in India’s growth story. The theme of the open session was Gender Based Governance.

Ms Irani, the Minister of Women and Child Development and Minority Affairs said, it is fascinating to see that the India story is setting Davos on fire. She said, the WEF recognises giant strides taken by India in the areas of climate change, healthcare, women-led development and digital infra. She added that it is heartening to see the world take note of India’s G20 Presidency and reaffirming faith in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership.

Earlier, speaking at a panel discussion on Circular Economy & LiFE, Ms Irani gave insights on India’s cultural ethos that have always been in line with the concept of protecting and nurturing nature. During the India Strategy Dialogue, she spoke on New India’s impetus to indigenous technology and how it is leveraged to foster inclusive development in every sector.

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KERALA-G20

The first meeting of the G20Health Working Group Meeting under India's presidency  concluded in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala on Friday. Effective discussions were held in the three-day meeting on the possibilities of international cooperation in the health sector focussing on Universal Health Coverage.

Dr V K Paul, Member (Health), NITI Aayog, said that  Medical Value Travel plays a crucial role in eliminating healthcare disparities across the globe and through the 1st G20 Health Working Group meeting under India's Presidency,aims to  create pathways to bridge this gap.Mr. Paul said this onFriday, on the closing day of the G20 Health Working Group Meeting in Thiruvananthapuram. The three-day meeting  focussed on  three priority issues, such as  solutions to the urgent challenges in the health sector, international cooperation in the field of pharmaceuticals and digital health.Union Minister of State for Health Bharti Praveen Pawar, Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan, senior officials of Health Ministry,Health  experts, representatives from G-20 countries, international organisations and other special invitees participated in the meeting.

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KARNATAKA-G20 WORKING GROUP

A sensitisation workshop on G-20 Environment and Climate Sustainability is being held in Bengaluru. The stakeholders involving the Forest departments of all the states, associated international organisations, Knowledge partners, local influential persons, media and community representatives are taking part in the workshop.

The first meeting of the G-20 Working Group on Environment and Climate Sustainability will be held in Bengaluru from the 9th to the 11th of February. The Sensitisation workshop will document, compile and collate the best practices from across the states in the country and present them during the G-20 Working Group meeting next month.

The G-20 Working Group will focus on Arresting Land Degradation Restoration of Degraded Lands and Enhancement of Biodiversity. It will put specific emphasis on the restoration of areas affected by Forest Fire and Mining. The G-20 Working Group on Environment will hold four meetings across the country.

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Karnataka- S20 summit

On the lines of Youth 20 summit being held along with G20 Summit in India, a S20 summit will also be held across the country to discuss subjects associated with Science. The first S20 meeting will be held in Pondicherry on January 30 and 31st. Subsequent meetings are planned in Agartala, Lakshadweep and Bhopal in that order. The final meeting will be held in Coimbatore. It will dwell upon issues related to green energy, universal holistic health and how Science can contribute to society and culture.

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GOOGLE -LAY OFF :

Google's parent Alphabet Inc has announced that it is laying off 12,000 employees due to difficult economic cycles. In his email to employees, Chief executive officer Sundar Pichai said, the company has decided to reduce its workforce by approximately 12,000 roles. He said, the company has already sent a separate email to employees in the US who are affected. In other countries, this process will take longer due to local laws and practices. Mr Pichai, said, the company had rapidly expanded headcount in recent years for a different economic reality than the one they face today.

Google's decision to lay off 12,000 employees comes amid a big churn in the technology sector, with other giants like Microsoft, Amazon, Meta and Twitter also trimming their workforce.

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COURT-TRUMP

A federal US judge has ruled that ex-president Donald Trump and one of his attorneys must pay a combined penalty of nearly one million dollars for filing a baseless lawsuit claiming former secretary of state  Hillary Clinton had tried to rig the 2016 election. US District Court judge, Donald Middlebrooks, issued a strong ruling against Mr Trump and his attorney, Alina Habba, for misusing the legal system by filing a baseless lawsuit. The judge said that the lawsuit was filed with the intent of causing harm. Mr Trump had accused Hillary Clinton and the Democratic National Committee of being involved in racketeering and conspiring against him. The lawsuit was dismissed in September, and Mr Trump was ordered to pay tens of thousands of dollars in November after one defendant sought sanctions. The recent order came after a group of the remaining defendants, including Clinton, requested sanctions as well.

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US UKRAINE AID

The United States said on Thursday said, it would send hundreds of armored vehicles plus rockets and artillery shells to Ukraine as part of a 2.5 billion dollar military assistance package. The US Defense Department said in a statement that the package includes 59 Bradley Fighting Vehicles, 90 Stryker Armored Personnel Carriers,53 mine-resistant ambush-protected vehicles and 350 high mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicles. The armored Bradley has a powerful gun and has been used by the US Army to carry troops around battlefields since the mid-1980s.

The Defense Department said, the latest assistance also includes additional ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), eight Avenger air-defense systems, tens of thousands of artillery rounds and about 2,000 anti-armor rockets. In total, the United States has committed more than 27.4 billion dollar in security assistance to Ukraine, since the conflict with Russia began in February last year.

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J&K-WREATH LAYING

Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhatt has said that India has never captured any inch of  any country’s land but whosoever has cast an evil eye on our territory has been given a befitting reply be it Uri, Galwan or Doklam. He was talking to the media after paying tributes to the Bravehearts in a ceremonial wreath laying ceremony at Balidan Stambh in Jammu on Friday.

Earlier, the Union Minsiter was briefed on the operational preparedness of the Tiger Division  by GoC Tiger Division, Maj Gen Gaurav Gautam. Mr Bhatt interacted with the troops of Tiger Division and lauded their morale for maintaining the highest standards of professionalism and dedication towards duty while safeguarding the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the nation.

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BANGLADESH-PM

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has urged all to keep the bond of communal harmony intact in the country. Greeting Hindu community on the occasion of the ‘International Hindu Conference’ starting on Friday, Ms Hasina said that Bangladesh is continuing with the policy adopted by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to ensure freedom of people of all religions and communities to practise their respective religions after the liberation of the country. She said that the ruling Awami League is inspired by a non-communal spirit and it upholds the motto ‘religion is for individuals, while festivals are for all.’

Prime Minister Hasina mentioned that her government built all the 352 temples damaged during attacks in 1991-92 including some in Dhaka. She said that the government resolved the problem regarding the location of the Dhakeshwari National Temple and development work worth 10 crore Taka is going on at the temple, reports the official news agency BSS.

Prime Minister Hasina said that the renovation and development of 2351 temples and religious institutions are going on all over the country. The government has allocated 263 crore Taka for this purpose. She said that the renovation and development of 1,600 temples and religious institutions have also been completed.

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FRANCE-PROTEST

In France, at least 1.1 million people protested on the streets of Paris and other French cities on Thursday amid nationwide strikes against the government's plans to raise the retirement age. However, President Emmanuel Macron insisted he would press ahead with the proposed pension reforms. French unions have announced new strikes and protests, vowing to try to get the government to back down on plans to push up the standard retirement age from 62 to 64. Out of the country for a French-Spanish summit in Barcelona, President Macron said, the measure, a central pillar of his second term, is needed to keep the pension system financially viable.

However, unions say it threatens hard-fought worker rights. In a country with an ageing population and growing life expectancy where everyone receives a state pension, Macron’s government said, the reform is the only way to keep the system solvent. Paris police said, 38 people were detained as a mass of people thronged the streets of the capital despite freezing rain. Retirees and college students were among the diverse crowd.

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PERU PROTEST

In Peru, protesters and police clashed on the streets of Lima on Thursday as thousands of demonstrators from across the country convened upon the Peruvian capital, facing a massive show of force by local police. The Andean country’s weeks-long protest movement, which seeks a complete reset of the government, was sparked by the ouster of former President Pedro Castillo in December and fueled by deep dissatisfaction over living conditions and inequality in the country.

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SOUTH KOREA SLUM FIRE

In South Korea, hundreds of people were evacuated after a fire broke out in a shanty town in the capital Seoul on Friday. Roughly 60 homes are reported to have been destroyed in a blaze in Guryong Village. There were no reports of deaths or injuries.

Local media described the area of closely packed makeshift homes as the capital's last remaining slum. It took more than 900 firefighters and several helicopters five hours to put out the blaze.

President Yoon Suk-yeol called for all-out efforts to minimise the damage and mobilise all available firefighters and equipment, according to his spokeswoman.

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DGCA-AIR INDIA FINE

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has imposed a fine of 30 lakh rupees on Air India over the incident of passenger misbehavior on its flight from New York to New Delhi. The regulator also suspended the licence of the pilot for three months, while imposing a penalty of three lakh rupees on Director-in-flight services of Air India for failing to discharge her duties. Earlier, the DGCA had issued show cause notices to Accountable Manager of Air India, pilots and cabin crew members of the flight for dereliction of their regulatory obligations. The incident of passenger misbehavior occurred on Air India flight on 26th November last year from New York to New Delhi.

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WORLD NEWS CAPSULE

The Sensex and the Nifty on Friday witnessed modest losses amid mixed global cues. Index of top 30 companies at Bombay Stock Exchange Sensex, closed below 60,700 points while Nifty, index of top 50 companies at National Stock Exchange, settled below the 18,050 level. The rupee logged gain of 23 paise against the US currency. A report from the business desk:  

"The Sensex declined 237 points, to end at 60,622. The Nifty-50 also slipped 80 points to finish at 18,027. Among global stock markets, Most Asian equity markets edged higher. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng climbed 1.8 percent and China’s Shanghai Composite index appreciated 0.8 percent. Japan's NIKKEI-225 and South Korea’s KOSPI,both, surged 0.6 percent. Singapore’s Straits Times rose 0.5 percent. European shares were positive in intra-day trade. Oil rose headed for a second straight weekly gain, spurred largely by brightening economic prospects for China and resulting expectations of a boost to fuel demand in the country. In intra-day trade, Brent crude was trading at 86 dollars and 65 cents per barrel. Back Home, At the Multi Commodity Exchange, Gold futures for February was trading at 56,705 rupees per ten grams. Silver futures for March was trading at 68,810 rupees per kilogram when reports last came in. In the forex market, the rupee logged gain of 23 paise to closed at 81 rupees and 12 paise against the US dollar. Arjun Choudhary for World News, All India Radio."          

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DAVID CROSBY-DEATH

David Crosby, one of the most influential rock singers of the 1960s and ’70s, who was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with two different groups, passed away at the age of 81. Crosby was a founding member of two revered rock bands, the country and folk-influenced Byrds, for whom he co-wrote the hit “Eight Miles High". The other band was Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young(CSNY), which defined the smooth side of the Woodstock generation’s music. Crosby’s wife, Jan Dance, announced the death of the rock legend. In a statement, she said, David passed away after a long illness. His longtime collaborator Graham Nash expressed grief on the demise of the legendary rock singer.

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WOMEN'S CRICKET

In Women's Cricket, India defeated South Africa by 27 runs in the opening match of Tri-Nation T20 International Series at Buffalo Park in East London Thursday night. Put into bat by South Africa, India posted a competitive total of 147 for 6 in their stipulated 20 overs. Deepti Sharma scored a 33-run and Yastika Bhatia hit 35 runs. Debutant Amanjot Kaur remained unbeaten at 41.

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HOCKEY FIH

In the FIH Hockey Men’s World Cup, Belgium defeated Japan by 7-1 in a POOL B match  at Birsa Munda stadium in Rourkela, Odisha. Earlier in the day, in Pool A fixture, Australia thrashed South Africa with a final score of 9-2, while France and Argentina settled for a draw after scoring five goals each. Germany defeated South Korea 7-2 in a Pool B match.

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IOA-COMMITTEE

The Indian Olympic Association has formed a seven-member committee to probe the allegations of sexual harassment against the Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. The members of the committee are M. C. Mary Kom, Dola Banerjee, Alaknanda Ashok, Yogeshwar Dutt, Sahdev Yadav and two advocates.

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FPR

Now let us take a look at the major developments around the world, as reported in the Foreign Press.

⦁ The Washington Post reports, Gangnam fire Blaze highlights inequality in Seoul’s richest area.

⦁ The Strait Times writes, Singapore dollar hits 2-year high against US currency but upside seen limited.

⦁ Wall Street Journal writes, Elon Musk Sold Tesla Shares Before Company Acknowledged Weakness.

⦁ The Global Times writes, Xi extends Spring Festival greetings to all Chinese, urging solid work to create better future.

⦁ The Financial Times writes, German producer price inflation eases to lowest since November 2021.

⦁ The Guardian also writes, Kenya declares war on millions of birds after they raid crops.

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 REPEAT HEADLINES

⦁ India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi distributes appointment letters to 71 thousand   recruits in government departments.

⦁ India becomes first country to extend assurance to Sri Lanka for its debt restructuring.

⦁ Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani says India has made a case for economic gender justice; World Economic Forum at Davos recognises giant strides taken by India in several areas.

⦁ IT giant Google to lay off 12,000 employees due to difficult economic situation.

⦁ In Women's cricket, India beat South Africa by 27 runs in first match of tri nation T20 series at East London.

⦁ And in Men's World Cup Hockey, Australia thrash South Africa 9-2 while Belgium defeat Japan 7-1 in Odisha.

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And now, before we end, let us listen to Mahatma Gandhi's favourite bhajanVaishnav Jan, by artists from SWITZERLAND.  

AND WITH THAT, WE END THIS BULLETIN. WE'LL BE BACK AT THE SAME TIME TOMORROW WITH THE NEXT EDITION OF WORLD NEWS.

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