NAMASKAR! A warm welcome to 'World News: an Indian perspective on All India Radio. This is ABHINEET SHUKLA 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:

⦁ The First G-20 Energy Transition Working Group starts in Bengaluru, focus on a holistic approach to inclusive growth of green energy worldwide.

⦁ India calls upon G20 partners for united fight against global warming and climate change.

⦁ India Energy Week starts in Bengaluru on Monday; Prime Minister Narendra Modi to dedicate HAL helicopter factory to the nation in Tumakaru.

⦁ Shanghai Cooperation Organization Supreme Auditors Institutions meeting in Lucknow on Monday, focus on Artificial Intelligence, cyber security and digital technology.

⦁ India delivers fifty more Ashok Leyland buses to Sri Lanka as a part of the package deal under its Economic Assistance Scheme

⦁ And, in SAFF Under 20 Women's football in Dhaka, match between India and Bangladesh ends in 0-0 draw.

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KARNATAKA- G20 WORKING GROUP

The First G-20 Energy Transition Working Group meeting was inaugurated in Bengaluru on Sunday in the presence of Union Minister of Power and New and Renewable Energy R K Singh and Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Coal and Mines Prahlad Joshi. In his keynote address, the Renewable energy minister R K Singh hoped that the three days deliberations in Bengaluru will look into Energy access, energy security and energy transition in a holistic manner and find ways of inclusive growth of green energy in the world. MR. Singh called upon the G20 member countries to join together in countering the challenges posed by global warming and climate change.

The Minister said, the country also aims to achieve close to 50 per cent cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil fuel-based energy resources by 2030.

In his special address, Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Coal & Mines Prahlad Joshi underlined the need for international collaboration to achieve universal access to clean energy. He recalled Prime Minister Narendra Modi's announcement at the COP26 in Glasgow on Mission LiFE - Lifestyle For Environment - as a mass movement for “mindful and deliberate utilization, instead of mindless and destructive consumption” to protect and preserve the environment.

Briefing the media persons in Bengaluru today, at the end of the first day of meeting, the Union Power Secretary Alok Kumar said that the members today discussed five technological areas including high efficient fuel cells, electrolysis, small modular reactors, carbon capture and storage. Presentations were made on low cost financing for technology transition and fuels of the future like bio-fuel and green hydrogen. The secretary said that India has already achieved the target of blending 10 percent ethanol in fuel. During the deliberations, India floated an alliance with Brazil and USA on bio-fuel.  

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PM - ENERGY WEEK:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Karnataka tomorrow. He will inaugurate India Energy Week 2023 at Bengaluru. Mr Modi will also lay the foundation stone of various development initiatives. The India Energy Week will be held from 6th to 8th February. It is aimed to showcase India's rising prowess as an energy transition powerhouse. The event will bring together leaders from the traditional and non-traditional energy industry, governments, and academia to discuss the challenges and opportunities that a responsible energy transition presents. It will see the presence of more than 30 Ministers from across the world. Over 30 thousand delegates, one thousand exhibitors and 500 speakers will gather to discuss the challenges and opportunities of India's energy future.

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ASSAM-YOUTH-20 SUMMIT

The Assam government will host Youth-20 Summit Inception meeting starting tomorrow in Guwahati to tap the views and ideas of young minds. More than 1500, including 250 foreign and Indian delegates, and 400 college students from Assam are participating in the Y20 Inception meeting at Guwahati. The Y-20 will provide a forum for young people to express their views and idea on G-20 priorities on contemporary issues for a better tomorrow.

In the runup to the Y-20 Inception meeting, discussions, debates, rallies, painting and quiz competitions were held at colleges and universities across the State on the Y-20-identified themes.

The Y20 themes are Future of Work: Industry 4.0, Innovation & 21st century; Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction: Making Sustainability as a Way of Life; Peace Building and Reconciliation: Ushering in an Era of No War; Shared Future: Youth in Democracy and Governance; Health, Wellbeing & Sports: Agenda for the Youth.

Started in 2012, the Y-20 is the youth version of the G-20 Summits and it is the only officially recognized platform for young people to engage with the G-20 it is one of the most influential international diplomatic forums for young leaders. It is also one of eight official engagement groups under the G-20 umbrella. The G-20 rotating presidency bears the responsibility of hosting the youth summit, which usually takes place some weeks prior to the traditional forum to know what the youths are thinking and incorporate their suggestions in their own policy proposals. It is an attempt to create a connecting point between G-20 governments and their local youth. The 3-day long Y-20 Inception Meet will conclude on the 8th of February 2023.

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CAG-SCO MEET

The Comptroller and Auditor General of India, CAG, is hosting the 6th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation(SCO) SAI Leaders’ Meeting in Lucknow beginning tomorrow. Out of the eight SCO Supreme Audit Institutions (SAI) member country delegations participating in the event, the heads of SAIs from four countries - Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, alongside the CAG of India, are expected to take part in the three-day multilateral event.

Comptroller and Auditor General of India, Girish Chandra Murmu will lead the discussions on the theme “Integrating Emerging Technologies in Audit”. Governor of Uttar Pradesh Anandiben Patel, will inaugurate the meeting.

Our correspondent covering the event reports that the participating delegates are expected to hold discussions and share experiences on Artificial Intelligence and Cyber Security as well as concerns of digital technology.

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BUDGETSRILANKA-INDEPENDENCE DAY

India delivered fifty more buses delivered to Sri Lanka at the Presidential Secretariat premises, this morning as Sri Lanka celebrated its 75th Independence Day yesterday. High Commissioner of India Gopal Baglay handed over the buses to Sri Lanka’s President Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Commercial vehicle maker Ashok Leyland had bagged the contract for supplying 500 buses to the Sri Lanka Transport Board, of which 75 buses have already been delivered to the Island nation earlier this year.

The order is a part of a Line of Credit extended by the Export-Import Bank of India, under the Economic Assistance Scheme of the Indian government.

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DOVAL - UK

India's National Security Advisor Ajit Doval met with UK's National Security Advisor Tim Barrow in London yesterday. The United Kingdom's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak also joined the meeting as a special gesture. The High Commission of India said, that Mr Doval's visit to London has come right after he met his US counterpart Jake Sullivan in Washington on Tuesday.

India and the United Kingdom share a comprehensive strategic partnership.

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CHINA SPY BALLOON-US

China strongly protested over the US shooting down a Chinese surveillance balloon over the Atlantic Ocean after it traversed sensitive military sites across North America. The Chinese Foreign Ministry in a statement on Sunday said, "China strongly disapproves and protests against the US attack on a civilian unmanned airship by force” and warned of repercussions.

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PM-HAL DEDICATION  

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will dedicate to the nation a helicopter manufacturing plant of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, HAL in Tumkuru tomorrow. Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh and senior officials of the Ministry of Defence will be present on this occasion. The Greenfield Helicopter factory, spread across 615 acres, will manufacture the Light Utility Helicopters.

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MUSHARRAF-DEATH:

Former Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf passed away in Dubai today following a prolonged illness. He was 79. Musharraf had been undergoing treatment for an ailment at an American Hospital in Dubai.

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WOMEN'S SAFF U-20 - DHAKA:

In SAFF Under 20 Women's football championship, the match between India and Bangladesh ended in a draw in Dhaka. Both teams played well but could not score a single goal. Now, India will face Nepal on 7th of February.

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CRICKET- HAZLEWOOD

Australia's injury concerns continue to mount ahead of the first Test match against India with key pacer Josh Hazlewood ruled out of the opening match in Nagpur. Hazlewood had sustained the injury on his left leg after bowling in the rain-affected Sydney Test against South Africa last month. Australia already loses Mitchell Starc who was ruled out of the series opener due to injury. The first test match between India and Australia will begin on the 9th of February.

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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 Globe and Mail reports, Zelensky strips citizenship of several former politicians, citing pro-Russian influences.

⦁ The Washington Post writes, China blames U.S. politics for ‘overreaction’ to suspected spy balloon.

⦁ The Straits Times reports, Sixteen killed, dozens injured in China highway pile-up.

⦁ The Financial Times reports, EU agrees on price caps on Russian oil products.

⦁ The Japan Times reports, Iran's Supreme leader pardons a large number of security-related prisoners linked to protests.

⦁ South China Morning Post says Greek Cypriots vote for a new president in close contest as passports scandal dominates the debate.

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 REPEAT HEADLINES

⦁ The First G-20 Energy Transition Working Group starts in Bengaluru, focus on a holistic approach to inclusive growth of green energy worldwide.

⦁ India calls upon G20 partners for united fight against global warming and climate change.

⦁ India Energy Week starts in Bengaluru on Monday; Prime Minister Narendra Modi to dedicate HAL helicopter factory to the nation in Tumakaru.

⦁ Shanghai Cooperation Organization Supreme Auditors Institutions meeting in Lucknow on Monday, focus on Artificial Intelligence, cyber security and digital technology.

⦁ India delivers fifty more Ashok Leyland buses to Sri Lanka as a part of the package deal under its Economic Assistance Scheme.

⦁ And, in SAFF Under 20 Women's football in Dhaka, match between India and Bangladesh ends in 0-0 draw.

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

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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