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IAF operationalises No. 18 Squadron ‘Flying Bullets’, equips it with LCA Tejas

(Source: @IAF_MCC)

New Delhi (NVI): The Indian Air Force today operationlised its No. 18 Squadron, the “Flying Bullets” while equipping it with locally made Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas FOC at an event in Sulur near Coimbatore.

The induction of fourth-generation LCA took place at Air Force Station, Sulur in the presence of the Chief of Air Staff (CAS) Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria. “The CAS Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria flew the #LCA Tejas fighter this morning with 45 Squadron at Air Force Station Sulur. He is on a visit to the Station for operationalisation of 18 Squadron,” the IAF said in a tweet.

With this, the No. 18 squadron of Indian Air Force has become the second IAF fleet to fly indigenously built Light Combat Aircraft Tejas FOC (Final Operational Clearance).

The FOC standard LCA Tejas, inducted into the No. 18 Squadron today, has been produced by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).

“We are proud to deliver a much lethal aircraft than the IOC block. Apart from all the capabilities of IOC aircraft, the FOC variant additionally comes with Air- to-Air refueling capability, close combat gun, additional drop tanks, BVR missile capability, updated avionics and flight control software suite”, said R Madhavan, CMD, HAL.

The FOC variant will reduce the maintenance man hours and turn-around time resulting in enhanced support for IAF missions, HAL said in a statement.

Four more FOC-LCAs are in the advanced stages of production and testing and expected to join the Squadron soon. HAL commenced the training for both air crew as well as maintenance crew for FOC aircraft and the first batch of trained air warriors is already with the 18 Squadron.

Tejas is an indigenous fourth generation tailless compound delta-wing aircraft. The aircraft is equipped with a fly-by-wire flight control system, integrated digital avionics, multimode radar and its structure is made out of composite material.

It is the lightest and smallest in its group of fourth-generation supersonic combat aircraft.

IAF’s 18 Squadron was formed on 15 April, 1965 with the motto ‘Teevra aur Nirbhaya’  (Swift and Fearless). The squadron was flying MiG 27 aircraft before it got number plated on 15 April 2016. The squadron was resurrected on April 1 this year at Sulur.

The squadron actively participated in the 1971 war with Pakistan and was decorated with the highest gallantry award ‘Param Vir Chakra’ awarded to Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon posthumously. It earned the sobriquet of ‘Defenders of Kashmir Valley’ by being the first to land and operate from Srinagar. The Squadron was presented with President’s Standard in November 2015.

Heatwave alert for several parts of North, West India, including Delhi

Heatwave
Representational Image

New Delhi (NVI): Several parts in North and West India are witnessing heatwave conditions, with Churu in Rajasthan sizzling at 50 degrees Celsius and parts of the national capital Delhi recording over 47 degrees temperature.

At a maximum temperature 46 degrees Celsius, Delhi recorded the hottest day in the month if May yesterday in 18 years since 2002. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued Orange alert for Delhi, as heatwave sweeps across North India.

The heatwave comes even as the region struggles with rising Covid-19 cases and swarms of locusts destroying crops.

According to the National Weather Forecasting Centre of the IMD, due to prevailing dry northwesterly winds over plains of northwest India, Central India & adjoining interior parts of eastern India, present heatwave conditions very likely to continue to prevail mainly during next 24 hours.

Heatwave conditions will be witnessed at many places with severe heatwave in isolated pockets very likely over Vidarbha in Maharashtra.

The weatherman has forecast heatwave conditions at a few places with severe heatwave in isolated pockets over West Rajasthan.

Apart from that, heatwave conditions are likely in some pockets over Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi, West Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and East Rajasthan and in isolated pockets over Punjab, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, Saurashtra & Kutch, Madhya Maharashtra, Marathwada, Telangana and North Interior Karnataka during next 24 hours, IMD said.

According to the weather department, heatWave is considered if the maximum temperature of a station reaches at least 40°C or more for plains, 37°C or more for coastal stations and at least 30°C or more for hilly regions.

State-wise details of Covid-19 cases in India

New Delhi (NVI): Coronavirus cases in India continue to surge with Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Gujarat being the worst affected states in the country.

The total number of positive coronavirus cases in India has reached 1,51,767 while a total of 4,337 deaths have been reported so far, according to Union Health Ministry tally.

Maharashtra tops the country with the maximum number of coronavirus cases and has reported over 54,000 confirmed cases so far.

The first confirmed coronavirus case in India was reported in the state of Kerala on January 30. Since then, the virus has tightened its grip across the country.

Total positive cases in States/UTs:

Andaman and Nicobar Islands- 33

Andhra Pradesh- 3,171

Arunachal Pradesh- 2

Assam- 616

Bihar- 2,983

Chandigarh- 266

Chhattisgarh- 361

Dadar Nagar Haveli- 2

Delhi- 14,465

Gujarat- 14,821

Goa- 67

Haryana– 1,305

Himachal Pradesh- 247

Jammu and Kashmir- 1,759

Jharkhand- 426

Karnataka- 2,283

Kerala- 963

Ladakh- 53

Madhya Pradesh- 7,024

Maharashtra- 54,758

Manipur- 39

Meghalaya- 15

Mizoram- 1

Nagaland- 4

Odisha- 1,517

Puducherry- 46

Punjab- 2,106

Rajasthan- 7,536

Sikkim- 1

Tamil Nadu- 17,728

Telangana- 1,991

Tripura- 207

Uttarakhand- 401

Uttar Pradesh- 6,548

West Bengal – 4,009

State/UT wise total death toll:

Andhra Pradesh- 57

Assam- 4

Bihar- 13

Chandigarh- 4

Delhi- 288

Gujarat- 915

Haryana- 17

Himachal Pradesh- 5

Jammu and Kashmir- 24

Jharkhand- 4

Karnataka- 44

Kerala- 6

Madhya Pradesh- 305

Maharashtra- 1,792

Meghalaya- 1

Odisha- 7

Puducherry- 1

Punjab- 40

Rajasthan- 170

Tamil Nadu- 127

Telangana- 57

Uttar Pradesh- 170

Uttarakhand- 4

West Bengal- 283

A total of 64,426 people have been cured or discharged from hospitals in India. There are around 83,004 active cases currently, according to the Health Ministry.

Coronavirus cases top 5.5 million globally

Global Covid-19 cases cross 62 mn mark
Representational image

New Delhi (NVI): Nearly 5.6 million cases of coronavirus have been confirmed around the world with more than 3,50,000 deaths, according to John Hopkins University tally.

Spain is set to begin 10 days of mourning on Wednesday in memory of the more than 27,000 people who have lost their lives to the coronavirus. Flags will fly at half-mast.

As Brazil’s daily COVID-19 death rate climbs, a new study warns its total death toll could climb to 125,000 by early August, adding to fears it has become a new hot spot in the pandemic.

The total number of coronavirus cases in Brazil have exceeded 3,91,000 while nearly 24,500 have lost their lives due to the contagion.

Mexico recorded its largest single-day increase in both newly confirmed cases and reported deaths from novel coronavirus since the outbreak began. The health officials reported an additional 3,455 cases, bringing the total to 74,560 cases with 501 new deaths.

Meanwhile, Thailand’s state of emergency laws have been extended for another month until the end of June, despite the kingdom reporting a relatively low virus toll at just over 3,000 cases and 57 deaths, according to media reports.

New Zealand has reported a fifth consecutive day of no new cases of Covid-19 recorded in the country.

In addition to this, South Korea has reported 40 new coronavirus cases for its biggest daily jump in nearly 50 days, causing alarm in a country where millions of children are returning to school.

Nearly 2.3 million have recovered from the deadly virus around the globe.

PM pays tributes to Jawaharlal Nehru

Prime Minister Narendra Modi

New Delhi (NVI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi today paid tributes to India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, on his 56th death anniversary.

“Tributes to our first PM, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Ji on his death anniversary,” PM Modi wrote on twitter.

Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the country’s longest-serving Prime Minister, fought for India’s freedom against the British rule.

Nehru was born in Allahabad on November 14, 1889. He served as the country’s PM from 1947 until his death on May 27, 1964.

He was also imprisoned several times during the freedom struggle.

COVID cases in India climb to 1.5 lakh, death toll at 4,337

New Delhi (NVI): The total number of coronavirus cases in India has risen to 1,51,767 while the death toll due to the virus has gone up to 4,337, according to the Union Health Ministry.

In the past 24 hours, India has reported 6,387 COVID-19 positive cases.

At least 64,426 patients have been cured of the virus or discharged, the ministry said.

In the worst-hit Maharashtra, the COVID-19 cases climbed to 54,758, followed by Tamil Nadu with 17,728 cases, and Gujarat with 14,821 cases so far.

Maharashtra has also reported the highest number of fatalities 1,792, followed by 912 in Gujarat and 305 in Madhya Pradesh.

The coronavirus cases in national capital have increased to 14,465 with 288 deaths reported so far, according to the Health Ministry data.

Other states with high virus cases are Rajasthan (7,536), Madhya Pradesh (7,024), and Uttar Pradesh (6,548).

The government has claimed that lockdowns since March have caused a drastic improvement in the country’s COVID-19 recovery rate and also brought down the mortality rate.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court took note of the situation of migrant workers amid the nationwide lockdown and issued notices to the Centre and states.

Horse quarantined in J&K’s Rajouri for travel history from Kashmir

Representational Image

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): Strange but true, the district administration of Rajouri in Jammu region today sent a horse with a travel history from Kashmir into quarantine, stating that “it can’t take any risk.”

An official in Rajouri said that the caretakers of the horse have been directed to use Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) while dealing with the horse.

They said that a team of police intercepted a man this evening who had travelled to Rajouri district from Kashmir along with his horse. “The man had travelled through Mughal Road to reach Rajouri district,” the official said. “He was intercepted along with the horse and immediately put under quarantine for having a travel history of over 200 kilometers.”

However, the authorities in Rajouri were in a dilemma. Tehsildar of Thanamandi, Rajouri, Anjuman  Anjum Khatak invited the veterinary experts to get their views on the horse.

“Majority of the veterinary experts were of the belief that animals are not potential carriers of Covid 19 and that the horse be set free and kept in a stable,” official sources said. However, some experts suggested otherwise, stating that the horse be sent to quarantine and that “no risk should be taken.”

The final call was taken by the Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Rajouri, Sher Singh who decided that the horse be medically screened for body temperature.

“The caretakers of the horse were asked to deal with the animal after wearing Proper personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and that the horse is kept in an administrative quarantine where it will be monitored by veterinary experts for a period of four weeks,” Singh said, adding that the administration faced this case for the first time since the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic in the UT.

India’s Covid fatality rate among lowest in the world: Govt

New Delhi (NVI): India’s fatality rate due to Covid-19 is among the lowest in the world at 2.87 per cent, the Union Ministry of Health said today.

Lav Agarwal, Joint Secretary, Union Health Ministry, while addressing a media briefing said, “4.4 deaths per lakh population have been reported for the world, while India has reported about 0.3 deaths per lakh population, which is amongst the lowest in the world.”

“A total of 60,490 patients have recovered so far from COVID-19. Recovery rate continues to improve and presently it is 41.61 per cent,” Aggarwal added.

“This has been made possible due to lockdown, timely identification and management of COVID-19 cases,” he said.

The Joint Secretary further stated, “Our focus should now be on prevention and containment measures so as to contain the spread of coronavirus. Behavior change for prevention should be made a part of our daily life.”

The number of positive coronavirus cases reported in India in the last 24 hours is 6,535, taking the country’s tally to 1,45,380. The number of active cases in the country stands at 80,722, while a total of 60,490 people have been treated and discharged. 4,167 deaths have been reported so far.

J&K records 24th Covid death; 4 pregnant women among 91 new cases

Srinagar (NVI): Jammu and Kashmir today recorded 24th Covid-19 death while 91 more cases tested positive taking the total number of cases in the UT to 1,759.

Officials said that four pregnant women were also among the new cases. Today, the Jammu region also witnessed a surge in the Covid cases as out of 91 total cases, 54 were from Jammu and 37 from Kashmir, they said.

Medical Superintendent, SKIMS Soura, Dr Farooq Jan said that a 90-year-old man from south Kashmir’s Kulgam, who tested positive last evening, passed away this morning. The death toll of Covid-19 positive cases in J&K has now reached 24 including 21 from Kashmir division and 3 from Jammu division.

Officials said that the total number of positive cases in the Kashmir division has reached 1,411 including 650 recoveries and 21 deaths while the total number of positive cases in the Jammu division has reached 255 including 90 recoveries and 3 deaths.

They added that the total number of active cases in Jammu and Kashmir are 902 including 647 from Kashmir and 255 from Jammu.

Cases tested positive in J&K include 1 from Kulgam, 7 from Srinagar, 12 from Budgam, 1 from Kupwara, 4 from Bandipora, 6 from Baramulla, 4 from Ganderbal and 2 from Pulwama in Kashmir while 54 are from Jammu including 10 from district Jammu, 29 from Ramban, 4 from Kuthua, 2 from Udhampur, 2 from Samba district, 3 from Reasi and 4 from Poonch.

Among the new cases, 12 are from Budgam including 7 from Magam, 4 from Soibug and 1 from Narbal. Apart from that, 6 are from Srinagar including 3 from Alamgiri Bazar and 2 from Hawal and one from Kathua.

As per officials figures, 278 positive cases include four deaths and 113 recoveries are from Anantnag, 228 including four deaths and 17 recoveries from Kulgam, 189 including six deaths and 126 recoveries from Srinagar, 143 including one death and 131 recoveries from Bandipora, 143 including 98 recoveries and four deaths from Baramulla, 129 including 107 recoveries from Shopian, 166 including 70 recoveries from Kupwara, 76 including 47 recoveries and two deaths from Budgam, 31 including 24 recoveries from Ganderbal and 28 including 10 recoveries from Pulwama.

In Jammu, 109 including 34 recoveries and two deaths are from Jammu district, 53 including 15 recoveries are from Kathua, 39 including 21 recoveries and one death are from Udhampur, 74 including 2 recoveries are from Ramban, 29 including 10 recoveries from Samba, 13 including 4 recoveries are from Rajouri, 8 including 1 recovery is from Kishtwar, 12 with no recovery from Poonch, 9 including 3 recoveries from Reasi and 2 from Doda.

As per the daily information bulletin, 142,901 persons in Jammu and Kashmir are under observation while 32,714 persons have been kept under home quarantine. Apart from that, 902 persons are in hospital isolation while 62 persons are under hospital quarantine.

According to the bulletin, 75,626 persons have completed surveillance period and 33,573 persons are under home surveillance.

Besides, so far results of 140,962 samples are available out of which 139,203 tested negative while 1,759 have been tested positive. Among positive cases, 902 are active, 833 have recovered and 24 have died.

Pak minister accused of demolishing houses of Hindus, Christians

(Pic courtesy: Naya Daur)

New Delhi (NVI): Several houses of Hindus and Christian workers living in Yazman city of Bahawalpur district of Pakistan were forcibly demolished last week in an alleged case of land grabbing and persecution of non-Mulsims, reports Naya Daur.

The incident took place on May 20 and Federal Minister for Housing and Works, Tariq Bashir Cheema, has been named as the accused, whose goons allegedly beat people up and destroyed their houses amid the coronavirus crisis, according to the Pakistan news portal.


A video of the incident has been doing rounds on social media in which women from the minority community have been protesting, saying that they have been rendered homeless with no food or water in such harsh weather. They said that they are starving and will die of homelessness before they die of coronavirus, the Pak media website reported.

The displaced men and women have been protesting in the area for the last few days, saying that they had been living there for 20 years. Some of them told this media outlet that suddenly, they were told that they were illegal.

However, this is yet another case of religious persecution in Pakistan as Hindu and Christian minorities have been ill-treated at several places in the country in the past as well.

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