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Rafales have arrived: First batch of 5 jets land at Ambala airbase

New Delhi (NVI): The first batch of five Rafale jets have landed safely at Ambala airbase safely after covering a distance of nearly 7,000 km. The fighter jets took off from Mérignac in France on Monday and had a one-day stopover at the Al Dhafra airbase near Abu Dhabi.

As soon as the five jets entered the Indian airspace, they were escorted by two Sukhoi-30MKI fighters to the airbase in Ambala. The Ambala administration sealed roads leading to the Air Force Station in Haryana till 5 pm as a security blanket was thrown around the area to prevent any photography and videography of the aircraft on arrival.


Defence Minister Rajnath Singh took to Twitter after the landing of Rafales and said their touch down marks the beginning of a new era in India’s military history.

“The Birds have landed safely in Ambala. The touch down of Rafale combat aircraft in India marks the beginning of a new era in our Military History. These multirole aircraft will revolutionise the capabilities of the @IAF_MCC,” he tweeted.

This is the first tranche of French fighter aircraft, of the total 36 ordered by the Indian Air Force (IAF). The aircraft will be officially inducted into the IAF in the second half of August.

The Defence Minister also congratulated the IAF on a professionally executed ferry of the multirole aircraft. “I am sure that 17 Squadron, the Golden Arrows, will continue to live upto their motto of “Udayam Ajasram”. I am extremely happy that IAF’s combat capability has got a timely boost,” He said in a tweet while indirectly referring to the present security situation with China due to border row at LAC.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also welcomed the arrival of first batch of five Rafale jets at the IAF station in Ambala. Taking to Twitter, the PM shared a Sanskrit slogan while sharing a video of the landing of the aircraft.


Chief of Air Staff, RKS Bhadauria was also at the strategically important Ambala airbase to receive the Rafale jets, India’s first major acquisition of fighter planes in over two decades.

Security was tightened near the airbase, located around 200 km from the border with Pakistan, and large gatherings were banned in four villages nearby.


The jets were flown by Indian pilots who have undergone comprehensive training on the aircraft. The Rafales will be a part of the IAF’s No. 17 Squadron, which is also known as the “Golden Arrows”.

While the French air force refuelled the fighters — three single-seater and two twin-seater aircraft — using its Airbus A330 multi-role tanker transport (MRTT) aircraft on their way to Al Dhafra, aerial refuelling support was provided by the IAF’s Russian Ilyushin-78 refuellers for the second leg of the journey from Al Dhafra to Ambala.

The planes are expected to boost India’s air power massively amid tensions with China and Pakistan.

-CHK/ARK

Bihar extends lockdown till Aug 16

New Delhi (NVI): The government of Bihar has extended the ongoing lockdown in the state for 16 more days till August 16 as COVID-19 cases continue to rise in the state.

The new order states that the lockdown in the entire state has has been further extended for more 16 days which will be effective from August 1.

Under the new lockdown guidelines, the government offices, its autonomous/subordinate offices and public corporation shall work with 50 per cent sub-ordinate staff, officers to attend office.

Meanwhile, commercial and private offices have been allowed to operate at 50 per cent strength.

Other emergency services, electricity, water, municipality, hospitals, will remain function.

Earlier this month, the Bihar government had extended the lockdown from July 16 to 31 to contain the spread of COVID-19.

So far, the COVID-19 tally in Bihar stands at 43,591 while the death toll mounted to 269.

-RJV

Kejriwal announces de-linking of hotels from hospitals in Delhi

Arvind Kejriwal

New Delhi (NVI): Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today announced de-linking of hotels from hospitals that had been dedicated as COVID-19 facilities, in view of the improving situation in the national capital.

Taking to twitter, Kejriwal said, “Some hotels were attached to hospitals to increase the number of COVID beds. In view of the improving situation and all hotel beds lying vacant for the last many days, these hotels are now being released.”

The national capital saw a significant drop in the number of COVID-19 cases in the past few days with daily figures less than 1,000.

In addition to this, a total of 40 hotels that were designated as COVID-19 facilities for patients with moderate symptoms have now been released.

Earlier in June, the Delhi government had empowered the magistrates in 11 districts to use hotels as an extension of hospitals treating COVID-19 patients as the cases surged.

In another tweet, the chief minister said, “Existing guidelines say that if any patient’s antigen test is negative but has symptoms, RT-PCR test must be done on him. I directed the officers today to ensure strict compliance of these guidelines.”

 

RT-PCR, is a laboratory technique widely used in the diagnosis of genetic diseases and to measure gene expression in research.

So far, 13,701 antigen tests were conducted on July 28 while 4,843 RT-PCR tests were done yesterday, according to the Delhi health report.

The national capital recorded 1,056 fresh coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of cases to 1,32,275 in Delhi.

-RJV

J&K: 3 terrorist associates arrested in Bandipora

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): Jammu and Kashmir police today arrested three terrorist associates of different militant outfits in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district.

A police official said that on a specific tip-off, raids were conducted in various areas of the district and three people were arrested who had militancy links.

“Three militant associates from various parts of the Bandipora district were arrested. Incriminating material was recovered from them,” the officer said. He said that the trio was involved in serious offenses like providing shelter, logistics support, and assistance to militants operating in the district from time to time.

The officer further said that the arrested trio belonged to different militant outfits. They have been identified as Abrar Gulzar, resident of Bagh, Bandipora, Muhammad Waqar, resident of Chettibandi, Bandipora and Muneer Ahmad Sheikh, resident of Quil Muqam, Bandipora.

He said that a case under section 16, 18,39 of UAPA, 7/27 IA act have been registered in police station Bandipora and further investigation of the case is going on.

-ARK

Archana Soreng becomes first girl from Odisha to join UN Chief’s Youth Advisory Group

Archana Soreng

Subrat Kumar Sarangi

Bhubaneswar (NVI): Archana Soreng, a climate activist from India, has been selected as one amongst the seven members, by UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, in the Youth Advisory Group comprising young leaders who will provide perspectives and solutions to tackle climate crisis.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik congratulated Archana for being placed in the UN Advisory Group.

The Odisha CM tweeted, “Glad to see our young leaders taking lead roles in combating climate crisis. Wish her the best”.

Archana Soreng belongs to Khadia Tribe and hails from Sundargarh district of Odisha. She joins six other young climate leaders from around the world who have been named by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to his new Youth Advisory Group on Climate Change.

She has pursued B.A (Hons) in Political Science from Patna Women’s College, She has done her Masters of Arts in Regulatory Governance from Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai. She is currently working as Research Officer in Vasundhara, Odisha.

The young activists aged between 18 to 28 years will advise the UN Chief to tackle the present climate crisis and global action.

Vice President Venkaiah Naidu also took to twitter and said, “Hearty congratulations to Ms.Archana Soreng belonging to the Khadia tribe of Sundergarh District, #Odisha for being selected by the @UN as one of the seven members of the Youth Advisory Group on #ClimateChange as a part of the UN #youth strategy. #UnitedNations”

Antonio Guterres in a video conferencing said that, “We need urgent attention now to recover better from COVID-19 and young people are on the front line on climate action.”

Five more lose battle to Covid-19 in J&K, death toll at 346

Over 3,200 cops COVID positive in J&K and 15 succumbed to virus
File photo

Abid Bashir

Srinagar (NVI): Jammu and Kashmir police today recorded five more coronavirus deaths, taking the number of people who died while fighting the deadly virus in the Union Territory to 346.

Health officials told NVI that the five patients who died include a 28-year-old woman from Bijbehara, Anantnag, a 52-year-old woman from Zalapora, Budgam, a 75-year-old woman from Wazir Bagh, Srinagar, a 65-year-old man from Mattan, Anantnag and a 79-year-old man from Talab Tillo, Jammu.

An official from SMHS, Srinagar said that a 52-year-old female from Zalapora, Budgam who was admitted with diabetes, hypertension and bilateral pneumonia died today.

He said that a 75-year-old woman from Wazeer Bagh, Srinagar who was admitted on July 27 with bilateral pneumonia and hypertension also died today. An official at SKIMS Soura said that a 65-year-old man from Mattan Anantnag, who was admitted on July 27 with pneumonia and hypertension passed away today.

An official from SKIMS Bemina (JVC) said that a 28-year-old lady from Bijbehara area of Anantnag who was admitted on July 14 died today.

An official from GMC Jammu said that a 79-year-old man from Talab Tillo, Jammu, who was admitted at CD hospital, Jammu on July 27 was later referred to GMC Jammu where he died last night. With five more deaths, the death toll in J&K has reached 346 including 321 from Kashmir division and 25 from Jammu region.

-ARK

Air pollution can cut short life expectancy by 5.2 years in India: Report

Representational Image

New Delhi (NVI): The air pollution levels in India has shorten the average life expectancy of an India by 5.2 years, and the residents of Delhi could see 9.4 years added to their lives if pollution is reduced to meet the WHO guidelines, according to new report.

The report was based on an analysis of 20 years of pollution levels has been found by the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC).

India is today the world’s second-most polluted country after Bangladesh and 84 per cent Indians live in areas which exceed India’s own air quality standard.

According to the report, “Air pollution in India shortens the life expectancy of an average India by 5.2 years relative to what it could be if the guidelines of WHO are met. It decreases by 2.3 years if the country meets its own standards.”

A quarter of India’s population is exposed to pollution levels not seen in any other country, 248 million residents of northern India on track to lose more than 8 years of life expectancy, if the pollution levels persist.

Some regions in India fared much worse than the average, with air pollution shortening lives by 9.4 years in the national capital Delhi, and 8.6 years in Uttar Pradesh, the most polluted state, the report said.

Meanwhile, the Air Quality Life Index data in the report was averaged across women, men and children globally, and covers period between 1998 and 2018.

The report further said that, India’s capital Delhi is also highly polluted adding that the residents of Delhi could see 9.4 years added to their lives if pollution is reduced to meet the WHO guideline and 6.5 years if pollution met India’s national standard.

The highest loss of life expectancy in India was in UP’s capital Lucknow, which has the highest pollution level in the country — 11 times greater than the WHO guideline, said the report. Its residents stand to lose 10.3 years of life expectancy if the same pollution levels persist.

Since 1998, average annual participation pollution has increased 42 per cent, cutting 1.8 years off the life of the average resident over these years.

Notably, a quarter of India’s population, mainly those living in Indo Gangetic Plain (IGP) region, was exposed to pollution levels not seen in any other country.

In a similar report done in 2019 by the Institute, it was found that there was a 72 per cent increase in pollution from 1998 to 2016 in IGP region home to about 40 per cent of India’s population.

However, the report was authored by Michael Greenstone, Milton Friedman Professor in Economics at University of Chicago and Claire Fan, pre-doctoral fellow with the EPIC.

-RJV

State-wise details of Covid-19 cases in India

Representational image

New Delhi (NVI): The total number of coronavirus cases in India jumped to 15,31,157, after 48,513 new cases were reported in the past 24 hours, according to Union Health Ministry data.

Meanwhile, the death toll stands at 34,193 after 768 new fatalities were reported in the country during this period.

In Maharashtra, the COVID-19 cases increased to 3,91,440, followed by Tamil Nadu with 2,27,688 cases and Delhi with 1,32,275 positive cases.

Total positive cases in States/UTs:

Andaman and Nicobar Islands- 363

Andhra Pradesh- 1,10,297

Arunachal Pradesh- 1,330

Assam- 34,947

Bihar- 43,843

Chandigarh- 934

Chhattisgarh- 8,275

Dadar Nagar Haveli & Diu – 982

Delhi- 1,32,275

Gujarat- 57,982

Goa- 5,287

Haryana– 32,876

Himachal Pradesh- 2,330

Jammu and Kashmir- 18,879

Jharkhand- 9,078

Karnataka- 1,07,001

Kerala- 20,894

Ladakh- 1,327

Madhya Pradesh- 29,217

Maharashtra- 3,91,440

Manipur- 2,317

Meghalaya- 779

Mizoram- 384

Nagaland- 1,460

Odisha- 28,107

Puducherry- 3,011

Punjab- 14,378

Rajasthan- 38,514

Sikkim- 579

Tamil Nadu- 2,27,688

Telangana- 57,142

Tripura- 4,269

Uttarakhand- 6,587

Uttar Pradesh- 73,951

West Bengal – 62,964

State/UT wise total death toll:

Andaman and Nicobar Islands- 1

Andhra Pradesh- 1,148

Arunachal Pradesh- 3

Assam- 88

Bihar- 269

Chandigarh- 14

Chhattisgarh- 46

Dadra and Nagar Haveli- 2

Delhi- 3,881

Goa- 36

Gujarat- 2,372

Haryana- 406

Himachal Pradesh- 14

Jammu and Kashmir- 333

Jharkhand- 89

Karnataka- 2,055

Kerala- 67

Ladakh- 6

Madhya Pradesh- 830

Maharashtra- 14,165

Meghalaya- 5

Nagaland- 5

Odisha- 154

Puducherry- 47

Punjab- 336

Rajasthan- 644

Sikkim- 1

Tamil Nadu- 3,659

Telangana- 480

Tripura- 21

Uttar Pradesh- 1,497

Uttarakhand- 70

West Bengal- 1,449

However, a total of 9,88,029 people have been cured or discharged. Total active cases stand at 5,09,447.

-CHK

International Tiger Day 2020: History, significance and the number of tigers in India

New Delhi (NVI): There was a sharp decline in the number of wild cats since early 20th century around the globe. In order to raise awareness about the declining population of the wild cats and make efforts to conserve them, every year on July 29 International Tiger Day or Global Tiger Day is observed.

However, the situation has improved considerably over the years with the increase in their number.

The International Tiger Day came into force during the signing of Saint Petersburg declaration by 13 tiger range countries in 2010 in Russia.

The governments of these tiger range countries had resolved to encourage the conservation, protect their natural habitats and double the number of tigers by 2022.

Poaching and illegal trade of their body parts like bone, skin poses the biggest threat to tigers. Therefore, the demand for tiger body parts has increased the poaching and trafficking of wild cats.

According to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) experts, the world had lost around 97 per cent of wild tigers in the past 100 years. At present, only 3,000 tigers are left alive compared to around 100,000 tigers a century ago.

Many international organizations, including the WWF, the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) and Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute (SCBI), are also involved in the conservation of the wild tigers.

India’s tiger population currently stands at 2,967 which is 70 percent of the global tiger population. In 2014, the tiger population in India was around 1,600.

The increase in the tiger population in India can be attributed to the launch of the tiger conservation programme – Project Tiger – in 1973.

Apart from this, Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar, yesterday released the Tiger Census report and said, “India is proud of its tiger assets. The country today has 70 per cent of the world’s tiger population.”

“We are ready to work with all the 13 tiger range countries in their actual management of tiger reserves,” he added.

-RJV

Coronavirus cases surpass 16.6 million worldwide; death toll nears 6.60 lakh

New Delhi (NVI): More than 16.6 million people around the world have been diagnosed with the coronavirus. Some 9.7 million patients have recovered, and nearly 6,59,000 have died, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

In the US, the total number of coronavirus infections have crossed 4.3 million while the number of fatalities are nearing 1,50,000 in the country.

In Brazil, the number of infections has exceeded 2.4 million while the death toll has climbed to over 88,000.

Lebanon has agreed to reinforce a nationwide lockdown from July 30 until August 3 after a spike in new cases threatens to overwhelm its healthcare system.

Italy’s upper house of parliament has approved a request by Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte to extend a state of emergency until October 15.

Mainland China has reported 101 new cases of coronavirus – the highest number in more than three and a half months. Of the new cases, 89 are in the far western region of Xinjiang.

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Germany increased by 684 to 206,926. The reported death toll rose by six to 9,128, the tally showed.

The Victorian state of Australia has recorded 295 new cases of coronavirus in the past 24-hours. Nine people have died, which is close to the national record ten deaths reported in the state last week.

New Zealand has recorded two new cases of Covid-19, both diagnosed in returning travellers to the country who are quarantined in managed isolation facilities. There have been 1,209 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in New Zealand and 22 deaths. The country has currently 23 active cases.

-CHK

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