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Nuclear power output drops by 3% globally due to lockdowns 

New Delhi (NVI): The global nuclear power generation fell by approximately 3 per cent in the first quarter of 2020 as compared with last year’s growth, due to the lockdowns imposed in the wake of Covid-19 outbreak, according to a recent
report by the International Energy Agency (IEA).

The reduction in demand of electricity amid the lockdown situation led to a reduction in output. As per the IEA report, nuclear power has also not been immune to the impacts of the Covid‑19 crisis, apart from conventional sources of energy due to a drastic decline in global demand.

Based on the estimates for the year 2020, due to lower demand and delay in planned maintenance and construction of various projects, nuclear power has declined by nearly 2.5 per cent from 2019.

However, if recovery from the crisis can be faster, the demand for electricity will rise, leading to a reduction in nuclear power in 2020 of just over 1 per cent, the reports said.

In addition to lower demands of electricity, permanent closures of a few nuclear facilities, were also a factor for the plunge in nuclear power growth.

Since the first quarter (Q1) of 2019, six new reactors have come online globally, with a total power capacity of 5.5 GW, but this was only equivalent to half of the nuclear capacity that was permanently shut down over the same period.

Notably, the European Union had the largest reduction in 2020, especially in France, where nuclear power generation was down by around 10 per cent in 2020.

Lower demand led to nuclear output reductions in several countries. Meanwhile, closure of nuclear power plants also led to reductions.

However, China was one of the few regions with nuclear power growth, with a 1% increase in output between Q1 2019 and Q1 2020, according to the IEA report. A pair of large nuclear reactors came online in China in June 2019. Operations at these additional facilities more than compensated for the impact of depressed electricity demand.

According to IEA, this decline would be the largest not associated with a natural disaster, and 40 per cent as large as the reduction in 2011 following the accident at Fukushima Daiichi.

In addition to this, the completion of several projects is likely to be pushed by a few months to 2021, including two reactors in China and one in Finland, where a delay has already been announced.

Other construction delays are likely for projects in France, the United Kingdom and the United States.

US likely to impose sanctions on China over Hong Kong

New Delhi (NVI): The US government is likely to impose sanctions on China for its actions in Hong Kong where people are protesting over China’s proposed national security law that will give Beijing greater control over the region if it is implemented.

According to reports in foreign media, the White House has said that China will likely face sanctions over Hong Kong national security law, and an announcement is likely this week.

US President Donald Trump has also said that he would take action against China this week over its effort to impose national security laws on Hong Kong. However, he didn’t give exact details in the sanctions.

China’s parliament is expected to approve a proposed security law that would reduce Hong Kong’s separate legal status on Thursday, as per reports.

It is calling into question the special economic status the territory currently enjoys under the US law.

China’s move is also likely to undermine the financial hub status that Hong Kong has. The latest Chinese action in the territory has incited strong opposition from pro-democracy activists and politicians.

Thousands of protesters areon streets against the national security law that was introduced on Sunday.

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.

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