The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said on Sunday that Ukraine's energy infrastructures came under large-scale Russian attack, with several electrical substations powering the country's nuclear power plants being severely damaged.
Rafael Grossi, the IAEA Director General, said in the agency's latest update on the situation in Ukraine that operating nuclear power plants (NPPs) across the country had moved to reduce their electricity production as a "precautionary measure" on Sunday morning, following widespread military activities that reportedly targeted Ukraine's energy infrastructure.
According to a report citing information from Ukraine's national regulator, the NPPs -- Khmelnytskyy, Rivne and South Ukraine -- "were not directly impacted and did not shut down," but several electrical substations that support their operation "suffered further damage during the strikes."
"Only two of the country's nine operational reactors currently generate electricity at 100 percent capacity," the director general's statement said.
The statement also noted that IAEA teams visited seven substations across Ukraine in September and October to assess the damage after a spate of Russian attacks in August, and said teams will now consider whether it is necessary to make further visits following Sunday's military activities.
IAEA reports mass damage of electrical substations powering Ukraine's nuclear power plants
China's newly-unveiled CR450 bullet train, with a top speed of 450 kilometers per hour (kph) and a commercial operating speed of 400 kph, is set to mark a milestone in the speed of commercial operation of high-speed railways, promising faster, safer and more energy-efficient journeys.
A prototype of the CR450 bullet train that will run at 400 kph debuted in Beijing on Sunday, said the country's railway operator China State Railway Group Co., Ltd.
The train is capable of running at 450 kilometers per hour in test.
Since 2018, China has been researching the foundational theories and key technologies for high-speed rail operating at 400 kph.
After seven years of development, the CR450 prototype was launched, marking a significant milestone as the country completes its exploration into commercial operations at an unprecedented speed.
In 2021, the CR450 technological innovation project was officially launched, focusing on the development of the 400-kph CR450 train and integrated high-speed rail infrastructure technologies.
By 2022, the CR450's technical specifications were finalized and rigorous tests and simulations were conducted.
In 2022 and 2023, new components were tested on the CR450 train on the Mile-Mengzi and Fuzhou-Xiamen-Zhangzhou high-speed railways to verify key technologies and component performance.
In 2024, production of the CR450 prototype began, incorporating smart manufacturing techniques and robust quality control to ensure the smooth rollout of the first train.
"The CR450 train is a new generation of trains developed to strengthen and expand China's leadership in high-speed rail technology. It features a higher speed, enhanced safety, greater energy efficiency, smarter operation and improved passenger comfort," said Zhao Hongwei, chief researcher of the China Academy of Railway Sciences.
The CR450's key performance indicators, namely operating speed, energy consumption, interior noise and braking distance, are setting a new international benchmark.
The train is 22 percent more energy-efficient, with a 10-percent reduction in weight and a 2-decibel reduction in cabin noise.
Passenger service space has increased by 4 percent and intelligent features, including advanced train control, driver interaction, safety monitoring and passenger services, have been upgraded.
"Next, we will meticulously organize and schedule a series of tests and assessments in multiple scenarios and at various speed levels to further evaluate the CR450's performance and accelerate its readiness for commercial operation," said Zhang Dayong, director of the Science and Information Technology Department of China State Railway Group Co., Ltd.
China's CR450 high-speed train marks breakthrough in commercial speed trial
