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Misty Tuesday morning in Delhi

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[Nasheman news] New DelhiResidents in the national capital woke up to a misty morning on Tuesday as the minimum temperature settled for 6 degreeS Celsius, a notch below the season’s average.

“It was cloudy in the morning along with mist. There will be haze and smog later in the day with no chances of rainfall,” an India Meteorological Department (IMD) official said.

According to the IMD, the cold wave situation is going to continue for the day owing to which the maximum temperature in Delhi is likely to hover around 19.5 degrees Celsius, a notch below the season’s average, while the minimum may settle at 5 degrees.

However, there was improvement in the air quality as the quality index improved to ‘poor’ from ‘very poor’ on Monday. 

According to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the Air Quality Index at 9 a.m was 213 which prominent pollutant particles being PM 2.5 and PM 10.

At least 13 trains headed towards the national capital were delayed due to fog.

On Monday, the minimum settled at 8 degrees Celsius, a notch above the season’s average.

Devotees take holy dip on Makar Sankranti as Kumbh Mela opens (Lead)

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[Nasheman news] Prayagra Thousands of devotees took a holy dip here at the Sangam — the confluence of the Ganga and Yamuna and the mystical Saraswati rivers — on Tuesday morning, on the auspicious occasion of Makar Sankranti and marking the onset of the Kumbh Mela.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged devotees to participate in the Kumbh Mela, which is organised at a much wider scale this year than its previous editions, to witness India’s spiritual, cultural and social diversities.

Elaborate security arrangements were in place and pontoon bridges have been constructed to lead the visitors to the 5-km bathing ghat at Sangam. 

Security personnel have been deployed at all entry and exit points of these bridges to maintain law and order.

Soon after midnight, throngs of devotees who have gathered here for the fair from within the country and abroad, began proceeding towards the bathing ghats. Loud religious chantings as well as melodious singing of ‘bhajans’ reverberated through the by-lanes of the city for most of the night.

In an absolute electrifying setting, visitors reached the ghats that were lit up like Diwali in a hue of multiple colours, amid heightened security and waited for the “Shahi Snan” (royal bath) to begin.

The moment arrived just before dawn when, with prayers in their breath, the visitors took the holy dip in the water as cold as ice.

About 13 ‘akharas’ will be participating in the “Shahi Snan” on Tuesday with each being allocated about 45 minutes by the Kumbh authorities. The ceremonial bath is drawing huge crowds as devotees continue to arrive here in large numbers.

Prime Minister Modi posted a video on Twitter shortly after the “Shahi Snan” ceremony began, marking the official beginning of the fair.

The “Shahi Snan” is considered among the most significant components of the Kumbh Mela, and is supposed to begin at a certain hour.

The Kumbh Mela is held every six years, while the Maha Kumbh takes place every 12 years.

According to officials, about 15 crore devotees are expected to partake in the pilgrimage, which, according to legends, opens the doors to heaven.

Over 40,000 LED lights have been used by the administration to light up the bathing ghats as well as illuminate the historic city.

The Kumbh Mela will reach its culmination on March 4, which alo marks the Maha Shivratri, the last of the six dates for “Shahi Snan”.

Trump sends letter to Kim Jong-un

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[Nasheman news] WashingtonUS President Donald Trump has sent a letter to North Koran leader Kim Jong-un, an informed familiar with the ongoing denuclearization talks between Washington and Pyongyang told CNN.

The letter comes as the two sides negotiate details of a second meeting between the two leaders. It was flown to Pyongyang and delivered by hand, the source said on Monday night.

According to the source, North Korea’s former intelligence chief Kim Yong Chol — one of Pyongyang’s top negotiators — could visit Washington to finalise details of the upcoming summit.

CNN had previously reported that US scouting teams visited Bangkok, Hanoi and Hawaii as they search for a location for the second summit.

Last week, South Korean President Moon Jae-in threw his support behind another Trump-Kim meeting, saying it would be a turning point “that will firmly solidify peace on the Korean Peninsula”.

During his visit to Beijing last week, Kim said that Pyongyang will make efforts for the second summit with the US leader to achieve results that will be welcomed by the international community.

North Korea will continue sticking to the stance of denuclearization and resolving the Korean Peninsula issue through dialogue and consultation, he added.

Trump and Kim held a historic summit last June in Singapore where they had agreed to work towards denuclearization in return for security guarantees from Washington.

Talks are currently stalled due to the lack of a clear disarmament road map.

Cold wave hits Kashmir Valley

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[Nasheman news] SrinagarAn intense cold wave hit the Kashmir Valley on Tuesday, bringing down temperatures several notches below the freezing point

An official of the MET Department said the weather would remain generally cloudy during the next 24 hours.

The valley is presently witnessing the 40-day long period of harsh winter cold called the ‘Chillai Kalan’, which started on December 21 and is likely to end on January 30.

The minimum temperature was minus 5.8 degrees Celsius in Srinagar on Monday while in Pahalgam and Gulmargm it was minus 12.3 and minus 10.0, respectively.

Leh town recorded minus 17.5 degrees Celsius while Kargil had minus 19.2 as the night’s lowest temperature.

At minus 26.6 degrees Celsius, Drass was the coldest in Jammu and Kashmir.

Jammu city recorded 3.5 degrees Celsius, Katra 5.3, Batote 1.5, Bannihal 3.2 and Bhaderwah minus 1.8 as the minimum temperatures.

Supreme Court issues notice to Centre over contentious ‘snooping’ order

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Nasheman News: The Supreme Court on Monday issued a notice to Centre on a petition filed against its controversial order allowing ten central agencies to intercept, monitor and decrypt computer systems.

Allowing a batch of petitions against the Centre’s order, the Supreme Court gave six weeks to the government to file its response.

The petitions claimed that the order is against the fundamental right to privacy and must be cancelled in the interest of justice.

Ten central agencies have been equipped with powers of “interception, monitoring and decryption of any information generated, transmitted, received or stored in any computer,” stated an order signed by Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba in December last year.

Union Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba issued the order enabling the Intelligence Bureau, Narcotics Control Bureau, Enforcement Directorate, Central Board of Direct Taxes, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, Central Bureau of Investigation, National Investigation Agency, Cabinet Secretariat (R&AW), Directorate of Signal Intelligence (For service areas of Jammu and Kashmir, North-East and Assam only) and Commissioner of Police, Delhi to snoop on any computer device.

The Home Ministry gave the authorisation under 69 (1) of the Information Technology Act, 2000 which says that centre can direct any agency after it is satisfied that “it is necessary or expedient to do in the interest of the sovereignty or integrity of India, defence of India, security of the State, friendly relations with foreign States or public order or for preventing incitement to the commission of any cognizable offence relating to above or for investigation of any offence”.

Under the section, the subscriber or intermediary or any person who fails to assist the agency will face seven-year imprisonment and will also be liable to fine.

Delhi Police files chargesheet against Kanhaiya Kumar

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Nasheman News : Delhi Police on Monday filed a chargesheet against former JNU Students Union (JNUSU) President Kanhaiya Kumar and nine others in a sedition case after some students shouted “anti-national slogans” in February 2016.

The chargesheet filed before Metropolitan Magistrate Sumeet Anand also names former student activists Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya. 

The charges slapped under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) deal with sedition, voluntarily causing hurt, forgery, using as genuine a forged document, punishment for unlawful assembly, unlawful assembly with common object, rioting and criminal conspiracy.

The matter has been listed for further hearing on Wednesday.

Plane crash in Iran kills 7

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Nasheman News :  At least seven people were killed and another was injured in a Boeing 707 plane crash near the Iranian city Karaj on Monday, the media reported.

The cargo plane with 16 on board crashed in a residential area, 45 km west of Tehran, the Iranian Student News Agency (ISNA) quoted Pir Hossein Kolivand, head of the Emergency Centre of Iran, as saying.

The plane was flying from Kyrgyzstan’s capital Bishkek and was carrying a cargo of meat to Iran, the Iranian Army said in a statement.

It was supposed to land in Karaj’s Payam Airport but chose to land in the Fath airport for an unknown reason, Naser Charkhsaz, Chief of Iran’s Red Crescent Society, told ISNA.

According to Press TV, the pilot took the plane to the Fath airfield by mistake, which was not suited for large cargo aircraft.

After landing in the wrong airport, the plane got out of control and overshot the runway, hitting an empty residential building and catching fire.

It was not clear who owned the plane. A spokesman for Iran’s civil aviation department said the plane belonged to Kyrgyzstan, while Kyrgyzstan’s Manas International Airport said it was operated by Iran’s Payam Air.

Kumarswamy Warns Congress Against Treating JD(S) as ‘Third Grade Citizens’

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With the coalition partners expected to hold talks on the tricky seat-sharing issue amid pressure within the Congress not to cede much to Janata Dal (Secular), Kumaraswamy stressed there should not be any “pettiness” on both sides.

In an interview to media, the chief minister said Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s charisma was “fading” with growing anti-incumbency, and pitched for Congress president Rahul Gandhi for the top job while also admitting that there was a lack of consensus among anti-BJP parties on choosing Gandhi.

As his government completed seven months in office, the JD(S) leader downplayed reports of contradictions within the coalition and said he would overcome all the “bitterness” smoothly. 

“Both of us (Congress-JD(S)) should go together (in Lok Sabha polls) is our opinion. Because the reason behind forming this government (in Karnataka) is to stop the BJP from coming to power and improve the atmosphere in the country…” Kumaraswamy said when asked whether the JD(S) would go it alone if seat-sharing talks fail.

He said after the formation of the coalition government in the southern state, a lot of changes had taken place in the country’s political landscape, including BJP’s downslide and Congress victory in some bypolls and assembly elections in three states.

“…in my opinion if Congress loses its way and tries to move with overconfidence, what will happen they will understand, with their past political experience, I do not think they will forget them. 

“They should treat us respectfully. They should not treat us as third grade citizens. There should be give and take policy,” Kumaraswamy said. 

The JD(S) has demanded 12 out of 28 seats for the Lok Sabha polls, to which the Congress has expressed its reservations.

In the 2014 polls, BJP had won 17 seats in the state, Congress 9 and JD(S) 2 seats.

Seat-sharing is expected to be a litmus test for the Congress-JD(S) combine, mostly in the old Mysuru region constituencies, where the JD(S) is a dominant force in the Vokkaliga heartland and the Congress has its sitting MPs.

Reiterating that the coalition intend to face the Lok Sabha polls together, the Karnataka chief minister said leaders of both the parties are expected to discuss and come to a final decision later this month.

“Our national president (H D Deve Gowda) feels that after the government formation, for every thing two-third (for Congress) and one-third (for JD(S)) concept was adopted like in the ministry or board corporation appointments.

“There are 28 seats…they (Congress) should take two- thirds and give us one-third, this is what his feeling is, and mostly, I feel they will also agree,” he said. 

Asked whether his party’s demand for 12 seats was negotiable, Kumaraswamy did not give a direct response. He however, said the two-third and one-third was the Congress’ formula for the coalition.

Congress and JD(S) had bitterly fought the May 2018 assembly polls, but joined hands as the polls threw up a hung verdict.

“Some may say that it (coalition) may survive only till parliament elections. I want to say that after the parliamentary election also the government that will be formed in Delhi and the environment that will be created will lead to a situation where the Karnataka government continues to work safely,” the chief minister said.

Meanwhile, Kumaraswamy accused the BJP of attempting to destabilise his government by trying to poach coalition MLAs. 

“I know who they (BJP) are approaching, what they are offered to MLAs. I am collecting all the news and doing whatever (possible) from my side to see to that BJP does not disturb the government…” he said.

Kumaraswamy said the coming together of BSP’s Mayawati and SP’s Akhilesh Yadav was a “strong combination” and it may scuttle and slow the BJP’s speed in Uttar Pradesh.

He also claimed that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s image has “diminished”, while Lalu Prasad Yadav-led RJD was getting sympathy, and in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, the BJP did not perform well as it did the last time. 

Asked about possible cracks in the anti-Modi front, the chief minister said, “I feel a strong combination may emerge against the BJP. I also feel that the ‘mahagatbandhan’ may emerge as an alternative to national parties”. 

Regarding projecting Rahul Gandhi as the prime ministerial face of the anti-BJP combine, Kumaraswamy said Deve Gowda had announced JD(S) support to the Gandhi scion and that “others will also come on board”. 

“I feel after the results, every one will agree on a common leadership despite differences,” he said. 

Kumarawamy also termed the Centre’s latest move of providing reservation to economically backward among the general category as a “desperate” step ahead of polls. 

PTI

Inflation is At 8-Month Low Opens Door To Monetary Easing

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Wholesale inflation eased to an eight-month low in December, strengthening views among some economists the central bank could ease its monetary policy stance next month as the country faces a slowdown in manufacturing.

Annual wholesale price inflation edged down to 3.80 per cent last month, as food prices hardly rose and fuel cost increases almost halved, government data showed on Monday. The outcome was lower than a provisional 4.64 per cent rise in November and below a 4.42 per cent increase forecast by economists in a poll by news agency Reuters.

The Reserve Bank of India’s Monetary Policy Committee, which mainly monitors retail inflation data and kept interest rates unchanged at a meeting last month, will have leeway to soften its monetary stance at its February 7 meeting, say economists.

“With wholesale and retail inflation easing, we expect the RBI to soften its monetary policy stance at its next meeting,” said Devindra Kumar Pant, chief economist, India Ratings and Research, an arm of Fitch Ratings.

Retail inflation data will be released later on Monday and economists have projected prices may have eased to its lowest since June 2017.

Annual growth in the country’s industrial output in November slumped to 0.5 per cent from an upwardly revised 8.4 per cent in October, on a slowdown in auto and garment manufacturing. The economic weakness is a problem for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has already been struggling to meet ambitious job creation targets, ahead of an election, which has to be held by May.

India’s total passenger vehicle sales for December fell 0.43 per cent to 2,38,692 units from a year earlier, data released by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) showed.

Wholesale food prices in December remained almost flat, up 0.07 per cent from a year earlier compared with a 1.96 per cent fall a month earlier. The figures indicate that rural incomes remain under pressure while consumers are benefitting from easing inflation.

“A deflationary trend in many food items for the last few months only shows that farmers’ incomes are not rising,” said Mr Pant.

Karnataka Minister alleges poaching of Congress MLAs by BJP

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Nasheman News :  A Karnataka Minister on Monday alleged that the BJP was trying to poach Congress legislators.

“Three of our MLAs are in Mumbai. We (Congress) are aware of the horse trading that is being attempted by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Our legislators have also admitted to being approached by the BJP,” Minister for Irrigation D.K. Shivakumar told the media here.

The BJP was trying to “destabilise” the Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S)-Congress coalition government by poaching the legislators, he alleged.

Shivakumar, however, did not name the MLAs who were reportedly approached by the BJP.

The Congress leader spoke to the media ahead of a meeting held by the party’s senior leaders, including Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara, former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and state unit president Dinesh Gundu Rao.

The ruling coalition partner JD-S leader and Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, however, asserted that the government continues to remain stable.

“All the legislators are in touch with us and we are certain of the stability of the coalition government,” Kumaraswamy told the media.

The BJP flayed the coalition government for blaming the BJP to hide its failures.

“Daily activity of Kumaraswamy government…Cry Operation Kamala (referring to alleged poaching by the BJP), hide failure to run government by blaming BJP. Fight among themselves for power…,” the party’s state unit tweeted.

In the 225-member Assembly, the Congress has 80 MLAs including the Speaker, the JD-S 37 and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) 104.

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