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Amidst bone-chilling cold and dense fog, a unique confluence of faith, spirituality, and belief is being witnessed on the sacred sands of Prayagraj, the holy city of pilgrimage. Magh Mela 2026 is in full swing. This 44-day spiritual festival will conclude on February 15th, Mahashivratri. Amid chants of "Har Har Gange" and the blowing of conch shells, millions of devotees are taking a holy dip on the banks of the Sangam, seeking salvation.
This year, the Magh Mela is creating new history in terms of technology and facilities. The administration has made elaborate arrangements for security and convenience. Electricity poles with QR codes, digital information systems, and helicopter services have made the fair hi-tech. The administration is fully alert in view of major bathing festivals like Makar Sankranti and Mauni Amavasya.
The stock market witnessed heavy selling on the first trading day of the week. The BSE Sensex fell sharply at the opening bell, falling by more than 500 points. Market pressure was evident in early trade, raising investor concerns. IT, realty, and financial stocks were the most affected by the selling.
The NSE Nifty 50 also came under pressure and slipped below the crucial 25,550 level. As soon as the market opened, the Nifty weakened, trading below 25,600. According to reports, the Nifty even breached the 26,000 level, a level seen for the first time since November 11. Due to heavy pressure in the realty sector, the Nifty Realty Index suffered the biggest losses.
Security agencies in Jammu and Kashmir were alarmed on Sunday evening when several suspicious drones were spotted in areas bordering Pakistan. High alert was declared across the region after reports of drone movement near the International Border (IB) and the Line of Control (LoC) in Samba, Rajouri, and Poonch districts. Security forces responded immediately, alerting forward posts and launching a search operation.
According to officials, a total of about five suspicious drone movements were tracked. It is believed these drones briefly entered Indian airspace and then returned to Pakistan. It is suspected that their purpose may have been to drop weapons or contraband, although no suspicious objects had been found until late at night.
Bilateral relations between India and Germany could take a major turn on Monday. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has arrived in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, on a two-day visit to India. During this visit, he is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It is expected that the talks will focus on trade, investment, defense cooperation, cutting-edge technology, as well as the submarine deal, which is crucial for India.
This is Friedrich Merz's first visit to Asia since becoming German Chancellor, and is considered diplomatically significant. This visit comes at a time of global political instability and many countries are working to strengthen their strategic partnerships. Both India and Germany want to take defense and technological cooperation to new heights.
Gold and silver prices fell slightly today after a day of stability due to profit-booking. After two consecutive days of gains, the market had stabilized, and now investors have begun to book profits. This has directly impacted the prices of precious metals. In the capital, Delhi, 24-carat gold fell by ₹10 per 10 grams today, while the price of 22-carat gold also fell by ₹10.
It's worth noting that before the recent decline, gold prices had seen a sharp rise in the two trading days. During this period, 24-carat gold rose by ₹2,460 per 10 grams, while the price of 22-carat gold rose by ₹2,250. A correction in the market after such a sharp rise is considered natural.
North India is currently reeling under severe cold. Continuous snowfall in the mountains and cold northwesterly winds have caused temperatures to drop sharply in the plains. The cold has disrupted daily routines in several states, including Delhi-NCR, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Bihar. Chills have increased in the morning and night, while dense fog is also causing problems.
The cold in the national capital has broken a 12-year record. The minimum temperature in the Palam area was recorded at 3.0 degrees Celsius, the lowest since 2013. Morning temperatures in many areas of Delhi remained below 5 degrees. Despite bright sunshine during the day, the cold continued, and the maximum temperature was recorded at 18.8 degrees Celsius, 1.1 degrees below normal.
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