North Korea offered to send athletes and a high-level delegation to the forthcoming Winter Olympics in the South as the rivals held their first official talks on Tuesday in more than two years after months of tensions over Pyongyang’s nuclear weapons programme.

Seoul urged that reunions of families divided by the 1950-53 Korean War — one of the most emotive legacies of the conflict — be held at the same time as the Games.

The talks were held in Panmunjom, the truce village in the Demilitarized Zone that splits the peninsula, with the North’s group walking over the Military Demarcation Line to the Peace House venue on the southern side — just yards from where a defector ran across in a hail of bullets two months ago.

Looking businesslike, the South’s Unification minister Cho Myoung-Gyon and the North’s chief delegate Ri Son-Gwon shook hands at the entrance to the building, and again across the table.

In accordance with standard practice in the North, Ri wore a badge on his left lapel bearing an image of the country’s founding father Kim Il-Sung and his son and successor Kim Jong-Il. Cho also wore a lapel badge, depicting the South Korean flag.

As well as its athletes, the North proposed sending a high-level delegation, supporters, art performers and a taekwondo demonstration team to the Games, the South’s vice unification minster Chun Hae-Sung told journalists.

Seoul suggested the two sides march together at the opening ceremony, he added, and called for the resumption of family reunions, as well as Red Cross talks and military discussions to prevent “accidental clashes”.

“Let’s present the people with a precious new year’s gift,” said the North’s Ri. “There is a saying that a journey taken by two lasts longer than the one travelled alone.”

The atmosphere was friendlier than at past meetings, and Cho told him that Seoul believed “guests from the North are going to join many others from all around the world” at the Olympics.

“The people have a strong desire to see the North and South move toward peace and reconciliation,” he added.

It was a radically different tone from the rhetoric of recent months, which have seen the North’s leader Kim Jong-Un and US President Donald Trump trade personal insults and threats of war, while Pyongyang has launched missiles capable of reaching the US mainland and carried out its sixth and most powerful nuclear test to date.

Seoul has been keen to proclaim the Games in Pyeongchang, just 80 kilometres (50 miles) south of the DMZ, a “peace Olympics” but it needs Pyongyang to attend to make the description meaningful.

Kim indicated in his New Year’s speech that the North could take part in the Games and Seoul responded with an offer of high-level dialogue. Last week the hotline between the neighbours was restored after being suspended for almost two years.

Issues still to be settled include the question of joint entrances to the opening and closing ceremonies, the size of the delegation and their accommodation — widely expected to be paid for by Seoul — as well as any linked discussions.

The North so far has only two winter sports athletes qualified for the Games, but hundreds of young, female North Korean cheerleaders have created a buzz at three previous international sporting events in the South.

The group may stay on a cruise ship in Sokcho, about an hour’s drive from the Olympic venue, which would enable their movements to be closely monitored and controlled.

A high-level delegation accompanying the team could include Kim’s younger sister Yo-Jong, who is a senior member of the ruling Workers’ Party, according to South Korean reports.

Two militants were killed on Tuesday in a gunfight with security forces in Jammu and Kashmir’s Anantnag district, police said.

Personnel of the Army’s Rashtriya Rifles, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and the Special Operations Group of the state police surrounded Larnoo village following a tip about the presence of militants.

“As the security forces closed in on the hiding militants, they were fired at triggering the encounter,” a police officer said.

“The victims were identified as Muhammad Furhan and Muhammad Farham, both local militants. The gunfight is still going on,” the officer added around 11.30 a.m.

Internet services have been suspended in south Kashmir.

SpaceX began the new year with a mystery-shrouded mission to deliver a government spacecraft, called Zuma, into orbit, the media reported.

After more than a month of delays, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket vaulted toward the skies at 8 p.m. on Sunday with the secretive payload. It launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, reports CNN.

The space exploration firm, which is headed by Tesla (TSLA) CEO Elon Musk, had initially scheduled the Zuma mission last November. SpaceX gave a couple reasons for the schedule changes.

The company said it delayed the mission for “fairing testing”. The fairing is the very top portion of the rocket that houses the payload. “Extreme weather” also slowed down the firm’s launch preparations.

Last week, SpaceX finally declared that both the rocket and the payload were “healthy” and ready for launch.

On Sunday, Zuma was delivered to low-Earth orbit, which is typically defined as any orbital path less than about 1,200 miles above the Earth’s surface, according to NASA.

Zuma’s destination was not disclosed, CNN reported. When asked about the project in November, Northrop Grumman (NOC) – the Virginia-based aerospace and defence company that built the spacecraft – declined to give any details about which arm of the government funded it.

“The US government assigned Northrop Grumman the responsibility of acquiring launch services for this mission,” the company said in a statement.

“Northrop Grumman realizes this is a monumental responsibility and we have taken great care to ensure the most affordable and lowest risk scenario for Zuma.”

SpaceX completed a record 18 launches last year, and it plans to do even more this year, according to spokesman James Gleeson.

Later this month, the company plans to debut its latest invention: the Falcon Heavy, a monstrous rocket will have three times the thrust of the Falcon 9.

Actor Saif Ali Khan says that his wife Kareena Kapoor Khan has many adorable qualities.

“There are so many adorable qualities about her (Kareena) like time management, organization, fitness, discipline and she is very patient also,” said Saif while talking about Kareena on Monday at the promotional interviews of his forthcoming film Kaalakaandi.

Saif and his ex-wife Amrita Singh’s daughter Sara Ali Khan is making her Bollywood debut with Abhishek Kapoor’s film Kedarnath and the actor says that he has given many advices to the young face.

“I have given her so many pieces of advice. I told her to be honest and to find what is special inside her and not to be like other people,” he said.

“She understands all of this. She always wanted to be an actor and I think she will be great. We worry about children as this profession has so much drama to it. So I had thought she will do some normal job because she is brilliant student, but I guess nobody wants that (normal job),” added Saif.

Saif Ali Khan has completed 25 years in the industry and he finds his journey interesting.

“As far as my acting journey is concerned, in these 25 years, it has been interesting, full of ups and downs and learning constantly,” he said.

“I think from last year, I gave more thought to acting than before. My last year’s films like Rangoon, Chef and now Kaalakandi are better performances than before.

“My upcoming film Bazaar is also very commercial film but I think its good work and it will be interesting. I am playing slightly dangerous guy in it so it will be fun,” added Saif.

Apart from Saif, Kaalakaandi also features Akshay Oberoi, Deepak Dobriyal, Amyra Dastur, Vijay Raaz, Shobhita Dhulipala and Shehnaaz Treasury.

It has been directed and written by Akshat Verma, who is famous for his adult comedy movie Delhi Belly, and produced by Rohit Khattar and Ashi Dua.

The movie is scheduled to release on Friday

Amid the widespread outrage over an FIR lodged by Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) or Aadhaar authorities with Delhi Police’s Crime Branch over a recent newspaper expose of alleged Aadhaar data breach for a fee, the Narendra Modi government on Monday said it is committed to the freedom of the press, even as the Opposition continued to slam the government for seeking to “attack free speech” and “muzzle dissent”.

Union Information Technology Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad tweeted, “Government is fully committed to freedom of Press as well as to maintaining security and sanctity of Aadhaar for India’s development. FIR is against unknown,” adding “I’ve suggested UIDAI to request Tribune and its journalist to give all assistance to police in investigating real offenders.”

Govt. is fully committed to freedom of Press as well as to maintaining security & sanctity of #Aadhaar for India’s development. FIR is against unknown. I’ve suggested @UIDAI to request Tribune & it’s journalist to give all assistance to police in investigating real offenders.

— Ravi Shankar Prasad (@rsprasad) January 8, 2018

Taking the cue from the Minister, the UIDAI tweeted, “UIDAI is committed to the freedom of Press. We’re going to write to The Tribune and Rachna Khaira to give all assistance to investigate to nab the real culprits. We also appreciate if Tribune & its journalist have any constructive suggestion to offer.”

UIDAI is committed to the freedom of Press. We’re going to write to @thetribunechd & @rachnakhaira to give all assistance to investigate to nab the real culprits. We also appreciate if Tribune & its journalist have any constructive suggestion to offer. https://t.co/H3OtQSiFeJ

— Aadhaar (@UIDAI) January 8, 2018

The report exposing Aadhaar data leak was carried by the Chandigarh-based The Tribune newspaper.

Attacking the Modi government, the principal Opposition Congress accused it of adopting an “ostrich-like approach” by seeking to “prosecute” the newspaper and the journalist who exposed the alleged Aadhaar data breach.

Even senior BJP MP Shatrughan Sinha took potshots at the government, wondering if people have been living in a “banana republic” now.

Delhi Police has reportedly registered an “open-ended” FIR on a complaint from the

UIDAI over the Tribune report, stating “unknown” as the accused.

It is another matter that the FIR mentions the names of Tribune, its reporter Khaira and the people the reporter reached out to purchase the Aadhaar data for the expose.

This criminal case has sparked uproar and condemnation from journalists’ bodies and media organisations, including the Editors Guild of India, which have sought withdrawal of the case against the daily and its journalist.

A newspaper employees’ union Monday also demanded the withdrawal of an FIR in this case. The Confederation of Newspaper and News Agency Employees’ Organisations

reportedly condemned the UIDAI, saying it should highlight errors in the report, if any, instead of taking penal action.

It said, “The action amounts to an attack on the freedom of the press and also denial of access to the press from reporting any news unpalatable to those in authority.”

Describing it as “a clear attack on journalism”, Congress spokesman Manish Tewari reportedly alleged that there have been systematic assaults on media organisations and journalists and that an atmosphere of fear and violence has been built against them.

“The newspaper which warns the government that the private data of thousands of citizens are at risk is rewarded with an FIR which names the journalist as well as the institution itself,” Tewari charged asking whether it was not “fascism and gross abuse of state authority”.

He said the people should introspect whether they want a “liberal, democratic India or a theocratic and fascist country”.

The Congress demanded that the FIR against The Tribune and its journalist be withdrawn. In a couple of tweets, Shatrughan Sinha charged : “A journalist is hauled up for reporting alleged truth about malfunctioning & misuse of Aadhar. Are we living in a banana republic? What kind of “justice” is this? Is there only politics of vendetta? Even public is being victimised for coming out honestly for society & the nation.”

The Delhi Police on Tuesday said that Vadgam MLA Jignesh Mevani’s request for holding a rally here on Wednesday on Parliament Street has not been granted yet.

The police had earlier said that Mevani’s request was “under consideration”.

“No permission granted so far by Delhi Police to hold proposed protest at Parliament Street in view of NGT orders.

Organisers have been constantly advised to go to alternate site, which they are reluctant to accept,” the office of Deputy Commissioner of Police, New Delhi, tweeted tonight.

However, the organisers have confirmed to PTI that they would be going ahead with their plan.

The ‘Social Justice’ rally or ‘Yuva Hunkaar Rally’ is planned to be addressed by Mevani along with Assam peasant leader Akhil Gogoi.

The NGT on October 5 last year had ordered officials to “immediately stop all activities of dharna, protest, agitations, assembling of people, public speeches and using of loud speakers among others at the Jantar Mantar Road.”

One of the organisers and former JNU Students’ Union president Mohit Kumar Pandey said, “There has been a lot of attempts to stop this event and even some media houses are spreading wrong information that the permission for the rally has been denied.”

Ever since the rally was announced on January 2, “a lot of money has been spent on posters calling Mevani a deshdrohi (traitor) and urban naxal,” Pandey told PTI, adding the event will be held as per schedule.

Mevani could not be reached for his comments.

In a statement, the organisers have urged the prospective participants to “assemble on the Parliament Street at 12 pm on tomorrow”.

The rally seeks to raise the demand for the release of Dalit outfit Bhim Army’s founder Chandrashekhar Azad and emphasise on issues like educational rights, employment, livelihood and gender justice.

A large section of students from universities and colleges in Delhi, women’s groups, teachers’ associations and activists associated with Mevani from across the country are expected to attend the rally.

Azad, 30, was arrested in June last year from Himachal Pradesh as he was the main accused in the Thakur-Dalit clash in Uttar Pradesh’s Saharanpur district.

Centre is going to evaluate the technical performance and socio-economic impact of over one lakh solar pumps and more than six lakhs residential solar units installed all over the country during the past five years.

In a notification issued here on Monday, Centre has sought ‘Invitation for Expression of Interest (EOI)’ for conducting technical and performance evaluation and socio-economic impact assessment of solar pumps and solar home lighting systems installed through SNA and NABARD under Off-grid and Decentralised Solar Power Applications Programme.

The idea is to review the performance of the installed solar systems and see if it is really being used by people or just lying idle after installation. Solar systems are designed to perform for at least 25 years and if they are not maintained properly they would not be value for the money.

Solar pumps and solar lighting systems were aimed at to reduce the consumption of diesel of fossil fuels for power generation mainly in areas where direct grid connectivity is not economical. As per the programme, the ministry was providing central financial assistance for deployment of solar pumps and lighting systems. While NABARD is given an assistance of 40 % of the benchmark cost, the state nodal agencies are given 30% central assistance.

The study would help government to strategise future policy for solar energy promotion. Nearly 6,62,777 off grid solar lighting systems and 1,07561 solar pumps have been installed during the past five years through NABARD and SNAs and as of now government has no study available to assess if it has really helped or how much it had helped during the past five years.

Rajasthan had topped in installations of solar pumps with more than 40 % of its share in solar pump (40,907) installations, followed by Chhattisgarh (10,959), Uttar Pradesh (10,287) and Andhra Pradesh (10,006). In Solar home lighting systems, Tamil Nadu has maximum systems (2,22784), followed by Uttar Pradesh (1,03,706), and Jammu and Kashmir (42,236).

Facebook is shutting down its text-based virtual assistant called ‘M’ that helped researchers train an Artificial Intelligence (AI) system. According to a report in The Verge, ‘M’ which was available through a bot on Facebook Messenger and it was available to only about 2,000 people.

‘M’ was first introduced in August 2015. The final day of the virtual assistant will be January 19.

“We launched this project to learn what people needed and expected of an assistant, and we learned a lot,” Facebook told The Verge.

“We’re taking these useful insights to power other AI projects at Facebook. We continue to be very pleased with the performance of ‘M’ suggestions in Messenger, powered by our learnings from this experiment.”

Facebook had described ‘M’ as a “beta” and suggested the human-powered assistant would be available for more users.

Opposition National Conference (NC) and Congress MLAs on Tuesday disrupted the Jammu and Kashmir assembly proceedings over Speaker Kavinder Gupta apparently attending a meeting of the ruling PDP-BJP coalition.

The protesting MLAs questioned the impartiality of the Speaker.

The meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party-Bharatiya Janata Party coalition took place here on Sunday.

Gupta tried to cool tempers by saying: “It was not a meeting. I attended a dinner and if that has annoyed the members, I will not repeat the same.”

Meanwhile, Independent MLA, Engineer Rashid started shouting in the House demanding the construction of tunnels in Gurez and Karnak areas for connectivity during winters of far-flung areas.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Switzerland on 22-23 January to deliver the keynote speech at the plenary session of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, it was officially announced here on Monday night. He will also have a bilateral meeting with Swiss President Alain Berset on 22 January.

The theme for this year’s WEF is “Creating a Shared Future in a Fractured World.” The plenary session will be moderated by Prof. Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman, WEF.
This is the first visit by an Indian PM to the WEF since the earlier one by H D Deve Gowda in 1997. The WEF is Switzerland will see a congregation of world leaders, including more than 40 heads of state and government, apart from global business leaders.

The PM’s visit to Switzerland will take place ahead of the Republic Day celebrations at which Modi will host leaders of ten ASEAN nations.

Choreographer-filmmaker Farah Khan turned 53 on Tuesday and was wished a whole lot of love by celebrities like Sonu Sood, Riteish Deshumukh and Shilpa Shetty.

Farah has choreographed popular dance tracks in Bollywood, and has even worked on international projects such as Marigold: An Adventure in India, Monsoon Wedding and the Chinese film Perhaps Love.

She turned director with the 2004 film Main Hoon Na, which starred superstar Shah Rukh Khan, and in 2012, Farah made her film acting debut in a leading role in Shirin Farhad Ki Toh Nikal Padi.

Here’s what the celebrities tweeted on her birthday:

Sonu Sood: Happy birthday my friend, my sister, my family Farah Khan! I know we can always rely on a dialogue which we can say to each other at any point of time in our life: ‘Main hoon na’. Love you always.

Happy birthday my friend, my sister, my family @TheFarahKhan ! I know we can always rely on a dialogue which we can say to each other at any point of time in our life : “MAIN HOON NA”.. love u always pic.x.com/JnxBdexk3j

— sonu sood (@SonuSood) January 9, 2018

Sania Mirza: Happy happy birthday to you Farah Khan. Love you tooo much.

Happy happy birthday to you @TheFarahKhan ❤️ love you tooo much pic.x.com/bzyg9zkTet

— Sania Mirza (@MirzaSania) January 8, 2018

Nikkhil Advani: Happy birthday Farah Khan, Farhan Akhtar. Madcap cousins whose sense of humour possibly is because they were born on the same day or then eat the same food. Have a blast guys.

Happy birthday @TheFarahKhan @FarOutAkhtar Madcap cousins whose sense of humor possibly is because they were born on the same day or then eat the same food. Have a blast guys.

— Nikkhil Advani (@nikkhiladvani) January 9, 2018

Riteish Deshmukh: To my darling Farah Khan – may you have a fabulous birthday and a stupendous year ahead. Thank you for always being there. Love you loads my faruuuuu. Let’s catch up soon. Abhi toh tu jawaan hai.

To my darling @TheFarahKhan -may you have a fabulous birthday & a stupendous year ahead..thank you for always being there.. love you loads my faruuuuu .. let’s catch up soon. #AbhiTohTuJawaanHai pic.x.com/IeCwB2RTfM

— Riteish Deshmukh (@Riteishd) January 9, 2018

Shilpa Shetty: And we had Farah Khan as our special guest on ‘Super Dancer’ today. Happy Birthday my dearest your inimitable energy, warmth and sense of humour is adorable. You are such an inspiration to every woman. Love you. Stay Happy, stay real. Loved the Robotics by the way.

And we had @farahkhankunder as our special guest on #superdancer today. Happy Birthday my dearest your inimitable energy, warmth and sense of humour is adorable. You are such an inspiration to every woman. Love you Stay Happy , Stay Real Loved the Robotics by the way #laughriot #instapic #goodsoul #superdancer #birthdaygirl

A post shared by Shilpa Shetty Kundra (@theshilpashetty) on Jan 8, 2018 at 10:32am PST

Huma Qureshi: Not calling you or messaging Farah Khan and you know why! Happy birthday my dearest. To another year of joy happiness thin-ness awesomeness food-comas gupshups and more. See you tomorrow at 7.

Not calling you or messaging @TheFarahKhan And you know why !! ❤Happy bday my dearest … to another year of joy happiness thin-ness awesomeness food-comas gupshups and more .. see you tomorrow at 7 pic.x.com/sypE7oAyeA

— Huma Qureshi (@humasqureshi) January 8, 2018

Tusshar Kapoor: Happy birthday.

Vikram Phadnis: Happpy birthday Farah Khan. Stay as mad as you always are. Good health and happiness always.

Happpy birthday .. @TheFarahKhan ❤️❤️ Stay as mad as you always are … good health and happiness always !! pic.x.com/V6Hjz68U4D

— Vikram Phadnis (@vikramphadnis1) January 9, 2018

Ram Kapoor: Farah Khan happy birthday rockstar! Hope you have a fabulous year ahead, lots of love.

Three half-centuries including a late charge by Hasan Ali and Shadab Khan carried Pakistan to 246 for nine batting first against New Zealand in the second one- day international in Nelson today.

Mohammad Hafeez hit a solid 60, the 33rd ODI half-century for the veteran right-hander as he held the first half of the innings together.

Hasan then blasted his first 50 and Khan his second when they mounted a rescue mission with Pakistan 141 for seven in the 37th over.

The pair featured in a 70-run stand off 49 deliveries for the eighth wicket.

It was Sarfraz Ahmed’s call to bat when he won the toss, saying it looked like a wicket that would favour the side having first use of it.

But just as in the first ODI in Wellington on Saturday, the Pakistan top order were not allowed to settle.

Imam-ul-Haq, in for the injured Fakhar Zaman, was out for two in the fourth over and Azhar Ali followed five balls later for six.

Lochie Ferguson reduced Pakistan to 39 for three when he entered the attack in the 11th over and immediately had Babar Azam (10) edging a ball to Ross Taylor at first slip.

Shoaib Malik, frustrated at being pinned down by Todd Astle, tried to hit the legspinner out of the park only to be caught at long on for 27.

Sarfraz Ahmed was stumped on three when he went down the wicket to Astle, and Hafeez lost his wicket dancing down the pitch to Mitchell Santner.

The left-arm spinner picked the move and sent down a short, wide delivery which Hafeez hit to Martin Guptill at short cover.

With Pakistan on the ropes, Shadab Khan and Hasan stepped up, cracking 21 off an Astle over as they upped the tempo.

Ferguson was the chief wicket-taker for New Zealand, with three for 39.

What is Haemoglobin? It is made up of iron-rich protein molecules in red blood cells that carries oxygen from the lungs to the tissues of the body and also carries carbon dioxide from the tissues to the lungs. When a person’s hemoglobin level is measured below the lowest limits of normal for their age and sex, it is said to be low Haemoglobin. The person suffering with it is described as being anemic.

The normal range for Haemoglobin for men is 13.5 to 17.5 grams per decilitre.

The normal range for Haemoglobin for women is 12.0 to 15.5 grams per decilitre.

Causes of anemia:

Deficiency of iron, folic acid or vitamin B 12

Kidney disorders, bone marrow disorders, genetic disorders

Blood loss from trauma, surgery, ulcer or colon cancer

Frequent blood donation

Bleeding in urinary tract infection

Heavy menstrual bleeding

Symptoms of anemia:

Weakness

Pale skin

Dizziness or general fatigue

Fainting

Shortness of breath, fast or irregular heartbeat

Palpitation

Chest pain

Restless legs syndrome

Swelling of tongue or soreness

Cravings to eat ice, dirt or clay

A tingling or crawling feeling in legs

Adding iron to your normal diet is a simple way to promote the natural production of hemoglobin.

The most efficient natural ways that are effective to restore iron to a normal level and thus help boost your hemoglobin level:

Enrich your diet with iron: Green leafy vegetables, asparagus, peas, lean meat, oysters, chicken liver, prunes, whole eggs, dry fruits like pumpkin seeds, dates, almonds and raisins, beans and lentils like moong dal, masoor dal, toor dal, urad dal, chhole and rajma, herbs like basil, coriander, spearmint, dried parsley and bay leaf, gooseberry, jaggery, tofu, apple, iron-fortified grains like barley, semolina, millet, maize and rice are essential to be included in your diet for making healthy red blood cells and boost haemoglobin.

Consume more vitamin B12 and folate: Anaemia can occur if you lack vitamin B12 and folate. This kind of anemia is called vitamin-deficient anemia. Pomegranate, seafood, healthy meat and citrus fruits are good to be added to your menu if you have low levels of vitamin B12 and folate. 

Boost intake of vitamin C: Eat more and more of nutritious veggies and fruits like red and yellow bell peppers, tomatoes, leafy greens, potatoes, broccoli, cantaloupe, lemon, papaya, berries, kiwis, oranges, and grapefruits. These foods are rich sources of vitamin C that may help to absorb iron and promote the production of hemoglobin.

If your hemoglobin level is low due to the low level of iron, you may take iron supplements in the form of medicines prescribed by your doctor.

Stop consuming tea, coffee, aerated drinks especially colas, alcohol, and tobacco as they are iron-blocking foods. Milk, cheese and other calcium-rich foods, gluten-rich foods like wheat, pasta, and other wheat products are also linked to contributing causing anemia.

Physical exercises are recommended to produce more hemoglobin. Do a moderate or high-intensity workout at least five days a week for 45 to 60 minutes a day.

Blackstrap molasses contain iron, folate and many B vitamins that can help produce and promote RBC. Mix two teaspoons of black molasses with two teaspoons of apple cider vinegar in one cup of water and drink once daily.

Though, iron is an essential nutrient needed by everyone but, if you’re susceptible to low hemoglobin you need more iron.

It is common among patients recovering from diseases, growing children, pregnant women and menstruating women. Their bodies lose out on a lot of blood and need to restore hemoglobin to normal levels. Take precautions timely or it may lead to anemia.

After a brief respite, the weather turned extremely cold in most parts of Uttar Pradesh, including Lucknow and neighbouring areas on Tuesday, officials said.

Fog descended on the state capital since Monday night and continued till early Tuesday morning.

The mercury was recorded at 5.5 degrees Celsius.

Poor visibility hampered movement on roads and bonfires were spotted at most public places and markets.

More than 12 people have died due to the inclement weather and fog-related accidents in the last 24 hours.

Three deaths were reported from Machlishahr in Jaunpur, one death each in Unnao, Rae Bareli, Lakhimpur, Azamgarh, Muzaffarnagar and Shamli. Three persons, including a couple were killed in a road accident in Barabanki.

Najibabad with 1.6 degrees Celsius was the coldest in the state. The mercury dropped to 1.8 degrees Celsius in Sultanpur and Lakhimpur Kheri.

The weather department predicted that the cold wave would continue till Friday and it is expected to clear up after Sunday.

Six trains including the Shaheed Express have been cancelled due to long delays caused by fog and poor visibility. Other trains that have been cancelled include Sealdah Express, Kashi-Vishwanath Express and Kaifiyat Express.

Many state-owned buses also remained off the important Lucknow-New Delhi and Lucknow-Gorakhpur sectors.

Arsene Wenger has warned his Arsenal flops that new recruits are on the way as the furious Gunners boss prepares for Wednesday’s League Cup semi-final against Chelsea.

Wenger’s side suffered one of the most chastening defeats of his increasingly tarnished reign on Sunday as second tier Nottingham Forest won 4-2 in the FA Cup third round.

It was the first time Wenger had crashed out at that stage of the competition since arriving at the north London club in 1996.

Must read: Philippe Coutinho posts message for Liverpool fans on Instagram after Barcelona move

Wenger’s decision to make nine changes backfired, with the understudies delivering a listless display at the City Ground.

The Frenchman prioritised the League Cup showdown with Chelsea by keeping his main men fresh for the first leg clash at Stamford Bridge means he can ill-afford a damaging defeat against Antonio Conte’s men.

But regardless of Arsenal’s League Cup fortunes, Wenger has clearly had enough of another underachieving season which sees his team in danger of failing to qualify for the Champions League for a second successive year.

Don’t miss: Complete FA Cup 4th round draw revealed

Wenger insists the Gunners, who last week signed Greek defender Konstantinos Mavropanos, will do further business during the transfer window in an effort to turn things around.

Unsettled Chile forward Alexis Sanchez could be sold to Manchester City and Wenger wants several fresh faces to arrival as soon as possible.

Asked whether there could be developments this week, Wenger said: “Yes, because we are in the second week of January and, after that, it passes quickly.

“We signed a Greek boy (Mavropanos) who looks quite good in training but apart from that, we have not done anything.

Will we be out there to do something? Yes we will.”

Arsenal’s last League Cup-winning campaign came in the pre-Wenger era in 1993, with the Frenchman’s team losing in both his final appearances in 2007 and 2011.

To return to the final, Wenger knows Arsenal need a positive result at the Bridge ahead of the second leg at the Emirates Stadium on January 24.

But the Gunners, who drew both Premier League encounters with Chelsea this season, haven’t won at their London rivals since 2011.

Fortunately for Wenger, Chelsea are in the midst of a hectic schedule that Conte admits is stretching his squad to breaking point.

Having complained all season that Chelsea don’t have enough depth to cope with the demands of competing in four competition, Conte’s fears are coming true.

The Italian made a host of changes for Saturday’s FA Cup third round draw at second tier Norwich, but Chelsea were well below their best, prompting Conte to bemoan the demands put on his players.

Also read: Manchester United custodian David de Gea reveals priorities for 2018

“When you play every three days and you have to play many games, it means you are facing every competition,” Conte said.

“Now on Wednesday we have to play a semi-final against Arsenal. I think we deserved to reach this target.

“It’s very important in this moment of the season to have all the squad in the best physical form, because you have to play a lot of games and everyone must be ready.”

Chelsea are bidding to reach the League Cup final for the first time since they last won the tournament in 2015.

That would be a huge boost for Conte, who has found himself embroiled in a bitter feud with Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho in recent weeks.

South Africa captain Faf Du Plessis was also left surprised by the selection of India batsman Rohit Sharma over Ajinkya Rahane in the first Test.

Another surprise call, according to the opposition skipper, was picking debutant Jasprit Bumrah ahead of seniors like Ishant Sharma and Umesh Yadav.

“We were surprised yes. We didn t think that Jasprit Bumrah would have played. We know that he s done really well in one-day cricket but we were preparing more for the other seamers because they ve played a lot of Tests,” said du Plessis in the post-match media interaction here.

“I think the other guy was Rohit Sharma ahead of Ajinkya Rahane. He s been in a bit of form one-day cricket wise so they re probably just running with that, he said.

As for his own team, he faced a problem of plenty.

“The decision of picking a team was definitely the hardest I have been involved in. There is so much value in both scenarios. Playing seven batsmen that offer a bit more seam is a very good call.

“But I just thought, if you have Steyn, Morkel, Philander, Rabada that s four bowlers you cannot look past.

It’s a positive move. Yes, Dale hasn’t played a lot of cricket but the way he was bowling in the nets, and the way he bowled in the first innings, I think he was one of our best bowlers,” he added.

Du Plessis further said that they would have liked a total of 350 runs as the 208-run target made the hosts nervous at lunch time on day four.

The hosts won the first Test by 72 runs with Vernon Philander taking a career-best six for 42.

“I was nervous. I knew that the new ball was going to be key for us and that if we could get wickets with the new ball we feel like we can get through their batting line-up,” said du Plessis.

“Obviously they ve got a few quality players in there but once you can put a bit of pressure on them I thought we can get through them. But definitely I was very nervous.

“I came here this morning hoping to get a 350 lead and bowl to them tonight, so obviously that didn t go to plan.”

Chasing 208, India were bowled out for 135 in 42.4 overs.

Du Plessis was all praise for the Philander-led bowling attack.

“We ve got fantastic seam bowlers and if there s anything in the wicket, Vernon Philander and the other two guys are amazing. And if we had Dale Steyn there today, I reckon we would have rolled them out cheaper,” he said.

Philander led the three-man pace attack well in Dale Steyn s absence. The latter did bat but has been ruled out of the series with an ankle injury.

“If there s something in the wicket, Vernon is as good as you get around the world. What impressed me most today was he wanted to bowl overs. He didn t say after three or four overs That s enough .

“He wanted the ball and he wanted to make a plan, that s all you ask for from a senior player s point of view.”

Steyn did come out to bat but was seen limping with an injured heel.

“We said if by any chance AB is still there, Dale can just go and just stand there and hopefully AB can smash a few sixes. The plan wasn t to get him to bat and injure him more.

“He was padded up before we spoke about this to him. I feel incredibly bad for Dale. He worked for over a year. He was challenged through periods where he started and got injured again, and then started and got injured again.”

On the bowling front, du Plessis felt Steyn was back to his best.

“It was great to see Dale like he didn t go anywhere. He was back to his best. I was standing at slip and we felt like he could nick guys off at anytime. You were just happy to see Dale Steyn back on the park, so this is a huge step back for him.

“Luckily it s not his shoulder again. The foot, or injury that he has, is something you probably can get over a lot quicker and we are looking forward to bringing him back in the fold when he s fit again.”

The hosts only managed 286 and 130 in two innings. At one stage in the first innings, they were even stuck at 12/3 but recovered well enough to win the match in the end.

In the second innings thereafter, they lost eight wickets for 65 runs in the morning session of day four.

“This morning felt unplayable when we batted. I think pace and bounce is something that you look for in South Africa. There was movement in this Test match.

“Obviously overhead conditions and moisture could play a role. When we go to Pretoria, we will hopefully get the same and Johannesburg. Those are renowned for being a little bit quicker. Hopefully we’ll get them there,” said du Plessis.

He also praised the Indian pacers.

When I saw the names (of Indian bowlers) that have came over, you almost look at what they will offer in these conditions. You know they have also got variety in these conditions.

“They ve got guys that can swing the ball, guys that can seam the ball around and they’ve also got a bit of pace. It’s similar to our attack. So I’m not surprised. We wanted the wicket to be a little bit like that, so we expected the wicket to be a bit more bowler friendly.

“You just needed one or two guys to step up and score some runs. So we did that fortunately in that first innings. I felt that one of me, AB and Quinton could have pushed through to get an 80-odd and put an even bigger total.”

US President Donald Trump walked onto the field and stood with members of the military for the National Anthem at a college football national championship game in Atlanta, the media reported.

On Monday night, the President stood with his hand over his heart, singing along to parts of the anthem ahead of the game between the University of Georgia and the University of Alabama at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium, reports CNN.

The players, as is normal in college football, were not yet on the field for the anthem.

Trump, who has criticised professional athletes for kneeling during the National Anthem, left to take his seat for the game after the anthem.

Earlier on Monday, Trump had again criticised athletes who kneel during the anthem to protest police brutality.

“There’s plenty of space for people to express their views and to protest, but we love our flag and we love our anthem and we want to keep it that way,” Trump told a gathering here.

Since 2016, some American professional athletes have protested police brutality and racial inequality by kneeling while the national anthem is played before matches.

The silent protests have received mixed responses with some calling it unpatriotic and disrespectful.