Friday's was the coldest night of the season in Delhi. Early morning minimum temp was 3.9 deg C, three notches below the season's average and lowest in five years. Due to the 'very dense fog', visibility was zero at 5:30 am at the IGI airport. Fog would delay passenger arrivals at the airport but, with the ILS, flight ops were mostly normal Friday. Trains were running late.

By Sunday the mercury is expected to move up but not before it dips further: Punjab, Rajasthan may experience freezing point. The 'very dense fog' will stay until January 15. (The accompanying report was written by Artificial Intelligence)

NEW DELHI, Jan 12: Delhi experienced a severe cold wave on Friday, with the temperature dipping to a chilling 3.9 deg C in the wee hours. The city was also enveloped in a thick blanket of fog, reducing visibility significantly.

The day started with a dense fog that covered the city, causing a significant drop in temperature. The Indian Meteorological Department reported that the visibility at the Delhi airport was near zero in the early morning hours.

This dense fog is a common occurrence in Delhi during the winter months, particularly in January.

The cold wave conditions were severe, with the minimum temperature recorded at 3.9 deg C. This was a sharp drop from the previous day's minimum temperature of approximately 7 deg C. The maximum temperature for the previous day was less than 15 deg C, providing little respite from the cold.

The weather affected daily life and disrupted flight schedules. However, the use of advanced technology like the CAT III navigation system ensured the safety of air travel during these adverse conditions.

The foggy conditions triggered the activation of the CAT III navigation system at the Delhi airport. This system is designed to help planes land safely during dense fog and inclement weather conditions when visibility is low. It allows for landings with a minimum visibility of 50 metres. Despite this, the fog led to delays in several flights as some aircraft are not CAT III compliant.

Precautions for travel in fog: During dense fog, it's important to take certain precautions, especially if you're driving. Here are some expert suggestions:

• Slow Down: Reduce your speed to ensure you have enough time to react if traffic slows or stops suddenly.
• Use Low-Beam Headlights: Make your vehicle visible to others both ahead of you and behind you by using your low-beam headlights. This means your taillights will also be on.
• Use Fog Lights: If your vehicle is equipped with fog lights, use them along with your low-beam headlights.
• Avoid Abrupt Stops: Unless absolutely necessary, avoid making abrupt stops in the middle of the road.
• Use Indicators: Always use your indicators when changing lanes or making turns to alert other drivers of your intentions.
• Stay Updated: Keep track of the latest weather forecasts and take necessary precautions.

Remember, safety should always be your top priority. If the fog is too dense, it might be best to delay your trip until conditions improve. Stay safe!

What is CAT III: CAT III, or Category III, is an Instrument Landing System (ILS) used at airports, including Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport, to enable aircraft to land in low visibility conditions. This system is particularly useful during dense fog and inclement weather conditions when visibility is low.

The CAT III system at Delhi airport is a state-of-the-art anti-fog landing system known as CAT III B Instrument Landing System (ILS). It helps planes land with the aid of radio signals and sometimes high-intensity lighting arrays. The system allows for landings with a minimum visibility of 50 metres. CAT III B has an additional ability to stop itself after landing on the runway, compared to CAT A.

In the CAT II system, a pilot is guided by the signaling system till 100 feet above the ground, when the runway isn’t in sight. In CAT III-B, an aircraft can descend till 50 feet above the ground because of the advanced signaling system. Then the pilot would see the approach and touchdown zone-lighting system.

In category III B approach, the entire process is automated and a voice prompt tells using a countdown how far the plane is away from the runway, when the flaps have to be deployed and when the brakes need to be applied.

The initial cost of setting up the whole CAT III B system at an airport can go up to Rs 10 cr and the maintenance cost can go around Rs 50 lakh on a monthly basis.

CAT III B airports: The airports equipped with the CAT III B system to ensure the safety of air travel during adverse weather conditions in India are: Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport; Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, Kolkata; Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru; Amritsar Airport.; Jaipur Airport; Lucknow Airport

CAT III is not airline-specific: It's important to note that the use of CAT III is not specific to any airline but rather depends on the equipped aircraft and the airport's facilities. Most modern commercial aircraft are equipped with CAT III ILS capabilities, and many airports around the world have CAT III ILS installed on at least one of their runways. Therefore, airlines operating these aircraft and flying to these airports would be able to use the CAT III system.

For safety reasons, aircraft must be certified and system-compliant and the pilots trained to use the CAT III systems.

Types of aircraft landing systems: There are several types of aircraft landing systems used around the world. Here are some of them: -

• Instrument Landing System (ILS): This is a precision radio navigation system that provides short-range guidance to aircraft to allow them to approach a runway at night or in bad weather. It uses two directional radio signals, the localizer for horizontal guidance, and the glide slope for vertical guidance.
• Microwave Landing System (MLS): This is a type of precision approach system that uses a set of radio signals to provide precise lateral and vertical guidance to an aircraft approaching and landing on a runway.
• Joint Precision Approach and Landing System (JPALS): This is a differential, GPS-based precision landing system that guides aircraft onto a carrier deck or a land-based runway in all weather conditions.
• Autoland: This is a system that fully automates the landing procedure of an aircraft's flight, with the flight crew supervising the process.
• Transponder Landing System (TLS): This is an all-weather, aircraft-independent landing system that provides precision guidance for a variety of aircraft types.
• Precision Approach Radar (PAR): This is a type of radar guidance system designed to provide lateral and vertical guidance to an aircraft pilot for landing, until the landing threshold is reached.

Each of these systems has its own unique features and is used under different circumstances depending on the requirements of the aircraft and the airport.

ANALYSIS: A pious Catholic and a gentleman (in contrast to the savage-looking felon), Biden is the most experienced politician that he doesn't look. Of Irish descent, he has been around the Capitol Hill and the White House for over five decades, quietly observing people and events. With his rich experience and insight, understanding Biden and what he does now will be possible only retrospectively, may be a year later!! Therefore not many Americans can see that for some time now he has been preparing his 'favourite child' to take on his mantle.

At the end of it all what will stand is what Nikki Haley said on X, "Mark my words... Biden will not be the Democratic nominee. Republicans, get your guard up!"

If and when he withdraws from contest, he must quit White House as well. Why?

OPPOSITION WAKES UP ! The Opposition accused the Prime Minister, who seems to insist he alone will inaugurate everything in the country, of "hurriedly inaugurating" an "incomplete terminal" in March last for publicity on the eve of the general elections. At that time he had also laid the foundation stone for 15 other airport projects across the country. He was also accused of inaugurating an incomplete Ram temple in Ayodhya in January which started leaking in the first downpour last weekend.

It is also puzzling why every few years airport buildings are demolished in Delhi and new plans are made for new constructions and nobody seems to take notice! (Because the airport itself is tucked away in a far corner, not easily accessible to the discerning, with a web of roads going only round and round like a tape around a spool, as if not reaching anywhere!)

Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge accused the Modi Government of "corruption and criminal negligence" in the name of infrastructure projects (launched every other day) in the last 10 years. Kharge also said Modi has been keen on indulging in ribbon-cutting ceremonies.

Trinamool Congress leader Saket Gokhale asked, "Why shouldn't PM Modi be charged with culpable homicide?"

COMMENT: A simple question but difficult to understand is why the people should be concerned about whether an NTA director is sacked for paper leakage or a DGP is removed for law and order breakdown. The people have nothing to do with the elite appointments nor their conduct. They are the cousin-brothers of the political dispensation. If not barred by fixation, kindly take a look at other countries!

“What I want to do and what I will do is, you graduate from a college, I think you should get automatically as part of your diploma (two-year programs or doctoral degrees) a green card to be able to stay in this country” permanently, the presidential candidate said. Asked if he would promise to allow the “best and the brightest around the world to (come to) America,” Trump firmly replied: “I do promise.”

COMMENT: Could Biden visualise a better immigration formula to build a still stronger America? Will Kamala Harris, in charge of migration, and struggling for ideas, take note?

Delhi has recorded the hottest night (35+ deg C), unheard of since the beginning of time! For 30 consecutive days the maximum temp is above 40 deg C and in the nights too the mercury stayed high as there is hardly any earth around to absorb and dissipate the day's heat. Add on to the nightmare the acute water shortage in the national Capital due to the power-hungry, low-grade politicians squabbling for one-upmanship. More than 200 people died in Delhi-NCR in the past two days. Most of them are poor people, labourers, the homeless, beggars.

An anatomy of NEET 2024: From the start till finish NEET will stay put as a conundrum jinxed as it is. What if it was thought angels would come down from the heaven to conduct the entrance exam if done at the Centre and if in the States, they would be conducted by the corrupt mortals. So NEET was born... It's 'guaranteed' that no party will ever be able to do what is required to be done in the country. Because of their genetics. Frauds will only multiply. Is there anything worse? Yes. Shoot the messenger!

A video shows the terrifying scene of the chopper swirling and dropping nose down mid-air around the helipad. In fact, the rear rotor had gone for a toss and the pilot was performing autorotation for a crash-landing. He pulled it off! Congrats!

True or false, Savitri claimed her husband had told her to throw Vinod into the canal as all that he does is eat. "How much torture can my son endure?" She picked him up when he was asleep.

Marking a decisive stage in the ongoing tussle between Governors and the Governments in some States, the Governor of Bengal has thrown down the gauntlet to the State police, asking the Raj Bhavan staff to refuse any enquiry from the cops in the sexual harassment case filed by a woman employee against him.

COMMENT: In many a case complaints can be frivolous, made under certain circumstances. So it is more in the interest of the accused that there is an investigation to clear his name. Denial may only mean acceptance of the guilt. Besides, quoting Constitutional immunity in sexual harassment cases is nothing short of a vulgarity of the feudal landlord. Nobody is above the law.

While the universal apprentice scheme will enable the educated youth to stand up (literally) in a country where the people are trampled by wretched politicians, and look about for avenues to earn a living confidently, the provision of student credit cards of up to Rs 10 lakh will ensure each and every student of this country receives equal opportunities to fulfil their aspirations of higher education irrespective of their financial conditions. It will be a game changer. These are on the lines of what US Vice-President Kamala Harris visualised to be happening to the Third World when she hailed Ajay Banga as a transformative World Bank President.

Peter Higgs is the father of the mysterious Higgs boson, otherwise called 'God Particle', which gives mass to all elementary particles, and created our universe. His contribution helped other scientists understand how the Big Bang created something out of nothing 13.8 billion years ago. The equations of particle physicists which did not have a leg to stand on till then, the 'God Particle' came as a Godsend. The theories so far to describe the universe did not hold water.

It was only by 2012, after 50 years of the boson discovery, that scientists at CERN could make the big announcement that they had finally found a Higgs boson using the Large Hadron Collider.

Higgs instantly broke into tears, tears of profound satisfaction, in the lecture hall where the announcement was made.

LEGAL REMEDIES: Last year, on the directive of the Supreme Court, the Governor granted assent to one Bill, and referred seven Bills to the President. The petition against the President also challenges the Governor's action of referring the Bills to her.

The unprecedented step by the State may also establish that it always upholds the Constitution and the rule of law in order to pre-empt any eventuality of getting dismissed on flimsy grounds invoking provisions of the Constitution later on; and, also provide a thrust to an emerging platform of regional forces pitted against the ongoing centralisation of every subject and activity in the country under one umbrella where the States will ultimately 'wither' away (for some time).

OPINION: Made to happen as it does just weeks ahead of the general elections, the arrest may signal, if not the cause of, far-reaching consequences in the course of Indian politics. The Opposition charges that the ruling party at the Centre has unleashed the police to catch a leader every other day for corruption allegedly indulged in in the present or the remote past in order to incapacitate any concerted opposition to the ruling dispensation.

The “My way or the highway" man, Trump has predicted 'apocalypse' for Americans if he is not elected the President in the upcoming election. He sounds “extremism, affection for violence." As always, he is also seeing what others don't, and repetitively using words like "(2020) election was stolen"! And that's a symptom! Delivering a no-holds-barred speech at a rally in Ohio, he also predicted the US won't see another election if he did not win the November battle against the incumbent President. With his savage push against the God-fearing Catholic, and the heap of criminal cases pending in the courts, the unpredictable Trump's nomination exposes a season of drought of leadership of calibre in the United States.

The much-touted 'one-nation, one-election' argument was purportedly to prevent wasteful expenditure of the people's money, manpower and deceleration of development, but the committee report when implemented will end up paving the way for holding more elections than currently being held. Because of the logistics and democratic limitations involved, the committee was not expected by commonsense to be out of a loose end either! Those who are alive at that time, and further for ten more years thereafter, can count the rounds and compare with the present numbers. Therefore, either the agenda is different or the 8-volume presentation is faulty/made-up!!!

The manager has defended himself saying that dry ice got mixed with mouth freshener by the negligence of the staff...After taking the mouth freshener the customers felt a burning sensation and started vomiting blood. Five of them were hospitalised. Two are in critical condition.

Harmful effects of dry ice: Ingested, dry ice can burn your mouth, esophagus and stomach as it sublimates on contact with the moisture of the organs and turns into CO2, apart from other damaging physical and chemical changes it induces. The pressure building up in the stomach due to sublimation can also rupture the stomach muscles. It turns lethal. In normal direct handling it leads to frostbite due to the cold temperature.

One of them is seen in CCTV being shot at close range. The motive is suspected to be personal enmity.

TAILPIECE: Almost every other day we hear of shootings in one place or other in the country. India will very soon replace the US as the world's No 1 in the incidence of mass shooting. It will eclipse terrorism as a source of concern. Who can help? At least, has it occurred to anyone's mind?

'This Moment' of Shakti fusion won the Best Global Music Album at the Grammys. Zakir Hussain has won two other awards too. In a great victory for Indians, five of them have won the Grammys this time. In other sections, Taylor Swift got her fourth Album of the Year award and Miley Cyrus got an award for the first time.

The Government scheme provides ₹ 51,000 per wedding of which ₹ 35,000 goes to the girl, ₹ 10,000 for wedding materials and ₹ 6,000 towards expenses for the ceremony.

“Two activists from the environmental movement ‘Riposte Alimentaire’ sprayed pumpkin soup on the armoured glass protecting the Mona Lisa, this Sunday, January 28, 2024, around 10 am (4aET),” a statement from the museum said.

It is not understood how undesirable elements are allowed to get so close to her and play havoc with the artwork. Several times over this has happened in the past, deranged minds masquerading as tourists and cultists venting their frustration.