THURSDAY 15 JANUARY, 2026 epaper.morningstandard.in facebook.com/TheMorningStandard X.com/TheMornStandard LAST YEAR WAS THIRD WARMEST ON RECORD: UN CLIMATE AGENCY GREENLAND TRUMP RAMPS UP PRESSURE PAGE 9 A CAPITAL VIEW OF NEWS NEW DELHI  THREAT OF FAST TRIALS, EXECUTIONS At least 2,571 people have been killed in the protests so far, claims USbased Human Rights Activists News Agency As many as 18,434 individuals had been arrested in troubled Iran, as on Tuesday 97 cases Over 1,100 of forced confessions broadcast so far Some personnel at US base in Qatar advised to evacuate Dozens of Iranians crossed into Turkiye amid massive nationwide unrest J8.00 KUWAIT protesters suffered severe injuries EGYPT SAUDI ARABIA Ships drop anchor outside Iran port UAE OMAN SUDAN ERITREA PAGES 12 IRAN IRAQ JORDAN Many commercial ships have dropped anchor at a distance outside Iran’s port in recent days, according to a Reuters report  US military assets near Iran CYPRUS SYRIA LEBANON Map Not for Scale Despite Trump’s threats of intervention, Iran’s top judge hinted at fast trials and executions for those who were detained in the ongoing protests | P17  YEMEN Outpost Source: American Security Project Donald Trump said Wednesday that NATO should help the US acquire Greenland and anything less than having the island in US hands is unacceptable Airbase Naval facility Radar facility LEAVE IRAN, INDIA TELLS NATIONALS Jaishankar speaks with Iranian counterpart Seyed Abbas Araghchi, reviews the evolving situation J AYA N T H J A C O B @ New Delhi THE Indian Embassy in Tehran on Wednesday advised all its nationals, including students, pilgrims, businesspersons and tourists, to leave Iran using available means, as the security situation in the country sharply deteriorated amid weeks of deadly protests. Later in the day, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar spoke with his Iranian counterpart Seyed Abbas Araghchi, during which the two leaders reviewed the “evolving situation” in and around Iran. “Received a call from Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi. We discussed the evolving situation in and around Iran,” Jaishankar wrote on X. “All Indian nationals in Iran are requested to leave the country using available means,” the embassy said, and added that citizens should keep their travel and immigration documents, including passports and IDs, readily accessible. “They are requested to contact the Indian Embassy for any assistance in this regard,” it said. The embassy reiterated that Indians and Persons of Indian Origin should exercise due caution, avoid areas where protests or demonstrations are underway remain , in contact with the embassy and closely monitor local media for developments. The advisory comes as massive nationwide protests in Iran entered the 18th day with demonstra, tions reported across nearly 280 locations. The unrest, which began over double-digit inflation and sharp currency devaluation, has escalated into violent clashes with security forces. According to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, at least 2,571 people have been killed in the protests so far. Iran has imposed a communications blackout in several areas and is facing mounting international pressure over its crackdown on demonstrators. Another NGO, Norway-based Iran Human Rights, put the verified toll at 3,428. On Tuesday, US President Donald Trump publicly urged Iranian protesters to take over state institutions and not back down, claim- ing that “help is on the way with,” out providing further details. His remarks fuelled speculation over possible US involvement amid rising regional tensions. In a related development, Reuters reported that several personnel were advised to vacate the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, the largest US military base in West Asia, by Wednesday evening as a precautionary step. Similar measures were taken ahead of US air strikes on Iran in June last year. The Indian embassy also urged nationals who have not yet registered with it to do so through its online portal, noting that family members in India may register on their behalf if internet disruptions prevent access within Iran. P7 Will not stay trial in IRCTC scam against Lalu, son: HC PONGAL-O-PONGAL PM Narendra Modi offering prayers during the Pongal fete at Union Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs L Murugan’s residence in New Delhi on Wednesday | PTI | P5 Holding flames back from Valley of Flowers N A R E N D R A S E T H I @ Dehradun IN Uttarakhand, the scene borders on the surreal: a fragile line of human resolve pitched against nature’s own fury In emerald valleys . and high alpine meadows, a race against time is unfolding as firefighters and forest workers struggle to hold back a raging inferno, striving to keep its advancing flames from breaching the sanctum of the Valley of Flowers, where rare blooms and ancient ecosystems cling to a brief, luminous season of life. The fire, first detected on January 9, is affecting roughly 15 hectares of forest above 3,500 metres. Satellite imagery shows flames on the hills opposite the protected park, though the core Valley of Flowers remains secure. Two fastflowing rivers, the Yamuna-Gangotri and Pushpavati, are acting as natural firebreaks, keeping the probability of the fire reaching the park “zero”, officials said. Efforts on the ground have been hampered by steep inclines, rock faces, and falling debris. Forest teams reached the Hamwanti Sec- ond Beat after building temporary river crossings, but the harsh terrain forced them to retreat. “This is a challenging area to access,” the officials said. The state government has escalated the response. Aerial surveys have assessed water-bombing options. Disaster Management Secretary VK Suman said that the state government sought help from the Indian Air Force. For now, nature’s delicate floral jewel hangs in the balance, watched over by those racing against time and terrain. AS you enter the IG Stadium — the India Open badminton venue — you cannot miss the pungent heavy smell floating in the air. Inside the playing area it’s much better. Yet, from the stands the light seem to cut through a film of dust. Just to add to the woes of the organisers, a day after a Denmark player lambasted the playing conditions, World No 3 men shuttler has come out with another scathing remark. Months ahead of the World Badminton Championships to be held at the same venue in August, this is definitely not the kind treme pollution’. In the same post, the World No 3 raised concerns about the city’s ability to conduct badminton events including the upcoming World Championships later this year. “Many are curious as to why I have pulled out of the India Open for the third consecutive year. Due to extreme pollution in Delhi at the moment I don’t think it’s a place to host a badminton tournament,” the 2025 French Open winner said. “..it will be better in the Summer when the World Championships will take place...” S U C H I T R A K A LYA N M O H A N T Y @ New Delhi THE Supreme Court will on Thursday take up a plea by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) alleging obstruction of its search at I-PAC office by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The state government has also filed a caveat in the SC, seeking that no order be passed without hearing it. A bench of justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and Vipul M Pancholi will hear the ED’s plea. In a related development, the Calcutta High Court on Wednesday closed a plea filed by the Trinamool Congress seeking protection of sensitive political data the ED may have seized from I-PAC. Additional Solicitor General S V Raju, appearing for ED, told the HC that the agency did not seize anything from I-PAC director Pratik Jain’s office or home, adding it was Mamata who entered the search site and took away documents and electronic evidence. In its plea before the SC, the ED sought directions for a CBI probe into the alleged interference by the state executive. The agency said the CM’s presence and confrontational act had an intimidating effect on its officers. The petition was filed against the state of West Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, DGP Rajeev Kumar, Kolkata Police Commissioner Manoj Kumar Ver ma, and South Kolkata Dy Commissioner Priyabatra Roy. West Bengal Police has also filed an FIR against ED officers over the January 8 I-PAC raids. ‘Garg refused life jacket, was heavily drunk’ EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @ Guwahati MUSIC icon Zubeen Garg was “severely intoxicated” and drowned near the Lazarus Island after refusing to wear a life jacket, a coroner’s court in Singapore was told on Wednesday. Garg (52), who died on September 19 last year, was at a yacht party, accompanied by a group of people. He was scheduled to perform at 4th North East India Festival the next day . Testimonies in the coroner’s court reconfirmed earlier reports that the singer went into the waters wearing a life jacket but removed it and then, declined to wear a second one offered to him. Channel News Asia reported witnesses saw the severely intoxicated Garg trying to swim back to the yacht but went limp and began floating with his face down. After he was rescued, CPR was administered to him but declared dead later the same day He had a medical histo. ry of hypertension and epilepsy, and doctors in Assam had asked him to stay away from water and fire. He was on regular medications and Singapore authorities could not ascertain if he had taken medicines on that day . In its chargesheet filed in the court, the Assam SIT had slapped the charge of murder against four of the seven arrested people. However, the Singapore Police had earlier ruled out foul play. The chief investigating officer told the coroner’s court that Garg and 20 others on the yacht, including his friends and colleagues, had snacks, drinks and alcohol. No mining in Delhi-NCR: Minister J I T E N D R A C H O U B E Y @ New Delhi The Aravalli range comprises four tiger reserves and 18 protected areas, with 13 in Rajasthan, three in Haryana, and two in Gujarat. It plays a key role in protecting the Aravalli range Bhupendra Yadav, Minister Community participation MoEFCC Secretary Tanmay Kumar stressed the importance of community participation in conserving the Aravallis and cited progress under the Green Wall Project. UNION Minister of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change Bhupendra Yadav said that mining would not be allowed in the Delhi-NCR region, and protected forests and areas of the Aravalli range will remain untouched. “No mining will be allowed in Delhi, Nuh, Faridabad, and Gurgaon,” Yadav said while releasing a report, titled “Eco-restoration of Aravalli Landscape,” prepared by the Sankala Foundation, a non-profit organisation. T h e re p o r t p re s e n t s a replicable eco-restoration framework that uses an integrated landscape-based approach to strengthen biodiversity, ecosystem services, and climate resilience across the Aravalli landscape. “The Aravalli range compris- Pollution-led withdrawal, monkey at India Open of publicity Badminton Association of India would be expecting. If this was not enough, a few players posted a video of a monkey inside the stadium. On closer scrutiny it was found that the monkey entered ‘inadvertently’ scaring one or two spectators in the stands. On Tuesday, Mia Blichfeldt raised concerns more about health than conditions. Barely 24 hours later, another Danish pro, Anders Antonsen, on his social media account, said he pulled out of the event (last week) due to ‘ex- SC hearing on ED plea against Mamata today There are enough indications that the ICC might shift Bangladesh’s matches to Sri Lanka and relocate a few games from the island nation to the venues in India, where Bangladesh were scheduled to play. This will reduce logistical issues for the ICC | P11 COURTING CONTROVERSY A N M O L G U R U N G @ New Delhi The global average surface temperature in 2025 was 1.44°C above the 1850-1900 average, according to the WMO’s analysis of eight datasets. Two of these datasets ranked 2025 as the second-warmest year in 176 years since 1850, and the other six ranked it as the third-warmest. In all eight datasets, 2023-2025 are the three warmest years on record | P7 WITH ICC RUNNING AGAINST TIME, BANGLADESH MATCHES MAY GO TO LANKA The Delhi HC on Wednesday said it will not stay the trial against RJD leader Lalu Prasad and his son Tejashwi in the IRCTC scam. It further said the trial court could hold the cross-examination of witnesses “next-to-next” week. IPS officer Rakesh Aggarwal was on Wednesday appointed as the director general of the NIA. Aggarwal, a 1994batch IPS officer of the Himachal cadre, is currently special director general of the anti-terror agency. Average temp 1.44°C above 1850-1900 figures T20 WORLD CUP EXPRESS READ Special NIA DG appointed chief of probe agency The planet logged its third hottest year on record in 2025, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said on Wednesday On Wednesday, some of the foreign players were seen sporting face masks to counter dust issues. One of the doubles players from South Korea had shared a picture of a monkey in the stands. However, India’s Kidambi Srikanth dismissed criticisms by saying that there is no problem. Meanwhile, BAI secretary Sanjay Mishra said, “BAI and venue staff have been working at stadium continuously for the last 20 days, and this is the first time such an incident has been observed. It is possible that a d o o r m ay h ave b e e n inadvertently left open.” P11 es four tiger reserves and 18 protected areas, with 13 in Rajasthan, three in Haryana, and two in Gujarat. This network plays a key role in protecting the Aravalli range,” he said. He added that efforts are underway to prevent land degradation and conserve biodiversity through the Aravalli Green Wall Project. India launched this project in 2023 as part of its commitment under the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification to restore 26 million hectares of degraded land by 2030. Concerns over the Aravallis’ conservation grew after the Supreme Court approved recommendations of a committee led by the Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, to redefine the range’s boundaries to allow mining. The redefinition considers only areas above 100 metres in elevation, making nearly 90 percent of the Aravalli landscape vulnerable to open-cast mining. Yadav defended the court order, saying it would help conservation efforts. The decision went against the advice of the SC’s Central Empowered Committee. After public outcry across the four states, the court agreed to review its earlier ruling. Convert subways into shelter homes, ensure tents near hosps: HC to govt ‘Denial flouts right to life’ “Ours is a social welfare State, and accordingly right of shelter of a person, if denied, it violates right to life as enshrined under Part III of the Constitution, and in view of this it is the duty of the govt authorities to provide shelter to people who are homeless...” HC said U D AYA N K I S H O R E @ New Delhi THE Delhi High Court on Wednesday issued a wide range of directions to elevate the living condition of homeless people in the national capital, including converting the subways around the hospitals into shelter homes, and erecting tents to serve the purpose, saying it was the duty of the state to provide shelter, which it termed as “a fundamental right”. The court directed authorities concer ned to attend a meeting at 10 AM on Thursday , to be convened under the Chair- manship of Principal District Judge (South district), to chalk out the short term plan which is set to be implemented from tomorrow itself. A bench of Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia was hearing a matter that the court recently took suo motu cognisance of. “Ours is a social welfare state, and accordingly right of shelter of a person, if denied, violates right to life as enshrined under Part III of the Constitution…,” the court said and posted the matter for further hearing on January 16.