FRIDAY X BRINGS IN MEASURES TO PREVENT INAPPROPRIATE EDITING USING GROK 16 JANUARY, 2026 epaper.morningstandard.in facebook.com/TheMorningStandard Elon Musk has introduced technological measures to prevent its AI platform, Grok, from creating inappropriate or obscene content X.com/TheMornStandard EUROPEAN MILITARY MISSION IN GREENLAND ONLY PAID SUBSCRIBERS CAN HAVE EDIT OPTION Restrictions for explicit material apply to all users, including paid subscribers. However, the platform said that image creation and the ability to edit images via Grok are now only available to paid users. India warned X, asking it to comply with the IT Act, 2000. Countries like Brazil, Malaysia, and Australia have initiated inquiries. | P10 The move on Thursday drew a sharp rebuke from Russia, as Denmark said Washington still aimed to take control of the mineral-rich Arctic island. A CAPITAL VIEW OF NEWS PAGE 9 ‘DISRESPECT’  NEW DELHI SC issues notice to Didi, stays action against ED H A R P R E E T B A J W A @ Chandigarh PUNJAB Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann appeared before acting head of the Akal Takht Kuldeep Singh Gargaj on Thursday at the Golden Temple complex in Amritsar in the alleged case of showing disrespect to Sikhism and its institutions. Last week, Gargaj had summoned Mann for making “derogatory comments” on ‘Guru ki Golak’ (a gurudwara donation box) and indulging in objectionable activities in front of the pictures of Sikh gurus. After the visit, Mann said that he offered explanation to the supreme religious authority of the Sikhs. Gargaj said that Mann admitted that he should not have made certain utterances on Sikh religious affairs and assured that he would desist from doing so in future. As per the Sikh customs, five high priests will now pronounce a final decision in the matter. After spending about 45 minutes with Gargaj, Mann defended his conduct and said that he went there in compliance with the directions of “the jathedar sahib”. He said, “I appeared here as a humble Sikh and submitted my explanation in response to the queries raised. The Akal Takht Sahib is the supreme authority for the entire Sikh community, and it is supreme for me as well.” He said that he would abide by the verdict of the Sikh clergy, adding that hostile forces were trying to create an impression of tussle between his government and the Akal Takht. “There is no question of challenging the authority of Akal Takht Sahib,” he said. WEST Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee suffered a setback in the Supreme Court on Thursday when it issued notices to her and senior state officials on the petition filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with its raids on I-PAC, Trinamool Congress’s political consultant. The court asked Banerjee, along with DGP Rajeev Kumar and Kolkata Police Commissioner Manoj Kumar Verma, among others, to respond within two weeks. The bench, headed by Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra and also comprising Justice Vipul Pancholi, used strong words about the clashes between Central and state agencies, saying that if the court didn’t examine the issue, it could create lawlessness in the country. “We are of the prima facie view that the present petition has raised a serious issue relating to the investigation by the ED or other Central agencies and interference by state agencies. There would be lawlessness in the country if the court doesn’t examine the issues raised by the ED,” it said. The court also stayed the FIRs registered by the state against ED officials. The ED petition alleged interference by the West Bengal government and its agencies in the raids the probe agency had launched against I-PAC and its director Pratik Jain. The SC also issued notices to the Centre along with asking the state government to preserve the CCTV footage of the premises searched in the January 8 raids. The ED had first filed a petition in the Calcutta High Court on January 9, but a large number of people gathered in the courtroom, creating commotion. It prompted the court to ad- BENGAL BRAWL AT THE BENCH S U C H I T R A K A LYA N M O H A N T Y @ New Delhi ED’S CASE Bengal govt obstructed its raids at I-PAC premises, seeks CBI probe against DGP Rajeev Kumar, other top cops Notices also issued to Bengal DGP and other senior officials of Kolkata Police | FILE PIC journ the matter. The Supreme Court took a strong view of the unmanageable crowd, after Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said, “I have placed on record WhatsApp chats of the law wing of the party in power. This was not spontaneous, and they were instructed by the legal cell of the party to go there.” Justice Mishra then remarked, “Come everyone? As if it’s Jantar Mantar!” Through a fresh plea filed, the ED sought the suspension of top officials of West Bengal police, including Kumar, alleging that they aided Banerjee in the obstruction of investigation and evidence theft. Banerjee’s counsel Kapil Sibal, however, argued that the ED wanted to obtain access to information pertaining to the Trinamool Congress strategy for the upcoming election, which was in the I-PAC premises, as the political consultancy is the campaign partner of the party Sibal said . that Banerjee went to the I-PAC office after receiving information that certain unauthorised persons had entered Jain’s office. He added she went there as the head of the party , and not as the chief minister. P8 Solicitor General Tushar Mehta says Mamata has a pattern of indulging in obstructive acts against Central agencies’ operations ASG S V Raju calls Mamata’s act of taking away material from I-PAC premises “a case of theft, robbery and dacoity” MAMATA’S DEFENCE ED plea not maintainable, as Calcutta HC should hear the matter; ED indulging in parallel proceedings Kapil Sibal says ED has a pattern of interference in the name of investigation exactly when elections are due ED case was registered in 2020, last statement recorded in 2024, but action taking place now before election CM took no devices from I-PAC premises as confirmed by the ED panchnama ED tried to access info related to TMC poll strategy SC OBSERVATIONS Prima facie, ED petition has raised very serious issue of interference in Central agencies’ work If the issue is not settled, it could lead to “a situation of lawlessness” NO RESPITE TODAY If predictions hold true, BJP is set to have own mayor in Mumbai for the first time MahaYuti makes major dent into Marathi vote bank; consolidates north and south Indian and Gujarati votes LOWEST MINIMUM TEMP FOR JAN SINCE ’23, MERCURY AT 2.9°C BMC E X P R E S S N E W S S E R V I C E @ New Delhi EXIT Shiv Sena (UBT) alliance could have gone past MahaYuti if it had tied up with Congress alliance BJP+ includes Shiv Sena of the Eknath Shinde faction SS(UBT) includes Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena and Sharad Pawar’s NCP Cong+ includes Vanchit Bahujan Aaghadi and RSP Others include NCP(AP), BSP, AAP, SP, AIMIM, ABS and independents | P8 J8.00 Agency moves top court alleging obstruction of probe by Bengal CM during its January 8 raids on TMC’s political consultant I-PAC Mann appears before Takht, awaits verdict of high priests Minority vote bank split among Cong, SP, two factions of NCP and Shiv Sena (UBT)  227 1,700 Total Total seats POLLS candidates JVC Vote share Axis My India Vote share Sakal Poll Lok Shahi Janmat BJP+ 138 42-45% 131-151 42% 119 121 142–147 SS(UBT)+ 59+ 34–37% 58-68 32% 75 71 53–63 Cong+ 23+ 13–15% 12–16 13% 20 25 10 Others 7 6–8% 6–12 13% 14 10 — ON Thursday the national capital recorded the lowest , minimum temperature for January since 2023 with the mercury dropping to 2.9°C. The reading was noted at the city’s primary weather station at Safdarjung. The minimum temperature had dropped to 1.4°C on January 16, 2023, according to data. Palam recorded a minimum temperature of 2.3°C, while the mercury at Lodhi Road settled at 3.4°C. The ridge station reported a low of 4.5°C, while Ayanagar logged 2.7°C, the data said. The minimum temp recorded at Palam was its lowest since 2010. The second lowest was recorded on January 7, 2013, when the mercury had dropped to 2.6°C. All weather stations in the city recorded temperatures way below the normal, indicating the persistence of cold wave conditions. The city has been reeling under severe cold wave conditions for the past few days, and it is expected to persist on Friday . The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted cold wave conditions for Friday with moderate fog at many places and dense fog at isolated areas during morning hours.  PAGES 12 600 ACCOUNTS DELETED AND 3,500 PIECES OF OBSCENE CONTENT REMOVED Evacuation of Indians stranded in Iran planned, 1st flight likely today J AYA N T H J A C O B @ New Delhi THE government has begun drawing up contingency plans to bring back Indian nationals stranded in Iran amid mounting safety concerns as unrest continues in large parts of the country sources said. “In view , of the evolving situation in Iran, the External Affairs Ministry is making preparations to facilitate the return of Indian nationals who wish to travel back to India,” sources said. Students from Golestan University, along with a small number from Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences and Tehran University of Medical Sciences, are expected to form the first evacuation batch. Sources said the first group of evacuees could be flown out as early as Friday subject to secu, rity clearances and the availability of flight routes. “All students have been registered, the Indian embassy has collected their details and passports, and the first batch has been told to remain ready by 8 am,” the Jammu and Kashmir Students Association said. Demonstration erupts in Berlin in support of the ongoing protests in Iran | PTI Medical students Students from Golestan University, along with Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences and Tehran University of Medical Sciences, are expected to form the first evacuation batch. The Indian embassy in Tehran has intensified efforts to contact Indian students and other nationals to assess who wishes to return. Officials said the exercise is being carried out largely through physical outreach, as internet services remain suspended in several areas and telecommunication networks are unreliable. Evacuation planning is be- SC to EC: Publish names taken out of draft Kerala rolls list of those persons deleted is not available. Now people have to go back and file objections THE Supreme Court on Thurs- stating why have you deleted day asked the Election Com- me… that opportunity is missmission of India (ECI) to make ing for us,” a lawyer said. public the names of people exTaking note of the submiscluded from the draft electoral sions, the SC directed that the rolls published after the special names of excluded voters, if intensive revision (SIR) proc- not already displayed, must be ess in Kerala, so that affected exhibited at public offices in voters can raise objections. The villages, and uploaded on offiSC also asked the poll panel to cial websites. “Meanwhile, havconsider extending the dead- ing regard to the difficulty beline for filing objections, pref- ing experienced by the people erably by two weeks. at large, the ECI may A Bench headed by consider the desirabilCJI Surya Kant was ity of extending the hearing a batch of pe- ... having regard to date,” the court said. titions challenging the the difficulty being The petitioners said SIR exercise in Kerala. experienced by the that several voters The petitioners con- people at large, the were wrongly marked tended that the reviECI may consider as deceased or shown sion process, as car- the desirability of as residing outside the r i e d o u t , r i s k s extending the date state. The lack of disenfranchising a transparency, they arSC Bench large number of votgued, has caused harders due to technical errors and ship, particularly in rural arethe absence of a robust griev- as. The Bench was told that the ance redressal mechanism. ECI had earlier extended the During the hearing, the coun- deadline for submission of enusel for the petitioners submit- meration forms from Decemted that nearly 24 lakh names ber 4 to 11, and then to Decemhad been deleted from the draft ber 18, after the cour t’s rolls.It was argued that while observations. voters are required to file objecThe petitioners include the tions against deletions, the State of Kerala, senior politilist of excluded voters has cians such as P K Kunhanot been made available, likutty of the IUML, MV denying them a chance to Govindan Master of the contest the removal of CPM, Sunny Joseph of their names. “They have the Congress, and the to list objections, but the CPI State Council. S U C H I T R A K A LYA N M O H A N T Y @ New Delhi DOUBLE WHAMMY Recalled midair, AI flight engine sucks in baggage container, damaged S L A L I T H A @ New Delhi IN a rare and alarming incident at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) on Thursday morning, an Air India Airbus A350-900 faced a double setback—engine damage after ingesting a cargo container, just hours after being rerouted midair due to the sudden closure of Iranian airspace. The Flight AI101, bound for New York with 240 passengers on board, took off at 3:13 am but was forced to return to Delhi after Iran closed its airspace for four hours. The aircraft landed safely at 5:47 am, only to encounter another misfortune while taxiing toward the apron. According to DGCA sources, Engine No. 2 ingested a cargo container, causing damage. All the passengers were safe, but for AI101, Thursday proved to be a day of unexpected turbulence—first in the skies over Iran, and then on the taxiways of Delhi airport. Damaged engine of the aircraft after ingesting a cargo container Investigations indicate that ground handling company Bird Worldwide Flight Services was moving containers near Bay 242 when one toppled onto the taxiway after a dolly wheel came off. Though the operator quickly cleared nearby equip- ing complicated by disruptions to air travel. Air India has cancelled three US-bound flights and warned of possible delays on some Europe-bound services after Iran shut its airspace for four hours. Iranian airspace has since been reopened. The situation has drawn political attention in India, with J&K CM Omar Abdullah talking to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. “I was assured that all steps are being taken to safeguard the interests of our students,” he said. Iran, however, has sought to downplay the crisis. Iran’s Ambassador to India Mohammad Fathali said the situation in the country is “under control”. P9 ment, the container remained there and was sucked into the engine intake. Air India described the incident as a “foreign object strike in foggy conditions” and added that the aircraft has been safely positioned at stand 244. Repairs and a detailed probe are underway and the airline warned of , potential disruptions on select long-haul A350 routes. Aviation expert Captain Mohan Ranganathan said, “The groundhandler could be at fault. There are yellow lines clearly marked beyond which the trolley or containers cannot be taken. This is because the pilot cannot view the engines from his position.” This incident follows other similar events at airports, including Mumbai, highlighting the critical importance of coordinated ground operations. The DGCA’s Air Safety Division (Northern Region) will lead a probe to determine causes and prevent future occurrences. SOURCE CODE TRANSFER NON-NEGOTIABLE FOR 114 JETS The transfer of source code will be non-negotiable in the Indian Air Force’s upcoming contract for 114 multi-role fighter aircraft, officials confirmed. The new jets will integrate indigenous weapons and maintain seamless communication with foreign-origin aircraft | P7 EXPRESS READ EU leaders to attend R-Day celebrations Top European Union leaders Antonio Costa and Ursula von der Leyen will attend Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi. Both India and EU are likely to sign the much-anticipated free trade deal on January 27. | P7 In a first, Army Day celebrated in Jaipur The 78th Army Day was elebrated in Jaipur for the first time on Thursday. At the gathering, At the event, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said Operation Sindoor would continue until terrorism is wiped out. Now, ‘bird dropping’ disrupts India Open Days after a monkey ‘inadvertently’ wandered inside the stadium, the third day of the India Open in New Delhi had its share of unwanted controversy—an unusual interruption because of bird-dropping.