The New Indian Express Wishes its readers a Happy Sankranti Our offices and press will remain closed today and there will be no issue of the paper on Friday visakhapatnam l thursday l january 15, 2026 l `9.00 l PAGES 12 l late city EDITION last year was third warmest on record: U.N. climate agency The planet logged its third hottest year on record in 2025, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said on Wednesday Average temp 1.44°C above 1850-1900 figures ‘This year likely to be fourth warmest’ ■ “The year 2025 started and ended with a cooling La Niña and yet it was still one of the warmest because of the accumulation of heat-trapping greenhouse gases in our atmosphere,” WMO said ■ Berkeley Earth, whose dataset was one of the eight analysed by the WMO, said 2026 would most likely be fourth-warmest year 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 14.97°C was the average global temperature in 2025 CHENNAI ■ MADURAI ■ VIJAYAWADA ■ BENGALURU ■ KOCHI ■ HYDERABAD ■ VISAKHAPATNAM ■ COIMBATORE ■ KOZHIKODE ■ THIRUVANANTHAPURAM ■ BELAGAVI ■ BHUBANESWAR ■ SHIVAMOgGA ■ MANGALURU ■ TIRUPATI ■ TIRUCHY ■ TIRUNELVELI ■ SAMBALPUR ■ HUBBALLI ■ DHARMAPURI ■ KOTTAYAM ■ KANNUR ■ VILLUPURAM ■ KOLLAM ■ TADEPALLIGUDEM ■ NAGAPATTINAM ■ THRISSUR ■ KALABURAGI 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 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 Over 1,100 iran iraq jordan kuwait protesters suffered severe injuries egypt saudi arabia Ships drop anchor outside Iran port Many commercial ships have dropped anchor at a distance outside Iran’s port in recent days, according to a Reuters report uae oman 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 US military assets near Iran cyprus syria lebanon sudan eritrea yemen Outpost Source: American Security Project Threat of fast trials, executions 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. Augment medicare with PPP: Centre E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @ Vijayawada The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has once again urged the Andhra Pradesh government to adopt the PublicPrivate Partnership (PPP) model to strengthen healthcare delivery across the State. In a fresh communique, the Centre has highlighted the widening gap between demand and availability of medical services, and stressed that the PPP model could be the most effective way to bridge it. On January 12, Vijay Nehra, Joint Secretary of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, addressed a detailed letter to State Health Secretary Saurabh Gaur. The letter explained how PPP initiatives could expand healthcare P services to a wider population.  4 “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. Notwithstanding ban orders of HC, cockfights, gambling go on unabated Y B r a h m a j i @ Vijayawada Prasant Madugula Despite clear and repeated directions from the Andhra Pradesh High Court prohibiting cockfights, and gambling, these illegal activities are being conducted openly, and on an unprecedented scale across the State, particularly in the coastal districts, during Sankranti. While cockfights continue to be organised in several pockets, largescale and organised gambling has reportedly spread to almost every village under the guise of festive celebrations, with huge sums of money changing hands, forcing youth and villagers into severe financial distress, and wiping out villagers’ hard-earned money . The continued violations have raised serious concern over enforcement ‘failures’ and the apparent lack of deterrent action by the authorities. The AP High Court, while taking serious note of the large-scale conduct of cockfights and gambling during Sankranti season, had directed district collectors, police commissioners and SPs to strictly enforce the provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, and the Andhra Pradesh Gaming Act, 1974. The HC made it clear that these laws must be implemented effectively, warning that any lapse by the officials concerned would atP4 tract action.  courting controversy Pollution-led withdrawal, monkey at India Open An m o l GU r u n g @ New Delhi 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 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- 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...” 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 P11 inadvertently left open.” SC hearing on ED plea against Mamata today SUCHITRA K ALYA N MOHA 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 Verma, 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’ E x p r e s s ne w s s e r v i c e @ Guwahati Music icon Zubeen Garg was “severely intoxicated”, and he drowned near the Lazarus Island after refusing to wear a life jacket, a coroner’s court in Singapore was told on Wednesday . Testimonies reconfirmed reports that the singer went into the waters wearing a life jacket but removed it and then declined to wear a second one. Witnesses saw the severely intoxicated Garg trying to swim back to the yacht, but went limp and began floating face down. The coroner’s hearing is ongoing with 35 witnesses set to testify .