last year was third warmest on record: U.N. climate agency Average temp 1.44°C above 1850-1900 figures The planet logged its third hottest year on record in 2025, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said on Wednesday KOCHI l Thursday l January 15, 2026 l `9.00 l PAGES 20 l LATE city EDITION Threat of fast trials, executions 2,571 of forced confessions broadcast so far people have been killed in the protests so far, claims USbased Human Rights Activists News Agency Some personnel at US base in Qatar advised to evacuate Dozens of Iranians crossed into Turkiye amid massive nationwide unrest As many as 18,434 individuals had been arrested in troubled Iran, as on Tuesday 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 yeman eritrea sudan Outpost Source: American Security Project 97 cases At least 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. P11 US military assets near Iran cyprus syria lebanon 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 acces- sible. “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 demonstrations 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. Co-founder Bose resigns from Kochi Biennale R o n n i e K u r i a k o s e @ Kochi Bose Krishnamachari, artist and cofounder of the Kochi-Muziris Biennale, resigned from the Kochi Biennale Foundation (KBF) on Wednesday marking the exit , of one of the most influential figures behind India’s largest contemporary art festival. “After 15 years of being deeply committed and involved in building the foundation and shaping the Biennale, from its inception as an artistled initiative to what it is today , I felt this was the right moment to step back, for personal and family reasons, and to return more fully to my own artistic practice,” Bose said in a state- ment. Bose was serving as president of the Kochi-Muziris Biennale and as a member of the board of trustees of the foundation. Following the development, the Kochi Biennale Foundation has begun the process of identifying “an eminent person with high credentials in the art world” to take over as president, an official note read.  ● More on P6 india open World No 3 shuttler says opted out due to pollution A n m o l G Ur 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. 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 ‘extreme pollution’. The World No 3 raised concerns about the city’s ability to conduct badminton events including the upcoming World Championships which is scheduled to be held at the same venue 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 tour nament,” the 2025 French Open winner said. 20 pages, including 4 pages of KOCHI Express 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. P9 Berkeley Earth, whose dataset was one of the eight analysed by the WMO, said 2026 would most likely be fourthwarmest year Battle for KC(M) backing sharpens as assembly polls near A B H ILAS H C H AN D R AN @Kottayam As assembly elections draw closer, Kerala’s political battlelines are being redrawn around a familiar axis, with both the UDF and the LDF aggressively wooing Kerala Congress (Mani), whose allegiance could once again prove decisive. While the Congress leadership, with the backing of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), has stepped up efforts to bring KC(M) back into the UDF fold, the LDF is offering special consideration to the regional party to keep it within the ruling front, including the state There will be cabinet decision on Wednesday to calls from provide land in Thiruvanan- various quarters thapuram for an institute in mem- inviting KC(M). However, KC ory of K M Mani, the late patriarch of Kerala Congress. The CPM-led (M) will remain firm with the front has reportedly promised the LDF KC(M) 13 seats in the upcoming asJose K Mani, sembly polls. KC(M) chairman The UDF, meanwhile, is continuing its efforts to convince KC(M) to switch allegiance to the Congress-led front, through the IUML and a few bishops. The main stumbling block for UDF is to convince Mani C Kappen, its Pala MLA, to vacate the seat for KC(M) chairman ● More on P6 Jose K Mani. EXPRESS READ Former TDB member Sankar Das arrested T’Puram: Coming under seething criticism from the High Court for not arresting former Travancore Devaswom Board member K P Sankar Das, an accused in the Sabarimala gold theft case, the SIT on Wednesday recorded his arrest at the private hospital in Thiruvananthapuram. P7 Kalolsavam begins Full coverage: P2,P3