FP The publishers permit sharing of the e-paper's pdf on WhatsApp and other social media platforms FREE PRESS Vol. 15 No. 221 | BHOPAL | THURSDAY | JANUARY 22, 2026 | Pages 16 ` 3 | Regd. No. Indore MP/ICD 216/2024-2026 | RNI No. mpeng/2010/35815 www.freepressjournal.in Sports ‘It will be strange watching T20 WC from home’ P.14 ESTD-1983 iii QUALITY @ VALUE EDITIONS: BHOPAL WORLD Vances expecting 4th kid in July UJJAIN PUNE INDORE NASHIK Cinema ‘Greek God Pro Max’ P.16 ‘SAY NO & WE WILL REMEMBER’ Trump serves Greenland ultimatum, calls Denmark ‘ungrateful’ but rules out use of force Agencies DONSPEAK US President Donald Trump on Wednesday insisted that the United States would not use military force to acquire Greenland, even as he renewed his push for control of the strategic Arctic island in a combative address at the World Economic Forum (WEF) that unsettled allies and sharpened transatlantic tensions. Speaking before global political and business leaders in Davos, Trump said the US was “booming” economically while Europe was “not heading in the right direction.” But his effort to highlight domestic economic gains was quickly overshadowed by pointed remarks on Greenland, which he said the US was best placed to control for national and global security. “I won’t use force,” Trump said, while calling for “immediate negotiations” with Denmark over the autonomous territory. He repeated his argument that Greenland is vital for US and NATO security as melting Arctic ice opens new shipping lanes and intensifies competition with Russia and China. Trump also lashed out at Denmark, accusing it of being “ungrateful” despite US mili- fp Briefs NEW DELHI Rupee hits record low The rupee plunged 77 paise to a record low of 91.74 against the US dollar in intra-day trade, weighed down by foreign fund outflows, strong dollar demand from importers, and global uncertainties. 4Continued on | P8 4Continued on | P8 SECURITY BURDEN: Every NATO ally must defend their own territory GREENLAND: No nation is in a position to secure Greenland other than us ON US STANDING: America is in the strongest position it has been in decades CM Yadav highlights state’s progress in green energy Our Staff Reporter BHOPAL Chief Minister Mohan Yadav spoke about Madhya Pradesh’s progress in new and renewable energy projects during a round table meeting on the sidelines of World Economic Forum in Davos on Wednesday. He said the state has successfully integrated green energy into the mainstream of development and shared details of existing and upcoming renewable energy initiatives. CM Mohan Yadav and Union minister for new & renewable energy Prahlad Joshi in roundtable meeting in Davos Deputy Governor of East Java Province, Indonesia, Emil ElestiantoDardak, praised Madhya Pradesh’s progressive Chief Secy warns collectors on graft & poor governance Our Staff Reporter COLLECTOR-COMMISSIONER MEET BHOPAL Govt removes Ashok Nagar Collector Our Staff Reporter BHOPAL Chief Secretary Anurag Jain stated that the Chief Minister believes some Collectors are minting money in districts, though he clarified not all officers are involved. Corrupt officials, he said, should be removed immediately. The remarks came during a presentation on good governance at the Collector-Commissioner conference at Mantralaya on Wednesday. Jain warned officers that he receives all information about activities in their districts and urged them to steer clear of corruption. He pulled up officials from low-performing dis- Our Staff Reporter Anurag Jain tricts and expressed concern over illegal mining in Shahdol, where government employees are frequently attacked by mining mafia. He directed DGP Kailash Makwana to deal with such incidents with an iron fist. He also raised concerns over INDORE former RKDF University vice chancellor in a related case. Commissioner of Police Harinarayanchari Mishra said the team coordinated with Bhopal Police and took their support to carry out searches at university premises, director’s residence and other properties associated with RKDF group. pending cases of land division, mutation and demarcation exceeding 100 days, noting poor performance in several districts --Anuppur and Rewa in land division, Vidisha and Satna in demarcation, Morena and Bhind in mutation, and Bhind and Vidisha in encroachment removal. Revenue collection was another area of concern, with only 1 crore of 1.9 crore LokSewa applications resolved, and Shivpuri performing the worst. Officers were directed to resolve domicile, The State Government removed controversial Ashok Nagar Collector Aditya Singh on Wednesday evening. Saket Malviya, Director of Employees Selection Board, has been appointed as the new Collector. Aditya Singh has been posted as Director, Bhopal Gas Tragedy and Rehabilitation. Singh had been in the eye of controversy for some time. The Anandpur Dham committee had clashed with him and lodged a formal complaint. 4Continued on | P8 4Continued on | P8 Rickshaw driver, father of 4 daughters & sole breadwinner of family, dies Our Staff Reporter BHOPAL A 50-year-old e-rickshaw driver, a father of four daughters and the sole breadwinner of his family, has died in Indore, with relatives alleging that contaminated drinking water triggered a diarrhoea outbreak in Bhagirathpura area that led to his death. While local residents have claimed that the outbreak has claimed 25 lives so far, a status report submitted by the Madhya Pradesh government to the Indore bench of the High Court on January 15 mentioned seven deaths, including that of a five-month-old boy. As the funeral procession of BHAGIRATHPURA WATER CRISIS 50-year-old Hemant Gaikwad left his house in Bhagirathpura on Wednesday morning, the mourners struggled to console his mother, wife and four daughters. Hemant's younger brother, Sanjay said, "My brother died due to contaminated water. We lost him after just 15 days of illness. He breathed his last on Tuesday night while undergoing treatment at a private hospital." He further said his elder brother used to drive an erickshaw and was the sole breadwinner for his family. Sanjay said his brother's family is financially weak and the state government should provide all possible assistance. "Those responsible for my brother's death must be punished," the grief-stricken sibling demanded. Astronaut Sunita Williams said space travel profoundly changed her perspective on life, making human arguments and differences seem “so silly” when Earth is viewed as a single, living planet from outer space. Williams, 60, who retired from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration In a decisive move, the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Wednesday confirmed that Bangladesh’s matches in the upcoming 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup will be played in India as originally scheduled, rejecting the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s (BCB) request to shift fixtures to Sri Lanka. The decision follows an ICC Board meeting held via video conference, where the global body reiterated that independent security assessments found no credible threat to Bangladesh players, officials, or fans at any Indian venue. An ICC spokesperson stated that despite “sustained and constructive dialogue” with BCB, the board “repeatedly linked its participation to a single, isolated, and unrelated development” – a clear reference to pacer Mustafizur Rahman’s exclusion from IPL 2026 by Kolkata Knight Riders on BCCI’s instructions. The ICC emphasised that the player’s IPL status has “no bearing” on World Cup security or participation terms. Relocating matches without credible security risks would set a dangerous precedent, undermining the neutrality and integrity of ICC events and causing major logistical disruptions. Should Bangladesh withdraw, Scotland – the highest-ranked nonqualified side – is expected to replace them in Group C. Intel warns of coordinated strikes by Pak-backed terror groups, Punjab gangsters; Ram Temple, Delhi among possible targets Agencies NEW DELHI Security agencies across the country, particularly in the national capital, have been placed on the highest level of alert following intelligence inputs about a coordinated terrorist strike planned around Republic Day, code-named “26-26”. The alert comes amid warnings that Pakistanbacked terror outfits, aided by Punjab-based criminal networks, are planning attacks on high-profile religious and public targets. According to intelligence sources, the plot is allegedly being orchestrated by Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) through terror groups such as Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Al Qaeda, with logistical support from Khalistani networks and Punjabi gangsters acting as ground operatives. Possible targets include the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, the Raghunath Temple in Jammu, Delhi, and other major cities. Security agencies have intensified surveillance, particularly at sensitive locations and key entry and exit points such as railway stations and bus terminals across Delhi-NCR. Posters of several wanted ter- THE PLOT Sleuths warn of a coordinated terror strike around R-Day, dubbed 26-26 Ram Temple in Ayodhya, Raghunath Temple in Jammu, Delhi & other major cities ISI-backed JeM, Al Qaeda, Lashkar offshoots, aided by Khalistani networks and Punjab-based gangsters Plot linked to the Red Fort blast; attack was allegedly meant for R-Day but executed prematurely Highest alert in Delhi-NCR and sensitive states; manhunt for suspects, heightened surveillance and online monitoring ror suspects have been displayed in public areas. Among those listed is Mohd Rehan of Delhi’s Chauhan Banger. 4Continued on | P8 School van crash kills class 3 girl, injures 11 in Betul Head-on collision leaves 5 critical; driver of other vehicle absconds IANS (NASA) on December 27, 2025, is currently visiting India. She was speaking at an interactive session titled “Eyes on the Stars, Feet on the Ground” at the American Center here. Reflecting on her experiences, Williams described space travel as the ultimate “team sport”, emphasising that nations must work together because “this is our one planet, we are here together”. Speaking about her most recent mission—an intended eightday test flight to the Inter- national Space Station (ISS) that stretched to more than nine months due to technical issues with the Boeing Starliner spacecraft—she highlighted the importance of collaboration and resilience. “When you get to space, I think everybody does this… we all want to look for our home,” she said, noting her personal connection to India through her father and to Slovenia through her mother. “That’s A road accident in Madhya Pradesh’s Betul district claimed the life of a young schoolgirl and left several children seriously injured on Wednesday, sparking concerns over road safety in the region. The incident occurred near the Purna River in the Bhainsdehi police station area, around 60 km from the district headquarters, police officials said. A school van carrying young students collided Graca Machel to receive Indira Gandhi Peace prize 2025 head-on with an oncoming vehicle, causing the van to overturn violently. The crash occurred in the early hours, turning a routine school journey into a scene of horror. Harshita Patankar, a Class 3 student, died on the spot. A total of 15 schoolgoing children were travelling in the van. Of them, 11 children sustained injuries, with five in a critical condition. 4Continued on | P8 Congress MLA attends RSS Hindu Sammelan, party seeks action PTI Our Staff Reporter BHOPAL your first objective.” However, she explained that the initial search for familiar places soon gives way to a deeper realisation. “Our planet is alive. Some people think there are just rocks out there, but it is moving,” she said, describing visible seasonal changes, shifting ocean colours due to algae blooms, and ice formations near the poles. Mozambican rights activist and humanitarian Graca Machel has been selected for the Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development for 2025, the Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust announced on Wednesday. The decision was taken by an international jury chaired by former National Security Advisor Shivshankar Menon. The award, comprising Rs one crore, a trophy and a citation, recognises Machel’s lifelong contribution to education, health, nutrition, women’s economic empowerment and humanitarian work under challenging circumstances. A distinguished African stateswoman, Machel played a key role in Mozambique’s freedom struggle and later became the country’s first Minister of Education and Culture after independence in 1975, significantly expanding school enrolment. 4Continued on | P8 4Continued on | P8 A Congress MLA from Timarni, Abhijeet Shah, attended a programmeorganised by RSS in Harda district, prompting party leaders to demand action against him. The BJP’s ideological fountainhead is marking its centenary year by holding Hindu Sammelans across the country. A similar event was held at Rahatgaon village in Harda on January 17. Shah was seen joining others at the event, chanting the slogan “JayatuJayatu Hindu Rashtra” (Victory to the Hindu Nation) and later being felicitated with a garland. Hindu seers were seated on the stage, with a backdrop reading: “Hindu Sangathan Hi SabhiSamasyaonKa Hal Hai, Sangathit Hindu-Samarth Hindu.” Opposing Shah’s presence, Harda District Congress Committee spokesperson wrote a two-page letter to the state leadership, including party chief JituPatwari. He said Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is openly opposing these organisations’ 4Continued on | P8 Humans arguing seems ‘silly’ from space: Sunita PTI IANS NEW DELHI ‘26-26’ terror plot ahead of R-Day; agencies on alert NEW DELHI offgrid NEW DELHI ICC to B’desh: Play in India or be replaced by Scotland BETUL Raj police raids RKDF group over marksheet scam A team of Rajasthan Police conducted searches at five premises of RKDF University on Wednesday in connection with a back-dated marksheet scam, police said. Sources said the raids followed a complaint regarding issuance of a Bachelor of Physical Education degree in back date. The university is currently constructing four medical colleges under PPP mode. Earlier, in May 2022, Hyderabad Police had arrested a policies in renewable energy sector. tary protection of Greenland during World War II. “We fought for Denmark. We saved Greenland,” he said, arguing that the island is effectively part of North America. “This enormous unsecured island is actually part of North America. That’s our territory,” Trump claimed. In a veiled warning to European leaders, Trump said Denmark and its allies had a choice. “You can say yes, and we will be very appreciative. Or you can say no, and we will remember,” he said, underscoring his transactional approach to diplomacy. European leaders reacted sharply. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen described Trump’s planned new tariffs on several European countries over the Greenland dispute as a “mistake,” while questioning Washington’s reliability. French President Emmanuel Macron warned that the European Union could retaliate using powerful trade countermeasures, sometimes described as a trade “bazooka.” Trump dismissed European objections, deriding opposition to his Greenland plan and reiterating that the US alone has the capacity to secure the island. POWER SHIFT: The United States is booming, but Europe is not heading in the right direction E-paper Edit When dragons and tigers age P.6 DAVOS DETONATION| At WEF, US President lashed out at allies, warned of a collapsing old order, defended America’s primacy and reignited controversy over Greenland, triggering unease across Europe and within NATO DAVOS MUMBAI Royal connection Abhijeet Shah Makarai is son of late Raja Ajay Shah of the erstwhile princely state of Makrai and nephew of MP cabinet minister Kunwar Vijay Shah. He defeated his sitting BJP MLA uncle, Sanjay Shah, by a slim margin of 950 votes to win from Timarni-ST constituency in the 2023 state elections. ideologies and working to protect communal harmony and Constitution, and Shah’s participation contradicted party principles.