Wild Elephant Kills 20 in Jharkhand as Human-Elephant Conflict Escalates

Jharkhand, India — A wild elephant has killed at least 20 people in nine days in West Singhbhum district of Jharkhand, officials confirmed, as authorities intensify efforts to locate and safely capture the animal amid a worsening human-elephant conflict.

The spate of fatal attacks occurred between January 1 and 9, 2026, primarily in the Chaibasa and Kolhan forest areas, part of Asia’s largest Sal forests. The elephant has remained elusive despite an extensive manhunt involving more than 100 forest personnel from multiple departments.

“This is an unprecedented situation,” said Divisional Forest Officer Kuldeep Meena, noting that it is unusual for a single tusker to be linked to such a high number of fatalities. Officials said the area has been placed on high alert to prevent further casualties and property damage.

The majority of the attacks have taken place at night, when villagers were guarding paddy and other farm produce — a common rural practice that places people in close proximity to forest edges after sunset. Local leaders have reported that many victims were attacked while walking home, protecting fields, or resting outside their homes.

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Among the victims were forest workers and civilians including men and children. In one tragic case, a father and two of his young children were killed while protecting farmland; his wife and toddler daughter survived with injuries.

Authorities are using traditional drum alerts, patrols and community warnings to urge residents not to venture outside after dark while forest teams track the animal.

Experts believe the elephant may be in musth, a periodic condition in male elephants associated with elevated testosterone and aggressive behaviour, which can last 15–20 days. The animal may also have strayed from its herd, a factor that can increase stress and unpredictable movement.

The deaths underline longstanding tensions between expanding human settlements and elephant habitats in Jharkhand and across India. According to government data, Jharkhand has reported hundreds of fatalities in human-elephant conflicts over the past five years, reflecting broader challenges of wildlife and human coexistence as forests shrink and corridors disappear. (Business Standard)

The elephant’s capture and safe relocation remain the top priorities for state wildlife officials, who are coordinating with neighbouring districts as the hunt continues.

Wild Elephant Kills 20 in Jharkhand as Human-Elephant Conflict Escalates

Tehran Threatens Military Retaliation Amid Mass Protests, U.S. Warnings

Tehran on Sunday warned that it would retaliate against Israel and U.S. military bases if Washington launches strikes on Iran, amid escalating internal unrest and heightened regional tensions. The warning came as Israeli sources said Israel was on high alert over the possibility of U.S. intervention in Iran.

The threat was issued against the backdrop of the largest anti-government protests in Iran since 2022, triggered initially by soaring inflation but now openly challenging Iran’s clerical leadership. U.S. President Donald Trump has in recent days repeatedly warned Iranian authorities against using force on demonstrators, saying on Saturday that the United States stands “ready to help.”

Speaking in parliament, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, a former commander of the Revolutionary Guards, cautioned against what he called “a miscalculation.”

“In the case of an attack on Iran, the occupied territories (Israel) as well as all U.S. bases and ships will be our legitimate target,” Qalibaf said.

Death toll rises amid crackdown

Authorities have intensified efforts to suppress the unrest, which began on December 28 and has spread nationwide. According to U.S.-based rights group HRANA, at least 116 people have been killed, most of them protesters, though the figure also includes 37 members of the security forces.

Iranian authorities accuse the United States and Israel of fomenting the protests, an allegation both countries deny.

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Meanwhile, three Israeli sources said security consultations over the weekend placed Israel on a heightened state of alert, though officials declined to provide details. An Israeli government spokesperson refused to comment, while the military did not respond to requests for clarification.

Background of regional confrontation

Tensions remain high following a 12-day war between Israel and Iran last June, during which the United States joined Israeli airstrikes. Iran retaliated at the time by firing missiles at a U.S. air base in Qatar.

Information from Iran has been limited due to a near-total internet blackout, with monitoring group Netblocks reporting national connectivity at about 1% of normal levels. Despite this, videos verified by Reuters showed large nighttime protests in Tehran’s Punak neighbourhood, with crowds beating metal railings in defiance.

State television aired funeral processions for fallen security personnel in cities including Gachsaran, Yasuj, Isfahan, and Kermanshah, blaming “rioters” and “terrorists” for the deaths. Authorities also reported the torching of a mosque in Mashhad.

Iran’s police chief, Ahmad-Reza Radan, said security forces had intensified operations against what he described as “rioters,” while the Revolutionary Guards accused “terrorists” of attacking security installations.

U.S., Israel weigh options

On Saturday, Trump wrote on social media: “Iran is looking at FREEDOM, perhaps like never before. The USA stands ready to help!!!”

An Israeli source confirmed that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed the situation with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio during a phone call, including the possibility of U.S. involvement. A U.S. official confirmed the call but declined to disclose details.

A senior U.S. intelligence official described the crisis as an “endurance game,” with protesters attempting to sustain pressure until cracks appear within the regime, while Iranian authorities seek to restore order without provoking direct U.S. military intervention.

Israel has so far avoided signalling direct involvement, despite long-standing concerns over Iran’s nuclear programme and ballistic missile capabilities. In a recent interview, Netanyahu warned that any Iranian attack on Israel would have “horrible consequences,” adding that the situation inside Iran was still unfolding.

Tehran Threatens Military Retaliation Amid Mass Protests, U.S. Warnings

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Saudi, Qatar, Global Leaders Condemn Damage to Qatar Embassy in Kyiv After Russia Strikes

RIYADH/DOHA — Saudi Arabia and the State of Qatar have expressed deep regret over the damage sustained by the Qatar Embassy building in Kyiv following a Russian missile and drone strike on Ukraine’s capital, underscoring growing international concern over the protection of diplomatic missions amid the Russia-Ukraine war. (Київ24)

The overnight attacks on 9 January 2026 — part of a large-scale Russian offensive involving long-range ballistic missiles, drones and cruise missiles — damaged the Qatari diplomatic mission along with at least 20 residential buildings in Kyiv and its suburbs, Ukrainian authorities said. Four civilians were killed and dozens wounded in the strikes, which also heavily impacted the city’s energy infrastructure in freezing winter conditions. (Ukrinform)

In separate statements, Doha and Riyadh emphasised the necessity of protecting embassies and diplomatic staff under international law and called for peaceful resolution of the conflict. Qatar confirmed that no diplomats or embassy personnel were harmed in the strike, expressing “deep regret” over the damage and reiterating support for efforts aimed at de-escalation and dialogue. The Qatari Foreign Ministry stressed adherence to the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations as essential during crises. (Київ24)

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Echoing that sentiment, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) — of which both Saudi Arabia and Qatar are members — also voiced concern and reaffirmed its call for a peaceful end to the Russian-Ukrainian crisis, highlighting respect for diplomatic missions and international conventions governing their safety. (Gulf Cooperation Council)

Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry offered assistance to Qatar in dealing with the aftermath of the attack, while President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged Western nations, especially the United States, to deliver a decisive response to Russia’s continued bombardments and bolster Ukraine’s air defence support. Zelensky described the strikes, which included a medium-range “Oreshnik” ballistic missile, as part of expanded Russian efforts targeting critical infrastructure and civilian areas. (Межа. Новини України.)

The international community has broadly condemned recent Russian attacks. Western leaders and organisations have repeatedly called for respect for diplomatic premises and civilian infrastructure, stressing that attacks on embassies undermine global norms and risk wider escalation.

The incident is one of several high-profile strikes in the almost four-year conflict that have prompted calls for increased support for Ukraine’s defence and renewed diplomatic efforts to end the war. (AP News)

Saudi, Qatar, Global Leaders Condemn Damage to Qatar Embassy in Kyiv After Russia Strikes