KOLLAM l Thursday l January 22, 2026 l `9.00 l PAGES 12 l city EDITION Sunita Williams retires from NASA, capping 27-year career Indian-origin NASA astronaut Sunita Williams, who inspired generations to dream big and push boundaries, has retired from the space agency finished 3 missions during 608 days in space During her time with the US space agency, she completed three missions aboard the International Space Station. Williams logged 608 days in space. She ranks sixth on the list of longest single spaceflights by an American, tied with NASA astronaut Butch Wilmore, with both logging 286 days during NASA’s Boeing Starliner and SpaceX Crew-9 missions ■ Dec 27 A perspective shaped by space travel ■ Williams was born to Gujarati father Deepak Pandya and Slovenian mother Ursuline Bonnie Pandya in the US state of Ohio in 1965 Reflecting on space travel, the 60-year-old, who is currently visiting India, said the idea of humans arguing endlessly over issues seems so “silly” when you look at Earth as “one planet” from outer space When williams officially retired from NASA 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 The ripple effects ‘INt’l order upended’ Don goes back-foot on Greenland pitch Rules out using force, but demands immediate negotiations to take control of the Danish territory A G E N C I E S @ Davos US President Donald Trump on Wednesday doubled down on his plan to wrest control of Greenland from NATO ally Denmark, but ruled out using force for the time being. “I don’t have to use force. I don’t want to use force. I won’t use force,” he said at the World Economic Forum at Davos, Switzerland. “I’m seeking immediate negotiations to once again discuss the acquisition of Greenland by the United States, just as we have acquired many other territories throughout our history, as many of the European nations have,” he said. Trump claimed his country is in the best position to control Greenland and derided most of Europe for opposing his “small ask”. In his 70-minute-long speech, he also lashed out at Denmark for being “ungrateful” for the US protection of the Arctic island during World War-2. “All the United States is asking for is a place called Greenland where we already had it as a trustee, but respectfully returned it to Denmark after we defeated the Govt weighs dual budget allocation on G Ram G P ree t ha N air @ New Delhi As the VB-G RAM G Act, 2025, which replaces the two-decadeold Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), is yet to be formally notified and brought into force, the Centre is considering a dual budgetary allocation in the upcoming Union Budget to ensure uninterrupted support to the scheme. Officials said since the rules under the new legislation are still being framed, the government may provide funding simultaneously for both MGNREGA and the VB-G RAM G scheme during a transitional phase. The new law will be operationalised only after the rules are notified. The move comes as the government plans to gradually phase out MGNREGA over the next six months while rolling out the new legislation. Germans, the Japanese, the Italians and others in World War II. We gave it back. We were a powerful force then, but we are a much more powerful force now,” Trump said, staking claims over the region. Training his guns on EU, Trump said the US is booming but Europe is “not heading in the right direction.” On Tuesday European Com, mission President Ursula von der Leyen had called Trump’s tariffs on eight European countries over Greenland a “mistake” and questioned his trustworthiness. Trump said the US needs Greenland for strategic reasons and not for rare earth minerals. “We were a powerful force when we saved Greenland and gave it to Denmark after World War II, but we are much more powerful now,” he said. Responding to Trump’s speech at Davos, Danish foreign minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said: “In isolation it’s positive that the president says what he does regarding the military but that does not make , the problem go away It’s clear from ... this speech that the president’s ambition is intact.” UN chief Antonio Guterres warned world leaders against upending international order. “When a handful of individuals can bend global narratives or dictate the terms of public debate, we are facing inequality and the corruption of institutions & our shared values.” ‘don speech not helping’ Trump’s assurance that he would not use force to take Greenland is a positive statement but it won’t resolve the issue, said Danish foreign minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen EU-U.S. trade pact on hold The European Parliament on Wednesday decided to suspend its work on the European Union’s trade deal with the United States in protest at Trump’s demands and threats over Greenland In a curious political gesture, Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Ramdas Athawale invited Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to join the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), saying it would result in inflow of more central funds to the state. “If Pinarayi Vijayan joins the NDA, it will be a revolutionary decision. If he and the CPM join NDA, more money will come to Kerala, which can be used for the state’s development. Narendra Modi will give a big package to Kerala also,” Athawale, who is president of the Republican Party of India (Athawale), told re- B I J U E PA U L /A B H I L A S H C H A N D R A N @Alappuzha/Kottayam The SNDP Yogam council on Wednesday endorsed calls for unity with the influential NSS, marking a potentially pivotal moment—one that could have lasting consequences for the state’s political landscape. The council has tasked SNDP vice-president Thushar Vellappally with holding talks with NSS general secretary G Sukumaran Nair to carry the initiative forward, a gesture that has been met with a positive and wholehearted response from the NSS. Though sceptical, given that similar experiments have failed in the past, observers are watching the developments unfolding just months ahead of the crucial Assembly elections with curiosity as the two com, munities that the NSS and the SNDP ostensibly represent together constitute about 35% of the state’s population. Addressing the media after the council meeting in Alappuzha, SNDP general secretary Vellappally Natesan thanked Nair for the moral support ex- A day after governors of Tamil Nadu and Kerala were at the centre of controversies over their respective addresses to assemblies, Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot on Wednesday followed suit by refusing to address the joint session of state legislature scheduled for Thursday . Parts of the governor’s address to the joint session on Thursday are said to contain certain references to the Centre which has repealed the UPA government’s Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) and replaced it with the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Aajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VBG RAM G) Act, due to which Governor Gehlot has refused to deliver his address. Gehlot raised reservations on 11 paragraphs in the speech drafted by the Karnataka cabinet with regard to the NDA repealing MGNREGA. According to Unity will become a reality... We will engage in discussions to determine the way forward — Vellappally Natesan, SNDP general secretary — G Sukumaran Nair, NSS general secretary tended when he faced criticism from all quarters for travelling in the chief minister’s car. He asserted that unity among the NSS and the SNDP was the need of the hour. “It was Nair who mooted the idea of the SNDP–NSS unity, and I am grateful to him for that. Our objectives are aligned. This unity is not about hating others, but about achieving social justice,” Vellappally said. The proposed discussions aim to promote social justice and the initiative will be inclusive. “From Nayadi to Nasrani, Markets mostly steadied on Wednesday after Trump toned down his rhetoric in his threats to acquire Greenland, clarifying he wouldn’t use force porters in Kannur on Wednesday . “Pinarayi Vijayan is not with NDA, and therefore money is not coming. If he joins the NDA, his demand will be accepted by our prime minister. Money will come through various schemes,” Athawale said. He urged the CM to join the NDA ahead of the upcoming assembly elections in the state. He said a tieup between Pinarayi and the BJP would have no difficulty in capturing power in Kerala, and that such an alliance would pave the way for Pinarayi to become CM once again. Athawale said many socialist party leaders have already joined the NDA. ● More on P4 iaf aircraft crashes The wreckage of a crashed IAF microlite training aircraft being removed from a pond in Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj on Wednesday. Two persons onboard, including the pilot, were rescued safely | PTI EXPRESS READ Deepak death case: Shimjitha arrested Kozhikode: In a major breakthrough, the Kozhikode Medical College police on Wednesday arrested Shimjitha Musthafa, the accused in the suicide case of 42-year-old sales manager U Deepak, from her relative’s house in Vadakara. The arrest followed a manhunt and the issuance of a police lookout circular intended to prevent the 35-year-old content creator from fleeing the country. The Kunnamangalam First Class Magistrate Court has since remanded her to 14 days in custody, and she has been moved to Manjeri Jail. P5 Row after K’taka guv refuses to address assembly D e v araj B H irehalli @ Bengaluru It was Nair who mooted the idea of the SNDP– NSS unity, and I am grateful to him for that everyone will be part of it. We will ensure secularism in all districts, including Malappuram. No one will be excluded, and past mistakes will be rectified as we progress,” he said. There would be no more confrontational issues between the NSS and the SNDP Yogam, Vellappally said, adding that the specifics of the discussions will become clear once they occur. He reiterated that the SNDP harbours no animosity towards any community clarifying that , the organisation’s remarks about the IUML were deliberately interpreted as being hostile towards Muslims. Nair extended a warm welcome to the SNDP’s suggestion. “Unity will become a reality,” he asserted. The NSS supports the initiative without compromising its core values, he said. “We will engage in discussions to determine the way forward. Subsequently a meeting , of the NSS director board will be convened to provide a detailed explanation of these matters. A decision will be announced only after that,” he ● More on P4 said.  Markets recover Kerala will get more funds if Pinarayi joins NDA, says Union min E x press N e w s S er v ice @Kannur SNDP-NSS unity a step closer to reality ahead of elections sources, since the governor is mandated to address the session as per Article 176(1) of the Constitution, he insists on skipping parts of the speech, using his discretion. They said as parts of the address were against VB-G RAM G, which has become an Act after the Bill was passed in Parliament, it would be unconstitutional to speak against it and he preferred to skip those parts. A high-level delegation led by Karnataka Law and Parliamen- tary Affairs Minister HK Patil, rushed to Raj Bhavan and held talks with the governor on Wednesday evening. Speaking to reporters after meeting the governor, Patil said, “The governor has said that 11 paragraphs should be dropped from the speech. We will consult the Chief Minister and communicate to the governor. The Constitution is the same for everyone, whether the President, Governor or government. We have not been told so far that the Governor will not come to address the session.” SC on SIR of poll rolls: No power can be untrammelled S U C H I T R A K A LYA N M O H A N TY @ New Delhi The Supreme Court on Wednesday asked the Election Commission of India (ECI) whether its powers to conduct a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls can be considered untrammelled and beyond judicial review. A bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi said revision of poll rolls could lead to civil consequences. “Revision of voter list can lead to some civil consequences for a person who is on the list, so if something which will affect civil rights of people, then why should not the process followed be in accordance with sub-section 2 (of the Representation of the People (RP) Act which provides for roll revision in a prescribed manner)?” the CJI asked. Senior advocate Rakesh Dwivedi, representing the ECI, cited clause (3) of Section 21 of the RP Act, which reads: “Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (2), the Election Commission may at any time, for reasons to be recorded, direct a special revision of the electoral roll for any constituency or part of a constituency in such manner as it may think fit.” The CJI, however, asked if Section 21(2) enables the ECI to go beyond the rules, can the poll body then exempt itself from its own notified procedures when it undertakes an SIR under Section 21(3). “So, why should we not expect you (ECI) to have a transparent procedure,” he questioned. Justice Bagchi observed, “No power or jurisdiction can be untrammelled, no matter how high one is. The manner of conduct of the revision of electoral rolls must conform with the principles of natural justice. It should be just and fair.” Dwivedi agreed that the ECI must satisfy the court that the process was just, fair and transparent. Kerala MPs lag far behind in MPLADS fund utilisation R ajesh R a v i @Kochi Nearly 20 months after the 18th Lok Sabha came into existence in June 2024, the utilisation of Member of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) funds by Kerala MPs remains far below the national average. Under MPLADS, every MP is entitled to recommend constituency-level development works worth Rs 5 crore annually. However, data available on the Empowered Indian MPLADS dashboard as on January 21, 2026, show that Kerala MPs, as a group, have performed poorly in converting allocations into completed projects. At the national level, Lok Sabha MPs have utilised an average of 28.1% of their MPLADS entitlement, while Rajya Sabha MPs have achieved a significantly higher utilisation of 44.2%. In contrast, Kerala’s Lok Sabha MPs on average have utilised only 11.4% Overview of Member of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme of their available funds. Rajya Sabha MPs from the state have performed only marginally better, with utilisation at 14.74%. Within Kerala, the performance varies widely CPM Rajya . Sabha MP John Brittas topped the list in the state, with utilisation touching 26.32% of his entitlement. Among Lok Sabha MPs, Dean Kuria ko s e l e a d s w i t h 24.33% utilisation of the allocated funds, followed by N K Premachandran (21.42%) and V K Sreekandan (18.72%). Several MPs fall in the middle range with utilisation between 10 and 15 %, including Ernakulam MP Hibi Eden (15.23%), Rajmohan Unnithan (14.32 %), Adoor Prakash (14.25%), Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (13.37%) and Shashi Tharoor (13.28 %). At the lower end of the spectrum are MPs such as Union Minister and Thrissur MP Suresh Gopi, whose utilisation stands at 5.97%, while K Francis George and Shafi Parambil have recorded only 4% utilisation each. Abdussamad Samadani has utilised just 0.33%, while M K Raghavan and E T Mohammed Basheer are shown as having zero utilisation so far. Explaining the low figures, Suresh Gopi told TNIE that the relatively poor utilisation by Kerala MPs is primarily due to “administrative lapses rather than lack of intent”. “Under the revised MPLADS guidelines, every proposal must be approved by the district implementing authority within 45 days. However, in practice, there are frequent delays in receiving estimates and mandatory documents from implementing offices, causing many projects to miss this deadline,” Suresh Gopi ● More on P4 said.  Total MPs Total funds Avg nat’l Avg utlisation Top performing allocated utilisation by Kerala MPs state LS 543 K5,496.3 cr 28.1% 11.4% Nagaland (97%) RS 240 K3,265.1 cr 44.2% 14.7% Arunachal Pradesh (95.2%)