THURSDAY Finished three missions during 608 days in space 22 JANUARY, 2026 epaper.morningstandard.in facebook.com/TheMorningStandard X.com/TheMornStandard SUNITA WILLIAMS RETIRES FROM NASA, CAPPING 27-YEAR CAREER WORLD’S BIGGEST N-PLANT BACK ONLINE IN JAPAN The world’s largest nuclear power plant restarted on Wednesday in Japan for the first time since the 2011 Fukushima nuclear meltdown. PAGE 9 Indian-origin NASA astronaut Sunita Williams, who inspired generations to dream big and push boundaries, has retired from the space agency A CAPITAL VIEW OF NEWS  NEW DELHI 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 appeared to tone down his aggressive pitch to wrest control of Greenland from NATO ally Denmark as he ruled out ruling force. “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 wondered why most of Europe is 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 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 T Y @ 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 CJI Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi said, “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 subsection 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 said, “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.” 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 amP9 bition 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 against Trump’s demands and threats over Greenland MARKETS RECOVER Markets mostly steadied on Wednesday after Trump toned down his rhetoric in his threats to acquire Greenland, clarifying he wouldn’t use force Govt weighs dual budget allocation on G Ram G P R E E T H A N A I R @ 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 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. Framing The move comes as the government the rules plans to gradually phase out MGNREGA over the next six months while roll“After it is ing out the new legislation. With the notified, states VB-G RAM G bill yet to come into force, have to frame the Centre is keen to avoid any disruprules. It will take tion in wage employment for rural time. Even the households. Sources said during a reBJP-ruled states cent meeting of a parliamentary panel, are not going to the government informed members that come on board it is considering additional budgetary as the Act puts a support and dual allocation to ensure a huge financial smooth transition to the VB-G RAM G. burden,” said an Signalling a sharp jump in budgetOppn leader. ary support, the government had earlier announced that `1,51,282 crore would be allocated for VB-G RAM G. Sources said the Centre may further increase the outlay in its Budget announcement. MGNREGA was allotted an unchanged `86,000 crore in both FY25 and FY26. Under the new Act, the estimated Central share of funding is `95,692.31 crore, with the states bearing the rest. The new Act mandates a 60:40 cost-sharing ratio between the Centre and the states. Opposition members have, however, raised concerns, saying that states remain in the dark over the proposed norms for allocation of funds. T20 WC TUSSLE ICC DENIES BANGLADESH’S REQUEST TO SHIFT THEIR MATCHES OUT OF INDIA As reported by this daily, if Bangladesh choose not to come to India for upcoming Men’s T20 World Cup on Thursday, ICC is likely to replace them with Scotland in Group C | P11  J8.00 DEC 27 PAGES 12  WHEN WILLIAMS OFFICIALLY RETIRED FROM NASA 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 Riddled with cracks, dust flies thick and fast on Sarai Kale Khan flyover Can’t afford another pollution hotspot A D I T I R AY C H O W D H U R Y @ New Delhi AS Delhi slips back into worsening air quality attention is once , again turning to high-traffic roads where congestion and broken surfaces combine to generate dust pollution. One such stretch is the Sarai Kale Khan flyover, leading towards Kalindi Colony and Maharani Bagh, now emerging as a key dust hotspot despite being a crucial arterial route. A ground check by The Morning Standard found that a large portion of the flyover stretch is riddled with cracks and crevices. These damaged patches routinely slow down vehicles, triggering traffic snarls and releasing thick clouds of dust into the air. “The water sprinkling is not enough. What needs a fix is the condition of this road, as these cracks and crevices have turned out to be the biggest dust-generating corners,” said a bike rider who uses the route daily . An official from the PWD 1 Why it is important: A key stretch connecting Central, East, and Southeast Delhi 2 Cracks and crevices: Resulting in congestion and high levels of dust pollution 3 Stretch 4 Traffic is normally heavy all through the day and night said that water is being sprinkled through anti-smog guns regularly on the stretch. “Not just this particular passage, most areas in Delhi, especially the pollution hotspots, witness water sprinkling on a daily basis,” the official said. But visuals from the site tell Standing there for few minutes is very difficult as high flow of dust makes it difficult to breathe 5 Officials claim water sprinkling happens, but unless roads are fixed, congestion, dust, & emissions will continue a different story showing dusty , road surfaces and pollutiongenerating conditions even after the claimed measures. PWD officials also pointed to jurisdictional issues complicating repairs. While the stretch towards Kalindi Colony and Maharani Bagh falls under Sanjeev Khirwar returns to capital as MCD commissioner after ’22 dog row A D I T I R AY C H O W D H U R Y @ New Delhi NEARLY four years after his name became shorthand in Delhi for a most unusual administrative controversy—one involving a dog, a stadium, and some very angry athletes—senior IAS officer Sanjeev Khirwar is back in the Capital, this time as the Commissioner of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD). The MHA on Wednesday formally communicated the decision to the Secretary to the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi. The appointment marks Khir- war’s return to Delhi’s civic and bureaucratic centre after a long detour through Ladakh. Khirwar will take over charge from Ashwani Kumar, who served as MCD Commissioner from June 2024 to January 2026. Kumar has now been transferred to J&K, closing a chapter that began with his crucial role in managing the unification of three erstwhile municipal corporations. For Khirwar, the return carries a different kind of political and public memory. In May 2022, Khirwar was transferred out of Delhi to Ladakh follow- ing a public row that quickly snowballed into a national talking point. At the centre of the controversy was the Thyagraj Stadium complex, a key training venue for athletes in the city It was alleged that athletes . were being asked to vacate the track, and the complex was being cleared by around 7 pm so that Khirwar and his wife, Rinku Dugga — also an IAS officer — could walk their dog. Coaches and athletes cowmplained that the restriction severely disrupted training schedules. But Khirwar denied the allegations at the time. PWD, the opposite carriageway towards Noida is under the Delhi-Noida-Direct (DND) flyway . “There is a small loop connecting Ring Road towards the Ashram side, which is not under PWD. That portion falls under DND, and they are responsible for the carpeting there,” the official said. On-ground staff from the DND flyway division acknowledged that congestion and dust. “Sometimes we sprinkle water on the road to settle the dust, but work related to fixing and repairing the crevices has been stalled due to the current GRAP curbs,” one of them said. The situation has raised questions over why pole-mounted mist sprinklers—used in other high-pollution zones—have not been installed here. When asked whether a similar proposal exists for this stretch, the PWD official said no such plan has been formulated so far. The flyover was inaugurated in October 2023 by then CM Arvind Kejriwal. Less than two years later, commuters are questioning how a recently inaugurated flyover has become a dust bowl—at a time when Delhi can least afford another pollution hotspot. EXPRESS READ Dhinakaran returns to NDA fold in TN Ahead of the keenly anticipated Tamil Nadu Assembly polls, the TTV Dhinakaran-led AMMK on Wednesday returned to the NDA in Tamil Nadu, months after walking out of the AIADMK-led bloc, blaming ‘betrayal’. The thaw follows years of bickering | P5 PIL against slashing NEET cutoff binned The Delhi High Court on Wednesday dismissed a PIL against the lowering of cutoff marks in NEET PG -2025 for admission to the postgraduate medical courses. The court said it is not in the public interest for seats to stay vacant and laid stress on skill development | P3 SC seeks action plan on city air pollution 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 Taking a serious view of the worsening air pollution in the NCR, the Supreme Court Wednesday ordered the Delhi government, municipal bodies and other agencies concerned to act on the CAQM’s recommendations to tackle it and submit an action plan | P3 Row after K’taka guv refuses to address assembly D E V A R A J B H I R E H A L L I @ Bengaluru 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) (VB-G RAM G) Act, due to which Gover nor 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 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.”