Landslides triggered by incessant rainfall have severely disrupted travel in North Sikkim, specifically along the Lachen–Chungthang and Lachung–Chungthang roads. Authorities have deemed nighttime travel unsafe and suspended the issuance of permits for North Sikkim. All previously issued permits have been cancelled. Relief and repair efforts are underway, but hampered by the continuous downpour.
Related news
President-elect Donald Trump plans to establish an External Revenue Service (ERS) on his first day in office. The ERS will target tariffs, duties, and revenues from foreign sources to alleviate domestic taxation. Major trading partners like Canada, Mexico, China, and the EU are expected to be impacted.
Parliamentary proceedings remain stalled as Congress demands action against BJP MP Nishikant Dubey for linking the Gandhis to George Soros. Congress Deputy Leader Gaurav Gogoi urged Speaker Om Birla to expunge Dubey's "defamatory remarks," promising Congress's participation in legislative business thereafter. BJP doubled down on the allegations, citing connections between Soros and Nehru's family.
S. Jaishankar criticized Pakistan's role in promoting terrorism, highlighting their double-dealing in Afghanistan and persistent "bad habits." He emphasized that the 2008 Mumbai attacks marked a turning point in India-Pakistan relations, signaling a shift in India's tolerance. Jaishankar also linked national progress to the strength and quality of a nation's universities.
Karnataka high court has stayed proceedings against IIM Bangalore officials in a caste-discrimination case, citing that the Directorate of Civil Rights Enforcement lacked authority to investigate harassment claims. The case involves allegations by Dalit associate professor Gopal Das against IIM-B faculty. A separate FIR filed by Mico Layout police against the faculty members is also being challenged.
Congress leader Randeep Surjewala accused the BJP government of weaponizing the Enforcement Directorate (ED), citing a surge in PMLA cases under NDA rule with a low conviction rate. Data revealed an eightfold increase in cases compared to the UPA era, with only 4.6% resulting in convictions.
ITC Limited's Chairman, Sanjiv Puri, emphasizes the importance of flexibility and employee empowerment instead of strict hour tracking in contrast to L&T Chairman SN Subrahmanyan's remarks about a 90-hour work week. Puri highlights ITC's commitment to a flexible work environment and focusing on employee potential rather than monitoring work hours.
Following a US court ruling against NSO Group for hacking WhatsApp, Congress leader Randeep Surjewala questioned if the Supreme Court would further investigate the alleged Pegasus spyware use on 300 Indian numbers. He demanded disclosure of the targeted individuals and questioned the government's actions and the court's next steps based on the US verdict.
US President Donald Trump and tech mogul Elon Musk, in a Fox News interview, attacked bureaucracy for obstructing their efforts to reduce federal waste. They criticized the Biden administration and discussed plans to cut the federal deficit by $1 trillion, emphasizing the need to restore the will of the people.
Sweden's foreign minister, Maria Malmer Stenergard, emphasizes the importance of democracies uniting to uphold a rules-based order in both Ukraine and the Indo-Pacific. Stenergard also discusses Sweden's defence cooperation with India and their commitment to NATO while addressing security concerns related to China and Russia.
Former cricketer Aakash Chopra sees IPL 2025 as crucial for Rishabh Pant's return to India's T20I squad, playing for Lucknow Super Giants. Pant must perform strongly to shake up the competition, especially against first-choice Sanju Samson. Chopra suggests Pant should focus on strategic batting positions, with significant team changes expected before the T20 World Cup.