Author: TheStateLine

Chennai, July 5 (IANS) The AIADMK leadership has chosen to remain silent in the face of a stinging critique by actor-turned-politician Vijay, who accused the party of compromising its ideology by aligning with the BJP. Vijay's remarks, made at the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) state executive meeting on Friday, have rattled the Edappadi K. Palaniswami-led party, which had hoped to rope him into a broad anti-DMK alliance ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections.Vijay categorically ruled out any alliance with either the AIADMK or DMK, stating that both Dravidian majors had, at various times, collaborated with the BJP for political gains.He announced that TVK would contest the upcoming polls independently and lead its own front, with himself as the Chief Ministerial candidate. This is the first ...

New Delhi, July 5 (IANS) The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a Red Alert for very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall in Himachal Pradesh on July 6, particularly in the districts of Kangra, Sirmaur, and Mandi. The forecast comes in the wake of an already challenging week marked by heavy rain and several cloudbursts that have claimed at least 69 lives and left 37 people missing in the hill state.The Red Alert has been issued in anticipation of peak monsoon intensity on July 6 and 7. An Orange Alert has also been sounded for Una, Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Chamba, Solan, Shimla, and Kullu districts, warning residents and authorities to remain on high alert.The IMD's Shimla centre stated earlier on Friday that the state is likely to witness intense rainfall activity from Saturday to W...

New Delhi/Washington, July 5 (IANS) US President Donald Trump has signed tariff letters on exports from 12 countries, which are expected to be sent out on July 7 (Monday).Speaking to the media aboard Air Force One, the US President said the names of the countries which will receive the letters would only be revealed on Monday."I signed some letters and they'll go out on Monday, probably 12. Different amounts of money, different amounts of tariffs,” he told reporters."The letters are better. It is much easier to send a letter," Trump added.Trump has suggested that the reciprocal tariffs could go even higher, potentially reaching 70 per cent for some countries, and take effect from August 1.The US President in April unveiled a base tariff of 10 per cent on most goods entering the country, ...

New Delhi, July 5 (IANS) The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Friday arrested two human traffickers from different locations in Himachal Pradesh and Delhi. The duo, accused of sending more than 100 youths to the United States using the notorious ‘donkey route’ were nabbed after extensive searches.The accused were identified as Sunny Donker, a resident of Kangra (Himachal Pradesh) and Shubham Sandhal, a resident of Punjab who was currently residing in the national Capital.Both are said to be associates of Gagandeep Singh alias Goldy, arrested earlier in March.Gagandeep was arrested over a victim’s complaint who was illegally trafficked to the US using the infamous ‘donkey route’ and was deported back to India in February, this year.Goldy, a resident of Tilak Nagar in Delhi, was subseq...

Bhopal, July 5 (IANS) Heavy rains continued to lash eastern Madhya Pradesh for the second consecutive day, creating flood-like situations and severely disrupting normal life.In several places, roads and bridges were either submerged or swept away, cutting off access and stranding residents.Districts including Dindori, Balaghat, Jabalpur, Mandla, Rewa, and Sagar were among the worst affected by the relentless downpour over the past 30 hours. Rivers and streams in these areas are overflowing, adding to the crisis.In Mandla, a landslide occurred on National Highway 30 on Friday, and a key bridge connecting the district to Jabalpur was washed away, impacting connectivity and emergency response efforts.In Tikamgarh, panic gripped a tribal girls' hostel after floodwaters entered the premises. Fo...