Solan, Aug 7 (IANS) Continuous rainfall in the Solan district of Himachal Pradesh has raised serious concerns about crop health, as excessive moisture is leading to the rapid spread of crop diseases. According to Agriculture Deputy Director Devaraj Kashyap, diseases like early blight, root rot, and fruit rot are being reported widely in affected areas.Speaking to IANS, Kashyap said that the Agriculture Department has begun assessing the damage caused to crops due to heavy rainfall, and reports a…

Bhubaneswar, Aug 7 (IANS) Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Thursday asserted that Odisha’s handloom tradition is a living art form that brings pride and glory to the state in both national and international markets. While inaugurating the EKTA (Exhibition-cum-Knowledge Sharing for Textile Advantage) marking the National handlooms day, CM Majhi on Thursday said “our handloom is one of the main pillars of Odia Asmita (Odisha Pride). Our handloom sector is not just an economic pillar but al…

Amravati, Aug 7 (IANS) India’s farming community is rallying behind Prime Minister Narendra Modi after his strong declaration that India “will never compromise on the interests of its farmers,” despite rising tensions with the United States over trade and energy policy. In a high-stakes escalation, the U.S. administration recently imposed a steep 50 pc tariff on Indian exports, citing India’s continued purchase of discounted crude oil from Russia. The move has sparked concern across seve…

Jaipur, Aug 7 (IANS) Taking suo motu cognisance of alleged illegal mining in Rajasthan, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has been issuing notices to respective departments to preserve the Aravallis. In one such incident, NGT took suo motu cognisance of a landslide in Nari village, Chirawa, Rajasthan, reportedly triggered by heavy rainfall and illegal mining activities in the region.Locals said a portion of the hill collapsed with an explosion-like sound, causing cracks in nearby houses and wide…

Shillong, Aug 7 (IANS) Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, on Thursday, reiterated that the state government will prioritise public consultation and consensus before moving ahead with any railway projects in the Khasi Hills, Jaintia Hills, or Garo Hills regions. Speaking to reporters, CM Sangma emphasised that while railway connectivity is crucial for the state’s long-term economic development, the concerns of local communities must be addressed through open dialogue and engagement.”From …

Patna, Aug 7 (IANS) Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will jointly lay the foundation stone of the Mata Janaki Temple at Punaura Dham in Sitamarhi district on Friday.The temple, dedicated to Goddess Sita, marks a significant religious and cultural initiative for the Mithila region and is being described as the “Ayodhya of Bihar”.The temple complex, estimated to cost Rs 882.87 crore, will be constructed over 67 acres, with a 151-feet high sanctum as its central s…

Jaipur, Aug 7 (IANS) In a strong reaction to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s press conference in Delhi, where he alleged large-scale voter list manipulation and electoral fraud in Maharashtra, Rajasthan BJP MLA Balmukund Acharya has accused the Congress of relying on deceit and fake votes to stay in power. Speaking to IANS, Acharya said, “The Congress has a long history of misleading the public and manipulating elections through fraudulent voting. But that strategy no longer works. People are…

Chandigarh, Aug 7 (IANS) In a setback to the AAP government in Punjab, the Punjab and Haryana High Court on Thursday stayed the implementation of the land pooling policy and gave the state four weeks. “We will stay the policy and give you time to address the concerns,” the Bench of Justice Anupinder Grewal and Justice Deepak Manchanda observed, before parting with the case. At the onset, the High Court reiterated its concerns regarding the lack of provision for the rehabilitation of landless…

Kolkata, Aug 7 (IANS) The Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) said on Thursday that an air quality report card has revealed alarming pollution levels in West Bengal in the last six months. The half-yearly report card of air quality, a copy of which is available with IANS, which is based on data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), has revealed sustained and hazardous levels of air pollution in all cities in West Bengal, with Asansol being the most polluted city.The dat…

New Delhi, Aug 7 (IANS) The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday arrested two accused, both residents of Haryana, in the case of human trafficking of illegal immigrations to the U.S via the infamous ‘Dunki route’.The accused, Ravi Kumar and Gopal Singh, were taken into custody during extensive searches at four locations in Haryana and Punjab in the case RC-10/2025/NIA/DLI. While two locations were searched in Karnal district of Haryana, NIA teams converged on one location each in …