​New York woman charged with smuggling people across Canada–US border

IANS | December 6, 2025 12:56 PM

Washington, Dec 6 (IANS) A 42-year-old woman from upstate New York has been indicted for her alleged role in an international human smuggling network that federal prosecutors say moved foreign nationals -- primarily Indian citizens -- across the US-Canada border in multiple illicit crossings this year.

US Senator flags H-1B abuse, raising questions for Indian tech talent

IANS | December 6, 2025 12:49 PM

Washington, Dec 6 (IANS) A senior US lawmaker on Friday urged the Trump Administration to intensify federal scrutiny of corporate use of H-1B visas, warning that major American technology firms are laying off domestic workers even as they continue recruiting thousands of foreign professionals — a trend with direct implications for Indian engineers who make up the single largest group of H-1B beneficiaries.

BNM urges EU to reassess Pakistan's GSP+ status over human rights abuses

IANS | December 6, 2025 10:43 AM

Brussels, Dec 6 (IANS) The Baloch National Movement (BNM) attended a conference at the European Parliament, presenting evidence of Pakistan's human rights violations across Balochistan and calling for a re-evaluation of Islamabad's preferential trade status under the Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+) in light of the grave abuses.

Rights body slams trial of Pakistani human rights lawyers as ‘weaponisation of law’

IANS | December 6, 2025 9:19 AM

Quetta, Dec 6 (IANS) The Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), a prominent human rights group, has condemned the trial of Pakistani lawyers Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and Hadi Ali Chattha, alleging they are being targeted for a crime they did not commit, and mentioned that the proceedings reflect yet another instance of Pakistani authorities “weaponising the law” against innocent citizens.

PM Modi most influential leader in geopolitics, says Mary Millben

Lalit K Jha | December 6, 2025 8:19 AM

Washington, Dec 6 (IANS) African American singer and longtime India admirer Mary Millben has described Prime Minister Narendra Modi as “the most influential and the most important leader right now in geopolitics,” praising his handling of this week’s New Delhi summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin and urging Washington to reset its approach toward India.