PM SVANidhi scheme brings new life to street vendors, frees them from debt traps

IANS | December 17, 2025 9:16 PM

Sheikhpura, Dec 17 (IANS) The Central government’s welfare-oriented Prime Minister Street Vendor’s AtmaNirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi) Scheme has emerged as a ray of hope for street vendors and footpath shopkeepers, transforming their lives by making them self-reliant and freeing them from the long-standing burden of high-interest loans taken from moneylenders.

Protests in Kazakhstan, other nations showcase broader regional attention to China’s external activities: Report

IANS | December 17, 2025 9:11 PM

Tashkent, Dec 17 (IANS) Several Asian nations have recently witnessed protests related to various issues involving China, sparking discussions regarding cross-border practices and their implications for international relations. The protests in Kazakhstan, Nepal, the Philippines, and other countries showcase broader regional attention to China’s external activities, a report has stated.

Rise in Pakistani migrants at European borders outcome of system that produces despair at home: Report

IANS | December 17, 2025 9:05 PM

Dublin, Dec 17 (IANS) The rise in Pakistani migrants at European borders is the inevitable outcome of a system that produces despair at home and criminal profit abroad, a report cited on Wednesday. It highlighted that Europe is currently facing a three-fold crisis - from migration, that is straining its borders and asylum systems; a humanitarian crisis born from escalating persecution and violence in Pakistan; and, a criminal crisis caused by transnational smuggling networks.

Bangladesh: Yunus govt eroding 1971 legacy, risks exporting internal divisions

IANS | December 17, 2025 9:00 PM

London, Dec 17 (IANS) Bangladesh’s interim government led by Muhammad Yunus, rather than stabilising the nation and rebuilding trust, risks exporting its internal fractures onto the global platform, undermining the moral foundation rooted in the nation’s history of genocide and pursuit of justice, a report said on Wednesday.