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Berlin, Nov 11 (IANS) German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has said that the European Union (EU) must fully integrate its Ukraine policy into the bloc's budget, and that future financial support for Ukraine should be part of the negotiations on the EU's next long-term budget.

Merz made the remarks at a joint press conference with visiting Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar on Tuesday (local time). He said negotiations on the EU's next long-term budget were entering a critical stage.

Merz stressed that the EU must not reduce its financial support for Ukraine, as it was a matter of collective European security.

He said a key condition for reaching a budget agreement was a common understanding among EU members on how to support Ukraine in the coming years. Supporting Ukraine was a shared responsibility of the EU, rather than that of individual member states, he added.

Merz said Ukraine policy must be fully included in the EU budget, while acknowledging that at least four member states held different views, according to Xinhua news agency.

Magyar said reaching an agreement on a common budget among the 27 EU members would not be easy, as each country had its own national interests.

He said Hungary believed that funding for traditional areas, including agricultural and cohesion policies, should not be reduced, and that changes were also needed to member states' contributions.

Magyar added that the current budget proposal still needed changes. Hungary would remain a constructive partner in the negotiations but would not compromise on its national interests, he said.

--IANS

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Washington, Nov 11 (IANS) A Trump administration proposal to eliminate the 60-day grace period that allows laid-off H-1B visa holders to find new jobs in the United States has drawn more than 31,000 public comments, as the deadline for submissions approached.

The proposal, which could have major consequences for Indian professionals working in America, had received 31,383 posted comments by Tuesday night (local time).

The number had risen from about 27,000 on November 2 to 30,382 early Tuesday, reflecting growing public engagement with one of the administration's latest immigration proposals.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published the proposed rule on September 11. It seeks to remove a regulation allowing certain foreign workers up to 60 days after losing their jobs to secure new employment, change immigration status or prepare to leave the country.

The provision covers H-1B workers and several other temporary visa categories, including L-1, O-1 and TN. Their dependants are also covered.

Under existing rules, eligible workers can remain for up to 60 days after employment ends, or until their authorised stay expires, whichever comes first.

If the proposal takes effect, workers who lose their jobs would no longer receive this discretionary protection. They would generally have to leave the United States unless otherwise authorised to remain.

DHS argues that immigration status should remain directly linked to the employment for which a foreign worker was admitted.

The department said the existing grace period "is not mandated by statute" and creates additional administrative work.

According to DHS, immigration officials had to consider whether the provision applied in more than 1.9 million petitions and applications between October 2017 and May 2026.

Using revoked employment petitions as a measure, the department estimated that an average of 65,752 foreign workers annually lost or changed jobs between fiscal 2021 and 2025.

Of those, about 3,795 had new employer petitions filed within the grace period each year.

DHS acknowledged that eliminating the provision could cause some workers to lose income, incur relocation expenses or face immigration proceedings.

The proposal carries particular significance for Indians, who account for the largest share of H-1B beneficiaries.

According to USCIS figures cited in its fiscal 2025 report to Congress, about 70 per cent of 406,348 approved H-1B petitions involved beneficiaries born in India. China accounted for approximately 12 per cent.

The grace-period proposal has attracted more posted comments than two other pending DHS measures affecting international students and skilled foreign workers.

A separate proposal to charge institutions $70,000 for initial Optional Practical Training and $30,000 for subsequent training had received 8,947 posted comments by Tuesday night. Its comment period ended on Monday.

Another proposal would remove the practice of generally deferring to previous USCIS approvals when reviewing extension applications involving unchanged circumstances. That measure had received 686 posted comments. Its deadline is November 13.

The volume of comments does not by itself establish how many respondents support or oppose the proposals.

DHS must review the submissions before deciding whether to issue a final rule. Any final regulation would specify when the changes take effect.

The 60-day grace period was established through a 2016 regulation that took effect on January 17, 2017.

The H-1B programme permits American employers to recruit foreign professionals for specialised occupations, particularly in technology, engineering and other skilled fields.

--IANS

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Quetta, Nov 11 (IANS) The Baloch National Movement (BNM) on Wednesday has raised serious concerns over the Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum (PMIF26), scheduled to be held in Islamabad on November 12–13, alleging that the government is seeking to turn the exploitation of Balochistan's natural resources into an international economic enterprise by involving foreign investors and multinational corporations.

According to the BNM, the forum, which is to be held under the banners of investment and development, is an attempt to deprive the people of Balochistan of their own resources and perpetuate poverty, deprivation, and economic subjugation in the region.

"We describe this as mineral colonialism, a system in which external powers reap the benefits of a region's natural wealth while its indigenous population is subjected to exploitation and marginalisation," the BNM stated.

The group said that no foreign investment, mining project, or extraction of natural resources in Balochistan could be considered acceptable without the free, genuine, and collective consent of the people in the province.

It stressed that any agreements concluded by disregarding the will and political status of the people would remain "illegitimate and unacceptable", further deepening the ongoing conflict and potentially escalating violence in the region.

"We urge all international mining companies, investors, and financial institutions to refrain from investing in Balochistan. Balochistan is an occupied territory and a region experiencing an ongoing conflict. Under these circumstances, the international community has a moral and political responsibility to support the Baloch nation's right to self-determination and their struggle for freedom, rather than becoming complicit in the economic interests of an occupying state," the BNM stated.

Highlighting the escalating abuses by Pakistani authorities, the group said that enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, unlawful arrests of political activists and leaders, fabricated criminal cases and systematic efforts to silence political voices in Balochistan were part of a broader strategy to suppress the political and economic rights of the Baloch people.

It said that these measures were also aimed at maintaining control over the region's natural resources.

For decades, the BNM said, people of Balochistan have struggled for their national identity, homeland, and the right to exercise control over their resources.

"The continued sacrifices of Baloch men, women, and youth are a testament to the enormous human cost of this struggle. Claims of development and prosperity in Balochistan that disregard these realities are nothing more than an illusion. International companies must recognise that exploiting Balochistan's resources without the consent of the Baloch nation risks making them complicit in a contested and exploitative enterprise," it noted.

The BNM called on the United Nations, international financial institutions, and the wider international community to make the free consent of the Baloch people a fundamental condition for any project involving Balochistan's natural resources and to take notice of human rights violations in the region.

"Any project imposed against the will of the Baloch nation will only perpetuate exploitation, resistance, and further instability," it warned.

--IANS

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Washington, Nov 11 (IANS) The United States has extended exemptions from additional tariffs on 178 categories of Chinese goods until January 9, 2027, as Washington and Beijing continue negotiations over trade commitments.

The Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) on Tuesday (local time) announced the two-month extension in a Federal Register notice published Tuesday, preventing the exclusions from expiring after November 9.

The decision allows American importers to continue bringing in specified Chinese products without paying the additional duties imposed under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974.

The extension covers goods entering the United States from November 10, 2026, until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on January 9, 2027.

"In light of ongoing discussions with China, the Trade Representative has determined that it is appropriate to further extend all 178 current exclusions until January 10, 2027," the notice said.

The exclusions cover 164 product categories carried forward from earlier tariff relief measures and 14 categories involving equipment used in solar manufacturing.

They apply only to products meeting specific customs classifications and descriptions. Other Chinese imports remain subject to applicable tariffs.

USTR said it considered public comments received during previous reviews, recommendations from advisory committees and advice from the interagency Section 301 Committee before granting the extension.

The agency also left open the possibility of further changes.

"The Trade Representative may continue to consider further extensions or additional modifications as appropriate," the notice said.

The announcement comes four days after US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent held a videoconference with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng on November 6.

During the discussion, Greer pressed Beijing to fulfil commitments made under earlier trade agreements, particularly those involving American agricultural exports, rare earth elements and other critical minerals.

Greer emphasised the importance of China taking concrete steps to implement those commitments.

The administration said it would continue monitoring compliance while pursuing a more balanced trading relationship that benefits American farmers, manufacturers and workers.

The extension, among other things, builds on a trade understanding reached between President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in November 2025.

Under that arrangement, Washington agreed to maintain exclusions from certain additional tariffs, while Beijing committed to extending its own exclusions on American goods through December 31, 2026.

The agreement addressed Chinese purchases of US agricultural products, restrictions on rare earth exports and trade measures affecting American semiconductor companies.

USTR subsequently extended the 178 exclusions through November 9, 2026. Tuesday's decision provides another two months for businesses relying on the exemptions.

The agency said US Customs and Border Protection would issue instructions governing customs entries and implementation of the extension.

--IANS

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Washington, Nov 11 (IANS) A California-led coalition of state attorneys general has urged the US government to withdraw a proposal requiring universities to pay as much as $100,000 for an international student's post-study work training, warning that the measure could deter foreign enrolment and hurt the American economy.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta said on Tuesday (local time) that the coalition had submitted formal objections to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on Monday. The proposed rule targets Optional Practical Training (OPT), a programme that allows foreign students on F-1 visas to work in fields related to their studies.

Under the proposal, colleges and universities would pay $70,000 when they first recommend a student for OPT and another $30,000 for a subsequent recommendation, including an extension available to eligible graduates in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

The institutions would be required to send the payments to DHS. They could seek reimbursement from students or employers, potentially shifting some of the burden to graduates looking for work.

The proposal was published on October 8. It has not taken effect.

Bonta said the plan threatened students, campuses and employers that rely on international talent.

"We have already fought and won against this Administration's attempt to impose an unauthorised $100,000 tax on H-1B visas, yet it continues to pursue unlawful overreach at the expense of our students, universities, and economy," he said.

The coalition argued that DHS lacked congressional authority to impose what it described as a tax disguised as a fee. It said the proposal violated the Immigration and Nationality Act and the Administrative Procedure Act because the government had not adequately weighed the costs to states, schools and the wider economy.

The attorneys general also objected to the 30-day public comment period, saying it was too short for a policy with potentially sweeping financial consequences.

More than 294,000 international students participated in OPT nationwide during the 2024-25 academic year. It is estimated that maintaining current participation levels under the proposed charges could cost educational institutions $12.9 billion a year.

The coalition warned that the fees could force some universities to stop recommending students for the programme. Others could face falling international enrolment, reduced tuition income and difficulties attracting skilled graduates.

For Indian students considering American universities, the dispute raises questions about access to work experience after graduation. The proposed payment would formally fall on institutions, but the rule would allow them to recover the costs from students or employers.

"International students bring diverse perspectives, strengthen our communities, and help drive discoveries and technological advancements that benefit us all," Bonta said.

He also cited the economic stakes in California, where international students contributed $6.3 billion and supported more than 52,000 jobs in the 2024-25 academic year.

Attorneys general from states including New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Illinois, Washington and Virginia joined California's submission. The District of Columbia was also among the signatories.

--IANS

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Washington, Nov 11 (IANS) US prosecutors have charged three men with terrorism-related offences over an alleged Iran-backed campaign of attacks in Europe and planned violence in the United States, including a thwarted plot against a British airbase hosting American military personnel.

The Justice Department said on Tuesday (local time) that an eight-count superseding indictment named Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood al-Saadi, a dual Iranian-Iraqi citizen, Iranian national Mohsen Mohajeri and Iraqi national Mohammad Ali al-Hassani.

The men are accused of supporting Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Kata'ib Hizballah, both designated foreign terrorist organisations by the United States. Prosecutors linked the network to nearly 20 attacks and attempted attacks.

The most recent alleged target was RAF Fairford in the United Kingdom, which housed US aircraft and service personnel at the time of the attempted attack in September.

According to the indictment, al-Hassani organised the plot from abroad with help from associates in Britain. Mohajeri was also in Iran at the time, while al-Saadi was already being held in federal custody in New York on earlier terrorism charges.

Prosecutors alleged that al-Saadi used telephone conversations with relatives in Iraq to send coded messages to his associates despite being behind bars.

Federal prosecutors said the preparations began in August. Associates allegedly conducted surveillance of the airbase, obtained vans and fuel barrels, researched chemical accelerants and acquired metal objects that could be used as shrapnel.

The vans were fitted with markings to make them appear to belong to fuel delivery and swimming pool supply businesses, according to prosecutors.

On September 26, three vans headed towards RAF Fairford. At least two encountered a security roadblock and could not proceed along their intended route. British authorities recovered three vans and arrested their occupants early the next morning.

Attorney General Todd Blanche warned that plots against military installations housing American personnel would attract prosecution.

"Anyone who plans a terrorist plot on a military base housing American service members will be prosecuted by the United States government," Blanche said.

The indictment outlines an alleged series of attacks on Jewish communities in Europe. Prosecutors say the men operated through a group called Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiya, or HAYI, described as a front for Iran-aligned terrorist organisations.

The group claimed responsibility for 18 attacks in Europe during the spring, seven of them in Britain. The incidents included arson, explosive attacks and a near-fatal stabbing of two Jewish men in London, one of whom held British and American citizenship.

Investigators further alleged that the defendants directed some attacks remotely, including through live video calls.

Al-Saadi was arrested abroad in May and transferred to US custody.

The charges include conspiracies to provide material support to designated terrorist organisations, terrorism financing and a conspiracy to bomb a public place.

--IANS

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Washington, Nov 11 (IANS) Senior US lawmakers from both parties are pressing for tighter controls on the export of advanced American artificial intelligence chips to China, warning that allegations involving Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang have heightened national security concerns.

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer on Tuesday (local time) urged Congress to move quickly on three bipartisan bills designed to restrict China's access to American technology. His call followed a joint statement by Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren and Republican Senator Jim Banks demanding stronger export controls.

The renewed push comes as lawmakers consider including restrictions on advanced semiconductor technology in the annual defence policy legislation.

Schumer called for passage of the AI OVERWATCH Act, the MATCH Act and the Chip Security Act, arguing that Washington must prevent sensitive American technology from reaching potential adversaries.

He also demanded an immediate briefing for the Senate and House intelligence committees on alleged Chinese efforts to obtain information from Nvidia and other American AI companies.

"We need a full accounting for Trump's failure to address foreign espionage in the American tech industry," Schumer said in remarks on the Senate floor.

Schumer accused President Donald Trump of failing to adequately confront intelligence concerns.

Warren and Banks, both members of the Senate Banking Committee, said they had urged the Commerce Department in March to reconsider Nvidia's export licences to China and conduct a comprehensive national security review.

They alleged that Nvidia had subsequently received approvals to export hundreds of thousands of advanced AI chips to China, including to companies with reported connections to the Chinese military.

The lawmakers said the latest allegations reinforced the need for stricter safeguards against the possible military use of American technology.

"The Commerce Department should complement these efforts with immediate action to close export control loopholes," Warren and Banks said in their joint statement.

Their appeal followed reports that Huang had been targeted by a suspected Chinese intelligence operation involving a personal relationship.

Nvidia's board announced an independent investigation on November 8 to examine whether its chief executive had been the target of foreign intelligence activity.

The company said a committee of independent directors, assisted by outside legal counsel, would oversee the investigation.

China rejected the allegations. Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun described the accusations as groundless and an attempt to smear Beijing.

Trump has publicly defended Huang, saying the Nvidia chief had told him he did not know the woman involved was suspected of espionage. The President said he believed Huang's explanation.

The allegations remain under investigation, and no finding has established that Huang knowingly assisted Chinese intelligence or that company secrets were compromised.

--IANS

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Washington, Nov 11 (IANS) India and the United States are strengthening cooperation to track drug-trafficking networks and prevent chemicals used to manufacture synthetic narcotics from entering illegal supply chains, the White House said in a readout of bilateral talks.

Officials identified closer intelligence sharing, coordinated law enforcement operations and safeguards for pharmaceutical supply chains as priorities at the second India-US Drug Policy Executive Working Group meeting, held in New Delhi on November 2-3.

The statement, issued by the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), said both governments also discussed emerging trafficking threats and measures to reduce drug demand.

India's delegation was led by Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) Director General Anurag Garg. Debbie Seguin, acting deputy director of ONDCP, headed the American team.

Cooperation is "vital to disrupting transnational drug trafficking networks and preventing the diversion of synthetic drugs and chemical precursors into global markets," said ONDCP Director Sara Carter.

US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor said the two countries were moving beyond pledges to practical cooperation.

"India and the United States aren't just talking about cooperation; we are delivering real operational results -- choking off illicit precursor chemicals, securing commercial supply chains, and dismantling the cartels that exploit them," he said.

Garg highlighted India's Vision Roadmap 2026-2029, which emphasises investigations into entire criminal networks rather than individual drug seizures. It calls for targeting financiers, suppliers, facilitators and transport networks, alongside financial investigations, prevention and rehabilitation.

The delegations discussed Operation MedMax and Operation WIPE, two Indian enforcement initiatives, as well as a voluntary code of conduct intended to stop chemicals used to make synthetic drugs from being diverted from legitimate commerce.

Operation MedMax, carried out in July 2025 using intelligence jointly developed by the NCB and US Drug Enforcement Administration, uncovered a syndicate selling regulated medicines internationally.

According to the NCB, the syndicate operated across Asia, North America, Europe and Australia. The investigation began with the seizure of 3.7 kg of tramadol tablets in India. Investigators said the network used an online business-to-business platform, digital payments and international intermediaries to distribute drugs without legitimate documentation.

Operation WIPE, launched in April, targets online listings of drugs controlled under India's narcotics law. The NCB said it identified 122 instances involving 62 substances, including fentanyl.

The operation monitors publicly accessible websites for offers of regulated drugs. The agency said it had also shared lists of controlled substances with platforms to help them identify and remove illegal listings.

The two sides agreed to exchange more best practices on targeted enforcement. The White House said sustained contact and timely intelligence exchanges would be important as traffickers adapted their methods.

The meeting followed the group's inaugural session in Washington on January 20-21.

--IANS

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Washington, Nov 11 (IANS) Two newly elected Indian-American lawmakers have secured hard-fought victories in US Congressional races and are preparing to enter the House of Representatives, a development Congresswoman Grace Meng says reflects the community's growing place in American political life.

In an exclusive interview with IANS, the New York Democrat welcomed the election of Pia Dandiya and Dr Amish Shah, saying their victories came after difficult contests in which Republicans had invested heavily.

Meng said she had been in contact with both candidates throughout their campaigns and had met them in Washington as they attended orientation for incoming members of Congress.

"There was a lot of money put against them," she said, referring to Republican campaign efforts.

"Not only did they win historic races," she said, adding that "they flipped seats from the Republican Party to the Democrats."

Her comments underlined the significance she attached to the candidates' success beyond their individual victories. Both will arrive on Capitol Hill as members of a new Congress in which Democrats expect to hold the majority.

Meng said the candidates had faced difficult races, rather than straightforward contests, and highlighted both their personal accomplishments and the challenges of securing a place in Congress.

Describing their credentials, she said "they are accomplished people in their own right" and noted that they were now entering Congress.

The Congresswoman said she had followed their campaigns closely and remained in contact with them as they moved towards taking office.

"I saw them again this morning," she said, recalling her meeting with the incoming lawmakers in Washington.

She compared the orientation process to the start of a new school, as newly elected representatives learn their way around Congress and prepare for the responsibilities ahead.

Meng said the newcomers were settling in well.

The victories, she suggested, were part of a broader change in the visibility and participation of Indian Americans in the United States.

"But it just shows that the Indian American community is becoming more and more a part of the fabric of our American society," she said.

Meng said elected representatives from the community would work on a broad range of national issues, rather than issues affecting Indian Americans alone.

Her remarks placed the two newcomers in a wider picture of political participation, from campaigns and legislative work to representation at the highest levels of government.

She pointed to the political prominence of former Vice President Kamala Harris, whose mother was from India, as an example of Indian-American participation in senior public office.

"Indian Americans have made great strides," she said.

Asked what Democratic control of Congress could mean for the community, Meng expressed hope that lawmakers would find common ground and help Indian Americans feel included.

The Congresswoman did not outline an agenda for either new representative. Instead, she emphasised that both had earned their places through demanding contests and would now join colleagues working on legislation across a range of subjects.

The two incoming representatives won different kinds of contests on November 3. Shah, a physician and former Arizona state legislator, defeated Republican Jay Feely in Arizona's 1st Congressional District, a seat previously held by Republican David Schweikert, who did not seek re-election.

Dandiya, a former school principal, defeated Republican Casey Askar in Florida's 22nd Congressional District.

--IANS

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Washington, Nov 11 (IANS) The US House of Representatives has blocked an immediate vote to impeach Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, sending eight articles accusing him of misconduct over the Iran war and other military operations to a committee in a narrow 211-204 vote.

The procedural decision gave Hegseth a reprieve after Republican Congressman Thomas Massie forced the chamber to confront the allegations. It did not clear Hegseth of wrongdoing or settle any of the charges.

According to the House clerk, 210 Republicans and independent Kevin Kiley of California voted to refer the resolution to the Judiciary Committee. Massie was the only Republican to oppose the move, joining 203 Democrats.

Eighteen lawmakers did not vote, including 11 Democrats and seven Republicans. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was among those absent. The motion passed by seven votes.

All six Indian-American House members -- Ami Bera, Pramila Jayapal, Ro Khanna, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Suhas Subramanyam and Shri Thanedar -- voted against referral, according to the official roll call. That meant each supported allowing the impeachment effort to proceed rather than sending it to committee.

Massie's resolution accused Hegseth of continuing military operations against Iran without congressional authority. It also accused the Secretary of War of disregarding rules intended to protect civilians and ordering unlawful strikes on suspected drug-trafficking boats. Other articles concerned actions involving Venezuela and Yemen and alleged retaliation against Senator Mark Kelly.

Massie brought the measure as a privileged resolution, forcing the House to take procedural action rather than leaving it indefinitely pending. Before the vote, he warned that referral to committee would effectively end the impeachment campaign for this Congress.

The allegations have not been adjudicated. Hegseth rejected them at a Pentagon briefing earlier Tuesday.

"None of these are high crimes or misdemeanours," he said. "They're partisan policy disagreements from people who want to politicise our military."

The Trump administration urged Congressmen to support referral.

A formal White House policy statement described the impeachment push as politically motivated and argued that the president had constitutional authority to order military operations.

Vice President J.D. Vance defended Hegseth, writing on X: "Has Pete Hegseth committed impeachable crimes? The question is absurd, and the answer is: obviously not."

President Donald Trump celebrated the outcome on Truth Social, declaring the effort had "miserably FAILED!" and describing the vote as the "EXONERATION of a Great American Patriot." But the House took no vote on the substance of the impeachment articles.

Massie expressed disappointment after the vote. "I wasn't surprised, but I was disappointed," he told reporters. He said he would next seek a vote on a war powers resolution concerning Iran.

House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries signalled that the matter could return. "This is not the end of it. It's just the beginning," he said.

Democratic Whip Katherine Clark accused Republicans of protecting Hegseth rather than American service personnel. Krishnamoorthi had urged wavering Republicans to break ranks, while Thanedar and Jayapal separately called for Hegseth's impeachment.

The referral places the resolution before the Judiciary Committee, which is not required to act. With the current Congress ending on January 3, the move makes a substantive impeachment vote this session unlikely.

Democrats, who won control of both chambers in the November 3 midterms, could initiate a new effort when Congress convenes.

Under the US Constitution, impeachment requires a simple majority in the House. Conviction and removal require a two-thirds vote of senators present.

Two Cabinet secretaries have previously been impeached -- William Belknap in 1876 and Alejandro Mayorkas in 2024 -- but neither was removed by the Senate.

--IANS

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