The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE) has said it identified around 10,000 foreign students, including several from India, who are suspected of misusing the Optional Practical Training (OPT) scheme linked to student visas.

Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, acting ICE Director Todd Lyons described the OPT programme as a growing source of fraud and said it had become the focus of numerous investigations by the Department of Homeland Security.

OPT allows international students studying in the United States on academic visas to work in the country for up to 12 months after graduation, with some science and technology graduates eligible for extensions of up to 24 months. The programme is also widely used as a pathway to obtaining employer-sponsored H-1B visas.

Lyons said federal authorities had uncovered several cases involving serious alleged offences linked to abuse of the programme. These included claims of espionage, intellectual property theft, employment fraud and scams targeting elderly Americans.

“We've encountered cases involving espionage, biological threats, intellectual property theft, visa and employment fraud, and even scams targeting elderly Americans,” Lyons said, adding that such activities had been carried out by individuals “abusing their status as students”.

He warned that the US would not tolerate threats emerging from the foreign student system and said investigators had carried out multiple site visits as part of ongoing probes.

According to ICE officials, some OPT beneficiaries were found to be supervised remotely by employees based in India, which authorities said breached programme rules requiring training and oversight within the United States.

Lyons said the OPT scheme, introduced during the administration of former President George W. Bush, was initially intended to support a relatively small number of foreign students seeking short-term work experience before returning to their home countries.

“Instead, OPT ballooned into an uncontrolled guest worker pipeline with hundreds of thousands of foreign students working in the United States,” he said. “As the programme’s size has exploded, so has the fraud.”

He also described the alleged abuse of the programme as an attack on the trust of the American public, arguing that the system was being exploited by individuals taking advantage of access to the US education sector.

With IANS inputs

The Indian National Congress (INC) on Wednesday criticised senior Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh leader Dattatreya Hosabale over his remarks advocating continued dialogue with Pakistan, claiming his recent visit to the United States had influenced both him and the organisation.

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh took a swipe at the RSS functionary after a video clip surfaced of Hosabale speaking in an interview with PTI Videos about maintaining channels of communication with Pakistan.

“It appears that the recent US trip of Shri Hosabale, during which one of his colleagues admitted to the PM doing what the US wanted him to do, has impacted him as well as the RSS,” Ramesh wrote in a post on X.

He also suggested that supporters of the ruling establishment and sections of television media would have reacted sharply had similar remarks been made by leaders outside the ideological fold of the RSS.

In the interview, Hosabale said there should always remain scope for engagement between India and Pakistan despite strained relations between the two neighbours.

“The security and self-respect of a country have to be protected and the government of the day should take care of it. But at the same time, we need not close the doors. We should always be ready to engage them in a dialogue,” he said.

Hosabale argued that direct interaction between ordinary citizens could help ease tensions and break the prolonged diplomatic deadlock between the two countries. He also said Pakistan’s military and political leadership had lost India’s trust, making civil society engagement increasingly important.

The remarks come shortly after the RSS undertook outreach efforts in the United States and the United Kingdom as part of activities linked to its centenary year. Hosabale addressed events at Stanford University and the Hudson Institute, while also meeting members of the Indian diaspora and academics.

The Congress has repeatedly attacked the RSS over comments made during the visit. Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi recently mocked the organisation as the “Rashtriya Surrender Sangh”, alleging that RSS leader Ram Madhav had exposed what he described as the group’s “fake nationalism” during an event in the US.

Gandhi’s criticism followed remarks by Madhav suggesting that India had agreed to stop purchasing oil from Iran and Russia and had accepted higher tariffs imposed by the administration of US President Donald Trump.

Madhav later apologised for the comments, stating that his remarks were factually incorrect. He clarified that India had neither agreed to halt Russian oil imports nor accepted the tariff measures without protest, adding that New Delhi had strongly opposed the 50 per cent tariff imposed by Washington.

With PTI inputs

US senator Lindsey Graham publicly questioned Pakistan’s credibility as a mediator in the Iran conflict during a tense Senate hearing, after raising allegations that Iranian aircraft may have been parked at Pakistani military bases.

The sharp exchange unfolded during a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense hearing on US President Donald Trump’s proposed $1.5 trillion defence budget, where lawmakers repeatedly pressed Pentagon officials over the widening West Asia conflict and the continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Addressing chairman of the joint chiefs of staff General Dan Caine and US defence secretary Pete Hegseth, Graham referred to reports claiming Pakistan was allowing Iranian aircraft to use its military facilities.

“Are you aware of reports that Pakistan are allowing their bases to be used to park Iranian aircraft?” Graham asked General Caine.

Caine responded cautiously: “Sir, I’ve seen one report on that.”

When Graham pressed further on whether the reports were accurate, the general declined to elaborate, citing diplomatic sensitivities and classification concerns.

“I wouldn’t want to comment on that based on the ongoing negotiations and Pakistan’s role,” Caine said.

Graham then questioned whether such alleged actions were compatible with Islamabad’s efforts to position itself as a peace broker in the Iran crisis.

“Do you agree, if it is accurate, that is sort of inconsistent with being a peace mediator?” the senator asked.

Caine again avoided a direct answer.

Hegseth also sidestepped the allegation but acknowledged the delicacy of ongoing diplomatic efforts.

“Again, I wouldn’t want to get in the middle of these negotiations,” the defence secretary said.

Graham, however, escalated his criticism sharply.

“I don’t trust Pakistan as far as I can throw them,” he said. “If they actually do have Iranian aircraft parked in Pakistan bases to protect Iranian military assets, that tells me we should be looking maybe for somebody else to mediate.”

“No wonder this damn thing is going nowhere,” Graham added.

The Republican senator also linked Pakistan to wider geopolitical concerns involving China and Russia. During the hearing, Graham argued that Beijing was effectively helping sustain both Tehran and Moscow economically through its energy purchases.

“China buys a very large percentage of Iranian oil,” Hegseth acknowledged during the exchange.

Graham also claimed that tariff pressure from the Trump administration had pushed India to cut back purchases of Russian oil.

“I think it works,” Graham said while discussing proposed tariff measures targeting countries importing Russian energy exports.

Pakistan has in recent weeks projected itself as a possible intermediary between Iran and Western powers amid rising regional tensions following US military strikes on Iranian missile, drone and naval assets.

Tuesday’s hearing reflected growing unease within sections of the US Congress over Islamabad’s balancing act in the evolving West Asia crisis, particularly as Washington seeks broader international backing to stabilise maritime trade routes in the Gulf and intensify pressure on Tehran.

With IANS inputs

US President Donald Trump has said he believes the war in Ukraine is “very close” to ending, expressing optimism that Moscow and Kyiv could eventually reach a settlement after more than four years of conflict.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday before departing the White House for a visit to China, Trump said ongoing diplomatic efforts were moving in a positive direction, although he did not provide details of any breakthrough in negotiations.

“The end of the war in Ukraine, I really think it’s getting very close,” Trump said as he prepared to board Marine One. He added later: “We think we’re going to end up getting a settlement between Russia and Ukraine.”

The remarks echoed recent comments made by Russian President Vladimir Putin, who also suggested over the weekend that prospects for a resolution were improving.

Trump dismissed suggestions that any agreement had been reached with Moscow over control of the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine. Asked whether Russia should retain the entire territory, he replied: “No. No.”

The US president said he was willing to do “whatever’s necessary” to help bring the conflict to an end and indicated the war would likely feature prominently in discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping during his visit.

Trump also argued that a resolution to the conflict could have wider economic benefits, particularly for global energy markets. He claimed oil prices would fall once the war was over, linking geopolitical stability to easing inflationary pressures worldwide.

The war, which has devastated large parts of Ukraine and disrupted global food, energy and security systems, has prompted sustained international efforts to encourage negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv.

The conflict has also placed pressure on India, which has faced criticism from several Western nations over its continued imports of discounted Russian crude oil since the invasion began. At the same time, New Delhi has expanded defence and energy ties with the United States and European partners while maintaining its longstanding strategic relationship with Russia.

With IANS inputs

Prateek Yadav, the younger son of Samajwadi Party founder Mulayam Singh Yadav and stepbrother of Akhilesh Yadav, died in Lucknow on Wednesday after suddenly falling ill, sources said. He was 38.

According to sources, Prateek was rushed to a civil hospital in the early hours of the morning after his health deteriorated suddenly, but doctors declared him dead on arrival.

“I am at the hospital right now. This is not the time,” Aman Bisht, Prateek’s brother-in-law, told PTI over the phone.

Youths who accompanied Prateek to the hospital said he was brought there around 5.10 am and was officially declared dead around 6 am. A panel of doctors is expected to conduct an autopsy to ascertain the exact cause of death.

Despite belonging to one of Uttar Pradesh’s most influential political families, Prateek largely stayed away from active politics and maintained a low public profile. Known as a fitness enthusiast and animal lover, he was associated with several animal welfare initiatives and shelters.

His wife, Aparna Yadav, joined the BJP in 2022 and currently serves as vice-chairperson of the Uttar Pradesh State Women Commission.

The Samajwadi Party expressed grief over his death in a post on X, saying: “The demise of Shri Pratik Yadav Ji is extremely heartbreaking! May God grant peace to the departed soul. Humble tribute!”

Prateek was the son of Mulayam Singh Yadav and his second wife, Sadhna Gupta.

His death comes months after his turbulent personal life had spilled into the public domain. On 19 January, Prateek had posted a series of messages on Instagram accusing Aparna Yadav of damaging his family ties. In the posts, he described her as a “family destroyer” and alleged that she was “self-centred” and driven by “fame and influence”.

However, the couple appeared to reconcile days later. On 28 January, Prateek posted a video on Instagram announcing that the dispute had been resolved mutually after discussions.

“On 19 January, I had a serious dispute with my wife Aparna, following which I made two posts on social media. However, the matter has now been resolved mutually after discussions, and there is no longer any dispute between us,” he had said in the video.

In another post, he wrote: “Haters, go to hell,” while also sharing videos featuring Aparna.

With PTI inputs

Pointing out that he was expected to study the service records of 69 shortlisted officers for selection as the next director of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday evening refused to endorse the selection.

The two other members of the selection committee — Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Justice of India Surya Kant — were present and are believed to have approved one of the 69 officers. It is not known whether the CJI was provided with the service records and self-appraisal reports of the officers before the meeting.

The high-powered committee chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi met on Tuesday (12 May, 2026) late in the evening to decide on the appointment. The meeting took place at the Prime Minister’s 7, Lok Kalyan Marg residence and lasted over an hour. The tenure of the current CBI director, Praveen Sood, is set to end on 24 May, 2026.

The midnight drama in 2018, when the government had surreptitiously appointed CBI joint director Nageshwar Rao to replace then director Alok Verma, triggered demands for a more transparent process for appointing the head of the premier investigating agency. If Rahul Gandhi’s dissent note is any indication, there has been little improvement in the process since then. The inclusion of the Chief Justice of India and the Leader of the Opposition appears designed to make the selection look impartial. The LoP all but called the exercise a charade.

“Your government has repeatedly misused the CBI, intended to be India’s premier investigative agency, to target political opponents, journalists, and critics. It is to prevent such institutional capture that the Leader of Opposition is included in the Selection Committee. Regrettably, you have continued to deny me any meaningful role in the process,” read the dissent note submitted by the LOP.

“Despite repeated written requests, I was not provided with the self-appraisal reports or 360-degree reports of the eligible candidates. Instead, I was expected to examine the appraisal records of sixty-nine candidates for the first time during the Committee meeting. The 360-degree reports were denied to me outright. A detailed review of these records is crucial to assess each candidate’s history and performance. This deliberate denial of information, without any legal basis, makes a mockery of the selection process and ensures that only your pre-decided candidate is selected,” the LoP wrote.

The Opposition leader reminded PM Modi that he had recorded his dissent in the previous meeting on 5th May 2025 and also written to him on 21 October 2025, suggesting measures for a fair and transparent process. “I had also written to you on 21 October 2025, suggesting measures for a fair and transparent process, to which I have not even received a response,” his letter stated.

“By denying the selection committee crucial information, the government has reduced it to a mere formality. The leader of Opposition is not a rubber stamp. I cannot abdicate my constitutional duty by participating in this biased exercise. I therefore dissent in the strongest terms,” the letter, released on social media, concluded.

The selection is done from a panel of shortlisted officers. Sources indicated that several senior IPS officers from different states are part of the list of officers being considered for the top CBI post. Some of the names of IPS officers that are understood to be under consideration include Parag Jain, Shatrujeet Kapoor, Yogesh Gupta, G.P. Singh, and Praveer Ranjan.