Trump-Xi summit triggers Taiwan, trade debate: Report

IANS | May 15, 2026 9:44 AM

Washington, May 15 (IANS) Chinese President Xi Jinping has warned US President Donald Trump that mishandling Taiwan could lead to “clashes and even conflicts” as the two leaders opened high-stakes talks in Beijing aimed at stabilising relations between the world’s two largest economies amid tensions over trade, technology and Iran, according to multiple media reports.

New Republican bill tightens H-1B, asylum rules

IANS | May 15, 2026 9:19 AM

Washington, May 15 (IANS) Indian professionals, students, and family-based immigrants could face sweeping new restrictions under a hardline immigration proposal introduced by influential Republican lawmaker Tommy Tuberville, including tougher H-1B rules, limits on work authorization for foreign students, and higher English requirements for citizenship.

AI arms race drives Pentagon overhaul

IANS | May 15, 2026 8:23 AM

Washington, May 15 (IANS) The Pentagon is aggressively restructuring its science and technology apparatus around artificial intelligence, autonomous systems and low-cost weapons as senior US defence officials warned lawmakers that future battlefields will be defined by speed, data dominance and mass deployment of affordable combat systems.

China’s Russia ties reshaping Baltic strategy, US lawmakers warn

IANS | May 15, 2026 7:55 AM

Washington, May 15 (IANS) Senior US lawmakers and State Department officials warned that China’s growing support for Russia’s war machine is rapidly reshaping how the Baltic states view Beijing, with Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia increasingly treating economic relations with China as a national security issue linked directly to the war in Ukraine.

US military defends Iran strikes

IANS | May 15, 2026 7:51 AM

Washington, May 15 (IANS) The Trump administration’s Iran campaign came under intense scrutiny at a Senate hearing, with US military commanders claiming Tehran’s military capabilities had been severely degraded even as lawmakers warned of rising economic and regional risks.

California Governor appoints Indian American to Structural Pest Control Board

IANS | May 15, 2026 7:28 AM

Washington, May 15 (IANS) California Governor Gavin Newsom announced a series of appointments across state agencies, including the appointment of Indian American business executive Yogesh “Yogi” Chugh to the Structural Pest Control Board, according to an official statement released by the Governor’s office.