Trump invokes Cold War ‘miracle on ice’ while weighing Ukraine war

IANS | December 13, 2025 7:58 AM

Washington, Dec 13 (IANS) US President Donald Trump on Friday drew explicit parallels between a Cold War-era sporting triumph and present-day global conflict, invoking the 1980 “Miracle on Ice” victory over the Soviet Union as he spoke about ongoing efforts to end the Russia–Ukraine war.

Trump tariffs narrow US trade deficit to five-year low: White House

Lalit K Jha | December 13, 2025 7:36 AM

Washington, Dec 13 (IANS) The US trade deficit narrowed to its smallest level since mid-2020, shrinking by more than 35 per cent from a year earlier, according to a White House press release that credited President Donald Trump’s tariff-driven trade strategy with delivering measurable gains for the American economy.

US Senate passes bipartisan SCAM Act to target foreign fraud networks

IANS | December 13, 2025 7:00 AM

Washington, Dec 13 (IANS) The US Senate has passed a bipartisan bill aimed at dismantling foreign scam operations that target Americans, particularly senior citizens, as lawmakers warned of an escalating threat from cyber-enabled fraud tied to transnational criminal networks.

USCIS tightens photo rules for immigration documents

IANS | December 13, 2025 6:53 AM

Washington, Dec 13 (IANS) As part of its effort to strengthen national security and curb identity fraud, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) on Friday issued new policy guidance sharply limiting how old a photograph can be when used to produce immigration documents.

US senators seek to overturn Trump rule hitting Indian H-1B spouses

IANS | December 13, 2025 6:47 AM

Washington, Dec 13 (IANS) A group of influential US senators have introduved a legislation in the Senate to overturn a Trump administration rule that ends automatic renewals of work permits for certain noncitizens, a policy change that could sharply affect Indian nationals, particularly spouses of H-1B visa holders who form a significant share of the impacted workforce.

Ukraine war redraws defence supply chains, brings India into strategic discussion

IANS | December 13, 2025 6:42 AM

Washington, Dec 13 (IANS) European allies are moving beyond emergency military aid to Ukraine toward long-term defence industrial partnerships as Russia’s war grinds on, a shift that is also prompting efforts to diversify global supply chains away from China, with India cited as part of that discussion, officials and experts said here.

20 US states sue Trump over $100,000 H-1B visa fee

IANS | December 13, 2025 6:37 AM

Washington, Dec 13 (IANS) Twenty US states filed a lawsuit challenging the Trump Administration’s decision to impose a $100,000 fee on new H-1B visa petitions, arguing the policy is unlawful and threatens essential public services.