Today's Headlines: Trump and Xi Play Up Stability Without Resolving Major Tensions
Supreme Court Allows Abortion Pill Access by Mail to Continue
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The New York Times
Today's Headlines
May 15, 2026, 4:30 a.m. Eastern time

Top News

Live Updates: Trump and Xi Play Up Stability Without Resolving Major Tensions

As President Trump left Beijing, there was no indication that he and Xi Jinping had resolved any major points of contention on trade, the war in Iran or other issues during their talks.

Supreme Court Allows Abortion Pill Access by Mail to Continue

A federal appeals court ruling against the Food and Drug Administration would have restricted access by mail to mifepristone.

House Again Blocks War Powers Vote to Halt Iran Conflict

But two vulnerable Republicans joined Democrats in the effort to force President Trump to win authorization from Congress, in the latest sign of G.O.P. jitters over the war.

World

Trump Was Flattering, Xi Was Resolute. The Difference Spoke Volumes.

In contrast to his rhetoric about China at home, President Trump spoke in conciliatory terms with Xi Jinping, the Chinese leader.

Inside the Secret Mission to Fly Taiwan’s President to Africa

From satellite phone check-ins to a borrowed royal plane, new details show how Taiwan’s leader’s team outwitted China and pulled off an audacious journey to southern Africa.

In Britain, a Contest to Unseat Starmer Looks Increasingly Likely

Prime Minister Keir Starmer now appears set to face at least two possible challengers: his health minister, who resigned Thursday, and the popular mayor of Manchester.

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U.S.

Green Card Holders Targeted for Deportation by New ‘Removal Apparatus’

The Department of Homeland Security recently formed a unit tasked with revetting thousands of immigrants with permanent residency.

Will Her Daughter Be Safe at Pali High After the Wildfire?

It’s a nightmare faced by families all around Los Angeles: After wildfire smoke blanketed homes, schools and offices with toxic chemicals, when is it OK to go back?

Backyard Battalions

Where do battle tanks and military trucks go when their service has ended? Enthusiasts and professionals put them to work for search and rescue, marketing and just having fun.

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Politics

A Top U.S. Commander Dismisses Reports of Civilian Deaths in Iran

Adm. Brad Cooper said a strike on an Iranian school may have been the only civilian casualty incident of the war.

C.I.A. Director Visits Cuba as Tensions Rise and Island Runs Out of Oil

John Ratcliffe, the C.I.A. director, is the highest-ranking official in the Trump administration to visit the country.

Trump-Ordered Citizenship Lists for Voting Are Likely Unreliable, Justice Dept. Says

At a court hearing over a presidential order seeking to exert more control over elections, a government lawyer said no “responsible state” should rely on the lists to update their voter rolls.

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Business

Consumers Spent More in April Despite High Gas Prices

Retail sales rose 0.5 percent despite higher prices for gas, food and other goods. But there are signs consumers are under some strain.

In Qatar, Energy Sector Damage Is Severe, and the Way Back Will Be Long

Iranian strikes and a blockade have paralyzed Qatar’s gas engine, creating a technical bottleneck likely to stall exports for years.

The C.E.O.s for Spencer Pratt

The former reality-TV star has shaken up the Los Angeles mayoral race, gaining support from deep-pocketed donors like the financier Daniel S. Loeb.

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Technology

A Stolen Charity or Sour Grapes? Musk’s OpenAI Suit Is in Jury’s Hands.

Lawyers for Elon Musk and OpenAI made their closing arguments in the blockbuster federal trial on Thursday. Nine jurors are set to begin deliberations next week.

Graduates Boo Commencement Speech About A.I.

Humanities students made their displeasure known at the University of Central Florida.

Why A.I. Safety Controls Are Not Very Effective

Three years after the debut of ChatGPT, fooling A.I. systems into bad behavior is almost trivial.

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New York

The Mystery of a Congressman’s Absence Deepens

Representative Thomas Kean Jr. last voted in Washington on March 5, citing a medical issue. An appearance planned for late May has been canceled.

Inside Jack Schlossberg’s Chaotic Campaign to Revive Camelot

Erratic behavior and staff turnover have colored Mr. Schlossberg’s bid for a House seat in New York, raising questions about his readiness for office.

A Top Connecticut Republican, Accused of Fraud, Ends Her Bid for Governor

Erin Stewart was facing intense scrutiny over her use of a city credit card when she was mayor of New Britain, Conn.

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Arts

Rose Byrne and Kelli O’Hara in ‘Fallen Angels,’ and More Theater to Stream

The actresses both scored Tony nominations for their hilarious turns in Noël Coward’s 1925 farce. Also catch Ben Platt and Rachel Zegler in “The Last Five Years.”

Six Unforgettable Artists at the Biggest Independent Fair

A dependably stylish fair expands and reappears on the far side of Chinatown.