USA

DeepSeek: Chinese AI Firm Sending shock Waves Through US Tech

Chinese firm DeepSeek's artificial intelligence chatbot has soared to the top of the Apple Store's download charts, stunning industry insiders and analysts with its ability to match its US competitors. The program has shaken up the tech industry and hit US titans including Nvidia, the AI chip juggernaut that saw  nearly $600 billion of its ...

Trump Orders Planning for 'Iron Dome' Missile Shield for US

President Donald Trump on Monday signed an executive order to start planning for an "Iron Dome" air defense system for the United States, like the one that Israel has used to intercept thousands of rockets. Trump ordered the defense secretary to submit within 60 days an implementation plan for the "next-generation missile defense shield" designed ...

Pentagon: The U.S. Military Will Maintain Its Support for "Mass Expulsions"

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Monday the military will keep assisting President Donald Trump's "mass" migrant deportations, as he arrived for his first formal day of work at the Pentagon. Hegseth -- confirmed by Republicans despite concerns over his inexperience, and alleged record of heavy drinking and domestic violence -- is one of ...

Kremlin Awaiting 'Signals' from US on Possible Putin-Trump Meeting

The Kremlin said Monday it was still waiting for "signals" from the United States about a possible meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and newly-inaugurated US counterpart Donald Trump. The leaders of both countries said last week they were ready for contact but neither side has indicated when or how. "So far, we have not received ...

Colombia Caves on Deportations after Trump Threats

Colombia on Sunday backed down and agreed to accept deported citizens sent on US military aircraft, hours after President Donald Trump threatened painful tariffs to punish the defiance to his mass deportation plans. Colombia's leftist president, Gustavo Petro, had earlier said he would only take back citizens "with dignity," such as on civilian ...

Kristi Noem Confirmed as Trump's Homeland Security Secretary

The US Senate on Saturday confirmed South Dakota governor Kristi Noem to lead the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), a key agency in President Donald Trump's push to clamp down on illegal immigration. The vote came a day after US lawmakers narrowly confirmed former Fox News co-host Pete Hegseth to be Pentagon chief, adding to previous ...

Trump Threatens Aid Cutoff on US Disaster Zone Visits

US President Donald Trump visited disaster zones in North Carolina and California on Friday, using the first trip since his return to office to turn emergency aid into a political cudgel. Trump said he would sign an order that could scrap the federal disaster agency, stepping up his effort to exert presidential power over the levers of government ...

The Turkish Wolf Expands Its Regional Dominance

Power, capability and determination. These are the words that Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan used on Friday, January 10, as he once again warned the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF)—a Kurdish-led coalition supported by the West—of military action if they did not hand over their weapons to the new regime in Damascus. Only a month earlier, ...

US Senate Confirms Pete Hegseth as Pentagon Chief

The US Senate narrowly confirmed former Fox News co-host Pete Hegseth as Pentagon chief on Friday, despite allegations of alcohol abuse, sexual misconduct and other fears about his ability to lead the world's most powerful military. Three Republican senators voted against Donald Trump's pick as secretary of defense, resulting in a 50-50 tie that ...

Egypt And Israel Exempt From a Near-Total Freeze On US Foreign Aid

The United States has frozen its foreign aid, with the exception of that provided to Egypt and Israel, as well as emergency food aid, while it carries out a complete review to see whether it is in line with the policy that Donald Trump intends to pursue. ‘No new funds will be committed (...) until every proposed new allocation or extension has ...

IMF chief tells Europe to take page out of US book

With the European economy lagging behind the United States, the head of the International Monetary Fund had a piece advice for the continent on Friday: "Believe in yourself." There was much handwringing about Europe losing its competitive edge at the World Economic Forum in Davos this week, with the European Union racing to act to catch up with ...

Trump: POTUS Again

Join us on @thisisbeirutnews on Monday, January 20th, at 7:00 PM for a special coverage of @realdonaldtrump ’s second presidential inauguration! @suzyhaidamous  @achmouny