This is Beirut

Trump Says Deal with Xi 'Extremely Hard' as Steel Tariffs Double

This is Beirut, 04/06 22:30 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Donald Trump United States China Tarrifs Xi Jinping

US President Donald Trump said Wednesday it is "extremely hard" to reach a deal with China over a trade impasse that has roiled global markets, while his doubling of metal tariffs fueled tensions with key partners. Trump's latest salvos came as ministers from Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries ...

Integration of 3,500 Uyghur Jihadists into Syrian Army Raises Questions

Natasha Metni Torbey, 03/06 14:40 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Syria US Uyghurs China Jihadists Syrian army

A major strategic shift is underway in Ahmad al-Chareh’s Syria. In a controversial move, the United States has approved the integration of approximately 3,500 former foreign jihadist fighters – mostly Uyghurs – into the 84th Division of the Syrian Army. While the decision is reportedly conditional on full transparency during the integration ...

Trump and Xi ‘Likely’ to Speak This Week

This is Beirut, 02/06 21:05 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Donald Trump United States Xi Jinping China

US President Donald Trump and China's President Xi Jinping will likely hold a long-awaited call later this week, the White House said Monday, as trade tensions between the world's two biggest economies ratchet back up. Trump reignited strains with China last week when he accused the world's second-biggest economy of violating a deal that had led ...

Pentagon Chief Warns China is 'Preparing' to Use Military Force in Asia

This is Beirut, 31/05 16:35 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

China United States Pete Hegseth Taiwan

US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth on Saturday warned that China was "credibly preparing" to use military force to upend the balance of power in Asia -- remarks that earned a sharp rebuke from Beijing. The Pentagon chief was speaking at an annual security forum in Singapore, as the administration of US President Donald Trump spars ...

Pentagon Chief Warns China 'Preparing' to Use Military Force in Asia

This is Beirut, 31/05 11:10 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

USA China Europe

US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth warned Saturday that China was "credibly preparing" to use military force to upend the balance of power in Asia, vowing the United States was "here to stay" in the Indo-Pacific region. The Pentagon chief made the remarks at an annual security forum in Singapore as the administration of US ...

Trump Signals Fresh Trade Tensions With China

This is Beirut, 30/05 18:05 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Donald Trump United States China Tariffs

US President Donald Trump signaled renewed trade tensions with China on Friday, arguing that Beijing had "violated" a deal to de-escalate tariffs, at a time when both sides appeared deadlocked in negotiations. Trump's post on his Truth Social platform came hours after US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that trade talks with ...

Iraq Signs Mega-Energy Deal with Chinese Oil Firm

This is Beirut, 21/05 19:05 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Iraq China Energy Oil and Gas

Iraq signed a major energy deal Wednesday with a Chinese petroleum company in the southern province of Basra, aiming to boost oil production and build a refinery and electricity plants. China has gained a major foothold in oil-rich Iraq in recent years, becoming a major player across various sectors and now one of the largest importers of Iraqi ...

China Slams US 'Bullying' Over new Warnings on Huawei Chips

This is Beirut, 21/05 09:10 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

USA Donald Trump Huawei China Semiconductor

Beijing condemned on Wednesday new US warnings on the use of AI chips by Chinese tech giant Huawei, vowing it would take steps against "bullying" efforts to restrict access to high-tech semiconductors and supply chains. Washington has sought in recent years to curb exports of state-of-the-art chips to China, concerned that they could be used to ...

China Says Backs Direct Talks Between Russia, Ukraine on Ending War

This is Beirut, 20/05 10:40 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Ukraine russia China Diplomacy

China said on Tuesday it backed direct dialogue between Russia and Ukraine, after US President Donald Trump announced the two would "immediately" start peace talks after he spoke with Vladimir Putin. "China supports all efforts aimed at achieving peace," foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said. Trump framed his two-hour conversation on Monday ...

When AI Learns Without Us: Absolute Zero Reasoner, the Machine That Thinks on Its Own

By Moncef Ait-Kaci, 17/05 18:55 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

AI Artificial Intelligence Absolute Zero Reasoner China

What if an artificial intelligence no longer needed us to learn? No more relying on our data, our corrections, our examples? That’s the bold challenge taken on by a group of Chinese researchers with the development of Absolute Zero Reasoner (AZR). This system does not rely on any human database. It learns in complete autonomy, generating its ...

US Sanctions Chinese and Hong Kong Firms for Aiding Iran's Missile Program

This is Beirut, 14/05 23:26 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

United States Iran China Sanctions

The United States on Wednesday unveiled fresh sanctions against six people and 12 firms -- including several based in China and Hong Kong -- for their support of Iran's ballistic missile program. The action follows sanctions on a series of entities and individuals linked to Iran's oil industry and nuclear program the Trump ...

US, China to Publish Details of 'Substantial' Trade Talks in Geneva

This is Beirut, 12/05 09:20 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

USA Donald Trump US Treasury China

The US and China will Monday give details of "substantial progress" touted by Washington on trade talks aimed at ending a devastating tariff war launched by US President Donald Trump that has wiped billions off equities and brought chaos to international commerce. US Treasury Scott Bessent and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer met with Chinese ...

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