The Beiruter

Critical-mineral reserves promise protection against supply shocks, but choosing which materials to hold, in what form and in what quantities is far more complicated than stockpiling oil.

China is moving computing west, turning energy-rich Inner Mongolia into a hub for the data centers, electricity, and fiber networks behind its AI ambitions.

In the first installment of a two-part investigation, The Beiruter traces how a $63.5 million conservatory under construction in Dbayeh represents only the most visible dimension of China’s expanding influence across Lebanon’s cultural and educational institutions.

A China-linked influence campaign targeting U.S. AI data centers highlights how data centers, electricity networks and cloud infrastructure are becoming strategic assets in the global competition for artificial intelligence.