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Report: China Blocks Use of Intel and AMD Chips in Government Computers

A man walks past the Phoenix Center after its lights are turned off for the Earth Hour environmental campaign in Beijing on March 23, 2024. (Photo by Jade GAO / AFP)
A man walks past the Phoenix Center after its lights are turned off for the Earth Hour environmental campaign in Beijing on March 23, 2024. (Photo by Jade GAO / AFP)
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Report: China Blocks Use of Intel and AMD Chips in Government Computers

A man walks past the Phoenix Center after its lights are turned off for the Earth Hour environmental campaign in Beijing on March 23, 2024. (Photo by Jade GAO / AFP)
A man walks past the Phoenix Center after its lights are turned off for the Earth Hour environmental campaign in Beijing on March 23, 2024. (Photo by Jade GAO / AFP)

China has introduced guidelines to phase out US microprocessors from Intel and AMD from government personal computers and servers, the Financial Times reported on Sunday.
The procurement guidance also seeks to sideline Microsoft's Windows operating system and foreign-made database software in favor of domestic options, the report said.
According to the FT report, Chinese officials have begun following the guidelines, which were unveiled in December.
They order government agencies above the township level to include criteria requiring "safe and reliable" processors and operating systems when making purchases, the newspaper said.
Intel and AMD did not immediately respond to Reuters request for comment.
The US has been aiming to boost domestic semiconductor output and reduce reliance on China and Taiwan with the Biden administration's 2022 CHIPS and Science Act.
It is designed to bolster US semiconductors and contains financial aid for domestic production with subsidies for production of advanced chips.

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Kuwait's KPC Asks Some Oil Pipeline Bidders to Form Consortiums

This photograph shows a view of one of Kuwait's first Q8 fuel station ahead of its official inauguration in Kuwait City on July 2, 2026. (Photo by YASSER AL-ZAYYAT / AFP)
This photograph shows a view of one of Kuwait's first Q8 fuel station ahead of its official inauguration in Kuwait City on July 2, 2026. (Photo by YASSER AL-ZAYYAT / AFP)
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Kuwait's KPC Asks Some Oil Pipeline Bidders to Form Consortiums

This photograph shows a view of one of Kuwait's first Q8 fuel station ahead of its official inauguration in Kuwait City on July 2, 2026. (Photo by YASSER AL-ZAYYAT / AFP)
This photograph shows a view of one of Kuwait's first Q8 fuel station ahead of its official inauguration in Kuwait City on July 2, 2026. (Photo by YASSER AL-ZAYYAT / AFP)

Kuwait Petroleum Corporation is asking some global funds bidding for a $7 billion stake in its oil pipeline network to recruit other investors to help consolidate bids, three sources familiar with the matter told Reuters.

This will also ensure smaller investors that have relationships with KPC can get involved, said the sources, who did not want to be identified publicly as they were not authorized to speak to the media.

The deal is part of a broader push by Gulf state oil companies and sovereign ⁠investors to raise ⁠funds from infrastructure assets and attract foreign capital, as they look to diversify away from oil and fund domestic investment plans.

Here are some key details:

Blackstone has emerged as a bidder in the KPC deal.

It is the first time it has taken part in a wave of ⁠Gulf national oil company infrastructure deals that have attracted rivals like BlackRock and its Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), as well as KKR and others.

Saudi Aramco, Abu Dhabi's ADNOC and other regional energy companies have pursued similar asset strategies in recent years.

Aramco signed an $11 billion lease and leaseback deal for its Jafurah gas processing facilities with a consortium of funds managed by GIP in a deal that closed in October.

BlackRock's GIP, Brookfield, EIG Global Energy Partners, KKR and Apollo have also ⁠advanced to ⁠the next stage of the sales process, the sources said.

KPC, EIG, KKR, Apollo, Blackstone, Brookfield and BlackRock declined to comment.

The pipeline sale has lost bidders since the process began, with Macquarie dropping out of the race, while a financing package of around $6 billion is taking shape to support the eventual winner, Reuters has previously reported.

KPC launched the transaction in the early stages of the US-Israeli war on Iran, underscoring Kuwait's intent to press ahead with its fundraising plans despite the geopolitical backdrop.

Business

EU Tells Armenia 'You Can Count on Us' as Russia Keeps Up Economic Pressure

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen hold a joint press conference following their talks in Yerevan on July 2, 2026. (Photo by Karen MINASYAN / AFP)
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen hold a joint press conference following their talks in Yerevan on July 2, 2026. (Photo by Karen MINASYAN / AFP)
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EU Tells Armenia 'You Can Count on Us' as Russia Keeps Up Economic Pressure

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen hold a joint press conference following their talks in Yerevan on July 2, 2026. (Photo by Karen MINASYAN / AFP)
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen hold a joint press conference following their talks in Yerevan on July 2, 2026. (Photo by Karen MINASYAN / AFP)

The European Union pledged an additional €18 million in economic support for Armenia on Thursday and liberalized some export rules for its goods as Brussels seeks to shore up support for the South Caucasus country amid Russian trade pressure.

Moscow imposed wide-ranging trade restrictions on Armenia in the lead-up to a parliamentary election in June, which saw the incumbent Civil Contract party clinch 49.8% of the votes.

Russia accused the West of interfering in the vote, and joined Armenia's opposition in alleging election violations.

The restrictions from Moscow — imposed as ⁠Armenia has sought closer ⁠ties to the West and membership of the EU — have hit many key Armenian exports, including fresh produce, flowers, fish and alcoholic products.

Armenia is a member of a Russian-led economic union, and Moscow accounted for about 35% of Armenia's foreign trade last year, compared with 11% ⁠for the EU, according to government statistics.

On a visit to the Armenian capital Yerevan on Thursday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan that Brussels would boost its support and help bring Armenian goods to European markets faster.

"I know Armenia is still facing significant economic pressure from Russia," Reuters quoted von der Leyen as saying. "But rest assured: when pressure mounts on our partners, the EU steps up... You can count on us."

Von der ⁠Leyen said ⁠the EU would remove tariffs from nearly 80% of Armenian exports heading to the EU, streamlining access to the bloc's roughly 450 million consumers.

The €18 million disbursement announced on Thursday is part of a broader €52 million package the EU drew up for Armenia in early June.

On a visit to Azerbaijan on Wednesday, von der Leyen said Brussels had pledged €200 million in grant funding to boost transport, energy and digital links across the South Caucasus that is designed to support peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia after nearly 40 years of war.

Business

EFTA Successfully Concludes Free Trade Deal Talks with Vietnam

This photo taken on June 27, 2026, shows a young girl riding an electric motorbike with a child passing by a mural depicting a teacher welcoming children to school in Hanoi.(Photo by Nhac NGUYEN / AFP)
This photo taken on June 27, 2026, shows a young girl riding an electric motorbike with a child passing by a mural depicting a teacher welcoming children to school in Hanoi.(Photo by Nhac NGUYEN / AFP)
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EFTA Successfully Concludes Free Trade Deal Talks with Vietnam

This photo taken on June 27, 2026, shows a young girl riding an electric motorbike with a child passing by a mural depicting a teacher welcoming children to school in Hanoi.(Photo by Nhac NGUYEN / AFP)
This photo taken on June 27, 2026, shows a young girl riding an electric motorbike with a child passing by a mural depicting a teacher welcoming children to school in Hanoi.(Photo by Nhac NGUYEN / AFP)

The European Free Trade Association said on Thursday it has successfully concluded negotiations with Vietnam on a free trade agreement, as its members seek to diversify commercial relations amid global tensions over tariffs.

EFTA, whose members are Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, said the accord also covers areas ranging from rules of origin, investment, intellectual ⁠property rights and competition, ⁠to trade remedies and government procurement.

Switzerland, the largest economy in EFTA, was last August saddled with the highest US tariffs in Europe after President Donald Trump rolled out a raft ⁠of import duties worldwide.

Negotiations between EFTA on the free trade deal were launched in 2012 but after 16 rounds got stuck in 2018 due to lack of progress. In September 2025, the talks were relaunched, successfully concluding after five more rounds.

EFTA noted that trade between the bloc and Vietnam has grown steadily over the ⁠past ⁠decade, Reuters reported. By 2025, bilateral trade between them was worth €4.8 billion ($5.5 billion).

The figures exclude Swiss trade in gold, and show a trade surplus in favor of Vietnam worth €2.5 billion.

The news was announced as Swiss President Guy Parmelin visits North America on a trip in which he aims to make progress on updating Switzerland's free trade deal with Mexico.