This is Beirut

New Cryptocurrency May Be Aiding Russia to Dodge Sanctions

This is Beirut, 25/07 13:15 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Russia could be turning to a new cryptocurrency called A7A5 to allow money to flow in and out of the country and avoid Western sanctions, experts have told AFP. Multiple rounds of international sanctions have been imposed on Moscow since its February 2022 invasion of Ukraine seeking to ramp up economic pressure to halt the war. But the launch of ...

Gaza: UN, EU Denounce Killing Civilians seeking Food Aid

This is Beirut, 22/07 16:05 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

United Nations Palestine Hamas Israel EU Gaza

The United Nations and the European Union expressed outrage at the Israeli army’s daily targeting of civilians seeking food aid in Gaza, condemning the act as 'indefensible.' The UN on Tuesday said Israeli forces have killed over 1,000 Palestinians trying to get food aid in Gaza since the US- and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation ...

Libya Commander Haftar Seeks to Force International Engagement

This is Beirut, 21/07 09:10 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Europe Libya Khalifa Haftar EU

Libya's eastern authorities recently expelled a senior European delegation in a move analysts say was meant to send a message: the unrecognized administration backed by military leader Khalifa Haftar cannot be ignored. On July 8, an EU commissioner and ministers from Greece, Italy and Malta were in Libya to discuss irregular migration from the ...

European Union Reaffirms Strong Support for Lebanon and Encourages Key Reforms

This is Beirut, 17/07 15:35 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Lebanon EU Aid Reforms UNIFIL Security

The European Union and Member State Ambassadors met with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri on Thursday to confirm their strong support for Lebanon, especially in areas affected by conflict. According to a press release published by the Delegation of the European Union to Lebanon, the EU and its Member States have so far provided more than 600 ...

President Aoun Urges EU Support for Sovereignty, Army, Economy

This is Beirut, 10/07 19:20 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Lebanon Aoun EU Army Refugees Sovereignty

President Joseph Aoun met with a European Union delegation and ambassadors on Thursday, urging them to help Lebanon reclaim its full territory and restore state sovereignty. He warned that without a strong Lebanese Army, “security could crumble across the region,” a scenario “no one desires.” He also called on Brussels to lift all ...

Iran FM warns European Powers against 'Strategic Mistake' at Nuclear Watchdog

This is Beirut, 06/06 13:25 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Iran Nuclear EU

Iran warned European powers on Friday against backing a draft resolution at the International Atomic Energy Agency next week accusing Tehran of non-compliance, calling it a "strategic mistake". "Instead of engaging in good faith, the E3 is opting for malign action against Iran at the IAEA Board of Governors," Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said ...

EU to Lift All Economic Sanctions on Syria

This is Beirut, 20/05 19:59 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

syria EU conflict sanction

EU countries agreed Tuesday to lift all their remaining economic sanctions on Syria in a bid to help the war-torn country recover after the ouster of Bashar al-Assad. "Today, we took the decision to lift our economic sanctions on Syria," the EU's top diplomat Kaja Kallas posted on X after a meeting of the bloc's foreign ...

Lebanon Launches Water Sector Reforms with Support from International Partners

This is Beirut, 09/05 18:55 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Lebanon Germany European Union EU

The Minister of Energy and Water, Joe Saddi, held a working meeting with key international donors and organizations to launch a strategic dialogue on the future of the country’s water sector. The minister announced that the national water sector strategy will be revised. “Valid elements will be retained, gaps will be addressed, and necessary ...

Syrians' Asylum Requests in Europe Drop to Decade Low

This is Beirut, 05/05 13:15 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

EU Syria Migration

Asylum applications filed by Syrians in the European Union dropped to their lowest in over a decade in February following the ouster of Bashar al-Assad, the EU's asylum agency said Wednesday. Data from the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA) showed Syrians lodged 5,000 requests in the 27-nation bloc plus Switzerland and Norway in February, ...

Trump and Italy's Meloni Talk up EU Tariff Deal Hopes

This is Beirut, 18/04 09:50 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

us eu Trump Meloni

Donald Trump and Giorgia Meloni hit an optimistic note about a possible US-EU tariffs deal Thursday as the far-right Italian prime minister mounted a charm offensive at the White House. Casting herself as the only European who can de-escalate Trump's trade war, Meloni highlighted their conservative common ground and said she wanted to "make the ...

Facing US Competition, EU Proposes Easing AI, Data Regulations

This is Beirut, 09/04 17:55 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

EU USA China AI

The EU said Wednesday it is considering streamlining artificial intelligence and data rules as part of a broader push to help European businesses keep up with US and Chinese rivals. The European Union long heralded its legal arsenal on tech as an example for the world, but the tone has shifted since the return of US President Donald Trump. Just ...

Macron Announces EU Plans for 'Reciprocal' Tariffs on US Steel and Aluminium

This is Beirut, 28/02 17:35 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

France Emmanuel Macron United States Tariffs EU

The EU will impose "reciprocal" tariffs on US steel and aluminum if President Donald Trump moves ahead with threatened 25 percent duties on European imports, French President Emmanuel Macron said Friday. If the tariffs are confirmed, "Europeans will respond and therefore there will be reciprocal tariffs. Because we must ...

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