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Hungary Looking at Ways Around US Sanctions on Russian Oil: Orban

This is Beirut, 24/10 17:40 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

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Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said Friday that his government was working on "ways to circumvent" US sanctions against Russian energy companies. The United States on Wednesday hit Russia's two biggest oil producers -- Rosneft and Lukoil -- with sanctions, the first against Russia since US President Donald Trump returned to ...

EU Takes Small Step Towards Using Russian Assets for Ukraine

This is Beirut, 24/10 09:20 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

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EU leaders Thursday tasked the European Commission to move ahead with options for funding Ukraine for two more years, leaving the door open for a mammoth loan using frozen Russian assets. In broadly-worded conclusions adopted after marathon talks in Brussels, EU leaders stopped short of greenlighting plans for the 140-billion-euro ($162-billion) ...

Trump Slaps ‘Tremendous’ Sanctions on Russian Oil for Ukraine War

This is Beirut, 22/10 23:20 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

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US President Donald Trump slapped sanctions on Russia's two largest oil companies on Wednesday, complaining that his talks with Vladimir Putin to end the Ukraine war "don't go anywhere." The European Union also unveiled a fresh wave of sanctions to pressure Russia to end its relentless, three-and-a-half-year invasion of its ...

From Protection to Precaution: Reassessing Pandemic-Era Chemicals

Michael al-Andary, 22/10 10:55 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

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Some of the chemicals widely used for protection during the 2020 – 2021 coronavirus pandemic are now raising concerns among scientists, with new research suggesting they may have posed unexpected health risks. According to a recent report published by the Financial Times on Tuesday, the European Union (EU) is considering classifying ...

Why Did Trump Pick Hungary for His Next Summit with Putin?

Mario Chartouni, 22/10 09:00 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

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In a move that surprised European capitals and drew sharp criticism from Kyiv, Donald Trump confirmed that his next summit with Vladimir Putin will be held in Budapest, hosted by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. Far from being a neutral choice, this decision reflects a political alignment among three nationalist leaders and highlights ...

France's Former President Sarkozy Jailed, Proclaiming his Innocence

This is Beirut, 21/10 12:45 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

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France's former president Nicolas Sarkozy became the first former head of an EU state to be jailed Tuesday, proclaiming his innocence as he entered a Paris prison. France's right-wing leader from 2007 to 2012 was found guilty last month of seeking to acquire funding from Moammar Kadhafi's Libya for the campaign that saw him elected. AFP ...

EU Takes Aim at Plastic Pellets to Prevent their Nightmare Cleanup

This is Beirut, 21/10 10:00 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

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At first glance, the tiny plastic pellets appear relatively harmless. No bigger than a lentil, these "nurdles" are destined to be melted down to make everything from car bumpers to salad bowls. But when tens of millions of them spill from trucks or cargo ships they are devilish to clean up, blighting landscapes and washing up around the world for ...

EU States Agree to End Russian Gas Imports by End 2027

This is Beirut, 20/10 13:24 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

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EU countries on Monday agreed to phase out their remaining gas imports from Russia by the end of 2027, breaking a dependency the bloc has struggled to end despite Moscow's war on Ukraine. Energy ministers meeting in Luxembourg approved a plan by the European Commission to phase out both pipeline gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports ...

EU Eyes Helping Disarm Hamas Under Trump Plan

This is Beirut, 17/10 19:35 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

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The EU is looking at providing funding and expertise to help disarm Hamas under US President Donald Trump's peace plan for Gaza, a document seen by AFP Friday said. The 27-nation bloc is discussing what role it can play after Europe was left on the sidelines as Trump sealed a ceasefire deal between Hamas and Israel. The agreement has so far seen ...

French PM Survives Two Confidence Votes Days After Reappointment

This is Beirut, 16/10 16:30 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Emmanuel Macron European Union

French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu survived two confidence motions Thursday, just days after appointing his new government and making a key political concession to stay in power. The votes followed Lecornu's decision Tuesday to back suspending a divisive 2023 pension reform, in a bid to keep his cabinet afloat long enough to pass a ...

Between Moscow and Washington, India Charts Its Energy Course

Mario Chartouni, 16/10 16:20 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

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US President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had committed to “cease purchasing Russian oil” within a “short timeframe,” while imposing 50% tariffs on Indian exports to the United States, with additional penalties for transactions involving Moscow. However, New Delhi stressed that its “top ...

EU Says Drone Defenses Not 'Optional' in Push to Face Russia

This is Beirut, 16/10 16:20 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

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The EU had no choice but to build up anti-drone defenses against Russia, the bloc's foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said Thursday, as Brussels unveiled a "roadmap" to prepare for potential conflict by 2030. The initiative is one of several flagship projects in the EU's "readiness roadmap" aimed at preparing the bloc for a possible attack from ...

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