European Union

EU Weighs Tariffs on Russian Oil Imports

The European Commission said Wednesday that it was working on potentially imposing tariffs on imports of Russian oil into the bloc, in the face of pressure from US President Donald Trump. Trump has demanded that Europe end energy imports from Moscow before agreeing to move ahead with punishing sanctions against Moscow over the war in ...

EU Urges Full Respect of Lebanon-Israel Ceasefire

The European Union (EU) on Tuesday called for “full respect and implementation” of the November ceasefire agreement between Lebanon and Israel, following deadly violence in southern Lebanon. An EU spokesperson condemned Sunday’s Israeli raid in the town of Kfar Tibnit, where civilians, including three children, lost their ...

Iranian, European Ministers to Hold Nuclear Talks Tuesday

Iranian and European ministers will hold nuclear talks in New York on Tuesday, a French diplomatic source said, after the UN Security Council voted to reimpose sanctions over Tehran's atomic program. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has until the end of Saturday to reach a deal with his British, French, German and EU counterparts to avoid ...

Public Sector Shake-Up: 10,000 Jobs Under Review

A total of 2,600 job titles are set to be eliminated from the public administration, as proposed by Nisrine Machmouchi, President of the Civil Service Council. These roles, considered obsolete, are the result of years of what she describes as “anarchic recruitment” and “unusual” job titles, often lacking clear job descriptions. To ...

EU Proposes Ban of Russian LNG Fuel in Latest Sanctions Package

The European Union proposed Friday to bring forward by a year a ban on Russian gas imports as part of new sanctions to sap Moscow's war chest and please US President Donald Trump. The 19th package of EU sanctions targeting Moscow since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine also seeks to hit firms as well as banks and traders in China, India, and other ...

Israel Warns EU Any Sanctions Will Get 'Appropriate Response'

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar on Wednesday warned the EU against taking action against Israel, after the bloc's executive proposed curbing trade ties and sanctioning ministers over the Gaza war. "The recommendations of the college of Commissioners led by President (Ursula) von der Leyen are morally and politically distorted," ...

EU Agrees to Prolong Sanctions on Russian Officials over Ukraine

EU countries on Friday agreed to prolong Ukraine-related sanctions for another six months on over 2,500 Russian individuals and entities, including President Vladimir Putin, diplomats said. Ambassadors from the bloc's 27-member states signed off on the move ahead of a deadline on Monday, after Hungary and Slovakia dropped demands to take a number ...

Lebanese Potatoes: Tubers, Challenges and Export Hopes

In a country where even bread is becoming a luxury, one might think the potato – king of family meals and star of mezze – is guaranteed a smooth ride. Yet behind every plate of crispy “batata” lies the story of farmers digging the soil… and digging deeper into debt. The Roots of the Problem According to the Ministry of Agriculture, ...

Poland Invokes NATO Article 4 for Urgent Talks after Drone Incursion

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Wednesday that the NATO member had invoked the Western defense alliance's Article 4 for urgent talks after Russian drones violated its airspace. Tusk told parliament that Poland had identified 19 violations of its airspace overnight and shot down at least three drones, adding that no one was harmed in the ...

Trump ready to match EU tariffs on China, India to pressure Putin

The United States is ready to broaden tariffs targeting buyers of Russian oil -- if the EU takes similar moves -- to hit at revenue Moscow needs for the war in Ukraine, a US official told AFP Tuesday. Dialing in to talks between United States and European Union officials on Tuesday, President Donald Trump raised the possibility of tariffs between ...

Cabinet to Reconvene Thursday in Baabda

The Council of Ministers is set to hold a meeting on Thursday at Baabda Palace to discuss a ten-point agenda, with particular focus on international proposals aimed at securing internet access in Lebanon. The issue, brought forward by Minister of Telecommunications Charles Hage, was previously reviewed during a cabinet session held at the Grand ...

Lebanon Reviews Progress of Education Reform

Lebanon is betting on a comprehensive reform of its education system. On Tuesday morning, the Grand Serail hosted the strategic administrative meeting of the Transition Resilience Education Fund (TREF), during which Prime Minister Nawaf Salam outlined the government’s key priorities for the education sector. In a country where successive crises ...