This is Beirut - European Union

EU top Diplomat Holds Nuclear Talks with Iran as Sanctions loom

This is Beirut, 05/09 09:05 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

European Union Tehran Kaja Kallas Iran Doha

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas met Thursday in Doha with Tehran's top diplomat to seek a "negotiated solution" to Iran's nuclear program, as the clock ticks down towards a reimposition of sanctions, the EU said. The meeting came after European powers last week triggered a deadline for sanctions to come back into force on Iran for failing to ...

EU Chief's Plane Hit by Suspected Russian GPS Jamming in Bulgaria

This is Beirut, 01/09 14:35 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

European Union Ursula von der Leyen

A plane carrying EU chief Ursula von der Leyen was hit by GPS jamming as it readied to land in Bulgaria on Sunday, Brussels said Monday, alleging Russia was thought to be behind the incident. The European Commission said Bulgarian authorities suspected the disruption "was due to blatant interference" from Moscow but it was not clear if the ...

France Says US Should not Deny Palestinians Access to UN Summit

This is Beirut, 30/08 11:05 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

United Nations European Union Israel France Palestinian Authority

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said Saturday there should be no restrictions on access to next month's UN General Assembly, after the United States said it would deny visas to members of the Palestinian Authority. "A UN General Assembly meeting... should not be subject to any restrictions on access," Barrot said at a meeting of EU ...

Europeans Tell Iran Offer on Table to Avoid Sanctions

This is Beirut, 29/08 22:20 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Donald Trump United Nations European Union Israel Tehran

European powers said Friday they were ready to drop a new sanctions push on Iran if it addresses concerns on its nuclear program over the next month, but Tehran denounced the offer as insincere. Britain, France and Germany, known as the E3, triggered the so-called "snapback" mechanism the previous day to reinstate UN sanctions on Tehran for ...

France, Germany to Provide More Air Defense to Ukraine

This is Beirut, 29/08 17:20 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Ukraine Emmanuel Macron European Union France Russia Germany

France and Germany will provide more air-defense hardware for Ukraine after "massive" Russian airstrikes in recent days, the key EU members said in a joint statement Friday. "France and Germany will provide additional air defense to Ukraine," they said, after President Emmanuel Macron hosted German Chancellor Friedrich Merz for a visit to the ...

Sweden and Netherlands Call for EU Sanctions on Israel, Hamas

This is Beirut, 28/08 14:20 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

European Union Hamas Israel Palestine United Nations

Sweden and the Netherlands have urged the EU to adopt sanctions on Israel and Hamas over the war in Gaza, including suspending the EU-Israel trade deal, according to a document seen by AFP on Thursday. In a letter to European Union foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas, the Swedish and Dutch foreign ministers called for targeted sanctions on Israeli ...

French, German, Polish Leaders to Visit Moldova in Show of Force in Face of Russia

This is Beirut, 27/08 09:15 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Emmanuel Macron European Union Donald Tusk Friedrich Merz Moldova

The leaders of France, Germany and Poland are due in Moldova on Wednesday in a show of support, a day before campaigning starts for next month's tense parliamentary election amid claims of Russian interference in the pro-EU nation bordering Ukraine. French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Polish Prime Minister ...

Trump Threatens Tariffs on Countries Seen Targeting US Tech Firms

This is Beirut, 26/08 09:15 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Donald Trump USA European Union United Kingdom Technology

President Donald Trump on Monday threatened further tariffs and export restrictions against countries that he says are targeting US tech firms. "Digital Taxes, Digital Services Legislation, and Digital Markets Regulations are all designed to harm, or discriminate against, American Technology," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. His ...

Semi-Permanent Manicure at Risk: TPO Classified as Carcinogenic

Bélinda Ibrahim, 25/08 15:00 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

European Union Manicure Semi-Permanent Cancer TPO

For years, semi-permanent nail polish has captivated a growing clientele, attracted by the promise of glossy, chip-resistant nails that last for weeks. But under the UV lamps of beauty salons, a small revolution is looming. As of September 1, 2025, both Switzerland and the entire EU will prohibit the sale and use of these polishes if they contain ...

Iran, Europeans to Meet as Snapback Sanctions Loom

This is Beirut, 22/08 18:15 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Donald Trump European Union United Nations Iran Nuclear

Iran will meet next week with Britain, France and Germany on its nuclear programme, the parties said Friday, as the European powers warned Tehran to engage swiftly to avoid snapback sanctions. The Islamic republic suspended cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency in July in the wake of its 12-day war with Israel, citing the UN ...

Record EU Wildfires Burnt More Than 1 mn Hectares in 2025

This is Beirut, 21/08 17:40 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

European Union Fire Wildfires

Wildfires have so far ravaged more than one million hectares (2.5 million acres) in the European Union in 2025, a record since statistics began in 2006, according to an AFP analysis of official data. Surpassing the annual record of 988,524 hectares burnt in 2017, the figure reached 1,015,731 hectares by midday Thursday, representing an area ...

Zelensky Returns to Site of Stunning Oval Office Shouting Match

This is Beirut, 18/08 09:25 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Volodymyr Zelensky Donald Trump Emmanuel Macron USA European Union

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky returns to the Oval Office on Monday for the first time since a spectacularly tense exchange with Donald Trump saw their talks cut short and question marks raised over future US support. At the February 28 meeting, Trump and Vice President JD Vance berated Zelensky on live television, accusing him of being ...

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