Government

France Unveils New Government in Political Crisis

France's President Emmanuel Macron unveiled a new government on Sunday, after marathon talks to cobble together a cabinet and prevent the country from slipping deeper into a political crisis. The lineup, a mix of old and new faces, is Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu's second attempt at bringing together a team to overcome months of ...

Reappointed French PM Scrambles to form Government

Pressure mounted Saturday on France's newly reappointed premier, Sebastien Lecornu, to get an austerity budget approved, as more parties threatened to topple a man whose first term lasted a mere 27 days. In a move that drew sharp criticism, President Emmanuel Macron reinstated Lecornu late Friday evening, just four days after his resignation and ...

White House Says ‘Substantial’ Shutdown Layoffs Have Begun

The White House said Friday it had begun mass layoffs of federal workers as President Donald Trump sought to amp up pressure on opposition Democrats to end a government shutdown that has crippled public services. With the crisis set to go into a third week and no off-ramp in sight, Trump's budget chief Russ Vought announced on social media ...

France's Macron to Name PM to End Political Crisis

France's Emmanuel Macron was on Friday due to pick a head of government tasked with pulling the country out of a political gridlock, in a move that staves off fresh elections for now. French politics have been deadlocked ever since Macron took the gamble last year of snap polls that he hoped would consolidate power -- but ended instead in a hung ...

Hezbollah vs. the State: A Sisyphus Moment at Raouche

In a bold display of power that lays bare Lebanon’s fragile balance of forces, Hezbollah flouted every law and directive, trampling both state decisions and promises to its own allies. On Thursday evening, despite an explicit ban from Beirut Governor Marwan Abboud, the Pigeon Rock in Raouche, an iconic national and tourist landmark, was ...

Chad Signs Peace Deal With 'Last' Gold Region Militia

Chad's government has struck a peace deal with an armed group in the north of the country, ending years of conflict over gold deposits in the region, a mediator said on social media. It sees "the definitive return of peace in (the town of) Miski and the entire province of Tibesti", Ibrahim Edji Mahamat, who acted as a facilitator for talks, told ...

Cabinet Approves 2026 Budget Without Salary Adjustments

The Council of Ministers approved the draft 2026 state budget Monday evening, with officials emphasizing fiscal discipline, revenue compliance and accountability. Information Minister Paul Morcos stated that the budget includes no new broad-based taxes, relying instead on stricter enforcement of existing laws and improved revenue estimation. One ...

French Parliament Set to Eject PM in Blow to Macron

France's parliament is expected to oust Prime Minister François Bayrou on Monday after just nine months in office, plunging the key EU member into new political uncertainty and creating a painful dilemma for President Emmanuel Macron. Bayrou blind sided even his allies by calling a confidence vote to end a months-long standoff over his austerity ...

Ex-Presidents, Premiers, Back Government Position On Weapons Control

Two former Lebanese presidents, Amin Gemayel and Michel Sleiman, along with three former prime ministers, Najib Mikati, Fouad Siniora and Tammam Salam, issued a joint statement on Friday backing the government’s position over the state’s exclusive control of weapons. The leaders praised the government’s efforts to restore full state ...

Lebanon Sets Year-End Deadline for Militia Disarmament

Lebanon has set a deadline of the end of this year for the disarmament of all militias, based on a disarmament roadmap to be prepared by the Lebanese Army and submitted to the Cabinet for review before August 31. The announcement was made by Prime Minister Nawaf Salam following a nearly six-hour cabinet session held at the Baabda Presidential ...

Commercial Leases: Government Caught in a Tight Spot

The Constitutional Council largely upheld the new law on old commercial leases, passed in April 2024, dismissing a legal challenge brought by thirteen members of parliament. Yet, it struck down one key provision: paragraph (d) of Article 10 was ruled unconstitutional for violating the constitutional principles of equality and fairness. The legal ...