This is Beirut - European Union

France's Former President Sarkozy Jailed, Proclaiming his Innocence

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

Emmanuel Macron European Union Nicolas Sarkozy France

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, 10:00 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Europe European Union Plastic UN

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 ...

Rare Earths: Strategic Metals Key to Future Tech

This is Beirut, 16/10 09:20 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Donald Trump European Union US Treasury China Rare Earths

Rare earths are minerals used to make magnets crucial to the auto, electronic and defense industries, as well as in renewable energy. The US Treasury Secretary slammed export curbs imposed by Beijing last week on technologies used for rare-earth mining, smelting, and other processing steps. Scott Bessent said on Thursday it was "China versus the ...

NATO and EU Scramble to Boost Drone Defenses to Counter Russia

This is Beirut, 15/10 21:20 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

NATO European Union Russia Mark Rutte

NATO and the EU on Wednesday sought ways to boost anti-drone defenses, as Europe scrambles to counter the threat from Russia after a series of air incursions. High-profile incidents in Poland and Estonia have set off a flurry of activity from European officials to plug gaps in the continent's defenses. NATO has launched a new mission and beefed ...

Latest Developments in the Gaza Ceasefire

This is Beirut, 13/10 10:55 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

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Hamas handed over the first seven of 20 surviving Israeli hostages to Red Cross representatives in Gaza City, the Israeli army said, as part of a Gaza ceasefire deal. US President Donald Trump arrived in Israel for a trip which will also take him to Egypt, where he will co-host a Gaza peace summit with his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah ...

US Gas: Washington Secures Its Place in Europe’s Energy Market

Christiane Tager, 10/10 21:30 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

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For more than two years, Europe has sought to reduce its reliance on Russian gas, an effort accelerated by the war in Ukraine and rising geopolitical tensions. According to RFI, European firms, long hesitant to commit to long-term deals, are now turning to US liquefied natural gas (LNG) to secure reliable supplies. This shift represents a ...

International Sanctions: Mechanisms, Loopholes and Limits

Élie-Joe Kamel, 10/10 17:45 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

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Despite a major military setback suffered by the Iran-aligned axis in its war against Israel and the sanctions imposed on it, Hezbollah reportedly continues to receive $60 million per month in transfers from Iran. That is according to US envoy Thomas Barrack, who made the claim on September 22 in an interview with Sky News. In this context, a ...

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