A lot's been written about the European assets of Rifaat Al Assad's, Syria's brutal former vice-president who died last month. I wrote a deep dive explaining the details of the negotiations regarding an expected transfer of €32 million from France to Syria. www.thenationalnews.com/news/europe/...
France and Syria seek transfer of €32m from Rifaat Al Assad confiscated assets sale | The National
Officials hope to strike an agreement this year to send funds to Damascus
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@thenationalnews.com' @sunnivarose.bsky.social, Nada Maucourant Atallah and Lemma Shehadi on why European investors remain wary of entering Syrian market: www.thenationalnews.com/news/2026/02...
Legacy socialism, vested interests, banks that say no: Can European investors find their way into Syria? | The National
With the last package of sanctions lifted, foreign businesses see opportunities aplenty. But there are obstacles ...
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The French government will roll out its alternative to US video platforms Zoom and Microsoft Teams across state services, it has announced, in a bid to strengthen the security of its communications and end reliance on non-European systems. www.thenationalnews.com/news/europe/...
French government to replace Zoom and Teams with home-grown Visio platform | The National
EU aims to strengthen digital independence and become less reliant on US
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A deep dive into the strange case of Mahdieh Esfandiari, an Iranian translator went on trial yesterday in Paris for promoting pro-Hamas and anti-Semitic content on a Telegram account. Iran wants her back in Tehran before it allows 2 French citizens to leave. www.thenationalnews.com/news/europe/...
Prisoner swap overshadows Paris trial of Iranian accused of glorifying terrorism online | The National
Mahdieh Esfandiari was allegedly behind a pro-Hamas, pro-Hezbollah and pro-Iran Telegram account
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"Who doubts my capacities?” far-right French leader Jordan Bardella recently said on the question of his youth and inexperience of international politics. He might be France's next president as Marine Le Pen returns to court. www.thenationalnews.com/news/2026/01...
French far-right's rising star Bardella eyes presidency as Marine Le Pen appears in court | The National
Three times a presidential candidate, National Rally's figurehead could be barred from running again in 2027
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The EU on Monday said it was ready to impose "harsher" sanctions on Iran over the government's response to protests, during which hundreds of people have been killed. www.thenationalnews.com/news/europe/...
EU ready to issue 'harsher' sanctions on Iran as crackdown on protests worsens | The National
Demonstrations may be the most serious challenge to the Islamic Republic since its foundation in 1979
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At the first Palestine Donor Group in Brussels, the EU Commission and the Palestinian Authority both highlighted how dire the PA's financial situation is as Israel withholds billions in tax revenues. www.thenationalnews.com/news/europe/...
Israel to blame for Palestinian Authority's financial crisis, says PM Mohammad Mustafa | The National
Europe to throw 'all its political capital' into pressuring Israel to release taxes
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Israeli companies have been allowed to take part in Paris arms fair Milipol after the French government cited the Gaza ceasefire, following attempts to ban them from previous events. I visited the air show to see how it was going.
Israeli military purchases, including attack dogs, are expected to weigh heavily when the Netherlands' court of appeal issues a ruling on Thursday over claims the Dutch state failed in its duty to prevent genocide in Gaza. www.thenationalnews.com/news/europe/...
Israel accused of using dogs to maul Palestinians in Dutch genocide case | The National
Netherlands government failed to act on exports to the Israeli army, court hears
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Spies, bribes and terror ties? French corporate giant Lafarge goes on trial on trial today. For the first time, a French company is accused of terror financing. The setting is Syria’s civil war and payments to rebel groups b/w 2012-2014, including ISIS, to keep a cement factory running.
I spoke to Syrian specialists grappling with important questions about how to rebuild the historic site of Palmyra - the most visited site in Syria -after important ISIS damage. What is clear is that it'll cost a lot and take years to fix. www.thenationalnews.com/news/europe/...
Battle 'to find Palmyra's soul again' after its destruction by ISIS | The National
Experts consider the best way to resurrect the ancient site in Syria
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The Palmyra archaeological museum, which was severely damaged during the Syrian civil war, will be restored with funds from international Swiss-based @aliph.foundation www.thenationalnews.com/news/mena/20...
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Ahead of Mahmoud Abbas's visit to Rome next week, I spoke to Palestinian ambassador to Italy Mona Abuamara about her expectations, particularly regarding Italy's recognition of Palestine, with input from ECFR's Kelly Petillo. www.thenationalnews.com/news/europe/...
Italy is inching closer to recognition of Palestinian statehood, suggests Palestine envoy | The National
Mona Abuamara says 'multiple factors' may help 'push through' Rome's acknowledgement of sovereignty
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The European Union has moved away from the possibility of imposing sanctions against Israel as a fragile ceasefire holds in Gaza. "We'll keep things as they are" an EU official said. www.thenationalnews.com/news/europe/...
EU pivots away from sanctions again Israel | The National
Sanctioning Israel now could endanger the Israel-Hamas ceasefire brokered by US President Donald Trump, EU officials say
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The EU's foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas announced today that the bloc will monitor the November 11 parliamentary elections in Iraq - the sixth since the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq that toppled Saddam Hussein. www.thenationalnews.com/news/europe/...
EU to monitor Iraqi parliamentary elections | The National
November 11 elections are sixth since US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003
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Ex-ambassador Leila Shahid: Gaza ceasefire security force must have a Palestinian face www.thenationalnews.com/news/europe/...
Ex-ambassador Leila Shahid: Gaza ceasefire security force must have a Palestinian face | The National
Palestinian politicians and policemen must retain a leading role, former envoy to Paris tells The National
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Proposals against Israel made today by Ursula von der Leyen will need Germany and Italian backing - unclear if that'll actually happen. Proposals come amid increasing pressure from the European Parliament and the European Council. www.thenationalnews.com/news/europe/...
EU President pauses Israel support after Doha strike | The National
European Commission proposing new measures after mounting frustration at bloc's failure to act
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French-Israeli relations sour further as Barrot and Saar engage in a rare public spat on X over recognition and "pay for slay" www.thenationalnews.com/news/europe/...
French and Israeli ministers feud over initiative to pay families of Palestinian detainees | The National
Jean-Noel Barrot tells Gideon Saar there is 'an alternative' to Israel's devastating war on Gaza
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For decades, Maha Al Daya was known in Gaza as a master embroiderer of traditional dresses, a vibrant tribute to Palestinian identity brought out at times of celebration. But after fleeing the war, Al Daya traded dresses for painted rubble and embroidered maps documenting Gaza's destruction.
European countries must take independent action against Israel or form coalitions of like-minded states to make up for the European Union's inaction, ex-EU ambassador to the OPT Sven Kuhn von Burgsdorff told me ahead of an informal meeting of EU FMs on Saturday in Copenhagen.
If the E3 proceed with reinstating UN sanctions on Iran later this week, it's not a process without off-ramps over the next 30 days, but it would hinge on breakthroughs that haven't been made in the weeks leading up to triggering, says Naysan Rafati at Crisis group.
France will recognise the state of Palestinian on September 22 despite political turmoil in Paris that may bring down the government in two weeks, French FM Barrot told RTL today. Asked by the journo if he had already “started packing his bags” Barrot brushed off the idea.
'They want us erased': Weightlifting mother resists plans to ban hijab in French competitive sport www.thenationalnews.com/news/europe/...
'They want us erased': Weightlifting mother resists plans to ban hijab in French competitive sport | The National
France adheres to its own interpretation of Olympic Charter values
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Germany has recently signalled an important policy shift by keeping all options on the table instead of opposing sanctions against Israel, former German ambassador to the Middle East Martin Kobler told me. www.thenationalnews.com/news/europe/...
Former envoy sees signals of Germany's shifting policy on Israel | The National
Questioning Germany's support to Israel should no longer be taboo considering the human rights breaches in Gaza, former ambassadors say
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At least 7 Gazan artists were preparing to board a bus today before heading to France as part of an ongoing evacuation programme. But their departure was abruptly halted following a political firestorm in France over anti-Semitic posts by a Gazan student already on French soil.
Recently, I visited the new Fenix migration museum in Rotterdam. It's a fascinating space that faces the ex-HQ of the Holland America Line, from where 100s of 1000s Europeans left to North America. A few km away, migrants, many Syrian, live on cruise ships, waiting for asylum.
As Germany's new chancellor Merz lands in Paris to meet Macron, here's a breakdown of why Israel will feature prominently on Merz's agenda and why he is likely to support Israel even more than his predecessor Scholz tinyurl.com/y4h3c9ct
Merz's election is boost for Israel as new German Chancellor meets Macron in Paris | The National
Israel has described new leader as a 'staunch friend' but he may face pressure from Europe to take tougher approach
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The trial of a former Jaish al Islam spox has put the focus on atrocities committed just over a decade ago in Syria that remain unpunished. They include beheadings and placing women in cages on rooftops. shorturl.at/7WkcI
Jaish Al Islam war crimes charges heard in Paris court | The National
Majdi Nema is accused of membership of group that carried out unpunished sectarian crimes in Syrian civil war
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A former spokesman for the Syrian rebel group Jaish Al Islam went on trial in Paris today, accused of complicity in war crimes, amid warnings that several witnesses were refusing to give evidence after the change of government. www.thenationalnews.com/news/europe/...
Former Syrian rebel spokesman on trial in Paris for war crimes | The National
France's first trial to be held under the universal jurisdiction in relation to war crimes in Syria
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Iran nuclear talks: Window of opportunity to strike a deal is shrinking, France warns, as Iranian FM Abbas Araghchi arrives in Rome ahead of the second round of indirect talks between Tehran and Washington www.thenationalnews.com/news/europe/...
Iran nuclear talks: Window of opportunity to strike a deal is shrinking, France warns | The National
US-Iran talks set to continue in Rome without Europeans
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