Saudi Arabia
Riyadh-led OPEC+ raises quotas as region teeters on escalation
Saudi Arabia, Russia and five other OPEC+ members meeting online Sunday agreed to raise oil production quotas for September, even as war rages across the Middle East.
The European Union has announced a €12.5 million project, implemented by the UN Development Programme (UNDP), to support the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) in rebuilding efforts in southern Lebanon following the 13-month conflict between Hezbollah and Israel.
EU Ambassador to Lebanon Sandra De Waele (L), LAF Commander General Rodolph Haykal and UNDP Resident Representative in Lebanon Ms. Blerta Aliko © LAF
The European Union has announced a €12.5 million project, implemented by the UN Development Programme (UNDP), to support the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) in rebuilding efforts in southern Lebanon following the 13-month conflict between Hezbollah and Israel.
The initiative aims to assist the LAF in clearing rubble and unexploded ordnance, restoring key infrastructure like water systems and health centers, and reinforcing ties with local communities.
At the launch event in Yarzeh, LAF Commander General Rodolphe Haykal described the project as “a critical milestone,” strengthening the army’s role in ensuring national security and enforcing UN Resolution 1701.
EU Ambassador Sandra De Waele reaffirmed the EU’s long-standing partnership with Lebanon and its commitment to peace and stability, noting that EU support to conflict-affected areas exceeds $600 million.
UNDP’s Blerta Aliko emphasized the importance of stability for lasting peace and inclusive development. The initiative is part of a May 2025 agreement between the Lebanese Ministry of Defense, UNDP, and UNSCOL to coordinate international aid to the LAF.
Saudi Arabia, Russia and five other OPEC+ members meeting online Sunday agreed to raise oil production quotas for September, even as war rages across the Middle East.
Maronite Patriarch Béchara Raï reiterated his support Sunday for the US-brokered framework agreement signed between Lebanon and Israel in late June, describing it during his Sunday homily as a "national path to resolving outstanding issues, consolidating a just, comprehensive and lasting peace, and preserving the state's sovereignty over its entire territory."
President Donald Trump said late on Saturday the U.S. would hold off on a fresh attack on Iran as long as a deal could be reached quickly to halt Iran's nuclear ambitions and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
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