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France is lobbying for Russia to face energy sanctions
The European Parliament has approved a bill that would make it easier for people to travel All 27 European Union countries are “totally determined” to impose sanctions on Russia, which could target oil and coal, according to French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire.
Because Europe relies on Russian oil, gas, and coal, reaching an agreement on energy policy is difficult, but reports of the killings outside of Kyiv have heightened calls for stiffer EU sanctions.
Europe has been hesitant to target Russian energy because of fears that it would send the European economy into a tailspin. In some ways, going without Russian oil would be easier for Europe than going without Russian gas because most supplies are delivered by tankers and could be obtained from other sources. However, speculation about a possible boycott of Russian oil has pushed up global oil prices this week.
When asked if there was political will to impose sanctions on Russian oil and coal, as French President Emmanuel Macron suggested this week, Le Maire said, “We’ll see what the other member states’ positions are, but I think there’s a possibility of having unity on the 27 member states on these new sanctions.”
He made no mention of natural gas and reaching an agreement on how to target the fuel used to generate electricity and heat houses would be considerably more challenging. The EU imports nearly 40% of its natural gas from Russia, and many EU members, particularly Germany, the bloc’s largest economy, reject a gas embargo.
France currently holds the EU Council presidency, and Le Maire spoke ahead of a meeting of EU finance ministers in Luxembourg, where they will debate further sanctions against Russia.
While the EU has so far refrained from punishing Russian energy, individual nations have announced measures to reduce their reliance: Poland has said it would stop importing Russian coal and oil, while Lithuania has indicated it will no longer use Russian natural gas.
The European Union imports roughly 25% of its oil from Russia, and in 2020, the EU imported 53% of its hard coal from the country, accounting for 30% of the EU’s hard coal usage.
Although coal and oil may be on the table, Teresa Ribera, Spain’s Minister for the Environment, said Tuesday that sanctioning Russian natural gas would be “extremely difficult” because several EU countries rely on it for energy and that the EU’s strength resides in its unity.
“It’s really difficult to explain to European public opinion and Ukrainian society why we’re still importing Russian energy, which funds this war,” she said, adding that energy imports cause “clear moral tension.”
Russian fossil fuel is largely delivered by permanent pipeline, making it more difficult to replace it with expensive and rare liquefied natural gas supplies. While oil is less difficult to obtain than gasoline, abandoning it would have ramifications.
For one thing, the consequent price hikes for other oil could encourage India and China, which aren’t subject to Western sanctions, to purchase cheaper Russian petroleum. Russia is also a key supplier of diesel fuel; if that supply is cut off, running diesel-powered trucks and farm equipment might become prohibitively expensive, adding to Europe’s already high inflation.
According to commodities analysts at German bank Commerzbank, oil prices surged as buyers looking to avoid Russian oil bid for restricted supplies from other producers such as Saudi Arabia.
Brent, the international benchmark, climbed 3% on Monday and was trading above $108 per barrel on Tuesday, up 1%. On Tuesday, US crude jumped 1.1 percent to $104.37. Crude prices have fallen after US President Joe Biden stated last week that 180 million barrels of oil will be released from strategic stockpiles over the next six months. Drivers in the United States will pay more for fuel as oil prices rise.
The European Commission, the EU’s executive arm, will develop the next set of EU sanctions, which will be presented to EU governments for approval.
Potholes and traffic congestion on the Uran route could make the festival journey difficult for thousands of devotees.
The Roads
With Ganeshotsav approaching, thousands of devotees from Mumbai and Navi Mumbai are preparing to travel to their hometowns in Konkan. However, poor road conditions along the Uran route have raised concerns about their journey.
Several stretches, including parts of the Mumbai–Goa National Highway and the Khopate Bridge, are reportedly affected by potholes. The Gavanphata–Chirner–Kharpada route is also in need of repairs, raising fears of slower traffic and longer travel times during the busy festival period. Traffic congestion has already been reported on the Chirner–Gavanphata–Dighode stretch. With a significant increase in vehicles expected during Ganeshotsav, residents fear that the existing problems could become even worse.
Roads maintained by CIDCO and the Public Works Department (PWD) have also come under scrutiny. The Khopate–Koproli road, in particular, has several potholes, while unauthorised parking in some areas is further adding to traffic difficulties. For many families travelling to Konkan for Ganeshotsav, the journey is an important part of the festival. Residents have therefore urged authorities to repair the damaged roads before the rush begins.
Meanwhile, Uran traffic police are preparing measures to manage the expected increase in traffic and minimise congestion during the festival.
Court seeks a clear plan to prevent new unauthorised structures as civic authorities step up action.
The Constructions
The Bombay High Court has sought answers from the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) over the growing issue of illegal constructions in the city. The court has asked the civic body what concrete steps it plans to take over the next three months to prevent new unauthorised structures from coming up.
According to claims made before the court, Navi Mumbai has around 4,000 illegal constructions. Since the court’s June 16, 2026 order, NMMC has taken action against 88 structures, including 43 in Airoli. Officials said another 25 structures had been acted against by September 7.
However, NMMC told the court that its demolition drive could face challenges in the coming months due to staff being engaged in Special Intensive Revision (SIR) work and preparations for upcoming festivals. During the hearing, petitioners also alleged that some illegal structures in Airoli were being spared because of political pressure. CIDCO, meanwhile, clarified that the areas in question fall under NMMC’s jurisdiction.
The court has scheduled the next hearing after three weeks. For residents concerned about unauthorised construction in their neighbourhoods, the proceedings could be significant, as the civic body is now expected to show how it intends to prevent fresh violations rather than simply act after structures are built.
Candidates who appeared for the civic body’s recruitment exam can check their scores from September 11 after a long wait.
The Exam
Candidates waiting for the results of the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) recruitment exam finally have some good news. The civic body is set to release the exam scorecards on September 11, 2026, bringing an end to a long wait for thousands of applicants.
The recruitment drive was announced for 668 posts across 30 categories. A total of around 84,774 candidates applied, while 68,149 candidates appeared for the online examination held in July 2025. The release of the results had been delayed due to a legal dispute involving contractual employees working with NMMC. The employees had approached the Bombay High Court seeking protection for their jobs, following which the court had directed the civic body to hold back the examination scores.
The situation changed after the court allowed NMMC to proceed with the recruitment process while ensuring that the existing contractual employees would not lose their current service. Accordingly, NMMC will now publish the scorecards for all 30 categories on its official website on September 11.
There are currently around 477 contractual employees in the civic body. Their positions will be protected, while appointments to the remaining vacancies will proceed according to the recruitment process and the court’s final decision. For candidates who have been waiting for more than a year, the scorecard release will be an important step towards knowing their chances of securing a job with NMMC.
Poor Road Conditions Raise Concerns for Konkan-Bound Ganeshotsav Travellers
High Court Questions NMMC Over Illegal Constructions in Navi Mumbai
NMMC Recruitment Exam Scorecard to Be Released on September 11
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