US President Biden praises Egypt for its stance on Ukraine and Gaza

President Joe Biden meets with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, at the COP27 UN Climate Summit, on Friday at Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. (AP)
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Updated 11 November 2022
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US President Biden praises Egypt for its stance on Ukraine and Gaza

  • Biden vowed that the US was on track to slash its carbon emissions, urging all nations to ramp up their own efforts
  • “In the face of Russia’s war in Ukraine, Egypt has spoken up strongly in the UN and that is appreciated very much as well,” he said

SHARM EL-SHEIKH: US President Joe Biden on Friday praised Egypt for speaking up strongly on the war in Ukraine and said Cairo had been a key mediator in Gaza.
Biden was speaking as he met Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi at the COP27 summit in the resort of Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt.
“In the face of Russia’s war in Ukraine, Egypt has spoken up strongly in the United Nations and that is appreciated very much as well,” he said.

Addressing the COP27 climate conference, Biden vowed that the United States was on track to slash its carbon emissions, urging all nations to ramp up their own efforts to avert catastrophic global warming.
Biden touted the passage of a massive, $369 billion spending package to green the United States economy as an example for the entire world.
While the US spending on its own renewable energy push has been praised by activists, Washington has come under criticism for falling short on its pledges to financially help developing countries with their own transitions and to cope with intensifying climate-induced impacts.
“The climate crisis is about human security, economic security, environmental security, national security and the very life of the planet,” Biden told an audience at the COP27.
Biden said the United States is “on track” to achieve its pledge of cutting emissions 50-52 percent below 2005 levels by 2030.
“To permanently bend the emissions curve, every nation needs to step up. At this gathering, we must renew and raise our climate ambitions,” he said.
“The United States has acted, everyone has to act. It’s a duty and responsibility of global leadership.”

The lightning visit to Egypt marks the start of a week-long trip abroad that will also take him to an ASEAN regional summit in Cambodia at the weekend, before he travels to Indonesia for G20 talks.


Syrian authorities bust smuggling ring, tighten border controls

Updated 6 sec ago
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Syrian authorities bust smuggling ring, tighten border controls

  • Smugglers' boat collides with rocks as it attempted to flee pursuing as Coast Guard vessels 
  • The boat was about to illegally transport passengers from the Syrian coast of Tartus coast to Cyprus

DAMASCUS: Syrian Coast Guard forces have arrested members of a human smuggling network operating in the western town of Tartus, the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) reported Saturday.

Authorities pounced on the smugglers as they were about to transport passengers from the Tartus coast to Cyprus by illegal means, the state media said, citing a statement from the General Authority of Ports and Customs. 

"The operation resulted in the arrest of all those involved, including the organizers of the trip," said the report, adding that the smugglers' boat attempted to escape as Coast Guard vessels surrounded it, but collided with rocks. 

No details were made available on how many suspects were arrested and how many passengers were rescued. Criminal charges are being prepared against the arrested suspects, SANA said.

Headquarters of the Syrian General Authority of Ports and Customs in Damascus. (SANA photo) 

New restrictions on commercial transit

In a separate move to regulate trade and border security, the ports and customs authority has issued a new policy restricting truck access at land crossings and seaports.

Commercial trucks will now only be permitted entry for loading or unloading upon presentation of an original receipt from the Ministry of Transport’s freight office.

The transfer of cargo between Syrian and non-Syrian vehicles must now take place strictly within designated customs yards at border crossings.

Trucks passing through Syria in transit remain permitted, provided they are under a mandatory customs escort between entry and exit points.