Egypt Urges Increase in Int'l Funds to Tackle Climate Change

Egypt's Minister of Environment Yasmine Fouad. (Egyptian government)
Egypt's Minister of Environment Yasmine Fouad. (Egyptian government)
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Egypt Urges Increase in Int'l Funds to Tackle Climate Change

Egypt's Minister of Environment Yasmine Fouad. (Egyptian government)
Egypt's Minister of Environment Yasmine Fouad. (Egyptian government)

Egypt requested on Thursday an increase in finances from developed countries to address climate change in countries that currently suffer from fires, high temperature and floods.

Egypt is hosting the 27th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP27) in Sharm El Sheikh in November.

Minister of Environment Yasmine Fouad held a virtual meeting Thursday with Mary Robinson, the former head of the UNHCR and the chairperson of Elders, an independent group of global leaders working together for peace, justice and human rights.

They discussed preparations for COP27, especially the importance of increasing adaptation finance for countries suffering from climate change, said a statement from the Egyptian minister.

Fouad said speaking about financing adaptation to climate change would be addressed on Gender Day held during the COP27, and that the keynote speech on this day will be given by the President of the National Council for Women in Egypt.

For her part, Robinson stressed the importance of increasing adaptation finance for countries suffering from climate change in line with the outcomes of COP26 in Glasgow.

She said this should be achieved by 2025.



Syria President Vows those Involved in Church Attack will Face Justice

The attack was the first of its kind in the Syrian capital since Islamist-led forces toppled longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad in December - AFP
The attack was the first of its kind in the Syrian capital since Islamist-led forces toppled longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad in December - AFP
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Syria President Vows those Involved in Church Attack will Face Justice

The attack was the first of its kind in the Syrian capital since Islamist-led forces toppled longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad in December - AFP
The attack was the first of its kind in the Syrian capital since Islamist-led forces toppled longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad in December - AFP

Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa vowed Monday that those involved in a "heinous" suicide attack on a Damascus church a day earlier would face justice, calling for unity in the country.

The shooting and suicide bombing Sunday at the church in the working-class Dwelaa district of the Syrian capital killed 25 people and wounded 63, the health ministry said, raising an earlier toll of 22 killed.

The authorities said the attacker was affiliated with the Islamic State group.

"We promise... that we will work night and day, mobilising all our specialized security agencies, to capture all those who participated in and planned this heinous crime and to bring them to justice," Sharaa said in a statement, AFP reported.

The attack "reminds us of the importance of solidarity and unity of the government and the people in facing all that threatens our nation's security and stability", he added.

Condemnation has continued to pour in from the international community after the attack -- the first of its kind in the Syrian capital since the toppling of longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad in December.

It was also the first inside a church in Syria since the country's civil war erupted in 2011, according to a monitor, in a country where security remains one of the new authorities' greatest challenges.

Since the new authorities took power, the international community has repeatedly urged the government to protect minorities and ensure their participation in Syria's transition, particularly after sectarian violence in recent months.