CAIRO, 13 February 2022, (TON): Saudi Islamic Minister Sheikh Abdullatif Al-Asheikh met Egyptian Minister of Awqaf Muhammad Mukhtar Gomaa in Cairo.

The meeting was attended by the Saudi ambassador to Egypt, Osama Nugali, and a number of senior officials.

Al-Asheikh headed the Kingdom’s delegation to the 32nd International Conference of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, organized by the Egyptian Ministry of Endowments.

At the opening session, Al-Asheikh said that the conference emphasized the constants of religion, coexistence, and the establishment of countries and societies on firm foundations.

He said that the importance of this conference came in light of the current circumstances that threatened the citizenship contract for Arab and Islamic societies, destabilizing and altering the national identity based on the unity of belonging to the religion and the homeland.

MOSCOW, 13 February 2022, (TON): The defence ministry as saying “a Russian naval vessel chased away a US submarine in Russian waters in the Pacific after the submarine ignored a Russian order to surface.”

The Russian ministry called in the US defence attache after complaining that the submarine had entered its waters, the RIA news agency reported. Tensions between Moscow and Washington are already high over a Russian military buildup near Ukraine.

The Russian ministry was quoted as saying “the submarine was spotted near the Kuril islands early on Saturday as Russia was conducting naval exercises with its Pacific Fleet and it was ordered to surface immediately.”

It said “the order was ignored by the US submarine's crew, leading the crew of Russia's Marshal Shaposhnikov frigate to use unspecified corresponding means to make the vessel leave.”

WASHINGTON, 13 February 2022, (TON): “People are tired,” Georgia Sen. Raphael Warnock says in the opening ad for his reelection campaign.

There’s not a face mask to be seen in the Democrat’s video montage of scenes across Georgia, as he goes on to say people that are wondering when things will get back to normal, and at the same time not knowing what normal even means anymore.

The ad reflects a shifting narrative on COVID-19 restrictions across the country: Democrats are now increasingly supportive of easing mandates as they struggle to address voter frustration with the lingering pandemic.

They’re hoping a shift in policy could serve to blunt incoming political attacks with the midterm elections when control of Congress is at stake now less than nine months away. But their appeals for a return to normalcy, both in symbols and practice, are putting new pressure on President Joe Biden.

After months of sparring with Republican governors for standing in the way of public health measures like face-coverings and social distancing, the sudden shift on the part of Democrats in recent days has caught White House officials off guard and left them seemingly out of sync with their own party.

OTTAWA, 13 February 2022, (TON): Canadian police moved in to remove protesters Saturday at bridge border crossing that has disrupted Canada US trade.

Protesters at the busiest border crossing between the United States and Canada remained despite new warnings to end the blockade that has disrupted the flow of goods between the two countries and forced the auto industry on both sides to roll back production.

A city bus and school bus arrived on scene Saturday morning and police moved in formation toward them.

Police tweeted “the Windsor Police & its policing partners have commenced enforcement at and near the Ambassador Bridge. We urge all demonstrators to act lawfully & peacefully. Commuters are still being asked to avoid the areas affected by the demonstrations at this time.”

About 20 protesters milled about outside early Saturday, while others remained in their pickup trucks and other cars. A judge on Friday ordered protesters at the Ambassador Bridge over the U.S.-Canadian border to end the blockade that has now entered a sixth day.

WELLINGTON, 13 February 2022, (TON): The U.S. said that it will open an embassy in the Solomon Islands, laying out in unusually blunt terms a plan to increase its influence in the South Pacific nation before China becomes strongly embedded.

The reasoning was explained in a State Department notification to Congress that was obtained by The Associated Press.

The plan was confirmed by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken during a visit to Fiji Saturday on a Pacific tour that began in Australia.

Blinken left Fiji late in the evening bound for Hawaii, where he will host the foreign ministers from Japan and South Korea to discuss the threat posed by North Korea, amid rising concerns over its recent missile tests.

The State Department said Solomon Islanders cherished their history with Americans on the battlefields of World War II, but that the U.S. was in danger of losing its preferential ties as China “aggressively seeks to engage” elite politicians and business people in the Solomon Islands.

The move comes after rioting rocked the nation of 700,000 in November. The riots grew from a peaceful protest and highlighted long-simmering regional rivalries, economic problems and concerns about the country’s increasing links with China, after it switched allegiance from the self-ruled island of Taiwan to Beijing three years ago. Rioters set fire to buildings and looted stores.

CAIRO, 13 February 2022, (TON): Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi has said that Egypt, as president of COP 27, is urging greater international efforts to protect the seas and oceans from the negative effects of climate change.

During his speech at the One Ocean Summit in Brest, France, on Friday, he thanked French President Emmanuel Macron for his invitation to the summit and reflected on the importance of international climate action and efforts to protect nature.

He said “the seas and oceans represent around 70 percent of the earth, link our peoples and cultures, and contribute to the movement of international trade and navigation, as well as being an important source of food and natural resources and a catalyst for economic activity.”

“They are required for the prosperity of entire societies and countries.”

He added “we are well aware of this in Egypt. Our location on the Red and Mediterranean seas has contributed to the emergence of our extended civilization and the building of our development since the dawn of history.”

KIEV, 13 February 2022, (TON): Ukraine urged its citizens on Saturday to keep calm and avoid panicking in the face of mounting worries that Russia is preparing to invade its neighbor.

The appeal came a day after the United States and a host of European countries urged their citizens to leave Ukraine immediately because of the growing danger of a full-scale offensive by Russian forces encircling the former Soviet state.

The Ukrainian foreign ministry said in a statement “at the moment, it is critically important to remain calm, to consolidate inside the country, to avoid destabilizing actions and those that sow panic.”

Washington dramatically raised the stakes on Friday by warning that Russia could attack “any day now”.

Some US media suggested the invasion could begin shortly after German Chancellor Olaf Scholz concludes talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow.

Kyiv has been trying to tone down the warnings coming out of Washington throughout the crisis.

CAIRO, 13 February 2022, (TON): Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said “Egypt establishes relations on the basis of mutual respect and common interests but never on the basis of conditionality.”

Shoukry said “Egypt has confirmed that on many occasions.”

He said “his country also establishes relations on the basis of non-interference in the internal affairs of countries and in accordance with the rules and charter of the United Nations and international norms.”

His comments were made at a joint press conference with his German counterpart Annalena Baerbock following bilateral talks during her first visit to Egypt .

He added that Egypt resorted to Germany to fulfill its needs for armament in order “to protect its national security and borders.”

Shoukry emphasized that a “militarily strong Egypt” has contributed to achieving further security and stability across the region and Europe.

CAIRO, 13 February 2022, (TON): Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said “Egypt establishes relations on the basis of mutual respect and common interests but never on the basis of conditionality.”

Shoukry said “Egypt has confirmed that on many occasions.”

He said “his country also establishes relations on the basis of non-interference in the internal affairs of countries and in accordance with the rules and charter of the United Nations and international norms.”

His comments were made at a joint press conference with his German counterpart Annalena Baerbock following bilateral talks during her first visit to Egypt .

He added that Egypt resorted to Germany to fulfill its needs for armament in order “to protect its national security and borders.”

Shoukry emphasized that a “militarily strong Egypt” has contributed to achieving further security and stability across the region and Europe.

WASHINGTON, 13 February 2022, (TON): US President Joe Biden warned his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin that the United States and its allies would "respond decisively" if Russia "further" invaded Ukraine.”

A White House official said “the leaders spoke on a secure call for about an hour on Saturday morning regarding the troop buildup around Ukraine.”

The White House said "President Biden reiterated that a further Russian invasion of Ukraine would produce widespread human suffering and diminish Russia's standing.”

A US official said the call produced no fundamental change and it was unclear if Russia would pursue diplomacy or military action.

The White House added “While the United States was prepared to engage in diplomacy, Washington remained "equally prepared for other scenarios.”

Meanwhile, a French presidency official said Russian President Vladimir Putin gave no indication in a phone call with President Emmanuel Macron on Saturday that he was preparing to invade Ukraine.