SANA - Syrian Arab News Agency

The medical initiative organized by the Syrian Economic Forum for Development under the theme “1000 Heartbeats of Hope” has successfully completed around 400 cardiac catheterization procedures at the National University Hospital in Damascus since July.

Reema Al-Samrah, Executive Director of the Syrian Economic Forum for Development, stated to SANA that the campaign has begun on July 21, 2025, and will continue for a year”, with the aim of alleviating the health and financial burdens on patients in Syria by providing free medical procedures including cardiac catheterization.

Al-Samrah highlighted that the campaign features the participation of a distinguished group of volunteer Syrian doctors coming from various countries around the world, such as the United Arab Emirates, the United States, Turkey and Germany.

She explained that the campaign covers all Syrian governorates and aims to perform 1,000 cardiac catheterization procedures.

“As of October 23, 393 procedures have been completed, representing nearly 40% of the campaign’s target” she added

Minister of Justice Mazhar al-Weiss inaugurated on Sunday a judicial complex in Maarat al-Numan city, Idleb southern countryside, in the presence of several official and community figures.

In a statement to SANA, Minister Al-Weiss affirmed that the opening of the complex is part of the ministry’s plan to rehabilitate judicial institutions and enhance their operations within a new phase of recovery, particularly in the field of justice.

The minister noted that the complex provides all judicial services and is part of an ongoing effort that previously included the opening of a judicial complex in Khan Sheikoun.

The inauguration of the judicial complex in Maarat al-Numan city marks a step towards reactivating public services and judicial institutions in Idleb Governorate and supporting efforts for stability and development in its southern countryside.

Claudio Francavilla, Deputy Director of Human Rights Watch and the organization’s representative to EU institutions, called on the European Union, Sunday, not to backtrack on proposed sanctions against Israel following the ceasefire agreement in Gaza.

According to Palestinian media outlets, Francavilla emphasized that any European decision regarding Israel must take into account its grave human rights violations.

He clarified that the proposal to suspend cooperation between the EU and Israel is not solely based on the situation in Gaza, but also on ongoing abuses across all occupied Palestinian territories.

Francavilla criticized the EU’s delayed response, noted that sanctions were only considered two years after what he described as a genocide in Gaza and the killing of 20,000 children  a delay he called “horrific.”

Despite the ceasefire agreement, Israel continues to use humanitarian aid as a tool of pressure against Palestinians in Gaza, said Caroline Willemen, project coordinator for Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) in the Strip.

In a press statement on Sunday quoted by  “WAFA” Agency, Willemen emphasized that humanitarian aid sent to the Gaza Strip should not be tied to any political conditions.

The humanitarian situation in Gaza, she said, has not improved significantly. Water and shelter shortages persist, and hundreds of thousands of people continue to live in tents as winter approaches.

She noted that MSF teams continue to record severe malnutrition among children under five and pregnant women. While there has been slight improvement in food availability, the nutritional situation remains concerning.

“Residents of Gaza have lived under the threat of mass extermination for two years,” Willemen added.

“We urgently need aid to ensure people can sleep on a mattress with a blanket inside their tents.

Rebuilding Gaza will take a long time, but we have not yet reached even the minimum basic humanitarian standards in the Strip.”

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates has highlighted the achievements of its technical delegation currently operating in Libya, outlining a range of services provided to Syrian nationals over the past 72 hours.

According to a statement published on the Ministry’s Telegram channel, the delegation facilitated the settlement of legal status for 22 detainees held in illegal migration centers, renewed more than 20,000 passports, and issued over 4,100 emergency travel documents for citizens wishing to return to Syria.

The statement added that the delegation also authenticated more than 1,000 civil status documents and completed the procedures for repatriating two deceased citizens to Syria.

The technical delegation began providing some services in Libya on October 18 to enable members of the Syrian community to benefit from the waiver of fines and fees decision.

This initiative comes within the framework of the Ministry’s ongoing efforts, under the directives of Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan Al-Shaibani, to provide comprehensive support and facilitation for Syrian expatriates in Arab and foreign countries.

Israeli forces arrested 13 Palestinians during raids across various areas of West Bank.

According to the Palestinian authorities, Israeli troops stormed the cities of Tulkarm, Hebron, Nablus, Ramallah, al-Bireh, and Salfit, raiding Palestinian homes and tampering their contents before arresting 13 of them.

In a separate incident, a young man was shot and injured by Israeli forces in the town of al-Ram, northern Jerusalem. Meanwhile, settlers reportedly uprooted dozens of olive trees in al-Minya village, south of Bethlehem, the Palestinian authorities added.

Since the beginning of the ongoing aggression, the number of arrests in the West Bank has reached around 20,000, including approximately 1,600 children and about 595 women.

A member of the Internal Security Forces was martyred on Saturday evening during a security operation in Daraa countryside, following an armed clash with a person wanted by judicial authorities, an Interior Ministry official said.

Interior Ministry spokesperson Nour al-Din al-Baba stated on his Telegram channel that the member was martyred while carrying out a mission in the town of Qarfa, as part of ongoing efforts by the Internal Security Forces to maintain stability, and enforce the law.

Thailand and Cambodia signed a peace agreement on Sunday during the ASEAN Summit in Malaysia, in the presence of U.S. President Donald Trump, to end their long-standing border conflict.

According to Agence France-Presse, the expanded agreement, drafted in July to halt hostilities along the border, was signed by Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet.

Speaking after the signing, President Trump described the accord as “an important moment for the peoples of Asia, ending military conflict between the two countries and potentially saving millions of lives.” He added that it took 32 years for fighting between Thailand and Cambodia to cease and praised his administration’s role in reaching a ceasefire in Gaza. The conflict dates back to 1907, when France drew the boundary with Thailand while controlling Cambodia. Thai authorities noted that some areas, including historic temples such as Preah Vihear, were inaccurately mapped, fueling periodic clashes, the most recent in May, causing multiple casualties on both sides

47th ASEAN Summit kicks off in Kuala Lumpur, Calls for Stronger Economic Partnerships

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) inaugurated its 47th summit on Sunday in Kuala Lumpur under the theme “Inclusivity and Sustainability,” marking Malaysia’s assumption of the ASEAN chair for 2025.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, the chair of ASEAN 2025, called on ASEAN countries to establish a new partnership and deepen regional ties amid rising protectionism and changing global supply chains. He stressed that “resilience depends on adaptability, and ASEAN must not remain static.”.

Ibrahim highlighted efforts to upgrade the trade-in-goods agreement to create a more competitive regional market and expand the ASEAN Power Grid (APG) with a new financing mechanism to close funding gaps and accelerate the transition to clean energy.

The Prime Minister also noted that ASEAN’s digital economy is projected to reach $2 trillion by 2030, with work on a Digital Economy Framework Agreement set to accelerate by 2026.

The summit, which will continue until October 28, will host discussions with more than 30 global leaders from the United States, China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada, to discuss regional peace, economic resilience, and inclusive growth.

Minister of Energy Mohammad Al-Bashir revealed serious irregularities at a water pumping station, involving the responsible manager in the unauthorized sale of water. The irregularities resulted in a financial loss estimated at approximately 12 billion Syrian pounds.

In a statement posted on the “X” platform, al-Bashir confirmed that legal measures have been taken against the implicated director, and the case has been referred to the relevant authorities to complete investigations in accordance with law and established procedures. He emphasized the Ministry’s ongoing efforts to combat corruption and safeguard public funds.

Al-Bashir also reaffirmed the commitment of oversight bodies to carry out their duties with precision and transparency, stressing that firm action will be taken against anyone proven to be involved in corruption. These efforts aim to uphold integrity and transparency across all sectors of the Ministry, protect public resources, and serve the public interest.

Minister of Justice Mazhar al-Weiss affirmed that the Ministry continues its efforts to address the repercussions of the former regime’s violations.

“We have issued a series of decisions concerning unjust in absentia rulings and property violations that occurred during the era the defunct regime. This comes as part of a serious endeavor to correct unjust decisions, restore rights to their owners, and their legal standing.” Minister al-Weiss said on his account on X platform.

Last Thursday, the Ministry of Justice issued a decision to assign the Second Civil First Instance Courts at judicial centers alongside their regular duties to adjudicate disputes involving the unlawful seizure of real estate or the manipulation of property ownership that occurred the revolution.

Japan’s next-generation cargo spacecraft HTV-X was successfully launched on Sunday from the Tanegashima Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture aboard the H3 rocket No. 7, reaching its planned orbit about 14 minutes later.

Developed by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), the unmanned spacecraft will transport experimental equipment and other supplies to the International Space Station (ISS) Xinhua News Agency reported.

The HTV-X, which succeeds the retired “Kounotori” cargo vehicle operated until five years ago, features a lighter airframe and upgraded systems that boost its transport capacity by about 1.5 times.Measuring 8 meters in length and 4.4 meters in diameter, it can carry more than 5.8 tons of cargo.

The spacecraft will spend about four days maneuvering toward the ISS before being captured by the station’s robotic arm. Once berthed, it will begin cargo transfer operations as part of Japan’s contribution to international space cooperation.

Left-wing independent candidate Catherine Connolly has won Ireland’s presidential election, securing more than 63 % of the vote.

The results, reported by Agence France-Presse, showed that Connolly scored a decisive victory over centrist rival Heather Humphreys, who obtained 29.5 % of the ballots, succeeding President Michael D. Higgins, 84-year-old, who has served two consecutive terms since 2011.

A former lawyer, Connolly received support from major opposition parties, including the Green Party and the nationalist Sinn Féin. She opposes increasing defense spending and supports preserving Ireland’s policy of military neutrality, while maintaining its partnership program with NATO

Israeli forces carried out a new incursion Saturday in the northern countryside of Quneitra, sending in military vehicles and tanks as helicopters flew over the border strip with the occupied Golan Heights, a SANA reporter said

According to the reporter in Quneitra, a patrol of Israeli forces consisting of three Hummer vehicles and a Hilux truck advanced toward the road linking the towns of Hadar and Tranjah.

Another Israeli convoy, including several military vehicles and three tanks, moved from the demolished Quneitra post (the Tower area) toward the village of Eastern Samdaniyah amid increased military activity near the disengagement line in the occupied Golan Heights.

The incursion coincided with intensified aerial of Israeli helicopters over the border area separating Syrian territory from the occupied Golan.

In a related context, Israeli forces carried out a new incursion on Sunday morning into the villages of al-Razaniyah and Sayda al-Hanout in the southern countryside of Quneitra.

“A unit of the Israeli forces, consisting of four military vehicles, established a checkpoint between the two villages. During the operation, the forces detained a local bread distributor who was serving the surrounding villages near Sayda, before releasing him and withdrawing from the area. “SANA reporter said.

A convoy of 14 fuel tankers entered Sweida province Saturday, carrying diesel and gasoline, as well as household gas.

The move comes as part of government efforts to stabilize services and meet the essential needs of residents.

Sweida Governor Mustafa al-Bakkour stated that 14 tankers have entered and that the fuel is being distributed to stations across the region to meet citizens’ needs and ensure the uninterrupted availability of essential supplies.

Al-Bakkour noted that the incoming quantities are sufficient to fully cover the province’s requirements, adding that the fuel is being sold at the unified prices adopted across all Syrian governorates.

MHD Ibrahim

Mohamed Yasser Kahhala, Director of the General Secretariat for Political Affairs, visited the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East on Monday to discuss enhancing collaboration between Syria’s religious and national institutions.

During the meeting, Kahhala met with His Beatitude Patriarch John X Yazigi of Antioch and All the East. The discussions focused on reinforcing principles of mutual understanding, fraternity, and civil peace among all segments of the Syrian population.

Officials emphasized the importance of cooperation between state authorities and religious leadership in promoting social cohesion and national unity.

The visit reflects ongoing efforts by Syrian authorities to strengthen dialogue with religious institutions and foster reconciliation among the country’s diverse communities.

Amer Dhawa

The Syrian Interior Ministry said Saturday it has arrested Ali Hassan Kammun who is accused of committing crimes against civilians while serving in the ranks of the defunct regime.

In a statement posted on its Telegram channel, the ministry said Internal Security Forces in Hama province carried out the arrest after initial investigations revealed Kammun’s involvement in premeditated killings of civilians and armed operations in Eastern Ghouta. The crimes allegedly included arbitrary detentions and gathering intelligence on civilian locations and rebel positions for the former regime’s forces.

The ministry said Kammun fled to Lebanon, where he joined remnants of the defunct regime and engaged in anti-government incitement on social media. He was also reportedly found in possession of weapons and explosives and had a criminal record that included theft, drug-related offenses and exploitation of family members in immoral activities.

Kammun has been referred to the judiciary for legal proceedings, the ministry said, adding that the arrest was part of ongoing efforts to protect citizens and strengthen civil peace.

Amer Dhawa

Deputy Interior Minister for Security Affairs Maj. Gen. Abdelkader Tahan met Saturday with a delegation from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) to discuss ways to enhance cooperation and exchange expertise in training and capacity building in the fight against drugs and organized crime.

During the meeting, held at the ministry’s headquarters in Damascus, both sides stressed the importance of continued coordination and collaboration to achieve strategic goals and support international efforts to combat transnational crimes.

The discussions also covered future projects aimed at supporting the Interior Ministry’s efforts to maintain security and strengthen the rule of law.

Abuduhammid/Amer Dhawa

The Internal Security in Aleppo governorate has arrested Ali Qarqanawi, known as “Abu al-Fida,” a criminal involved in the violent suppression of peaceful protests during his time as an officer under the deposed regime, and later as a leader within the affiliated “National Defense” militia.

According to a statement by the Ministry of Interior posted on its Telegram channel Saturday, investigative teams conducted intensive surveillance operations that led to locating Qarqanawi in the al-Halk neighborhood of Aleppo.

 Acting on a warrant issued by the Public Prosecution, the Anti-Terrorism Branch raided his location and arrested him.

The ministry confirmed that the detainee has been referred to the competent authorities to complete investigations, in preparation for his presentation before the judiciary.

Syrian Telecommunications Company and the Spanish company Medusa signed an agreement in Tartous to install the first submarine cable linking Syria to the global telecommunications network.

The agreement signing ceremony was attended by Minister of Communications and Information Technology Abdul Salam Haykal.

Minister Haykal inspected the submarine cable landing site in the Dream Beach area of Tartous to begin implementing the signed agreement.