SANA - Syrian Arab News Agency

Director of the General Authority for Precious Metals Management in Syria, Musab Al-Aswad, met,Friday, Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Damascus, Alnur Shah Huseynov, to discuss bilateral cooperation in the field of gold and precious metals. The meeting was held at the Authority’s headquarters in Damascus

Both sides affirmed the importance of exchanging visits to gain insight into market conditions in each country and to explore opportunities for cooperation in investment, export, and industrial activities related to precious metals.

In a statement to SANA, Al-Aswad noted that Syria has a significant number of workshops and factories capable of producing gold jewelry, with the potential to export them to Azerbaijan. He also highlighted the possibility of importing raw materials and enhancing mechanisms for joint cooperation in this vital sector.

MHD Ibrahim

The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) stressed, Friday, the urgent need to uphold the ceasefire in Gaza to restore children to a learning environment.

“Palestinian children in the Strip need education and structure, and we must strive to provide that.” John White, Deputy Director of UNRWA Affairs in Gaza, stated posted on “X”.

He noted that “UNRWA remains the largest provider of emergency education in Gaza and is working to find space in some schools to deliver educational services.”

The UN official added that UNRWA is currently working to expand its operations, including offering online education services for children. He pointed out that 300,000 children in Gaza are expected to register with UNRWA for remote learning.

MHD Ibrahim

The Arab Parliament affirmed its full support for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), appreciating the humanitarian role it plays despite the severe challenges it faces due to the crimes of the Israeli occupation, its restrictive policies, and media disinformation campaigns against it.

According to WAFA News Agency, president of the Arab Parliament, Mohammad bin Ahmed Al Yamahi emphasized during his meeting with UNRWA Director Marc Lassouaoui that the agency remains a cornerstone of humanitarian efforts directed toward the Palestinian people.

 He stressed that the continuation of its operations is an urgent necessity given the dire humanitarian conditions in the Palestinian territories.

Al-Yamahi, speaking on the sidelines of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) meetings in Geneva, noted that the Arab Parliament is actively urging countries that have suspended their funding to UNRWA to resume financial support.

He asserted that halting such support constitutes a violation of international law.

He further highlighted that the Arab Parliament issued an official appeal during his address to the IPU General Assembly, calling on member states to reinstate funding for the agency and to bolster its vital humanitarian role.

He underscored that the priority following the ceasefire in Gaza is reconstruction and the delivery of humanitarian aid.

Al-Yamahi also revealed a preliminary agreement with the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of La Francophonie to organize a joint international parliamentary event, in collaboration with UNRWA and the IPU, aimed at issuing a unified global appeal to support the agency and strengthen its humanitarian mission in Palestine.

For his part, Lassouaoui praised the Arab Parliament’s efforts to encourage countries to resume their funding for the agency.

He affirmed UNRWA’s commitment to cooperating with the Arab Parliament to highlight its essential humanitarian and life-sustaining services for the Palestinian people, noting that despite its limited resources, the agency remains a lifeline for millions of refugees in Palestine.

Minister of Economy and Industry, Nidal al-Shaar, affirmed on Friday that the ministry continues its efforts to build a robust economic structure that strengthens Syria’s ties with the world, supports reconstruction efforts and advances the national production.

In a post on his Facebook page, Minister al- Shaar explained that the ministry’s ongoing meetings, seminars, and field visits are part of its work to rehabilitate productive sectors and revitalize economic activity, adding “We cannot face the world and benefit from it without first reestablishing our connection to it. What we are doing today is the first step on that path.”

As for the criticism directed at the lack of tangible results on the ground, al-Shaar underlined that despite limited resources and difficult circumstances, the efforts on the ground are clear and ongoing “who look closely can see tangible results being achieved through small but steady steps” he said.

Al-Shaar affirmed that economic obstacle such as worn-out infrastructure wouldn’t undermine the will to move forwards, highlighting that the government is taking “realistic and well-considered steps” to launch the wheel of production.

Earlier this month, Minister al-Shaar conducted a tour to the United States, during which he met with officials from several international and American economic institutions to open new horizons for economic relations. Last week, he also participated in the International Forum for Future resilience held in London, the capital of the United Kingdom.

The First Euro-Arab Medical Conference 2025 commenced, Friday, at the National University Hospital in Damascus.

The event is organized by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research in cooperation with the Union of Syrian Doctors and Pharmacists in France, the Union of Arab Doctors and Pharmacists in Austria, and the Euro-Arab Medical Association.

Attendees included the Assistant Secretary-General of the Presidency of the Republic for Cabinet Affairs, Engineer Ali Kaddah; the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Marwan al-Halabi; and the Minister of Religious Endowments, Mohammad Abu al-Kheir Shukri.

In his speech at the conference, Minister Marwan al-Halabi described the event as a scientific forum bringing together over 1,000 doctors and featuring more than 200 lectures and medical workshops across university hospitals.

Al-Halabi stressed the strategic importance of the academic medical sector in the ministry’s plans, noting that Arab-European cooperation opens broad horizons for exchanging expertise, developing curricula, and establishing research partnerships that elevate academic medicine in Syria and the region.

He added that workshops will be held in all university and Health Ministry hospitals to enhance practical training, conduct specialized surgeries, and train on diagnostic tools such as ultrasound and laparoscopic surgery.

In his address, Minister Shukri described the event as a testament to the loyalty of expatriate Syrian doctors to their homeland. He affirmed that the ministry’s vision embraces all beneficial sciences, not just religious studies, as they serve humanity and alleviate suffering, thus carrying profound spiritual and ethical value.

Speaking to SANA, conference president and head of the Union of Syrian Doctors and Pharmacists in France, Dr. Abdul Moneim Hamid, stated that the conference aims to strengthen scientific and medical cooperation between Syrian doctors in Europe and their counterparts in Syria through the exchange and transfer of expertise.

For his part,Dr. Tamam Kilani, president of the Euro-Arab Medical Association and head of the Union of Arab Doctors and Pharmacists in Austria, said that this is the first conference held after liberation and features broad participation from Arab doctors residing in Europe, particularly France and Austria.

He described the Association as a bridge between Europe and Syria, aiming to transfer modern medical knowledge and technologies from European centers to Syrian healthcare institutions.

On the sidelines of the conference, minister al-Halabi inaugurated an exhibition showcasing medical equipment, pharmaceutical products, and hospital supplies, with 12 companies presenting their offerings.

The opening ceremony featured two promotional videos: one highlighting the formation of the Union of Syrian Doctors and Pharmacists in France, and another paying tribute to the martyr doctors who lost their lives due to shelling by the former regime during the Syrian revolution.

MHD Ibrahim

President Ahmad al-Sharaa received on Friday delegations from the Austro-Arab Chamber of Commerce (AACC), headed by Werner Fasslabend, and the Arab-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry, led by Olaf Hoffmann, along with their respective delegations. 

The discussions focused on strengthening cooperation between the Syrian business sector and the Arab-Austrian and German Chambers of Commerce, with the aim of establishing joint projects and seizing investment opportunities in Syria.

The delegations participated in the Syrian-Austrian-German Economic Forum 2025, which was held on Monday in Damascus, bringing together representatives from Syrian economic bodies, business leaders, and investors from all three countries.

The reconstruction of war-torn Syria is vital to ensuring long-term stability in the country and across the Middle East, a senior United Nations official said.

Rawhi Afaghani, the UN Development Programme’s deputy representative in Syria, urged the international community to accelerate rebuilding efforts to help Syrians recover from more than a decade of conflict.

“The international community should definitely rush into rebuilding Syria and help the country rebound from this war and destruction, not only for Syrians themselves, but also for the stability and good of the entire region,” Afaghani said in an interview with AFP.
Afaghani said that the total cost of reconstruction can’t be estimated but described Syria’s needs as “massive,” citing shortages in housing, schools, and health facilities, as well as electricity and water infrastructure.

He warned that efforts to rebuild are complicated by the widespread presence of unexploded ordnance scattered across the country, including within the debris of destroyed buildings.

Since the collapse of the former regime, Afaghani noted, more than one million Syrian refugees have returned from abroad, while nearly twice as many internally displaced people have gone back to their hometowns.

While those returns mark a positive development, he cautioned that they are straining already fragile infrastructure, including transportation, education, and essential services such as bakeries.

Afaghani expressed hope that a rapid reconstruction effort could pave the way for a “stable Syria,” encouraging more refugees, particularly skilled ones, to return from Europe.

“They can help rebuild Syria and play a major role in the region’s economic recovery and social peace building,” he said.

Qatar has reaffirmed its full support for Syria, emphasizing the importance of preserving its sovereignty and territorial integrity and fulfilling the aspirations of its people for stability and development.

Qatar’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Alya Ahmed bin Saif Al Thani, told the UN Security Council-according to the Qatar News Agency (QNA)- that Qatar “condemns the Israeli attacks on Syria which constitute a serious violation of international law.”

On the Palestinian issue, the Qatari envoy emphasized that the success of implementing the Gaza ceasefire is a “collective responsibility” that must lead to a full cessation of hostilities and the achievement of peace and stability in the region, in line with the principles of the UN Charter and international law.

She welcomed the UN General Assembly’s adoption of the New York Declaration, which supports the implementation of the two-state solution and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.

The Qatari envoy also strongly condemned the Israeli Knesset’s approval of a bill to annex the West Bank, describing it as a blatant challenge to international law and legitimate international resolutions.

She urged the international community, particularly the Security Council, to uphold its legal and moral responsibilities by compelling Israel to halt its expansionist and settlement policies in the occupied Palestinian territories.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees UNHCR stated that  some 300.000 Syrian refugees have returned to their homeland from Lebanon since the beginning of this year.

In an interview with the Anadolu News Agency, Lisa Abou Khaled Public Information Officer at the UNHCR explained that the agency continues implementing voluntary return program from Lebanon to Syria to support people who wish to return to their country, and will follow up after their return by providing them with the necessary support to integrate into their areas.

She referred to the return of 400 Syrian refugees Thursday from Lebanon via al-Arida border crossing in Tartus countryside heading to regions in the cities of Homs and Idleb, in the frame of the 6th batch of the voluntary return program.

On July 29, UNHCR spokesperson in Syria, Celine Schmitt, announced the launch of the first convoy from Lebanon to Syria, as part of the organized voluntary return program. The convoy was coordinated with UNHCR in Lebanon and the General Authority for Land and Sea Ports in Syria.

Major General Murhaf Abu Qasra ,Syria’s Minister of Defense met the fact-finding committee investigating the Sweida events in his office to discuss the latest developments and follow up on efforts to restore rights to their rightful owners.

China has urged the international community to use the International Court of Justice (ICJ) advisory opinion as a guide to addressing the “humanitarian crisis in Palestine.”

At a regular press briefing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson “Guo Jiakun” said the international community must make “unremitting efforts for a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the Palestinian cause at an early date.”

The ICJ, based in The Hague, ruled Wednesday that “Israel is obligated to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza”, including assistance provided by UN agencies.

Guo noted that as a responsible major power, China actively participated in the ICJ proceedings, submitting written opinions and making oral statements to clarify its positions on key issues of international law.

The spokesperson reaffirmed “Beijing’s steadfast support for the Palestinian cause” and its commitment to achieving justice for the Palestinian people.

Iraq has strongly condemned the Israeli Knesset’s ratification of two draft laws aiming to annex the West Bank and the Ma’ale Adumim settlement east of Jerusalem, calling it a “flagrant violation of international law” and relevant UN Security Council resolutions.

In a statement, the Iraqi Foreign Ministry said the move constitutes a “direct violation of the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people” and undermines regional stability by imposing sovereignty over occupied territories and consolidating settlements.

“These expansionist measures threaten security and stability across the region and seek to establish a permanent occupation reality,” the ministry said, reaffirming Iraq’s support for Palestinian self-determination and the establishment of an independent state with Jerusalem as its capital.

Iraq urged the international community to uphold its legal and humanitarian responsibilities and to stand firmly against Israeli policies targeting the Palestinian people.

Ramiz Alakbarov, Deputy UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, said Thursday that the recent ceasefire in Gaza offer a glimmer of hope for the region, but stressed that the situation remains extremely fragile.

Speaking to the UN Security Council on the Middle East, Alakbarov reaffirmed the United Nations’ commitment to supporting efforts to “end the occupation” and achieve a “two-state solution” in line with international law and UN resolutions.

“After two years of devastating war and immense humanitarian suffering in Gaza, there is now an opportunity to pave the way for a more just and peaceful future,” he said, urging all parties to avoid a return to conflict and to fully implement the ceasefire agreement.

Alakbarov called for “opening crossings and relief corridors” into Gaza to ensure safe passage for civilians and aid workers, noting that current humanitarian supplies are insufficient.

He also highlighted ongoing violence in the West Bank, urging accountability for settler attacks, particularly during the olive harvest, and underscored the strain on the Palestinian economy and the Palestinian Authority caused by occupation practices.

“We are at a critical and perilous juncture. Seizing this opportunity requires political will, financial resources, and international support,” Alakbarov said, calling on the Security Council and the global community to back efforts toward a better future for all.

Pakistan has renewed its call for the international community to continue supporting Syria during the current period, emphasizing the need to ease sanctions and sustain reconstruction efforts.

Acting Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations, Othman Jadoon, welcomed the recent People’s Assembly elections in Syria during a UN Security Council session on the situation in the Middle East. He  noted that elections represent “an important step toward the gradual restoration of governance structures.”

The U.S. Republican representative Joe Wilson called on Congress on Friday “not stand in the way” of president Donald Trump policy to end sanctions on Syria, citing US benefits of the Syrian recovery.

Wilson wrote on his X platform that “Quality American companies want to be part of Syria’s future and a stable, prosperous Middle East,” adding that President Trump got it right and “Congress should not stand in the way”.
The U.S. lawmaker that “reputable investors” will be deterred by the sanctions that were intended to the former regime, which no longer exists.

He emphasized that “President Trump’s Syria EO includes a multitude of authorities in place to maintain the sanctions on Assad officials, terrorism, and captagon.”

“Millions of Syrians have returned to rebuild their country. Anything short of full repeal threatens the stability of Syria’s fragile economy,” Wilson warned. He welcomed the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s support repealing of the Act.

On Wednesday, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce has called for the full and permanent repeal of the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act, arguing that the law is no longer serving its intended purpose following the fall of the Assad regime and the rise of a new Syrian government.

Earlier this month, the U.S. Senate voted to repeal the Caesar Act sanctions imposed on Syria under the former government as the Senate included the repeal in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA),

Egypt reiterated its support for the Palestinian people in securing their rights, including the establishment of an independent state, and expressed solidarity with Syria and Lebanon in protecting their territorial integrity and sovereignty.

Speaking at a UN Security Council session on the Middle East, Egypt’s permanent representative, Osama Abdel Khalek, said that lasting peace in the region requires “Israel’s withdrawal from all occupied territories”.

Abdel Khalek called for the full implementation of the Gaza ceasefire agreement and all provisions of Sharm El-Sheikh Peace Agreement, warning of the dangers of any violations.

He also condemned the Israeli Knesset’s approval of two bills to annex parts of the West Bank and welcomed the International Court of Justice (ICJ) advisory opinion, which reaffirmed that international law prohibits the displacement or starvation of the Palestinian population.

The ICJ said last Wednesday that Palestinians in Gaza have not received adequate humanitarian aid and ruled that Israel must “facilitate aid access” and “refrain from using starvation as a weapon of war”. The advisory opinion, requested by the UN General Assembly in December 2024, is non-binding but underscores Israel’s obligations toward UN operations and other organizations in Gaza and the West Bank.

President Donald Trump said on Thursday he was terminating trade talks with Canada, in response to an advertisement released last week by the government of Canada’s Ontario province, which featured audio from a speech by former US President Ronald Reagan criticizing tariffs on foreign goods.

“Based on their egregious behavior, all trade negotiations with Canada are hereby terminated,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

He added that “The Ronald Reagan Foundation has just announced that Canada has fraudulently used an advertisement, which is FAKE, featuring Ronald Reagan speaking negatively about Tariffs,”.

Trump said that ad aimed to “interfere with the decision of the U.S. Supreme Court, and other courts,” and defended tariffs as critical to the US economy and national security

This sudden shift in the relationship between the two North American neighbors comes Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’ meeting Trump at the Oval Office in Washington DC. earlier this month in an effort to ease U.S. tariffs.
There, Trump joked about a “merger” of the two countries but also praised his counterpart as a “world-class leader.”

Earlier Thursday night, the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute posted on X that an ad created by the government of Ontario “misrepresents the ‘Presidential Radio Address to the Nation on Free and Fair Trade’ dated April 25, 1987.” It added that Ontario did not receive foundation permission “to use and edit the remarks.”

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney told reporters on Thursday that “Canada will not allow unfair U.S. access to its markets if talks on various trade deals with Washington ultimately fail”

Canada has long been one of the US’ top trading partners; last year, the US imported $411.9 billion worth of goods from Canada, according to government figures.

But Canada’s economy has been hit hard by Trump’s steep sectoral tariffs on autos, steel, aluminum, lumber, and energy – some of the country’s key exports to the US. Those fall under the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which Trump brokered during his first term and will be under mandatory review next year. Canada’s unemployment rate is now at its highest point in nine years.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk called on Israel to comply with Thursday’s International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling, ensuring that residents of the Gaza Strip and other occupied Palestinian territories have access to essential life supplies.

In a statement cited by the Palestinian news agency WAFA, Turk said the ICJ reaffirmed the applicability of “international human rights law alongside international humanitarian law” in the occupied territories. He stressed that Israel must respect, protect, and guarantee the human rights of Palestinians.

“The Court highlighted fundamental rights, including the right to life; protection from torture; freedom of movement; family protection; adequate living standards; health; education; non-discrimination; and self-determination,” Turk said.

He urged Israel and all states to comply with the law as clarified by the Court and to act urgently to improve “human rights conditions and humanitarian situations” in the occupied Palestinian territories.

The First European Pan-Arab Medical Congress 2025 began on Friday at the National University Hospital in Damascus, marking a major medical milestone for Syria and the wider region.

The event is organized in collaboration with the Union of Syrian Doctors and Pharmacists in France, the Union of Arab Doctors and Pharmacists in Austria, and the Arab-European Medical Association.

Over three days, the congress brings together doctors from Europe, the United States, the Gulf states, and other countries, with the majority of participants being Syrian.

The conference covers more than 30 medical specialties, including thoracic surgery, internal medicine, emergency medicine, urology, orthopedics, reconstructive and cosmetic surgery, dentistry, and pharmacy.

Participants will have access to around 300 lectures and more than 20 medical research presentations. In addition, about 15 workshops will be held across several governorates, including Damascus, Hama, Aleppo, Lattakia, and Deir Ezzor.

Syria outlined its reconstruction efforts in the housing sector after years of war, calling for greater regional coordination to support recovery and rebuilding.

This came during the participation of Syria’s Ministry of Public Works and Housing in the 71st session of the Technical Advisory Committee and the 90th meeting of the Executive Bureau of the Council of Arab Ministers of Housing and Construction, held October 19–23 at the Arab League headquarters in Cairo.

The meetings brought together representatives from Arab states to discuss a range of housing and urban development issues ahead of the upcoming Council of Arab Ministers of Housing session.

As part of the exchange of experiences among Arab countries, Syria’s General Company for Engineering Studies presented a report on national reconstruction efforts, while the Public Housing Authority shared insights from its affordable and social housing programs. The Syrian delegation also outlined a standardized damage assessment methodology for areas affected by conflict and natural disasters, underscoring the importance of coordinated regional support for recovery and reconstruction.

The Syrian item on the agenda focused on providing technical support to improve urban conditions, address extensive damage, and ensure adequate housing in line with sustainable development goals.

Officials said Syria’s participation reflects its commitment to strengthening Arab cooperation in housing and urban development and its determination to contribute to sustainable reconstruction and recovery initiatives across the region.