SANA - Syrian Arab News Agency

On the occasion of the International Day of Non-Violence, UN Secretary-General António Guterres urged the world to embrace non-violence as a powerful tool to confront injustice and promote diplomacy.

He emphasized the importance of collective action to build a sustainable world founded on justice and peace.

The UN chief stressed that dialogue must replace conflict, and that peace should be built through dignity, not domination.

The UN General Assembly designated October 2 as the International Day of Non-Violence in 2007, in honor of Mahatma Gandhi, who led India’s struggle against British colonialism and dedicated his life to spreading the philosophy of peaceful resistance that inspired liberation and human rights movements worldwide.

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan Al-Shaibani met on Wednesday with Lebanese Defense Minister Major General Michel Menassah in AlUla city, Saudi Arabia, on the sidelines of the Munich Leaders’ Conference.

Syria and Saudi Arabia discussed on Wednesday boosting cooperation and joint investment in renewable energy, the Syrian Ministry of Energy stated.

The ministry said that Minister of Energy Mohammad al-Bashir met with the Saudi deputy Mminister of energy for renewable energy affairs, Abdulaziz bin Khalid al-Yousef, to discuss prospects for bilateral cooperation in the energy sector and ways to enhance it.

The officials reviewed memoranda of understanding signed earlier Wednesday, by the General Organization for Electricity Transmission and Distribution with the Saudi companies Al-Harafi and SCLCO.

The agreements aim to establish photovoltaic and wind energy projects with a total capacity of 500 megawatts.

Last August, the Ministry of Energy signed an agreement and six memoranda of understanding with Saudi companies in the fields of petroleum, electricity, oilfield services, drilling and maintenance of wells.

Syrian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani, met Wednesday with German State Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, Niels Annen, on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference Leaders’ Meeting held in AlUlA city, Saudi Arabia.

Al-Shaibani is participating alongside the head of General Intelligence, Hussein Salameh in Munich Security Conference held in Saudi Arabia.

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, Assad Hassan al-Shaibani, met on Wednesday with Gulf Cooperation Council’s Secretary-General , Jasem Mohamed AlBudaiwi, on the sidelines of the Munich Leaders Conference held in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Al-Shaibani is participating alongside head of General Intelligence, Hussein Salameh in Munich Security Conference held in AlUla city, Saudi Arabia.

The meeting will discuss key issues including the future of Syria, the Palestinian cause, Iran’s nuclear file, the war in Ukraine, Red Sea security, energy, food and climate security, economic integration, and the corridor connecting India, the Middle East, and Europe.

Health authorities in Gaza reported on Wednesday that the ongoing Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip has killed 51 Palestinians and injured 180 others during the past 24 hours.

In its daily report, The Ministry of Health in Gaza (MoH) said that “hospitals in the Gaza Strip received 51 deaths and 180 new injuries, bringing the cumulative toll to 66,148 deaths and 168,716 injuries” since October 7, 2023.

The statement added that some of the victims are still under the wreckage as civil defense and health rescue teams are unable to reach them.

The ministry reported four additional deaths due to famine and malnutrition, bringing the total to 2,580 malnutrition-related deaths since famine conditions were formally declared under IPC Phase 5.

Civil Defense teams rescued five workers trapped under the rubble following the collapse of a ceiling in the Saraya building in Damascus on Wednesday, the Interior Ministry said.

 Ministry spokesperson Nour Eddin Al-Baba stated that rescue teams are continuing efforts to rescue two other workers still trapped under the rubble.

Earlier, Civil Defense reported that several people were injured and others trapped in the ceiling collapse at the old Saraya building (old building of Interior Ministry) in Al-Marjeh Square, central Damascus.  The Civil Defense clarified that the accident took place during renovation work.

An Israeli-flagged ship was forced to leave the Italian port of Livorno after port workers initiated a strike in solidarity with Gaza, protesting the vessel’s presence.

Italian media reported that workers at the Port of Livorno launched a full strike, refusing to load or unload any cargo from the ship Zim Virginia, which flew the Israeli flag.

The workers expressed their opposition to the Israeli government’s military actions against Palestinians.

Gianfranco Francese, a representative of the Italian General Confederation of Labour in Livorno, stated that the workers took a clear stance to defend their port by refusing to handle any cargo.

This strike is part of a broader wave of labour protests at several Italian ports—including Genoa, Ravenna, Taranto, and Marghera—where workers have similarly refused to service ships carrying explosives and fuel destined for Israel in recent days.

A delegation of Syrian Interior Ministry took part on Wednesday in the meeting of directors of nationality and civil affairs departments in Arab countries in Baghdad, the ministry said.

The meeting focused on enhancing Arab cooperation in fields of civil affairs, nationality, and passports, and keeping pace with technological developments. It also emphasized the need for integrating of national identity systems to ensure national security, protect citizens’ rights, and provide services efficiently.

The head of Syrian delegation, Assistant Minister for Civil Affairs, Brigadier General Ziad Fawaz al-Ayesh, highlighted the importance of Arab cooperation and the exchange of technical expertise.

Syria’s participation in the meeting affirms its commitment to strengthening Arab cooperation, exchanging expertise, and improving the level of services provided to citizens, reflecting the spirit of partnership and coordination among Arab countries.

Gold prices in Syrian markets recorded a new increase, rising by 20,000 Syrian pounds compared to Tuesday’s rates, with the price of one gram of 21-karat gold reaching 1,230,000 SYP.

The Goldsmiths Syndicate, in its bulletin issued Wednesday , set the selling price of a gram of 21-karat gold at SYP 1,250,000 and the buying price at SYP 1,230,000

The price of a gram of 18-karat gold reached SYP 1,070,000 Syrian pounds for selling, and 1,050,000 Syrian pounds for buying.

The Syrian National Symphony Orchestra, leading by Maestro Missak Baghboudarian, held a concert at the Damascus Opera House on Tuesday in tribute to the late composer Solhi Al-Wadi. The program featured Russian, French, and Latin music compositions and pieces.

The concert opened with Tchaikovsky’s Romeo and Juliet, followed by Al-Wadi’s Reflections on “You Are My Life’s Melody”, Latin pieces by Arturo Márquez, and concluded with four French compositions by Georges Bizet.

Baghboudarian, told SANA that the event blended Syrian heritage with global music, expressing his delight at the large audience turnout and emphasizing the importance of cultural events in fostering social cohesion.

Several people were injured, others trapped in a ceiling collapse in the old Saraya building in Al-Marjeh Square, central Damascus on Wednesday, Syrian Civil Defense said.

 The Civil Defense clarified that during renovation work of the Saraya building (old building of Interior Ministry) central Damascus, a partial collapse of a ceiling trapped several workers under the rubble.

“Emergency teams rescued two workers and continue search and rescue efforts amid significant challenges due to the risk of further collapses,” it added.

The Syrian-French Forum officially began on Wednesday at Ebla Al-Sham palace in Damascus countryside.

The event organized by the Syrian Investment Agency, brings together several ministries alongside French economic and diplomatic delegation to boost bilateral relations.

To be continued…

Ankara – SANA

Turkey accused Israel on Wednesday of targeting journalists to hide its “crimes” against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

In a condolence message posted on the Turkish platform “NSosyal” following the killing of journalist Yahya Barzak in Deir al-Balah, the head of communications at the Turkish Presidency, Burhanettin Duran, said that “the brutal entity adds yet another war crime to its daily atrocities.”

 “It will be held accountable not only in the conscience of humanity, but also before international law,” he added.

He warned the Israeli government that in its “systematic attacks against journalists, it will never succeed in suppressing the truth or hiding its crimes against humanity and acts of genocide.”

The Israeli aggression on Gaza has caused the deaths of over 66,000 Palestinians and the injury of more than 168,000 others, the majority of whom are children and women.

The first flight of Saudi Arabia’s Flyadeal airline landed Wednesday at Damascus International Airport, coming from Jeddah Airport.

The flight was received by officials of Syrian Civil Aviation Authority (SCAA) and Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Damascus.

A Syrian researcher, Firas Saqa Amini from the Faculty of Science at Damascus University, has succeeded in genetically modifying Leishmania parasites to produce a human therapeutic protein, potentially giving Syria a global step in the field of Biopharmaceutical Industry.

Firas Saqa Amini, a specialist in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, explained in an interview with SANA during a presentation of his achievement at the Damascus University Exhibition for Invention and Development, that he modified the genes of the Leishmania parasites (which cause Leishmaniasis, also known as “Aleppo’s boil” or “Habbat Halab”).

The goal was to make the parasites produce “a biologic drug that would serve numerous medical and economic sectors, representing a step towards self-sufficiency in biopharmaceutical production in Syria” said.

He clarified that the invention involves producing a biologic drug using local Leishmania parasites, which were isolated from an infected individual and then genetically engineered to express the human protein known as IGF-1 (This growth factor plays a critical role in stimulating cell proliferation and growth.

Amini highlighted that this protein could be used to treat patients suffering from dwarfism, Laron syndrome, and Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Furthermore, it benefits bodybuilders by enhancing muscle growth and increasing muscle mass.

This dual potential gives the protein both a therapeutic and an economic value, especially as it represents a novel global production system, since IGF-1 has never before been produced using Leishmania parasites.

He explained that the new system’s mechanism involves modifying the Leishmania parasite’s genome, followed by testing protein production using the ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay) technique, and finally verifying the protein’s efficacy with the MTT assay.

This research has established a system that can be used to produce any other biologic medicine using the Leishmania parasite. He pointed out that this is the first time IGF-1 has been produced in Syria using this method, and that its reliance on Leishmania could position Syria as the first country globally to produce this protein in this manner.

Amini added that Leishmania parasites typically cause severe skin ulcers (Cutaneous Leishmaniasis), and defined biologic drugs as treatments made from living organisms or materials derived from them, used to treat various diseases.

London – SANA

Amnesty International renewed its calls for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and urged Israel to stop the ongoing “genocide” committed against Palestinians in the territory.

In a statement published Tuesday on the organization’s website, the Secretary General of Amnesty International, Agnès Callamard called on Israel to “immediately stop the genocide perpetrated against Palestinians in Gaza, including deliberate starvation policies and mass displacement.”

Callamard also called for the “release of thousands of Palestinians arbitrarily detained by Israel, an end to violations against Palestinian detainees, and the cessation of Israel’s practice of withholding Palestinian bodies as bargaining chips.”

Since October 7, 2023, the Israeli offensive on Gaza has killed 66,097 Palestinians and injured 168,536 others.

The death toll from the earthquake that struck Cebu province in central Philippines on Wednesday, measuring 6.9 on the Richter scale, has risen to 60.

According to Xinhua, Bernardo Raffaeliuto Alejandro, Deputy Director of the Philippine Civil Defense Office, said in a press conference that the current reports indicate up to 60 fatalities, noting that the number may change.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology reported yesterday that 6.7-magnitude earthquake on the Richter scale struck Cebu province and caused five deaths amid tsunami warnings, advising residents to stay away from the coast.

The Philippines is located on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” making it highly prone to frequent and sometimes severe earthquakes.

The third international conference of civil society organizations on the use of chemical weapons called for accountability, intensified legal efforts to ensure justice for victims and enhanced international cooperation to eliminate chemical weapons in Syria.

In a communiqué at the end of its one-day discussion in Damascus, the conference stressed the need for ensuring a comprehensive national response to the process of eliminating chemical weapons, within the framework of transitional justice. This process should be carried out through coordinated efforts among relevant ministries and transitional justice considerations, the communique said.

The communiqué emphasized the importance of ratifying the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court and engaging in international accountability mechanisms in this regard.

The conference stressed the need to maintain full transparency and adhere to the terms of the agreement with the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), including full disclosure of sites, facilities, and stockpiles, as well as the destruction of remaining materials in line with the OPCW’s verification standards.

The communique called on States parties of the (OPCW) to promote “comprehensive accountability for chemical weapons crimes” by implementing arrest warrants, preventing safe havens, and holding responsible institutions accountable.

Participants affirmed supporting Syria’s engagement with the OPCW, providing technical, financial, and political support, drawing lessons to strengthen the international embargo, and developing deterrence and rapid investigation mechanisms.

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan Al-Shaibani and General Intelligence head Hussein Salameh arrived on Wednesday in Al-Ula city, Saudi Arabia, to participate in the Munich Security Conference Leaders Meeting.

The Munich Security Conference (MSC) is one of the world’s leading forums for debating international security policy, bringing together hundreds of senior decision-makers, including heads of state, ministers, and experts.

The annual conference serves as a platform for dialogue on political and security, as well as global challenges.