SANA - Syrian Arab News Agency

Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar said Monday that he reaffirmed his country’s resolve to deepen relations with Syria during a meeting with president Ahmad al-Sharaa at the sidelines of UNGA in New York.

“I met Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa on the margins of UNGA80, the first Syrian head of state to attend UNGA in nearly six decades,” Ishaq Dar said in a post on X platform.

 The foreign minister added that he reaffirmed Pakistan’s solidarity with the Syrian people, and “we shared the resolve to further deepen historic Pakistan–Syria friendship through cooperation across diverse domains, including trade, human capital, & development.”

U.S Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen stressed Sunday the importance of bipartisan efforts to fully repeal the Caesar Act imposed on Syria.

At a meeting with Qatari Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly meetings in New York, Shaheen highlighted the positive role Qatar plays in Syria by promoting investment and effective governance, which benefits stability throughout the region.

Senator Shaheen also noted the importance of Qatar’s constructive role in mediating conflict resolutions and contributing to the stability of some countries in the region.

The United States “values its partnership with Qatar”, which contributes to a prosperous and secure future for the Qatari people and the entire region, she added.

Damascus-SANA

Syrian Ministry of Agriculture and The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) discussed Monday developing the olive production in Syria focusing on production, investment, Quality and export.

At a workshop, held in Damascus Sunday, within FAO’s initiative launched in 2021, under the title (one country, one priority product), Minister of Agriculture Amjad Badr highlighted Syria’s interest in olive’s sector sustainability from field to the consumer and enabling farmers and producers to promote this sector.

FAO resident representative in Syria, Tony al-Atl, in Damascus, said at the meeting the “Syrian olive is not just an agricultural crop, but it is also part of the Syrian identity” and a primary source of income for more than 300,000 farmers, and a key element in enhancing food security and healthy nutrition.

Bringing together partners and stakeholders at one table represents is an opportunity to unify efforts to “revive the olive and olive oil value chain, and to agree on a work plan and key interventions to set this chain on the path to recovery” he added.

Italian Ambassador to Syria, Stefano Ravagnan, while participating in the workshop, expressed his country’s interest in cooperation in the agricultural sector with Syria and transferring expertise to Syrian agricultural cadres.

Tuhama al-Saidi / Abdul

Chargé d’Affaires of the French Embassy in Damascus, Jean-Baptiste Favre, said his country is supporting efforts to enhance food security in Syria and ensure the rehabilitation of infrastructure across the country.

In a post on X platform, Favre said Monday: “France supports the work of the World Food Programme in Syria, which aims at food security in addition to the rehabilitation of infrastructure throughout the country.”

“We are committed to accompanying Syrian men and women in rebuilding their homeland,” he added.

France’s support for the World Food Programme in Syria comes is a part of international efforts aimed at supporting food security and promoting reconstruction in Syria.

Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani said he held an important meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in New York to discuss ways to strengthen Syrian-American relations, in a post on X on Monday U.S. time.

Al-Shaibani added the talks focused on “the need to lift sanctions and support the Syrian government in the phase of reconstruction and development.”

“We discussed prospects for strategic cooperation in the political, security, and economic fields, as well as ways to develop a balanced relationship that serves the interests of the Syrian people and contributes to achieving stability and prosperity in Syria and the region,” Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani concluded in his post on X.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on X that he met with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa on Monday to discuss “shared goals for a stable and sovereign Syria” and ongoing efforts to bring “security and prosperity to all Syrians.”

Rubio added that the meeting covered the implementation of President Donald Trump’s “historic sanctions relief announcement” and “the importance of Israel-Syria relations.”

Amer Dhawa

Information Minister Dr. Hamza al-Mustafa says President Ahmad al-Sharaa’s visit to the United States is nothing short of historic, signaling Syria’s reemergence on the world stage, according to a post on X on Monday.

Dr. al-Mustafa added that he is “proudly joining the Syrian delegation, led by President Ahmad al-Sharaa, on a historic visit to the United States to attend the United Nations session,”

Dr. al-Mustafa said the visit opened with “an exceptional meeting with the Syrian community,” which he described as offering “a renewed sense of belonging and expressed unwavering support after years of political and geographic expatriation.”

Minister Al-Mustafa highlighted the president’s appearance at the Concordia Summit earlier on Monday, noting that “President al-Sharaa presented a comprehensive vision for the new Syria in a clear and forceful manner that impressed the audience, including his ‘bitter dialogist,’ Gen. David Petraeus.”

Looking ahead, the Minister added that the President’s schedule is full of key engagements. “With a packed schedule and ongoing meetings, President al-Sharaa is preparing to deliver a highly anticipated speech next Wednesday from the world’s top diplomatic tribune, to declare Syria’s return to its rightful place among nations and the restoration of its pioneering role after years of enforced isolation imposed by the former regime.”

“Syria is now moving forward with confident steps toward a better future through active diplomacy and a measured openness to the world, fulfilling the aspirations of its people while honoring their sacrifices and rights,” Minister Al-Mustafa concluded.

Amer Dhawa

President Ahmad al-Sharaa met with Czech President Petr Pavel on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani attended the meeting.

President Ahmad al-Sharaa met with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre during the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly.

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani and several senior Syrian diplomats were present at the meeting.

President Ahmad al-Sharaa inside the United Nations conference hall in New York, seated alongside Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani and the Syrian delegation, listening to speeches during the Two-State Solution Conference.

President Ahmad al-Sharaa arrived Monday at the United Nations headquarters in New York, accompanied by Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani and an official delegation.

The President is set to take part in the Conference on the Two-State Solution, held in conjunction with the UN General Assembly.

Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani met with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly session in New York.

President Ahmad al-Sharaa met Monday with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in New York, as Damascus ramps up efforts to secure sanctions relief and improve relations with Washington.

Syria is pressing for the lifting of U.S. restrictions, including the Caesar Act, which was imposed in response to abuses by the Assad regime.

This marks Rubio’s second meeting with a senior Syrian official. In May, he held talks with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani in Turkey following Trump’s historic May 14 meeting with President al-Sharaa in Saudi Arabia.

President Ahmad al-Sharaa, joined by Foreign Minister, Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani, met with U.S. Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen and a delegation from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

The meeting took place during al-Sharaa’s visit to New York, where he is participating in UNGA events.

Speaking at the Concordia Summit, President al-Sharaa said the future of Syrian-Israeli engagement depends on Israel’s willingness to act.

“The ball is in Israel’s and the international community’s court to determine the negotiating tracks they want to pursue,” al-Sharaa said. “What does Israel want? Does it have security concerns or expansionist ambitions?” President al-Sharaa questioned during a talk where he was joined by former CIA Director David Petraeus in New York on Monday.

The President noted that discussions are underway over a security arrangement based on the 1974 disengagement agreement.

“We have reached advanced stages. I hope it will culminate in an agreement that safeguards Syria’s sovereignty and addresses the security concerns that existed in the past,” al-Sharaa said.

Al-Sharaa contrasted Syria’s position with that of countries that have normalized ties with Israel.

“There is a big difference between Syria and the countries that signed normalization agreements. Israel is still occupying (Syrian) land, while the countries that joined the Abraham Accord had no occupied territory,” he added.

The President accused Israel of carrying out “a thousand airstrikes, destroying many Syrian military and civilian institutions, and more than 400 ground incursions, killing and arresting many people.”

“They bombed the presidential palace twice, which is considered an act of war, yet Syria chose de-escalation. Syria wants to avoid any confrontation, and this is a point that others should respect,” al-Sharaa added, stressing that Syria remains focused on reconstruction rather than war.

The President noted that Damascus is ready to move forward under clear conditions. “We have steps for engagement with Israel. The first is the 1974 security agreement, under which Israel must withdraw to the areas it held then. If Israel has security concerns, they can be discussed and resolved.”

President Ahmad al-Sharaa arrived in New York City on Sunday to begin a historic visit centered on Syria’s return to the global diplomatic stage.

The centerpiece of the visit will be President al-Sharaa’s address to the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday, the first speech by a Syrian president before the UNGA in nearly six decades. His participation marks a major diplomatic milestone for Syria, signaling a new phase of international engagement following years of diplomatic isolation.

Riyadh, SANA

Health ministry stressed Monday that Syria is looking forward to promoting the collaboration with King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center though carrying out health projects that would improve health services.

This came during a meeting brought together Syrian Health minister Musaab al-Ali with senior officials at the center in the capital city of Saudi Arabia.

Minister al-Ali hailed the significant role being taken by the center in easing the suffering of the Syrian people, especially on the humanitarian and emergency domains.

Qatar Charity has distributed 500 food parcels so far to the arrivals from the Sweida Governate to Busra al-Sham city and Jamrin town of Daraa eastern countryside , as a part of the humanitarian efforts to support the displaced families

The aid packages included essential items as rice, sugar, oil along with other food items, aiming to ease living burdens and enhance the families to meet their daily basic needs

This initiative comes as a part of the ongoing humanitarian response to the arrivals, a statement shared with SANA by Mohammad Shadi Mohammad Khair, the field official at the organization, said.

On the 13th of September, a Qatari aid convey entered Sweida Governate vis Busra al-Harir consisting of 10 trucks loaded with flour

Qatar continues to support Syrian people through humanitarian and development projects carried out by official and charitable institutions across various provinces, as part of strengthening bilateral partnership and supporting recovery and reconstruction efforts in Syria.

President Ahmad al-Sharaa met Monday with a group of senior investors and economic experts during a roundtable session organized as part of the Concordia Summit held in New York City.

Anti-Narcotics Department in Aleppo Governorate in collaboration with Internal Security forces arrested Monday members of a narcotics smuggling network, in a precise operation, Interior Ministry said.

The forces seized some 100,000 Captagon pills ready to be distributed across Aleppo province, according to a statement released by the Interior Ministry via its Telegram channel. Legal procedures have been initiated to refer the suspects to the competent judiciary.

Over the past two days, the Anti-Narcotics Branch, in cooperation with Internal Security forces, carried out two raids targeting farms in Afrin and Manbij, Aleppo countryside planting cannabis. The farms owners were taken into custody.

A new European study has found that weight loss drugs can alter taste perception, which may help patients reduce cravings and feel fuller.

The research presented at the Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) in Vienna, Austria shows that some individuals who are taking Ozempic, Wegovy or Mounjaro find that foods taste sweeter or saltier than before.

About 21% of those participating in the real-word study, published in the journal Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, perceived sweetness more intensely and a similar number were more sensitive to salt – and these changes were linked to a reduction in appetite.

Incretin-based therapies such as Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro are widely used for weight management “but their effect on taste perception has been unclear,” says Othmar Moser, of University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Germany, who led the research.

“If changes in taste are linked to greater appetite control and weight loss, this could help clinicians better select therapies, provide more tailored dietary advice and improve long-term treatment outcomes for patients,” he added.

The researchers called for more long-term studies to understand the sensory effects of these drugs, stressing that monitoring taste changes may help doctors monitor