SANA - Syrian Arab News Agency

A three-day charity market titled “Made with Love” opened in Aleppo on Saturday, bringing together 230 artisans and entrepreneurs showcasing handicrafts, traditional foods, and innovative small-scale projects.

The event, organized by the “White Heart Foundation for Development” in cooperation with the Aleppo Chamber of Commerce, at Sheraton Aleppo Hotel aims to support local producers and revive traditional industries through direct engagement with consumers.

Deputy Chairman of Aleppo Chamber of Commerce, Hussein Issa, talking to SANA reporter, described the market as both a humanitarian and economic initiative that helps strengthen the position of Syrian-made products while encouraging the exchange of ideas among participants.

Houri Ousep Kouchkerian, head of the “White Heart Foundation”, said the initiative offers an important platform for small and micro-business owners to market their products and expand their visibility in the local market.

Participants said that the event provides a valuable opportunity to showcase cultural diversity and creativity. Artisan Ismail Khaseem, who demonstrated handloom weaving at his booth, said such events help preserve Aleppo’s heritage and connect it with younger generations through new creative approaches.

Local businesses are joined by exhibitors and representatives from Turkey, China, and Armenia, highlighting growing regional interest in Aleppo’s recovering economic scene.

Founded in 2022, the “White Heart Foundation” focuses on empowering women entrepreneurs, supporting community development, and providing humanitarian assistance across Syria.

LocalSyrian Minister of Local Administration and Environment, Mohammed Anjrani, met with Ruslan Edelgeriev, the Russian Presidential Adviser on Climate Affairs, on the sidelines of the COP30 Climate Summit held in Belém, Brazil.

The meeting addressed the challenges of climate change and explored mechanisms to strengthen global efforts aimed at reducing pollution and protecting the environment.

MHD Ibrahim

Syrian swimmer Inana Suleiman won the bronze medal in the 400-meter individual medley at the sixth Islamic Solidarity Games in Riyadh on Saturday, marking Syria’s first medal of the tournament.

Suleiman completed the race in 5 minutes, 6.11 seconds, securing third place.

The achievement highlights Syria’s presence in the multi-sport event, which brings together athletes from Islamic nations across a variety of disciplines.

Amer Dhawa

The Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC) has launched a winter relief campaign to distribute essential supplies to Sweida displaced families residing in shelters and gatherings across the villages of the eastern countryside of Daraa province.

Aid teams provided winter clothing kits—including blankets, coats for men and women, and children’s apparel.

According to SARC’s Daraa branch head Ahmad Al-Masalmeh, the organization is working to meet the urgent needs of displaced families and is fully mobilized to overcome logistical challenges.

Local authorities, including the Bosra al-Sham City Council and Syria’s Ministry of Emergency and Disaster Management, are coordinating efforts to ensure access to basic services. Council member Abdel Hamid Al-Dous confirmed the distribution of 136 aid packages in Jamreen and 420 in Ghasm.

The Daraa branch of SARC has distributed thousands of aid packages to Sweida families in recent weeks, as part of its ongoing mission to support vulnerable populations across Syria.

Syrian Minister of Information Hamza Al-Mustafa met with a group of journalists and media professionals in Hama province on Saturday to discuss strategies for advancing the country’s media landscape and addressing the challenges facing both public and private sector journalists.

The meeting focused on proposals to modernize media institutions, improve working conditions, and strengthen the role of journalism in Syria’s evolving public discourse. Participants shared ideas aimed at fostering a more dynamic and supportive media environment.

Qusai Al-Shabib, Director of Media in Hama, noted that the dialogue also coincided with preparations for the upcoming “Sacrifice for Hama” campaign. The minister reviewed suggestions from local journalists on how to effectively organize and promote the initiative.

The visit is part of a broader effort by the Ministry of Information to engage directly with regional media professionals and incorporate their insights into national media development plans.

Syria’s Interior Ministry, in coordination with the General Intelligence Directorate, has launched a large-scale security operation across several provinces targeting ISIS cells, the ministry said on Saturday.

The operation, based on intelligence gathered through weeks of surveillance, led to the dismantling of several networks, the arrest of multiple suspects, and the seizure of materials linked to terrorist activity.

According to the ministry’s statement on its official Telegram channel, the operation is part of ongoing national efforts to combat terrorism and protect public safety.

The ministry added that the operation underscores coordination between security agencies and their proactive approach to addressing threats, reinforcing the government’s commitment to national security and stability.

The humanitarian organization Ghiras Al-Kaeer, in partnership with the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center, has launched a new initiative titled “Basmat Amal” (A Smile of Hope) to support orphans and their families across Syria.

The initiative aims to provide comprehensive care for 900 orphaned children aged 5 to 13 in Idlib, Homs, and Damascus countryside. The support includes healthcare, psychological services, and monthly financial assistance for one year.

Speaking at the launch event in Damascus, officials from Syria’s Ministry of Emergency and Disaster Management and the Office for Women’s Affairs emphasized the importance of empowering vulnerable children and strengthening social cohesion in post-conflict communities.

Ghiras Al-Kaeer Executive Director Abbas Shams al-Din highlighted the project’s goal of integrating orphans into society through sustainable family support and educational programs.

The event featured a project overview video and a panel discussion on post-war orphan care, with experts calling for coordinated efforts to ensure full protection and integration of vulnerable children.

Founded in 2014, Ghiras Al-Khair has operated in northern Syria, Turkey, and Lebanon, focusing on orphan sponsorship and humanitarian relief throughout the conflict years.

Israeli forces on Saturday carried out new incursions into the villages of Ajraf and Rasm al-Halabi in the central Quneitra countryside.
According to SANA’s reporter in Quneitra, four Israeli military vehicles moved from the Adnaniya point toward Ajraf village.
Another patrol consisting of four Humvees and two Hilux vehicles moved from Zubeida village toward Ruihina, eventually reaching Rasm al-Halabi.
Israel continues its violations of Syrian territory, breaching the 1974 Disengagement Agreement, international law, and relevant UN resolutions. Syria condemns these aggressions and calls on the international community to take urgent action to stop them.

Syrian Minister of Local Administration and Environment, Mohammad Anjarani, participated in the third thematic session of the COP30 Climate Summit held in Belém, Brazil.

The session, titled “Ten Years of the Paris Agreement: Nationally Determined Contributions and Climate Finance,” brought together global policymakers and environmental leaders to assess progress on climate commitments and explore funding mechanisms for sustainable development.

Three people were killed and at least four others injured on Saturday in a series of Israeli airstrikes targeting southern Lebanon, according to the Lebanese Health Emergency Operations Center.

The Lebanese National News Agency reported that an Israeli drone strike hit two brothers from Shebaa while they were traveling on the road connecting Ain Ata to Shebaa near the western slope of Mount Hermon, setting their four-wheel-drive vehicle on fire and resulting in their deaths.

In a separate airstrike, another civilian was killed and four others were injured in Baraachit, Bint Jbeil district.

The strikes come amid ongoing Israeli airstrikes following threats to escalate military operations in southern Lebanon.

Syrian security forces have arrested Assef Mohsen Younes Mohammad, a former non-commissioned officer in the State Security branch of Lattakia province, for his alleged involvement in human rights abuses during the previous regime.

A statement from the Ministry of Interior on its official Telegram channel said preliminary investigations link Mohammad to multiple offenses against civilians, including arbitrary detention, enforced disappearances, and financial and sexual extortion.

The arrest took place in the coastal town of Jableh as part of a coordinated operation by the Directorate of Internal Security and the Counterterrorism Unit.
The ministry said Mohammad has been referred to judicial authorities for further investigation and legal proceedings.

Syrian Minister of Tourism Mazen al-Salhani met with his Saudi counterpart Ahmed Aqeel Al-Khateeb in Riyadh to explore avenues for enhancing tourism cooperation between Syria and Saudi Arabia.

During the meeting, the two ministers discussed strategies to support investment projects in the tourism sector and emphasized the importance of exchanging expertise in destination management and joint marketing initiatives.

Both sides underscored the need to streamline procedures that would facilitate the revival of Syria’s tourism industry and restore its position on the regional and international tourism map.

The Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza said Saturday that it had received the bodies of 45 Palestinians from the Israeli authorities through the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), bringing the total number of bodies received to 300 since the start of the process.

The ministry said in a statement that 89 of the 300 bodies have been identified so far, while forensic teams continue examinations and documentation before handing them over to the families.

The ministry affirmed that its medical and forensic teams are handling the remains in accordance with humanitarian and legal procedures, in coordination with the Red Cross.

Syrian Minister of Tourism, Mazen al-Salhani, met on Saturday with Jordanian Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Imad Hijazin, on the sidelines of the 26th General Assembly of the World Tourism Organization in Riyadh.

The two officials discussed aspects of enhancing tourism cooperation between both countries and setting joint mechanisms to facilitate travel and tourism between Syria and Jordan.

President Ahmad Al-Sharaa accepted an invitation from several Syrian families residing in the city of Belém, Brazil, to sit with them at a local café in the city center, on the sidelines of his participation in the COP30 Climate Summit.

The meeting took place in a friendly atmosphere as attendees expressed their great joy at meeting President Al-Sharaa, affirming their pride in their homeland despite years of living abroad.

Mazen

Displaced people of Shuyukh town, north of Aleppo, staged a sit-in on Saturday in Jarabulus city, protest against Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) practices and demanding a safe return to their hometown

The protestors pointed out to the difficult conditions they have endured for many years as they were prevented from returning to their areas by the “SDF” forces, which led to their displacement to temporary housing complexes in the cities of Jarabulus and Manbij.

They also affirmed that the right to return is a legitimate issue, yet it is being confiscated by the “SDF” forces through a bitter deprivation that affects the lives of hundreds of displaced residents amid a dire humanitarian situation.

On October 31, thousands of citizens participated in protest rallies organized in several Syrian provinces, where they expressed their rejection of the practices of the “SDF” forces and their violations against the people of al- Jazira region.

Turkey on Friday issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and many other Israeli officials on Gaza genocide.

The warrants were issued upon a request by Istanbul chief public prosecutor’s office, which said in a statement that in view of the systematic genocide and crimes against humanity committed by Israel in Gaza, thousands of people, including women and children, have lost their lives, thousands more have been injured, and residential areas have been rendered unusable.

Hamas welcomed the Turkish court decision and said in statement that the step reflects genuine positions of the Turkish people and leadership in standing firmly by justice, humanity and the bonds of brotherhood that unite them “with our oppressed Palestinian people, who have faced one of the most brutal genocidal wars in modern history at the hands of the fascist occupation leaders.”

President Ahmad al-Sharaa met a delegation of the Syrian community in Brazil late Friday, on the sidelines of the official visit to Brazil to participate in the Climate Summit (COP30).
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani also attended the meeting.

Minister of Information Hamza al-Mustafa affirmed that Syria has emerged from a period of exception and is returning to normalcy after years of isolation.

He noted that President Ahmad al-Sharaa ’s participation in the COP30 Climate Summit in Brazil reflects Syria’s renewed engagement on the international stage and its commitment to playing a balanced and active role in global affairs.

The upcoming visit of President al-Sharaa to Washington and his meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump is historic and marks a new chapter in Syrian-American relations, Minister al-Mustafa stated in an exclusive interview with Syrian News Channel on Friday.

He explained that Syrian diplomacy is working tirelessly to lift the Caesar Act and other sanctions imposed on the country due to their direct impact on the national economy and citizens’ livelihoods.

Al-Mustafa pointed out that the U.S. maintains a military presence in Syria due to the war against ISIS, and this reality must be approached pragmatically. He added that President Trump’s administration views Syria’s new leadership as a capable partner for achieving stability, emphasizing that there is a genuine opportunity to strengthen Syrian-American cooperation across political, economic, security, and military domains.

The minister stated that Syria’s announcement of joining the international coalition against ISIS, currently comprising 89 countries, is a natural step, given the coalition’s political nature. He said this move aligns with Syria’s policy and its constructive engagement with its surroundings.

Al-Mustafa added that it is important to recall that Syrian revolutionary forces were the first to confront ISIS in 2013, prior to the international coalition’s intervention, and made significant sacrifices. However, the political outcomes of that confrontation favored other groups, such as the Syrian Democratic Forces. Today, the government is working to redefine these issues and correct the course to preserve national unity and prevent division or secessionist agendas.

The information minister noted that Israel has carried out over a thousand airstrikes and five hundred ground incursions into Syrian territory, describing these actions as full-scale aggression and a blatant violation of national sovereignty. He stressed that Syria will continue to defend its legitimate rights through diplomatic and legal means to achieve security and stability and reach a security agreement that ensures withdrawal from occupied lands.

Regarding domestic affairs, Al-Mustafa clarified that kidnapping incidents in the country are limited and represent isolated cases of social violence that emerged following the end of authoritarian rule. He stated that the Ministry of Interior is closely monitoring these cases and distinguishes between criminal and politically motivated abductions. He affirmed that the state bears responsibility for addressing social violence and protecting citizens, expressing solidarity with all those affected across various provinces.

On the media front, the minister asserted that the level of freedom in Syria today is high and surpasses that of neighboring countries. He said Syrian media is being rebuilt on new foundations of professionalism, transparency, and national responsibility. He noted that government media, known for its accuracy and credibility, currently captures around 35 percent of public attention.

Economically, Al-Mustafa pointed out that electricity subsidies under the previous regime were superficial and drained nearly one billion dollars annually. He explained that the first residential tier of 300 kilowatts remains subsidized at 60 percent of production cost. The reduction in industrial tariffs aims to revitalize the sector, reduce unemployment, and lower the prices of goods and services. He emphasized that the new electricity plan seeks to improve service and ease the burden on citizens within a balanced developmental vision.

Regarding the Sweida file, the Minister of Information underlined that the government has committed to transparency and accountability in ongoing investigations. He acknowledged that some violations occurred and pledged to hold those responsible accountable. He noted that admitting mistakes is a first step toward building trust and strengthening the path of reform and accountability in the new Syria.

MHD Ibrahim