Damascus, Sept. 8 (SANA)Syria is preparing to launch a national platform aimed at organizing volunteer work and social responsibility initiatives, creating a centralized database to better identify community needs and direct resources across the country. The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority on Tuesday held a preparatory workshop at the Ebla al-Sham Hotel inDamascusto discuss the platform’s launch, with representatives from government ministries and public-sector institutions taking part. The workshop introduced participants to the platform’s services and operating mechanism…

Rome, Sept 08 (SANA)Inter Milan suffered a major setback on Monday ahead of their highly anticipated clash with Spanish sideReal Madridin the opening round of theUEFA Champions League, after it was confirmed that star Federico Dimarco will miss the match atSantiago Bernabéu Stadiumin Madrid, Spain.Dimarco’s absence represents a significant technical loss forInter coach Cristian Chivu, given the exceptional performances the player delivered recently and his winning of the Serie A Player of the Year award for the 2025-26 season.Dimarco enjoyed a historic season, scoring seven goals and providing…

Occupied Jerusalem, Sept. 8 (SANA)The death toll from the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023, has risen to 73,662, with 174,627 others injured, thePalestinian Health Ministrysaid Tuesday. The ministry said in a statement on Telegram that hospitals across the Gaza Strip had received four bodies and five injured people over the past 24 hours. It added that 1,355 Palestinians had been killed and 4,516 injured since the ceasefire took effect on October 10, 2025. A number of victims remain trapped under rubble and on roads, with ambulance and civil defense crews still unable to …

Muscat, Sept. 8 (SANA)Oman andRwandasigned two agreements and six memoranda of understanding on Tuesday, expanding cooperation in areas including investment, agriculture, logistics and trade during Rwandan President Paul Kagame’s official visit to the Gulf state. The agreements include reciprocal visa exemptions for holders of diplomatic, service and special passports and an accord aimed at eliminating double taxation, the Oman News Agency (ONA) reported. Omani Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad al-Busaidi and his Rwandan counterpart Olivier Nduhungirehe signed the agreements alongside other mi…

Beijing, Sept. 8 (SANA)The Syrian Embassy in Beijing held a reception marking the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Syria and the People’s Republic ofChina. The event was attended by Chinese ViceForeign Minister Miao Deyu, senior Chinese officials, heads and members of diplomatic missions, and representatives of the Syrian-Chinese Business Council and economic, academic and cultural institutions. MohammadZakaria Lababidi, chargé d’affaires of the Syrian Embassy in China and minister plenipotentiary, said the anniversary reflected the depth of the historica…

London, Sept. 8 (SANA)The United Kingdom announced Tuesday that it will ban imports of goods from illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories and introduce a comprehensive sanctions regime targeting individuals and companies involved in settlement expansion. British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband told the House of Commons that legislation implementing the measures would be in place within six to nine months, according to a statement published by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). Miliband said the UK government believes the unlawfulness of the …

Damascus, Sep. 8 (SANA)Director of the Department of Expatriates and Refugees at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates NahlaOthmanmet Tuesday with International Organization for Migration (IOM) Mission Chief in Syria Ash Carl to discuss coordination on Syrian refugees and efforts to facilitate their voluntary return. The two sides reviewed ways to strengthen coordination on refugee-related issues and ensure voluntary returns, while underscoring the importance of national efforts to create suitable conditions for their return.

Damascus, Sept. 8 (SANA)Through skilled craftsmanship, Syrian artisans convert wartime shell and ammunition casings into intricate Oriental art pieces, preserving collective Syrian memory while preventing these historical artifacts from being melted into scrap metal. In his Damascus workshop specializing in antiques and traditional metalwork, artisan Basel Baqbouq leverages generations of family expertise in copper carving and engraving to repurpose military remnants without erasing their history. An ancient craft and indelible memory The practice of transforming war remnants into art withi…

Damascus, Sep. 8 (SANA)President Ahmadal-Sharaaissued Decree No. 167 of 2026, introducing exceptional measures governing university students’ academic progression and supplementary examinations for the 2025-2026 academicyear. Under the decree, a student may advance to the next academic year if they have failed up to eight courses, whether administrative or non-administrative, from different years of study. The provision applies only to the 2025-2026 academic year, with the special regulations governing the faculties of architecture and fine arts to be observed. The decree also allows prepara…

Washington, SEPT 8(SANA)U.S. President Donald Trump threatened Monday to block the sale of Canadian aircraft maker Bombardier’s aircraft in the United States, hours before Canada was due to impose retaliatory tariffs on a range of U.S. products.In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said: “We will no longer allowBombardier aircraftto be sold in the United States,” without specifying the measures his administration intends to take to implement the threat.Trump said Bombardier aircraft and Canadian products do not meet the required standards, noting that more than half of the company’s re…

Damascus, Sept. 8 (SANA)The “Naqel” dialogue workshop opened in Damascus on Tuesday to discuss the development and regulation of app-based transport services and the role of digital technologies in delivering safer, more efficient and sustainable mobility. Junior Chamber International (JCI) Damascus organized the workshop in cooperation with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) at the Golden Mazzeh Hotel. Transport Minister Yarub Badr and Communications and Information Technology Minister Abdul Salam Haykal attended the event. Discussions focused on the current state of app-based …

Aden, Sept. 8 (SANA)Yemen’s Information MinisterMuammar al-Eryanihas thanked Syrians for launching a social media campaign supporting Yemen and celebrating advances byYemeni forcesseeking to restore state institutions and endHouthi militiacontrol.Al-Eryani said on X that Syrians’ messages and images in traditional Yemeni attire reflected the deep ties between two peoples who had experienced repression and understood the value of freedom and national sovereignty.The campaign began inSyriabefore spreading to Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries. Participants described it as a gesture of appreci…

La Paz, Sept. 8 (SANA)The death toll from two explosions at a military base near Bolivia’s capital has risen to nine, while rescue teams continue searching for seven missing soldiers, authorities said.Bolivia’s Defense Ministry said a ninth body was recovered from the rubble Monday afternoon and transferred to a morgue for identification. The victims included a sergeant and eight young conscripts performing mandatory military service.Bolivian Army Commander Hector Alarcon said seven people remained unaccounted for, down from the 14 initially reported missing. Many were conscripts aged 18 and 1…

Geneva, Sept. 8 (SANA)Syria is advancing efforts on justice and accountability while strengthening cooperation with the International Commission of Inquiry and international organizations, Syria’s representative to the U.N. Human Rights CouncilYasser al-Farhansaid. Addressing aHuman Rights Councilmeeting, Al-Farhan saidSyriawas pursuing justice and accountability without discrimination, highlighting recent judicial measures against a number of key criminals. He said theCriminal Courtspecialized in transitional justice has ruled on five cases and is reviewing 12 others, while 69 files are bef…

Kyiv Sept. 08 (SANA)Ukrainian PresidentVolodymyr Zelenskysaid Russia has expressed readiness to resume negotiations over the war in Ukraine, while the United States is putting forward ideas aimed at de-escalating the situation before or during the winter.In an interview with the U.S. website Axios, Zelensky said U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff andJared Kushnertold him, following their recent talks in Moscow, thatthe Russian sidewas ready to negotiate and discuss ideas that could move the negotiating process forward.Zelensky said Washington had put forward several proposals involving possible steps t…

Damascus, Sept. 08 (SANA)One person was killed and 18 others injured intraffic accidentsacrossSyriaover the past 24 hours, according to theSyrian Civil Defenseat theMinistry of Emergency and Disaster Management.The Civil Defense said Tuesday in a statement posted on its Telegram channel that its teams responded to 15 traffic accidents across the country, which left one person dead and 18 others injured.The injured received first aid before being transferred to hospitals for necessary treatment. Civil Defense teams cleared the aftermath of the accidents and secured the affected sites.The Civil …

Geneva, Sept. 8 (SANA)TheIndependent International Commissionof Inquiry on Syria welcomed accelerating reconstruction efforts inSyriaand progress in building accountability institutions, stressing the importance of accountability to the country’stransitional justiceprocess.In remarks before theUnited Nations Human Rights Council, the Commission said accountability is essential to the success of transitional justice in Syria.The Commission also welcomed the renewal of its mandate and thanked the Syrian government for enabling it to carry out its mission.Turning to developments in southern Syria…

Kuwait, Sept. 8 (SANA)Kuwaiti Foreign MinisterSheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-SabahandPakistaniDeputy Prime Minister and Foreign MinisterMohammad Ishaq Dardiscussed the latest regional developments during a phone call on Monday. TheKuwaitiForeign Ministry said on X that the two ministers reviewed efforts aimed at strengthening security and stability in the region, as well as bilateral cooperation and ways to further develop relations between the two countries. Pakistan’s Foreign Office said the ministers discussed bilateral relations and cooperation in areas of mutual interest and exchanged …

Damascus, Sept. 8 (SANA)More than 20,000 job opportunities are being offered at a major employment forum inDamascus, bringing together dozens of local, regional and international companies asSyriaseeks to connect job seekers with employment opportunities and the skills demanded by thelabor market. The fifth edition of the Job Opportunities Forum, organized by the Human Resources Management Foundation in coordination with the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor, opened Tuesday at the Seven Gates Hotel in Damascus. More than 54 local, regional and international companies are participating alo…

Washington, Sept. 8 (SANA)Dolly Parton’s sisterStellahas urged social media users to stop circulating what she called “fake AI garbage” following the death of the country music star, the BBC reported. Parton died on August 25 at the age of 80, prompting tributes online and at locations including the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville. Known as the “Queen of Country,” Dolly Parton was one of the most successful country music performers in history. The American singer-songwriter and actress was also widely recognized for her cultural influence and philanthropy through Dollywood and the Do…