Damascus, June 17 (SANA)Syria is expanding efforts to restore vegetation cover and rehabilitate natural rangelands across theSyrian Badia, a vast steppe region that covers more than half of the country’s territory, as part of long-term programs aimed at combatingdesertification, improvingenvironmental sustainabilityand supporting livestock production. The General Authority for the Management, Development and Protection ofthe Badiasaid it has launched a series of restoration projects focused on plantingdrought-resistant species and improving grazing lands across the Syrian Badia, which covers …

Islamabad, June 17 (SANA)PakistanandChinaon Tuesday welcomed the recent agreement between theUnited StatesandIran, describing it as a positive step toward reducing regional tensions and promoting long-term stability. During a phone call, Pakistani Foreign MinisterMohammad Ishaq Darand Chinese Foreign MinisterWang Yidiscussed bilateral relations as well as regional and international developments, with particular focus on the situation in the Middle East, according to Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry. Both sides stressed the importance of implementing the understandings reached between Washington a…

Occupied Jerusalem, June 17 ( SANA)ThePalestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairswelcomed a report by the United Nations Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, presented to theHuman Rights Councilduring its session inGeneva, describing it as a United Nations document that provides legal documentation of systematic violations and crimes committed by Israeli occupation forces and settlers against the Palestinian people. According to a ministry statement carried by WAFA News Agency on Tuesday, the commission concluded that settler violence constitutes an integral part of the oc…

Damascus, June 17 (SANA)TheSyrian Village Festivalopened on Tuesday atUmayyad GardensinDamascus, bringing together artisans, small-business owners, cultural organizations and entertainment activities in an event aimed at supporting local production and community initiatives. Held under the patronage of Damascus Governorate, the festival will run through July 10 and features around 170 exhibition booths. Organizers said 60 spaces have been allocated free of charge to associations, artisans and family-run businesses as part of efforts to support small-scale economic projects. The event include…

Washington, June 17 (SANA)Erling Haaland scored twice asNorwayopened its 2026FIFA World Cupcampaign with a 4-1 victory overIraqin Group I late Tuesday at Boston Stadium in the United States. Haalandput Norway ahead in the 29th minute and added his second goal before halftime in the 43rd. Iraq briefly pulled level through Ayman Hussein in the 39th minute, but Norway regained control and extended its lead after the break. Leo Østigård scored Norway’s third goal in the 77th minute, while an own goal by Hussein completed the scoring. The win moved Norway to the top of Group I with three points …

New York, June 17 (SANA)United Nations High Commissioner for Human RightsVolker Türksaid anti-personnellandminescontaminate at least 58 countries and territories worldwide, resulting in large numbers of civilian casualties, the majority of whom are children. Agence France-Presse quoted Türk as saying in a statement issued Tuesday: “It is extremely worrying that, nearly 30 years after the adoption of the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Treaty, people are still being killed and injured by these explosive weapons.” He called on all states to commit to ending the production, use and transfer of anti-per…

Damascus, June 17 (SANA)Syria’sMinistry of Healthsaid itsDigital Health Portalrecorded more than 118,000 visits and over 2,100 online appointment bookings during its first two months of operation, as authorities expand digital healthcare services across the country. Statistics released by the ministry showed that the platform registered 118,830 visits and 2,107 booked appointments between April 2 and mid-June, while 114,300 patients enrolled in the system. The portal was launched as part of the ministry’s broader digital transformation strategy aimed at improving access tohealthcare services…

Damascus, June 17, 2026 (SANA)As Muslims around the world mark the beginning of theHijri New Year1448 AH, the 1976 epic filmThe Message(Al-Risalah) remains one of the most influential cinematic portrayals of the rise of Islam and the events that shaped early Islamic history. Directed and produced by Syrian-American filmmakerMoustapha Akkad, the film chronicles the emergence ofIslamand key milestones in the life ofProphet Muhammad without depicting him on screen, in accordance withIslamic tradition. Released in separate Arabic- and English-language versions, the film was an international co-…

Washington, June 17 (SANA)ArgentinadefeatedAlgeria3-0  late Tuesday at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, in the opening round of Group J at the2026 FIFA World Cup. LionelMessigave Argentina the lead in the 17th minute before doubling the advantage in the 60th minute. The Argentine captain completed his hat-trick in the 76th minute to secure victory for his side and earn three points in their first match of the tournament. Argentina compete in Group J alongside Algeria, Jordan and Austria. The victory places Argentina in a strong position at the start of the group-stage competition.

Evian, June 16 (SANA)G7 leaders, meeting at the Evian Summit inFranceon Tuesday, called for a strong and coordinated response to contain the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, warning that the epidemic has not yet peaked and could continue for another year. In a joint statement published on X, the leaders said the outbreak poses health security risks in the DRC and Uganda and called for efforts to prevent its global spread. Leaders' call for a coordinated response to the Bundibugyo ebola outrbreak:https://t.co/deKf0qEP15 The statement noted that the outbreak is c…

Damascus, June.16 (SANA)Syria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and ExpatriatesAsaad Hassan al-Shaibanimet on Tuesday with a delegation from theEuropean Unionconcerned with human rights affairs, headed by the EU Special Representative for Human Rights, Kajsa Ollongren. The meeting discussed Syrian-European relations and joint efforts aimed at supporting regional stability. The two sides also exchanged views on cooperation in the field of human rights and ways to enhance dialogue and coordination on issues of mutual interest.

Lattakia, June. 16 (SANA)SyrianInternal Security ForcesinLattakiasaid on Tuesday they had arrested a former non-commissioned officer accused of involvement in abuses committed during the rule of thedeposed regime. In a statement, Brig. Gen.Abdul Aziz Hilal al-Ahmad, head of Internal Security in Lattakia, said security forces detained Osama Mahmoud Hamouda, following what he described as an extensive surveillance and monitoring operation. Authorities said Hamouda had attempted to leave Syria with the assistance of criminal networks before being apprehended. The statement accused Hamouda of p…

Damascus, June. 16 (SANA)TheSyrian Petroleum Company(SPC) denied reports circulating about the entry of Australia’s AXP Energy into Syria’s oil and gas sector or the signing of any accord with the company. In a statement published on its Telegram channel on Tuesday, the company stated that any agreements, partnerships, or investment projects related to Syria’s oil and gas sector are announced exclusively through the company’s official channels and in accordance with the applicable legal and institutional frameworks. The company called on media outlets and news platforms to rely on official s…

Bern, June 16 (SANA)The Swiss Foreign Ministry announced Tuesday that the signing ceremony for the memorandum of understanding between theUnited Statesand Iran will be held on Friday at the Bürgenstock resort in central Switzerland, citing the venue’s difficult accessibility and high security requirements, according to AFP. The ministry said the signing ceremony will take place at a luxury hotel on Mount Bürgenstock overlooking Lake Lucerne, adding that the location was chosen on the recommendation of Pakistani and Qatari mediators and with the approval of both the United States andIran, AFP …

Berlin, June 16 (SANA)Syrian student Bilal Kreidi, 16, has achieved a remarkable accomplishment after winning first place in Germany in the Mathematical Kangaroo international competition, which involved more than 12,600 schools and 881,000 students. Following this success, Bilal began producing educational content on TikTok and other platforms, posting simplified math lessons covering five levels ranging from fifth grade to advanced levels. His videos have gained widespread popularity among students. In an interview with SANA on Tuesday, Bilal said his primary goal is to help students under…

Aleppo, June 16 (SANA)Aleppo Governor Azzam al-Gharib laid the foundation stone on Tuesday for the Western Ring Road investment project (Plot 5), in the presence of representatives from theSyrian Investment Authorityand a number of investors, the governorate said. Investment plots were handed over to mark the start of construction work on the project, which aims to enhance the investment environment in the city, create new job opportunities and support reconstruction and economic development efforts. Hazem Lutfi, head of the Syrian Investment Authority branch inAleppo, told SANA that the pro…

Damascus, June 16 (SANA)Minister of Economy and Industry Nidal al-Shaar met with Syria’s charge d’affaires to Saudi Arabia Mohsen Mahbash in Damascus on Tuesday to discuss ways to enhanceeconomic cooperationbetween the two countries, the ministry said. The meeting, held at the ministry’s headquarters, addressed prospects for developing economic relations withSaudi Arabia, expanding trade and investment exchange, and strengthening institutional coordination mechanisms to support mutual interests and open broader opportunities for economic partnership, the ministry said. Both sides stressed th…

Idlib, June 16 (SANA)IdlibGovernor Mohammad Abdulrahman met with a number of local dignitaries and community figures to discuss various social and service issues, the governorate said Tuesday. The meeting was attended by Presidential Adviser for Media Affairs Ahmed Zaidan, Internal Security Commander Brig. Gen. Ghassan Bakir, and Deputy Defense Minister Brig. Gen. Ahmed Issa al-Sheikh. The discussions addressed a range of community and service-related matters, with officials listening to residents’ demands and answering their inquiries. Participants stressed the importance of strengthening c…

Damascus, June 16 (SANA)As part of efforts to combat desertification, Syrian government agencies in cooperation with international organizations are implementing specialized projects and programs, including water harvesting and rehabilitation of degraded lands, to enhance the sustainability of natural resources and mitigate the effects of climate change and drought amid growing environmental challenges in the region. Water harvesting to support agricultural production Mohammad Manhal al-Zoubi, director of natural resources research at the General Authority for Scientific Agricultural Researc…

Moscow/Kyiv, June 16 (SANA)TheRussia-Ukraine warentered a new phase of escalation on Tuesday, with Ukraine striking a major oil refinery in Moscow and Russia claiming new advances in Donetsk, as political calls to end the conflict resurfaced on the sidelines of theG7 summitin France. Ukraine strikes Moscow oil refinery Ukrainian PresidentVolodymyr Zelenskyyconfirmed that Ukrainian forces struck the Moscow Oil Refinery in the Kapotnya district using long-range weapons, according to a post on his Telegram channel cited by multiple news agencies. Zelenskyy described the operation as a “just res…