SYRIANNEWS — broadcast 20261012 150000 UTC 455 transcript segments Google Cloud Speech-to-Text API (Chirp) + Gemini 2.5 Flash Non-Thinking Data courtesy of The GDELT Project (https://www.gdeltproject.org/), from the Internet Archive TV News Archive. Machine transcription. Treat it as a searchable index of what was broadcast, not a verbatim quotation record. [00:00:01] Flotilla, which never [00:00:17] it will be the beginning [00:00:30] Syrian News Channel viewers and welcome to a new episode of [00:00:33] your program, Astoria. Here are the main headlines of this [00:00:37] episode. [00:00:41] clarity and responsibility Wide interaction with a meeting that brought together President Ahmed [00:00:43] Al-Sharaa and a delegation of experts in the technology sector [00:00:46] in Damascus. [00:00:49] From this [00:00:50] gained prominence last Welcome to the operation of a bus line to Damascus [00:00:52] International Airport. Commendation for the delivery of a boat [00:00:56] belonging to the Freedom Flotilla to its owner after [00:01:00] sources. Thank you, President, for it was found near Arwad Island. [00:01:14] Most of us watched yesterday on social media platforms [00:01:17] scenes of [00:01:19] a missing and stray boat the meeting between President Ahmed Al-Sharaa and a group [00:01:22] of young people, in the presence of the Minister of Communications, at the People's Palace, [00:01:26] The General Directorate of Ports impounded where the discussion revolved around the technological [00:01:29] digital reality in Syria and the importance [00:01:32] of developing it. Let's listen. It's a very [00:01:35] big sea, as you know, its field [00:01:38] research that this is wide, and Syria is very qualified not just to serve [00:01:41] it by providing digital services, but it is [00:01:44] qualified to be a hub in itself and its location [00:01:48] of Ports, contacted allows for this. It has strong human resources, [00:01:52] it has a large youth age group, more than 50% of [00:01:55] the Syrian people are under 25 years old. So this [00:02:02] scene of the meeting made many people wonder: [00:02:06] who are these people? These [00:02:09] was conducting a field tour in are Syrian experts and specialists in the technology [00:02:12] that affected multiple aspects of and innovation sector, including a number of employees in global [00:02:16] technology companies, in addition to entrepreneurs, [00:02:19] investors, and researchers in technical [00:02:22] fields. Most of the delegation members arrived from outside [00:02:26] the country a few days ago to participate in [00:02:29] the conference. Synch 2026, [00:02:33] which launched a few days ago at the [00:02:36] Opera House. Most of them gained their experience abroad. [00:02:39] The conference witnessed wide participation, [00:02:42] exceeding two thousand young men and women. [00:02:46] Also, let's now return [00:02:49] as they are intercepted to the meeting with Mr. President. This meeting was not limited to [00:02:53] He arrived, he arrived. God bless talking about technological [00:02:54] few days ago covered development and the importance of digital infrastructure only, but [00:02:57] also addressed the opportunities available to young people [00:03:01] Jawdah wrote on in this field in the new Syria, based on [00:03:04] several factors: weak infrastructure and Syria's geographical [00:03:07] location. Let's listen. [00:03:10] First of all, our geographical location, secondly, that we don't have a digital infrastructure [00:03:13] in Syria in the first place, so this helped bring in [00:03:17] the latest developments in [00:03:19] Airport transport service is one the world. So it's better than having something built from [00:03:21] scratch that has reached medium [00:03:24] or weak generations and replacing it, [00:03:27] this will incur a lot of costs. [00:03:31] So our geographical location is very good. You know there's a huge opportunity in Syria [00:03:34] and rebuilding from scratch. So this is very good because [00:03:38] we have the challenge of the first five years. [00:03:41] So it contains the foundations on which the future [00:03:44] of the state will be built. So if it's built [00:03:47] correctly, it will definitely continue for a long [00:03:52] percentage, and imagine its effect on time. Indeed, the opportunities are great [00:03:55] in Syria, and in our current era of artificial intelligence [00:03:58] and technology, anyone from anywhere [00:04:02] can obtain any information they want [00:04:04] and express their opinion on any topic through social [00:04:08] added to the media platforms. But is that always positive? [00:04:11] The President touched on this matter [00:04:15] during his meeting. Let's listen. We also need something [00:04:19] with the fare clarified from important, which is the presence of ethical [00:04:22] and moral values alongside [00:04:24] showed their appreciation. The brothers in the expansion of the digital state, [00:04:26] the governorate, and we, God willing, within since social media had an important aspect and [00:04:30] Facebook: It might also some somewhat negative aspects [00:04:33] and somewhat negatively affected youth awareness, [00:04:36] and it is a very large source of reception, [00:04:39] before or after the garage or on and sometimes it exceeds human capabilities in the amount [00:04:43] of information that is presented to the human mind on a daily basis, [00:04:47] more perhaps than what was presented to [00:04:50] the philosophers of ancient times in their entire [00:04:53] lives. But this also has [00:04:56] negative consequences because it leads to un-focused information, which results [00:05:00] in half-educated [00:05:02] of Compliance and Quality Management at people, so he knows everything but specializes in nothing. [00:05:06] And you, our viewers, how [00:05:10] did you comment on the President's statements and his meeting with [00:05:13] the delegation of experts? Let's start with Amir's comment, who wrote [00:05:17] on Facebook: The President's words during the meeting [00:05:21] were very precise. Freedom of information access is a double-edged [00:05:24] sword. Without awareness, credibility, [00:05:27] and verification, we need responsible media and an aware [00:05:30] citizen. Mazen commented on X: [00:05:34] Syrians always prove that Syrian [00:05:37] human resources are capable of making [00:05:40] a difference in all fields. Shams commented on [00:05:44] X: It was an important meeting and [00:05:48] the President's speech was strong and optimistic, praising [00:05:51] Syrian competencies and youth, and opening a real [00:05:55] hope. The praise and the greatest impact comes [00:05:58] from actions on the ground. Nasser commented [00:06:01] and wrote: Our only weapon is to spread [00:06:05] digital culture and educate the recipient not [00:06:08] to believe everything written or published without reliable [00:06:13] the valuable remark in his speech. We conclude with what [00:06:16] Nour Al-Sayed wrote on X: The most important thing [00:06:20] is that confronting these [00:06:22] digital challenges is not through censorship alone, [00:06:26] but by building critical awareness among [00:06:30] the public and enhancing the culture of verification, [00:06:33] because the citizen who knows how to read [00:06:36] the news and distinguish between sources is the real [00:06:40] fortress against misinformation. [00:06:47] Minister of Communications, Abdul Salam Haikal, confirmed that work is underway [00:06:51] to connect Syria to the world and gather the expertise of Syrians [00:06:54] in various countries, and in parallel with [00:06:57] developing telecommunications networks and improving the quality of services [00:07:00] to provide better opportunities for youth [00:07:04] and meet the daily [00:07:06] needs of citizens. [00:07:18] After liberation, Damascus International Airport witnessed [00:07:21] changes and improvements [00:07:25] the services provided to travelers. [00:07:27] Many problems were addressed, but one problem remained [00:07:31] that recurred with a number of travelers, which was [00:07:34] going to and from the airport. This [00:07:37] problem is not about distance nor necessarily about the type [00:07:41] of car, but about the destination itself. [00:07:45] As soon as the destination is Damascus [00:07:48] International Airport, the taxi fare can change [00:07:51] significantly compared to a trip [00:07:54] of a similar distance to another place. It can [00:07:58] sometimes even exceed the cost of an [00:08:01] airline ticket. But it seems that the General Authority for Civil Aviation [00:08:04] and Air Transport has found a solution, as it announced [00:08:08] the launch of a dedicated bus line for transporting [00:08:11] passengers from Baramkeh garage in Damascus [00:08:14] to Damascus International Airport in both directions. Flights [00:08:18] from Baramkeh garages start at 6 [00:08:21] AM and continue at specific times until [00:08:25] 4 AM, meaning flights are [00:08:28] almost around the clock. [00:08:31] of the things that concerns travelers. So how [00:08:35] do you evaluate this step, and how [00:08:38] was the interaction with it, especially since many [00:08:42] visitors to Syria and expatriates [00:08:45] are completely gone? Our first comment is from [00:08:49] Diaa on Facebook. [00:08:51] An excellent step. We hope to establish [00:08:55] more than one starting point within Damascus and Aleppo [00:08:58] towards the airports. An important step to get rid of [00:09:01] the greed of some taxi drivers. Hilal [00:09:04] commented and said: An excellent [00:09:07] initiative for the freedom of choice of the traveler, companion, [00:09:10] and future means of transport that [00:09:13] suits them. Ahmed Shukair wrote [00:09:16] and commented: A nice step that makes it much easier [00:09:20] for travelers, especially those who don't have a car or [00:09:23] want to avoid private transport costs. I wish the [00:09:27] timings were accurate and the service regular, [00:09:32] the beginning so that the traveler knows how to arrange [00:09:35] their trip without worry. We conclude with [00:09:38] Nada's comment, who wrote on [00:09:42] be possible to have pick-up and drop-off points [00:09:45] on the line, not necessarily at Baramkeh garage. [00:09:48] A person's home might be [00:09:52] the way. I wish instead of confining the buses to Baramkeh [00:09:55] garage, they would be distributed to more than [00:09:59] one point in [00:10:01] Damascus. [00:10:08] To talk more about this topic, we are joined from Damascus [00:10:11] by Muhammad Adib. Hussein, Director [00:10:15] the General Authority for Civil Aviation and Air [00:10:18] Transport. Welcome, Mr. Muhammad, to Astoria. [00:10:21] Good evening. Welcome. Good evening. [00:10:25] Welcome to you and all our viewers. Welcome. [00:10:29] Let's start with this idea. It's a very nice idea, [00:10:32] but tell us a little about where this idea came from and what its [00:10:36] goal is. Well, the idea, in fact, came [00:10:39] as you mentioned before, from the suffering [00:10:43] of passengers departing and arriving [00:10:46] at Damascus International Airport. Passengers [00:10:49] suffer a lot from securing transportation, or [00:10:53] if transportation is available, taxis' prices are [00:10:56] expensive and high. Of course, this idea was present [00:10:59] before, during the days of the defunct regime, but [00:11:03] it was with a dilapidated transport system, old [00:11:06] buses that did not meet the comfort and safety [00:11:09] standards for passengers. Okay, Mr. Muhammad, [00:11:12] what about the fare? What is the bus fare? Many [00:11:16] people are now asking what the fare is and how [00:11:19] it will be. In fact, we considered the fare, [00:11:23] taking into account [00:11:27] the situation of travelers and citizens [00:11:30] in general, in addition to ensuring that it does not come at the expense of service quality. [00:11:34] So we have now provided air-conditioned buses, high-quality [00:11:38] buses with modern models that provide comfort and safety [00:11:41] for travelers who wish to travel through them [00:11:45] to Damascus International Airport. Of course, [00:11:47] the cost we estimated at 500 [00:11:51] new Syrian pounds. Of course, these 500 new Syrian pounds [00:11:55] do not include any fees for luggage, so the traveler can carry [00:11:58] any number of bags they want in addition to the weight [00:12:01] they want. Okay, and as [00:12:04] I mentioned to you, this pricing [00:12:07] is currently under study, considering it's a new [00:12:11] experience. After a while, we will re-evaluate [00:12:15] it so that [00:12:17] it is consistent with the loads we have and consistent with [00:12:21] the price of fuel. You know, it has a very big impact [00:12:25] on the matter, in addition to our commitment to [00:12:28] our flights departing at their designated times, [00:12:32] even if I have only one Well, since [00:12:36] we mentioned timings, let's talk a little [00:12:39] about the timings, Mr. Muhammad. Are the [00:12:43] timings fixed? We mentioned in Astoria that the timings are almost around the clock, [00:12:47] but are they fixed or do they change according to the days of the week? [00:12:50] We will, God willing, have a regular schedule [00:12:54] published on social media on the official [00:12:58] accounts of the Syrian Civil Aviation and Air Transport Authority. [00:13:01] Initially, a schedule will be released every month. This schedule will correspond [00:13:05] to the traffic of Damascus International Airport so that it [00:13:09] is compatible with the air traffic. Of course, it will [00:13:12] cover 24 hours. The schedule we released [00:13:15] in the announcement a [00:13:19] from 6 AM to 2 PM, [00:13:22] with a flight every hour. Then we have a flight at 4 [00:13:25] PM and two evening flights at 7 and 10 PM, and after [00:13:29] midnight at 1 AM and 4 [00:13:32] AM. This means we have practically covered 24 hours so that any [00:13:35] traveler who has a flight at any time will find a bus, God willing, [00:13:39] waiting to transport them to Damascus Airport. [00:13:43] Okay, Mr. Muhammad, what about the rest of the governorates? [00:13:47] Will similar flights be operated to Damascus International Airport, [00:13:50] but from the rest of the Syrian governorates? We started [00:13:55] by studying the situation and seeing the feasibility [00:13:59] and impact of this experience. We started from Baramkeh [00:14:02] garages. We will, God willing, [00:14:06] in the next step, activate [00:14:08] buses or additional points from Harasta [00:14:12] garage, considering that all citizens [00:14:16] and travelers who come from other governorates alight at [00:14:19] Harasta garage. So we will set up a point there in Harasta garage so that [00:14:23] they can continue their journey, God willing, to Damascus Airport. Uh-huh. [00:14:27] This plan, this idea, is very nice, [00:14:30] Mr. Muhammad. Okay, Damascus International Airport, you started [00:14:34] with it. What about Aleppo Airport, Deir ez-Zor Airport, and [00:14:37] Latakia Airport? Is there a similar idea that will be implemented [00:14:41] In fact, we started contacting [00:14:44] the governorate of Aleppo, and they [00:14:51] a short period, will announce the activation of the same service at Aleppo [00:14:55] Airport. The rest of the airports are now being studied for operational [00:14:58] capacity and the need to activate [00:15:01] such a step [00:15:03] so that it is compatible with the operational [00:15:07] capacity of the airports, as well as the flight times. [00:15:11] Uh-huh. The idea is nice, and your efforts are appreciated, Mr. Muhammad. Thank you [00:15:15] for joining us in Astoria, and thank you for this valuable [00:15:18] information that you provided to our followers. [00:15:21] Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you. [00:15:25] The construction of passenger terminal number two at Damascus [00:15:28] International Airport continues at an accelerated pace as part of the [00:15:32] airport's development and expansion project. The new building [00:15:36] forms an essential part of the plan to develop [00:15:39] the airport's infrastructure and increase its [00:15:43] capacity and improve the quality of services provided to passengers. [00:15:59] The Freedom Flotilla is a popular alliance [00:16:02] that organizes a series of maritime voyages [00:16:06] aimed at breaking the blockade imposed by the Israeli occupation on the Gaza [00:16:10] Strip since 2007. [00:16:13] The boats carry humanitarian aid and are [00:16:16] staffed by volunteers from various nationalities, [00:16:19] including parliamentarians, lawyers, [00:16:22] journalists, and activists. The fleet's name [00:16:28] year due to its organization of more [00:16:31] than one campaign towards the Gaza Strip. And yesterday, [00:16:34] viewers, the General Directorate of Ports and Customs [00:16:37] delivered a boat from the Freedom Flotilla to [00:16:40] its owner at Banyas port. But the question [00:16:44] here is, what is a boat from the Freedom [00:16:47] Flotilla doing in Syrian ports? [00:16:49] Let's watch. [00:16:51] Some time ago this year, a fisherman informed us that he found [00:16:57] in territorial waters near Arwad Island, where it was handed [00:17:00] over to the General Directorate of Ports. [00:17:04] this boat, and the Maritime Inspection Directorate was tasked [00:17:07] with a technical inspection in accordance with legal procedures on the boat and examining it from [00:17:11] all aspects. It was found after [00:17:15] boat was one of the boats within the Freedom [00:17:18] Flotilla that came to lift the siege on Gaza. [00:17:22] We, at the General Directorate [00:17:25] the company that owns the boat, and all documents and identifying [00:17:29] papers were verified. We are today at the Banyas [00:17:32] Port Department, working to hand over this boat to its owners [00:17:36] in accordance with legal procedures. [00:17:41] The Freedom Flotilla gained media attention in [00:17:45] 2025 when the ship [00:17:48] Madeleine sailed in June, followed by the [00:17:51] Global Solidarity Flotilla in September. But the flotilla, [00:17:54] viewers, is older than that, as it has been sailing [00:17:58] towards Gaza since 2010 [00:18:00] and organized six convoys until [00:18:03] 2024. The May 2026 [00:18:07] journey was one of its largest, with more than [00:18:11] 50 boats and ships and more than 500 [00:18:14] participants. It did not, of course, reach its destination [00:18:18] and was attacked by the occupation. In fact, none of the [00:18:21] flotilla's journeys reached the shores of Gaza, [00:18:26] by Israeli occupation forces in international waters, [00:18:29] their passengers are kidnapped, and their boats are confiscated [00:18:33] or left adrift at sea [00:18:34] Let's watch. [00:18:37] As the Global Solidarity Flotilla, our fleet set sail [00:18:40] with the Spring 2026 mission from the Italian [00:18:44] island of Sicily. We set off towards Gaza [00:18:47] with participation from Turkey, and in international waters, [00:18:51] our boats and ourselves were detained [00:18:54] by the Israeli army. We were held [00:18:57] in Israeli [00:19:00] ship prisons for 3 days, [00:19:02] and for 2 days in Israel. [00:19:05] We were held captive for 5 days on the condition [00:19:09] of staying in a camp, and our boats were left adrift. [00:19:12] During this time, [00:19:16] our boats drifted on their own to many places, including [00:19:19] Lebanon, Syria, Egypt, and Cyprus. This boat [00:19:22] is currently in the Syrian port of Baniyas. [00:19:25] Our port manager here in Baniyas [00:19:29] and our port captain in Latakia [00:19:32] have provided us with all possible [00:19:35] facilities and opportunities. [00:19:45] This incident sparked wide interaction on social [00:19:49] media. So what were the comments? Let's start with [00:19:53] Ahmed's comment, who wrote on Instagram: Thank [00:19:56] you to the Syrian General Directorate of Ports and Customs. [00:20:00] Honesty and trustworthiness are now present in the new Syria after liberation. [00:20:04] Amin Al-Idrissi commented on Instagram: [00:20:08] I was struck by the Freedom Flotilla's continued organization of [00:20:11] its voyages despite the risks and obstacles, [00:20:14] which reflects the participants' determination to make their voices [00:20:18] heard and their humanitarian stance. Thanks also [00:20:22] to the Syrian administration for handing over the boat to its foreign [00:20:25] owner. [00:20:31] Ahmed Hassan commented and said: Not [00:20:34] all ships seek a harbor, for some [00:20:37] carry hope of reaching people's hearts [00:20:40] and sail whenever the paths are closed, hoping [00:20:44] the sea will deliver what the land could not. And this [00:20:48] is the case of the ships of the Freedom [00:20:51] tire of supporting the oppressed. [00:20:55] Naif Al-Ghamdi commented [00:20:59] and wrote: [00:21:02] A step credited to the concerned authorities, and we hope [00:21:07] of more cooperation and transparency in dealing [00:21:11] with such [00:21:12] cases. [00:21:16] We conclude with Lena Ibrahim's comment, who wrote on Facebook: [00:21:21] Thank you to everyone who contributed to following the case [00:21:24] until the boat was delivered to its owner, [00:21:26] and appreciation for every effort that puts [00:21:31] first. This is how incidents should be handled: clarifying [00:21:35] the circumstances and restoring rights to their owners, [00:21:39] away from ambiguity [00:21:40] and speculation. [00:21:46] The last of these attempts was in May of this year, [00:21:50] when the Global Solidarity Flotilla set off from Turkey with the [00:21:53] participation of more than 50 ships and boats from [00:21:56] 44 countries. The Israeli occupation forces [00:21:59] intercepted it west of Cyprus. [00:22:14] Is $300, or approximately [00:22:17] 40,000 pounds, enough for a citizen to live [00:22:21] for a month? This question was raised by many yesterday [00:22:24] on a clip circulated by activists on [00:22:27] social media. So what is the story? Yesterday, [00:22:30] viewers, scenes were circulated of a factory manager [00:22:34] announcing an increase in his workers' wages [00:22:37] to $10 daily. [00:22:40] We see Mr. Governor at 10 [00:22:43] dollars, 10 dollars instead of 7 [00:22:45] dollars. [00:22:54] At that time, the governor of Idlib, Mr. Muhammad Abdel Rahman, [00:22:59] the governorate and its countryside. His tour received [00:23:02] wide popularity. But why? The answer [00:23:06] is because he conducted his tour without an assistant [00:23:09] or escort or anyone else. Let's watch. A surprising and [00:23:13] beautiful visit by Professor Muhammad Abdel [00:23:16] Rahman, Governor of Idlib Governorate, to the Aleppo-Karama road [00:23:20] to check on the latest work. [00:23:24] Of course, this is our governor, the Governor of Idlib. [00:23:27] I mean, only one car. [00:23:30] He's riding in it, and he's [00:23:32] the official of the region. [00:23:35] This is how we know officials, and we always wish to see them [00:23:38] like this. [00:23:43] you. This event caused great interaction on social [00:23:46] media. So how did you comment on it? Let's start with a comment. [00:23:51] Instagram: Such nice initiatives can [00:23:54] change the lives of many families and motivate other [00:23:58] factory owners to raise [00:24:00] wages. Muhammad wrote [00:24:03] and commented: So the monthly salary is [00:24:06] $300. Thank God, but it's still [00:24:10] low compared to expenses. Ahmed [00:24:13] commented and said: It's normal. Yesterday, [00:24:16] I saw him and his family buying coffee in Idlib at night. [00:24:20] It's normal, not strange. We're used to it from our governor. [00:24:24] Rabie commented and said: [00:24:26] There should be a role for the union to set [00:24:30] the minimum wage. Nevertheless, it's a good step from the owner [00:24:33] of the establishment. The increase is actually almost half [00:24:37] of the old wage, which is a good [00:24:42] the entire factory. We conclude with what [00:24:46] Omar wrote on Facebook: Increasing workers' wages benefits [00:24:50] everyone. As a business owner, any [00:24:54] increase in workers' wages can be easily [00:24:58] product, which means workers will have increased purchasing [00:25:01] power, which in turn increases [00:25:05] the production of all establishments. This means [00:25:09] everyone benefits, and this is a good [00:26:17] In confronting organized and cyber [00:26:20] crimes, a firm international will stands [00:26:24] to dismantle the causes of crime. [00:26:26] Syria enters a new national phase in which it seeks [00:26:30] to rebuild institutions [00:26:33] on the basis of the rule of law and protection of society. [00:26:36] The 15th United Nations Congress [00:26:40] on Crime Prevention in the Emirati capital, Abu Dhabi, [00:26:44] gathers decision-makers to address security challenges [00:26:47] and establish a new charter for community protection. [00:26:52] international event, Syria embodies its vision [00:26:55] and determination to build a state [00:26:58] governed by law. Our conference [00:27:01] is held today at a stage witnessing [00:27:04] profound transformations in the nature of crime and the means [00:27:07] of its commission. The Syrian Arab Republic [00:27:10] looks forward to the Abu Dhabi Declaration establishing [00:27:14] a new phase of international joint action in which [00:27:17] commitments are transformed into practical cooperation. [00:27:33] Today we inaugurate the Consular Services Office in Suwayda [00:27:36] Governorate. [00:27:45] Such offices actually relieve the burden [00:27:48] of transportation and travel to Damascus for the residents [00:27:51] of Syrian [00:27:53] governorates. [00:28:24] We call on all tanker drivers and all [00:28:28] road users to [00:28:29] adhere to the speed [00:30:04] Welcome, viewers, to our sports news bulletin with me, Zaher Al-Mazawiya, from Syrian News, [00:30:08] and we start with the headlines. [00:30:12] Conclusion of the Arab Cycling Championship with the participation [00:30:15] of 13 countries. [00:30:19] An exciting victory for our Olympic team in the Damascus International [00:30:23] Basketball Tournament. Manchester [00:30:26] City defeats Liverpool by three goals and takes the lead in the Premier [00:30:30] League. [00:30:41] Welcome back. The Arab Championship competitions concluded today.