Severe drought in Syria this year is threatening about 75% of local wheat crops, the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) warns, risking food shortages for millions.
Toni Ettel, FAO’s representative in Syria, told Reuters that the agency expects a wheat shortfall of 2.7 million tonnes this year — enough to feed 16.3 million people for a year.
For years, under President Bashar al-Assad, Syria relied on wheat imports from Russia to support bread subsidies during droughts. But after Assad was ousted, Moscow stopped wheat shipments, citing uncertainty about Syria’s new government.
Farmers like Asaad Ezzeldin in Aleppo have seen their crops fail due to lack of rain and irrigation. The agriculture sector is already weakened after 13 years of war and heavy bombing.
In a surprise move, U.S. President Donald Trump announced last week plans to lift all sanctions on Syria, with some relief expected soon. This could help Syria’s agriculture recover by allowing funds for irrigation and rebuilding infrastructure, Ettel said.
Following this move The EU has also officially announced the lifting of its broad economic sanctions on Syria, aiming to support the country’s reconstruction and recovery.
The removal of sanctions on Syria is seen as a turning point, offering hope for progress in key sectors like agriculture. With restrictions lifted, Syrian farmers may soon gain access to vital resources such as irrigation technology, fuel, and investment—essential for rebuilding after years of war and drought. While targeted sanctions tied to the Assad regime and security risks remain, the broader move signals international support for Syria’s recovery and political transition.
Syria’s new government has long pushed to remove sanctions that isolated its economy, making it heavily dependent on Russia and Iran.
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At least five people were killed and 16 injured after a bomb exploded at a busy café in central Damascus on Thursday, according to Syrian state media. Authorities said the device had been planted inside the venue, and no group has claimed responsibility.
Syria is open to direct talks with Hezbollah if its national interests require it, Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaybani said during a visit to Lebanon on Thursday (2 July).
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has appealed to member states to urgently help plug a $100 million funding gap facing the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, warning it is close to "breaking point" after months of deep spending cuts.
The United States government has urged migrants living under temporary protected status (TPS) to seek permanent residency or prepare to return to their home countries, signalling a tougher approach to immigration policy.
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has raised its forecast for the rapid emergence of a strong El Niño, warning the climate pattern is likely to drive higher global temperatures and intensify extreme weather in the months ahead.
India is investigating a data breach at Tata Electronics that exposed sensitive documents linked to Apple's unreleased iPhone 18 Pro, marking the government's first public comments on the incident.
Iran and the U.S. have concluded indirect talks in Doha without a major breakthrough, with discussions focused on maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz and frozen Iranian funds. Both sides are expected to meet again after the funeral of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
International politicians and religious leaders have paid respects to Iran's late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei throughout the day, ahead of his six day funeral ceremony which begins on Saturday. His casket is currently on display at the Iman Khomeini Grand Mosalla in Tehran.
Germany has requested urgent talks with China's ambassador following reports that Chinese authorities trained Russian soldiers, adding fresh strain to relations between Beijing and Europe amid the war in Ukraine.
French President Emmanuel Macron is expected to use next week's NATO summit in Ankara to advance his push for greater European responsibility in security, with a bilateral meeting planned with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan as Paris seeks closer coordination with key allies.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has congratulated U.S. President Donald Trump on the 250th anniversary of American independence, saying Russia and the United States share a special responsibility for maintaining global security as the world's two largest nuclear powers.
China said on Saturday it had launched a coast guard patrol east of Taiwan, prompting a strong protest from Taipei, which accused Beijing of illegally expanding its authority and undermining regional stability.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for 4 July, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Russian attacks killed at least six people across three Ukrainian regions on Friday, regional officials said, as Ukrainian strikes on Russian energy infrastructure continued to add pressure to fuel supplies inside Russia.
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