Masrour Barzani: The Public Salary Issue in Kurdistan Has Been Deliberately Politicized
ARK News.. Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Prime Minister Masrour Barzani has stated that the issue of public sector salaries in the Kurdistan Region has been deliberately politicized, despite the government’s full commitment to meeting its obligations.
“Unfortunately, the salary issue has been politicized,” Barzani said. “We have repeatedly emphasized that the Kurdistan Regional Government has fulfilled all its commitments and done everything required—indeed, more than what was expected.”
He added, “We will continue our efforts and hope to compensate for the upcoming months’ salaries soon. The greater responsibility now lies with Baghdad, and I urge those who complain the most to direct their criticism toward Baghdad.”
Barzani’s remarks came during an on-site visit to the Duwin Dam construction project in Erbil Province, where he reviewed the progress of one of the region’s strategic infrastructure projects aimed at strengthening water security, providing additional sources for irrigation and drinking, and supporting the agricultural sector.
271
Qatar Threatens to Halt LNG Supplies to Europe Over EU Sustainability Law
ARK News.. Qatar has threatened to suspend liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports to Europe in response to a new EU regulation aimed at promoting environmental and human rights standards in global supply chains.
Speaking at the opening panel of the Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (ADIPEC), Qatar’s Minister of State for Energy Affairs, Saad bin Sherida al-Kaabi, warned: “If the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive is not amended or withdrawn, we will not supply LNG to Europe — that’s certain.”
Al-Kaabi emphasized that Qatar’s energy policy and outlook remain consistent, noting that Doha supports a transition to low-carbon energy but continues to see a vital role for oil and gas in the future.
The EU directive, formally titled the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), was proposed by the European Commission in 2022 and adopted in April 2024, though it has yet to take effect. It requires large companies to identify and prevent negative impacts on human rights and the environment throughout their global supply chains.
The legislation enjoys backing from a broad political coalition within the European Parliament — including the Greens, centrists, and parts of the center-right — but has faced criticism from industry groups that argue it imposes heavy compliance burdens on European firms.
503
France Requests Lebanon to Arrest Senior Officers of the Ousted Assad Regime
ARK News.. The Lebanese judiciary has received a formal judicial request from French authorities seeking the arrest of several senior Syrian security officials from the former regime of deposed president Bashar al-Assad, should they be found on Lebanese territory, a senior judicial source confirmed.
According to a report by Asharq Al-Awsat on Monday, November 3, 2025, Lebanon’s Public Prosecutor Judge Jamal al-Hajjar received an official cable from the French judiciary requesting the tracking and arrest of:
• Maj. Gen. Jamil al-Hassan, former head of Air Force Intelligence
• Maj. Gen. Ali Mamlouk, former director of the National Security Bureau
• Maj. Gen. Abdel Salam Mahmoud, former head of investigations in the Air Force Intelligence Directorate
The French authorities have asked Lebanon to carry out the necessary investigations and detain the wanted individuals if they are present in the country, in preparation for their extradition to Paris.
The source explained that the judicial request is part of ongoing French investigations into Bashar al-Assad and senior members of his regime over war crimes and crimes against humanity, which allegedly resulted in the deaths of French citizens of Syrian origin.
Judge al-Hajjar has reportedly instructed Lebanon’s Internal Security Forces Intelligence Branch to investigate the whereabouts of the three wanted officials and take appropriate legal measures once located.
348
Syrian Minister of Emergency Management Meets Former U.S. General to Discuss Community Stability
ARK News.. Syrian Minister of Emergency Management and Disaster Response Raed al-Saleh met with retired U.S. General Joseph Votel, a fellow at the Middle East Institute, and his accompanying delegation to discuss ways to strengthen community stability and the role of the international community in supporting recovery and reconstruction efforts in Syria’s disaster-affected regions.
According to the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), the meeting — held at the ministry headquarters in Damascus — addressed the urgent needs of local communities and emphasized the importance of coordinated national and international efforts in mine clearance and debris removal, which directly contribute to saving lives and creating safe conditions for the return of residents.
Minister al-Saleh highlighted that his ministry operates under a comprehensive national plan based on detailed field assessments of needs and gives priority to cooperation with international partners in implementing high-impact projects, particularly in heavily damaged areas.
He affirmed that the Syrian government is working to provide a secure and stable environment for returning residents and is accelerating the pace of mine and debris removal in coordination with all relevant agencies.
For his part, General Votel expressed appreciation for the Syrian government’s efforts in disaster management, noting that “the Middle East Institute supports initiatives that promote community stability and pays special attention to programs that remove the traces of war and create a safe environment for development.”
The Ministry of Emergency Management and Disaster Response, in cooperation with international partners, continues to enhance collaboration in mine clearance, debris removal, and the development of early warning systems to help protect lives and ensure the safe return of displaced residents.
184
German Chancellor Invites Syrian President to Berlin to Discuss Refugee Repatriation
ARK News.. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has extended an official invitation to Syrian Transitional President Ahmad al-Sharaa to visit Berlin for talks on the planned deportation of Syrian nationals with criminal records, as well as broader cooperation on refugee returns and efforts to stabilize Syria.
Speaking during a visit to the northern German city of Husum, Merz said: “I am inviting President Ahmad al-Sharaa to Germany so we can discuss this issue together and find a joint solution.”
The chancellor affirmed that his government intends to implement a concrete plan to deport Syrian offenders from Germany, stating, “This is our policy, and we will begin enforcing it in a very practical way.”
Merz added that the war in Syria has ended, emphasizing that there are no longer valid reasons for Syrians to remain in Germany under asylum status.
He also expressed Germany’s desire to contribute to Syria’s stability and reconstruction, underscoring the importance of refugees’ involvement in rebuilding their homeland: “Syria now needs all of its sons and daughters, especially those living abroad. Rebuilding the country without them is impossible.”
386
Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani Receives Kurdish Politician Osman Baydamir
ARK News.. Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, received Osman Baydamir, a prominent Kurdish politician and former member of the Turkish Parliament.
During the meeting, the two discussed the overall situation in Kurdistan and the wider region, as well as the ongoing peace process in Turkey.
249
Donald Trump: Ahmad al-Sharaa Is Working Hard and May Visit the White House
ARK News.. U.S. President Donald Trump praised Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa for his “hard work” in leading the country, expressing his readiness to welcome him to the White House.
According to Reuters, President Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on Monday, November 3, 2025, that: “We lifted the sanctions on Syria to give the country a chance, and I’ve heard that its president is doing a very good job.”
Trump added that President Ahmad al-Sharaa is likely to visit Washington soon, saying: “He’s working hard, and he may come to the White House.”
299
Kurdish Youth Hakam Adel Advocates for a Kurdish State at the World Peace Conference
ARK News.. Kurdish peace envoy Adel Mala Saleh, known as Hakam Adel, represented the Kurdistan Region at the World Peace Conference in Cairo, standing out among delegates from over twenty Arab and foreign countries by wearing the traditional Kurdish outfit and raising the Kurdistan flag.
According to Kurdish sources, Hakam Adel stated: “It is an honor to represent the culture and identity of my people through our traditional Kurdish attire and the Kurdistan flag, introducing both Arab and international audiences to the authenticity of Kurdish culture.”
During his speech, Adel declared: “I said clearly before representatives of more than twenty Arab nations that the Middle East will never see genuine peace or lasting stability until the dream of establishing two independent states for the Kurdish and Palestinian peoples is achieved.”
He also discussed the Kurdistan independence referendum, emphasizing that while over 90% of voters supported independence, internal and regional obstacles prevented the implementation of its results.
Hakam Adel noted that the World Peace Conference is held annually in Cairo, and that this marks his third participation as the sole Kurdish delegate. He added that he has once again earned the trust of the International Peace Center, which reaffirmed his title as Ambassador of Peace in Kurdistan and Iraq.
“I will continue my mission to promote a culture of peace and humanitarian work,” Adel said, adding that he delivered an official address presenting the committee reports, recommendations, and final communique of the conference.
288
Asaad al-Shaibani: Syria’s Transitional Phase Is Built on Three Core Principles
ARK News.. Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani affirmed that Syria is moving confidently toward consolidating stability, security, and development, while opening opportunities for its citizens to rebuild the nation and attract foreign investment.
Speaking at the Manama Dialogue 2025, al-Shaibani outlined the framework guiding Syria’s transitional phase, which he said rests on three interconnected principles.
The first principle, he explained, is the achievement of security stability at the local, regional, and international levels. “Syria today enjoys an acceptable level of internal stability,” he said, “and has become an active partner with neighboring countries in combating terrorism, confronting the drug threat, and addressing the security challenges facing the region and the world.”
The second principle, according to al-Shaibani, is pursuing a balanced diplomacy. “We do not want Syria to be built on the logic of polarization,” he said. “Nor do we want it, as under the previous regime, to side with one bloc against another.”
He stressed that Syria seeks to maintain equidistant relations with all parties, based on mutual respect, economic cooperation, openness, and the promotion of peace both regionally and globally.
The third principle, al-Shaibani continued, is the entrenchment of the rule of law among citizens, away from sectarian or factional divisions. He emphasized that Syria takes pride in its cultural, ethnic, and religious diversity, describing it as a source of national strength and civilizational richness that reinforces unity among the Syrian people.
326
Large Quantities of Narcotics Seized in Rural Damascus
ARK News.. The Syrian Ministry of Interior announced that units from the Anti-Narcotics Department in Rural Damascus have seized large quantities of illegal drugs in the Zabadani area.
In a statement released via its Telegram channel, the ministry said:“The confiscated materials included 323 slabs of hashish and around 35,000 Captagon pills, which were hidden inside a grave in the area.”
The ministry added that the operation was carried out based on precise field intelligence, and that the relevant authorities are continuing investigations to identify all individuals involved and take strict legal measures against them.
177
