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.”
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Kurdish Athlete Farshad Gerdkana Makes Historic Victory in Europe
ARK News.. Kurdish athlete Farshad Gerdkana has achieved a historic milestone by winning first place and the gold medal at the European Jiu-Jitsu Championship held in Rome, Italy, proudly raising the Kurdistan flag at one of the continent’s most prestigious sporting events.
Originally from Kermashan in Eastern Kurdistan (Iranian Kurdistan) and currently residing in Belgium, Gerdkana competed in the 94-kilogram weight category, where he displayed remarkable skill and determination to triumph over some of Europe’s top-ranked competitors.
Following his victory, Gerdkana raised the Kurdistan flag amid applause from the crowd, expressing his pride in the achievement.
“I am very happy with this victory,” he said in a post-match statement. “I dedicate it to the families of Kurdistan’s martyrs who sacrificed their lives for freedom and dignity.”
The Kurdish champion also dedicated his gold medal to the cities of Kirkuk, Afrin, and Urmia, reaffirming their Kurdish identity and his deep pride in belonging to a people striving for peace and freedom.
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French Company “Lafarge” to Stand Trial in Paris for Funding Jihadist Groups in Syria
ARK News.. A French news agency reported that the Paris Criminal Court is set to try the French cement company “Lafarge” and several of its senior executives next Tuesday on charges of financing jihadist groups in Syria, including the Islamic State (ISIS), to ensure continued operations at its cement plant in northern Syria.
According to France Press Agency (AFP), those facing trial alongside the company — which was acquired by the Swiss group Holcim in 2015 — include former CEO Bruno Lafont, five former executives involved in operations and security, and two Syrian intermediaries, one of whom is wanted under an international arrest warrant.
The defendants face charges of financing a terrorist organization and violating international financial sanctions imposed on Syria following the outbreak of the civil war in 2011.
In October 2024, French judges ordered the company and eight defendants to stand trial on accusations of funding terrorist organizations and breaching sanctions.
The referral order to the criminal court stated that the accused, “motivated by profit for the economic entity they served — or, for some, for personal gain — organized, approved, facilitated, or implemented a policy of providing financial support to terrorist organizations operating near the Jalabiya cement plant in Syria.”
Investigators suspect that between 2013 and 2014, Lafarge, through its Syrian subsidiary Lafarge Cement Syria, paid around €5 million to armed groups classified as terrorist organizations, including ISIS and Jabhat al-Nusra (then affiliated with al-Qaeda). Payments were also reportedly made to local intermediaries for the protection of the company’s Jalabiya plant during the height of the Syrian conflict.
The company had invested €680 million in building the plant in 2010. While most multinational companies withdrew from Syria in 2012, Lafarge only evacuated its foreign employees, keeping Syrian workers on site until September 2014, when ISIS seized control of the factory.
The judicial process began in 2017 following media revelations in 2016 and two formal complaints — one from the French Ministry of Economy for violating financial sanctions, and another from NGOs and 11 former employees of the Syrian branch for terrorism financing.
Two years later, an internal investigation led by the U.S. law firm Baker McKenzie and the French firm Darrois confirmed violations of Lafarge’s business conduct rules.
In October 2022, Lafarge pleaded guilty in the United States to paying nearly $6 million to ISIS and Jabhat al-Nusra and agreed to pay a $778 million fine.
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Over 250 People Killed in Syria During October
ARK News.. A Syrian human rights source reported that Syria continued to witness bloodshed throughout October, with more than 250 people killed, including women and children.
According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, 260 people were killed across the country during October 2025, including 224 civilians — 188 men and young males, 18 women, and 18 children.
The Observatory attributed the ongoing loss of life to various forms of violence, including indiscriminate shelling, war remnants, targeted assassinations, and systematic killings.
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UN Security Council Grants Western Sahara Genuine Autonomy Under Moroccan Sovereignty
ARK News.. The UN Security Council on Friday, October 31, 2025, adopted a resolution stating that granting Western Sahara genuine autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty “could be the most realistic and effective solution” to the 50-year-long conflict between Morocco and the Algeria-backed Polisario Front.
The resolution, drafted by the United States, called on all parties to engage in negotiations based on Morocco’s autonomy proposal, first submitted to the United Nations in 2007.
Morocco considers Western Sahara an integral part of its territory, while the Polisario Front seeks to establish an independent state there under the name of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR).
Russia, China, and Pakistan abstained, while Algeria did not vote. The remaining 11 members of the Council voted in favor of the resolution, which also extended the mandate of the UN peacekeeping mission in Western Sahara (MINURSO) for another year.
According to Morocco’s autonomy plan, Western Sahara would have its own legislative, executive, and judicial authorities elected by its residents, while Rabat would retain control over defense, foreign affairs, and religious matters.
The Polisario Front, however, continues to demand a referendum that includes the option of full independence.
Roughly the size of the United Kingdom, Western Sahara has been the scene of Africa’s longest-running territorial dispute since Spain’s withdrawal in 1975.
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President Barzani: The Kurdistan Democratic Party Remains Loyal to Its People, Its Martyrs’ Blood, and the Peshmerga’s Sacrifices
ARK News.. As part of his visit to the Badinan region, President Masoud Barzani met with representatives of various social groups and community leaders in the independent Zakho administration.
In a speech during the meeting, President Barzani described Zakho as “our heart and soul,” praising the city’s great sacrifices for the freedom of Kurdistan and its fight against ISIS. He stressed that “we are indebted to Zakho,” and that it is the duty of everyone to serve the city and all of Kurdistan without discrimination.
Barzani expressed satisfaction with the progress and services achieved in Zakho, yet emphasized the need to continue improving them. “The changes the city has seen in the past two years are clear and very beautiful,” he said.
Addressing the upcoming elections, Barzani reaffirmed the KDP’s deep confidence in the electoral process, saying: “We want the people to decide their destiny. The Kurdistan Democratic Party has always been the leading force in all elections, and in the upcoming Iraqi parliamentary elections, we intend once again to demonstrate our strength.”
He warned, however, that plots against Kurdistan continue. “If in the past they took the form of wars and military aggression, today they come through drugs, spreading despair, weakening belonging, cutting salaries, and attempting to starve citizens. It is everyone’s responsibility to confront such conspiracies and not allow our society to fall into despair or addiction,” he said.
Touching on Iraq’s political and administrative situation, President Barzani recalled the 2002 London Conference of the Iraqi opposition, where three principals were agreed upon — partnership, balance, and consensus — to govern post-Saddam Iraq. “Unfortunately, these principles were never implemented,” he said. “Even after the permanent constitution was drafted and approved by the Iraqi people, it was not properly upheld. As a result, Iraq faces all these problems today. Unless the country is governed based on those three principles, no solution will ever be achieved — history has proven that no single party can rule Iraq alone.”
President Barzani reiterated that the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) remains faithful to its people, the blood of its martyrs, the tears of the martyrs’ mothers, and the struggles and sacrifices of the Peshmerga forces.
He added that the party works for both the present and future of the Kurdish people — not only politically, but also through reconstruction efforts, the strengthening of economic infrastructure, and the development of the health, education, water, electricity, agriculture, and irrigation sectors.
Barzani also spoke about Kurdistan’s rich culture of coexistence, emphasizing that “Kurdistan belongs to all its components” and that this culture must be preserved.
Sharing a historical example from the Anfal campaign against the Barzanis, he recalled how residents of Bedyal, a Christian Assyrian village, were arrested along with the Barzanis. When the security officer told them they could leave because they were Christians, they replied: “We are also from Barzan, and our fate is tied to the Barzanis.” As a result, they faced the same tragic fate as their Barzani neighbors.
Concluding his speech, President Barzani said: “Our hope lies in the continued support of our people. Kurdistan must remain one region, with one parliament, one government, and one unified Peshmerga force.”
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Syrian Ministry of Justice Issues Directive on Procedures for Restoring Lost or Damaged Official Documents
RK News.. Syria’s Ministry of Justice has issued a new directive outlining the mechanisms for restoring records in several notary offices across different provinces that were damaged, lost, or destroyed. The directive applies to original contracts, deeds, and powers of attorney belonging to citizens, pending the issuance of a specific legislative decree on the matter.
According to the circular, addressed to heads of judicial departments in the provinces, applications for deposit, restoration, or registration will only be accepted if an original certified copy of the missing document is available at the relevant notary's office. In the absence of such a copy, applicants must pursue their claims through the competent judiciary in accordance with legal procedures.
The directive further stipulates that if one of the parties to a document possesses an original certified copy or a first certified duplicate that appears authentic and unaltered, they may request its deposit and registration at the notary's office where it was originally documented.
The circular requires the notary, at the applicant’s expense, to notify all other parties involved by delivering a copy of the request and accompanying documents — particularly the subject document — and invite them to express their position or objection within thirty days of notification.
If all parties approve the request or raise no objection, the notary will refer the file to the supervising first-instance judge, who will review the application and verify the parties’ identities and the document’s validity. The judge may order an expert examination to confirm the authenticity of the notary’s signature and official seal before deciding whether to approve or reject the registration request.
Once the judge’s decision is issued, the documents are returned to the competent notary's office for completion of the process.
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