http://al-shorfa.com/ Al-Shorfa covers events in the Arabic World and the Middle East through reports and analysis by correspondents in Egypt, Lebanon, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Jordan, Bahrain and other countries in the region. en-gb Lebanese and Syrian students and young professionals staged a protest in Beirut condemning Hizbullah's intervention in Syria, and say further demonstrations are planned. http://al-shorfa.com/r/al5x meii/features/2013/05/23/feature-01 Thu, 23 May 2013 00:00:00 +0000 The decision, which comes as part of Ministry of Education reforms, has met with mixed reaction from parents and teachers. http://al-shorfa.com/r/al66 meii/features/2013/05/23/feature-02 Thu, 23 May 2013 00:00:00 +0000 Social insurance plays a key role in the economic and social advancement of the country, participants said. http://al-shorfa.com/r/al6c meii/features/2013/05/23/feature-03 Thu, 23 May 2013 00:00:00 +0000 The Arab League said Thursday (May 23rd) it plans to submit to the UN Security Council a list of proposals for a June peace conference aimed at endin... http://al-shorfa.com/r/al6r meii/newsbriefs/2013/05/23/newsbrief-01 Thu, 23 May 2013 00:00:00 +0000 Violence stranded thousands of Syrians seeking refuge in Jordan on Thursday (May 23rd), after at least three days of record low arrivals, The Jordan... http://al-shorfa.com/r/al6x meii/newsbriefs/2013/05/23/newsbrief-02 Thu, 23 May 2013 00:00:00 +0000 More than 400 Iraqi scientists returned to Iraq this year as part of a government programme to encourage expatriate professionals to return to their... http://al-shorfa.com/r/al76 meii/newsbriefs/2013/05/23/newsbrief-03 Thu, 23 May 2013 00:00:00 +0000 Blasts at the houses of Sahwa members in al-Karma killed two Iraqis and wounded seven others, including a woman and three children, Anbar provincial... http://al-shorfa.com/r/al7i meii/newsbriefs/2013/05/23/newsbrief-04 Thu, 23 May 2013 00:00:00 +0000 Iraqi security forces this week killed the leader of Ansar al-Sunna in Kirkuk province in a shootout in Kirkuk city, the Iraqi Interior Ministry said... http://al-shorfa.com/r/al7l meii/newsbriefs/2013/05/23/newsbrief-05 Thu, 23 May 2013 00:00:00 +0000 The Iraqi government announced Thursday (May 23rd) it is making easy-term loans available to women who wish to start their own businesses.... http://al-shorfa.com/r/al80 meii/newsbriefs/2013/05/23/newsbrief-06 Thu, 23 May 2013 00:00:00 +0000 The specialised criminal court in Riyadh on Wednesday (May 22nd) sentenced eight Saudis to prison for up to 25 years for belonging to al-Qaeda and pl... http://al-shorfa.com/r/al86 meii/newsbriefs/2013/05/23/newsbrief-07 Thu, 23 May 2013 00:00:00 +0000 The Yemeni Ministry of Education on Wednesday (May 22nd) launched experimental broadcasting of the country's first satellite educational channel.... http://al-shorfa.com/r/al8c meii/newsbriefs/2013/05/23/newsbrief-08 Thu, 23 May 2013 00:00:00 +0000 UAE government services will in a few years be available via mobile phones under a new "smart government" initiative launched by the country's Vice P... http://al-shorfa.com/r/al8l meii/newsbriefs/2013/05/23/newsbrief-09 Thu, 23 May 2013 00:00:00 +0000 Using poetry, art and education to combat extremism and strengthen Arab relations. http://al-shorfa.com/r/ak12 meii/features/2013/05/22/feature-01 Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 +0000 The country's new tax schedule will to go into effect with the disbursement of June salaries, officials said. http://al-shorfa.com/r/ak1b meii/features/2013/05/22/feature-02 Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 +0000 East and West will come together in the 28th festival's performances, sending a message of global acceptance and partnership. http://al-shorfa.com/r/ak1h meii/features/2013/05/22/feature-03 Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 +0000 An unmanned Iranian aircraft has been discovered in northern Bahrain, near Saudi Arabia, the Bahraini Interior Ministry said Tuesday (May 21st).... http://al-shorfa.com/r/ak1w meii/newsbriefs/2013/05/22/newsbrief-01 Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 +0000 Lebanese and Syrians on Tuesday (May 21st) staged a sit-in at Beirut's Martyrs Square to condemn Hizbullah's participation in the fighting in Syria.... http://al-shorfa.com/r/ak22 meii/newsbriefs/2013/05/22/newsbrief-02 Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 +0000 Thirty new Syrian families arrived in Iraq this week from the Syrian border town Albu Kamal, al-Qaim border refugee camp management said Wednesday (M... http://al-shorfa.com/r/ak2b meii/newsbriefs/2013/05/22/newsbrief-03 Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 +0000 Seven Egyptian security personnel abducted last week in the Sinai peninsula were released on Wednesday (May 22nd) without any negotiation with their... http://al-shorfa.com/r/ak2n meii/newsbriefs/2013/05/22/newsbrief-04 Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 +0000 Violence in Lebanon's northern city of Tripoli has resulted in the deaths of at least 10 people and has wounded more than 70 since Sunday.... http://al-shorfa.com/r/ak2q meii/newsbriefs/2013/05/22/newsbrief-05 Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 +0000 Just hours after the Marib-Sanaa power transmission line was repaired, armed saboteurs damaged it again, the Yemeni Ministry of Electricity said Tues... http://al-shorfa.com/r/ak35 meii/newsbriefs/2013/05/22/newsbrief-06 Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 +0000 Iraqi army forces on Wednesday (May 22nd) arrested 12 suspected al-Qaeda elements during a military operation in Ninawa province.... http://al-shorfa.com/r/ak3b meii/newsbriefs/2013/05/22/newsbrief-07 Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 +0000 Three Iraqi police officers were killed and three were wounded Wednesday (May 22nd) when an improvised explosive device (IED) blew up on a public roa... http://al-shorfa.com/r/ak3h meii/newsbriefs/2013/05/22/newsbrief-08 Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 +0000 An explosives expert was killed and three of his aides were seriously wounded when a car bomb they were trying to dismantle exploded in al-Sharqat, S... http://al-shorfa.com/r/ak3q meii/newsbriefs/2013/05/22/newsbrief-09 Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 +0000 A new investment plan that aims to create about 1 million job opportunities in Iraq has been drawn up, the Iraqi government said Wednesday (May 22nd)... http://al-shorfa.com/r/ak3z meii/newsbriefs/2013/05/22/newsbrief-10 Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 +0000 A small- and medium-sized enterprises conference will begin next week in Sanaa with government, civil society, private sector and academic participat... http://al-shorfa.com/r/ak48 meii/newsbriefs/2013/05/22/newsbrief-11 Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 +0000