Daily Updated Middle East Syria News from the most reliable sources around the world.http://www.trcb.com/en-Us60Sat, 26 May 2012 11:10:04 ESTCopyright 2012 IWPR - Institute for War & Peace, TRCB.com All Right Reservedhttp://www.trcb.com/news/syria/general/art-students-barred-from-drawing-life-models-24478.htmAudio slideshow by Nashwan Almarzook, produced during an IWPR workshop for young Syrian journalists held in Damascus, November 2009. The growing influence of Islamism in Syria Tue, 16 Mar 2010 00:00:00 ESThttp://www.trcb.com/news/syria/general/art-students-barred-from-drawing-life-models-24478.htmTRCB.comNews Syria / Generalhttp://www.trcb.com/news/syria/general/calls-for-mixed-marriages-shrugged-off-24477.htmVideo by Areej Dharweesh, produced during an IWPR workshop for young Syrian journalists held in Beirut, February 2010. Christians and Muslims live in harmony in Syria but mixed Tue, 16 Mar 2010 00:00:00 ESThttp://www.trcb.com/news/syria/general/calls-for-mixed-marriages-shrugged-off-24477.htmTRCB.comNews Syria / Generalhttp://www.trcb.com/news/syria/general/cost-of-burial-plots-soars-24120.htmSkyrocketing price of final resting place is a grave matter for Damascenes. By an IWPR-trained reporter (SB No. 96, 12-Mar-10)Mahmoud Kaabour can afford to stay in Damascus but only during his lifetime. For his eternal rest, the-50 year-old Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 ESThttp://www.trcb.com/news/syria/general/cost-of-burial-plots-soars-24120.htmTRCB.comNews Syria / Generalhttp://www.trcb.com/news/syria/general/iran-and-syria-look-to-closer-ties-24113.htmVisa move aimed at improving relations at a human level but obstacles remain. By an IWPR-trained reporter (SB No. 96, 11-Mar-10)The busy historic market of Damascus is a familiar sight for Siya Shahidi. The Iranian housewife and mother of three has been Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 ESThttp://www.trcb.com/news/syria/general/iran-and-syria-look-to-closer-ties-24113.htmTRCB.comNews Syria / Generalhttp://www.trcb.com/news/syria/general/death-becoming-a-luxury-in-syria-24101.htmAudio slideshow by Hani Mawed, produced during an IWPR workshop for young Syrian journalists held in Beirut, February 2010. As prices of real estate shoot up in Damascus, even Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:00:00 ESThttp://www.trcb.com/news/syria/general/death-becoming-a-luxury-in-syria-24101.htmTRCB.comNews Syria / Generalhttp://www.trcb.com/news/syria/general/old-damascus-attracts-hotel-investors-24100.htmA video by Zaina Erham, produced during an IWPR workshop for young Syrian journalists held in Damascus, November 2009. The old city of Damascus is undergoing major changes. Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:00:00 ESThttp://www.trcb.com/news/syria/general/old-damascus-attracts-hotel-investors-24100.htmTRCB.comNews Syria / Generalhttp://www.trcb.com/news/syria/general/future-looks-grim-for-syrian-activists-23620.htmAs western officials court Syria, human rights appear low on the agenda. By an IWPR-trained reporter (SB No. 95, 4-Mar-10)As he dragged his frail body across the military courtroom flanked by two policemen, it seemed like harsh detention conditions and Thu, 04 Mar 2010 00:00:00 ESThttp://www.trcb.com/news/syria/general/future-looks-grim-for-syrian-activists-23620.htmTRCB.comNews Syria / Generalhttp://www.trcb.com/news/syria/general/a-small-syrian-town-keeps-ancient-language-alive-23488.htmA video by Sadalla Khalil, produced during an IWPR workshop for young Syrian journalists held in Damascus, November 2009. Aramaic, the language of Jesus Christ, has few Tue, 02 Mar 2010 00:00:00 ESThttp://www.trcb.com/news/syria/general/a-small-syrian-town-keeps-ancient-language-alive-23488.htmTRCB.comNews Syria / Generalhttp://www.trcb.com/news/syria/general/iraqi-refugees-suffer-hardship-in-syria-23487.htmAudio slideshow by Ola Rifai, produced during an IWPR workshop for young Syrian journalists held in Beirut, February 2010. Hundreds of thousands of Iraqi refugees who moved to Tue, 02 Mar 2010 00:00:00 ESThttp://www.trcb.com/news/syria/general/iraqi-refugees-suffer-hardship-in-syria-23487.htmTRCB.comNews Syria / Generalhttp://www.trcb.com/news/syria/general/kurdish-autonomy-calls-split-dissidents-23489.htmOpposition wants to retain unitary Syrian state, rejects self-rule for Kurds. By an IWPR-trained reporter (SB No. 94, 25-Feb-10)A rift has emerged between Kurdish opposition groups and other Syrian dissidents over calls for Syrian Kurds to be granted Thu, 25 Feb 2010 00:00:00 ESThttp://www.trcb.com/news/syria/general/kurdish-autonomy-calls-split-dissidents-23489.htmTRCB.comNews Syria / Generalhttp://www.trcb.com/news/syria/general/syrian-cinema-suffering-from-neglect-23491.htmA video by Razan Zeitouneh, produced during an IWPR workshop for young Syrian journalists held in Damascus, November 2009. Film makers in Syria are raising their voice against Thu, 18 Feb 2010 00:00:00 ESThttp://www.trcb.com/news/syria/general/syrian-cinema-suffering-from-neglect-23491.htmTRCB.comNews Syria / Generalhttp://www.trcb.com/news/syria/general/sexy-lingerie-cause-a-sensation-in-syria-23490.htmAudio slideshow by Itab Azzam, produced during an IWPR workshop for young Syrian journalists held in Damascus, November 2009. Daring and sometimes bizarre womens Thu, 18 Feb 2010 00:00:00 ESThttp://www.trcb.com/news/syria/general/sexy-lingerie-cause-a-sensation-in-syria-23490.htmTRCB.comNews Syria / Generalhttp://www.trcb.com/news/syria/general/population-policy-under-scrutiny-23493.htmDamascus government accused of failing to encourage contraception to deal with soaring birth rate. By an IWPR-trained reporter (SB No. 93, 11-Feb-10)The Syrian authorities have been criticised for lacking an effective birth control strategy, despite Fri, 12 Feb 2010 00:00:00 ESThttp://www.trcb.com/news/syria/general/population-policy-under-scrutiny-23493.htmTRCB.comNews Syria / Generalhttp://www.trcb.com/news/syria/general/gays-and-lesbians-battle-discrimination-23492.htmLink to original article. Published in SB No. 82, 20-Nov-09 By an IWPR-trained journalist (SB No. 93, 11-Feb-10)I noticed them mostly at night. In some corners of the narrow streets of Damascus old town, in parks or nightclubs, my attention was drawn to Fri, 12 Feb 2010 00:00:00 ESThttp://www.trcb.com/news/syria/general/gays-and-lesbians-battle-discrimination-23492.htmTRCB.comNews Syria / Generalhttp://www.trcb.com/news/syria/general/doctors-uses-music-therapy-with-children-23495.htmA video by Fadi Alloush, produced during an IWPR workshop for young Syrian journalists held in Damascus, November 2009. A Syrian doctor has developed an unusual music Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:00:00 ESThttp://www.trcb.com/news/syria/general/doctors-uses-music-therapy-with-children-23495.htmTRCB.comNews Syria / Generalhttp://www.trcb.com/news/syria/general/syrian-store-tries-to-keep-traditional-music-alive-23494.htmAudio slideshow by Afraa Mohamad, produced during an IWPR workshop for young Syrian journalists held in Damascus, November 2009. Battling against the tide of Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:00:00 ESThttp://www.trcb.com/news/syria/general/syrian-store-tries-to-keep-traditional-music-alive-23494.htmTRCB.comNews Syria / Generalhttp://www.trcb.com/news/syria/general/polluted-water-causes-food-poisoning-23496.htmUse of dirty river water to irrigate crops means hidden risks in fruit and vegetables. By an IWPR-trained reporter (SB No. 92, 05-Feb-10)Vegetable and fruit growers in drought-hit northern Syria are using polluted river water to irrigate their crops, Fri, 05 Feb 2010 00:00:00 ESThttp://www.trcb.com/news/syria/general/polluted-water-causes-food-poisoning-23496.htmTRCB.comNews Syria / Generalhttp://www.trcb.com/news/syria/general/professional-musicians-struggle-to-find-work-in-syria-23498.htmA video by Omar Abdel-Latif, produced during an IWPR workshop for young Syrian journalists held in Beirut, October 2009. Classical music graduates are finding it hard Tue, 02 Feb 2010 00:00:00 ESThttp://www.trcb.com/news/syria/general/professional-musicians-struggle-to-find-work-in-syria-23498.htmTRCB.comNews Syria / Generalhttp://www.trcb.com/news/syria/general/syrian-women-turn-to-belly-dancing-for-exercise-23497.htmAudio slideshow by Rawan Turk, produced during an IWPR workshop for young Syrian journalists held in Beirut, October 2009. Belly dancing has long been an important Tue, 02 Feb 2010 00:00:00 ESThttp://www.trcb.com/news/syria/general/syrian-women-turn-to-belly-dancing-for-exercise-23497.htmTRCB.comNews Syria / Generalhttp://www.trcb.com/news/syria/general/regimes-sham-civil-society-claim-23499.htmThe idea of civil society as conceived by the government is a pretence. By an IWPR-trained reporter (SB No. 91, 29-Jan-10)I have been watching incredulously as Syrian officials have claimed to be carrying the torch of civil society in the country. Sat, 30 Jan 2010 00:00:00 ESThttp://www.trcb.com/news/syria/general/regimes-sham-civil-society-claim-23499.htmTRCB.comNews Syria / Generalhttp://www.trcb.com/news/syria/general/cosmetic-surgery-sparks-alarm-23500.htmEye-colour operation surgeon suspended as government probes complaints. By an IWPR-trained reporter (SB No. 91, 29-Jan-10)A controversial surgical operation carried out in Damascus to change the colour of a Syrian womans eyes has raised public fears Fri, 29 Jan 2010 00:00:00 ESThttp://www.trcb.com/news/syria/general/cosmetic-surgery-sparks-alarm-23500.htmTRCB.comNews Syria / Generalhttp://www.trcb.com/news/syria/general/dissidents-shift-discussion-to-web-21165.htmOnce crushed political forum starts thriving Facebook group. By an IWPR-trained reporter (SB No. 90, 21-Jan-10)A Syrian pro-democracy forum that was shut down by the authorities in 2005 has found a new life in cyberspace and discussion is thriving. Thu, 21 Jan 2010 00:00:00 ESThttp://www.trcb.com/news/syria/general/dissidents-shift-discussion-to-web-21165.htmTRCB.comNews Syria / Generalhttp://www.trcb.com/news/syria/general/drought-blights-syrian-villages-21116.htmSlow response to crisis prompts many to flee to big cities. By an IWPR-trained reporter (SB No. 90, 20-Jan-10)A severe shortage of rainfall that has lasted more than three years has crippled agriculture in northeastern Syria, where residents say Wed, 20 Jan 2010 00:00:00 ESThttp://www.trcb.com/news/syria/general/drought-blights-syrian-villages-21116.htmTRCB.comNews Syria / Generalhttp://www.trcb.com/news/syria/general/syrian-airline-hit-by-us-sanctions-20816.htmTrade ban dashes hopes of reviving national carrier to boost tourism. By an IWPR-trained reporter (SB No. 89, 13-Jan-10)A continuing United States embargo on Damascus has hit the national airline hard, preventing the company from growing at a time when Wed, 13 Jan 2010 00:00:00 ESThttp://www.trcb.com/news/syria/general/syrian-airline-hit-by-us-sanctions-20816.htmTRCB.comNews Syria / Generalhttp://www.trcb.com/news/syria/general/reform-plans-for-public-sector-firms-20640.htmLoss-making enterprises face overhaul or closure as free market gains ground. By an IWPR-trained reporter (SB No. 88, 08-Jan-10)The Syrian government is examining ways to overhaul ailing public sector enterprises that place a heavy burden on the national Fri, 08 Jan 2010 00:00:00 ESThttp://www.trcb.com/news/syria/general/reform-plans-for-public-sector-firms-20640.htmTRCB.comNews Syria / General