One of our Israeli Observers, Joel Schalit, takes a look at the Gaza crisis from a wider perspective, paying particular attention to Iranian influences over Palestinian movements. Read more...

In an original take on Britain's traditional Christmas speech from the Queen, Britain's Channel 4 decided to ask Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to convey a message instead. Presented as an "alternative view" by the channel and received as an example of freedom of speech by many, the UK government, on the other hand, has condemned the speech. Read more...

More than five million "immoral" websites have been banned by the Iranian government. We asked two of our Iranian observers how and why the censors are muscling in on the country's internet users. Read more...

This video of a police arrest has been circulating on the Iranian blogosphere since Monday. The man arrested was accused of stealing money and a mobile phone. Read more and see the video...

On the day that Barack Obama was elected President of the United States, our Observer Olaf Koens happened to be in Tehran. He tells us how the Iranian capital reacted to the news. Read more...

Rap is banned in Iran. But for the past five years, young rappers have risked using the internet to share their music, which is becoming increasingly popular. Iranian expats tell us why Iran's youth is so taken with the style. Read more and watch the video clips...

The photos of Iranian missiles released on Wednesday, July 9 made headlines around the world. But one of them, picked up by Agence France Presse (AFP), was found to be altered - most likely released by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard's official press office, Sepah News. Read more...

John McCain came up with a novel way to combat America's longstanding Iranian foe yesterday. Read more and see the video.

One of our Observers in Egypt received this image in a forwarded email. The message to women: Cover up to protect yourself. We ask our Observers if whether covering up really deters unwanted attention. Read more...

Accusing Tehran of withholding information, the International Atomic Energy Agency said yesterday that Iran still owed it "substantial explanations" concerning its nuclear programme. This firm standpoint by the IAEA once again revives the polemic over Iran's right to nuclear weapons. Ali, our Observer in Tehran, reviews the crisis from Iran's viewpoint, and comments on Ahmadinejad's position on Israel. Read more...