Mosaic: World News From The Middle East

As the world marks Human Rights Day, Tunisians are pressing their government for a ban on torture and other protections to be written into the country's constitution. Human rights were largely absent under the rule of dictator Ben Ali. Al Jazeera reports on how Tunisians are now attempting to create a new culture of civil rights from scratch.

Afghanistan purchases much of its electricity from neighboring countries, but still doesn't have enough supply to cover the country's basic needs. Al Jazeera reports on Afghanistan's energy crisis and the barriers it faces to using its rich natural resources to create electricity at home.

One of Libya's greatest challenges is rebuilding a cohesive army from the wreckage of a bloody civil war that left a fractured country filled with heavily armed civilian militias. Al Jazeera reports on cooperative international efforts to strengthen and train the Libyan National Army.

BBC Arabic compiles exclusive footage from the streets around Cairo's Presidential Palace, where clashes continue between protesters and supporters of embattled Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi. BBC reports that there will be no political solution to the conflict soon.

Three people have died in the northern Lebanon city of Tripoli in clashes between supporters and opponents of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Press TV reports that ten have now died in a conflict that has spilled over from neighboring Syria.

Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi's supporters stormed the opposition's sit-in in front of the Presidential palace today, resulting in violent clashes. As Lebanon's New TV reports, this comes shortly after Vice President Mahmoud Mekki assured that the referendum will be held on the scheduled date.

Israel voted against the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty at the United Nations today, despite reports claiming that Israel owns between 200-400 nuclear weapons. Tel Aviv has refused to open up its facilities to international inspectors.

Israel voted against the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty at the United Nations today, despite reports claiming that Israel owns between 200-400 nuclear weapons. Tel Aviv has refused to open up its facilities to international inspectors.

Egyptian leader Mohammed Morsi flees the presidential palace in Cairo as protesters clash with security forces outside. Protesters gathered to voice their opposition to Morsi's recent decree giving himself sweeping new powers, ahead of a referendum on the constitution scheduled for December 15.

Israeli politicians trade barbs over who is to blame for the Palestinian Statehood bid, while 3,000 new settlement units are approved for the area known as E-1, effectively cutting a future palestinian state in two.

Hundreds of Morsi supporters continued their sit-in outside Egypt?s Constitutional Court leading to its indefinite shutdown. Meanwhile, Morsi?s opponents are planning for a general strike on Tuesday as they maintain their encampment in Tahrir. Joining Egypt's striking judges, media publications and broadcast channels will be suspended in protest against the president's recent constitutional declaration, reports BBC Arabic.

New TV reports on rumors from Syria that Jihad al-Makdissi -- the Foreign Ministry spokesman and a key figure in the Assad regime -- has defected and is headed to London, while other indications suggest he was dismissed for issuing statements that do not stand with the government's official position.

Olive growers in Syria are trying to harvest their crop amid the country's continuing conflict. In this Al Jazeera report, growers say the most difficult challenges they face are shelling by regime war planes, and finding affordable diesel to fuel equipment.

BBC Arabic reports that the humanitarian situation is worsening in parts of northern Mali controlled by hardline Islamists. Many residents are questioning if the international community has serious intentions to intervene militarily and eliminate the extremists.

In Iraq, a number of schools in the Salah al-Din governorate participated in an event at Tikrit high school to choose a "friend of human rights." Six Iraqi schoolgirls were selected from a field of distinguished female students, and it's hoped the new program will greatly contribute to producing a promising new generation that can promote human rights in society. Al-Iraqiya has this report.