Today on EA - 18 December 2009

Iran: We're following the first day of the religious month of Moharram. After a slow start, state media claimed "millions" (live shots show thousands) in the streets of Tehran and across the country. We're not so sure: see our interim assessment of what appears to be disappointment for the regime.

We have Mehdi Karroubi's (rather disappointing) interview with BBC flagship current affairs programme Newsnight, broadcast last night.

We've got the latest on claims that Twitter was hacked by agents acting for the Iranian regime. Twitter continues to run slowly this morning.

President's Ahmadejad's travels abroad continue --- he's now in Copenhagen and his PR machine continues to "big him up" at every opportunity.

Afghanistan: EA's Julian Mercille analyses the politics and conflicts between Afghanistan's drug production and profits  and exposes the trail of drug money, involving not only the Taliban but also other Afghan groups, the US military and NATO forces.

Israel-Palestine: Ali Yenidunya assesses a move by Hamas to claim the "liberation" of all of Palestine, and he looks at an attempt by Israel and Turkey to repair relations.

As always, you can keep up with all the news, as it happens, on our live weblog.

Latest Iran Video: Interview of the “Basij Member” on the Election and Abuses (16 December)
Iran & The Arrest of Majid Tavakoli: “To Men Who Are Not Ashamed of Being a Woman” (Shirin Ebadi)
Latest Iran Video: The Larijani Threat to Arrest Green Leaders (16 December)
The Latest from Iran (17 December): An Uncertain Regime