Today on EA (8 December)

Iran: Analysis of 16 Azar continues. We have two separate reports from EA sources, Josh Shahryar's review of the day's protests, and a hat tip to our readers for helping EA find its way into the Wall Street Journal. We also have the latest videos from yesterday's marches, and have started a new post for those from today. Of course, all the latest news is in today's liveblog.

We've got analyses of the significance of the protests from our Mr Smith and from Masoud at The Newest Deal. And Josh Shahryar has now summarised how 16 Azar doesn't end: he has reviewed today's demonstrations and clashes.

Middle East: Mahmoud Abbas is "keen" on reconciliation with Hamas, Benjamin Netanyahu thinks Syria may be willing to negotiate without preconditions, and Tzipi Livni is at loggerheads with him over settlements.