Al-Monitor Daily Briefing: Ready or not, Libya to hold elections in spring

[logo]( [fb_icon]( [twitter_icon]( EDITOR'S PICKS Wednesday, December 27 | Daily Briefing [By: Mustafa Fetouri on Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2017]( 1 [Ready or not, Libya to hold elections in spring]( Libya is set to hold elections in the spring of 2018, although political and security instability bode ill for the process. Turkey 2 [Eastern Mediterranean may be scene of first conflict of 2018]( Developments warn of growing tension between Turkey and the Greek Cypriots over newly discovered hydrocarbon reserves in the eastern Mediterranean. Israel 3 [Children bear traumatic costs of Israeli-Palestinian gambits]( Both Israeli and Palestinian children are paying a high price in lifelong trauma for politicians' violent and careless promises. Iran 4 [Iran gradually moving toward resumed military ties with Europe]( Acknowledging that military cooperation with leading European powers is not on the table, Iran is seeking out European middle powers. Palestine 5 [Olives, pistachios inspire young Gaza designers]( Two students from the Gaza Strip won a regional package-design competition using sustainable materials to meet local needs, and their work is now being evaluated for world recognition. Lebanon 6 [All official Syrian-Lebanon border crossings now open]( The border area has been deemed secure enough for the Lebanese and Syrian governments to reopen the last of the five border crossings between the two countries. 7 [Torture is still rampant in Tunisia]( Although torture, mistreatment, and physical and verbal abuse in jails and detention centers have relatively decreased, they are still ongoing in Tunisia’s detention centers. Egypt 8 [Egyptian director sticks tongue out at movie kisses]( The film "Stop Kissing Me" takes a satirical look at the romance scenes in Egyptian films, but risks getting the kiss of death from Egypt's censorship authority. Iraq 9 [Iraq once again controls own economy, free of UN sanctions]( Iraqis await promising foreign investments and a political and economic opening to the world now that the UN has lifted decadeslong sanctions imposed after Iraq invaded Kuwait. Egypt 10 [How Egyptians are fighting forced marriage]( Forced marriage in rural areas, especially in Upper Egypt, has become so rampant that several women and civil institutions launched campaigns to raise awareness about the dangers of such practices. STAY CONNECTED [fb_icon_footer]( [twitter_icon_footer]( [instagram_icon_footer]( [rss_icon_footer]( CONTACT US [Support & Contact]( [Advertise](mailto:advertise@al-monitor.com) NEWSLETTERS [Subscribe]( TERMS OF USE [Visitor Agreement]( [Privacy Policy]( © 2017 Al-Monitor. All Rights Reserved. If you no longer wish to receive these emails you may [unsubscribe or manage your preferences]( at any time. Al-Monitor · 1850 K St NW · Suite 1225 · Washington, DC 20006 · USA