Mosaic: World News From The Middle East

Hundreds of Palestinian Refugees have begun return to the Yarmouk refugee camp near Damascus. This comes after Palestinians protested to be able to return to the camp and appealed for Yarmouk to become a safe zone during the conflict. BBC Arabic reports on the latest developments and the Free Syrian Army's decision to withdraw forces from the camp.

Despite stepping down from power in February, former dictator Ali Abdullah Saleh continues to cast a long shadow in Yemen. Al Jazeera reports on decrees from Yemenís new president, Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi to curb the continued influence of Saleh within the army.

In the aftermath of the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School, the children's welfare organization Innocence in Danger held a press conference to urge the United States to ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of a Child. Press TV reports on why the United States is only one of two nations (the other being Somalia) not to ratify the UN treaty.

Today Russia sent warships to the Mediterranean sea in preparation for a possible evacuation of its citizens from Syria, highlighting concerns about the advancement of rebel forces, which appear now to be threatening the capital, Damascus. This move follows a declaration by the Russian deputy foreign minister, Mikhail Bogdanov, that Assad's regime is losing control of the country. As BBC Arabic reports, once again, Russian decisions regarding Syria raise many questions about the reality of what is occurring in the country.

Syria's Interior Minister Mohammad Ibrahim al-Shaar has been transferred to the Lebanese capital Beirut to continue treatment of injuries sustained in a bomb attack in Damascus. But mystery surrounds the exact circumstances of the incident; activists say the minister's convoy was targeted, but Syrian state television claims the bombing occurred at the gate of his ministry's headquarters.

In an interview with Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar, Syrian Vice President Farouk al-Sharaa expressed his belief that there is no military solution for either side in the conflict in Syria. Al Jazeera reports on the contents of the interview, in which al-Sharaa states that without a non-military solution, the bloody stalemate will continue.

The Free Syrian Army announced its control over the headquarters of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine General Command, in the Yarmouk Camp, south of the Syrian capital, Damascus, after violent clashes. The announcement came as activists reported the regime is amassing tanks at the edge of the camp and is continuing to shell residential buildings inside. Al Jazeera Arabic has the story.

In the aftermath of the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School, America is reexamining its gun culture. But are the odds stacked against meaningful gun control? Press TV reports on the recent spate of mass shootings, as well as how gun ownership continues to climb in America.

Thousands of Yemenis assembled in the capital of Sanaa to collect garbage and clean up 22 square kilometers of streets and neighborhoods. Al Jazeera reports on the event and the deeper symbolism of the clean up: a desire to address Yemenís political, economic and security woes.

Corruption in Afghanistan runs the gamut: from small bribes to infrastructure projects that fall apart due to siphoned off construction contracts. Al Jazeera reports on the scourge of corruption in Afghanistan and how foreign companies may be making the situation much worse.

NATO's Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen has said that Syria's regime is ready to collapse. Meanwhile, Syrian ally Russia has conceded that it believes the opposition may defeat Assad's regime and has plans to evacuate Russian nationals from Syria. BBC Arabic reports on these developments, including an interview with former US Ambassador to Syria, Robert Ford.

Nicolas Sehnaoui, Lebanon's Minister of Telecommunications has denied a request to turn over millions of phone records to the Lebanese Information Ministry. Al Jazeera reports that while the Information Ministry argues the data would help investigate a high-profile assassination case, Sehnaoui says it would violate the constitution and citizens' privacy.

The Friends of Syria, an international diplomatic group that includes the United States, has recognized the Syrian Opposition Coalition as the legitimate representative of the Syrian people. BBC Arabic reports on the meeting in Morocco, where the group underlined their support for the opposition but made no specific commitments towards arming them.

Transparency International has just released its Corruption Perceptions Index, ranking Iraq among the most corrupt countries studied. Al Jazeera reports on how corruption negatively impacts every aspect of Iraqi life and how its reached the highest levels of government.

After 21 months of revolution in Syria, refugees continue to flood into neighboring Turkey. BBC Arabic reports on conditions inside the refugee camps and how Turkey plans to respond to ever-increasing numbers of those fleeing violence in Syria.