Inspired by a very interesting NPR story on Chinese reactions to America's partial federal government shutdown, I thought English readers might be interested in seeing what the Arab press has to say about the issue. Here is Jihad Al-Khazen on the shutdown and American-Iranian diplomacy.

Syrian rebels have reportedly captured the Governor of Raqqa, Hassan Jalili, and the local head of the Baath party, Suleiman Suleiman. I have translated portions of the amateur video including statements by the two men as well as rebel fighters.

Recently, the Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad's gave a rare interview in which he admitted the huge toll of the conflict in Syria on children, saying that "Children are the most fragile link in any society and unfortunately they often pay the heaviest price in any conflict." (Read more on syriacomment) Against that backdrop, it seems appropriate to translate Habib Haddad's 2-27 cartoon published online in Al Hayat: