Greater Middle East

Egypt: countdown to Mubarak’s fall?

Thousands of people took to the streets in Egypt in a fifth day of protests, with police stations torched and several reported dead in Cairo and Alexandria.

Watching the Shadows

US drops, Russia adopts color-coded terror alerts

The US is doing away with the color-coded terrorism alerts adopted in the wake of 9-11—just as Russia is adopting such a system in response to the Moscow airport attack.

Greater Middle East

Did US firm sell Egypt cyber-snoop tech?

California-based Narus apparently sold Egypt technology to monitor Internet and mobile phone traffic—now being used by the regime to crack down on communications as protests erupt.

North Africa

Tunisia: new cabinet instated, protests continue

Tunisia’s interim regime followed through on its pledge to replace the cabinet of ousted president Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali—as protesters continue to demand the government resign.

Mexico

Oaxaca meets the new boss —or does it?

The new governor of Mexico’s conflicted Oaxaca state, Gabino CuĂ©, faces continued political violence and corruption scandals, despite the fall of the entrenched political machine.

The Andes

Pentagon moves ahead with Colombian bases plan

The Pentagon is moving ahead with plans to expand military bases in Colombia—despite a ruling by the country’s Constitutional Court striking down the base agreement with Washington.

Greater Middle East

Yemen protesters on Code Pink

Thousands of anti-government protesters again took to the streets of Sana’a, adopting pink as their color to emphasize their commitment to non-violence—but warning they could escalate to “red.”

Greater Middle East

Egypt: police, protesters clash for second day

Egyptian police and protesters clashed in Cairo’s city center and in the port city of Suez, in a second day of anti-government rallies. Four are reported dead in the unrest so far.