The ‘Arab spring’ in Israel

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The World’s Matthew Bell reports that Israelis are anxiously watching events in the Middle East. What many in the west laud as an “Arab Spring” appears deeply disturbing to Israelis, who worry about what uncertainty lies ahead. Download MP3
Matthew Bell on Twitter

Egypt alters its constitution

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The World’s Ben Gilbert reports that a majority of voters in Egypt has approved changes to the country’s constitution in a referendum this weekend. Download MP3

Egypt to vote on key constitutional changes

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The World’s Ben Gilbert reports from Cairo about Egyptians getting ready to take a key step for their fledgling democracy. They vote this weekend on amendments to the constitution that would end decades of repressive emergency laws and allow many more candidates to run for president in free and fair elections. Download MP3

Treasure of Egyptian antiquities

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In the Geo Quiz we’re looking for a museum recently looted during anti-government protests which damaged two Pharaonic mummies. UNESCO’s sending a team of antiquities specialists there next week to investigate. So, can you name this museum? Download MP3

Migrant workers from Libya trapped at border

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The World’s Ben Gilbert reports that thousands of migrant workers remain in limbo on the border between Libya and Egypt. Download MP3

Friday protests in the Arab world

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While Colonel Gaddafi’s forces continue to make advances on rebel-held territory in Libya, there was a muted response to internet appeals for a day of demonstrations in Saudi Arabia, as the Kingdom deployed massive security Friday to prevent any illegal gatherings. We get a roundup of other protests today in North Africa and the Middle East from reporters Sean Carberry in Bahrain, Laura Lynch in Saudi Arabia, and Ben Gilbert in Egypt. Download MP3
Slideshow: Bahrain protests

Egypt’s political prisoners

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There are an estimated 5,000 political prisoners still in Egyptian prisons, detained under the country’s “emergency law.” The law has been in effect since the 1980s. Now, activists and protestors are calling for the law to be lifted and the political prisoners freed. Ben Gilbert reports from Cairo. Download MP3
Egypt coverage on The World

Women’s Rights in Saudi Arabia

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Women in Saudi Arabia are not allowed to do many things we take for granted, such as driving a car or traveling without a guardian’s permission. The World’s Laura Lynch examines what life is like for Saudi women on this International Women’s Day. Download MP3
Laura’s coverage from Saudi Arabia

Saudi government warns against protests

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The Saudi government and religious authorities have warned against protests in the Kingdom. The World’s Laura Lynch looks at what’s at stake for both the government and those who say they are fighting for their rights. Download MP3
Laura’s blog post: The Saudi way?

Protecting evidence in Egypt

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Protesters in Egypt stormed several state security buildings over the weekend to stop the destruction of documents that could be used in the prosecution of former members of the Mubarak government. The World’s Matthew Bell reports from Cairo. Download MP3

Video: Protesters attacked by military in front of Amn Dawla Lazoghly

Lessons for Egypt from Ukraine

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Ukrainians who participated in the peaceful Orange Revolution of 2004 have some advice for people in Egypt, a people’s revolution does not always lead to a functioning democracy. Brigid McCarthy reports. Download MP3

Nicaragua in the years since the revolution

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Anchor Marco Werman speaks with Jennifer McCoy, who directs the Carter Center’s Americas Program, about life in Nicaragua after the 1979 revolution experience and the lessons that experience could offer Arab nations like Tunisia and Egypt that are trying to build a democratic future for themselves.
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Revolutionary spirit

This was a demonstration we came across in downtown Cairo in front of a state insurance company. Managers and employees were on strike, demanding back pay from executives who they say had basically raided the company cash register [...]

Revolutionary catharsis in Cairo

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Here’s some of my interview with 27 year-old Hicham Abou-Chabana, who was with demonstrators when they broke into a state security building over the weekend outside Cairo. Abou-Chabana said he was never arrested by state security agents himself, but it was surreal nonetheless to be there inside police headquarters with people, mostly members of the Muslim Brotherhood, who had been detained and tortured in that very facility [...]

What is Egyptian “state security” anyway?

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That’s something I asked Amir Salem yesterday in Cairo. He’s an Egyptian human rights lawyer and longtime political activist who has lots of experience with state security. Salem told me secret police started arresting him when he was a teenager for political activities. Here’s a couple of minutes of my interview with him, where he explains what exactly “amn al-Dawla” is for the non-initiated [...]