David J Fazekas

As protests in Libya advance to wrestle power away from Moammar Gadhafi, attacks on demonstrators from helicopters and planes also continue. This has the international community left pondering what it can do. Many lawmakers are calling for a no-fly zone to be declared in Libya, but that may be easier said then done. To help us learn what exactly is a "no-fly zone," and if it actually works, is Joshua Keating, associate editor for Foreign Policy.

It's been over a month since protesters took to the streets of Sanaa, Yemen's capital city, calling for the removal of President Ali Abdullah Saleh. Opposition parties have joined the demonstrations and have said they would reject any offer from Saleh to form a unity government. Protesters also received support from Sheikh Abdul-Majid al-Zindani, who the U.S. believes has links to al-Qaida, and has called for an Islamic state to replace Yemen's current government.

According to a new New York Times/CBS News poll, most Americans support public sector workers in their fight against anti-union legislation in Wisconsin, Ohio and other parts of the country. According to the poll, 60 percent of Americans are opposed to weakening bargaining rights of public employee unions. Americans are surprisingly in favor of raising taxes instead of cutting benefits, and are opposed to weakening collective bargaining rights.

The latest testings results from the Program for International Student Assessment, show Americans are nowhere near the top in education, when compared to the rest of the world. American high school students finished 31st out of 65 economic regions in math, 23rd in science, and 17th in reading. How did our biggest global rivals do? Students from Shanghai finished at the top in all three subjects. Are American children falling behind? 

The government is on the verge of a shutdown Friday, as Democrats and Republicans try and come up with some kind of resolution on the budget. Chrystia Freeland, global editor-at-large of Reuters, and Charlie Herman, economics editor for The Takeaway and WNYC Radio, will look into their chrystal balls and see if any resolution is in sight. While Washington makes attempts at a budget resolution, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is heading to Switzherland to come up with a resolution on dealing with Col. Moammar el-Gadhafi and Libya. Are Gadhafi's days numbered? 

"The King's Speech" took home best picture and three other trophies last night at the 83rd Academy Awards. Meanwhile, "Inception" also won four awards, mostly in technical categories. Other memorable moments included an exasperated Melissa Leo dropping the "f-word" while accepting her Oscar for best supporting actress, and co-host James Franco appearing on stage in a dress.

If you missed last night's broadcast, don't fret. Rafer Guzman, film critic for Newsday, and co-host of The Takeaway Movie Date Podcast with Takeaway producer Kristen Meinzer, are here to help with their Oscar hangover cure: a hearty mix of the winners, losers, and surprises that will be heating up YouTube and the water cooler conversations today.

Today will mark the last launch of Space Shuttle Discovery, which made its maiden voyage back in 1984. This starts the countdown to the end of the Space Shuttle program, with final launches of Endeavor and Atlantis scheduled. Was the Shuttle Program worth it? To answer that question is Peter Spotts, science reporter for The Christian Science Monitor.

President Barack Obama declared the Defense Of Marriage Act unconstitutional yesterday, and ordered the Justice Department to no longer defend it. The act, which was signed into law in by President Bill Clinton back in 1996, barred any federal recognition of same-sex marriages. Reactions were split between Democrats and Republicans. House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio), said, "while Americans want Washington to focus on creating jobs and cutting spending the president will have to explain why he thinks now is the appropriate time to stir up a controversial issue that sharply divides the nation."

While Indiana House Republicans are pushing for an anti-union bill to be passed, house Democrats have fled the state to stall a vote on it. Faced with the possibility of being arrested, Democrats are saying they will not return until the bill is taken off the table. For more on this developing story, we're joined by Dan Carden, State House Bureau Chief for North West Indiana Times.

For the first time in 15 years, more banks closed than opened in 2010. Looking closer into the numbers shows that the majority of banks that closed were located in poor areas, whereas, most new banks opened in wealthier areas. The New York Times Wall Street and finance reporter Louise Story has the details.

A new study that comes out today in the Journal of the American Medical Association that shows that fifty minutes of cell phone use can alter our brain activity. We asked Takeaway listeners whether you think too much cell phone exposure can have adverse health effects. John Paul from Michigan called our comment line at 877-8-MYTAKE to say:

I can't imagine it so severe that it's going to be a problem. I have to just say it's the cost of doing business.

Protests in Libya to overthrow Muammar Gadhafi and his government continue, and unlike Tunisia and Egypt, it's a far bloodier crisis. The number dead is said to be in the hundreds and Gadhafi is not going to go quietly; he has waged all out war against his people. However, the people are continuing their fight. For more on what's happening in Libya is Joe Stork, deputy director of the Middle East Division for Human Rights Watch. He explains how Human Rights Watch gathers information from such a complicated and violent situation.

The political turmoil in Libya has led to a spike in oil prices and jittery markets. So far American investors have not been affected by the tumult, but if oil becomes limited, this could change. Libya exports 1.5 million barrels of oil a day and there has been concern as international companies have begun evacuating employees. There is fear that if oil prices continue to rise, Americans will feel it at the gas pump. Louise Story, Wall Street and finance reporter for The New York Times explains how the markets may react.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates and his predecessor Donald Rumsefld are being accused of turning a blind eye to sexual harassment charges against women in the military, and they are now being sued. Seventeen current and former members of the military claim that this behavior by the Pentagon led to violence against women being tolerated. This meant that their Constitutional rights were violated. Jesse Ellison, writer and editor for Newsweek, and the author of blog Equality Myth, has the details of this lawsuit.

Twenty years ago, the Amazon River in Ecuador was heavily contaminated after chemical-laden wastewater was dumped into it. The effects on the surrounding population were devastating: illness, death, and economic loss. Chevron Corp., the U.S.'s second largest oil company, is the alleged culprits, and the company may have to pay at least $8 billion to repair damages after a ruling yesterday. In a statement, Chevron reacted, saying "The Ecuadorian court's jumdgment is illegitimate and unenforceable. It is the product of fraud and is contrary to the legitimate scientific evidence. Chevron will appeal this decision in Ecuador and intends to see that justice prevails."

The influence of successful protests in Tunisia and Egypt have spread outside of the Arab world in the Middle East. Iran saw thousands take to the streets in protest against its government, with protesters chanting, "death to the dictator." These are the largest demonstrations since 2009, which resulted in the government crushing the opposition. Can the government shut down the latest protests?

With protesters in Egypt successfully overthrowing President Hosni Mubarak, following successful protests in Tunisia, we take a look at Yemen. That country has seen protests all weekend — not from the opposition but from the youth of the country, who have organized primarily via text messaging. Noel King, managing producer for The Takeaway, looks at why the U.S. should be keeping a close eye on what's happening in Yemen, as well as in Iran. 

The will of the people of Egypt prevailed with the resignation of President Hosni Mubarak on Friday. In the wake of his departure the Egyptian military is taking control of the government, with elections to be held in six months. The military dissolved parliament and suspended the constitution. As much as Mubarak's departure is a welcome sight for protesters, there is a growing concern about the military's role in the transition. At the same time, there are longstanding problems that the interim government will have to solve, including ongoing labor strikes, poverty and a tradition of corruption.

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak addressed the youth of his country — most of whom are the very people calling for his removal from office — with what many perceive as paternal condescension. We take a closer look at the generation gap between the President and his populace.

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak continues to hold power in Egypt after his announcement that he would not cede to demonstrators demands that he step down. Instead he decided to hand day-to-day powers to Vice President Omar Suleiman and made vague promises about the Egyptian Constitution.

President Obama watched Mubarak's speech on Air Force One, while returning from a trip to Michigan and seemed to be somewhat caught of guard. What role will the United States take now? A cautious one, says The New York Times, David Sanger.