Thousands of Egyptians are taking to the streets of Cairo to call for the country's president to step down. In Tunisia, protesters are pushing to banish all remnants of the ousted regime. And in Yemen, protesters are calling for the end of President Ali Abdullah Saleh's 30-year reign. What's driving this sudden wave of unrest across the Middle East?

Unrest continues in Tunisia, where an international arrest warrant has been issued for former President Ben Ali as well as his wife and members of his family. Charges include taking money out of the country illegally. This move on the part of the interim government was intended to assure the public that it is serious about change. Meanwhile police fired tear gas on protesters who continue to take to the streets. The BBC's Magdi Abdelhadi says that demonstrators are "determined to stay in the streets until the government comes down."

The Takeaway talks to Marcus Mabry, International Business Editor for The New York Times, and BBC Arab Affairs Analyst Magdi Abdel Hadi about what's in the headlines for the week ahead. Topics include President Obama and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner hitting the road, GM contining the long, slow walk to bankruptcy, and predictions that unemployment numbers may hit nine percent for the first time in a quarter of a century.

The Takeaway looks at two stories in the global news today with our partners, the BBC. First, President Barack Obama unveils his Afghan war strategy today. Officials say the President plans to send thousands of more military and civilian trainers on top of the 17,000 combat troops he's already ordered. The plan includes no time line for withdrawal of troops.

In other news, the Sudanese government says an air attack on the country in January destroyed a convoy carrying weapons intended for Hamas in the Gaza strip. The numbers killed in the attack fluctuate wildly, but the story's made big news in Israel whose prime minister has hinted that Israel's air force was involved. For a look at both these stories we are joined by the BBC's defense correspondent Rob Watson and the BBC's Arab Affairs analyst, Magdi Abdelhadi.

Iraqi election authorities are due to give the first official results today of last week's provincial council election. The results are expected to show gains for the law-and-order bloc of Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki. For more on what's ahead in Iraq, we talk to Magdi Abdelhadi, Arab Affairs Analyst, at our partner the BBC.

The Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon, is calling for an immediate halt to the fighting in Gaza. He says that intense negotiations between Hamas, Israel, and the global community are needed to end the violence in Gaza. He began a week-long trip to the region to promote his plans for peace after nineteen days of violence in Gaza where an Israeli campaign to end Hamas rocket fire has killed over 900 Palestinians. The Secretary General started his trip in Egypt and we are joined by the BBC's Magdi Abdelhadi in Cairo.

Former British prime minister Tony Blair is back in the spotlight again in his new role of special Mideast envoy representing the U.S., the E.U., Russia, and the United Nations. He is in Cairo today for a series of meetings with Israel and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. Mr. Blair says the elements are in place for a cease-fire to end the fighting in the Gaza Strip. For an on-the-ground report of events in Cairo, we are joined by Magdi Abdelhadi, the Arab affairs analyst for our partner the BBC.

Cairo has taken the lead in negotiating peace between Israel and Hamas. The Egyptian government is holding peace talks to end the conflict hosting Israel yesterday and Hamas tomorrow. These talks are held against a backdrop of widespread protests against the Israeli offensive in Gaza. For a closer look at the situation in Cairo we are joined by Magdi Abdelhadi, BBC's Arab affairs analyst.