MID-DAY UPDATE: U.S. reviews Middle East arms deals, China moves to discourage protests

As the unrest in the Middle East continues to escalate today, the Wall Street Journal is reporting that the Obama administration has launched a review of arms sales and military assistance to countries in North Africa and the Middle East caught up in political and economic turmoil. As Janet Babin explains, any changes between the Middle East arms market and American defense contractors could impact the economy. The Middle East is one of the top markets for big ticket arms sales.

Many governments are following in Shell and BP’s footsteps and are taking measures to evacuate their citizens out of Libya. Jeremy Hobson speaks with Peter Thomas, a British teacher, who managed to flee Tripoli to Ankara, Turkey.

The Chinese government has started to censor information online and detain activists in hopes of avoiding potential protests in China similar to those in the Middle East and North Africa. China Bureau Chief Rob Schmitz explains that while experts think the unrest would not spread to China, an upheaval would be catastrophic for the global economy.