On the eastern edge of the Black Sea, the Georgian president is refusing to step down, as demonstrations have gone on for weeks in support of Georgia joining the European Union.
Turkey is expected to play a major role as the new government takes over ruling Syria. Turkey had shown tacit support for groups fighting the Assad dictatorship.
At the end of 1999, there was anxiety about a potential computer glitch known as Y2K. Some thought the world would crumble, including some who waited out the apocalypse in an old house in the woods.