EGYPT

Crude oil prices rose in Asian trade on Friday, after the United Nations (UN) approved the imposition of a no-fly zone over Libya, raising fresh fears over oil exports from the country.

Bahrain, a tiny island in the western shores of the Persian Gulf, saw no reprieve from the recent anti-government protests.

Brent crude jumped by more than $1 to $116 on Friday on fears of rising geopolitical tension in the oil-rich Middle East and North Africa, after the United Nations approved military action to contain Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.

Brent crude jumped by more than $1 to stand above $116 on Friday on fears of rising geopolitical tensions in the oil-rich Middle East and North Africa, after the U.N. approved military action to curb Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.

In the wake of the Middle East unrest, Nigerian scammer are now taking advantage of this situation: they are posing as representatives of the ousted dictators.

Bahrain arrested several opposition leaders on Thursday as part of a crackdown on anti-government protests in the Gulf kingdom, driven by majority Shiites, who are calling for democracy and civil rights.

Publishing U.S. diplomatic cables helped shape uprisings in North Africa and the Middle East, WikiLeaks co-founder Julian Assange said on Tuesday.

Tens of thousands of Palestinians have held rallies in Gaza City and Ramallah, West Bank, calling for unity and cooperation between Hamas and Fatah.

The decision by Saudi Arabia and other GCC countries to send armed forces to Bahrain to help quell protests is bad enough; but worse is the explanation that the move is in accordance with a Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) defense pact.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will meet with members of the Libyan opposition in Paris on Monday as she takes part in a broader Europe and Northern Africa Trip where she will also visit Egypt and Tunisia.

Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway said it has agreed to acquire additives maker Lubrizol for $135 a share in cash, or $9 billion, making it one of the largest acquisitions in its history. Eli Lilly and Co. announced that it has made an irrevocable, unconditional offer to acquire the animal health business of Belgium-based Janssen Pharmaceutica NV, a Johnson & Johnson Co.

The earthquake disaster in Japan looks set to dominate a Group of Eight foreign ministers meeting this week in Paris as members discuss ways to coordinate help for the only Asian country in the group.

Communiqué of European Council on the crisis in Libya, March 11, 2011, Brussels

The trading pattern of the prices of stocks and crude oil looks worryingly like it did just before the last recession.

Gold-buying prices held at two-week lows vs. the Dollar in London on Friday, as the US currency jumped and world stock markets sank after a powerful tsunami hits the Japanese coast 190 miles north-east of Tokyo.

Oil slid by more than $3 on Friday, with U.S. crude falling below $100, after an earthquake rocked Japan, creating a 10-meter tsunami and shutting down dozens of plants in the world's third-largest oil consumer.

Brent crude futures fell below $113 on Friday as a massive earthquake rocked Japan, creating a 10-meter tsunami and shutting down dozens of plants in the world's third-largest oil consumer.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said she plans to meet with Libyan rebel leaders in the U.S. and when she travels next week to France, Tunisia and Egypt.

Oil recouped most of its deep losses in late trade on Thursday after reports of police firing on protesters in Saudi Arabia revived fears of further unrest in the world's top exporter.

The government of Bangladesh said it is increasing efforts to help rescue thousands of its citizens who remain trapped in Libya.

International journalists continue to be targeted in the trouble-torn Middle East countries with the most extreme case coming from Libya, where BBC journalists had the first hand experience of Muammar Gaddafi regime's harassment of scribes.