LIBYA

While discussion over WikiLeaks' 2011 Nobel run continues, social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook deserve nobel prize for facilitating pro-democracy protests in Middle East, North Africa and even China.

As his four-decade rule of Libya hung by a thread, Moammar Gaddafi appeared on state television on Tuesday, local time, to kill rumors that he has left the country.

Khamis Gaddafi, a son of Libya ruler Moammar Gaddafi, recruited French-speaking Sub-Saharan African mercenaries to shoot live rounds at pro-democracy protesters, reported Al Arabiya, citing sources in the city of Benghazi.

After the Egyptian government shut off the Internet attention has turned to Libya and Bahrain, both of which have had some of the worst unrest in the last week.

Renewed and intensified fighting in the Libyan capital of Tripoli has led to the deaths of dozens of people, according to media reports, as the noose around Moammar Gaddafi tightens.

While the European Union (EU) nervously monitors the ever-deteriorating situation in Libya, they are also worried about one possible outcome of the unrest there – an acceleration of illegal immigration into Europe from North Africa.

Two Libyan Air Force pilots have defected to the Mediterranean island of Malta.

Oil prices have jumped in response to the growing chaos in oil producer and OPEC member Libya and the potential for the escalation of unrest in Iran, OPEC’s second biggest oil producer..

Egypt's public prosecutor on Monday moved to freeze the foreign assets of Hosni Mubarak, the first sign that the deposed president would be held to account by the rulers to whom he handed power 10 days ago.

Libyan warplanes were bombing indiscriminately across Tripoli on Monday, a resident of the Libyan capital told al Jazeera television in a live broadcast.

Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi's four-decade-old rule appeared in increasing jeopardy on Monday when days of anti-government protests reached the capital for the first time and security forces killed dozens of people.

As anti-government protests sweep across Libya, even entering the once-tranquil capitol of Tripoli, and major foreign oil companies suspend or withdraw operations in the wake of civil unrest, there are many unanswered questions.

In a bizarre and unexpected development, an Israeli magazine reported today that Libyan leader Moammar Gaddafi may actually seek refuge in Israel.

A senior government official in Venezuela has denied such reports of Gaddafi’s alleged arrival in the country, ruled by his friend and ally President Hugo Chavez.

The son of Moammar Gaddafi has denied media reports that his father has fled Libya for Venezuela. Seif al-Islam Gaddafi said his father remains in Libya.

BP plc (NYSE: BP) has announced that it is suspending its drilling activities in Libya due to the rising tide of political violence in that country and also plans to evacuate non-essential staff and their families.

The Silver Price rose $1.49 per ounce from Friday's London Fix – a gain of 4.7% to new 31-year highs, and silver's fifth largest one-day move of the last 30 years in Dollars and cents. The market is starting to look towards the record high of $1430 for gold against the backdrop of silver making fresh highs.

Silver touched its highest USD price in 31 years and palladium a 10-year peak. Gold prices rose above $1,400 an ounce on Monday for the first time in nearly seven weeks as violence flared in north Africa and the Middle East, boosting interest in the precious metal as a haven from risk.

The British Prime David Cameron has arrived in Egypt, only ten days after the ouster of former President Hosni Mubarak, making him the first foreign leader to visit the county embarking on a transition to a new government.

Governments including those of the U.S., Sweden, UK, Taiwan and India have issued travel advisories against all non-essential travel to conflict-ridden Libya, where a large number of casualties have already been reported.

Asian stock markets ended mixed on Monday as political unrest in the Middle East weighed on the sentiment.