TUNISIA

The Italian government’s website had been hacked over the weekend by a group of software experts called “Anonymous,” apparently as a protest against Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.

U.S. crude futures edged above $89.05 a barrel on Monday, recovering from a near 2 percent drop in the previous session, supported by the political crisis in Egypt and a drop in the U.S. unemployment rate to a 21-month low.

Tunisia suspended activities of the former ruling party Sunday, saying it acted to prevent a breakdown in security after some of the worst unrest since the president was ousted in a revolt last month.

An Algerian man doused himself with fuel and tried to set himself on fire on Sunday during a small protest outside a government ministry in the capital to demand more jobs.

Astonished by the uprising in Egypt, Western countries anxious to be on the right side of history have started to reassess ties to army-backed Arab strongmen stubbornly opposed to democracy.

The United Nations on Sunday drove home the warning from Western nations that a transition to democracy in Egypt should not be rushed to avoid worsening the crisis and destabilising the entire Middle East.

Turmoil on the streets of North Africa could lead to a tourism boost for Spain as tour operators rush to offer alternatives for customers seeking winter sun.

Stating that visits to Tunisia could have “reduced threat,” the UK has lifted warnings against travel to Tunisia.

Algerian opposition groups said on Friday they would probably go ahead with a planned protest march next week despite promises from the president to heed some of their demands and allow more political freedoms.

A war of words between Uganda's main presidential candidates escalated on Friday, sparking fears of Egypt-style street violence should the opposition say the poll was rigged.

Algerian opposition groups said on Friday they would probably go ahead with a planned protest march next week despite promises from the president to heed some of their demands and allow more political freedoms.

In a probable response to the unrest rolling through the Middle East and North, Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika has reportedly promised to lift the country’s state of emergency in the very near future.”

U.S. Sen. John McCain R-AZ said on Thursday that the United States had develop a new policy and needed to do a better job of encouraging democracy amid a wave of protests in Middle Eastern countries.

Tens of thousands of Yemenis squared off in peaceful protests for and against the government on Thursday during an opposition-led Day of Rage, a day after President Ali Abdullah Saleh offered to step down in 2013.

Algeria promised to end a 19-year-old state of emergency and provide more political freedoms on Thursday, concessions designed to keep out a wave of uprisings sweeping the Arab world.

Norway MP, Snorre Valen nominates Julian Assange's whistleblower website WikiLeaks for Noble Prize and hails it for contribution to Tunisian Revolution and the following Arab protests.

Oil prices surged past $103 on Thursday as pro-democracy protests in Egypt turned violent, while commodities markets raced even higher, adding to worries of mounting inflationary pressures could threaten the global economic recovery.

Japanese stocks eased on Thursday as escalating violence in Egypt prompted investors to move to safer assets, while commodities extended their recent gains, underscoring growing inflationary pressures that could threaten the global economic recovery.

Iranian Nobel Laureate Shirin Ebadi said on Wednesday the rise of communication technology in organizing political protest meant dictators would no longer be able to sleep soundly at night.

The Middle East is headed into the unknown, on that everyone agrees -- but the speed of events in Egypt and elsewhere has left analysts and financial markets struggling to find their bearings.

Supporters of President Hosni Mubarak attacked protesters with fists, stones and clubs in Cairo on Wednesday as the Egyptian goverment rejected international calls for the leader to end his 30-year-rule now.