EGYPT

Twitter said it was blocked in Egypt on Tuesday in view of the protests on Cairo streets which sent the social networking site into an instant information platform with messages coming from all corners.

The rising voice of protest and suicides across North Africa is the start of a popular uprising, Egyptian opposition leader Mohamed ElBaradei said.

The protests in Egypt on Tuesday turned violent with at least three people reported to have been killed and tear gas and water cannons used to disperse the crowds who had gathered in central Cairo following the opposition call for a Day of Revolt.

Thousands of Egyptians protested against the state on Tuesday in a rare show of strength to mark what online activists said was a Day of Wrath inspired by the revolt that toppled Tunisia's president.

Sundance Film Festival 2011 kick started on January 20. One movie that stands apart for generating high level of curiosity is YouTube's 'Life in a Day'. World awaits the premier on January 27, which will also be available on live stream.

Tunisian police fired shots into the air on Thursday to try to disperse hundreds of protesters demanding that ministers associated with the rule of ousted president Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali leave the government.

Facebook's global reach has been the envy of many companies, as about 70 percent of its 500 million users are from outside US and now Facebook has launched an app for feature phones to further bolster its march.

In an effort to prevent the kind of unrest currently engulfing Tunisia, the government of Jordan has unveiled a $230-million economic package to help the nation’s poor by cutting the prices of essential consumer goods and by creating jobs.

Hundreds of protesters demonstrated in the Tunisian capital on Wednesday to demand the dismissal from the new coalition government of ministers associated with ousted president Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali.

Egyptian Trade Minister Rachid Mohamed Rachid said on Tuesday that Egypt had adequate wheat stocks and had not changed the pace at which it was buying the grain.

African Barrick Gold (ABGL.L) said fourth-quarter output rose from the preceding quarter as its new Buzwagi mine overcame production difficulties by mid-November, but missed its overall output target for the year.

Tunisia's prime minister appointed opposition figures to a new unity government on Monday, trying to establish political stability after violent street protests brought down the president last Friday.

Algeria bought 600,000 tonnes of wheat, traders said on Monday, snapping up grain at a time of high prices and tight supply even as neighbouring countries take measures to head off Tunisia-style unrest over food inflation.

Saudi Arabia has taken in Tunisia's fallen strong man, but the oil wealth of the kingdom and its neighbours should ensure the poverty-driven unrest which ousted Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali does not follow him to the Gulf.

International observers gave south Sudan's independence referendum their seal of approval on Monday and said a vote for secession was now virtually certain in their first official judgment on the poll.

Mohamed Bouazizi, the unemployed 26-year-old Tunisian whose self-immolation sparked the riots in that country and ultimately toppled the president, has apparently inspired a series of copycat across North Africa, according to media reports.

Now that Ophiuchus (the serpent holder) in the astrological picture, you're probably wondering if your suddenly-new sign means that you're supposed to have particular personality traits. The real answer is that, as an Ophiuchus (Ophiuchan?), your personality traits are in line with, well, your existing personality traits.

Bullish earnings and dividend expectations pushed Industries Qatar (IQCD.QA) (IQ) to a 28-month high on Thursday, helping Doha's Index .QSI reach a similar milestone.

Ethiopia has penalised retailers and suppliers in the capital who raised the prices of consumer goods such as bread by amounts higher than caps set in January, authorities said on Thursday.

Ministers from Hezbollah and its Lebanese allies resigned Wednesday, toppling the government of Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri before expected indictments against the Shi'ite group over the killing of Hariri's father.

Libya has abolished taxes and custom duties on locally-produced and imported food products in response to a global surge in food prices, Oea online newspaper reported.