LIBYA

A cameraman for Arabic television network Al Jazeera has been murdered in what is believed to have been an ambush near Benghazi in rebel-controlled eastern Libya.

Libya has freed a three-member crew of a Dutch navy helicopter who were earlier captured by pro-government forces when they sought to evacuate civilians from the strife-torn nation.

The British government has offered Japan any assistance it may need after the massive earthquake and tsunami that smashed into the country, according to UK foreign secretary, William Hague.

European Union (EU) leaders have demanded that Moammar Gaddafi must give up power in Libya.

As forces loyal to Moammar Gaddafi appear to be retaking strategic Libyan away from increasingly demoralized rebel factions, a U.S. intelligence official has predicted that Gaddafi will emerge victorious from this brutal conflict.

U.S. stocks plunged on Thursday as weaker-than-expected economic reports from both domestic and overseas coupled with fears over the impact on oil price by pervasive unrest in the Middle East and North Africa weighed on the sentiment.

A journalist working for the British newspaper Guardian is missing in Libya and has not been heard from since Sunday.

The president of South Africa, Jacob Zuma, has urged Moammar Qaddafi to immediately cease all acts of violence against his people, according to S.A. Foreign Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane said.

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.

According to various media reports, French President Nicholas Sarkozy will propose to European Union (EU) leaders that they coordinate targeted air strikes on Moammar Gaddafi’s command headquarters in Libya to prevent his forces from carrying out more destruction against rebel forces.

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

In a sign that forces loyal to Moammar Gaddafi may finally be gaining the upper hand in the crisis in Libya, rebel groups have been forced out of the strategic oil port of Ras Lanuf (300 miles east of Tripoli) fleeing relentless barrage of attacks from government forces.

A net importer of Gold despite now being the world's No.1 mining producer, China saw 200 tonnes of demand during Jan. and Feb. according to an estimate from Swiss bank and bullion market-maker UBS.

France said it has recognized the National Libyan Council (NLC), the leadership of rebels fighting against Moammar Gaddafi, as the legitimate government in the country, ahead of European Union (EU) talks on the conflict today and tomorrow.

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.

The Libyan stalemate appeared to intensify on Thursday as Muammar Gaddfi's forces made further gains in rebel-held cities while the regime faced more international opposition to its plans to cling on to power.

U.S. stocks ended modestly lower in choppy trading as unfolding events in Libya and their impact on oil prices seem to be the overriding factors to most investors.

Oil prices rose to near $105 a barrel in Asia on Thursday, following reports that crude production in Libya has dropped more than earlier estimate, as fresh battles between the forces loyal to Moammar Gadhafi and rebels led to damage of key oil infrastructure in the country.

A group of UK-based journalists were detained and abused by security forces loyal to Moammar Gaffadi as they tried to reach the western Libyan city of Aw-Zawiyah, which has witnessed savage fighting between rebel s and government soldiers

U.S. stocks weakened a bit in choppy trading and unfolding events in Libya and their impact on oil prices seem to be the overriding factors to most investors.

Libyan officials have arrived in Brussels, Belgium for talks with European Union delegates, just before the EU foreign minister meet to discuss the crisis in Libya, according to Al Jazeera.