Elections

Aliaa Magda Elmahdy has become an online sensation after posting naked pictures of herself on a blog to denounce the oppressive nature of the Egyptian society, and the taboo surrounding femininity and women's body. While she certainly represents a portion of Egyptian women, others on the other hand have joined the rank of the Muslim Brotherhood, even sporting the party's banners during the anti-Mubarak protests.

Nabil Karoui, the head of Nessma television, told AFP he is being prosecuted for having "violating sacred values, good morals and disturbing public order" by broadcasting the film in October and as a result faces up to three years in prison.

The case of an Egyptian blogger, Aliaa Magda Elmahdy, who published a series of naked pictures on Twitter in a protest against Islamism is emblematic of the radical changes undergoing in the Arab world.

At first many Egyptians acclaimed the military for speeding the departure of Hosni Mubarak but now a tide of resentment against the new rulers is building.

Despite the NTC's efforts to focus on the reconstruction of Libya after months of civil war, reports of violence and armed insurgencies continue to raise fears about the country's future and regional stability.

Italy's Prime Minister-designate Mario Monti is still struggling to form a Cabinet as Italian 10-year bonds yields rose back over seven per cent on Tuesday morning.

Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh said that he will step down within 90 days of an agreement with the regional Gulf Cooperation Council

Prime Minister Salam Fayyad called on Palestinians to agree on a new premier to replace him a future new unity government, a Hamas/Fatah unity deal seem closer.

An Egyptian blogger posed naked in a series of pictures published on Twitter under her real name sparking mixed reactions among her followers. Some praised her move, while others left outrageous comments on that.

Tackling property crime and gangs should be a priority, many respondents told the survey.

For Silvio Berlusconi, the domestic dimension has always been a key to his troubled political and personal life. From Villa San Martino at Arcore, a small town near Milan, to Villa La Certosa in Sardinia, a breath-taking mansion overlooking the crystalline sea, his houses have equally been theatrical headquarters of political meetings as well as lascivious brothels for the Prime Minister's secret pleasures.

Despite trying to keep a low profile, Dominique Strass-Kahn continues to be in the spotlight after the ex-IMF chief was hit by a new scandal, with sources saying it is all becoming too much for his wife, Anne Sinclair.

Former EU Commissioner Mario Monti will begin consultations to form a new government of technocrats that could be sworn by Wednesday as Italy is expected to push through a bond sale on Monday of up to of 5-year bonds worth three billion euros.

The Italian Senate has approved the austerity law, a package of measures designed to avoid a Eurozone breakdown. The law should get final approval by the lower house at the weekend, leaving the way for Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi to step down. The senate voted by 156 to 12 in favour of the austerity package.

Italy's upper chamber, the Senate, will debate and vote Friday on austerity measures demanded by the EU to avoid a eurozone breakdown, while a new emergency government could take over Silvio Berlusconi's administration within days.

Zimbabwean dictator, President Robert Mugabe has moved from politics to show business after reinventing himself as a popstar.

Former South Africa's president, Thabo Mbeki, has hinted that that Africa's right to self-determination is still threatened by a "new imperialism", illustrated by the Nato Libyan operation.

Italian President Giorgio Napolitano said on Wednesday afternoon that Italy will soon approve a financial stability law and a new government will be formed, in a dramatic attempt to calm bond markets.

A day after Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi promised to resign as soon as parliament approves urgent budget reforms, Italy has awoken to political limbo.

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi who pledged to resign after the approval of urgent budget reforms, has said that he will not stand in new elections planned for February.

Nobel Prize Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is set to win Liberia's presidential elections after her main opponent Winston Tubman dropped out of the electoral race, but an outbreak of violence ahead of the vote has raised fears of anarchy returning to the streets.

Silvio Berlusconi, Italy's controversial leader is trying to survive the latest political crisis affecting his career as Tuesday as he faces a crucial parliamentary vote which could bring down his stricken coalition after three years in power.

The mounting crisis that has gripped the Eurozone countries seems to have boosted China's ongoing efforts to secure a prominent diplomatic space among its western allies.

Silvio Berlusconi's main coalition partner, Umberto Bossi of the Northern League, has called on him to resign.

The Greek press warned political parties that "today is the last chance" to end the political stalemate and appoint a new leader.

Thousands of Russian soldiers and military cadets paraded across the Red Square to mark the 70th anniversary of the parade that saw Soviet Soldiers march from the Kremlin into the frontline where they faced the Nazi forces during World War II.

Former general Otto Perez Molina has been elected president of Guatemala after pledging to tackle crime and drug-related violence that are plaguing the country.

Italian Interior Minister Roberto Maroni declared Sunday that Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's centre-right coalition "has no majority in Parliament" as the government faces a key confidence vote Tuesday on emergency economic measures.

After 48 hours of political deadlock, Greece will name its new prime minster by the end of the day after the outgoing premier, George Papandreou, and opposition leader, Antonis Samaras, reached a consensus with the country’s president Carolos Papoulias yesterday evening.

Tensions between Iran and the U.S. are mounting after Teheran warned that America should think twice as the government would be ready to "defend the country" amid speculation that the U.S. and Israel are considering an attack.