Anger after Russia, China block U.N. action on Syria

BEIRUT/UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Western and Arab states voiced outrage Sunday after Russia and China vetoed a U.N. resolution that would have backed an Arab plan urging Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to give up power, and Washington vowed harsher sanctions against Damascus.

Magnitude 6.8 earthquake strikes off Philippines: USGS

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - A 6.8 magnitude earthquake, at a depth at 29 miles, struck off the Philippines Monday, northeast of Dumaguete, Negros island, at 0349 GMT, the U.S. Geological Survey reported.

Obama says risky to attack Iran, wants diplomatic fix

WASHINGTON/TEHRAN (Reuters) - President Barack Obama said on Sunday there were important risks to consider before any military strike against Iran and made clear he does not want to see more conflict in the oil-producing Gulf region.

Ex-Panama strongman Noriega hospitalized, stable

PANAMA CITY (Reuters) - Manuel Noriega, Panama's drug-running military dictator of the 1980s, was taken from prison to a public hospital on Sunday after suffering a possible stroke, but a top health official said he was stable.

Concession fails to quell violent Egypt clashes

CAIRO (Reuters) - Egypt's army-backed government said it was preparing to move ousted President Hosni Mubarak to a Cairo prison hospital in an apparent bid to calm protests, but clashes continued with police firing tear gas at demonstrators hurling rocks and broken tiles.

Mexico conservatives back woman presidential candidate

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Voters from Mexico's ruling conservative party selected their first woman presidential candidate on Sunday, choosing a former education minister to battle the opposition's nominee, who has a big lead in the polls.

Europe's cold snap claims more victims, travel hit

KIEV/LONDON (Reuters) - Bitterly cold weather sweeping across Europe claimed more victims Sunday, brought widespread disruption to transport services, and left thousands without power with warnings that low temperatures would continue into next week.

Deep-sea filmmakers killed in Australia helicopter crash

CANBERRA (Reuters) - Two award-winning filmmakers working on a documentary with renowned Hollywood director James Cameron were killed in a helicopter crash in Australia on Saturday, according to National Geographic.

Anti-Putin protesters show staying power in Russia

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Vladimir Putin's opponents vowed on Sunday to press on with demonstrations against his 12-year domination of Russia after tens of thousands attended a march which kept up the momentum of their protest movement.

China detains Wenzhou exec in city's debt crisis: report

SHANGHAI (Reuters) - Police in China's eastern province of Zhejiang have detained a Wenzhou educational company boss for allegedly failing to repay large debts, the official Shanghai Securities News reported on Monday, the latest fallout from a credit crunch in the entrepreneurial hub.