Chinese state media defend Beijing's veto of a UN resolution condemning Syria's violent crackdown on protesters, as violence continues across the country. Link

Party leaders in Greece's governing coalition are to resume crisis talks on backing a 130bn-euro rescue plan needed to avoid a debt default. Link

China tells its airlines not to pay charges to the EU's Emissions Trading Scheme, aimed at cutting carbon emissions. Link

Mimi Alford, a former mistress of President John F Kennedy, reveal new details of their relationship in a book, according to US media reports. Link

Egypt says it is to try 43 people - including Americans and other foreigners - over the alleged illegal funding of non-governmental organisations. Link

The US is working closely with Israel to use diplomacy to prevent Iran from becoming a nuclear power, President Barack Obama says. Link

Soldiers patrol the streets in the Brazilian state of Bahia where a police strike has caused the crime rate to soar. Link

Panama's jailed ex-leader Manuel Noriega is moved from his prison cell to hospital, suffering hypertension, and having possibly had a stroke. Link

Finland elects its first conservative head of state in decades, the pro-European Sauli Niinisto, after a run-off vote. Link

The Queen is marking 60 years as monarch of the UK and Commonwealth and says she is dedicating herself 'anew to your service'. Link

In their second Super Bowl matchup in five seasons, the Giants and Eli Manning scored another victory over Tom Brady and the Patriots, earning the franchise their fourth Super Bowl title. Link

A that brought back its chimps dressed as humans.Risk-taking, rule-breaking ideas were as hard to find among the more than 50 Super Bowl commercials as good taste in a GoDaddy ad. Link

Potential support from California and New York would come in exchange for tightening provisions in order to preserve the right to investigate past misdeeds by the banks, and stepping up oversight. Link

Egyptian authorities on Sunday referred 19 Americans and two dozen others to criminal trials as part of a politically charged investigation that has shaken the alliance between the United States and Egypt. Link

With efforts in the United Nations failing, the Syrian government pressed on with its crackdown as some opposition leaders said force was their only option. Link

After two deployments in Afghanistan, Lt. Col. Daniel L. Davis says the Pentagon is not telling the whole truth about how the war there is going. Link

Extreme cold and heavy snow buried parts of Europe over last few days, claiming hundreds of lives, straining utilities and snarling transportation. Link

Josh Powell was under investigation in the disappearance of his wife two years ago in Utah, and authorities said the fatal explosion on Sunday appeared to be intentional. Link

Critics say the allocation of $507 million in special funds in the budget for the Army Corps of Engineers could be a way to direct money to pet projects. Link

Megan Hilty takes flight in NBC's new series, Monday nights at 10, Eastern and Pacific times; 9, Central time.?Smash,? NBC?s series about backstage Broadway, comes with New York and Hollywood names off screen (Steven Spielberg, Therese Rebeck) and on (Debra Messing and Brian d?Arcy James). Link

The U.S. military is planning to elevate the role of Special Operations forces in Afghanistan as it shifts away from a combat focus to a mission that places greater emphasis on advising Afghan forces and raids to kill top insurgent leaders, senior U.S. officials said. Read full article >> Link

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The Obama administration is considering nominating retired Lt. Gen. Douglas Lute as the next commander of the U.S. European Command, a move that could stir controversy among some senior military officials who have clashed with Lute over war policy. Read full article >> Link

DARAA, Syria ? Nearly 11 months ago, protests against local authorities began in this small southern town and spread to become an uprising against the government of Bashar al-Assad that engulfed Syria. Read full article >> Link

SAO PAULO, Brazil ? It just made sense to be in South America?s economic heart, Jonathan Rosenthal reasoned, no matter that he had been working on Wall Street with some of the investment world?s most heady firms. Read full article >> Link

CAIRO ? Nineteen Americans will face criminal charges as part of a probe of the funding of pro-democracy groups, Egyptian officials announced Sunday, a provocative move that could deprive Egypt of crucial aid from the United States and upend one of Washington?s most important bilateral relationships. Read full article >> Link

KABUL ? At least five Afghan police officers and two civilians were killed Sunday when a car bomb was detonated outside the main police headquarters in Kandahar, officials said. An additional 19 people, six of them police officers, were wounded in the blast, provincial officials said. Children also were among the victims. Read full article >> Link

KABUL ? In a country where the recent past has unfolded like a war epic, officials think they have found a way to teach Afghan history without widening the fractures between long-quarreling ethnic and political groups: leave out the past four decades.  Read full article >> Link

MOSCOW ? Tens of thousands of Russians embraced the numbing cold and marched to a frozen riverbank near the Kremlin on Saturday, demonstrating their determination to keep up the pressure on Vladimir Putin for fair elections and honest government. Read full article >> Link

In his first extended public appearance as CIA director, David H. Petraeus this week did more than display his well-known discipline for staying on message. He did his best to bring other government voices back on message as well. Read full article >> Link

Egypt is bringing criminal charges against at least 40 people, including some Americans, in a move that puts $1.3 billion in US military aid to Egypt at risk. Link

Most of the world's major religions are made up of multiple sects or denominations, and Islam is no different. Islam's two major sects are the Sunnis and the Shiites, and the division and interplay between the two is a major factor in the geopolitics of the Middle East. How well do you understand Sunni and Shiite Islam? Take our quiz and find out! Link

Vetoes by Russia and China at the United Nations Security Council leaves few diplomatic options available to stem the violence in Syria.  Link

From London to Australia, mobs attacked Syrian embassies to protest the reported killing of civilians in Homs by forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad. Link

The past 24 hours have been one of the bloodiest of Syria's war, with government forces indiscriminately shelling the restive town of Homs over night. Russia and China were unmoved. Link

Defying sub-zero temperatures, tens of thousands of Russians protested in Moscow Saturday to demand fair elections next month. Many singled out Prime Minister Putin as a threat to reforms. Link

Russia and China on Saturday vetoed a UN Security Council resolution calling for Syrian President Bashar Assad. The other 13 members of the council, including the US, Britain, and France, voted in favor of the resolution aimed at stopping the ongoing violence in Syria. Link

In an unusual weekend session, European envoys to the UN Security Council said they would vote on a resolution calling for Syrian President Bashar Assad to step down. The move came as more than 200 people reportedly were killed in one of the worst episodes of the uprising. Link

Some 20 years after going to prison for a failed coup, Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez celebrates the anniversary of his beginnings while opposition candidates prepare to challenge him for the presidency. Link

Skiing in China is potentially life threatening, but Muju, Korea, couldn't be more different: courteous customers, organized chairlifts, staff who bow at the waist.   Link

Josh Powell and his two sons died in a blast at Powell's Washington home, a Pierce County sheriff's spokesman said. Utah police previously had identified Powell as the lone 'person of interest' in the disappearance of his wife Susan Powell-Cox in 2009. Link

Mitt Romney rolls to victory in convincing fashion while Newt Gingrich says he has no intention of pulling out of the race. Link

He may be a non-gambler, but Mitt Romney had a good night in Vegas. He left town as the night's big winner, capturing his second strong victory in a row. Link

Newt Gingrich said Sunday he is plotting a Southern revival, while Rick Santorum and Ron Paul seek stronger showings in upcoming caucuses to slow front-runner Mitt Romney's momentum after his second straight victory in the Republican presidential race. Link

After world leaders decried the U.N. Security Council's failure to pass a resolution on Syria, reports of violence surged once again in the besieged country. Link

Questions linger about the motivations of China and Russia, who vetoed a U.N. Security Council draft resoultion on Syria. Link

With the UN Security Council sidelined due to vetoes by Russia and China, the Syrian crisis will remain a violent standoff, says Randa Slim. Link

Power is out and roads are blocked in Italy. In England, Heathrow Airport had to cancel half its flights. The cold snap that began in late January has killed dozens. Link

Demonstrators clashed with police outside the interior ministry in Cairo on Sunday as anger mounts over a deadly stampede at a soccer match that killed dozens last week. Link

Forty-three people, including 19 Americans, face prosecution in an Egyptian criminal court on charges of illegal foreign funding as part of an ongoing crackdown on nongovernmental organizations, a prosecution spokesman said Sunday. Link

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called Sunday for 'friends of democratic Syria' to unite and rally against President Bashar Assad's regime. The move previews the possible formation of a formal group of like-minded nations to coordinate assistance to the Syrian opposition. Link

An Internet hit is becoming the anthem for Russian protesters as they march against Vladimir Putin's rule. The musicians in the video aren't rock stars; they're veterans of the Russian army. Link

A lawyer for several of the organizations under investigation said the activists also include 2 Germans, 5 Serbs, 3 Arabs and 14 Egyptians. They have been referred to trial on charges they illegally provided foreign funding to non-governmental organizations. Among those being investigated is the son of U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. Link

For nearly a year, Syria's government has sustained a violent crackdown against opposition protesters. The international community has struggled to agree on a unified response, and on Saturday, the latest effort to bring pressure on Syria's leaders fell apart. Host Rachel Martin talks with NPR's Kelly McEvers, who is monitoring developments in Syria. Link

Russia and China blocked a U.N. Security Council resolution on Saturday that would have condemned the Syrian government for attacks against civilians. 'What it means,' Rice says, 'is that many more Syrians, innocent Syrians, are going to be killed by their government.' Link

The moment of truth has arrived for Greece. Sunday the government must finally reach agreement on the terms of a $170-billion bailout from the so-called troika: the European Commission, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund. John Psaropoulos reports from Athens. Link

Unemployment has doubled in Greece in the past two years, nearing 20 percent, and there are many Greeks with jobs who might as well be unemployed ? they have not been paid for months. Some still show up for work every day, hoping that things will take a turn for the better. Link

National Geographic confirms the deaths of award-winning American cinematographer Mike deGruy and Australian television writer-producer Andrew Wight. The pair reportedly set off to film a documentary when they crashed. Link

The cruise ship disaster off Italy's Tuscan coast still poses a threat to the pristine waters and idyllic islands. The local residents and frequent visitors are upset ? and they include NPR reporter Sylvia Poggioli. Link

The blast went off at a parking lot outside the police building in Kandahar, a local official said. Seven people were killed, and least 19 were wounded, he added. In the north, meanwhile, Afghan police said that an American soldier shot and killed an Afghan guard at a U.S. base. Link

For someone who's been under house arrest at a secret location in England, Julian Assange has been maintaining a pretty high profile. Link

News that the NYPD recommended increasing the surveillance of thousands of Shiite Muslims and their mosques, based solely on religion, is the latest report in the AP?s ongoing investigation into the department?s controversial intelligence unit and its questionable tactics. Link

The move comes after members of Congress petitioned the office to act, citing FRONTLINE's 'Lost in Detention.' Link

The report lays out a plan for 'seismic stress tests' over the next four years for plants in the central and eastern parts of the country. Link

Yesterday, American Airlines’ parent company, AMR Corp., outlined its plan to cut about 13,000 jobs — or 16 percent of … Link

Thirty years ago today, the regime of then-Syrian President Hafez al-Assad launched what's known as one of the bloodiest chapters of modern Arab history: the Hama Massacre. Link

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- Take that, Brady. You too, Peyton.... Link

GRAHAM, Wash. (AP) -- Josh Powell's note was simple and short, a farewell to the world after two years of being scrutinized in the media, hammered by police and questioned by judges, prosecutors and social workers, living his life under a microscope since the day his wife vanished.... Link

BEIRUT (AP) -- The United States proposed an international coalition to support Syria's opposition Sunday after Russia and China blocked a U.N. attempt to end nearly 11 months of bloodshed, raising fears that violence will escalate. Rebel soldiers said force was now the only way to oust President Bashar Assad, while the regime vowed to press its military crackdown.... Link

NEW YORK (AP) -- A protest against embattled Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh outside a luxury hotel in New York got heated Sunday when demonstrators saw him leave the building, with one charging toward him and another throwing a shoe.... Link

LAS VEGAS (AP) -- Now it's on to Colorado, Minnesota and Maine.... Link

CAIRO (AP) -- Ignoring a U.S. threat to cut off aid, Egypt has referred 19 Americans and 24 other employees of nonprofit groups to trial before a criminal court on accusations they illegally used foreign funds to foment unrest in the country.... Link

PANAMA CITY (AP) -- Former Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega, who was toppled by a 1989 American invasion and later convicted of drug running, was transferred from prison to a hospital on Sunday because of extreme hypertension, health officials said.... Link

JERUSALEM (AP) -- For the first time in nearly two decades of escalating tensions over Iran's nuclear program, world leaders are genuinely concerned that an Israeli military attack on the Islamic Republic could be imminent - an action that many fear might trigger a wider war, terrorism and global economic havoc.... Link

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) -- The recording was forgotten, and so, too, was the odd twist of history that brought together Malcolm X and a bespectacled Ivy Leaguer fated to become one of America's top diplomats.... Link

For all the pomp and excess of Madonna's Super Bowl halftime extravaganza a single extended middle finger by guest singer M.I.A. is likely to be the most remembered piece of the show.... Link

LAS VEGAS (Reuters) - Republican Newt Gingrich vowed on Sunday to press ahead with his struggling presidential bid after a big loss in Nevada, saying he will focus on drawing a contrast with 'timid' rival Mitt Romney. Link

ATHENS (Reuters) - Greece's coalition parties must tell the European Union on Monday whether they accept the painful terms of a new bailout deal as EU patience wears thin with political dithering in Athens over implementing reforms. Link

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. Link

CAIRO (Reuters) - The cases of 40 foreign and Egyptian activists, including 19 Americans subject to travel bans over their work for pro-democracy and other groups, have been referred to court, judicial sources said Sunday, deepening a row with the United States. Link

TOKYO/LONDON (Reuters) - Official investigations into a massive fraud at Japan's Olympus Corp are highly likely to lead to further revelations on the scandal soon, according to the firm's former chief executive, Michael Woodford, who blew the whistle on the affair. Link

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Goldman Sachs Group Inc Chief Executive Lloyd Blankfein, one of Wall Street's most powerful figures, has become the first major business leader to join a national media campaign in support of same-sex marriage. Link

(Reuters) - About a year ago, when it became clear that taking Facebook Inc public was a matter of when not if, Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg went out and poached Caroline Everson, then global advertising head at Microsoft Corp. Link

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. Link

(Reuters) - An 'intentional' house explosion on Sunday near Tacoma, Washington killed the husband and two sons of a Utah woman missing since December 2009, fire department officials said. Link

INDIANAPOLIS (Reuters) - The New York Giants notched their second Super Bowl triumph over the New England Patriots in four years when quarterback Eli Manning led an 88-yard, game-winning drive for a 21-17 victory on Sunday. Link

SRIHARIKOTA, India (AFP) - India successfully launched its first lunar mission Wednesday, marking a major boost for the country's space programme and a new step in the fast-developing Asian space race. Link

COLOMBO (AFP) - Tamil Tiger rebels struck back against a major Sri Lankan government offensive Wednesday with suicide attacks against merchant ships off the island's northern coast, defence officials said. Link

WASHINGTON, (AFP) - US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates warned of 'pretty dramatic' consequences of not having an accord governing the presence of US troops in Iraq. Link

MOON TOWNSHIP, Pennsylvania (AFP) - John McCain told voters his White House rival Barack Obama was unprepared to handle a national security crisis, citing the US-Russia standoff in 1962 that put the world on the brink of nuclear war. Link

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Google on Tuesday released the open-source code which powers its Android mobile operating system and invited outside programmers to tinker with the software to develop their own features. Link

NEW YORK (AFP) - The US Federal Reserve has offered help to troubled money market mutual funds, as governments announced fresh aid to struggling banks amid signs of thawing credit in the money markets. Link

TOKYO (AFP) - Profits at Toyota Motor Corp. are expected to plunge by half in the year to March, while annual sales are set to drop for the first time in a decade, reports said Wednesday. Link

A financial turnaround at Las Vegas Sands Corp. is beginning to pay off for chairman and CEO Sheldon Adelson, who during the financial crisis put $1 billion of his own money into the struggling casino operator. Link

U.S. corporate profits are showing signs of flagging, even as share prices reach multiyear highs. Margins are slipping as already-lean firms find it harder to continue cutting costs. Link

Greece's political party leaders will resume talks Monday after major differences on draconian reforms as part of an international aid package remained unresolved following a marathon meeting Sunday. Link

The White House plans to nominate former Bush administration official Jeremiah Norton to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., a key banking regulator. Link

Farmers and analysts are expressing fresh skepticism about Agriculture Department data on the corn market in the wake of the latest figures, which stunned traders and sent prices on another wild ride. Link

Federal and state officials aim to wrap up this week a multibillion-dollar agreement with five major banks to settle probes of alleged foreclosure abuses. Link

With interest rates likely stuck near zero for nearly three more years, conservative investors?from retirees and college savers to banks and insurance companies?face a tough choice: move into riskier investments or continue coming up short from low-risk investments that aren't even keeping pace with inflation. Link

Asian shares rose after an upbeat jobs report from the U.S. suggested the recovery in the world's biggest economy was picking up pace, driving cyclical stocks higher and buoying the U.S. dollar. The Nikkei rose 1.2%. Link

Private-equity firm TPG said it has secured about 4 billion yuan (US$634 million) so far as it continues to raise capital for China investments. Link

State-run entities that expanded over the past decade to provide affordable homeowners insurance in hurricane-threatened Florida are in danger of becoming so big they threaten to wreak havoc on the local economy. Link

Diplomacy - not military intervention - remains the 'preferred solution' to averting a potential arms race in the Middle East, President Barack Obama told NBC. Link

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has joined Western and Arab nations in expressing fury at Saturday's veto by Russia and China of U.N. action in Syria. Link

Nineteen U.S. citizens, including the son of U.S. transportation secretary Ray LaHood, have been referred for trial in Egypt in a dispute over the activities of pro-democracy groups. Link

A 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck the central Philippines on Monday, killing a child and triggering a local tsunami alert. Link

Bitterly cold weather sweeping across Europe claimed more victims on Sunday and brought widespread disruption to transport services. Link

Patti Esperanza, a tour company owner from Los Gatos, Calif., handled her kidnapping like a pro. Link

A car bomb exploded near a busy shopping area in Kandahar, southern Afghanistan, on Sunday, killing at least seven people. Link

Award-winning American cinematographer Mike deGruy and Australian television writer-producer Andrew Wight have died in a helicopter crash, National Geographic said Sunday. Link

Greece's coalition parties must tell the European Union on Monday whether they accept the painful terms of a new bailout deal as EU patience wears thin with political dithering in Athens over implementing reforms. Link

The fatal grounding of the Costa Concordia off the Tuscan coast has sharpened the focus on the largely unchecked boom of these ever-larger luxury liners, and nowhere more so than in Venice. Link

?The U.S. called for a new international coalition to drive Syrian President Bashar alAssad from power and end an 11-month uprising that looks poised to enter its bloodiest phase yet. Link

Egyptian prosecutors will bring criminal charges against more than 40 employees of nongovernmental organizations, including at least six Americans, escalating an investigation of foreign groups that has ruptured Egypt's relationship with its most important financial patron. Link

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao called for better protection for the land rights of farmers during a visit to Guangdong province, where a reformist leader has grabbed attention by defusing a land dispute with an experiment in local democracy. Link

With protests calling for free elections undaunted by sub-zero cold over the weekend, the Kremlin is employing a familiar tool?anti-Americanism?to defuse support for opposition leaders. Link

Bosnian authorities used helicopters to evacuate sick people and deliver food to thousands of people who have been cut off by the heaviest snow the country has ever recorded. Link

Nearly 3,000 Brazilian troops patrolled the city of Salvador, appearing to lift the climate of fear that gripped the seaside tourist destination since a statewide police strike set off a spike in homicides and looting. Link

Indonesia, the Philippines and other developing countries are demanding more rights and higher wages world-wide for their legions of unskilled laborers?a trend that could shake up global labor markets. Link

South Africa's ruling party appears to be pivoting away from the charged politics of mine nationalization, in a bid to reassure investors and rev up a weak economy. Link

Italian oil company Eni shut down some production in Nigeria's Niger Delta after a militants' claim of attack, adding to security challenges that top politicians called 'intolerable.' Link

Panamanian police say former dictator Manuel Antonio Noriega has been transported from prison to a hospital, possibly because of a stroke. Link

The US vowed to put ?immense pressure? on Syria?s president to step down after Russia and China vetoed a resolution aimed at ending the fighting Link

With little money, a relatively weak on-the-ground campaign organisation and facing ever-rising attacks from fellow conservatives, the former House Speaker has little chance to stage a comeback Link

Officials say government and troika are ?quite far apart? on wage and pension reductions Link

Sauli Niinistö, the pro-European candidate from the ruling National Coalition party, will be the next president of Finland after a convincing win Link

With the demonstrations showing no sign of fading away, pressure is growing on the Kremlin to engage in more active political reforms Link

Iran has indicated that its threat to cut oil supplies to European states in order to pre-empt an EU oil embargo may be only a symbolic one Link

Bitter weather grounds flights at London Heathrow and leaves Rome in chaos after mayor misreads forecast Link

Low officer numbers and institutional weaknesses have left the authorities struggling to deal with rise in protests and crime rates Link

An African National Congress appeals committee upholds a five-year suspension against youth league leader Julius Malema Link

Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba is elected Socialist leader in Spain despite his role in party?s defeat in November and uses platform to attack Catholic privileges Link