Syrian forces bombard rebel city of Homs: activists

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Syrian forces bombarded Homs on Monday, killing 50 people in a sustained assault on several districts of the city which has become a centre of armed opposition to President Bashar al-Assad, the Syrian National Council opposition group said.

Palestinian rivals agree to form unity government

RAMALLAH, West Bank (Reuters) - Rival Palestinian factions Fatah and Hamas signed a deal in Qatar on Monday to form a unity government of independent technocrats for the West Bank and Gaza, headed by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

Analysis: Iran economy could limp along under sanctions

DUBAI (Reuters) - Tightening international sanctions against Iran look set to shrink its economy, push up inflation and further erode its currency, but they may fail to deliver a knock-out blow that forces Tehran to compromise on its nuclear ambitions.

Pakistan factory collapses in gas blast, 3 dead, many trapped

LAHORE, Pakistan (Reuters) - A three-story factory collapsed Monday in the Pakistani city of Lahore after a gas explosion, killing at least three people and trapping dozens, emergency officials said.

Romania PM Boc quits after protests

BUCHAREST (Reuters) - Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc resigned on Monday, giving way to mass protests against IMF-backed austerity measures and joining leaders of other European Union states felled by soaring debts.

Children among seven dead as quake hits Philippines

MANILA (Reuters) - A magnitude 6.7 earthquake off the central Philippine island of Negros killed at least seven people on Monday, including two children, with government offices and schools ordered to close after at least 40 aftershocks.

ANC delays final sentencing for suspended Malema

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South Africa's ruling ANC has delayed final sentencing for suspended Youth League leader Julius Malema, who lost an appeal this weekend against charges of bringing the party into disrepute, Secretary-General Gwede Mantashe said Monday.

China says Tibet facing "urgent" task to maintain stability

BEIJING (Reuters) - China's mountainous region of Tibet is facing an urgent task to maintain stability and all government workers must be on their highest guard ahead of the Tibetan New Year and the fourth anniversary of riots, a newspaper said on Monday.

Sudanese rebels say to release Chinese workers "soon"

KHARTOUM (Reuters) - Sudanese rebels said on Monday they will release "soon" 29 Chinese workers held in the border state of South Kordofan where the army has been fighting insurgents for months.

Austria far right leader hurt by "new Jews" comment

VIENNA (Reuters) - The leader of Austria's far-right Freedom Party is taking a public relations beating after refusing to apologize for likening anti-fascist protesters to a Nazi mob and his supporters to Jews.