WHO WON?    The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, an international panel formed in 1997 to enforce a treaty banning the use of chemical weapons.    FOR WHAT?    Behind-the-scenes work in identifying whether all 190 nations that have signed the treaty adhere fully to terms of the 1997 Chemical Weapons Convention. That treaty outlaws the production or use of chemical weapons; authorizes OPCW staff to decommission chemical-weapons production plants; and gives them power to in

A Syrian official says awarding the Nobel Peace Prize to the global chemical watchdog underscores ``the credibility'' of the Damascus government and its intentions to destroy its toxic arsenal.Fayez Sayegh, a lawmaker and member of President Bashar Assad's ruling Baath party, says the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons should work to rid the entire Middle East _ including Israel _ of weapons of mass destruction.Sayegh told The Associated Press shortly after the Nobel announceme

Finland's minister in charge of oversight of state-owned companies has resigned after her ministry persuaded a state-owned shipping company not to press criminal charges against Greenpeace activists who boarded two icebreakers last year.Heidi Hautala acknowledged on Friday that both her assistant and a high-ranking ministry official had urged Arctia Shipping to drop charges against the environmental activists and urged the company to work out differences instead.Green Party-member Hautala is kno

Korea’s economy is showing signs of recovery as various market indicators have shown improvements, the Ministry of Strategy and Finance said on Tuesday.Asia’s fourth-largest economy saw its industrial production increase 1.8 percent in August this year from the month before, the highest growth in nine months.Its housing data showed that apartment prices have been picking up over the last four weeks following the Aug. 28 follow-up measures aimed at revitalizing the real estate market.Other data s

President Park Geun-hye spoke briefly with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, the second time the two leaders have held such an encounter amid frayed relations between their countries.The dialogue took place when Park and Abe attended a gala dinner Monday, along with other Pacific Rim leaders after the opening session of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Indonesia's resort island of Bali, an aide to Park said Tuesday.The official declined to provide any specifics.It was the second

In math, reading and problem-solving using technology _ all skills considered critical for global competitiveness and economic strength _ American adults scored below the international average on a global test, according to results released Tuesday.Adults in Japan, Canada, Australia, Finland and multiple other countries scored significantly higher than the United States in all three areas on the test. Beyond basic reading and math, respondents were tested on activities such as calculating mileag

European lawmakers have approved sweeping new regulations to curb smoking, including limits on electronic cigarettes, bigger warnings on cigarette packs and a ban on menthol.The European Parliament vote in Strasbourg on Tuesday came after months of bitter debate.The parliament voted to impose warning labels covering 65 percent of cigarette packs, rejecting a measure for blank packaging instead. Legislators also put new limits on advertising for electronic cigarettes, but stopped short of restric

North Korea on Wednesday lambasted South Korea's large-scale Armed Forces Day parade as evidence of Seoul's hostility against it and said such provocations "will get them nowhere."South Korea's military mobilized some 11,000 troops, 190 pieces of various equipment and 120 aircraft for the ceremony held at an airbase south of the capital city on Tuesday. The event, which was the largest organized in a decade, also included a parade by troops and military hardware through the center of Seoul."The

President Barack Obama has canceled two stops on his long-planned trip to Asia because of the partial government shutdown, the White House announced Wednesday.Obama is scheduled to leave Saturday night for what was originally a four-nation tour. The White House said Obama will still travel to Indonesia and Brunei, but is calling off the final two stops in Malaysia and the Philippines.The shutdown took effect early Tuesday after Congress missed its deadline to fund the government.National Securit

French luxury conglomerate LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton says Marc Jacobs is stepping down as creative director of its flagship brand Louis Vuitton.Jacobs, who is also the director of an eponymous brand, is one of the biggest names in the fashion industry. Under his tenure, Louis Vuitton became the most lucrative fashion house in the world, in part thanks to his creation of a ready-to-wear line.He held Wednesday what will likely be his last show at the head of Louis Vuitton.LVMH, which owns t