The United States and Russia early Saturday announced a breakthrough agreement on Syria that foresees a nationwide cease-fire starting on Monday, followed a week later by an unlikely new military partnership targeting the Islamic State and al-Qaida as well as the establishment of new limits on President Bashar Assad's forces.After a daylong final negotiating session in Geneva, US Secretary of State John Kerry said shortly after midnight Saturday that the plan could reduce violence in Syria and l

South Korea and the United States on Saturday started their search for any traces, including radionuclides or radioactive materials such as xenon, that could come from North Korea's latest nuclear test, military officials said.North Korea conducted its fifth and largest-yet nuclear test in its northeastern region early Friday, sending ripples through the international community.“The investigation team will engage in collecting and analyzing radionuclide exposure in the water and atmosphere,” a m

Cash-strapped Hanjin Shipping Co. was given provisional court protection in the US on Friday to unload cargo at some ports without worrying about its ships being seized by its creditors, industry sources said Saturday.Hanjin Shipping, currently under receivership in South Korea, has sought court protection in the US as four of its ships have been stranded off the coast of the US out of fears that they will be seized by creditors.According to the sources, US Bankruptcy Judge John K. Sherwood on F

The Latest on North Korea's nuclear test7:30 a.m.The U.N. Security Council is strongly condemning North Korea's latest nuclear test and says it will start discussions on “significant measures'' against Pyongyang including new sanctions.The council quickly agreed to a press statement after an emergency closed-door meeting late Friday afternoon called by the United States, Japan and South Korea. Just three days ago, the council condemned the North's latest ballistic missile test.In Friday's statem

Fresh from its election victory on Tuesday, the new leadership of the ruling Saenuri Party faces an array of daunting challenges, including shoring up public trust and fostering unity in a party long beset by factional feuds that have hurt it in the eyes of voters, analysts said.At a national convention in Seoul the party elected Rep. Lee Jung-hyun, a third-term lawmaker loyal to President Park Geun-hye, as its new leader, and chose five new members of the party’s decision-making Supreme Council

The ruling Saenuri Party on Tuesday elected Rep. Lee Jung-hyun as its new leader, marking the first time for a politician from the country's liberal-leaning southwestern Honam region to take the helm of the conservative party.The third-term lawmaker was elected at the party's national convention in Seoul that also picked five members of the decision-making Supreme Council.Lee, who represents Suncheon, South Jeolla Province, is one of the only two Saenuri Party lawmakers from the Honam region whe