North Americans shudder in cold

Authorities urged US residents to stay indoors and stock up on food after a fierce winter storm killed 11 people and forecasters said the Arctic blast could bring record-low temperatures.

S. Sudan peace talks set to begin

South Sudan's government and rebels were set to begin formal peace talks on Sunday following a night of more fighting that sent more civilians fleeing the capital Juba.

Hagel calls on Tokyo to 'repair relations'

US Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel has urged Tokyo to undertake damage control to lessen the Northeast Asia diplomatic deadlock in a telephone conversation with his Japanese counterpart, the Pentagon confirmed late on Saturday.

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NSA seeks computer to break encryption

The US National Security Agency is trying to develop a computer that could break most encryption programs, whether they are used to protect other nations' spying programs or consumers' bank accounts, The Washington Post reported on Thursday.

Weather extremes seen in Australia, US

Australia experienced its hottest year on record in 2013, the Bureau of Meteorology said Friday, as snow, high winds and a glacial chill hit the northeastern United States.

Kim's speech draws skepticism from ROK

Seoul allocates $3.6 million to aim surveillance beacons toward DPRK

Father murdered, says Palestinian envoy's daughter

The Palestinian ambassador to Prague was "deliberately killed", his daughter alleged on Thursday, a day after he died in an explosion after opening a safe at his home.

Abe's coalition ally slams shrine visit

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe got himself into domestic, as well as diplomatic, hot water for his Dec 26 visit to the Yasukuni Shrine, as the head of the party allied with his coalition has joined the international community in expressing displeasure at his behavior.

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Indian PM Singh to step down after polls

81-year-old leader says Gandhi heir would be 'outstanding' for position

Kerry seeks model for Mideast peace talks

US Secretary of State John Kerry launched a second day of talks with Israelis and Palestinians on Friday, seeking to hammer out a framework to guide negotiations toward a peace deal.