Russia submits claim for North Pole

The Russian continental shelf stretches beyond the North Pole, the Russian government asserts. The country this week submitted its renewed claims for the Arctic shelf to the UN Continental Shelf Commission.

Four killed as India, Pakistan trade fire in Kashmir

Four civilians were killed Tuesday in heavy exchanges of fire between Indian and Pakistani troops along their border in the south of the disputed territory of Kashmir, officials from the rival sides said.

Russia resubmits claim for energy-rich Arctic shelf

Aug 4 Russia said on Tuesday it hasresubmitted a claim to the United Nations for some 1.2 millionsquare km of the Arctic shelf, a drive to secure more of themineral-rich region where other countries have rival territorialinterests.

China appeals for U.S. help to fight Xinjiang militants

China has appealed for U.S. support in fighting Islamist militants in the far western Chinese region of Xinjiang, saying they are also a threat to the United States.

India turns the porn back on

India is partially lifting a ban on more than 800 pornographic websites, less than a week after its order to block the sites sparked widespread outcry. Government officials announced the reversal on Tuesday, after meeting with the country's internet service providers (ISPs). Only sites that contain child pornography will be banned, the government said, adding that ISPs will be responsible for policing their content. Child pornography is also already banned under Indian law.

Hundreds of Civilians Killed by U.S.-Led Bombing of ISIS in Iraq and Syria

A new report from a group of journalists and researchers says that hundreds of civilians have died during airstrikes by the U.S. and other nations fighting the Islamic State, a marked contrast to the Pentagon’s official admission of just two civilian deaths.

Obama warns of dangers to Israel if Iran deal blocked - U.S. Jewish leader

President Barack Obama told U.S. Jewish leaders it was likely rockets would fall on Tel Aviv if a nuclear deal with Iran was blocked and military action ensued, one of them said on Wednesday.

Kerry to meet Russia's Lavrov in Malaysia on Wednesday

  U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry will meet for a second time in three days on Wednesday with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who has been trying to bring about a rapprochement between Syria and regional states to forge an alliance to fight Islamic State militants.

China, ASEAN agree to speed up consultations on South China Sea Code of Conduct

 China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) agreed on Wednesday to speed up consultations on a Code of Conduct for the disputed South China Sea, the foreign ministers of China and ASEAN member Thailand said on Wednesday.

Japan finds China's expansion in East China Sea 'extremely regrettable'

Beijing: The Japanese government has released a map and aerial photos detailing Chinese oil and gas exploration platforms it said proved Beijing was accelerating plans to unilaterally exploit an oilfield that straddles disputed waters in the East China Sea.

Russia's construction industry is using tens of thousands of North Korean "slave laborers"

Tens of thousands of North Korean laborers are currently working in Russia’s construction industry in what human rights groups claim as a form of "slave labor," BBC reported late Tuesday. Most of the labor is currently working in the eastern part of the country.