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.

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.

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. 

China starts building its largest solar plant IANS

China has begun constructing its largest solar power plant spread over 2,550 hectares in the Gobi desert.

Shell Just Got the Green Light to Drill in the Arctic

Federal regulators say Shell can start drilling for oil in the frigid waters off Alaska this summer, but it can't go all the way without protection.

Kepler-452b: Earth's Bigger, Older Cousin -- Briefing Materials

NASA will host a news teleconference at noon EDT Thursday, July 23 to announce new discoveries made by its planet-hunting mission, the Kepler Space Telescope.

Declaring war on ISIS, Turkey to allow US to use air base post Suruc bombing

Days after at least 32 people were killed in a suicide bombing carried out by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in the Turkish border town of Suruc, Turkey's government has said that it conducted an air raid targeting the terror group in Syria.

Turkish jets strike four Islamic State positions in Syria - Turkish official

Turkish fighter jets hits four Islamic State targets within Syria early on Friday without crossing the border, a Turkish security official said.

Turkish jets hit Islamic State positions in Syria - PM's office

 Turkish fighter jets pounded Islamic State targets in Syria early on Friday, the prime minister's office said, after Turkey said it would take any "necessary measures" to protect itself from Islamist and Kurdish militant attacks.

July Fourth message not the first from Russian bombers

Washington (CNN)"Good morning, American pilots. We are here to greet you on your Fourth of July Independence Day."

International report confirms: 2014 was Earth’s warmest year on record

In 2014, the most essential indicators of Earth’s changing climate continued to reflect trends of a warming planet, with several  markers such as rising land and ocean temperature, sea levels and greenhouse gases ─ setting new records.  These key findings and others can be found in the State of the Climate in 2014 report released online today by the American Meteorological Society (AMS).

Australia tops the world for climate change denial, study finds

The research by the University of Tasmania found 17 per cent of Australians thought climate change was not real, compared to 15 per cent of people in Norway, 13 per cent of New Zealanders and 12 per cent of Americans.

'Drop Israel nuke program double standards, get IAEA to supervise' - Arab League

Israel should lay it on the line and take responsibility for its nuclear program, believes the Arab League Secretary-General. Tel Aviv is believed to have been pursuing its own top-secret nuclear program while damning Iran’s uranium-enrichment program.

Yemen crisis: Aden 'liberated' from rebels, says exiled leader

 Yemen's southern port city of Aden has been 'liberated' from Shia Houthi rebel forces, the country's exiled vice president has declared.