International

"Antarctic hole in protective layer of gas stands around same level as 2010, 2012 and 2013, but scientists say recovery is on track"

"BRUSSELS — Russian and Ukrainian officials reached an agreement on Thursday night to resume Russian deliveries of natural gas to prevent shortages over the winter."

"Salt residue from soil irrigation degrades around 5,000 acres of farmland every day at a global annual cost of $27 billion dollars in lost arable revenues, according to a study released Tuesday."

"A careful examination of frozen caribou poop has turned up two never-before-seen viruses."

"Despite the global moratorium on commercial whaling that began in 1986, Japan continues to kill thousands of whales under the guise of 'research.'"

"A dispute about how to link greenhouse-gas emissions cuts to a promise from the wealthiest nations for $100 billion a year in climate aid emerged as a major stumbling block at UN talks on global warming."

"KIRKUK, Iraq — Roughly two dozen huge oil tankers are idly turning figure eights around the Mediterranean or on the high seas, loaded with oil pumped from wells in Iraqi Kurdistan but with nowhere to legally offload it."

"The report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, drawing on three mammoth scientific reports published since September 2013, shows the need for urgent and ambitious action."

There is strong evidence that the Assad regime in Syria is using chlorine gas -- commonly found in U.S. industrial operations -- as a chemical weapon against its own people.

"Earth is on pace to tie or even break the mark for the hottest year on record, federal meteorologists say."