Despite any political differences between the United States and Russia, the space agencies of the two countries continue their cooperative work in Earth's orbit, aboard the International Space Station. Apart from the research being done in microgravity, ISS crew members continue to send back amazing images of our home world, photographed from low Earth orbit. Gathered here are recent images of Earth from aboard the ISS, and from a handful of other NASA satellites.

If you love someone very much, you care very little about their looks. The beauty of their soul is the thing that matters the most, changing your perception of them for the better. Monty the Cat is a vivid example of this fact. He was taken by his new owners from an animal shelter at the age of three, and became a proud member of their family. Due to a genetic anomaly Monty doesn’t have a nasal bridge, making his appearance rather unique. However, this peculiarity is what makes Monty special, and his new owners love him for it. Though he doesn’t realize that he’s any different from other cats, Monty knows that his owners love him very much.

The sea otter (Enhydra lutris) is a marine mammal native to the coasts of the northern and eastern North Pacific Ocean. Adult sea otters typically weigh between 14 and 45 kg (31 and 99 lb), making them the heaviest members of the weasel family, but among the smallest marine mammals. Unlike most marine mammals, the sea otter's primary form of insulation is an exceptionally thick coat of fur, the densest in the animal kingdom. Although it can walk on land, the sea otter lives mostly in the ocean.

Jewelry from packaging: Yoav Kotik’s rings, bracelets, necklaces and pendents are made from metal bottle caps. Yoav Kotik, the designer of "Precious metal" jewellery line, is a graduate of the "Bezalel academy of art and design" in Jerusalem. Yoav is a member of the Zik group. He frequently leads Master classes in the field of sculpture and design in recycled materials in academic institutes such as the "Shenkar academy of design" the "Bezalel academy" and the "Wizo academy". His works were presented in galleries across Israel, the UK, the Netherland and Japan.

Alice Ross views a gold crown which was presented to Queen Victoria, part of the Royal Collection on display at the Queens Gallery on March 13, 2012 in Edinburgh, Scotland. The exhibition, which marks Her Majesty The Queen's Diamond Jubilee, reflects the tastes of monarchs and other members of the royal family who have shaped one of the world's great art collections. (Photo by Jeff J. Mitchell/Getty Images)

Mah Chan, a Long Neck Padaung hill tribe woman weaves a scraf for sale to tourists in a small village where 30 familes live July 13, 2006 in Chiang Dao, Thailand. All the Long Neck villages are set up for tourists and just over a year ago the hill tribe members were hand picked to move closer to Chiang Mai from more remote communities so that they could be more accessible. The Padaung women famously wear brass rings around their necks, beginning at five-years-old, to distort the growth of their collarbones and making them look like they have long necks. They are originally from eastern Burma near the Thailand border. (Photo by Paula Bronstein/Getty Images)

Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge walk hand in hand from Buckingham Palace the day after their wedding to a waiting helicopter as they leave for a secret honeymoon location, on April 30, 2011 in London, England. The marriage of Prince William and Catherine Middleton was led by the Archbishop of Canterbury and was attended by 1900 guests, including foreign Royal family members and heads of state. Thousands of well-wishers from around the world have also flocked to London to witness the spectacle and pageantry of the Royal Wedding. (Photo by John Stillwell - WPA Pool/Getty Images)

A picture composed by the French street artist JR is plastered to a wall under a highway as part of a community project called “Through A Mother's Eyes”, which involves members of the economically distressed neighborhood of Hunts Point in images taken by and of themselves on June 30, 2011 in New York City. JR, a recent TED prize winner, has staged similar projects around the world that look to transform high crime and impoverished neighborhoods into spaces for street art combined with the celebration of community. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)