The Pentagon's most elite troops have been dispatched to nearly 70% of the world's countries in 2015, according to a report. It says US soldiers are "practicing night raids or sometimes conducting them for real... sometimes actually gunning down enemies from afar." The US special operations soldiers are carrying out missions in up to 90 nations every day, TomDispatch reported, citing a spokesma [...]

They may have been defeated in last year's independence referendum, but they haven’t fallen silent. Thousands of ‘YES’ campaigners are set to turn out today for a major rally in Glasgow, to mark the anniversary of the historic vote. In the lead up to the independence referendum in Scotland in September 2014, tens of thousands of activists attended ‘YES’ rallies - and those people have [...]

It is increasingly difficult to watch the most recent coverage of the Syrian war and not be struck by how utterly illogical and convoluted it has become. But look through the media spin and it’s clear: the Russian leader's steady moves in Syria is perplexing the US. Whether it's the latest neocon claim that the way to ‘help’ refugees is to drop more bombs and train more Al-Qaeda-linked re [...]

In a rare interview with Russian media, including RT, Syrian President Bashar Assad opened up about terrorism, the refugee crisis, and Western propaganda. He went back in history, saying that the US invasion of Iraq had set the stage for Syria's unrest. RT has picked some of President Assad’s worthwhile quotes. [...]

The Daily Beast has spectacularly failed to do math, but why should we be surprised. In fact we’re here to help. Spewing unverified and plain wrong data from years back (though falsely presenting it as relevant) they try to claim RT’s popularity ain’t all that. “Of all the YouTube clips watched over five years, 81 percent—344 million views went to videos of natural disasters, accident [...]

Let’s start with some classic Russian politics. Finance Minister Anton Siluanov is drawing up Russia's economic strategy for 2016, including the government budget. Siluanov – essentially a liberal, in favor of foreign investment - will present his proposals to the Kremlin by the end of this month. [...]

Washington is considering a Russian proposal of direct military talks regarding the situation in Syria, US Secretary of State John Kerry said as his spokesman struggled to explain the setbacks to US efforts against Islamic State militants in the region. Reporters grilled deputy State Department spokesman Mark Toner over revelations that only a handful of US-trained “moderate Syrian rebels” [...]

Sustainable development, global security and efforts to diffuse ongoing conflicts, many of which have resulted in explosive global refugee crises, top the agenda of the 70th anniversary UN General Assembly session that has begun its work in New York. The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) speech marathon will see more than 160 leaders in attendance at the 70th anniversary. [...]

Europe could not host all refugees, the Dalai Lama has said, adding that the real solution to the current refugee crisis lies in the Middle East. The Tibetan Buddhist leader has called for the ending violence in the refugees’ home countries. The Dalai Lama addressed the issue of the ongoing refugee crisis in his speech at the opening of the Dalai Lama Centre for Compassion in Oxford, which is [...]

In the mind of State Department spokesman John Kirby, Russia should not back Syria against the terrorists, president Assad is to blame for ISIS, Iraq is much better off because of the US invasion, and it’s ‘absolutely astounding’ anyone would dare to disagree. That is what the press briefing at the State Department on Tuesday amounted to in a nutshell. [...]

The UN special peace envoy to Syria has urged the international community to take advice from Russia to resolve the four-year-long civil war that has claimed 210,000 lives and left 1.5 million Syrians with injuries and disabilities. “Russia has influence on Damascus, and it’s very important that they get involved," Staffan de Mistura, who was challenged by the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-mo [...]

The Austrian army has been sent to assist in introducing tougher border checks amid the growing migrant crisis, Reuters cited the country's vice-chancellor as saying. At least 2,200 soldiers will assist police in tackling the refugee crisis on the border, according to a statement from the Austrian government. [...]

Russia’s second-largest city Saint Petersburg has been named this year's best destination in Europe at the World Travel Awards. The city was recognized for its exceptionally rich history, centuries-old traditions and bright future, according to the travel industry's most prestigious awards program. It's the first time a Russian city has won this category in the award’s 22-year history. [...]

Syrian Girl on the monumental media deception behind the crisis Syrian Girl explains how the crisis is being exploited by both governments and economic migrants who aren’t even refugees. [...]

Transparent effort to demonize sound money and gold standard. A video purportedly released by Al Hayat, said to be the Islamic State’s media center, extols the gold standard and Austrian economics. Video has been removed! The video, featuring a perfect English voice over, denounces the Federal Reserve: …as history repeated itself, one of the great forms of corruption that the earth cam [...]

The Russian city of Zhukovsky in the Moscow region is hosting one of the world's biggest air shows - MAKS 2015. Major aircraft manufacturers, including Airbus and Boeing are attending with billion dollar deals on the line. Airbus' Vice President for Europe, Asia and the Pacific, Chris Buckley is speaking on the importance of cooperation with Russia despite sanctions. [...]

Bulgaria will stage military drills near the Macedonian border as a "preventative" measure, the nation's defense ministry says. It comes as the country's neighbors face an influx of migrants trying to make their way to the EU's borderless Schengen zone. "The situation in the neighboring states of Macedonia, Greece and Serbia is quite complicated and we have to react preventively," Defense Minis [...]

In the latest atrocity in Yemen, Saudi warplanes bombed a residential area, killing at least 65 people. Most of the victims are reported to be civilians from the Salah district of Taiz, Yemen's third largest city. The apparent war crime committed has tragically become an almost daily occurrence during five months of relentless aerial bombardment of Yemen by a Western-backed coalition of foreign [...]

Parliament should not vote on military action against Islamic State (formerly ISIS/ISIL) in Syria until the Chilcot Inquiry’s report into the 2003 invasion of Iraq has been published, a senior Tory MP has warned David Cameron. David Davis MP, a vocal opponent of intervention, said the report should be published urgently in light of calls for extending airstrikes from Iraq into Syria. [...]

Amnesty International has slammed Saudi Arabia in a report for its flagrant use of the death penalty, which has seen 175 people executed in the space of 12 months, while adding that a number of crimes did not warrant the use of capital punishment. The report entitled ‘Killing in the Name of Justice: The Death Penalty in Saudi Arabia’ stated that between August 2014 and June 2015, at least [...]

A petition calling on the UK government to arrest Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu for war crimes in Gaza when he arrives in London has garnered more than 80,000 signatures. But David Cameron's government says no way: Netanyahu has diplomatic immunity. The petition, posted on the UK government’s website, has already been signed by some 81,000 Brits. [...]

Russia has unveiled a full-size prototype of its lightweight, amphibious Chirok, capable of manned and unmanned flight, at the MAKS-2015 air show near Moscow. Able to take off and land most anywhere, the air-cushioned aircraft is much in demand. The aircraft is made of carbon fiber composite material, with a wingspan of 10 meters and maximum takeoff weight of 750 kilograms. [...]