The NATO aggression against Russia, which was expressed in the form of an attack on the Russian Su-24 bomber, could not occur without the approval of the alliance’s senior management, noted Christopher Black, an international criminal lawyer based in Toronto. “The murder of one of the pilots, shot by ISIS [ISIL] terrorists while parachuting to the ground, is a war crime for which Turkey and [...]

As the entire F-35 fleet was yet again grounded for technical inspections, in the wake of its first crash in September. RT looks at the abject history and prospects of the most expensive Pentagon program in history. Over $300 billion has been spent on the project to create a state-of-the-art fifth-generation multi-role fighter since 1992, with the eventual cost likely to easily cross the trillion [...]

The White House's tough trade practices and sanctions policies may finally backfire on the US, prompting holders of US debt to dump American Treasuries. The move could have a serious impact on the decades-long leadership of the US dollar. Russia and China are dumping their US Treasury debt holdings amid Washington's sanctions and tariff spree. [...]

In this gripping battlefield analysis, Scott Ritter delves into the rapidly evolving Kursk offensive where Russian forces have launched a decisive counteroffensive, leaving Ukraine’s military in disarray. With key territories lost and Ukrainian troops in full retreat, the situation on the ground grows increasingly dire. Will Ukraine manage to regroup, or is this the beginning of a major defeat? [...]

When people think about genes, they tend to apply the words "good" or "bad" to them. Depending on how your life is going, you might thank your genes or feel victimized by them. Yet this kind of thinking seriously misrepresents how genes work. [...]

Former FBI Special Agent Terry Albury received a four-year prison sentence on Thursday for leaking documents to the press that he thought exposed wrongdoing at the FBI. Albury was charged for leaking classified national defense information and retaining such information in April. He pleaded guilty. [...]

Donald Trump, who “only understands strength,” wants regime change in Germany, ex-Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel said, calling for tit-for-tat actions on US soil, such as influencing elites and investing in young Americans. Germany should become more assertive in dealing with the US and show strength, as there is only one language US President Donald Trump understands – the language of forc [...]

Except for the neoconservatives whose agenda it is, I sometimes wonder if I am the only other person who understands what the Ukraine conflict is about. In 2007 Washington declared war on Russia without announcing it. Putin provoked Washington’s secret declaration of war when he rejected Washington’s uni-polar hegemony at the Munich Security Conference. Washington’s … [...]

As the U.S. military continues its war against the Islamic State (ISIS or ISIL), the Air Force is reportedly dropping so many bombs that it is struggling to find more. "We're in the business of killing terrorists and business is good," Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James said in statement quoted by USA Today on Thursday.   [...]

President Trump’s intention to withdraw from the Cold War-era treaty with Russia banning a wide array of nuclear weapons “would undo decades of bipartisan arms control,” Kentucky Senator Rand Paul believes. [...]

Political analyst John Mearsheimer delves into former President Donald Trump's alleged ultimatum to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a move that could shift the dynamics of U.S.-Israel relations. Trump’s stance may signal waning support for certain Israeli strategies, pushing Netanyahu into a corner. Meanwhile, Iran and Hezbollah have vowed severe retaliation, promising to “rain de [...]

The International Monetary Fund has agreed to change its policy on lending to countries that are in arrears to other governments. With Ukraine being among the states that asks for financial aid while owing Russia, the move has angered Moscow. "The IMF's Executive Board met today and agreed to change the current policy on non-toleration of arrears to official creditors," according to the IMF's C [...]

Social media platform Gab, where the Pittsburgh synagogue shooter had a page, is about to lose its hosting provider. Gab is being widely accused of enabling the shooting. Joyent, Gab's hosting provider, sent it a warning message that because of an unspecified "breach of the Joyent Terms of Service," it will be pulling the plug on Gab on Monday morning. [...]

With Russia itching to fight after one of its jets was shot down by Turkey, we assess why Putin's war tech might be better than many people believe. Vladimir Putin is not a man to back down from provocation, especially a direct, lethal provocation like the shooting down of a Russian Su-24 aircraft by Turkey on Tuesday. [...]

Utah state employees will get some relief from insane prescription drug prices, with their insurer’s offer to fund their travel costs to Mexico and to throw in $500 cash, because it's still cheaper than buying the drugs in the US. The unusual offer is being presented by PEHP, which insures 160,000 state employees and their family members. [...]

Ex-Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko says she’s “scared” of current PM Arseny Yatsenyuk, as he produces “the impression” of being “a bit inadequate” for the post. Tymoshenko, currently leader of the ‘Fatherland’ party in the parliament, was talking with local channel ‘112 Ukraine’ when she quite pointedly said what she thinks of the sitting PM. [...]

Europe should reach out to Russia and abandon “counterproductive” economic sanctions – or risk seeing it drifting further towards China, former president of France Nicolas Sarkozy has warned, in a candid interview. [...]

In his seminal 'Fall of Rome: And the End of Civilization,' Bryan Ward-Perkins writes, "Romans before the fall were as certain as we are today that their world would continue forever... They were wrong. We would be wise not to repeat their complacency.” [...]

French President Emmanuel Macron referred to nationalism as a “betrayal of patriotism” in pointed Armistice Day remarks that many consider to have been specifically directed at US President Donald Trump’s ‘America First’ policies, according to several reports. [...]

A woman charged with drunk driving after being four times over the legal limit has had the case against her dismissed. The woman from upstate New York actually has a rare condition that converts the food she eats into alcohol. The woman was pulled over while driving her car. [...]

Much has been made of the possible geopolitical motivations behind the decision to price the $5 billion Russian-Indian S-400 deal in roubles, and Moscow and Beijing are eyeing another rouble/yuan-based trade compact. However, Sputnik has discovered that there's also a purely economic reason for the three countries to move away from the dollar. [...]

Alleged US mercenaries were seen in a night club in the city of Mariupol under Kiev's control, a Donetsk People's Republic military official said. The self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic's (DPR) intelligence has detected the presence of alleged US mercenaries in southern Donbass, DPR deputy defense minister said Thursday. [...]