The so-called Bellingcat investigative journalist group’s publications on MH17 crash in eastern Ukraine distort objective facts and should not be taken seriously, the Russian Defense Ministry’s press service said Monday. [...]

Instead of leaving the period of the Cold War, the West made a serious political mistake which has led to a significant deterioration of relations with Russia, German analyst Thomas Kunze said in an interview with Spiegel Online. The current policy of the US and Europe is a huge disappointment for those who understand that global stability and security are impossible without effective cooperati [...]

The West continues to rapidly lose its clout, which had been based on democracy and human rights, according to the German newspaper Tagesspiegel. Tagesspiegel columnist Malte Lehming believes that even though Western countries are still full of ambitions, they are swiftly losing their power, which had previously based on their adherence to democratic principles and respect for human rights, RIA [...]

Amid official economic statistics that claim “the world’s largest paper economy is in a marvelous recovery” and the insistence of leading US economists that the national debt doesn’t matter as it is owed to itself, geopolitical analyst F. William Engdahl argues that the country is almost bankrupt and its end could be nearer than any of us imagine. [...]

Vladimir Lenin said, “There are no morals in politics; there is only expedience. A scoundrel may be of use to us just because he is a scoundrel.” I can’t think of a better description of Ted Cruz’s relationship with the DC-Wall Street Establishment – Cruz being the scoundrel of course. Cruz’s claim of not being a tool of the political elite is like Bill Clinton telling the world, � [...]

The consensus among US political analysts is that Trump is an aberration, a candidate who stands in contradiction to the high morals and ideas associated not with only the White House but also the US itself. They couldn’t be more wrong if they tried. In truth, Trump represents not the idea but the reality of America, the ugly reality of a country and society with its mask removed. [...]

The Ukrainian people remain hostage to the deceitful Kiev regime, but no one is ready to welcome them into Europe, the head of the State Duma’s Committee for Security and Countering Corruption, Irina Yarovaya, has told reporters. [...]

Rejoice, coffee-lovers! Drinking six cups of your favorite fluid each day could cut the risk of developing multiple sclerosis by 30 percent, a new study suggests. Scientists have been saying for some time now that they’re finding more evidence of coffee being good for health. [...]

There are some strange happenings in the world of late and I'm confused. Very confused. Can anyone help me? The first thing I’m confused about is the claim made this week by Supreme Allied NATO Commander General Strangelove, sorry, Breedlove, that Putin (along with Assad) are deliberately [...]

Canada has used up all of its gold reserves. For the first time since 1935 the country is out of gold. The volume of gold reserves in Canada has declined steadily over the past 50 years. In the mid-1960s, Canada’s gold reserves exceeded 1,000 tons. By 1985, half had been sold. In 2015, the reserves were down to three tons and now the country has no gold left. [...]

German Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel has attacked Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump saying he poses “a threat to peace” as well as “economic development.” In February, Trump criticized Chancellor Angela Merkel for her refugee policy. The German vice chancellor took aim at Trump and also right-wing politicians in Europe, saying they were all a threat to “social cohesion. [...]

As the world's media attention is currently fixed on the conflict in Syria, and to a lesser extent Ukraine, there has been an ongoing economic conflict occurring against Russia. Economic sanctions against Russia have turned out to be a double edged sword, hurting European exporters and manufacturers as much as Russian importers and consumers. [...]

Loyalty to political parties that stand for something, or that stood for something once upon a time, something worth caring about, would be understandable. But Democrats and Republicans stand for nothing except getting in each other’s way. If they ever stood for anything loftier than that, no one still living remembers. [...]

The Russian task force in Syria has demonstrated remarkable efficiency and professionalism, according to a German magazine citing confidential NATO analysis. The limited Russian contingent operating in Syria is outperforming the more widespread groupings of the US-led anti-Islamic State coalition, according to Germany’s FOCUS media outlet who came by the classified NATO document, which was pr [...]

The United Nations human rights chief on Friday warned that the U.S. government risks opening a "Pandora's Box" if it successfully forces Apple to unlock an iPhone belonging to one of the suspected San Bernardino shooters. "Encryption and anonymity are needed as enablers of both freedom of expression and opinion, and the right to privacy," [...]

Can the U.S. Department of Education be trusted to protect the millions of Americans with federal student loans? U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), who has tussled with the federal agency before, isn't so sure. She said as much in a letter (pdf) sent Thursday to acting Education Secretary John King Jr., [...]

The US-Chinese standoff in the South China Sea is heating up, with Washington dispatching a small armada to the area following reports that Beijing had reinforced a key island with fighters and air defenses. Much has been said and written about the dispute, with Russian analysts left pondering: if push comes to shove, what will Russia's role be? [...]

Oh, Canada! A recent survey found that only 38% of Americans could name the Prime Minister of their northern neighbor, but that didn’t stop Justin Trudeau from declaring, in an interview for CBS’s "60 Minutes," that "it might be nice if Americans paid a little more attention to the world." Unfortunately for Trudeau, it might also be nice if the 62% of Americans who don’t know who he is wo [...]

American presidential election politics is a cross between a talent show and a beauty contest. Being smart and coherent does not necessarily pay dividends. Case in point: Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. Both are front-runners of their parties. Trump is idiosyncratic and raw; Clinton the ultimate establishment insider. Is this a choice, or merely bad theater? CrossTalking with Brandon Andr [...]