Russia

  • Crimea Kerch Strait Bridge

 

  • Amazing drone flyby: Aerial view of Mount Athos, the ‘Holy Mountain’ of Orthodox Christianity

  • Russian Kalmykia: The Monk’s White Path

Follow the monks’ white path through the unending plains of Kalmyki
Kalmykia is a steppe region in the south of European Russia and the only European Buddhist republic. An international Buddhist festival is going to take place in a temple in theKalmykia’s capital, Elista. Monks are preparing a sand mandala. It is a palace that may serve a temporary abode for an enlightened deity. Colored marble sand is applied to the canvas through a cone-shaped tube.

  • William Engdahl – The “Isolation” of Russia

The Middle East

  • Iran: Qom

As the world center of Shia studies, the city of Qom is a unique city due to the Holy Shrine of Hazrat Masumeh, Jamkaran Mosque, and international students in seminary schools from 100 countries.

  • Interview with Commander of Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Committee. Watch Press TV’s full interview with Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, an Iraqi military commander who heads the Popular Mobilization Committee.

  • S. failing to fulfill JCPOA commitments

Jun 3, 2016 – The Leader of Iran’s Islamic Revolution says the U.S. has failed to live up to its commitments under the nuclear deal between Iran and the P-five-plus-one group of countries.

Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei made the comments during a speech to crowds of people who had gathered at the mausoleum of the late founder of the Islamic Republic Imam Khomeini in the capital Tehran to mark his 27th passing anniversary. Elsewhere in his speech, Ayatollah Khamenei also called the U-S, Britain and Israel the arch-enemies of the Islamic Republic. He urged the Iranian nation to maintain constant vigilance against the enemies’ actions, saying any prescriptions by Iran’s adversaries must be treated with caution. Ayatollah Khamenei went on to emphasize the necessity of maintaining unity between the people and the Islamic establishment. The Leader noted that the enemies are afraid of Iranians’ revolutionary traits.

  • Interview with Saeed Ohadi (Head of Iran’s Hajj & Pilgrimage Org.)

  • Syria’s “Crime” by Sayyid Hassan Nasrallah May 28, 2016

 

The US and NATO

  • Clinton will do US Empire’s bidding and launch dozen wars: Analyst

Published on Jun 2, 2016 – “I think one of the most important traits for a politician is that you have to lack any sense of irony. The fact that Hillary Clinton could come out and blast Donald Trump for being a fraud in the same week that [the State Department] inspector general’s report comes out about her lying, about her private server in this year long dance with the public about how it was allowed, and it wasn’t allowed, it wouldn’t have been allowed if she had asked, and she didn’t ask,” he added.

“You know, she is on the verge of potentially being indicted and no one at least on the Democratic side in her corner seems to care. So this is an obvious push back to gain some traction against that pending criminal case. But also the other thing is that this is her only arrow in her quiver,” he stated.

 

The EU and Turkey

  • RT Doc investigates allegations that Turkey oppresses Kurds and collaborates with ISIS

Jun 2, 2016 – Turkey has a long history of conflict with the Kurdish people whose historic homeland is spread over what is now Turkey, Syria and Iran. For many year, Kurds from the country’s South-East have campaigned for autonomy within the Turkish state. The Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) has been fighting for independence and because it’s considered a terrorist group, is outlawed in Turkey. Until recently, a ceasefire had been in effect between the government and the PKK; that has now ended. Since then the conflict has escalated and hundreds have been killed. The local Kurdish population claims that Erdogan’s government is conducting an operation against their people. Civilians continue to die and the Turkish police enjoy unchecked authority. They insist that the widespread murder of Kurds is systematically covered up at state level. Erdogan’s government is also accused of collaborating with ISIS.

The Kurds in neighbouring Syria have also formed their own resistance, the Kurdish People’s Protection Units who are fighting against ISIS. Several accusations are levelled at the Turkish Government, supported by testimonies from Syrian Kurds, captured ISIS militants and Turkish journalists. They allege that Erdogan’s government buys illegal oil from ISIS, allows the militants safe passage across Turkish borders and even provides them with ammunition. Kurds also claim that with its “one nation, one country” policy, Erdogan’s government hopes to use ISIS as a tool to rid itself of the longstanding Kurdish thorn in its side.

Local journalists who have reported on government hostilities towards the Kurds are routinely persecuted and at least one major independent Turkish newspaper has been taken over by the government. Reporters who cover ‘pro-Kurdish’ stories are frequently accused of association with the PKK and by extension, terrorism; many have been arrested and even killed. RT Doc hears first-hand accounts from some of the few remaining independent journalists about their investigations and why they persevere despite the danger.

Bundestag passes Armenia ‘genocide’ resolution unanimously, Turkey recalls ambassador. The resolution in the lower house of the German parliament, the Bundestag, was passed almost unanimously. It could nevertheless lead to a diplomatic row with Turkey.