RFE/RL in the Media
# "Washington Post" cites Tom Balmforth's report about claim Kadyrov searched 1,000 people for cell phone
# NPR links to RFE/RL story about protests in Pakistan
Russia
# Food prices up 6 percent in Moscow and 10 percent in Saint Petersburg
# In nod to Moscow, NATO to shun major eastern footprint
# "Hurt Putin Hurt Yourself?" - Vauhini Vara, "New Yorker"
# "Russia Always Cheats on Arms Treaties" - Keith Payne and Mark Schneider, "Wall Street Journal"
Ukraine
# Putin and Poroshenko to meet next week; but de-escalation may not be coming any time soon
# American fighter said to have been killed in battle; Vice's profile
# Ukraine bans 14 channels for airing "war propaganda"
# The new Metropolitan Onufry has a lot on his plate
# "24 Hours in 'Happiness': A Battle-Scarred Town in Ukraine" - Oliver Carroll, Mashable
# "Kiev Must Show Compassion to Eastern Ukraine" - Natalia Antonova, "Moscow Times"
Iraq/Syria
# Video appears to show American journalist beheaded; wanted to bring world closer to conflict in Syria
# "Vanity Fair" long-read about journalists missing in Syria
# Iraqi army advancing toward Tikrit
# Many Yazidis fear their female relatives are doomed in ISIL's hands
# In Syria, Assad steps up strikes against militants
Iran
# Poet known as "lioness of Iran" dies at 87
# One result of Gaza: Iran and Hamas are back together
# Billionaire named in suit against anti-Iran group
Afghanistan/Pakistan
# Afghanistan bars "New York Times" reporter from leaving country
# "Obama Holds to Afghanistan Withdrawal Deadline" - Mark Landler, "New York Times"
# Sharif told he must "share space with the army"
# Protesters march on parliament
Caucasus
# Russian troops to study drone use in Armenia
Central Asia
# Is Turkmenistan losing Iran as a gas customer?
# Tajikistan struggles to stem rise of Jihadi recruits