RFE/RL in the Media
# CNN and Washington Post use RFE/RL Armenian Service video of Kanye West giving an impromptu concert and jumping into a lake
# HuffPost Live interviews RFE/RL Azerbaijani Service's Arzu Geybullayeva on Internet censorship in Turkey
Russia
# Putin lifts ban on S-300 surface-to-air missile sales to Iran
# Snowden "acting very strange" in Russia says Soldatov
# Hillary Clinton's campaign commercial would have been illegal in Russia
# "Millions of Russians Edge Toward Poverty as Economic Pressure Mounts" - Howard Amos, Moscow Times
Ukraine
# At talks, sides agree to further weapons withdrawals amid escalating violence
# "The West is Wrong to Write Off Ukraine's Debts" - Alexander Lebedev and Vladislav Inozemtsev, Guardian
# "Will Ukraine’s New Anti-Communist Law Usher in a Free-Speech Dark Age?" - Alec Luhn, Nation
Middle East
# Islamic State militants breach Iraq refinery perimeter, repelled
# Nightmare scene in Yarmouk, as residents caught between IS and Assad regime forces
# Wall Street Journal on collaboration between Sunnis and Shi'ite militias in fight against IS
Iran
# U.S. Senator Cotton says Iran deal could lead to nuclear war
# Saudi Arabia rebuffs Iran call to pull out of Yemen
# Iran suspends off-season pilgrimages to Saudi Arabia amid tensions
# Rezian reportedly to face espionage charges
Afghanistan/Pakistan
# Civilian casualties are up ahead of Afghan "fighting season"
# New documentary series, "The fighting Season"
# U.S. commander recounts experience dealing with recently assassinated Afghan warlord
# "Terrorism Case Renews Debate Over Drone Hits" - Mark Mazzetti and Eric Schmidt, New York Times
Caucasus
# Azerbaijan declares Slovak politician wanted
Central Asia
# Russia and Kazakhstan in "trade war"
Of Interest