RFE/RL in the Media
# ThinkProgress cites Vladimir Abarinov's report on forced prison labor in Russia
# Independent cites Joanna Paraszczuk's report on disgruntled would-be suicide bombers
Russia
# How a possible Russian fib made it into Newsweek
# Russia digging ditches to halt inflow of arms and men from Ukraine
# Two Russian officials call on women to work fewer hours to handle domestic issues
# Russia begins huge surprise air force drill on same day as NATO starts Arctic training
Ukraine
# Dnipro soccer club brings something to celebrate to eastern Ukraine
# Video: One beautiful family in Pisky, where the conflict never stopped
# Heavy rocket launchers spotted moving towards Ukraine's border
# McFaul takes subtle dig at Kerry over Crimea (Twitter)
Eastern Europe
# "Reading Lukashenka’s Belarus Without Illusions" - Wojciech Kononczuk and Rafal Sadowski, Carnegie
Balkans
# Thousands of Kosovars mourn Albanian militants killed in Macedonia
# Balkan leaders wary of Macedonia crisis fallout
Middle East
# Iraqi Shi'ite militias say they are in charge of the fight to take back Anbar
# Russia, Iran talks on S-300 missiles end in "success"
# To destroy IS start with "desired end state and work backwards"
# "Fall of Ramadi Betrays Obama Administration's 'Credibility Gap'" - Spencer Ackerman, Guardian
Afghanistan/Pakistan
# Insurgents launch late night attack on Kabul guesthouse
# Afghanistan still riled up over spy deal with Pakistan
# "From U.S. Ally, to Prison, to Redemption in Afghanistan" - Shashank Bengali, LA Times
# "Why Pakistan is Friends With Everyone and Noone" - Paula Newberg, Reuters
Caucasus
# Lawmakers who traveled to Azerbaijan urged action benefiting state oil company that funded trip
Central Asia
# Remittances to Tajikistan likely to plunge 40 percent
Of Interest
# The YouTube whisperer and her 87 million views
# French employees may not get 10 weeks of vacation anymore (Financial Times)
# 60 percent of 13 to 34-year-old smartphone users in the U.S. are on Snapchat
# Mobile isn't killing the desktop