My Accidental Career as a Russian Screenwriter
Michael Idov | The New York Times Magazine
“Not only have I blindly managed to write Russia’s most popular feature film and one of its most-talked-about TV series of the year, but I managed to do it in 2015, when relations between the United States and Russia were at their coldest point since the events depicted in ‘The Optimists’ [set in 1960, in the midst of the Cold War].”
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Around the World in Eighty Cokes
Adriane Quinlan | Lucky Peach
“The European column also contains a Fanta flavor—Greece’s Fanta Pineapple, an unremarkable candy-flavored concoction. It can’t stand up to Bjäre Lingonberry, Sweden’s tart but subtle offering, which fulfilled all my ideas of the country: I could imagine a glamorous blonde somehow drinking it while bicycling, even if that seemed unsafe.”
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Transcript: Interview With [Saudi Defense Minister] Muhammad bin Salman
The Economist
“Did you not unfairly escalate tensions [with Iran] by breaking off diplomatic relations?
On the contrary, we fear that they will be further escalated. Imagine if any Saudi diplomat, or one of their families or children are attacked in Iran. Iran’s position then will be much more difficult. So we prevented Iran from having to undergo such an embarrassment. The Saudi mission was set ablaze and the Iranian government is watching. If a child, or a diplomat, or their families are attacked, what could happen? Then we will have the real conflict and the real escalation.”