Photographer shows imperial splendour in the ex-USSR. British special forces carried out secret trainings in Azerbaijan. China’s Brutal Crackdown in Xinjiang

BBC - Photographer shows imperial splendour in the ex-USSR - Architects, it seems, are encouraged to be as bold as possible. “You feel that each building wants to scream out, that I´m the best, the biggest, the richest. It is now more a question of prestige, which didn´t play any role in the Soviet times.”

The Washington Post - Edward Snowden is no traitor - What are we to make of Edward Snowden? I know what I once made of him. He was no real whistleblower, I wrote, but “ridiculously cinematic” and “narcissistic” as well. As time has proved, my judgments were just plain wrong. Whatever Snowden is, he is curiously modest and has bent over backward to ensure that the information he has divulged has done as little damage as possible. As a “traitor,” he lacks the requisite intent and menace.

Deutsche Welle - Greenpeace: 'Our protest in the Arctic wasn't piracy' - Greenpeace protesters arrested last month for scaling an offshore Russian oil rig have been refused bail this week in Murmansk. Ben Ayliffe of Greenpeace tells DW the accusations of piracy are 'absurd.'

The Diplomat - China’s Brutal Crackdown in Xinjiang - Beijing continues to pursue iron-fist policies in the western province—and blames the West for the results.

Aussie Official: Outlaw Bikers Will Wear Pink Prison Uniforms - In an attempt to crack down on the state’s notorious biker gangs, Queensland officials may adopt a novel approach in breaking down the tough-guy image that outlaw “bikies” try to exude: Forcing them to trade black leather vests for pink prison jumpsuits. The proposed uniform change is one of many jailhouse reforms being set in motion by Campbell Newman, Queensland’s premier since March 2012.

PhantomReport - British special forces carried out secret trainings in Azerbaijan - The Foreign and Commonwealth Office paid for the SAS to train Azerbaijan’s special forces in an effort to gain influence with the hardline ex-Soviet regime, the British Sunday Times writes.