Get in the mood for a "dry January" with this selection of Soviet posters.

https://www.rferl.org/a/soviet-anti-alcohol-posters/30336174.html

"Iran has no choice but to strike back." What are the consequences of the United States killing Iran’s top general?

https://www.rferl.org/a/analysis-u-s-killing-of-iran-s-top-general-risks-dangerous-consequences/30358977.html

Some recommended reading from our Soleimani assassination coverage and what this means in terms of a possible U.S-Iran confrontation:

The latest updates here: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-leader-honors-assassinated-general-as-tensions-with-us-rise/30362062.html

Will Russia become a mediator? https://www.rferl.org/a/analysis-a-beneficiary-of-the-u-s--iran-crisis-could-well-be-russia/30360014.html

Will Iranians now show some unity after the deadly wave of protests at the end of 2019? https://www.rferl.org/a/soleimani-s-killing-gives-iran-chance-to-rally-people-show-some-unity-/30361411.html

Is the nuclear deal done for good?
https://www.rferl.org/a/iranian-nuclear-deal-on-life-support-after-tehran-decides-to-ignore-restrictions/30363196.html

Deeply nationalistic Iranians are known to come together and rally behind their country when they feel they are being attacked. But Soleimani's detractors are not allowed to express themselves.

https://www.rferl.org/a/key-takeaways-from-qasem-soleimani-s-colossal-funeral-procession/30364829.html

176 people died after a Ukrainian airliner crashed shortly after takeoff in Tehran. In Photos, the recovery effort: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-iran-plane-crash-boeing-photos/30365708.html

"It was flying in a pretty rough neighborhood," said President Trump. Unnamed U.S. officials have been cited as claiming the Ukrainian airliner was shot down by Iran.

The Iranian government has been struggling to contain public anger since Saturday after its military admitted to mistakenly shoting down a Ukrainian passenger jet. In Photos:

https://www.rferl.org/a/iranian-protests-continue-after-tehran-admits-shooting-down-passenger-plane/30374409.html

State-funded news agency RT decried America's "demonization of Iran" over the downing of Flight PS752 -- just hours before Tehran admitted responsibility for the tragedy.

https://www.rferl.org/a/the-magical-powers-of-the-con-for-many-moscow-s-defense-of-iran-is-redolent-of-its-denial-over-mh17/30376846.html

Is Putin paving the way to legally retain power beyond 2024 or merely circumscribing the powers of his successor? http://ow.ly/BPK950xWhAN

Ismail Qaani, the powerful new commander of Iran's Quds Force, has a long, shadowy history with neighboring Afghanistan. ow.ly/Dhem50xWeI4

The 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz will be observed in Poland this month, but 21st century politics between Warsaw and Moscow are casting a pall over the event.

https://www.rferl.org/a/memory-wars-polish-and-russian-fight-over-world-war-ii-shifts-to-auschwitz/30386948.html

The Kremlin has filled in some of the spaces that President Vladimir Putin left blank in his state-of-the-nation speech last week, releasing the text of the constitutional amendments he proposed. Quite a few question marks remain.

https://www.rferl.org/a/the-kremlin-releases-constitutional-amendments-but-what-do-they-mean-for-russia-and-putin-s-future-/30389828.html

Some of the world's wildest science takes place high on an Armenian mountain.

Amos Chapple hiked for about 7 hours to have a look and came back with incredible photos and more:

https://www.rferl.org/a/armenia-mountaintop-research-facility-that-was-once-weapons-development-lab/30391548.html

Russian stand-up comedian Aleksandr Dolgopolov has fled Russia fearing for his safety after learning police had started investigating videos taken at his performances in different clubs. ow.ly/Vyfo50y37eH

Today marks 75 years since the Soviets liberated Auschwitz-Birkenau. Parts of the camp still look the same now. Our 'then and now' gallery in honor of Holocaust Remembrance Day:
https://bit.ly/37uZYrq

McDonald's celebrates its 30th anniversary in Russia tomorrow and was planning to sell Big Macs at their old Soviet price of 3 rubles (about $0.05) each, but those plans have been put to a halt. The reason: coronavirus.

https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-mcdonald-s-cancels-big-mac-30th-birthday--coronavirus/30408572.html

What relatives of PS752 victims say they are facing from Iranian authorities:
- Being accused of "insulting" state officials
- Interfering with funerals
- No support
- Officials saying victims are martyrs and writing down "congratulations"
https://www.rferl.org/a/some-relatives-of-ukrainian-airliner-victims-complain-of-pressure-from-iranian-authorities/30414991.html

"The doctors aren't telling me that I'm infected, and they don't share the results of my tests," the Chinese citizen wrote. "I want to apologize to everyone. Perhaps I shouldn't have traveled anywhere." https://www.rferl.org/a/coronavirus-patient-in-russia-says-he-was-never-given-diagnosis/30415094.html

Chechen blogger Imran Aliyev, known for his criticism of Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, has reportedly been found dead with multiple stab wounds in a hotel in France.

He is not the first critic of Kadyrov who has fled to the West only to meet their end.

https://www.rferl.org/a/chechen-blogger-aliyev-kadyrov-critic-latest-victim-die-abroad/30417046.html

After Turkish President Erdogan's visit to Kyiv, his perceived foes in Ukraine fear they will be targeted.

https://www.rferl.org/a/erdogan-said-all-the-right-things--unless-youre-a-turkish-dissident-in-ukraine/30418974.html