RFE/RL in the Media
# "The Guardian" cites Farangis Najibullah and Mirzo Salimov on Tajik soccer hero losing power
# UPI and Al-Jazeera cite RFE/RL Azerbaijani service coverage of vote (Al-Jazeera credits RFE/RL with providing only significant international coverage).
Middle East
# "Fear and Loathing in the House of Saud" - Pepe Escobar, Asia Times
# "In Syria, Motorists Press On, Yielding for War" - Anne Barnard, "New York Times"
Iran
# Nuclear talks begin today
# Overview of nuclear talks from ex-Obama negotiator
# Hamas leader reportedly to visit Iran in hopes of repairing ties
# Artist uses censored Iranian packaging for portraits
Afghanistan/Pakistan
# Mullah Mohammad Omar pledges continued fighting if deal signed with U.S.
# Investigative reporter murdered, seventh in Pakistan this year
# "New Focus on Rape After String of Deadly Attacks on Children" - Tim Craig, "Washington Post"
# 5,000 year old city could disappear within 20 years
# "Women and Conflict in Afghanistan" - International Crisis Group
Iraq
# Al-Qaeda's resurgence in Iraq
# Sunni protesters divided by negotiations
Russia
# Over 1,600 migrants rounded up in Moscow
# Court overturns "foreign agent" ruling for LGBT film festival
# Charges opened in Russia against Uralkali CEO, currently jailed in Belarus
# "The Moscow Riot and Russian Nationalism: It's Time to Start Worrying" - Mark Adomanis, Forbes
Eastern Europe
# EU Association with Ukraine a must for Eastern Partnership continuation
# Lithuanian FM calls cheese banned by Russia, #freedomcheese
Balkans
# "Bosnia's Divided People United Behind World Cup Bid" - Eurosport
# Serbian President: Serbia has "courageous leadership"
Central Asia
# Uzbek president's nephew, once a potential successor, is arrested
Caucasus
# Azerbaijan may exclude OSCE from future vote monitoring
# Shift:tech brings Armenia to "forefront of IT industry"
Of Interest
# First addition of International NYT; IHT through the years