RFE/RL in the Media
# Buzzfeed links to RFE/RL in Gulnara Karimova coverage
# RIA Novosti cites RFE/RL Uzbek Service on Gulnara Karimova intrigue
# B92 cites RFE/RL Balkans Service interview with the Bosniak member of the Bosnian presidency
# Spiegel cites RFE/RL reporting on Ukraine's decision (German)
# Read Mark Baker in "The Atlantic" on Facebook "recognizing" Kosovo as a country
Middle East
# Dozens of Americans have travelled to Syria to fight alongside rebels
# Pope says no Middle East without Christians
Iran
# "On Verge of a Nuclear Deal, Iran Appears to Harden Its Stance" - Paul Richter, "LA Times"
# Iran's ambassador to Lebanon barely escaped bombing
# Iran's ambassador to Lebanon barely escaped bombing
# Iranian negotiators insist on right to enrich uranium
# Reid says he'll support increased sanctions after holiday break
Iraq
# More than 5,500 have died in attacks since April
Afghanistan/Pakistan
# "How Afghans See Americans" - Nushin Arbabzadah, "Guardian"
# "A Far Cry From Failure" - Michael O'Hanlon, "Foreign Affairs"
# A history of the loyal jirga
# Suspected drone strike said to kill Haqqani #2
Russia
# Would Turkey consider joining the Eurasian Union?
# IKEA removes article about lesbian couple from Russian version of catalogue
# "In Putin's Russia, Ballet Is a Crime of Passion" - Zara Kessler, Bloomberg
# "Russia Cannot Replace America in the Middle East" - David Gardner, "Financial Times"
Ukraine
# "The EU Just Lost Ukraine To Russia" - Max Seddon, Buzzfeed
# "Ukraine Decides Its Fate. And Europe's. And Russia's" - Jonas Gratz, "Foreign Affairs"
Eastern Europe
# Belarus to extradite Uralkali CEO
# "The Abduction of Europe" - Andrei Sannikov, EU Observer
# "Moldova and the EU: On a Long Road to Nowhere?" - Nikolaj Nielson, EU Observer
Central Asia
# British prince pays visit to Ashgabat
Of Interest
# Buzzfeed partners with Google + for "GIFeed"
# "Germany's Risky Populism" - Clemins Wergen, "New York Times"