The Rundown -- March 17

RFE/RL in the Media

# Read Ildar Gabidullin in Al Jazeera on why politicians from Tatarstan are visiting Crimea

# Read Brian Whitmore in "The Atlantic" on the five things we've learned about Crimea since the start of the crisis

# In Crimea referendum, 95% vote to join Russia; reaction from Simferopol

# Separatist feelings more generational divide than ethnic

# Why Russia is likely to attempt to take Eastern Ukraine next

Russia

# Russia issues warning on fatal clashes in Donetsk

# Russia can "turn the U.S. into radioactive dust," says TV host Kiselyov

# "While The West Watches Crimea, Putin Cleans House in Moscow" - Julia Ioffe, "New Republic

# "Foes of America in Russia Crave Rupture in Ties" - Ellen Barry, "New York Times"

# Obama's "light footprint" policy is put to the test

# "In Crimea, Russia May Come Out Ahead" - Peter Lieberman and Julie George, "Foreign Affairs"

# The morning papers

Eastern Europe

# Eastern Europe asks, "who's next?"

# Children's book by Belarusian author: "Death is Wrong"

Balkans

# Ruling party wins outright majority in Serbian snap elections

# Former high representative in Bosnia says Putin using Ukraine as cover to launch power grab in Bosnia

Iran

# CIA's Iran division reportedly in "disarray"

# U.S. officials say Iran pursuing banned items that could be used for nuclear weapons

# Iran defense minister says Palestinian rockets now "1,000 times" more powerful

# Iran's "fashionable revolution"

# Riyadh on its own charm offensive after Iran deal

Afghanistan/Pakistan

# Karzai says Afghanistan doesn't need U.S. troops

# Ex-defense minister drops out of Afghan race

# "How Al Qaeda Escaped Afghanistan" - Yaniv Barzilai, Daily Beast

# Pakistan denies rumors it's hiding the Malaysian jet

# Karzai says Pakistan killing Taliban leaders who favor talks

Caucasus

# Aliyev and Rohani meet, call for expanded cooperation

# Amnesty International calls for release of political activists held on "fabricated charges" in Azerbaijan

Central Asia

# Russian proton rocket launches from Kazakhstan

Of Interest

# U.S. efforts in "hip hop propaganda"

# What you think you know about the web is wrong

# The neglected suicide epidemic