The Rundown -- October 1

# How rock music sent messages of freedom through Voice of America and Radio Free Europe, newstimes.com

# Luke Johnson puts a question during briefing on the U.S.-Afghanistan security and defense cooperation agreement, U.S. Department od State

# 3 Often Forgotten and Never-Ending Atrocities Tribunals, FP

Afghanistan/Pakistan
# Mending Alliance, U.S. and Afghanistan Sign Long-Term Security Agreement, NYT
# US, Afghanistan sign agreement to keep 10,000 US troops in country past 2014, CSM
# New Afghanistan pact means America's longest war will last until at least 2024, Guardian
# U.S. and Afghanistan sign vital, long-delayed security pact, WP
# Ashraf Ghani and Afghanistan’s future - Mo Qayoumi, The Hill
# Afghanistan is worst country for older people: index, Reuters
# Can General Rizwan Akhtar clean up Pakistan’s notorious ISI spy agency? Guardian
# Treasury Slaps Sanctions on Pakistan-Based Terrorists, WSJ
# Solving Pakistan's Blasphemy Problem, FP
# Kalabagh Dam - A Pivotal Need for Pakistan?, - Mariam Khan, Huffington Post

Iraq/Syria
# U.K. Carries Out First Airstrikes in Iraq, WSJ
# Kurds in Iraq’s North Make Gains Against Islamic State, NYT
# Why UK warplanes have a 'difficult' Iraq mission, BBC
# U.S. and Britain combine to launch the largest day yet for airstrikes in Iraq and Syria, WP
# Islamic State crisis: Heavy fighting on Iraq-Syria border, BBC

Iran
# Iran Nuclear Talks to Resume, WSJ
# Iran's president attacks Cameron's 'unacceptable' remarks as woman faces execution, Telegraph
# Remember the threat from Iran - editorial ,Chicago Tribune
# UN Brings Death Penalty to Debate Table: From Iran to the U.S., Huffington Post
# Iran 'delays' Reyhaneh Jabbari execution after campaign, BBC
# Trust Iran? It Just Hanged a Man Who Doubted ‘Jonah and the Whale’, thedailybeast.com
# Iran due to execute woman for murder of her alleged attempted rapist, WT

Russia
# Putin Is More Dangerous Than ISIS and 1,000 Al Qaedas Says Garry Kasparov, Newsweek
# Russia's political future seen in its self-governing past, MT
# Russian Sanctions Are Fostering The Kind Of Economic Stability That Eventually Turns To Sheer Chaos, westernjournalism.com
# Russia's Isolation Wastes Precious Resources - Georgy Bovt, MT

# U.S. sanctions against Russia stymie Western oil companies’ Arctic aspirations, WT

# Kremlin Human Rights Council Slams Russia's New Foreign Media Bill, MT

# Russia Tells Ukraine to Pay $3.9 Billion to Resume Gas Supplies, WSJ
# Ukraine Opens Criminal Case Against Russia's Investigative Committee, MT
# Economic pain, caused by Ukraine, conomist.com
# Postponing the Trade Agreement With Ukraine: Bad Move, EU - Ulrich Speck, carnegieeurope.eu

Of Interest
# Obama's Foreign Fighters Campaign Is a Gift to the World's Police States, FP
# Global AgeWatch Index, helpage.org