The Rundown - January 7

RFE/RL In The Media
# Read RFE/RL in "The Atlantic" on politics and adoptions in Russia and the Arab Spring
# "Reason" links to RFE/RL reporting on Iran

International Press Review

Russia
# Ellen Barry on the new old normal in Russia
# Nick Cohen on UK libel law and Bill Browder

Iran
# A guide to this year's presidential election in Iran
# Iran's parliament has called for an inquiry into the death of a blogger
# "The Washington Post" reports on the latest round of sanctions on Iran

Pakistan
# "Ground the Drones in 2013" - Imran Khan, "Project Syndicate"
# "The War on Pakistan's Aid Workers" - Editorial, "The New York Times"
# A flare up on the India-Pakistan border

Afghanistan
# Video: embedded in Ghazni
# "A Mindless Debate over U.S. Troops in Afghanistan" - Anthony Cordesman, "Real Clear World"

Of Interest
# The Index on Censorship on government control of info in Belarus
# Look to your left, look to your right, one of those journalists may be a psychopath
# Smartphone sales will hit 1 billion per year
# The NHL is coming back

U.S. Politics/Foreign Policy
# Chuck Hagel will be nominated to head the U.S. Department of Defense
# An ex-CIA officer faces prison time over leaking info
# "Washington and Moscow's Downward Spiral" - Nikolas Gvosdev, "National Interest"