The Rundown - May 27

News & views on RFE/RL's broadcast region

Pakistan
# Pakistan has lifted a ban on YouTube, but "links to sacrilegious content would remain inaccessible"
# "More Free Speech, Not Less" - Mehreen Zarha-Malik "The Express Tribune"
# "Ban The Smearing of our Global Image" - Kamila Hyat, "News International"
# "Close the Window" - Maria Amir, "Express Tribune"
# The U.S. is pressing Pakistan on its dealings with the Taliban

Afghanistan
# A dispute between Tajikistan and Uzbekistan leaves NATO supplies undelivered
# The Red Cross faces criticism for giving first aid kits to Taliban fighters

Iran
# "Giving Diplomacy a Chance" - Davutoglu & Amorim, "International Herald Tribune"
# The "Christian Science Monitor" reports on Iranian relations with the West

Russia
# The EU questions Russian officials over the death of Sergei Magnitsky
# "Protestors Will Have to Pay the Pipers" - Boris Kagarlitsky, "Moscow Times"
# Russia and Iran trade barbs over potential sanctions

Iraq
# The U.S. military will increasingly focus on strategic communications in Iraq
# Iraq dissolves its national airline

Of Interest

# Georgia held its first military parade since 2008
# "Murdoch Has to Become an Elitist" - John Gapper, "Financial Times"
# "The Paradoxical Arab World" - Rami Khouri, "Globe and Mail"
# "A Blame Game at Globalization's Unravelling" - Harold James, "Financial Times"

U.S. Politics/Foreign Policy
# Al Jazeera moves into the Balkans
# "Don't Silence Voice of America" - Helle Dale, Heritage Foundation
# "Obama's Russia Tribute" - Editorial, "The Wall Street Journal"
# Joe Biden says the U.S. will leave Iraq on time