The Week's Best: Stories You May Have Missed

We know that rferl.org isn't the only website you read, and it's possible that you may have missed some of our most interesting journalism from the past week. To make sure you're up-to-date, here are some of the highlights produced by RFE/RL's team of correspondents, multimedia editors, and visual journalists over the past seven days.

How The Taliban Went From International Pariah To U.S. Peace Partner In Afghanistan

The Taliban has been transformed from an international pariah into a legitimate force in Afghanistan. By Frud Bezhan

Out Went The Cabinet, In Came The Coronavirus: Pressure Mounts For Reforms In Ukraine

First, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy fired a cabinet that had the confidence of Ukraine’s Western backers. Then came the coronavirus. Has a perfect storm of contentious domestic moves and unprecedented external factors doomed Ukraine’s chances to conduct reforms, attract investment, and shed the influence of the oligarchs? By Todd Prince

'Psychosis'? Lukashenka Shrugs, Opponents Are Appalled By Lack Of COVID-19 Measures In Belarus

President Alyaksandr Lukashenka has dismissed the coronavirus pandemic as mass "psychosis," and Belarus looks like an island of inaction in the middle of a nervous, in some cases overwhelmed European continent: There are no major quarantines, schools are open, and the top soccer league is playing. Opponents accuse the authoritarian leader of dangerously downplaying the crisis ahead of a presidential election in August.​ By Tony Wesolowsky and RFE/RL's Belarus Service

Extreme Self-Quarantine? Georgia's Mysterious Mountain Skeletons

It's one of the eeriest sites in the Caucasus, but widely reported stories of locals entombing themselves to save their village from disease are likely only legends. By Amos Chapple

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Big Brother Vs. The Coronavirus

Big Brother Vs. The Coronavirus

Moscow is using a state-of-the-art system of face-recognition cameras to track people who should be self-isolating after returning from countries with serious outbreaks of the coronavirus. In the United States, members of Congress have written to President Donald Trump to voice concerns over potential measures to track people's movements via their mobile phones. Around the world, many are concerned that such powerful technologies could be abused in the future by governments and corporations. The debate over security versus privacy is being seen in a new light through the prism of the COVID-19 pandemic. By Ray Furlong

Russian Journalist Charged With Extremism Laments State's 'Black PR' Campaign Against Her​

Svetlana Prokopyeva, a Russian freelance journalist, is facing “extremism” charges after she commented on an alleged bomb attack in northern Russia. Now the Defense Ministry and state television are slamming into reporters like Prokopyeva who receive money from abroad. By Matthew Luxmoore

Divided We Stand: This Is How The World Is Social Distancing

People around the world are keeping a safe distance from each other in an effort to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. By RFE/RL

What Exactly Is Going On With Russia’s Low Coronavirus Numbers?

To date, Russia’s confirmed cases of coronavirus have been low – so low that a growing number of people are questioning whether the government is suppressing the real data. Judging by comments from Moscow’s mayor -- “The number of people who are sick is significantly higher in reality” -- those figures may be about to change substantially. By Mike Eckel

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Pakistani Village Shaken By Country's First COVID-19 Death

Pakistani Village Shaken By Country's First COVID-19 Death

A village in northwestern Pakistan is under lockdown after a 50-year-old man became the first recorded coronavirus-related fatality in the country. Saadat Khan, who had an underlying heart condition, returned ill from a pilgrimage to Mecca. Coronavirus cases in Pakistan have soared to over 900 and there have now been seven recorded deaths. By RFE/RL's Radio Mashaal

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Explaining The Coronavirus To Kids

Explaining The Coronavirus To Kids

This video, intended for children ages 3 to 8, uses simple terms to help them understand why it is so important to stay at home while the coronavirus outbreak continues. By Carlos Coelho and Anna Shamanska