Iran
Kabul Calling
They may look out of place, but 300 new telephone booths are giving the capital's poorer residents a chance to contact relatives cheaply.
The Cave-Dwellers of Bamian
Parliament and politics mean little to the people forced to live in caves beside the remains of Bamian's giant Buddhas.
Rising TV Station Stirs Controversy
Ground-breaking television channel attracts both praise and threats.
Teaching Women to Campaign
For Afghan women to get out of the home and onto the hustings takes some encouragement and some new-found courage.
Ghazni's Formidable Females
Lack of security and opposition from family members are minor obstacles to some of the candidates standing for parliament in a staunchly conservative region.
All Quiet as Western City Heads for Poll
Candidates in Herat claim some of their rivals are seeking to gain unfair advantage, but campaigning has generally been free of intimidation.
Self-Immolation Seen as Only Escape
Family problems and desperate circumstances lead many young women to burn themselves to death.
New Technology, Old Prejudices
Arabs and Kurds are trading insults online as the election debate moves into cyberspace.