As part of the "Days of Culture of the Islamic Republic of Iran," a 120-person Iranian delegation headed by Culture and Islamic Guidance Minister Seyed Mohammad Hosseini is in Dushanbe and will travel later to the northern city of Khujand.

Mehrubon Ravshan is the Cat Stevens of Tajikistan. Ravshan is best-known for hit songs like "Az Mani" ("You Are Mine"), but now that the 30-year-old pop singer has become a more devout Muslim, he's changed his tune.

Most of us in the U.S. probably don't pay much attention to Tajikistan, but the central Asian nation, which borders Afghanistan and China, is strategically crucial. Fortunately, the U.S. Embassy in Tajikistan...has a brilliant new strategy to strengthen our cultural bonds: Body building competitions.

Participants will assess implementation of the goals set by the UN for its Water For Life Decade (2005-2015)...Addressing the conference, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon proposed designating 2012 the Year of Water Diplomacy...