Middle East
# The Muslim Brotherhood adjusts to life underground
# Sisi's Christmas card to Coptic Christians
Iraq
# al-Maliki warns Fallujah residents to drive out al-Qaeda militants to avoid military assault
# Iraqi Kurds primed to take advantage of Iraq unrest
# On why the U.S. is not sending Iraq the weapons it's asking for
# "Insight - Fueled by Syria war, al Qaeda Bursts Back to Life in Iraq" - Suadad Al-Salhy, Reuters
Iran
# "U.S. and Iran Face Common Enemies in Mideast Strife" - Thomas Erdbrink, "New York Times"
# "The Moral Case for Ending America's Cold War with Iran" - Peter Beinart, "The Atlantic"
# Iran's "provocations" over the holidays
# Laura Rozen says Zarif not eager to attend Geneva II Syria talks
# Iran wants to increase birth rates
# Iran tops "Financial Times" list of travel destinations in 2014
Afghanistan/Pakistan
# Afghanistan panel says it will go ahead with controversial release of prisoners
# Video: Violence against women on the rise in Afghanistan
# UN warns drug trade can turn Afghanistan into criminal state
# On winning hearts and minds in Afghanistan
# Over 100,000 sign petition to stop deportation of gay Pakistani man from Australia
Russia
# Rogue priest attempts to out "gay system" within the Orthodox Church
# Russia begins Sochi clampdown
# Russia in first WTO dispute -- over anti-dumping taxes
# Abe's visit to controversial shrine could lead Russia to hardened stance on disputed islands
# How the U.S. Ambassador to Russia uses social media
Eastern Europe
# Novelist says Maidan is "school for revolution"
# Romanian president says country should unite with Moldova to protect it from Russia
Central Asia
# Uzbekistan uses car scandal to mock Tajikistan
# Turkmenistan says it will privatize state property in July
Of Interest
# "New York Times" Twitter lessons from 2013
# If you want to build a startup in 2014