RFE/RL in the Media
# Daud Khattak, of RFE/RL's Radio Mashaal, quoted in the Friday Times on the plight of journalists in Pakistan
Afghanistan/Pakistan
# In Afghanistan, interests of U.S. and Iran "converge"
# Interior Ministry says it will be able to defend 96 percent of sites on election day
# "Saving Relics, Afghans Defy the Taliban" - Rod Norland, "New York Times"
# Afghan police officers have not been paid for months
# Muslim leaders join effort to defend polio drive in Pakistan
# Pakistan's "unsung heroes"
Iran
# Iran to start implementing nuclear deal on January 20
# Iran to get $550 million on February 1
# Zarif to visit Syria in next two days
# Zarif says he won't seek seat at Syria talks "at all costs"
# Iranian parliament enrichment plan threatens to scuttle nuclear deal
Iraq
# al-Maliki threatens to cut Kurdistan's share of federal budget if it bypasses Baghdad with oil exports to Turkey
# McCain says Petraeus should be sent back to Iraq
Russia
# Russia shuts out Abkhazia from the Olympics
# IOC member says one-third of Sochi spending is corruption related
# Authorities arrest five militants with homemade bomb
# HRW reporters' guide for covering the Olympics
# Russia pushes itself as defender of 19th century values
Eastern Europe
# Euromaidan protests continue for eighth straight Sunday, but significantly smaller than December crowds
# Lutsenko out of intensive care following violence with riot police
# Belarus to stage musical dedicated to Hugo Chavez
Central Asia
# Border row between Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan
Balkans
# "In Bridge Scandal, a Slight Heard Round the World" - Ariel Kaminer, "New York Times"
Caucasus
# Gender attitudes remain "anachronistic" in Azerbaijan
# Sixty-five out of 131 Armenian MPs have not said a single word in parliament in three months
# "New York Times" reviews "In Bloom" -- about coming of age in Tbilisi
Of Interest
# Map: Global conflict tracker
# "Evgeny [Morozov] Vs. the Internet" - Michael Meyer, CJR