The United States on December 23 voiced deepening concern over the fate of imprisoned Russian opposition leader Aleksei Navalny, who has not been heard from since early December.
The head of Ukraine's eastern-rite Catholic church on December 23 said a document endorsed by Pope Francis this week permitting blessings for same-sex couples did not apply to his church and its teachings.
Many Ukrainians will celebrate Christmas Day on December 25 for the first time, after the government changed the date from the Orthodox Church observance of January 7 in a snub to Russia.
Iranian authorities have seized the prestigious Sakharov Prize that was awarded by the European Parliament to honor Mahsa Amini, whose September 2022 death in custody sparked nationwide anti-government protests and who came to symbolize battle for human rights for Iranian women.