Ukraine

• Pres. Putin spoke to Russia's human rights council following Ukraine's drone strikes on military targets deep inside Russia. He seemed to be trying to reassure Russians that he wouldn't invoke another draft, but he also warned them to expect a prolonged war.
• In a comment probably intended to be overanalyzed in the West, he said the risk of a nuclear war is rising and declined to reassure a member of the council that he wouldn't use nukes first: "If you don’t use them first, that means you don’t use them second, either."

• Iran carried out its first execution linked to protests, killing a protester ("rioter") who was convicted of injuring a security guard with a knife during a demonstration. At least 18,000 more people have been arrested in connection with protests, and the judiciary seems eager to convict them.
• A pro-opposition Iranian news site claimed that Iran's senior officials are negotiating with Venezuela to claim asylum there if their regime is toppled. If true, we'll certainly hear more about it.

• The UN said M23 rebels killed over 130 people in attacks in North Kivu in late November. The Congolese government said the true casualty count was more than twice that: over 270. The M23 denied responsibility and blamed "stray bullets" instead.

• Peru's president, Pedro Castillo, tried to dissolve Congress and take over its powers, but the legislature - which was already about to impeach him for his ineptitude - instead voted 101-6 to oust him. He was quickly arrested and replaced by his vice president.