Reuters

• Millions expected at world's largest pilgrim festival

  During the eight-week festival at Prayagraj in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, authorities expect up to 150 million people.

• 'The whole country is a prison': UN slams North Korea on human rights

  'The reality for human rights on the ground remains unchanged and continues to be extremely serious.'

• Congo presidential loser's supporters cry foul after surprise result

  The electoral commission (CENI) announced around 3 am (0200 GMT) that opposition leader Felix Tshisekedi had won the chaotic December 30 vote.

• Ukraine Orthodox Church marks first Christmas free of Russian 'fetters'

  Hundreds of Ukrainians queued in the snow after the lavish two-hour liturgy at Kiev's St Sophia Cathedral.

• Cardinal's trial puts French Church in glare of Catholic abuse scandal

  Cardinal Philippe Barbarin is the highest-profile cleric to be caught up in the paedophile scandal inside the Catholic Church in France.

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  Ecumenical Patriarch hands over decree, sealing Ukraine church independence

  The spiritual leader of Orthodox Christians worldwide on Sunday presented the head of the Ukrainian church with a decree granting it independence from Moscow, a historic split strongly opposed by Russia.

• The US churches sheltering migrants from deportation

  'Under Donald Trump's administration, I received an ankle bracelet ... It hurts my soul because I'm not a criminal.'

• One candidate clearly won Congo election, says Catholic church

  The church's bishops conference, known as CENCO, did not say which candidate had won.

• Blame game: Democrats, Trump in shutdown standoff

  Passage of the bill by the new Democratic majority was expected to occur shortly after Nancy Pelosi is elected speaker of the House.

• Israeli police remove settlers from illegal West Bank outpost

  Settlers had set up two caravans at the Amona outpost last month, in what they described as a protest against a recent surge in Palestinian attacks in the West Bank.

• Evangelical-backed Brazilian president takes aim at political correctness, gun control, environment

  'This is the beginning of Brazil's liberation from socialism, political correctness and a bloated state.'

• Two women defy centuries-old ban by entering Indian temple

  The women, reported by Reuters partner ANI to be in their 40s, entered the premises of the Sabarimala hill temple.