Ukraine: Ukrainian investigators discovered 10 torture chambers in the city of Kherson. Children were allegedly kept in a separate cell

Russia is intensifying its offensive in the direction of Bahamut and Avdeevka. In the last 24 hours, the Russians have carried out more than 30 airstrikes on civilian infrastructure in the Donetsk region, the authorities in Kyiv announce. Meanwhile, Ukrainian investigators discovered a torture chamber in the city of Kherson where Russian forces allegedly detained and abused children.

Sakharov Prize 2022: The European Parliament paid tribute to the Ukrainian people

The European Parliament awarded the Ukrainian people with the Prize for Freedom of Thought. The award was given to brave citizens of Ukraine to honour their fight against the Russian invasion.

The famous Hollywood actor Jean-Claude Van Damme visited the war-affected areas of Ukraine

The famous actor Jean-Claude Van Damme visited the war-affected areas of Ukraine. The star did not announce his arrival, although he is in Ukraine for the second time.

The Ukrainian army shot down ten Iranian drones. A fragment damaged two buildings in Kiev

The Russian occupiers attacked the Ukrainian capital and the Kiev region on Wednesday morning with Iranian Shahed drones. According to the mayor of Kyiv, Vitali Kliciko, the Ukrainian army shot down ten such drones. A fragment of a drone shot down by the Kyiv air defence system damaged two administrative buildings in the Shevchenkovskiy district of the Ukrainian capital, Rador reports with reference to RBC.

New Zealand passes world-first tobacco law to ban smoking for next generation

New Zealand has introduced a steadily rising smoking age to stop those aged 14 and under from ever being able to legally buy cigarettes in world-first legislation to outlaw smoking for the next generation, The Guardian reports.

Belarus army subjected to unexpected checks. The Ministry of Defense wants to know the level of combat readiness

The Ministry of Defense of Belarus announced an unexpected check of the level of combat readiness. It is to determine how troops advance in designated areas, how they use engineering equipment and how they build bridges.

Armed attack in Australia: Six people, including two policemen, killed

Armed attack in Australia. Six people, including two policemen, were killed in a shootout that happened in the state of Queensland. Some policemen were riddled with bullets as soon as they entered the territory of a property, others were transported with injuries to the hospital. One of the farm owner's neighbors was also killed.

Putin cancels year-end address for first time in a decade

Russian President Vladimir Putin won’t hold his traditional year-end press conference for the first time in at least a decade as Russian troops continue to lose ground in Ukraine.

A minibus with Moldovans hit by a truck in Poland: Two people died and five were injured

A minibus full of Moldovans was hit by a truck while it was parked. It happened in the afternoon of December 12, near the town of Szumowo in Poland, the Polish media reports. According to the source, as a result of the impact, four Moldovans from the minibus and the driver of the truck were injured, while two other citizens of the Republic of Moldova died.

The European Parliament will today debate Austria's refusal to vote on Romania's accession to Schengen

The European Parliament is debating today Austria's refusal to vote on Romania's accession to Schengen. The proposal came from the three largest political groups in the European Parliament.

Thousands of Santa Clauses participated in the traditional Christmas Race, organized in France

More than 13 thousand runners wore festive costumes for the 44th Christmas Run, held near Paris. This after the traditional competition was canceled last year.

Snow, blizzard and heavy flooding in Europe. Countries affected by bad weather

Bad weather in several countries on the old continent. Heavy rains caused devastating floods in Turkey, Croatia and Bosnia Herzegovina. In contrast, in the UK, air traffic was disrupted by the snow.