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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited the eastern city of Bakhmut, the scene of some of the most intense combat since Russia invaded the country, on Tuesday. During his trip he met with troops and praised their "courage, resilience and strength" as artillery boomed in the background. Russian President Vladimir Putin also hailed the "courage and self-denial" of his forces in Ukraine, but he did so at a ceremony in an opulent hall at the Kremlin.

Words by ITV News Multimedia Producer James Gray A Holocaust survivor has said it is an "impossibility" that a former concentration camp secretary did not know of the atrocities that were committed there during World War II. On Tuesday, Irmgard Furchner, who was the secretary to the SS commander of the Stutthof concentration camp in Nazi-occupied Poland during World War II, was handed a two-year suspended sentence at the Itzehoe state court in northern Germany. Full story

Baggage BEDLAM at Heathrow as millions face Xmas getaway hell in strike-hit UK: BA apologises as 'technical' glitch leaves passengers delayed for four hours while luggage is piled high at T5... as striking rail and bus drivers will add to chaos this week BA Flights leaving the United States were delayed for hours on Monday night The company said a 'technical' issue with its flight plans was the cause for delay Meanwhile passengers arriving at Heathrow T5 were left waiting for their bags

Social Security recipients will soon receive their biggest benefit hike since 1981, with the pension program set to deliver an 8.7% cost-of-living increase in 2023. The annual cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA, takes effect with the December benefits, but those payments will reach most recipients in January 2023, according to the Social Security Administration. With the increase, the average benefit check will rise more than $140 to $1,827 a month, compared with the typical benefit of $1,681 in 2022.

On this day in history, Dec. 20, 1957, Elvis drafted by US Army while awaiting Christmas at Graceland 'Jailhouse Rock' was the no. 1 song in America the day Presley dutifully picked up his draft notice in person

King Charles’ portrait will appear on all banknotes (£5, £10, £15, £20 and £50) and will begin to enter circulation around mid-2024. However, existing bank notes featuring Queen Elizabeth will still be accepted and remain legal tender.

A dozen Russian soldiers armed with Kalashnikovs stand motionless on the main square of the Siberian city of Chita. Add in the wind chill factor and it's -33C. I'm bundled up in multiple layers of clothes, but I can feel my face freezing. As people walk past, they stop and stare at the servicemen. Some of them take selfies. There's a good reason why the soldiers aren't moving a muscle. They're made of ice.

PRINCE Andrew’s armed royal protection cops are being replaced by private security officers who are only allowed to carry tasers. And it is believed King Charles may personally foot the bill for his brother’s new team of bodyguards.

European Union nations have agreed to cap soaring wholesale gas prices to protect consumers across the bloc. From 15 February, prices will be limited if they breach 180 euros per megawatt hour for three days running. It follows weeks of wrangling in which Germany and others sought safeguards to ensure the cap would be suspended if it had negative consequences. Gas prices have spiked as EU countries seek ways to import less Russian gas following its invasion of Ukraine.

US President Joe Biden has condemned antisemitism at a White House party to commemorate the second day of Hanukkah, the Jewish festival of lights. The joyful holiday, which is marked by lighting candles and eating oily foods, comes amid reports of a national and global uptick in antisemitic rhetoric. Mr Biden, the second Catholic US president, said: "I will not be silent and America will not be silent."

The former Top Gear presenter has since issued an apology for his comments, which has sparked further outrage from his followers. He penned on Twitter: "Oh dear. I’ve rather put my foot in it.

Rishi Sunak has urged European allies to maintain or boost military support for Ukraine over the coming year. The PM kicked off a trip to the Baltic region by announcing the UK would send hundreds of thousands of rounds of artillery ammunition to Ukraine. He also said there could not be peace talks until Russia withdrew its troops. Last week, the BBC reported that the prime minister had asked for an assessment of the progress of the war in Ukraine.