Russian Strike on Ukrainian Port City Odesa

"Eight people were killed and 27 wounded in a Russian missile strike on port infrastructure in Odesa, southern Ukraine.
Some of the wounded were on a bus at the epicenter of the strike. 
The port was struck with ballistic missiles, said Oleh Kiper, the head of the Odesa region." Breitbart

South Korea, Russia hold talks on North Korean nuclear program

"Authorized delegations from South Korea and Russia recently held closed-door talks in
Moscow on North Korea’s nuclear program and other pressing regional security issues.
The South Korean official asked Russia to play a constructive role in ensuring peace on the Korean Peninsula, as Seoul seeks to resume dialogue with North Korea as soon as possible and is also making efforts to bring an end to the war in Ukraine." Ukrin

Coast-to-coast storm with 232 km/h (144 mph) gusts leaves 1 dead, 2 injured across Northwest and Rockies

"A powerful windstorm with gusts reaching 232 km/h (144 mph) battered parts of the Pacific Northwest and Rockies this week, leaving one dead, two injured, and hundreds of thousands without power. The deep low-pressure system continues moving east toward the northern Plains and Midwest, sustaining severe winds and wildfire risks." W

U.S. Snatches Venezuela Oil Tanker in Dark‑Hour Strike on Narco‑Terror Funding

"In a stealth operation carried out before dawn on Dec. 20, the U.S. Coast Guard—working alongside the Department of War—seized an oil tanker last seen in the terrorist state of Venezuela. The United States accused the ship’s operators of moving sanctioned crude to fuel narco‑terror activity. Officials issued a stark warning to traffickers: “We will find you, and we will stop you.”

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem released a video on social media showing a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter landing on the deck of an oil tanker in international waters off the coast of Venezuela.
In a post on social media, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth added to the U.S. actions, writing, “President Trump has been clear: the blockade of sanctioned oil tankers departing from, or bound for, Venezuela will remain in full force until Maduro’s criminal enterprise returns every stolen American asset.”
President Nicolas Maduro said, in a speech, that the Venezuelan military is “prepared to break the teeth of the North American empire, if necessary.” 

Breitbart

Zelensky admits Ukraine can’t afford 800,000-strong army

"Ukraine will not be able to afford maintaining an 800,000-strong army after the end of the conflict with Russia, Vladimir Zelensky has admitted, saying he wants Western aid to help finance the military as part of post-conflict security guarantees." RT

5.6 Earthquake - Philippine Sea

"A strong magnitude 5.6 earthquake occurred in the Philippine Sea 137 km (85 mi) from Philippines in the early morning at 2.53 am local time (GMT +9). The quake had a very shallow depth of 9 km (5.6 mi) and was reported felt by some people near the epicenter." VD

5.3 Earthquake - Solomon Sea, 101 km southeast of Lolobau Island, Papua New Guinea

"A strong magnitude 5.3 earthquake occurred in the Solomon Sea near the coast of Papua New Guinea in the morning at 9.07 am local time (Pacific/Port Moresby GMT +10). The depth of the quake could not be determined, but is assumed to be shallow. The quake was not felt (or at least not reported so)." VD

Ukraine reports 235 frontline clashes in past 24 hours

"235 combat engagements between the Ukrainian Defense Forces and Russian invaders were recorded along the front line.
Air strikes targeted, in particular, the areas of the following settlements: Izium in Kharkiv region, Dubovyky in Dnipropetrovsk region, Preobrazhenka in Zaporizhzhia region, and Snihurivka in Mykolaiv region.

Over the past day, missile troops and artillery of Ukraine’s Defense Forces struck a cluster of enemy personnel, weapons, and military equipment, as well as another important target of the Russian invaders.
In the Northern Slobozhanshchyna and Kursk sectors, nine combat engagements took place over the past day. In addition, the enemy carried out 104 shelling attacks on Ukrainian troop positions and populated areas, including four using multiple launch rocket systems.
In the Southern Slobozhanshchyna sector, Ukraine’s Defense Forces repelled 13 enemy attacks near Sotnytskyi Kozachok, Vovchansk, Prylipka, and toward Izbytske and Hryhorivka.
In the Kupiansk sector, six enemy attacks were recorded. Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled assault operations near Stepova Novoselivka and toward Nova Kruhliakivka and Pishchane.
In the Lyman sector, the enemy attacked 14 times, attempting to advance near Ridkodub, Novoiehorivka, Novovodiane, Zarichne, Serednie, Kolodiazi, and toward Korovyn Yar.
In the Sloviansk sector, Ukrainian defenders repelled 12 assaults by Russian troops near Dronivka, Siversk, Vyimka, and toward Zakitne.
In the Kramatorsk sector, the enemy launched three attacks on Ukrainian defensive positions near Vasiukivka, Orikhovo-Vasylivka, and Stupochky.
In the Kostiantynivka sector, the enemy carried out 18 attacks near Oleksandro-Shultyne, Pleshchiivka, Yablunivka, Rusyn Yar, and toward Sofiivka.
In the Pokrovsk sector, 72 combat engagements occurred near Nykanorivka, Shakhove, Myrnohrad, Rodynske, Pokrovsk, Kotlyne, Udachne, Molodetske, Novoserhiivka, Dachne, and toward Novopavlivka.
In the Oleksandrivka sector, Ukraine’s Defense Forces stopped 19 enemy attempts to break through defensive lines near Filiia, Zelenyi Hai, Piddubne, Sosnivka, Verbove, Stepove, Vyshneve, and Zlahoda.
In the Huliaipole sector, the Russian invaders attempted to advance on Ukrainian positions 17 times near Varvarivka, Zelene, and Huliaipole.
In the Orikhiv sector, Ukrainian defenders repelled three enemy attacks near Shcherbaky and toward Prymorske.
In the Prydniprovske sector, the enemy made five unsuccessful attempts to approach Ukrainian positions." Ukrin