5.6 Earthquake - Coral Sea, 59 km southwest of Gaua Island, Torba Province, Vanuatu

"A strong magnitude 5.6 earthquake occurred in the Coral Sea near Gaua Island island, Vanuatu, in the morning at 7.41 am local time (GMT +11). The quake had a moderate depth of 171 km (106 mi) and was reported felt by some people near the epicenter." VD

One dead in Redding as atmospheric river triggers deadly flooding across northern California

"One person was killed, and several were rescued after torrential rain brought by a strong
atmospheric river caused severe flooding in Redding, northern California. Rainfall totals above 100 mm (4 inches) overwhelmed storm drains and flooded roads." W

126 clashes on frontline over past day

"Ukrainian Defense Forces recorded 126 combat clashes with Russian invading troops along the frontline.
Russian troops carried out air strikes, in particular, on the areas of the settlements of Pokrovske in the Dnipropetrovsk region; Pryluky, Zaliznychne, Charivne, Varvarivka, Huliaipole, Verkhnia Tersa, Rizdvianka, Sviatopetrivka, Novoiakovlivka, and Malokaterynivka in the Zaporizhzhia region; and Zatoka in the Odesa region.
Aircraft, missile troops, and artillery of the Ukrainian Defense Forces struck nine clusters of Russian personnel, weapons, and military equipment, as well as three enemy command posts.

In the Northern Slobozhanshchyna and Kursk sectors, Ukrainian troops repelled one Russian attack. The enemy carried out two air strikes using eight guided aerial bombs and conducted 153 shelling attacks, including two from multiple launch rocket systems.
In the Southern Slobozhanshchyna sector, Russian forces attempted four times to break through Ukrainian defensive lines near Prylipky and toward Hryhorivka.
In the Kupiansk sector, six enemy attacks took place. Ukrainian defenders repelled Russian assault operations near Kruhliakivka and toward Petropavlivka and Pishchane.
In the Lyman sector, Russian troops carried out five attacks, attempting to break into Ukrainian defenses near Novoselivka, Kolodiazi, and Zarichne.
In the Sloviansk sector, Ukrainian defenders stopped one Russian attempt to advance near Dronivka.
In the Kramatorsk sector, Russian forces conducted no offensive operations.
In the Kostiantynivka sector, Russian troops carried out 16 attacks near Shcherbynivka, Yablunivka, Oleksandro-Shultyne, Kleban-Byk, Rusyn Yar, and toward Sofiivka.
In the Pokrovsk sector, Ukrainian Defense Forces halted 34 enemy assault actions near Nykanorivka, Rodynske, Chervonyi Lyman, Myrnohrad, Pokrovsk, Kotlyne, Udachne, Molodetske, Novoserhiivka, Horikhove, and Dachne.
In the Oleksandrivka sector, Russian forces launched eight attacks near Oleksandrohrad, Sosnivka, Pryvilne, and Rybne.
In the Huliaipole sector, Ukrainian defenders repelled 17 Russian attacks near Huliaipole and toward Dobropillia.
In the Orikhiv sector, Ukrainian troops repelled two Russian attacks near Mala Tokmachka and Stepove.
In the Prydniprovske sector, Ukraine’s Defense Forces repelled two Russian attacks toward the Antonivskyi Bridge." Ukrin

52 civilians, including children, abducted in Sumy Oblast, forcibly taken to Russia

"Russian troops abducted 52 residents, including several children, of the village of Hrabovske in Ukraine's Sumy Oblast, about 200 meters from the Russian border, President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

According to preliminary information, on Dec. 18, Russian forces illegally detained about 50 civilians — residents of the village of Hrabovske — holding them without access to communication or adequate conditions. On Dec. 20, they were forcibly taken to Russia.
"I immediately contacted the Commissioner for Human Rights in the Russian Federation, demanding information about the whereabouts of the illegally deported Ukrainian citizens, details on the conditions of their detention, and their urgent needs, as well as requesting measures for their immediate return to Ukraine. I also sent a letter to the ICRC," Lubinets wrote." KI

6.5 Earthquake - 64 km southwest of Madang, Madang Province, Papua New Guinea

"A very strong magnitude 6.5 earthquake hit 64 km (40 mi) away from Madang, Madang Province, Papua New Guinea, in the evening at 8.31 pm local time (Pacific/Port Moresby GMT +10). The quake had a moderate depth of 110 km (68 mi) and was felt over a large region." VD

More than 200 clashes on frontline

"A total of 205 combat engagements between the Defense Forces of Ukraine and Russian invaders were recorded along the frontline over the past day.
In the Northern Slobozhanshchyna and Kursk sectors, eight combat engagements took place. In addition, the enemy carried out 136 shelling attacks on Ukrainian military positions and populated areas, including two strikes using multiple launch rocket systems.
In the Southern Slobozhanshchyna sector, Russian forces launched six assaults on the positions of Ukrainian units near the settlements of Sotnytskyi Kozachok, Vovchansk, Dvorichanske, and toward Vilcha and Kolodiazne.
In the Kupiansk sector, Russian invaders carried out 11 attacks. T

he Defense Forces repelled enemy assault actions in the areas of Pishchane, Zahryzove, and toward Kurylivka, Novoplatonivka, and Kupiansk.
In the Lyman sector, Russian forces attacked 10 times, attempting to advance near the settlements of Serednie, Novoselivka, Myrne, and toward Nadiia, Cherneshchyna, Drobysheve, and Stavky.
In the Sloviansk sector, specifically in the areas of Serebrianka, Dronivka, and Siversk, the enemy launched six attacks on Ukrainian positions.
In the Kramatorsk sector, one combat engagement was recorded near the settlement of Stupochky.
In the Kostiantynivka sector, the Russian army carried out 31 attacks in the areas of the settlements of Pleshchiivka, Rusyn Yar, Shcherbynivka, Oleksandro-Shultyne, Kleban-Byk, Sofiivka, and toward Berestok.
In the Pokrovsk sector, Ukrainian defenders stopped 58 assault and offensive actions by the invaders in the areas of the settlements of Myrnohrad, Rodynske, Pokrovsk, Rivne, Kotlyne, Udachne, Molodetske, Pershe Travnia, Filiia, and toward Sukhetske, Hryshyne, Novopidhordnie, and Novopavlivka.
In the Oleksandrivka sector, the enemy attacked the positions of the Defense Forces 13 times in the areas of the settlements of Vorone, Oleksandrohrad, Rybne, Zlahoda, Pryvilne, and toward Iskra, Vyshneve, and Oleksiivka.
In the Huliaipole sector, the enemy attacked Ukrainian defensive positions 13 times in the area of Solodke, Varvarivka, Huliaipole, and toward Zelene.
In the Orikhiv sector, the enemy attempted to breach the defenses 10 times in the areas of the settlements of Shcherbaky, Stepove, Plavni, and in the direction of Lukianivske and Prymorske.
In the Prydniprovske sector, Russian troops did not conduct any offensive actions." Ukrin

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

Russian Forces Liberate Villages Vysokoye in Sumy, Svetloye in Donbass

"The Russian forces have liberated the villages of Vysokoye in the Sumy region and Svetloye

in the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), the Russian Ministry of Defense said on Saturday.
"As a result of decisive actions, Battlegroup Sever liberated the village of Vysokoye in the Sumy region," the ministry said in a statement.
Russia's Battlegroup Tsentr has taken control of Svetloye and continued to eliminate the encircled troops of the Ukrainian armed forces in Dimitrov, the ministry added.
Battlegroup Tsentr has eliminated up to 525 Ukrainian military personnel, five combat armored vehicles, including a US-made Stryker armored personnel carrier, three field artillery pieces and an electronic warfare station in the past day, the Russian Defense Ministry said." Sputnik