Hamas and Israel move towards phase two of US-backed Gaza plan

"As Israel and Hamas prepare to move towards phase two of a United States-led blueprint to

end war in Gaza, disagreements loom over the as-yet undefined role of an international stabilization force in the besieged Palestinian enclave.
Senior Hamas official Basem Naim said on Sunday that the U.S. draft required “a lot of clarifications”. While the group was ready to discuss “freezing or storing” weapons during the ongoing truce, he said it would not accept that an international stabilization force take charge of disarmament. “We are welcoming a [United Nations] force to be near the borders, supervising the ceasefire agreement, reporting about violations, preventing any kind of escalations,” he said, adding that Hamas would not accept the force having “any kind of mandates” on Palestinian territory." AJ

5.8 Earthquake - 93 km N of Yakutat, Alaska

"A strong magnitude 5.8 earthquake hit 93 km N of Yakutat, Alaska, in the afternoon at 5.56 pm local time (America/Whitehorse GMT -7). The quake had a very shallow depth of 9.6 km (5.9 mi) and was felt over a large region. The shallow depth of the quake caused it to be felt more strongly near the epicenter than a deeper quake of similar magnitude would." VD

5.2 Earthquake - Banda Sea, 35 km northwest of Pulau Molu Island, Maluku, Indonesia

"A strong magnitude 5.2 earthquake occurred in the Banda Sea near Pulau Molu island, Indonesia, around noon at 1.55 pm local time (GMT +9)." VD

Ukrainian drones score 'successful hit' on Russia's Ryazan Oil Refinery

"Ukrainian forces scored another "successful hit" on Russia's Ryazan Oil Refinery overnight the General Staff has confirmed, marking the ninth such strike on the refinery this year.

"The Ryazan Refinery, with a design capacity of 17.1 million tons of oil per year, is one of the largest oil refining enterprises in the Russian Federation," the General Staff said in a post on social media.
"A hit and a fire were recorded at the facility. The results and extent of damage are being clarified."
The post also claimed a strike on the Alchevsk Metallurgical Plant in Russian occupied Luhansk Oblast, a facility that produces artillery shells for the Russian army." KI

Volcanic ash from Kilauea volcano observed at 10 700 m (35 000 feet) United States

"Volcanic ash from Kilauea in the United States was observed at 10 700 m (35 000 feet) above

sea level at 21:06 UTC. The Washington VAAC issued this advisory at 21:23 UTC following updated information from the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory and National Weather Service Honolulu.
The advisory reports new observations of ash reaching up to flight level 350, corresponding to 10 700 m (35 000 feet) a.s.l., moving east. An additional ash cloud was present up to flight level 150, equivalent to approximately 4 600 m (15 000 feet) a.s.l., moving southwest. The ash plume was detected based on GOES-18 satellite imagery and local observatory data. The ash movement was tracked at 102 km/h (55 knots or 63 mph) toward the east. No Aviation Color Code was stated in this advisory." W

5.4 Earthquake - Canada: 137 km W of Haines Junction, YT

"A strong magnitude 5.4 earthquake hit Canada

: 137 km W of Haines Junction, YT, in the
early afternoon at 3.34 pm local time (America/Whitehorse GMT -7). The quake had a very shallow depth of 8 km (5 mi)." VD

77 clashes on front lines

"Since the start of the day, 77 combat engagements have occurred on the front.
The Russian army carried out artillery shelling near Klyusy and Halahanivka in the Chernihiv region.
In the Northern Slobozhanshchyna and Kursk sectors, the Russians conducted 72 shelling attacks, including two using multiple launch rocket systems.
In the Southern Slobozhanshchyna sector, the Defense Forces repelled five enemy attacks in the areas of Vovchansk, Synelnykove, and toward Izbytske and Kolodiazne.
In the Kupiansk sector, Russian forces attacked six times near Pishchane and Kolisnykivka; one engagement is ongoing.

In the Lyman sector, the invading army carried out nine attacks near Hrekivka, Tverdokhlibove, Zarichne, and toward Novoserhiivka, Novyi Myr, and Stavky. Three combat engagements are ongoing.
In the Sloviansk sector, the Defense Forces repelled six attacks. Enemy units tried to advance near Yampil, Dronivka, Serebrianka, Siversk, and Fedorivka; one engagement is ongoing.
In the Kramatorsk sector, the enemy did not conduct offensive actions.
In the Kostiantynivka sector, the Russians carried out 14 assault actions in the areas of Oleksandro-Shultyne, Shcherbynivka, Pleshchiivka, and toward Stepanivka and Berestok. One combat engagement is ongoing.
In the Pokrovsk sector, Russian forces attempted 21 times to push back the Defense Forces from their positions near Nove Shakhove, Novopavlivka, and in the areas of Chervonyi Lyman, Rodynske, Myrnohrad, Kotlyne, Udachne, and Molodetske. The Defense Forces have held their positions and repelled 20 enemy attacks; one engagement is ongoing.
In the Oleksandrohrad sector, the enemy is trying to break through Ukrainian defenses near Yalta, Ivanivka, Zelenyi Hai, Vorone, Rybne, and toward Danylivka. Ukrainian forces repelled five enemy assaults; two attacks are ongoing.
In the Huliaipole sector, seven combat engagements occurred near Huliaipole.
In the Orikhiv sector, the enemy conducted one unsuccessful attack near Stepove." Ukrin

'Quite severe' damage to Ukraine's energy infrastructure after massive Russian drone, missile strike

"A Russian mass missile and drone attack overnight has once again hammered Ukraine's

energy infrastructure, hitting substations, generation facilities, and disconnecting one of the power lines that supplies the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.
According to Ukraine's Air Force, Russia launched 653 Shahed-type attack drones, 36 cruise missiles, and 17 ballistic missiles at targets across the country. Sixty strikes were recorded at 29 locations.
"The main targets of these strikes are once again energy infrastructure," President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote on Telegram.
"The Russians' goal is to hurt millions of Ukrainians, and they have already fallen so low that they launch missiles at peaceful cities on St. Nicholas Day."
Explosions were reported in Poltava, Lutsk, Odesa, Zaporizhzhia, and Bila Tserkva during the attacks. Russian strikes damaged electricity generation, distribution, and transmission facilities in Kyiv, Chernihiv, Lviv, Odesa, Zaporizhzhia, Dnipropetrovsk, Mykolaiv, and Kharkiv oblasts, the Energy Ministry reported.
In Chernihiv Oblast, Russian drones hit a residential area as well as critical infrastructure in both the region and Chernihiv city, the State Emergency Services reported." KI

Hungary blocks EU joint debt plan for Ukraine

"Hungary has blocked the issuance of Eurobonds to arm Ukraine – one of two options put forward by the European Commission to fund Kiev’s war effort – Politico reports, citing

sources.
After the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022, EU states froze around €210 billion ($245 billion) in Russian central bank assets, most of them held by Belgian-based Euroclear.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposed two ways to finance Ukraine: EU-level borrowing through Eurobonds – an option criticized for its immediate impact on national treasuries – or a ‘reparations loan’ tied to the frozen Russian assets, which Moscow has called theft. The commission aims to reach a deal before a December 18 summit.
According to Politico, Hungary formally ruled out the joint borrowing plan at talks, reportedly leaving the bloc with only the ‘reparations loan’ as an option, since it only requires a qualified majority to be approved, while joint borrowing requires unanimous consent." RT

5.1 Earthquake - North Pacific Ocean, 159 km east of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy, Kamchatka, Russia

"A strong magnitude 5.1 earthquake occurred in the North Pacific Ocean 351 km (218 mi)
from Kamchatka, Russia, in the early afternoon 2.10 pm local time (GMT +12). The quake had a very shallow depth of 22 km (14 mi) and was not felt (or at least not reported so)." VD

5.4 Earthquake - Maluku Sea, 78 km southwest of Pulau Dagasuli Island, North Maluku, Indonesia

"A strong magnitude 5.4 earthquake occurred in the Maluku Sea near the coast of North
Maluku, Indonesia, in the morning at 9.44 am local time (GMT +9). The quake had a moderate depth of 96 km (60 mi) and was not felt (or at least not reported so)." VD

Very strong M7.0 earthquake hits near Yakutat, Alaska

"A strong and shallow earthquake registered by the USGS as M7.0 struck near Yakutat,
Alaska, at 20:41. The agency is reporting a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles). EMSC is reporting M6.8 at a depth of 10 km. According to the National Tsunami Warning Center (NTWC), there is no tsunami danger from this earthquake." W

184 clashes on front line

"184 engagements between the Ukrainian Defense Forces and Russian invaders were recorded.
In the Northern Slobozhanshchyna and Kursk sectors, Ukrainian defenders repelled one enemy attack. Russian forces carried out two airstrikes, dropping five guided aerial bombs, and conducted 198 attacks, including six launched by MLRS.
In the Southern Slobozhanshchyna sector, 10 engagements occurred in the areas of Vovchansk, Prylipky, Odradne, and toward Izbytske and Lyman.

In the Kupiansk sector, five enemy assaults were recorded. The Defense Forces repelled Russian assault actions near Stepova Novoselivka, Pishchane, and toward Hlushkivka.
In the Lyman sector, the enemy attacked 19 times, attempting to advance near Novovodiane, Novoyehorivka, Zarichne, Derylove, and Kolodiazi.
In the Sloviansk sector, the Russian army launched attacks near Dronivka, Serebrianka, and toward Siversk. In total, eight engagements occurred.
In the Kramatorsk sector, the Defense Forces repelled two enemy attacks near Novomarkove and Vasiukivka.
In the Kostiantynivka sector, Russian forces conducted 27 attacks in the areas of Oleksandro-Shultyne, Shcherbynivka, Kleban-Byk, Pleschiivka, Yablunivka, and Rusyn Yar.
In the Pokrovsk sector, Ukrainian defenders stopped 51 Russian attacks in the areas of Maiak, Volodymyrivka, Rodynske, Chervonyi Lyman, Myrnohrad, Pokrovsk, Kotlyne, Udachne, Novoserhiivka, Molodetske, Kotliarivka, Yalta, and Dachne.
In the Oleksandrohrad sector, the Defense Forces repelled 14 enemy assault actions in the areas of Oleksandrohrad, Sosnivka, Yehorivka, Pryvilne, Rybne, and Krasnohirske.
In the Huliaipole sector, seven engagements were recorded in the areas of Solodke, Dobropillia, and Huliaipole.
n the Orikhiv sector, four engagements took place. The invaders attempted to advance near Stepnohirsk and toward Prymorske.
In the Prydniprovske sector, Ukrainian units repelled six enemy attacks." 

Ukrin

Ukraine's top security officials meet US negotiators in Miami amid peace push

"Ukraine's negotiators arrived in Miami on Dec. 4 to continue discussions on peace efforts

with U.S. President Donald Trump's envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
Rustem Umerov, the secretary of Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council, and Andrii Hnatov, the chief of staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces, met again with U.S. officials after leading earlier talks in Florida on Nov. 30 and Dec. 1.
The talks reportedly ended late in the evening on Dec. 4, a source in the Ukrainian delegation told the news outlet Suspilne, without providing further details." KI

5.2 Earthquake - Manawatu-Wanganui, New Zealand

"A strong magnitude 5.2 earthquake hit 1,617 km (1,005 mi) away from Palmerston North, Manawatu-Wanganui, New Zealand, in the morning at 7.13 am local time (GMT -12). 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