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

Iran's Largest Water Line Is Gone—Tehran Faces Mass Evacuation as 15 Million People Without Water

"Iran is running out of water, with shrinking rivers, drying reservoirs, and collapsing groundwater forcing the country to consider relocating its capital from Tehran. This crisis did not emerge suddenly; instead, decades of poor planning, excessive water extraction, and the abandonment of ancient water systems have steadily pushed Iran toward what experts now call “water bankruptcy,” a state in which water use far exceeds natural replenishment, placing intense pressure on cities, farms, and ecosystems alike.

Tehran sits at the center of Iran’s water troubles. The city has grown rapidly and now holds around 10 million residents. For years, it depended on nearby dams and underground aquifers to meet daily needs. However, after several consecutive years of extreme drought, these sources can no longer keep up.
Recently, water levels in the main reservoirs serving Tehran dropped to dangerously low levels. This sharp decline forced officials to admit that the city may no longer be sustainable. As a result, plans to relocate the capital to wetter coastal regions are gaining urgency. Although such a move would take decades and cost enormous sums, water scarcity leaves few alternatives.
While low rainfall triggered the latest emergency, scientists point to deeper causes. Over the past half century, Iran built hundreds of dams to control rivers and store water. Many of these dams sit on rivers too small to support them. Instead of solving shortages, they created new problems.
Large reservoirs lose massive amounts of water through evaporation, especially in hot climates.
Over the last four decades, Iran drilled more than a million deep wells. Powerful pumps pulled water from aquifers to irrigate farmland and supply cities. The goal was to achieve food self-reliance and reduce dependence on imports.
As aquifers drain, the ground above them collapses. This process causes land subsidence, where the surface slowly sinks. Roads crack, buildings tilt, and pipelines break. Because it happens gradually, scientists call it a “silent earthquake.”
Unlike surface damage, underground collapse cannot be fixed. Once soil layers compress, they permanently lose their ability to store water. Even heavy rainfall cannot restore that lost capacity.
Iran hosts about 70,000 qanats, many over 2,500 years old. Together, they stretch hundreds of thousands of miles underground. For centuries, they supplied cities and farms in some of the driest landscapes on Earth. Today, about half of these qanats no longer function. Poor maintenance weakened many tunnels. More importantly, deep wells lowered water tables below the qanats, leaving them dry. As water disappeared, tunnels collapsed, erasing a key part of Iran’s water heritage." msn

Dam failure triggers flooding in Ponte Alta do Bom Jesus, Tocantins, Brazil

"Heavy rainfall in Ponte Alta do Bom Jesus, Brazil southeast of Tocantins, caused breach in a
dam triggering widespread flooding in the area. 

The failed around 08:50 local time, during work to close the spillway, affecting around two meters of the crest of the structure. Much of the surrounding area was submerged by the large volume of water damaging homes, trees, and other structures in the region." W

Farmers light fires outside the European Parliament building in Brussels

"Protesters lit fires and hurled potatoes at riot police who responded with teargas and water annon in Brussels on Thursday, as tensions boiled over at a farmer demonstration against the EU’s planned trade deal with South American bloc Mercosur.

About 1,000 honking tractors rolled into the Belgian capital to heap pressure on an EU leaders’ summit where the deal’s fate hung in the balance.“We’re here to say no to Mercosur,” Belgian dairy farmer Maxime Mabille told AFP. “It’s like Europe has become a dictatorship,” he said, accusing European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen of seeking to “force the deal through”.
At least 7,000 farmers staged a mostly peaceful march through the capital’s European quarter, where the Mercosur deal loomed large over an EU summit focused on funding Ukraine’s war effort.
But rowdy scenes erupted outside the European Parliament, where farmers lit a bonfire of tires and hay and threw tubers at the police, who fired back with teargas – with black smoke filling surrounding streets." msn