U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announces a coalition of ten nations, called Operation Prosperity Guardian, to enforce security in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden amid Houthi attacks.
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December 18, 2023 (Monday)
1.6 minutes to read
Armed conflicts and attacks
British multinational oil and gas company BP suspends all shipments through the Red Sea in response to an increase in Houthi attacks on commercial vessels.
The Rapid Support Forces launch a second assault and capture Wad Madani, the capital of Gezira State, after being repelled by the Sudanese Armed Forces yesterday.
The Royal Jordanian Air Force carries out airstrikes in southern Syria against drug gangs linked to the Syrian government.
Allied Democratic Forces kill ten people in a mass shooting in Kyabandara, Kamwenge District, Western Uganda.
The RSF capture the city of Rufaa, north of Wad Madani.
The International Organization for Migration say at least 250,000 people have fled Gezira State since the start of hostilities in the region.
Arts and culture
The Department of Islamic Development Malaysia permits halal-certified bakeries in the country to include Christmas greetings on cakes, overturning a previous directive that prohibited such messages.
Disasters and accidents
At least 127 people are killed and over 720 others are injured by a magnitude 5.9 earthquake in Jishishan, Gansu, China.
The Sundhnúkur volcanic eruption occurs on the Reykjanes Peninsula in Iceland after weeks of earthquakes prompting the evacuation of 4,000 people. The Icelandic Meteorological Office says that the risk of lava flowing toward the town of Grindavík is high.
A major winter storm hits the Northeastern United States, killing four people and causing flash flood warnings, flight cancellations and school closures.
At least 13 people are killed and at least 88 are injured by an explosion at an oil terminal in Conakry, Guinea.
Law and crime
Around half of Iranian petrol stations are disrupted by cyberattacks. Iranian state media reports that the Israeli-linked Predator Sparrow hacker group claims responsibility for the attacks.
Science and technology
The European Union formally begins legal action against X, formerly known as Twitter, due to illegal content and disinformation on the platform, as well as breaches of transparency.
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