Communications blackout & spiraling hunger compound misery in Gaza Strip December 16, 2023 at 12:20AM

Internet and telephone lines went down Thursday evening and were still inaccessible Saturday morning, according to internet access advocacy group NetBlocks.org, hampering aid deliveries and rescue efforts as Israel's war against Gaza's ruling militant group Hamas stretched into the 11th week. The offensive, triggered by the unprecedented October 7 Hamas attack on Israel, has flattened much of northern Gaza and driven 85% of Gaza’s population of 2.3 million from their homes. Displaced people have squeezed into shelters mainly in the south in a spiraling humanitarian crisis.

Ukraine says shot down 30 drones in new attack December 15, 2023 at 11:10PM

The Ukrainian air force repelled a Russian drone attack, shooting down 30 out of 31 drones. The attack targeted Kyiv, Kherson, and Khmelnytsky regions. Ukrainian forces recaptured Kherson in November 2022 but face constant shelling by Russian forces. One person died in overnight Ukrainian bombings in the occupied Kherson region. Russia reported 41 Ukrainian strikes in the border region. In response, Russia shot down 26 drones in Crimea and six in the Kursk region. Russia also launched a massive drone attack on southern Ukraine and fired ballistic missiles at Kyiv.

Myanmar ethnic minority fighters seize town from military December 15, 2023 at 10:39PM