Ethiopia-Somaliland, Israel-Palestine, South Korea.

Today's three stories you should know.

Jan 02, 2024

Happy New Year and welcome back to Proximities.

I hope everyone had a nice break.

Barry.

Ethiopia-Somaliland

There’s a big story developing in the Horn of Africa. Landlocked Ethiopia, the region’s economic and military powerhouse, has struck a deal for access to a port in Somaliland, a breakaway region of Somalia, infuriating the Somali government. Early reports suggest the deal will give Ethiopia a 20 x 90 km stretch of coast on a 50-year lease to use for naval and commercial purposes. In return, Somaliland says that Addis Ababa will formally recognize it as an independent state, becoming the first country in the world to do so. Somalia’s government immediately hit out at the deal, saying it would defend its territory by “any legal means.” This is one to watch.

Israel-Palestine

A major escalation today. Deputy Hamas leader Saleh al-Arouri has been killed by an Israeli drone strike in Lebanon’s capital Beirut, according to multiple well-sourced media reports. Two security sources told the Reuters news agency that the strike targeted a meeting between Hamas officials and Lebanon's Sunni Islamist Jama'a Islamiya faction and left a total of four Palestinians and three Lebanese dead. All eyes are now on Lebanon’s Hezbollah group to see what it might do. In a statement, Hezbollah said the attack would “not go without a response or punishment.”

South Korea

South Korea’s main opposition leader Lee Jae-myung was stabbed in the neck today by an unidentified knife-wielding man who is reported to have approached him for an autograph. Lee, 59, was airlifted to a hospital in the capital Seoul and is now recovering at an intensive care unit following a two-hour operation, according to his party. The attacker, a 67-year-old man who posed as a supporter, was arrested at the scene and police say they are investigating the motive for the attack.