Thailand, Ethiopia, Israel-Palestine.

Today's three stories you should know.

Dec 13, 2023

Thailand

A Thai MP has been sentenced to six years in prison for insulting the country’s powerful monarchy on Twitter. Rukchanok Srinork, 26, was accused of sharing posts in 2020 on the platform, now known as X, that related to a company owned by King Maha Vajiralongkorn and the manufacturing of a COVID-19 vaccine. Thailand’s lese-majeste laws are among the harshest in the world and government critics say they are weaponized to stifle dissent. At least 262 people have been charged with insulting the monarchy since 2020, according to advocacy group Thai Lawyers for Human Rights.

Ethiopia

People are starving to death in Ethiopia but the numbers appear to be trickling out in piecemeal fashion. The latest report came today from Tigray Television, which said another 176 people had died in the Tigray region from drought-driven hunger, citing a regional administrator. The Tigray region is still recovering from a brutal two-year war that ended a year ago. As mentioned in Proximities before, the US and the UN suspended food aid to the region earlier this year after discovering some of it was being stolen. Officials say that decision has made the situation significantly worse.

Israel-Palestine

Israel today announced what it said were its biggest combat losses in the Gaza war for more than a month after its forces were ambushed in what remains of Gaza City. The military reported 10 of its soldiers had been killed in the past 24 hours, including a full colonel commanding a forward base and a lieutenant-colonel commanding a regiment. It was the biggest single loss since 15 soldiers were killed on October 31st.