Gaza-Lebanon, China, Vietnam
Today's three stories you should know
Gaza-Lebanon
Attacks on healthcare facilities, staff and patients in conflict zones averaged four a day this year, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Gaza, Lebanon and Ukraine accounted for the majority of incidents, but there were also attacks in countries including Iran, Sudan, Myanmar, Syria, Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo. All 36 hospitals in Gaza have been damaged in Israeli attacks and only about half are partially functional. In Sudan, 37 percent of health facilities are non-functioning. "An attack on healthcare does not end when an attack gets verified,” Altaf Musani, WHO director of humanitarian and disaster management, said. "It is the patient who cannot receive healthcare tomorrow. It is the ambulance that cannot make the next referral."
More from Reuters here.
Listen to The Proximities Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube.
China
China’s defense ministry has dismissed Taiwan's annual Han Kuang military drills as a "wasteful charade" that "stoked war panic." Taiwan, a democratically run island that Beijing claims as part of its territory, has spent 10 days carrying out exercises that rehearse various scenarios should China invade. The Chinese have been steadily increasing military intimidation toward Taiwan, sending vessels and planes into its seas and airspace almost daily. While Beijing has said it wants “peaceful reunification,” it often threatens the use of force.
More from Internazionale here.
Vietnam
Authorities in Vietnam have uncovered more than a ton of smuggled ivory, which they said was shipped from an unspecified African country. The seizure of 221 pieces of elephant ivory weighing 1,193 kilograms was displayed to the media at Quy Nhơn port in the central province of Gia Lai. Police told reporters it had been concealed in sawn timber. Vietnam is a major hub for the illicit trade of wildlife, dead or alive, with much of it destined for China. The cargo also contained 79.3 kilograms of bones that local reports said came from big cats such as tigers. Crushed animal bones are used in traditional Chinese medicine.
More from AP here
On a recent episode of The Proximities Podcast, I spoke with Taiwanese-American writer and professor Michelle Kuo. We covered Taiwan-China relations and her experience taking part in civil defense drills.. You can listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.