Daily News Brief

August 8, 2024

Top of the Agenda

Ukrainian and Russian forces are in their third day of clashing after a Ukrainian unit made a rare incursion and broke through the border into the Russian region of Kursk, prompting an emergency declaration and thousands of residents to evacuate. Some analysts say Ukraine’s offensive could be aimed at drawing troops away from other fronts of the war. The surprise attack posed a fresh challenge to Moscow; Russian President Vladimir Putin acknowledged Ukraine’s attack yesterday, calling it a provocation. The Kremlin’s defense ministry claimed to be “destroying armed formations” as they crossed into Russia, but media were not immediately able to verify that statement.

Washington had no prior knowledge of Kyiv’s offensive, a U.S. State Department spokesperson said yesterday, adding that it was Russia who invaded Ukraine in this war. Ukraine has not acknowledged the attack publicly. In recent months, the country’s forces have been losing ground in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donetsk. Ukrainian officials, potentially bracing for Russian retaliation from this week’s attack, have ordered their own evacuation from the northeastern Sumy region. (Reuters, CNBC, WaPo)

Analysis

“Ukraine can still be guarded and wise about where it launches counteroffensives,” the Lowy Institute’s Mick Ryan writes for Foreign Affairs. “Ultimately, the country’s success will hinge on whether Kyiv can develop a theory of victory that draws from its own resources and from those of its supporters.” 

“As Ukraine tries to take the initiative in the northeastern border regions, there is a possibility for follow-up operations. After creating confusion and forcing Russia to react in Kursk, Ukraine could try to attack somewhere else too, if there are still available forces left,” Black Bird Group’s Emil Kastehelmi posts.

Pacific Rim

The two-day military exercise began yesterday and includes both naval and air force units. The Philippines and Japan held their first joint exercise in the waterway last week; the new drills come amid concerns over Chinese actions in the area. The Philippine military said that China “tailed” their exercise. (Channel News Asia, Reuters)

This timeline traces China’s maritime disputes. 

China/Indonesia: A Chinese-built plant for anode components in batteries opened in Indonesia. It’s the country’s first plant of this kind and comes as Indonesia sets its sights on becoming a home to electric vehicle battery production. (Bloomberg)

South and Central Asia

Economist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Mohammad Yunus is being sworn in as Bangladesh’s interim leader today. He said that his first talks will be to “protect all from violence and disorder.” (Prothom Alo)

Afghanistan: The country has had a “continual and significant” drop in religious freedom under Taliban rule, a U.S. federal watchdog on religious freedom said in a new report. Corporal and capital punishment have returned, including public executions and floggings. The Taliban did not immediately comment. (VOA)

Middle East and North Africa

The unexpected move yesterday was without official explanation but came as elections near. President Kais Saied submitted his official candidacy for reelection on Monday, while some would-be opposition candidates have been blocked from running. (AFP) 

Turkey/Israel/Palestinian territories: Turkey filed an application to join the genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice. Israel has strongly rejected the genocide accusations. (AP, Times of Israel)

In this YouTube Short, CFR expert David Scheffer explains what to know about the case. 

Sub-Saharan Africa

World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus will convene a group of experts to weigh if the spread of mpox in Africa should be declared a global public health emergency. The disease has been detected in ten African countries this year. (AP)

For Think Global Health, Linda Nordling looks at the spread of mpox in South Africa.

Nigeria/Poland/Russia: Nigerian police arrested seven Polish people yesterday for allegedly displaying Russian flags at a demonstration. Poland’s deputy foreign minister said those detained were not carrying flags despite being interpreted as such; officials in both countries said they were establishing details of the case. (AP)

Europe

One of three detained suspects of planning an attack on a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna had sworn allegiance to the self-declared Islamic State, Austria’s general director for public security said today. Three shows in the country were canceled after government warnings of a potential attack, which Austrian officials said international agencies helped them uncover. (Reuters, CNN)

Americas

The country’s only steel mill will halt operations “indefinitely” by September, citing a rise in cheap Chinese imports. The country’s economy minister called it “a very devastating decision” that the government would work to reverse. The region has struggled with the influx of Chinese imports hampering domestic demand. (FT)

Brazil: Between last August and this past July, Amazon deforestation in Brazil dropped almost 46 percent compared to the same period in the previous year, government satellite data showed. Still, monthly Amazon deforestation in July rose for the first time in over a year, in part due to a strike by environmental workers. Brazil’s president has pledged zero deforestation by 2030. (AP, Reuters)

This Infoguide visualizes deforestation in the Amazon. 

U.S. Campaign 2024

Activists critical of Israel’s war conduct in Gaza asked for a meeting with Vice President Kamala Harris at the entrance to a Detroit rally yesterday. Later, protesters chanting against the war interrupted her speech. Harris’s campaign referenced the pre-rally meeting in a statement, saying the campaign “will continue to engage with those communities.” (NYT)

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