Editor’s note: There will be no Daily Brief on Monday, September 5, for Labor Day. |
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UN Nuclear Chief Cites Damage at Ukrainian Power Plant |
UN nuclear chief Rafael Grossi said the physical integrity of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant has been repeatedly “violated” (The Guardian) amid the war. A team of UN inspectors is currently on-site, and Grossi is set to brief media (NYT) from Vienna later today. He has pledged an impartial and technically sound assessment of security at the plant, where shelling in recent weeks has raised fears of a nuclear disaster.
While Russian forces occupy the plant, Ukrainian engineers operate it. The countries blame each other for attacks near the facility, and Ukraine has accused Russia of limiting press and inspector access to it. Fighting reportedly continued today (AP) both in the district where the power plant sits and in the nearby region of Kherson.
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“The International Atomic Energy Agency has no authority to order a cease-fire or demand the creation of a demilitarized zone—the two steps outside experts say would provide the fastest way to limit the risk of a nuclear catastrophe and that Russia has rejected—but it could draw more attention to dangers that have already alarmed governments around the world,” the New York Times’ Marc Santora writes.
“Despite global fears of a catastrophe—current modeling suggests radiation could spread as far west as the Czech Republic—efforts to inform residents who live close to the plant on what to do if the worst does happen have been muted,” journalist Liz Cookman writes for Foreign Policy. For Think Global Health, Lilian Posner looks at how Russia’s militarization of the plant threatens human health. |
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Biden Warns Against Extremism, Political Violence |
In a speech, President Joe Biden blamed (NYT) former President Donald Trump and his Republican supporters for stoking extremism that “threatens the very foundations of our republic.” Republicans criticized the speech as being divisive.
For the Renewing America blog, CFR’s Gideon Rose explores why many Republicans have stood by Trump. |
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Philippine President Visits Indonesia, Singapore |
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. departs for the countries on Sunday in his first overseas trip since taking office in June. The destinations reflect Marcos Jr.’s pursuit of an “independent” foreign policy that sides with neither Washington nor Beijing, an official told Nikkei.
For the Asia Unbound blog, CFR’s Joshua Kurlantzick unpacks the start of Marcos Jr.’s term.
China: The city of Chengdu’s twenty-one million residents are on lockdown (SCMP) over a rise in COVID-19 cases. |
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India Inaugurates First Domestically Made Aircraft Carrier |
Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed the ship (NDTV), the country’s second aircraft carrier, into active service at a ceremony today. Myanmar: A court sentenced (BBC) Myanmar’s former de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi to three more years in prison on election fraud charges. |
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Middle East and North Africa |
U.S.: Iran’s Latest Comments on Nuclear Deal ‘Not Constructive’ |
A U.S. State Department spokesperson said Washington is studying (WaPo) Tehran’s latest response to a draft proposal to revive the 2015 nuclear deal.
Iraq: Oil companies operating in Iraqi Kurdistan reportedly asked (Reuters) Washington to help ease tensions between leaders in the semi-autonomous region and Iraq’s central government. |
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Report: Most Funding Pledged for South Africa’s Shift From Coal Will Be Loans |
Rich countries made headlines at last year’s UN climate conference by pledging $8.5 billion for South Africa to shift away from coal. While South Africa has called for that funding to be made via grants, most will be loans, and some will be difficult to access, Reuters reports.
CFR’s Alice C. Hill and Madeline Babin explain why climate finance is critical for accelerating global action.
Angola: The leading opposition party filed a legal challenge (AFP) to last week’s election results, which gave incumbent President João Lourenço another term. |
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G7 Expected to Back Price Cap on Russian Oil |
Finance ministers for the Group of Seven (G7) countries are expected to announce support for the measure (FT) at a meeting today. Russia has said it will stop selling oil to any nation that imposes such a cap. |
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Man Arrested After Pulling Gun on Argentine Vice President |
The man tried to shoot (BBC) Vice President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner at close range last night, but his gun did not fire.
Chile: On Sunday, Chileans will vote (CNN) on a new constitution, which would be one of the world’s most progressive if approved.
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