Month: August 2024

On August 7, Russia claimed it was battling Ukrainian forces in intense confrontations after they infiltrated its southern border near a crucial natural gas transmission hub, highlighting one of the most substantial incursions into Russian territory since the war began.

During a meeting with his Cabinet members, Russian President Vladimir Putin referred to the incursion in the Kursk region as a “significant provocation” by Ukraine and announced plans to convene with senior defense and security officials to address the matter.

Putin said,”We will have to start with the events in the Kursk region. As you know, the Kyiv regime has undertaken another large-scale provocation and launched indiscriminate shelling of civilian buildings, residential houses, ambulances with different types of weapons, including missiles.”

Putin directed the Cabinet to organize support for the Kursk region and said that he will hold a meeting with security officials to get an update on the current situation.

Russian authorities announced on Wednesday that they were countering Ukrainian incursions in a southwestern border province for the second day in a row, with Kyiv officials remaining silent about the operation’s details.

The head of the Kursk border region in Russia appealed to local citizens to donate blood amid the fierce fighting.

Bangladesh’s president dissolved parliament Tuesday, clearing the way for new elections to replace the longtime prime minister who resigned and fled the country following weeks of demonstrations against her rule that descended into violent unrest.

The streets of Dhaka appeared calmer Tuesday, with no reports of new violence as jubilant protesters thronged the ousted leader’s residence. Some posed for selfies with soldiers guarding the building where a day earlier angry protesters had looted furniture, paintings, flower pots and chickens.

The weeks of protests had begun peacefully as frustrated students demanded an end to a quota system for government jobs, but they turned into an unprecedented uprising against Hasina and her ruling Awami League party. Anger also lingered from January’s election, which saw the jailing of thousands of opposition members.

The government responded to the protests with force, leaving nearly 300 people dead and fueling further outrage. The prime minister had called the protesters criminals and said they should be treated with an iron hand.

Over the weekend, protesters called for a “non-cooperation” effort, urging people not to pay taxes or utility bills and not to show up for work. The weekend of violence left dozens of people dead in the predominantly Muslim nation of over 160 million people.

On Monday, protesters defied a military curfew to march into the capital’s center. This time, troops pulled back. As internet access was restored, people began to celebrate in the streets. Thousands stormed the prime minister’s official residence, and Hasina fled.

The Israel Olympic team said athletes have received threats as they compete in the Paris Games amid tensions over the human toll in Gaza and as the Middle East teeters on the edge of a larger regional conflict.

On Tuesday, Yael Arad, the President of the Israeli National Olympic Committee, told the AP that the team had received “centralized” threats meant to generate “psychological terror” in athletes.

Paris prosecutors opened an investigation into emailed death threats to athletes last week after the personal data of some Israeli athletes was leaked online.

The prosecutors also opened an investigation into inciting racial hatred after it said Israeli athletes received ‘’discriminatory gestures” during an Israel-Paraguay match.

Tom Reuveny, a 24-year-old Israeli athlete who won gold in windsurfing over the weekend, was among those who said he’s received threats.

He added that politics “should be put aside” during the Games, speaking to the Associated Press during a memorial for Israeli athletes killed in a massacre during the 1972 Summer Olympics.

“I don’t think any politics should be involved in sport, especially in the Olympic Games,” Reuveny told the Associated Press.

“Unfortunately, there is a lot of politics involved, not in the games of the people who don’t want us to compete and don’t want us to be here. I’ve gotten quite a few messages and threats.”

While Israel has called for the Olympics to remain a neutral space, Palestine’s delegation has used the summer Games as a way to generate conversation about the day-to-day struggles of those in Gaza.

The Israel-Hamas war has claimed more than 39,000 Palestinian lives and wiped out entire Palestinian families.

As global leaders have raised alarm over the mounting human toll in Gaza and called for a ceasefire, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said he would accept nothing less than a “total victory” against Hamas.

The world is coming together in Paris at a moment of global political upheaval, multiple wars, historic migration and a deepening climate crisis, all issues that have risen to the forefront of conversation in the Olympics.

Palestine’s Olympic team has demanded that the International Olympic Committee ban Israel from competing in the Olympics, alleging the country has violated the Olympic charter.

Last week, the Palestinian delegation said that it has still not received a response from the IOC and that they planned to take their plea to higher sports courts.

Israel’s team has been met by jeers in stadiums during the country’s national anthem and athletes have arrived at events under a heavy police escort including riot police vans.

“It’s not easy to be an Israeli athlete in the international arena these days,” said Arad.

The spokesperson for the Niger government accuses Kiev of providing “support” to “terrorist groups” following a significant defeat of the Malian army at the end of July during clashes with separatists and jihadists.

Niger’s Military junta announced on Tuesday that it has cut diplomatic ties with Ukraine, claiming that remarks from Ukrainian officials demonstrated support for factions involved in the fighting in neighbouring Mali, which led to the deaths of many soldiers and Russian Wagner fighters in July.

This action follows Mali’s decision on Sunday to end its relations with Kyiv, prompted by comments from Ukraine’s military intelligence about the clashes in northern Mali, where Tuareg rebels reported killing at least 84 Wagner mercenaries and 47 Malian soldiers.

In a broadcast statement, spokesperson Abdourahamane Amadou announced that Niger had chosen to sever its connections with Ukraine immediately, in support of the Malian government and its citizens.

On Monday, Ukraine expressed disapproval of Mali’s decision to end diplomatic relations, describing it as a hasty and ill-considered action, and dismissed the allegations of Ukrainian support for international terrorism.

Tensions escalated following televised statements by Andriy Yusov, a spokesperson for Ukraine’s military intelligence agency, indicating that Malian rebels had acquired the “necessary” information to execute the attack.

The comments about the conflict made by Ukraine’s ambassador have drawn condemnation from Niger, Mali, and other West African countries, including Senegal, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, and Liberia.

The clash happens as Ukraine endeavours to attract worldwide support, with a specific emphasis on increasing its presence in the Global South.

Ukraine on Monday August 5 criticized Mali’s decision to sever diplomatic ties, calling it short-sighted and hasty. Kyiv stated that no evidence had been provided to implicate Ukraine in the fighting that resulted in the deaths of Malian soldiers and Russian mercenaries last month.

The West African nation announced on Sunday it was immediately ending relations with Ukraine following comments from Ukraine’s military spy agency regarding the late July clashes in northern Mali.

Tuareg rebels claimed responsibility for the incident, reporting they had killed at least 84 Russian Wagner mercenaries and 47 Malian soldiers. This incident appears to be Wagner’s most significant defeat since they began assisting Mali’s military authorities against insurgent groups two years ago.

“It is regrettable that Mali decided to sever relations without thoroughly examining the facts and circumstances of the incident and without providing any evidence of Ukraine’s involvement,” the Ukrainian foreign ministry stated.

Following the clashes, Andriy Yusov, a spokesperson for Ukraine’s military spy agency, mentioned on television that Malian rebels had received the “necessary” information to carry out the attack.

Ukraine, which has been fending off Russian troops for over 29 months since Russia’s full-scale invasion, did not confirm its involvement in the incident in its statement.

Mali expressed “deep shock” over the “subversive remarks,” interpreting them as an admission of involvement. Mali condemned these actions as violations of its sovereignty and equated them to supporting international terrorism.

Over the weekend, Senegalese authorities summoned Ukraine’s ambassador, Yurii Pyvovarov, accusing him of supporting the attack in a since-deleted video posted on the Ukrainian embassy’s Facebook account.

The accusations against Kyiv come at a time of fraying relations between the West and coup-affected Sahel nations. Following military takeovers in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger in recent years, the juntas have expelled French and U.S forces and turned to Russia’s mercenary units for security assistance.