Axios World: Radioactive "false flag"

Plus: 0 women on Xi's Politburo | Monday, October 24, 2022

Open in app View in browser   Presented By Babbel   Axios World By Dave Lawler · Oct 24, 2022 Welcome back to Axios World, and happy Diwali to all who celebrate. Tonight's edition (1,880 words, 7 minutes) starts with some urgent calls between Washington and Moscow, checks out China's men-only Politburo and looks at the latest political violence in Brazil. Oh, and the U.K. has another new prime minister. I'll be sending Thursday's edition from San José, Costa Rica. Recommendations are very welcome. New arrival? Subscribe.     1 big thing: "Dirty bomb" fears drive urgent U.S.-Russia calls Kyiv, Ukraine, in darkness due to energy conservation efforts following Russian attacks on infrastructure. Photo: Metin Aktas/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images   Fears of a radioactive "false flag" have sparked a rare flurry of phone calls between Washington and Moscow and between the U.S. and its allies as they warn the Kremlin against nuclear escalation. Why it matters: Kyiv and Washington have both rejected the "absurd" claims from top Russian officials and state media that Ukraine intends to detonate a "dirty bomb" on its own soil. But both have noted that Moscow often accuses others of what it intends to do itself. A "dirty bomb" is an explosive device that includes both conventional explosives and nuclear material. Such devices can create widespread radioactive contamination. Driving the news: Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu raised the "dirty bomb" claim in calls with the defense ministers of the U.S., France, U.K. and Turkey on Sunday. That was his second call with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin in three days after months with little contact. In a signal of the concern surrounding Russia's potential next move, Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Mark Milley and his U.K. counterpart Adm. Tony Radakin both spoke today with Gen. Valery Gerasimov, Russia's top general. That was the first call between Milley and Gerasimov since May, per Reuters. The foreign ministers of France, the U.K. and U.S. also spoke on Sunday to coordinate their responses. What they're saying: Asked by Axios' Barak Ravid today about Shoigu's "dirty bomb" claim, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said "Shoigu should drink less dirty vodka." Kuleba said Ukraine has no such weapons and invited the UN's nuclear watchdog to inspect the facilities Russia claims are being used to develop one. The U.S., France and the U.K. also rejected Shoigu's "transparently false allegations" in a joint statement on Sunday. "The world would see through any attempt to use this allegation as a pretext for escalation," they wrote. In Moscow, though, the warnings are ramping up. A Russian commander today announced stepped-up preparations for radioactive contamination from a potential attack, and claimed without evidence that Ukraine is seeking Western help as it reaches the "final stage" of building a nuclear weapon. Ukraine does not have a nuclear weapons program. Between the lines: With his troops struggling on the battlefield, President Vladimir Putin is targeting civilian infrastructure in Ukrainian cities and warning the U.S. and NATO that if they keep backing Ukraine they are risking a nuclear conflict. If Putin does intend to move up the escalation ladder and convince Washington that he's willing to go nuclear, a dirty bomb could be one option at his disposal. Yes, but: National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said today that the U.S. has not seen any evidence that Russia has decided on or is preparing for such an attack. Some analysts contend that the Kremlin's goal isn't to set the stage for an attack, but simply to whip up fear of one. Zoom in: It's pitch black in Kyiv tonight as the government implements power cuts to conserve electricity due to repeated Russian attacks on the power grid. Ukrainians are preparing for the possibility of a winter without heating and electricity. Go deeper: Zelensky says Russia will help Iran with its nuclear program     2. Xi packs Politburo with loyalists, and no women Note: Some titles are presumed, pending official announcement; Data: Axios; Graphic: Jacque Schrag/Axios; Photo credits: Lintao Zhang/Getty Image, Kevin Frayer/Getty Image, Bloomberg The Chinese Communist Party's 24-member Politburo will include no women for the first time since 1997, and its upper echelon is packed with President Xi Jinping's loyalists, Axios fellow Han Chen reports. Vice Premier Sun Chunlan, the only woman on the last Politburo, is retiring. No woman has ever been named to the seven-member Politburo Standing Committee, on which China's top leaders serve. State of play: The new Standing Committee includes Shanghai party chief Li Qiang, who is expected to become premier, the party's second-ranking role. He's a somewhat controversial choice after presiding over the city's harsh COVID-19 lockdowns, but like the other top leaders he's considered a close Xi ally. Meanwhile outgoing premier Li Keqiang, not viewed as a Xi loyalist, retired from the Politburo despite being eligible for another five-year term. What they're saying: "The leadership reshuffle was an overwhelming victory for Xi," said Neil Thomas, a senior China analyst at Eurasia Group. "No Politburo Standing Committee has been so dominated by direct allies of the top leader since Mao [Zedong] died." "Xi's new leadership team is full of loyalists with subpar experience who are more likely to push forward his agenda of political control, economic statism and assertive diplomacy, despite its rising costs and risks," he said. The big picture: Having secured a third term, Xi has established himself as the most powerful leader since Mao. A friendly Politburo Standing Committee will help push through Xi's top priorities for the next five years. In case you missed it... Former Chinese President Hu Jintao was unexpectedly escorted out of the closing ceremony on Saturday. Go deeper: What China looks like after a decade of Xi Jinping's rule     3. Rishi Sunak is the U.K.'s next prime minister Rishi Sunak is swarmed by MPs upon arrival at party headquarters today. Photo: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images   Rishi Sunak will become the U.K.'s third prime minister in seven weeks tomorrow, and the first person of color to assume the office. Why it matters: The U.K. has faced extreme political and economic turmoil over the past several months, with former prime ministers Boris Johnson resigning due to a series of scandals and Liz Truss stepping down after just six weeks when her tax cuts plan caused a run on the British pound. "The United Kingdom is a great country, but there is no doubt we face a profound economic challenge. We now need stability and unity, and I will make it my utmost priority to bring our party and our country together," Sunak said after being announced as Conservative Party leader. How it happened: To avoid another prolonged bout of infighting, the committee that organizes leadership races announced that candidates to replace Truss would need the support of at least 100 of the 357 Conservative MPs by at 2pm local time today. Johnson announced a surprise bid to return to Downing Street but dropped out Sunday after falling well behind Sunak, his former finance minister (he claimed to have 100 backers, but was well short of that number in the public tally). House of Commons leader Penny Mordaunt dropped out minutes before the deadline, rendering the planned online vote among party members unnecessary. Flashback: Sunak also led among MPs during the previous leadership race, but party members ultimately opted for Truss. Sunak warned presciently at the time that Truss' tax cuts would force a spike in interest rates. The big picture: Sunak is perhaps best known for implementing the U.K.'s economic support package during the pandemic. He helped push Johnson out of office by resigning from his Cabinet in July. At 42, Sunak will be the youngest prime minister to be appointed since 1812. What's next: Tomorrow morning at Buckingham Palace, King Charles III will ask Sunak to form a government.     A message from Babbel Language lessons you can use in the real world     Language learning platform Babbel offers 10-minute lessons that are proven to help users learn a new language in just three weeks. How it's done: Instead of random phrases, you'll learn to hold real-world conversations with expert-curated lessons and more. Get up to 55% off your subscription     Bonus: Where in the world? Illustration: Natalie Peeples/Axios   Today's theme is founding fathers. I'll give you a historical figure who is seen as central to the independence and/or founding of a country, you give me the country.  Note: There could be several answers for No. 11, so let's narrow it down to the country of his birth. George Washington Mahatma Gandhi Abdulaziz Al Saud Kim Il-Sung Jomo Kenyatta Toussaint Louverture David Ben-Gurion Mustafa Kemal Atatürk Sukarno Muhammad Ali Jinnah Simón Bolívar* Patrice Lumumba  Bernardo O'Higgins Thomas Sankara Jón Sigurðsson  Scroll to the bottom for answers.     4. Global news roundup A Hindu priest prepares for prayers at a temple during the Diwali celebrations in Srinagar, Kashmir, on Monday. Photo: Faisal Khan/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images   Axios' Laurin-Whitney Gottbrath rounds up the latest headlines. 1. A prominent Pakistani journalist, who fled his home country earlier this year to avoid arrest on sedition charges, was killed by police in Kenya yesterday. The big picture: Authorities in Nairobi said police shot and killed Arshad Sharif, who was critical of Pakistan's military, in a case of "mistaken identity" as officers searched for a stolen car, per Reuters. 2. Labor strikes across Iran are adding to the momentum of anti-government protesters who have taken to the streets for more than a month, the Wall Street Journal reports. What's happening: Teachers began a two-day strike yesterday to protest the jailing and killing of student protesters, while other sectors held strikes for specific demands, including higher pensions and pay. 3. Italy's far-right leader Giorgia Meloni was sworn in as the country's first female prime minister this weekend. Read more about Italy's hard-right turn. 4. The U.S. Justice Department unsealed charges today in three criminal cases against suspected Chinese intelligence officers, Axios' Erin Doherty reports. State of play: The cases include charges against two suspected Chinese intelligence officers who allegedly obstructed a criminal prosecution against global tech giant Huawei.     5. Bolsonaro ally attacks police with hand grenades Jair Bolsonaro during a rally on Saturday. He denounced ally Roberto Jefferson as a "bandit." Photo: Caio Guatelli/AFP via Getty Images   A Brazilian former congressman and ally of President Jair Bolsonaro attacked police who were attempting to arrest him with a rifle and hand grenades on Sunday in yet another instance of political violence ahead of Sunday's presidential runoff. Driving the news: A Supreme Court judge ordered the arrest of Roberto Jefferson on Sunday after he allegedly violated the terms of his house arrest by attacking another member of the court online. Jefferson was implicated last year in one of the high court's probes into the organized spread of misinformation online, which have ensnared Bolsonaro allies and outraged his supporters. An eight-hour standoff ensued outside of Jefferson's home north of Rio de Janeiro, in which two officers suffered shrapnel wounds. At first, Bolsonaro seemed to downplay what he called "an unfortunate incident," but he later condemned Jefferson as public outrage grew. What to watch: Polls show former president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's lead over Bolsonaro narrowing ahead of the runoff.     6. Business World: Tesla cuts prices in China Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios   Tesla is cutting the prices of its electric vehicles in China in the face of increased competition and the country's economic slowdown, Axios Closer author Nathan Bomey writes. Why it matters: Tesla's presence in China is crucial to its financial health and hence to its development of future EVs and related technologies. What we're watching: Whether Tesla is at risk of losing its global leadership post in the EV space to the likes of Chinese EV maker BYD — or if this is simply a minor bump on the road to continued dominance. Established global automakers like General Motors, Ford, Hyundai, Kia, Nissan and Volkswagen are investing heavily in electric vehicles, aiming to take market share away from Tesla throughout the world. Go deeper.     7. Stories we're watching Whitby Abbey, the seventh century monastery on the Yorkshire coast that served as inspriation for Bram Stoker's "Dracula," is illuminated to mark the book's 125-year anniversary. Photo: Ian Forsyth/Getty Images   Canada's handgun sales ban goes into effect North and South Korea exchange warning shots Saudis plot energy cooperation with China Germany's Scholz confirms visit to China next month Russian military plane crashes into residential building in Siberia Russia orders immediate evacuation from occupied Kherson Podcast: Moscow's missing men Quoted: "To turn in on ourselves now, in my view, is a mistake." — Nadhim Zahawi on July 6, defending Boris Johnson amid a string of resignations hours after being appointed his chancellor "You must do the right thing and go now." — Zahawi to Johnson on July 7 "Liz Truss... will overturn stale economic orthodoxy and run our economy in a Conservative way." — Zahawi endorsing Liz Truss over Rishi Sunak on July 31 "Get ready for Boris 2.0, the man who will make the Tories and Britain great again." — The headline of a since-deleted Oct. 23 Telegraph op-ed in which Zahawi endorsed Johnson to replace Truss. "A day is a long time in politics... Given today's news, it's clear that we should turn to @RishiSunak to become our next Prime Minister." — Zahawi literally minutes later on Oct. 23, after the article published and Johnson withdrew     A message from Babbel Say "ja" to learning a new language     Babbel has what you need to learn how to hold real-world conversations in Dutch, Spanish and more. Learn through: Expert-curated lessons. Speech technology that improves your accent. Context and cultural tips. Live online classes or videos. Speak a new language in as little as three weeks.   Answers: 1. U.S.; 2. India; 3. Saudi Arabia; 4. North Korea; 5. Kenya; 6. Haiti; 7. Israel; 8. Turkey; 9. Indonesia; 10. Pakistan; 11. Venezuela; 12. DRC; 13. Chile; 14. Burkina Faso; 15. Iceland Key: 1. George Washington; 2. Mahatma Gandhi; 3. Abdulaziz Al Saud; 4. Kim il-Sung; 5. Jomo Kenyatta; 6. Toussaint Louverture; 7. David Ben-Gurion; 8. Mustafa Kemal Atatürk; 9. Sukarno; 10. Muhammad Ali Jinnah; 11. Simón Bolívar; 12. Patrice Lumumba; 13. Bernardo O'Higgins; 14. Thomas Sankara; 15. Jón Sigurðsson Are you a fan of this email format? It's called Smart Brevity®. Over 300 orgs use it — in a tool called Axios HQ — to drive productivity with clearer workplace communications.   Axios thanks our partners for supporting our newsletters. If you're interested in advertising, learn more here. Sponsorship has no influence on editorial content. Axios, 3100 Clarendon B‌lvd, Arlington VA 22201   You received this email because you signed up for newsletters from Axios. Change your preferences or unsubscribe here.   Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up now to get Axios in your inbox.   Follow Axios on social media: