The Evening: U.S. Warms Iran, Terror Attack Foiled, Driver 8, and More

Newsletter - August 8, 2024

U.S. Warns Iran of "Serious Risk"

The U.S. has warned Iran that its newly elected government and economy could suffer a devastating blow if it were to mount a major attack against Israel, as the WSJ reports.

Foiled Terror Attack on Swift Concert

The youths accused of planning to attack a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna had hoped to kill as many people as possible, the Austrian authorities said on Thursday, outlining a plot designed to copy some of the worst terrorist assaults of the last decade, as the NYTreports.

Catalan Leader Reemerges

Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont, who has been living in self-imposed exile for seven years since staging an unauthorized referendum for independence, reemerged in Barcelona on Thursday-and then quickly disappeared again, evading arrest and prompting a manhunt across the region, as The Washington Postreports.

Executive Education

As technology evolves, new opportunities and threats emerge. Critical technological advances will shape policy, redefine security, and impact our lives. Explore the evolution of key technologies-including artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and biotechnology. Register for Evolving Technologies: Innovation, Competition, and Change to learn more.

Audio Briefs

CSIS now offers full audio versions of our latest analysis. Listen to the latest commentary from CSIS's Alexander Palmer, "Why Iran Will Escalate."

In That Number

11 million

Since the civil war in Sudan began over a year ago, nearly 11 million people have been displaced from their homes as a result of the conflict.
Source: NYT

Critical Quote

The situation was serious. The danger from Islamist extremism in Europe has increased significantly following the terrible terrorist attack by Hamas on Israel.

- Gerhard Karner, Austrian Minister of the Interior

iDeas Lab

Photo: Airbus DS 2024

In satellite imagery of the Changxing Island Shipbuilding Base, what appear to be mock-ups of GJ-11 drones are visible in a testing facility. They are likely there in anticipation of trials on the Type 003 aircraft carrier-and potentially for the Type 076 once it is completed.

The Andreas C. Dracopoulos iDeas Lab at CSIS enhances our research with the latest in cutting-edge web technologies, design, and multimedia.

Optics

Photo: Munir Uz Zaman/AFP/Getty Images

Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus is sworn into office to lead Bangladesh's interim government, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on August 8, 2024.

Recommended Reading

"Why Iran Will Escalate" by CSIS's Alexander Palmer.

This Town Next Week

On Tuesday, at 10:00 a.m., the CSIS Global Health Policy Center welcomes Dr. Anthony Fauci to discuss his new memoir, "On Call: A Doctor's Journey in Public Service."

On Wednesday, at 11:00 a.m., the CSIS Korea Chair discusses recent developments in North Korea.

On Friday, at 10:00 a.m., the Wilson Center hosts a panel discussion on bringing climate and health together in Japanese and American cities.

Video

Last week, the CSIS Global Food and Water Security Program hosted an expert panel to discuss USAID's updated Resilience Policy. Watch the full video here.

Podcasts

Image

Fran Katsoudas, Executive Vice President and Chief People, Policy, and Purpose Officer at Cisco, joins the podcast to share findings from Cisco's recently launched report "Elevating Africa's Cyber Resilience: Unveiling Regional Challenges and Charting AI Solutions."

Listen on Spotify & Apple Podcasts.

Smiles

Don't get me started about my love for R.E.M.-it is immense. So when I saw this cover of the band's classic "Driver 8" by Toad the Wet Sprocket, I jumped at it.