12 Hostages Released

Twelve hostages, including 10 Israelis and two Thai nationals, were released from Gaza and delivered into Israeli territory, the Israeli military said on Tuesday, on the fifth day of the cease-fire between Hamas and Israel, as the NYT reports.

Negotiators Press for Long-Term Israel-Hamas Truce

The chief brokers of the Israel-Hamas hostage-prisoner exchange are pushing the two sides for a long-term cease-fire that would prolong the truce in Gaza beyond the current two-day extension and start talks that would end the war altogether, as the WSJ reports.

U.S. Used Its Section 702 Spy Tool to Disrupt Iran’s Weapons Program

U.S. officials say a controversial surveillance authority has been key to helping them stop the sale of certain weapons parts to Iran in recent years.

The CIA and other intelligence agencies used information gathered by monitoring the electronic communications of foreign weapons manufacturers to stop several shipments of advanced weapons parts to Iran by land, air and sea, as Politico reports.

Executive Education

The Abshire-Inamori Leadership Academy (AILA) at CSIS is seeking aspiring global leaders to apply for its flagship leadership program, the AILA International Fellowship. The program brings together a diverse cohort of mid-career leaders to leverage their diversity to address the intellectual, ethical, cultural, and policy questions that are central to effective leadership in today’s world. Applications close December 1, 2023.

Audio Briefs

CSIS experts give short, spoken-word summaries on the biggest takeaways from their latest reports, white papers, and commentaries—in their own words.

Listen here: "What the Sunnylands Statement Means for U.S.-China Climate Cooperation" with CSIS's Ilaria Mazzocco.

In That Number

25%

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday signed a national budget for the next few years that increases spending by around 25% and devotes a record amount to defense as the country’s military operation in Ukraine drags on.
Source: AP

Critical Quote

“We are working to strengthen the Qatari mediation role in reaching a truce and then a permanent cease-fire.”

—Majed al-Ansari, Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman

iDeas Lab

New CSIS satellite imagery analysis shows three ROMEO Class patrol submarines, one SANGO Class coastal submarine and several other vessels, including one of Kim Jong-un’s personal yachts, flying maritime signal flags.

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

Optics

(Photo credit: Alexi J. Rosenfeld/Getty Images.) One of several helicopters with Israeli hostages released earlier by Hamas lands at Ichilov Hospital on the fourth day of the temporary truce on November 27, 2023 in Tel Aviv, Israel.

This Town Tomorrow

At 9:30 a.m., the CSIS Project on Prosperity and Development examines the role that U.S. agencies play in advancing digital transformation in developing countries.

Then, at 10:00 a.m., the Hudson Institute holds a conversation on Russia’s escalating attacks on American journalists.

Later, at 1:30 p.m., the Wilson Center hosts a discussion on the outlook for seabed mining and environmental protections and regulation.

Video

This morning, Congressman French Hill (R-AR) led a panel discussion at CSIS on Chinese economic forecasting and its relevance to understanding China's foreign policy. Watch the full video here.

Podcasts

Former CNN Reliable Sources anchor Brian Stelter, now a special correspondent for Vanity Fair, joins the podcast to talk about media polarization, how Israel’s war against Hamas is being covered, and his new book, “Network of Lies: The Epic Saga of Fox News, Donald Trump and the Battle for American Democracy.”

Listen on Spotify & Apple Podcasts.

Smiles

It’s a testament to the band’s greatness that critics and fans alike are almost nonchalant about Wilco’s production of one fantastic album after another. Wilco’s latest, a record called "Cousin" released in September, should keep the band’s fans sated if not overjoyed. This recent performance of songs from the record underscores why.

I invite you to email me at [email protected] and follow me on Twitter @handrewschwartz

The Evening is my daily guide to key insights CSIS brings to the events of the day. It is composed by Lauren Adler, Ava Rose, and the External Relations team.