The Evening: Variant Drives Infections, Iraq Talks Conclude, Sledgehammer and More
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** Good Evening,
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It's Wednesday, April 7th.


** Most U.S. Infections Now Caused by Variant
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A highly infectious variant of the coronavirus that was first identified in Britain has now become the most common source of new infections in the United States, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Wednesday, as the
NYT reports ([link removed]) .


** U.S. and Iraq Conclude Talks
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The United States and Iraq concluded talks Wednesday on America’s troop presence here, issuing a joint statement that emphasized the growing capacity of the Iraqi military, six years after it crumbled in the face of the Islamic State’s advance as the
Washington Post reports ([link removed]) .


** U.S. Restores Palestinian Aid
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The Biden administration said on Wednesday it is restoring millions of dollars of economic and humanitarian aid to the Palestinians, reversing the Trump administration’s decision to cut the funds as the
WSJ reports ([link removed]) .


** Executive Education
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Navigating U.S. Foreign Assistance features a hands-on study of the latest trends and techniques today’s international development and humanitarian leaders need to successfully maximize their impact. Through seminars, case studies, and a culminating crisis simulation, participants will join a diverse network of industry professionals and pair their own unique experience with CSIS’s rich array of coaching resources. Register here ([link removed]) .


** Mexico Matters
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The Mexico Matters podcast series highlights key developments in Mexico and their impact on the United States. Hosted by Mariana Campero, each episode brings in-depth analysis, commentary, and conversations on an array of subjects ranging from economics, trade, and energy to national security, foreign policy, and business. Listen on Apple Podcasts ([link removed]) & Spotify ([link removed]) .


** Video Shorts
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Check out CSIS’s new series of video shorts: “Data Unpacked,” Testify,” “What's Happening,” “Preview,” and “High Resolution.” And don’t forget to subscribe to the CSIS YouTube Channel ([link removed]) !


** In That Number
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** 1/100,000
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European regulators stated that blood clotting problems due to the AstraZeneca vaccine are appearing at a rate of about one in 100,000 recipients.

Source: NYT ([link removed])


** Critical Quote
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** “It is in our power to minimize death, disease and misery.”
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— Andy Slavitt, White House Covid-19 adviser


** iDeas Lab
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Strategic competition has arrived in the Arctic. A new tracker ([link removed]) from the CSIS Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program provides an up-to-date repository of military incidents in the Arctic region.

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


** Optics
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(Photo credit: STR/AFP via Getty Images.) People queue as they wait to use the automated teller machines of KBZ Bank in Yangon on April 7, 2021, amid strained banking operations due to the ongoing demonstrations by protesters against the February military coup.


** Recommended Reading
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“The Other Sides of Renegotiating the JCPOA Iran Nuclear Agreement ([link removed]) ,” by CSIS’s Anthony Cordesman.


** This Town Tomorrow
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Tomorrow, at 10:00 a.m. ([link removed]) , the CSIS Africa Program hosts a discussion on freedom and democracy in Africa. The event will cover Freedom House's 2021 Freedom in the World report as it relates to democracy, governance, and human rights on the continent, as well as policy options in response.

Later, at 1:00 p.m. ([link removed]) , join analysts from CSIS and the Secure World Foundation as they discuss their latest reports on counterspace weapons and threats to space systems.

And, at 1:00 p.m. ([link removed]) , the CSIS Reconnecting Asia Project hosts a discussion on the competition between the U.S. and China to establish subsea cable networks as more of the world comes online.


** Video
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Earlier today, CSIS convened with a bipartisan panel of experts, who have all influenced previous national security strategies under the most recent Republican and Democratic presidents, to discuss how current strategic priorities and security challenges can be reconciled in President Biden's National Security Strategy. Watch here ([link removed]) .


** Podcasts
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This week's episode of Babel dives into the Lebanese power sector and what its shortcomings tell us about broader fissures in Arab society.

Listen on Spotify ([link removed]) and Apple Podcasts ([link removed]) .


** Smiles
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“I've kicked the habit
Shed my skin
This is the new stuff
I go dancing in, we go dancing in”

In 1986-87 Peter Gabriel’s “So” was colossal. It remains one of my favorite all-time records, firmly in the cannon of Daniel Lanois’ produced masterpieces (see also U2’s “The Joshua Tree,” the Neville Brothers’ “Yellow Moon,” and Dylan’s “Time Out of Mind” among many others.)

The sound of “So” is different than anything that came before it and remains influential. “Sledgehammer” still gets me every time. The MTV video was revolutionary, but I love this live version [link removed].
I invite you to email me at [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) and follow me on Twitter @handrewschwartz ([link removed])

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The Evening is my daily guide to key insights CSIS brings to the events of the day. It is composed with the External Relations team: Emma Colbran, Caleb Diamond, and Kendal Gee.

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Connect w/ H. Andrew Schwartz

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