The Evening: DoD Support for Ukraine, Cuba Blackout, Petty Deluxe, and More

Newsletter - October 21, 2024

Pentagon Vows Support For Ukraine

President Joe Biden's Pentagon chief on Monday vowed continued American support for Ukraine's war against Russia, even as Ukrainian troops struggle to hold back Kremlin forces and uncertainty hangs over Washington's future role, as The Washington Post reports.

Israel Says More Strikes are Coming Against a Hezbollah-Run Financial Institution

Israel said late Monday it planned to carry out more strikes in Lebanon against a Hezbollah-run financial institution that it targeted the night before and which it says uses customers' deposits to finance attacks against Israel, as the AP reports.

Cuba's Government Struggles to Restore Power After Nationwide Blackout

Millions of Cubans have been without electricity for days as the government struggled to restore nationwide power service after a massive blackout plunged the country into darkness on Friday. Then Hurricane Oscar hit the eastern tip of the island on Sunday, as the WSJ reports.

Executive Education

Step into the unfolding story of superpower strategy as U.S.-China relations continue to redefine the global order. Flashpoints and Future of the U.S.-China Relationshipexplores the complex dynamics driving this critical relationship through expert insights and simulated futures. Registerby November 6.

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:"Salmon Swimming Upstream: Charting a Course in Cislunar Space" with CSIS's Clayton Swope.

In That Number

$400 million

Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III announced that the Pentagon would send Ukraine a new $400 million shipment of arms, including ammunition for HIMARS rocket systems, additional munitions, armored vehicles and anti-tank weapons.
Source: NYT

Critical Quote

I'm not prepared to live in fear.

- Aleksei Navalny, from his book, Patriot: A Memoir

iDeas Lab

Photo: iLab/CSIS

Research from the CSIS Global Health Policy Center analyzes cases of malaria in the WHO Africa region compared to the rest of the world. Prolonged illness, absenteeism, and economic losses associated with malaria infection remain significant in this region, where more than 90 percent of malaria cases are reported. Read the full report here.

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

Optics

Photo: Olympia De Maismont/AFP/Getty Images

Aerial view of houses submerged in water in the flooded area of Adankolo neighbourhood in Lokoja, Nigeria, on October 21, 2024.

Recommended Reading

"The Rising Threat of Anti-Government Domestic Terrorism: What the Data Tells Us" by CSIS's Riley McCabe.

This Town Tomorrow

At 9:00 a.m., the CSIS Global Health Policy Center hosts the twentieth one-hour episode of "Gaza: The Human Toll" on the potential impact of the October 13 letter from the White House warning Israel to address the humanitarian aid crisis in Gaza within 30 days at risk of curbing their weapons supply.

Then, at 9:30 a.m., the CSIS Defending Democratic Institutions Project welcomes Senator Mark Warner (D-VA) to discuss an upcoming report on Building Civics Concepts in STEM and the Tech Sector.
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And, at 10:00 a.m., the CSIS Diversity and Leadership in International Affairs Project (DLIA) hosts the fourth episode of "Driving Impact Season 2" with Admiral Rachel L. Levine on her journey as the highest-ranking openly transgender government official.

Video

Earlier this month, the CSIS Sustainable Development and Resilience Initiative hosted an event to examine the importance of U.S. government climate-resilient infrastructure investments in developing countries around the world. Watch the ReCap here.

Podcasts

Image

Suzanne Spaulding, director of the CSIS Defending Democratic Institutions Project, joins a special crossover episode with CSIS's Smart Women, Smart Power podcast to discuss election security, the role of election officials, and how to fight disinformation as early voting begins across the nation.

Listen on Spotify& Apple Podcasts.

Smiles

Tom Petty fans like me are overjoyed at the moment-just days ago, Petty's estate released a deluxe edition of the often overlooked 1982 record "Long After Dark." Compared to blockbuster albums in Petty's cannon such as "Damn The Torpedoes" and "Into The Great Wide Open," not to mention solo masterpieces "Full Moon Fever" and "Wildflowers," while great, "Long After Dark" has proven an afterthought.

If you follow this space, you know that Petty is at the top of any list for me and "Long After Dark" is one of my favorite records. With the release of "Long After Dark (Deluxe Edition)" we now have the original album plus a second set of 12 unreleased songs. The original contains classics like "You Got Lucky," "Change of Heart," "Finding Out," and "Straight Into Darkness." And the second set offers unearthed gems like this one.

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