The Evening: UK Vaccine Success, Israel Pledges Retaliation, They Love Each Other and More

Vaccine Success in UK

New evidence from the U.K. showed Covid-19 vaccinations sharply reduced serious illness and deaths among elderly people after just one dose, bolstering optimism that successful vaccination programs offer a return to economic growth this year after a year of widespread lockdowns, as the WSJ reports.

Israel Vows Retaliation Against Iran

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu blamed Iran for a mysterious attack on an Israeli-owned freighter loaded with vehicles in the Gulf of Oman last week, pledging that his government would retaliate, as the Washington Post reports.

Commission Recommends American Universities Protect Research From China

A U.S. national security commission is recommending that American universities take steps to prevent sensitive technology from being stolen by the Chinese military, a sign of growing concerns over the security of academic research, as Reuters reports.

Executive Education

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 interactive seminars, expert-led 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.

Coronavirus Crisis Update

The Coronavirus Crisis Update podcast brings you the latest updates and analysis from CSIS experts and the leaders directing the global response. Past guests include NIAID Director Dr. Anthony Fauci, White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain, IHME Director Dr. Chris Murray, Covid-19 Advisory Group members Dr. Luciana Borio and Dr. Celine Gounder, chef Jose Andres, and more. Listen on Apple Podcasts & Spotify.

Video Shorts

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!

In That Number

30%

The amount of testing in the United States has fallen by 30 percent in recent weeks. From a high of nearly 14 million tests a week in early January, the pace fell to fewer than 10 million in the week ending Feb. 24.

Source: The Covid Tracking Project

Critical Quote

“Now is not the time to relax the critical safeguards that we know can stop the spread of COVID-19 in our communities. Not when we are so close”

— Dr. Rochelle Walensky, CDC Director

iDeas Lab

The Covid-19 pandemic is upending relationships between African governments and external partners, creating an opportunity for a hard reset and a reprioritization of strategic issues. Learn more.

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: Hkun Lat/Getty Images.) Anti-coup protesters in Myanmar prepare for a confrontation with riot police while holding makeshift shields on March 01, 2021. At least 18 people have been killed so far, according to monitoring organizations.

Recommended Reading

“Defense Against the Dark Arts in Space: Protecting Space Systems from Counterspace Weapons,” by CSIS’ Todd Harrison, Kaitlyn Johnson and Makena Young.

This Town Tomorrow

Tomorrow, at 1:00 p.m., join CSIS to examine the nature and impact of Chinese economic influence in the Western Balkans and its implications for the region’s stability.

And, at 10:00 a.m., Brookings hosts a conversation on how to prepare students and workers for emerging job fields related to climate mitigation and resilience.

Later, at 1:30 p.m., the Wilson Center invites representatives from the U.S., Canadian and Mexican governments to discuss the future of North America and regional cooperation on important issues such as pandemic response, border management and region migration.

Video

On Friday, the CSIS Americas Program met with His Excellency Iván Duque, President of Columbia, to discuss Columbia’s recent decision to grant temporary legal protection to Venezuelan migrants. Watch the recording here.

Podcasts

Today, New York Times health policy correspondent Sheryl Gay Stolberg returned to the Coronavirus Crisis Update to reflect on the first month of the Biden administration.

Listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Smiles

One of the many things the Grateful Dead have done to ensure that new generations of fans congregate around the band is to promote an annual “Covers Project” where musicians can submit their interpretations of classic Dead tunes. The cool thing about the project is that both famous artists as well as unknown musicians submit selections.

This cover of “They Love Each Other,” by multi-instrumentalist Eric Krasno of the stellar funk band Soulive, is a keeper. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ah6JBg-Aq34.