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Event Recap

May 1, 2020

Event recap | How we can achieve both healthy communities and economic renewal

By Claudia Vaughn Zittle

On Thursday, April 30, 2020 at 8:00am EDT, the Atlantic Council’s GeoTech Center hosted a panel of experts to explore “How We Can Achieve Both Healthy Communities and Economic Renewal”. The panel included Mona Nemer, chief science advisor to Canada’s Prime Minister; Philippe Gillet, chief scientific officer with SICPA; Luukas Ilves, head of strategy with Guardtime; Daniella Taveau, principal of Bold Text Strategies; and Declan Kirrane, the managing director of ISC Intelligence in Science.

Coronavirus Cybersecurity

New Atlanticist

May 1, 2020

How to make a bad situation much worse: Run from Afghanistan because of the virus

By James B Cunningham, Hugo Llorens, Richard Olson, Ronald E. Neumann, and Earl Anthony Wayne

Recent news reports suggest that US President Donald J. Trump is seriously considering withdrawing US troops from Afghanistan because of concerns relating to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). There are arguments for the United States to stay and to go, but this is a bad one on every count. Our troops will be exposed to COVID-19 wherever they are. In Afghanistan, our military presence is key to the strategy the Trump administration has been laboring to implement to foment peace.

Afghanistan Conflict

The future is here

May 1, 2020

Coronavirus probably with us for two years; intelligence community in Wuhan probe seeks source of virus, Russia cases rise

By Atlantic Council

Coronavirus will probably be with us for as long as two years, a report said, as the Czech Republic became the latest government worldwide to launch contact-tracing technology. The US intelligence community confirmed it’s looking into claims the virus emerged from a lab accident. Russia’s prime minister tested positive for the disease as cases in the country increased at a record pace.

Coronavirus

New Atlanticist

May 1, 2020

Economic recovery from coronavirus: Lessons from 1918-1923

By Harlan Ullman

The United States recovered in a short time from a world war, two recessions in quick succession, a pandemic, and a period of extreme domestic unrest. As the famous John Maynard Keynes wrote, technology was central to ending depressions. And that was the case in the early 1920s, in large part driven by Henry Ford and electrification.

Coronavirus Economy & Business

MENASource

May 1, 2020

Have COVID-19 and Iran tensions doomed Coalition anti-ISIS strategy?

By Seth Frantzman

After five years of a successful campaign against ISIS, the Coalition may be permanently crippled by tensions with Iran. Furthermore, the pandemic may serve as a convenient excuse for partners to wrap up their presence in Iraq.

Iraq Middle East

UkraineAlert

Apr 30, 2020

Putin must end Ukraine war if he wants sanctions relief

By Lisa Yasko

The Kremlin is calling for sanctions to be relaxed as part of the global response to the coronavirus pandemic, but Putin has shown no accompanying inclination to end Russia's six-year war in Ukraine.

Conflict Coronavirus

MENASource

Apr 30, 2020

The US military assistance program to the Lebanese Armed Forces must endure

By Nicholas Blanford

The US military assistance program has been a solid success in Lebanon and the LAF deeply appreciates the partnership. That partnership must endure as Lebanon faces an ominous future.

Lebanon Middle East

New Atlanticist

Apr 30, 2020

Idlib ceasefire is holding and could open door to long-term Syria solution, US envoy says

By David A. Wemer

The ceasefire negotiated between Russia and Turkey to halt fighting in the Syrian province of Idlib appears to be holding, US Special Representative for Syria Engagement and Special Envoy to the Global Coalition To Defeat ISIS Ambassador James F. Jeffrey said on April 30. “We have heard from many sources, even many Russian [ones], that there is a general feeling that this ceasefire is living up to expectations,” according to Jeffrey.

Conflict Coronavirus

UkraineAlert

Apr 30, 2020

Ukraine must continue electoral reform in 2020

By Harald Jepsen

Ukraine's fledgling democracy has made huge progress in recent years, but further reform of the country's Election Code is urgently required ahead of October's planned local elections, argues Harald Jepsen.

Democratic Transitions Elections

The future is here

Apr 30, 2020

Preparations for future treatment advance; Shell slashes dividend, Europe holds back on stimulus plan

By Atlantic Council

Efforts to find a vaccine for coronavirus registered some progress, with a focus on ramping up production even before any treatment is approved for human use. Energy giant Shell slashed its dividend and said changes to consumer behavior may be here to stay. The European Central Bank kept its powder dry on further stimulus measures.

Coronavirus