Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- September 4, 2020

People sunbathe and swim on El Arenal beach in Spain, where the tourist season is in full swing.(Reuters: Enrique Calvo)

Nick Dole and Roscoe Whalan, ABC News Online: The COVID-19 second wave has hit Europe. So why haven't some countries locked down again?

Europe's attitude to COVID-19 might seem jarring to some Australians, especially those living under lockdown.

Europeans are returning to school, going to work, heading out for drinks and even cramming onto planes for summer holidays.

At the same time, the region is facing a major spike in infections with tens of thousands of new coronavirus cases reported every day across the continent.

But rather than reimposing aggressive lockdown strategies adopted during the first wave, European leaders seem determined to push on with a version of life that is as close to normal as possible.

Some countries, like the UK, are actively encouraging their populations to go back to work or to socialise.

There's less talk of defeating the virus in the short term, and more talk of living with it.

And that strategy will be tested in the coming weeks.

Read more ....

Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- September 4, 2020

The UAE-Israel Deal Spells Big Trouble For Iran. -- John Hanna, RCD

Erdogan pulls a rabbit out of his hat with Black Sea gas find, but is it all it seems? -- Gönül Tol and Rauf Mammadov, Middle East Institute

Mediterranean frenemies face off: Greece, Turkey at ‘the abyss’ -- Nick Squires, CSM

Power-Hungry Turkey May Push the Eastern Mediterranean Into an Armed Conflict -- Yaakov Amidror, National Interest

Turkey’s Black Sea Natural Gas Find is No Economic Miracle -- Stephen Blank, Center For Global Policy

The Middle East Just Doesn’t Matter as Much Any Longer -- Aaron David Miller and Richard Sokolsky, Politico

India gains nothing from an ‘Asian NATO’ -- MK Bhadrakumar, Asia Times

Is Zimbabwe extending an olive branch to its white farmers? -- BBC

Will Vladimir Putin ride out the Navalny storm? -- Konstantin Eggert, DW

Belarus, the Kremlin and the Attack on Alexei Navalny -- Spiegel Online

Belarus is a battle for the heart and soul of Europe -- Terry Glavin, National Post

Four Reasons Why Regime Change Won’t Occur In Belarus -- Andranik Migranyan, National Interest

Lukashenko is no longer president of Belarus -- Linas Linkevičius, Politico

Interview with Opposition Leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “There’s No Way That People Will Give Up” In Belarus -- Melinda Haring and Franak Viačorka, National Interest