Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- September 14, 2020

Jake Sturmer and Yumi Asada, ABC News Online: Yoshihide Suga to become next Japanese leader after Shinzo Abe steps down. This is what we know about him and the challenges he faces

It couldn't be a worse time to usher in a new leader.

A global pandemic. A struggling economy. And an increasingly tense relationship between the world's biggest superpowers, China and the US.

But in the wake of Shinzo Abe's surprise announcement he needed to resign for his health, Japan's ruling party is doing its best to quickly usher in a new leader who can hit the ground running.

It's backed Yoshihide Suga, Abe's right-hand man.

The 71-year-old won the most votes from both Liberal Democratic Party politicians and local chapters.

He is expected to continue the country's economic and foreign policies and will almost certainly be declared prime minister in a parliamentary vote to be held later this week.

But Suga now faces an unenviable battle, which includes trying to boost the third-largest economy in the world.

Read more ....

Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- September 14, 2020

Can Yoshihide Suga step outside Shinzo Abe's shadow? -- Chitrabhanu Kadalayil, The National

Suga era comes into view in Japan -- Andrew Salmon, Asia Times

‘Writing is on the wall’ for Saudi-Israel peace -- Alison Tahmizian Meuse, Asia Times

Israel ties that bind: What is the US giving Gulf Arab states? -- Creede Newton, Al Jazeera

Why Iran is bent on escalating tensions in the Gulf -- Raghida Dergham, National Interest

Arab Unity in the Middle East Can Be a Barrier to Iran’s Regional Goals -- Alma Keshavarz and Kiron Skinner, National Interest

Implications of a Biden victory for Iran? -- Mohammad Mazhari, Tehran Times

Rising protests and a sinking economy spell trouble in Thailand -- Michael Sainsbury, The Interpreter

Is There an End to Violence in South Asia? -- Niha Dagia, The Diplomat

North Korea and America in 2021: What Comes Next? -- Harry J. Kazianis, National Interest

Sudan floods muddy Nile dam talks -- Ayah Aman, Al-Monitor

Belarus opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya: 'We want another country' -- France 24

Will Putin and the ghost of the USSR save Lukashenko's Belarus? -- Mansur Mirovalev, Al Jazeera

Which countries are pushing the world's COVID-19 cases to new highs? -- Will Jackson, Erwin Renaldi, ABC News Online

TikTok: What is Oracle and why does it want the video-sharing app? -- Cristina Criddle, BBC