Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- March 3, 2021

A healthcare worker draws the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine from a vial at Dignity Health Glendale Memorial Hospital and Health Center in Glendale, California, U.S., December 17, 2020. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson/File Photo 

Julie Steenhuysen and Kate Kelland, Reuters: 'When will it end?': How a changing virus is reshaping scientists’ views on COVID-19 

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Chris Murray, a University of Washington disease expert whose projections on COVID-19 infections and deaths are closely followed worldwide, is changing his assumptions about the course of the pandemic. 

Murray had until recently been hopeful that the discovery of several effective vaccines could help countries achieve herd immunity, or nearly eliminate transmission through a combination of inoculation and previous infection.

But in the last month, data from a vaccine trial in South Africa showed not only that a rapidly-spreading coronavirus variant could dampen the effect of the vaccine, it could also evade natural immunity in people who had been previously infected. 

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 Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- March 3, 2021 

Tactical shift: Europe seeks vaccine ‘overdrive’ to catch up -- Frank Jordans, AP 

Joe Biden’s Risky Russia Sanctions Game -- Nikolas K. Gvosdev, National Interest 

Biden brings no relief to tensions between US and China -- Matthew Lee, AP 

US Defense Secretary Austin wants to pivot to China. But can he pay for it? -- Lara Seligman and Connor O'Brien, Politico 

China In Eurasia: Beijing's Path In Europe Gets Bumpy -- Reid Standish, RFE 

China Is Not Ten Feet Tall -- Ryan Hass, Foreign Affairs 

Ladakh to Remain 'Sore Spot' in India-China Relations Despite Hardware Withdrawal, US Official Says -- Rishikesh Kumar, Sputnik 

Why Israel fears the ICC war crimes investigation -- Peter Beaumont, The Guardian 

Ankara threatens to export its Syria strategy to Iraq -- Faisal Al Yafai, Asia Times 

EXPLAINER: Pope’s risky Iraq trip aims to boost Christians -- Nicole Winfield, AP 

The Massacres in Tigray -- Michael Brendan Dougherty, National Review 

What is behind the increase in gang violence in France? -- Bahar Makooi, France 24 

Why Mercenary Armies Are Running Amok -- Candace Rondeaux, WPR 

Nikkei’s stock surge proves world has gone mad -- William Pesek, Asia Times

America’s Strategic Materials Problem -- Brent Sadler, National Interest