Commentary

Steven Erlanger, Carla Anne Robbins, and Peter Spiegel join Ivo Daalder to discuss the week's top news stories.

While coronavirus restrictions are being incrementally removed in certain countries, some people are feeling concern at returning to the activities that had characterized their pre-pandemic lives.

Although cases have declined significantly in Europe, the United States, and much of East Asia, the pandemic remains a major threat in South America, India, and several other nations around the world.

Global Cities intern Paula Pelletier examines what cities should do with programs formed in response to COVID-19.

“Viruses don't respect borders and neither do their knock-on effects,” Elizabeth Shackelford writes in the Chicago Tribune. “An uncontrolled outbreak in a country of 1.4 billion people is a crisis for all.”

Pandemics have plagued humans throughout our existence. What role does global coordination play in breaking the cycle?

Following high profile pauses to the AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson vaccines, as well as surging cases in different parts of the world, it is clear that the gains in some countries do not signal an end to the pandemic.

With high-profile suspensions of the AstraZeneca and Johnson and Johnson vaccine, fear of potential side effects and uneven efficacy of vaccine rollouts are causing concern for some.

For Brazil’s President Bolsonaro, a consequence of mishandling COVID-19 could be losing the 2022 presidential election.

Council and IranPoll surveys find that Iranians and Americans think the United States handled COVID-19 poorly, while Iranians are proud of their country’s response.