Armenia and Azerbaijan halt fighting, HK politicians walk out, Georgia's pricey Senate runoff and Beyonce teams up with Peloton
9 - 15 November 2020
SOUTH CAUCASUS GEOPOLITICS
Tuesday's truce between Armenia and Azerbaijan saw forces on both sides lay down their arms after more than 40 days of deadly fighting.
The terms of the Moscow-brokered deal have infuriated thousands of Armenians who say their prime minister made too many concessions. They protested outside government HQ in the capital Yerevan and demanded that the pact be invalidated.
According to analysts and diplomats, the ceasefire is ultimately a power play between Russia and Turkey. Vladimir Putin has ensured that Russian peacekeepers will be in the region for the next five years - giving the Kremlin a bigger military footprint in the former Soviet territories.
As for Turkey, its drones and weapons gave Azerbaijan the upper hand, and the conflict strengthened the alliance between Ankara and Baku.
The ABC News video report below recaps the developments.
EXITING THE BUILDING
Has Hong Kong's parliament been reduced to a rubber-stamping body? That question dominated discussions this week following the mass resignation of pro-democracy lawmakers from the city's Legislative Council (known as Legco).
On Wednesday, Beijing approved measures to remove any HK legislators who are deemed "unpatriotic" or "a threat to national security". That prompted the immediate dismissal of four opposition lawmakers, and then spurred the remaining 15 pro-dems to quit in solidarity.
The situation is particularly messy because the four men had already been disqualified from running (on political grounds) in September's Legco elections. But the year-long postponement of the polls (in theory, due to the coronavirus outbreak) meant they were technically allowed to work for an extra 12 months.
Their presence annoyed the pro-Beijing camp, who accused them of soliciting foreign interference and filibustering. At a recent press conference, HK's leader Carrie Lam said she looks forward to passing bills with minimal fuss, while the pro-establishment parties claimed there were enough differing view points among them to maintain healthy debate.
Despite those statements, it's obvious to China-watchers that Lam's increased pressure on the pro-democracy bloc - without having to go through the courts - is yet another sign of the erosion of "One Country, Two Systems".
HEADING DOWN SOUTH
Although Donald Trump is still refusing to concede, Team Biden-Harris are cracking on with the transition process - and now they've got additional numbers to help their cause.
On Friday, media projections confirmed Joe Biden had secured 306 electoral college votes, giving him a clear path to the White House. The former VP is the first Democratic candidate to turn Georgia blue since Bill Clinton's victory in 1992.
Georgia Democrat Stacey Abrams is receiving praise for her impressive grassroots activism, but the battle is far from over in the Peach State. Georgia's two Senate spots are up for grabs and the results will make an impact on Capitol Hill.
Given the tight margins, the so-called runoff on 5 January is becoming an extremely costly affair. CNBC estimates that the Dems and Republicans could spend as much as US$200 million to boost the platforms of their nominees.
PELOTON GETS BOOTYLICIOUS
The promise of an effective Covid-19 vaccine from Pfizer and BioNTech sent shares in Peloton (as well as Zoom, Netflix and Etsy) tumbling on Monday. But investors were probably too quick on the trigger as it seems these at-home brands are here to stay.
Peloton, for one, is eyeing the long game and that involves a lucrative partnership with Beyoncé. The pop superstar has curated an exclusive fitness series - from yoga classes to cycling sessions - for the interactive exercise company. Peloton says its 3.6 million members are "Crazy in Love" with Queen Bey since she's their most requested musical artist.
Peloton and Beyoncé also announced plans to give free subscriptions to students at 10 historically Black colleges and universities in the US, and the pair will support efforts to bring in fresh talent from those schools.
Marketing executives call the agreement a smart way to "engage with diverse consumers" and build trust.
2020 has certainly produced some interesting celeb collabs, such as Justin Bieber's Crocs collection (currently sold out) and the J Balvin Meal at McDonalds. These campaigns demonstrate the evolution of marketing and how a simple endorsement just won't cut it anymore.