Trump back at 1600 Penn Ave, Libyan conflict, Nobel Prizes and TV spy thriller Tehran
5 - 11 October 2020
October surprise!
BATTLE FOR THE WHITE HOUSE
Instead of slowing him down, catching Covid-19 apparently gave Donald Trump an extra boost of energy. The US president left the hospital on Tuesday and tweeted: "Don't be afraid of Covid. Don't let it dominate your life...I feel better than I did 20 years ago!"
Since his dramatic return to the Oval Office, Trump has been hitting the airwaves in a series of video messages and interviews. One recording on Twitter starts with the line: "Hi, perhaps you recognise me, it's your favourite president." He then goes on to say: "I feel great, I feel perfect. I think this was a blessing from God that I caught it."
However, Mitch McConnell isn't on the same page. As numerous employees at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue test positive for the virus, the (Republican) Senate majority leader admitted he's been avoiding the place for months because the safety guidelines are too lax.
Health is also a priority for the debate commission, which shifted the second face-off between Trump and Joe Biden to 22 October (after the president rejected a virtual alternative). That event is expected to provide more fireworks than the vice-presidential debate - and definitely be a no-fly zone.
STATE OF CHAOS
Libya continues to be torn apart by militias and foreign powers, making the oil-rich country a vessel for proxy warfare.
On Monday, the UN and Germany co-hosted a summit on the Libyan conflict, with Secretary-General Antonio Guterres calling for a proper ceasefire and the full implementation of an arms embargo.
The North African country has experienced violent clashes and instability in the aftermath of Colonel Gaddafi's assassination in 2011. In recent years, two main groups have been vying for control: the so-called Libyan National Army (LNA) and the Government of National Accord (GNA).
Further complicating this crisis is the presence of "outside parties with influence". The UN backs the GNA alongside Turkey, Qatar and Italy. Meanwhile, the LNA is supported by the UAE, Egypt and Russia.
On Wednesday, a joint investigation found that Turkey and the UAE are using large-scale military cargo planes to transport goods and fighters to their respective allies. Ultimately, the geopolitical struggle in Libya is marked by empty promises, greed and EU failures, notes this damning op-ed in the Middle East Monitor.
Though it was published last December, the VICE News report (see below) on Libya's revolution is still relevant, alarming and essential viewing.
NOBEL PRIZE SEASON
The Nobel Committee awarded its famous - and often controversial - peace prize to the World Food Programme on Friday. The UN agency was recognised for its efforts to help "the millions of people who suffer from or face the threat of hunger”.
WFP, which operates in over 80 countries, delivers food and assistance to communities across the globe. The humanitarian organisation says it has 5,600 trucks, 30 ships and nearly 100 planes on the move on any given day.
In the field of chemistry, the prize went to researchers Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer A. Doudna for their pioneering work on a gene-editing tool that can alter the DNA of animals, plants and microorganisms.
QUARAN-TEEVEE PICK
Even James Bond can't defeat the arch-villain that is Covid-19. Like many other blockbusters originally slated to premiere in cinemas this year, the release of No Time To Die is being pushed to 2021.
But if you're in the mood for an exciting espionage thriller, check out the Israeli show Tehran on the small screen. Currently streaming on Apple TV+, the eight-part series follows Tamar, a female Mossad spy, who is sent to the Iranian capital on a mission based on her computer hacking prowess and Farsi language skills. Of course, things do not go according to plan and Tamar finds herself in a wild cat-and-mouse chase.
Tehran is engrossing television and the kind of escapism we need right now!
