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PNUT GALLERY
“Everyone hears differently.” – Russian FM Lavrov’s spokeswoman after being caught dropping the F-bomb and calling his Saudi counterparts “morons.“
IN A NUTSHELL: MUST READ
ISIS Strikes In The Heart Of Baghdad
A truck bomb exploded in a market place in Baghdad killing almost 60 people. The bomb targeted the mainly Shiite district of Sadr City that is home to many Shiite militiamen that have been fighting against ISIS (which is Sunni). The attack targeted and killed mainly civilians.
What does this mean?
The US has been supporting the Iraqi government in its war agains ISIS for a while, but ISIS isn’t any weaker. A top US general said that the US may need to send in embeds with Iraqi forces for “support.” A lot of Americans don’t want to fight a third Iraq war… then again the second one never really ended. As Pottery Barn says, “you break it, you buy it.”
Greek Bailout Approved, Economy Grows, Everyone Confused
In perhaps the only vindication of Greek PM Alexis Tsipras’ economic program, the Greek economy grew 0.8 percent in the second quarter of 2015. Theories of a “temporary boost” don’t seem to actually explain what happened. Perhaps “heterodox economic policies” do work sometimes, or perhaps economists don’t really know what they are doing…
Meanwhile the Greek government approved the new bailout after (another) all-nighter parliamentary debate (stop pulling all-nighters, you aren’t in college anymore). The Greek government barely survived a rebellion by its leftist flank raising the probability of another round of elections.
NUTS AND BOLTS: SHOULD READ
China: Easy Does It
“Calm down” was the message from China today as the central bank stopped devaluing the Yuan, even allowing for a slight appreciation in the currency. China caused three days of market turmoil when it suddenly decided to devalue its currency this week. Regional currencies and stock markets fell and US presidential hopefuls claimed that “China will devastate the US” with this move…
Pakistan Sentences Six To Death For School Massacre
A Pakistani military court sentenced six militants to death for their role in a school massacre that killed 140 people, including students last December. The attack was so brutal that Pakistan lifted a moratorium on death sentences and amended the constitution to allow military trials in order to punish the perpetrators. Since then, Pakistan has executed 200 people, most of them unrelated to the attack.
The Return Of El Niño
And it could be the most devastating one yet, according to weather forecasters who are dubbing it a “Super El Niño.” Waters in the Pacific Ocean have been warming this week, threatening to cause an extremely rainy winter for Southern California, with floods and mudslides to boot, and a “wetter than normal” winter on the east coast. Yet, apparently not even this could end California’s drought.
#pnut4prez: Scott Walker Made A No No
Or at least some Republicans think the Governor of Wisconsin did by approving the financing for a $250 million basketball stadium for the Milwaukee Bucks. While the deal passed with bipartisan support in the Wisconsin legislature, many conservatives opposed the deal. Apparently they thought Walker was kowtowing to big hedge fund managers and other notable finance figures who own a stake in the team and threatened to move the Bucks elsewhere unless the stadium’s financing was approved.
Keeping Our Eye On…
- The troublesome Castro: Just as Cuba-US relations move forward, Fidel Castro penned an accusatory letter on his 89th birthday. Awkward, since his brother Raul orchestrated the peace talks. Double awkward since the American flag will be raised at the embassy in Havana today.
- Terrorist love affairs: Al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri reappeared with words of comfort for new Taliban leader Mullah Mansoor. Zawahiri’s support will help the divided Taliban to rebuild after the exposed death of leader Mullah Omar.
- US (un)employment: A ray of sunshine for the economy as jobless claims experienced the lowest four-week average since 2000. Nonetheless, a few numbers to see the bigger picture.
LOOSE NUTS: FOR YOUR ENJOYMENT
Houston, Google’s Got A Problem…
Weekend Reads
- One of the most disturbing reads on the debased organization known as ISIS — read the NYTimes’ report on how ISIS has developed an institution of rape and sexual slavery.
- Whey are there so few old buildings in Africa? Europeans destroyed them. A history of the destruction of 100 African cities.
- If you want to know what books Mr. President’s got his nose in this summer, find out here.
- Or if you have a date and need lighter reading, try Aziz Ansari’s book, Modern Romance: An Investigation.
- Understand modern political systems using cows…
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