PNUT GALLERY

Did you know that Angela Merkel and Charlize Theron are best buds? Nor did we but then Davos (that networking event that you’ll never be invited to) produces the most unlikely friendships…

IN A NUTSHELL: MUST READ

Merde! French President Realizes Things Aren’t Going Well French President Francois declared a “state of economic emergency” in France after finally coming to the conclusion that things weren’t going well in La République. France, responsible for 15% of EU GDP, has been dogged by near zero growth, income inequality and a general feeling of economic malaise (three strikes). 
Why is Hollande doing this now? France goes to the polls for a presidential election in just over a year. The economic situation (coupled with the failure of multiculturalism and terrorist attacks) has stoked the ranks of the far-right, EU skeptic National Front party to the detriment of the ruling Socialists. The move will attempt to create 500,000 vocational jobs and will reverse deeply unpopular austerity policies.

Iran And US Try To Awkwardly Define The Relationship (DTR)
The world tried to adjust to a new normal after the removal of international sanctions against Iran. The price of oil dropped to below $28 a barrel as Iran gave the go-ahead to increase production by a million barrels a day adding to a glut in supply. Iran also ordered 114 new planes for its domestic aviation industry in the hopes of becoming a hot tourist destination.

Saudi Arabia, Iran’s major regional rival and the world’s largest oil producer, didn’t exactly welcome all this news. Meanwhile, Israel announced that it would be “Iran’s watchdog” for implementing the nuclear agreement. 

NUTS AND BOLTS: SHOULD READ

Americans Missing From ‘Suspicious Apartment’ In Baghdad The US government is on the hunt for three American contractors who were kidnapped from a “suspicious apartment” (this, apparently, is code for brothel) in Baghdad over the weekend. The three were either kidnapped by militias allied with the US anti-ISIS effort or by organized crime elements (or both) and served as a reminder that going to a brothel in a war-torn country is probably the stupidest thing you could ever do. 

WhatsApp To Drop Fee That We Didn’t Know ExistedFacebook-owned messaging service WhatsApp will drop its 99 cent yearly usage fee in an attempt to make the service available to even more people (already almost a billion people use it). The company will start experimenting with allowing businesses to connect and interact with users which means that one day you can get your Pnut via WhatsApp! We are excited even if you aren’t…

Keeping Our Eye On…
 

• Slowdown: China’s GDP grew 6.9% last year, the slowest pace in 25 years (barely missing the 7% target). Investors are wary of a slow brewing economic crisis in China which could have wide ramifications across the globe.
• Calm Down: Polish President Andrzej Duda is trying to resolve a dispute between Poland and the EU over proposed new laws that will tighten the far-right government’s grip over the judiciary and the media. 
• Syria: ISIS claimed Syrian government territory in the Eastern town of Deir ez-Zor, abducting and massacring hundreds of civilians in the process.  
• Oscars Boycott: Several African-American actors, including Spike Lee and Jada Pinkett-Smith, announced their intention to boycott the “lily white” Oscars after all actors nominated for the Oscars (for the second year in a row) were white.

LOOSE NUTS: FOR YOUR ENJOYMENT

Now There’s A Good Chap Donald, Bugger Off The UK parliament debated a petition, signed by ~600,000 people, which called for The Donald to be banned from the country. Some MPs said he would be a martyr if banned, others said he shouldn’t be allowed within a thousand miles of the country. For a country in which it is actually illegal to die in the Parliament they are used to eccentric debates like this.

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