PNUT GALLERY

Do you know that David Bowie’s secret passion was reading? Here is a list of his 100 favorite books. 

IN A NUTSHELL: MUST READ

Obama Tries To Bring Back ‘Hope And Change’ President Obama struck an optimistic tone in his final State of the Union (SOTU) address yesterday. He described a resurgent economy and tried to counter the negative messages coming out of the anxiety filled Republican presidential race. However, it is unclear how this will play out with voters, 65% of which believe the US is headed in the wrong direction. Here are a few other highlights:

• Symbolism: An empty chair next to the First Lady represented victims of gun crime. A Syrian refugee was also amongst the invitees to the guest box. Republicans invited Kim Davis, the Kentucky Court Clerk who refused to sign same-sex marriage certificates.
• Xenophobia: He dismissed rhetoric that disparaged Muslims and claimed that the US is doomed (cough Trump cough). He reiterated that America’s diversity is the source of its strength. 
• Climate change: Obama stressed US leadership in the fight against climate change, focusing on how technology could reverse its effects and help the environment. Although, he did stretch the truth about the effects renewables have had on the drop in the price of oil (it has more to do with Saudi Arabia’s unwillingness to stop production).
• Malaise: Despite striking an upbeat tone Obama didn’t dismiss entirely the feeling of economic malaise plaguing most Americans. He addressed issues of economic inequality, stagnant middle class wages, student debts and healthcare/savings in a world with precarious jobs.
• Security: Obama highlighted failed states as the biggest threat to US safety in the next generation. He claimed (we believe wrongly) that the turmoil in the Middle East is due to millennia old conflicts and stuck to his plan to roll back ISIS (which might slowly be starting to work).  
• Regrets: Apparently, he’s had at least one: not being able to fix the bipartisan bickering (and that it got worse) in the past seven years. 

ICYMI: The Full State Of The Union Address

NUTS AND BOLTS: SHOULD READ

Iran: Just Because We Have A Deal Doesn’t Mean We Are Friends A few hours before Obama began the SOTU address, Iran detained two US navy boats and ten crew who had strayed into Iranian waters and suffered mechanical difficulties. The Pentagon said the sailors would be released “promptly” while the Iranian Revolutionary Guard said they would “probably” be released but demanded an “apology” for the naval incursion. Luckily, they came to an agreement and released the sailors right before the Pnut went out.

PNUT READ: Our Summary Of The Iran Deal


Poland: Another European ‘Crisis’ In The Making?Today the EU debates whether Poland is in violation of “democratic standards” over new laws that oversee the media and judiciary. Poland’s right-wing government accused Brussels of trying to undermine Polish sovereignty while one media outlet portrayed German politicians in Nazi outfits. Last week the Polish government summoned the German ambassador for “anti-Polish” comments made by German politicians.  

GOOD READ: The New York Times On Polish-EU Tension


Istanbul Attack: What Happened?A Syrian national affiliated with ISIS blew himself up in a popular tourist spot in Istanbul yesterday, killing ten people, eight of which were German tourists. The bombing is the first major attack by ISIS in Istanbul although the group has carried out attacks in Ankara and on the Syrian border. The attack threatens to upset Turkey’s tourism industry, already reeling from Russian sanctions. 


Keeping Our Eye On…
 

• Lego: The Danish company reversed its bulk buying policy after it previously refused to sell bricks to Chinese artist Ai Weiwei. It now operates a “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy on how you use Lego. Do you know there are 86 Lego pieces per person on earth?
• Pakistan Bomb Blast: A bombing outside a polio vaccination center in the Pakistani city of Quetta has led to the deaths of at least 14 people. Militants oppose vaccination as they view it as a Western conspiracy to sterilize children. Oh and the earth is flat too….
• Nigerian Missing Budget: In the midst of an economic crisis and plunging oil prices the Nigerian parliament has somehow managed to lose copies of the 2016 budget which had been hand delivered by President Buhari. Twitter predictably went into meltdown. 

LOOSE NUTS: FOR YOUR ENJOYMENT

If You Ever Wanted To Troll A King…..

Catalonia, the home of Barcelona, has an independence movement which really enjoys annoying the national government. In keeping with this tradition one Catalan council displayed a portrait of the King, as required by law. However, instead of a full-sized portrait, the council hung a passport-sized photo of the monarch. A state prosecutor filed a complaint and people got angry. 

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