European Protests And More Mystery Around A Plane Crash

PNUT GALLERY

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IN A NUTSHELL: MUST READ

Europeans Are Annoyed By A Lot Of Things

Protests erupted across Europe yesterday for a variety of reasons, serving as a litmus test for each country’s political ills. In Rome, protestors rallied outside of the Justice Ministry after news emerged that Italy’s mafia may have organized large-scale cheating during an entry exam for prison guards. Riots also broke out in Barcelona over housing rights after squatters were evicted from a former bank, which had turned into an ad hoc community center. 

But no day of protesting would be complete without France:

Police broke up a picket in Marseille while a strike spread to all eight of France’s oil refineries. Although French Prime Minister Valls says labor reforms will stand, pickets are expected to continue in this escalating dispute between unions and the government. Protestors are particularly livid about recent reforms that the French government passed without parliamentary approval (because who needs a legislative branch anyway). 

Confusion Persists Around EgyptAir Crash

The investigation into the cause of the crash of EgyptAir flight MS804 from Paris to Cairo last week reached a heightened state of confusion yesterday. Investigators first claimed that autopsy reports indicated an explosion on board, then retracted the statement. Meanwhile, an aviation official said he didn’t see the plane swerve in its final moments, countering previous claims that the plane turned sharply before it crashed. 

Good Read: How A Plane Crash Stunned A Nation That Thought It Was Recovering

NUTS AND BOLTS: SHOULD READ

Brazil: Some Fun Things You Shouldn’t Say While Under Investigation

As expected, things went swimmingly for Brazil’s two-week old government yesterday. Planning Minister Romero Jucá was forced to step down after a leaked call indicated he wanted to impeach former President Rousseff as a way to stop an ongoing corruption probe. The investigation, dubbed “Operation Carwash” implicates sitting President Michel Temer (and nearly all other Brazilian politicians). At this rate, Brazil is losing politicians faster than Game of Thrones loses characters.

#pnut4prez: Sanders And The Recanvassing

Bernie Sanders’s presidential campaign requested a recanvass in Kentucky after the state’s primary gave Hillary Clinton a lead of less than one-half of 1%. Although the Associated Press still hasn’t called the race because of its razor thin margins, Clinton declared victory on the night of the primary election. Both Clinton and Sanders took home 27 delegates that night, but one delegate remains to be won. You heard that right: all of this is just for one delegate. The extra Sanders win would be great for morale, but most likely futile. Hillary still enjoys a lead of over 700 delegates with only 921 still up for grabs. 

#pnut4prez: Pnut’s Guide To The Campaign Trail 

Tayyip Throws A Turkish Tantrum

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan threatened to scuttle a deal between Turkey and the EU if he doesn’t get a visa waiver for Turkish citizens going to the EU. Negotiated by former PM Davutoglu, the deal originally permitted visa-free travel for Turkish citizens and EU aid in exchange for Turkey stemming migration to the EU and reforming its anti-terror laws (which it uses to lock up journalists). Erdogan responded by firing his PM, demanding the EU stay out of his “fight on terror,” and saying the EU should be satisfied that he’s helping with the refugee crisis. Will the EU call his bluff?

KEEPING OUR EYE ON…

Colombia: President Juan Manuel Santos is sending additional security forces into a lawless region in Colombia where two more journalists have gone missing. The two reporters were covering the disappearance of a prominent Spanish journalist when they, too, disappeared. 

Ride Sharing: Things got heated in the “ride-sharing wars” with Toyota making a “strategic investment” in Uber and VW putting $300 million in Gett. This comes hot off the heels of GM’s big investment in Lyft last March.  

Bill Cosby: The former TV star is now on trial for sexual assault charges in Pennsylvania. If found guilty, he could face up to 10 years in prison. 

Takeovers: Monsanto played hard to get with Bayer yesterday, rejecting a $62 billion takeover bid from the rival company. The board said it would need a few more billion before considering a sale but said it was “open to talks.”

LOOSE NUTS: FOR YOUR ENJOYMENT

No Clothes? No Beach. Spain Rules Against Naturists

It looks like tan lines are making a comeback this Summer. Nudists lost a seven-year legal battle for access to the beaches in Cadiz, a historic resort destination in southwestern Spain. Although the Spanish Federation of Naturism argued that nudism is a fundamental right protected by Spain’s constitution, the Supreme Court disagreed. They felt the band of hippies failed to make a convincing argument that nudism was “an accepted practice by the majority of beach-goers.” The ultimate verdict was that nobody wants to see that. 

Pnut Poll: US-Russia Relations On The Campaign Trail

Pnutters, don’t forget to take the Pnut-Bernett poll on US-Russia relations during this crazy election season. Tell us which presidential candidate you think is better equipped to deal with Vladimir Putin