UN Picks A Favorite In Libya, Iran Arrests Instagram Models

PNUT GALLERY

Congratulations to Han Kang! Beating bestsellers and Nobel laureates, the Korean author won this year’s Man Booker International Prize for her novel, The Vegetarian. 

IN A NUTSHELL: MUST READ

The UN Plans To Arm One Of Libya’s Governments

Although Libya has three governments, the UN has a clear favorite. After the Vienna talks on Monday, US Secretary of State John Kerry announced the UN Security Council would exempt the Government of National Accord (GNA), aka Libya’s unity government, from the UN’s current arms embargo against the country. The US and other diplomats from the 20+ countries represented at the talks are ready to supply the unity government with specific weapons to counter ISIS, as well as to train the new Libyan government’s presidential guard.

What Does This Mean?

The UN will maintain the arms embargo for everyone else besides the GNA in an effort to make them the sole legitimate authority in Libya, but not everyone is on board. Egypt, still concerned with border security, is reluctant to abandon its support for another Libyan government and their leader Khalifa Haftar, while UAE reportedly provided military vehicles to help Haftar’s assault on Sirte. World powers are gambling on Libya’s divided governments likes a horse race… and, so far, it is going just as bad as you would expect. 

Good Read: Our Summary Of ISIS

US Supreme Court Can’t Make Up Their Mind On Obamacare

If there was any question that Justice Antonin Scalia’s absence created a polarized Supreme Court that can’t finalize anything, Monday’s shenanigans proved it. The short-handed Justices were unable to tackle the case of religious non-profits versus the Affordable Care Act, which mandates health coverage and access to contraceptives. With an even split of progressives and conservatives on the bench, SCOTUS could vote unanimously on only one thing: to send the case back to the lower courts. Still, this could be a victory for Obamacare. If the lower courts throw out the case, it would clear the way for free birth control, even for women with religious employers.  

Pnut Read: Getting To Know Merrick Garland

NUTS AND BOLTS: SHOULD READ

Duterte Vows To Bring Hanging Back To The Philippines 

Philippines’ president-elect Rodrigo Duterte is off to a great start. Not only has “the Trump of the Philippines” vowed to reintroduce capital punishment and give security forces “shoot-to-kill” power over suspected criminals, but he intends to get old school with the newly revived capital punishment. In his first press conference since winning the election in May, Duterte promised the nation that he’ll bring back hanging for convicted criminals. And heinous criminals, watch out. Duterte said anyone involved in murder and robbery would get “double the hanging,” whatever that means. 

Iran Arrested Eight Instagram Models

The Iranian government doesn’t think your selfies are very pious. As part of an operation that has targeted women for not wearing hijab in social media photos, Iran arrested eight people working for online modeling agencies through Instagram. Tehran’s cyber-crimes court deemed the career of Instagram fame to be “un-Islamic” and investigators have already identified 170 people, including models, makeup artists and fashion designers, as culprits. While only eight have been arrested so far, another 29 people were warned to reform their filtered ways. 

Pakistan: Not The Last Country On Earth To Beat Polio

Pakistan’s three-day polio vaccination drive kicked off yesterday across the country. The World Health Organization said that the initiative could eradicate polio from the country in a matter of months, as they continue to vaccinate millions of children. Currently, only Pakistan and neighboring Afghanistan still have cases of polio in 2016, and Pakistan has become more active in hopes to not be dead last in the race. Still, the country fears violent backlash. It’s not an easy feat for 70,000 medical staff to vaccinate 10 million children over the next three days, and nearly just as many police escorts have been asked to guard against Islamist militants who oppose immunizations. 

Good Read: Meet the Women Trying To Rid Pakistan of Polio

KEEPING OUR EYE ON…

Warren Buffett: The billionaire investor bought a $1 billion stake in Apple. His investment firm Berkshire Hathaway disclosed a holding of 9.81 million shares in the iPhone maker.  

LOOSE NUTS: FOR YOUR ENJOYMENT

Fatboy Slim Performed At A Rave For Toddlers

It just seems like they start raving so young these days. As part of the Brighton Fringe Festival, DJ Fatboy Slim played at a secret rave just for babies and toddlers. Aptly named “Baby Loves Disco,” the two-hour set presumably had party goers teething on glow sticks and taking shots of formula. Fatboy Slim included his 90s hits for the elite crowd that was clearly too young to recognize such hits. 

Montreal Jazz Fest: We are giving away tickets for two to the Montreal Jazz Fest! Prize includes flights and accommodation. You can enter the competition here.