Let’s Meet Our Contestants: The Presidential Nominees

PNUT GALLERY

Famed mountaineer Omar Samra gave an inspiring TED Talk on answering life’s most important questions. Watch it here. 

IN A NUTSHELL: MUST READ

World Celebrates End Of US Presidential Primary Campaign

After a year of name calling, long debates and stale speeches (otherwise known as campaigning) the US presidential primary season came to a close yesterday with the final “Super Tuesday.” Hillary Clinton actually clinched the nomination this time with victories in New Jersey, New Mexico and South Dakota putting her over the edge with a majority of pledged delegates. Bernie Sanders won Montana and North Dakota which, predictably, did not make him the Democratic Party’s nominee. California has not been called yet but leans towards Clinton at time of writing.

Is it over yet?

Good God no! What else would we have to talk about if it was? First they have to get through the conventions. These three day extravaganzas are typically feel good celebrations for the two parties, with lots of “rah-rah” speeches. This year’s might be a bit messier with Sanders vowing to fight on to a potentially “messy” convention. He’s scheduled to have a sit-down with Obama though which might calm things down. After that it is on to the general election in November ensuring that we have five more months of Clinton vs. Trump… yay?

Interesting Read: “Inside The Bitter Last Days Of Bernie’s Revolution”

Istanbul Attacked For Fourth Time This Year

Four people were detained for the explosion that targeted Turkish police during rush hour in the historic Beyazit Square. Seven police officers and four civilians were killed, with another 36 people seriously injured. The Turkish government suspects the banned Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) to be behind the violence, but no group claimed responsibility. Considering ISIS, Kurdish militant groups and left-wing extremists have all orchestrated attacks in Turkey recently, it’s anybody’s guess. 

Nutshell: Pnut on ISIS

NUTS AND BOLTS: SHOULD READ

Saudi Arabia Officially ‘Not That Bad’ Anymore

The same United Nations that claimed Saudi Arabia was responsible for 60% of the child deaths and injuries in Yemen is now saying “whoops, nevermind.” After much protest from Riyadh, the UN has rescinded their April 2016 report and agreed to remove Saudi Arabia from the official UN blacklist of groups that violate children’s rights in conflict. The UN said it would conduct a joint review of each reported death, but Saudi Ambassador Abdallah al-Mouallimi says it’s too late. Their new decision is “irreversible and unconditional” so no more take-backs.

Pnut Read: Yemen, The War No One Understands

Brazilian Gameshow: Who Wants To Be An Indicted Millionaire?

Brazil’s chief prosecutor Rodrigo Janot is seeking permission to have four of the top politicians from the governing PMDB party arrested. The request is turning Brazil’s political system into a game of roulette, where any politician could face corruption charges at any moment. Who will the next arrested politician be? Let’s meet our contestants: former Brazilian President Jose Sarney, Senate Speaker Renan Calheiros, former Lower House Speaker Eduardo Cunha and PMDB President Romero Juca. Good luck to our contestants!

Refresher: A Timeline Of Brazil’s Corruption Crisis

Refugees May Face ‘Bible Trivia’ In UK

Refugees applying for asylum in the UK on the grounds of conversion to Christianity are being interrogated on “Bible trivia” by immigration officials. Because the humanitarian crises in their home countries and the perilous routes taken to escape just weren’t enough, refugees will now have to play the Bible trivia games found in youth groups and religious summer camps. It’s unlikely that ISIS is giving people a pop-quiz to make sure someone is actually Christian before they’re persecuted, but that will be the standard of measuring authenticity at customs.

KEEPING OUR EYE ON…

Bangladesh: ISIS claimed responsibility for the brutal hacking of a Hindu priest in Bangladesh. The Islamic State said they would “cleanse Bangladesh from the wrath of polytheism” and have since gone after Buddhist, Hindu and even Sufi communities. 

Silvio Berlusconi: The former Italian Prime Minister was hospitalized for a cardiac deficiency. However, his spokesman insists that it is not life threatening.  

LOOSE NUTS: FOR YOUR ENJOYMENT

Ryan Calls Trump Racist, Supports Him Anyway

Speaker of the House Paul Ryan’s endorsement for Donald Trump doesn’t look as solid these days. Trump made the mistake of attacking Judge Gonzalo P. Curiel, a Hispanic judge who happens to be overseeing a suit against the now-shuttered and barely-real Trump University. “Claiming a person can’t do their job because of their race is sort of like the textbook definition of a racist comment,” Ryan said, announcing that he “disavows” Trump’s racism. It doesn’t get more damning than the term “textbook racist” but Ryan later said that he is supporting Trump for President anyway.