Media Navel Gaze: January 20, 2015
The Week Unpeeled
Global news and commentary (with a new term seemingly surfacing called "terror analysts") continued to focus on threats with Al Qaeda claiming responsibility for the Paris attacks and solidarity speeches and demonstrations taking center stage, with Charlie Hebdo selling an estimated 3 million issues on its debut following the massacre.
Elsewhere:
- The Swiss franc surged after the central bank in Zurich lifted the cap on its currency against the euro, causing extreme volatility in bond and foreign exchange markets around the world;
- The Dow fell 1.3% for the week, to end Friday at 17,511, hurt in part by sluggish bank earnings and a slowdown in retail sales;
- President Obama readies for the State of the Union Friday, clearly presenting a full agenda on the economy, terrorism, cyber attacks, energy, education and Obamacare, to name a few topics;
- Mitt Romney made his potential bid seem more real last week, saying the run for president was a "serious consideration" with his wife providing support;
- The World Bank cut global growth rate predictions to 3% for 2015, reflecting uncertainty in Europe and emerging markets;
- Bolivian president Evo Morales begins his third term this week;
- The corruption investigation into Brazilian oil titan Petrobras continues, with authorities this week arresting ex-executive Nestor Cerveró; and
- Woody Allen is the next big name to sign onto Amazon streaming service network to create a yet-to-be decided or at least announced TV series.
