DINNER PARTY INTEL...

The topics you have to be able to discuss this week

1. JSE puts power utility on report

Electricity producer Eskom, which has said its financial situation is “dire”, came under further pressure on Monday as the JSE warned it will have to suspend the utility’s listed bonds if it fails to publish interim results by the end of the month. Under JSE rules,

December 31 was the last day on which to publish interim results for the six months ended September 2017.

“No, no. I am not a racist. I am the least racist person you have ever interviewed. That I can tell you.” US president Donald Trump, responding to accusations of racism. Trump was quoted as referring to Haiti and African countries as “shitholes” during a meeting with six senators in the White House Oval Office. Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois, the only Democrat at the meeting, confirmed the quotes, adding that the president’s comments were “vile, hate-filled and clearly racial in their content”.

2. Trump eyes more nukes as war of words heats up

With its eyes set on the growing military capabilities of both China and Russia, the US is planning to develop two new sea-based nuclear weapons, according to the Pentagon’s review of nuclear strategy. Among the weapons is a proposed warhead for the

Trident missile, which could be deployed in about two years, The Wall Street Journal reports.

The US has increasingly been involved in a game of nuclear brinkmanship with the renegade North Korea, which has accelerated its own nuclear capabilities.

3. Go well, Shell

Royal Dutch Shell has sold one of its two oil fields in Iraq to Japan’s Itochu Corp for an undisclosed amount. The world’s secondbiggest oil company is also expected to sell its Majnoon oil field later this year as it beats a retreat from the Middle East. Shell will retain its natural-gas interests in Iraq.