Fresh Iran sanctions, historic election in Taiwan and oil falls again

The US imposed fresh sanctions on 11 companies and individuals connected to Iran’s ballistic missile programme just a day after it lifted nuclear sanctions that have hampered the Iranian economy. The move came hours after four Americans jailed in Iran flew out of the country as part of a highly sensitive prisoner swap.

David Gardner writes that a future without sanctions heralds a brighter future for the Islamic Republic, and President Hassan Rouhani said he hoped the country would attract up to $50bn worth of international investment and finance in the coming year. Here is everything you need to know about Implementation Day in Iran. (FT)

In the news

Abe: bring Putin in from the cold Japanese leader Shinzo Abe is pressing for the G7 to reconcile with Russian President Vladimir Putin, arguing his help will be crucial in tackling multiple crises in the Middle East. Mr Abe said he was willing to go to Moscow as this year’s G7 chair, or to invite Mr Putin to Tokyo. (FT)

Credit Suisse jobs at risk Employees at Credit Suisse’s London operation are set to becomethe latest casualties of the rout that has left analysts poised for another round of poor results from top investment banks in the US and Europe. The Swiss bank will this week tell up to 1,800 London staff their jobs are at risk, following through on a cost-cutting commitment made in October. (FT)

Suspected match-fixing at Wimbledon Secret files exposing evidence of widespread suspected match-fixing at the top level of world tennis, including at Wimbledon, have been revealed by the BBC. Over the past decade 16 players who have ranked in the top 50 — including Grand Slam winners — have been repeatedly flagged to the tennis integrity unit over suspicions they have thrown matches. (BBC)

Missing bookseller appears on Chinese TV Gui Minhai, who vanished from his apartment in Thailand last October, said he voluntarily returned to China to answer a drink-driving convictionfrom 2004. He appeared, looking distraught, on China Central Television, and said he was returning “by personal choice”. (FT)

Historic election in Taiwan Opposition leader Tsai Ing-wen won a landmark victory in Saturday’s election, but the president-elect must now turn her attention to the daunting task of rejuvenating the nation’s struggling economy and managing relations with a hostile Chinese government. Markets, meanwhile, are likely to adopt a wait-and-see approach to Ms Tsai’s election, with some worried that it may stall deeper integration between Taiwan and mainland China. (FT, ANR)

It's a big day for

Oil, which fell below $28 a barrel for the first time since December 2003. The latest catalyst is the lifting of sanctions on Iran, which is likely to exacerbate the oil glut that has resulted from the development of shale oil in the US and a refusal to cut production at Opec, alongside a slowing global economy and dimmer outlook for China. (FT)

Food for thought

Nice guys finish first Or at least they don’t finish last. That is according to a new study by a UK university which found that women actually consider certain kinds of niceness more attractive than sheer physical appeal. (Quartz)

America’s moment of truth on Donald Trump Is the rise of the former reality TV star a fluke of the sort common early in election season? Or does it represent a dramatic upheaval in US politics? Edward Luce’s gut “tells me things are changing for the worse”. But the billionaire’s nativist campaign raises an existential question: “Will Mr Trump’s supporters come to terms with the fact that growth means youth, even if today’s young people are considerably less white than they used to be?” (FT)

Demotivation courtesy of Deloitte Anyone at Deloitte reading chief executive Punit Renjen’s new year memo must wonder why they are working there, says the FT’s Lucy Kellaway. “Mr Renjen has composed something so ugly, so empty and so downright stupid, it is hard to go on laughing.” (FT)

Starman in space In a fitting homage to the late rockstar, astronomers have registered a constellation in honour of David Bowie. The formation, consisting of seven stars that shine in the shape of a lightning bolt, sits appropriately in the vicinity of Mars, according to the scientists. (The Guardian)

Canadian chic Ryan Gosling, Vice News, The Weeknd, Drake and, now, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The Great White North may just be the hippest place on the planet. (NYT)

Video of the day

Fighting the Fed John Authers looks at the consequences as the worst start to a year in stock market history continues apace. (FT)

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