Hard Numbers: Chinese floods, Colombian tax reform, Nigeria rescues hostages, Russian cop’s golden toilet

July 21, 2021

Residents wade through floodwaters on a flooded road amid heavy rainfall in Zhengzhou, Henan province.

China Daily via REUTERS

12: At least 12 people have died after huge floods inundated underground railway tunnels in Zhengzhou, capital of China's Henan province, leaving passengers trapped inside carriages with rising waters. Experts have blamed the torrential downpours on climate change, exacerbated by the construction of mega-dams on the flood-prone Yellow River.

3.95 billion: Let's try again! Colombia's government has presented to Congress an updated tax reform plan that aims to raise $3.95 billion in new revenues. That's one-third less than the original proposal, which last May sparked violent street protests over broader rising inequality.

100: Nigerian authorities have rescued 100 women and children who were abducted six weeks ago in northern Zamfara state. The country has suffered a spike of kidnappings for ransom in recent months amid a deteriorating security situation.

255,000: Russian federal investigators busted a ring of corrupt cops accused of receiving $255,000 in bribes from criminal gangs in the North Caucasus region. The raids by the Russian feds yielded a treasure trove of goodies allegedly purchased with illicit cash, among them a golden toilet to cover their derrières.

Chaos erupts overnight on US campuses. What’s next for student protesters?

NYPD officers arrive at Columbia University on April 30, 2024, to clear demonstrators from an occupied hall on campus.

John Lamparski/NurPhoto via Reuters

Last night, hundreds of NYPD officers entered Columbia University in riot gear, one night after students occupied a building on campus and 13 days after students pitched an encampment that threw kerosene on a student movement against the war in Gaza.

UN: North Korean missiles were used in Ukraine

FILE PHOTO: A view shows parts of an unidentified missile, which Ukrainian authorities believe to be made in North Korea and was used in a strike in Kharkiv earlier this week, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kharkiv, Ukraine January 6, 2024.

REUTERS/Vyacheslav Madiyevskyy/File Photo

The United Nations found evidence that Russia struck the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv with a North Korean Hwaseong-11 missile in January, according to a new report.

Netanyahu: Rafah invasion looms, cease-fire or not

An Israeli soldier looks on from a vehicle near the Israel-Gaza border, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, in Israel, April 30, 2024.

REUTERS/Amir Cohen

Despite offering a watered-down hostage deal proposal to Hamas, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday said an invasion of Rafah — the southern Gaza city where over a million Palestinians are sheltering — would move forward “with or without” a cease-fire.

Hard Numbers: Chinese floods, Colombian tax reform, Nigeria rescues hostages, Russian cop’s golden toilet

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Russia and China benefit from US infighting, says David Sanger

On GZERO World, Pulitzer prize-winning New York Times correspondent David Sanger argues that China's rise and Russia's aggressive stance signal a new era of major power competition, with both countries fueling instability in the US to distract from their strategic ambitions.

Chaos erupts overnight on US campuses. What’s next for student protesters?

Last night, hundreds of NYPD officers entered Columbia University in riot gear, one night after students occupied a building on campus and 13 days after students pitched an encampment that threw kerosene on a student movement against the war in Gaza.

Israel intent on Rafah invasion despite global backlash

How will the international community respond to an Israeli invasion of Rafah? How would a Trump presidency be different from his first term? Are growing US campus protests a sign of a chaotic election in November? Ian Bremmer shares his insights on global politics this week on World In :60.

Hard Numbers: US swimmers make splash about Chinese doping, G7 agrees to cut coal, Colombian munitions go missing, Nature gets royalties

Judge threatens to lock up Trump

The judge in the so-called hush money case in New York against presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has fined the former president for repeatedlyviolating a gag order that bars him from publicly criticizing witnesses and jurors.

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UN: North Korean missiles were used in Ukraine

The United Nations found evidence that Russia struck the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv with a North Korean Hwaseong-11 missile in January, according to a new report.

Netanyahu: Rafah invasion looms, cease-fire or not

Despite offering a watered-down hostage deal proposal to Hamas, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday said an invasion of Rafah — the southern Gaza city where over a million Palestinians are sheltering — would move forward “with or without” a cease-fire.

Graphic Truth: Infant mortality in the OECD

Hello? Yes. This is Scott’s AI voice speaking.

There’s a voice on the internet that sounds just like me. In a way, it is me.

Newspapers fight back, file suit against OpenAI

Eight major newspapers, all owned by the hedge fund Alden Global Capital, are suing ChatGPT maker OpenAI in federal court in Manhattan, alleging copyright infringement.

Hard Numbers: Chinese floods, Colombian tax reform, Nigeria rescues hostages, Russian cop’s golden toilet

GZEROMEDIA

Subscribe to GZERO Media's newsletter: Signal

More from GZERO Media

On GZERO World, Pulitzer prize-winning New York Times correspondent David Sanger argues that China's rise and Russia's aggressive stance signal a new era of major power competition, with both countries fueling instability in the US to distract from their strategic ambitions.

Last night, hundreds of NYPD officers entered Columbia University in riot gear, one night after students occupied a building on campus and 13 days after students pitched an encampment that threw kerosene on a student movement against the war in Gaza.

How will the international community respond to an Israeli invasion of Rafah? How would a Trump presidency be different from his first term? Are growing US campus protests a sign of a chaotic election in November? Ian Bremmer shares his insights on global politics this week on World In :60.

The judge in the so-called hush money case in New York against presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has fined the former president for repeatedlyviolating a gag order that bars him from publicly criticizing witnesses and jurors.

GZEROMEDIA

Subscribe to GZERO Media's newsletter: Signal

The United Nations found evidence that Russia struck the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv with a North Korean Hwaseong-11 missile in January, according to a new report.

Despite offering a watered-down hostage deal proposal to Hamas, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday said an invasion of Rafah — the southern Gaza city where over a million Palestinians are sheltering — would move forward “with or without” a cease-fire.

There’s a voice on the internet that sounds just like me. In a way, it is me.

Eight major newspapers, all owned by the hedge fund Alden Global Capital, are suing ChatGPT maker OpenAI in federal court in Manhattan, alleging copyright infringement.