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

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

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Armed security personnel stand guard near the Serena Hotel in Islamabad, Pakistan, on April 19, 2026. Heightened security measures were implemented around the venue ahead of the scheduled second round of technical-level talks between U.S. and Iranian delegations, aimed at reaching a negotiated settlement to the weeks-long conflict that has disrupted global energy supplies.
Middle East Images via Reuters Connect

It’s unclear if the second round of US-Iran talks will go ahead in Pakistan after the US Navy intercepted and seized an Iranian-flagged cargo ship outside the Strait of Hormuz this weekend.