Hard Numbers: Taiwan’s last “comfort woman,” social media warning for teens, Austria scolds Hungary, editing WhatsApp

The Statue of Peace symbolizing Korean Comfort Women by Japanese military during the Second World War.
The Statue of Peace symbolizing Korean Comfort Women by Japanese military during the Second World War.
Reuters

2,000: An anti-sex trafficking group says that the last known Taiwanese “comfort woman” has died, though they declined to share the woman’s details. From 1932-1945, around 2,000 Taiwanese were taken as “comfort women” – sex slaves – by the Japanese military, out of a total of 200,000, most of whom were Korean. These women were forced to service Japanese brothels.

40: In a new report released Tuesday, the US surgeon general, the nation’s top doctor, sounded the alarm about the negative impact of social media on adolescent mental health. While the ill effects of apps like Instagram and Facebook on young people are well established, the report revealed that 40% of 8-12-year-olds use these apps even though the minimum age for use of most sites is 13.

13: Austria summoned the Hungarian envoy this week for a telling-off after PM Viktor Orban agreed to release foreign people smugglers from prison on the condition that they leave the country ASAP. Human traffickers, Hungarian nationals and foreigners, make up around 13% of those incarcerated in Hungary. Orban says this is needed to relieve pressure on the prison system, but Vienna fears that many of the criminals will come its way.

2 billion: WhatsApp, owned by Meta, will soon allow users to edit their messages, following competing apps like Telegram and Signal that already allow users to do so. That’ll be welcome news for many of WhatsApp’s 2 billion users worldwide who likely want the option to revise a stream-of-consciousness text.

More from GZERO Media

Jordan Bardella, president of Rassemblement National or National Rally, gives a speech and flies French flags at a rally in support of Marine le Pen after her conviction on April 6, 2025.

Bastien Ohier/Hans Lucas via Reuters Connect

Jordan Bardella, the 29-year-old president of France’s far-right National Rally, aka RN, has announced his readiness to run for the country’s presidency in 2027 if current party leader Marine Le Pen remains barred from contesting the race.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and US President Donald Trump meet while they attend the funeral of Pope Francis at the Vatican on April 26, 2025.
TPX Images via Reuters

At the Vatican on Saturday, US President Donald Trump sat down with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for a meeting the White House described as “very productive,” and which Zelensky said had the “potential to become historic, if we achieve joint results.”

President Donald Trump raises a fist during a ceremony where he signs two executive orders that will lead to reciprocal tariffs against other countries that charge tariffs on US goods.

Andrew Leyden/ZUMA Press Wire via Reuters

Barely three months in, President Trump has bashed America’s closest European allies and spooked NATO into worrying about its survival, taken a chainsaw to US foreign aid programs, pulled the rug out from under Ukraine, threatened to expand US territory for the first time since the 19th century, and started a global trade war that’s pushed protectionism to its highest levels since the Great Depression. That’s a lot for 100 days, and it seems chaotic, but there are a few basic aspects of Trump’s worldview and commitment to “America First” that are consistent and worth understanding.

- YouTube

Fifty years after the fall of Saigon (or its liberation, depending on whom you ask), Vietnam has transformed from a war-torn battleground to one of Asia’s fastest-growing economies—and now finds itself caught between two superpowers. Ian Bremmer breaks down how Vietnam went from devastation in the wake of the Vietnam War to becoming a regional economic powerhouse.

Eurasia Group and GZERO Media are seeking a highly creative, detail-oriented Graphic and Animation Designer who lives and breathes news, international affairs, and policy. The ideal candidate has demonstrated experience using visual storytelling—including data visualizations and short-form animations—to make complex geopolitical topics accessible, social-friendly, and engaging across platforms. You will join a dynamic team of researchers, editors, video producers, and writers to elevate our storytelling and thought leadership through innovative multimedia content.