Hard Numbers: UN (virtual) birthday party, US bounty for Colombian rebel, Mali's interim PM, Swiss vote on fighter jets

September 21, 2020

United Nations turns 75. Art by Ari Winkleman

75: The United Nations marked its 75th birthday on Monday with a mainly virtual commemoration led by Secretary-General António Guterres. The anniversary comes at a pivotal moment for the UN, which is currently holding its annual General Assembly as it faces the coronavirus pandemic, the biggest global crisis since its foundation.

5 million: Two days after visiting Colombia, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced that the US government is offering a $5 million reward for the capture of Wilver Villegas Palomino, a leader of the National Liberation Army. Washington accuses Palomino of trafficking cocaine to the US to finance the Marxist organization, classified as a terrorist group by the US.

18: Mali's military junta has appointed Ba N'Daou, the country's former defense minister, to lead a transitional government for the next 18 months before holding an election. The Economic Community of West African States had previously demanded Mali return to civilian rule before lifting sanctions in place since the August 18 coup.

6 billion: Switzerland votes next Sunday in a national referendum on whether to spend 6 billion Swiss franc ($6.6 billion) on new fighter jets to replace its aging fleet. Although wisdom of such a move may seem odd for a traditionally neutral country that has no enemies and fought its last war over 200 years ago, a recent poll found that 58 percent of Swiss citizens are actually in favor of the move.

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A demonstrator burns mock dollar bills with the face of US President Donald Trump during a protest against the US tariffs imposed on Brazilian products, in front of the United States Embassy in Brasilia, Brazil, on August 1, 2025.

REUTERS/Mateus Bonomi

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Outgoing and term-limited North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper speaks alongside his wife, Kristin Cooper, thanking North Carolinians for his two terms in office as Governor on Nov. 5, 2024.

Joseph A. Navin/Sipa USA

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More from GZERO Media

Amid high tariffs, a flurry of new trade agreements, and a right-wing populist surge, America is rewriting the rules of the global economy and retreating from its role as champion of free trade. CNN’s Fareed Zakaria discusses the future of globalization on GZERO World.

As the Trump administration imposes record tariffs and renegotiates trade agreements, is America abandoning its role as global trade leader? CNN’s Fareed Zakaria joins the GZERO World Podcast.

US tariffs are creating economic chaos and driving uncertainty all over the world. On Ian Explains, Ian Bremmer breaks down how the global trade map is already starting to shift as allies go around the US to negotiate trade alliances of their own.

Fifty years ago, leaders from 35 countries – including rivals from both sides of the Iron Curtain – gathered in the Finnish capital of Helsinki to attend the first Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe (CSCE).

GZEROMEDIA

Subscribe to GZERO Media's newsletter: Signal

US President Donald Trump slapped new tariffs on 92 countries, including key allies. Canada, the US’s number two trade partner, was hit with a 35% rate.

Think you know what's going on around the world? Here's your chance to prove it.

Next year’s race for North Carolina’s open Senate seat is predicted to be the most expensive in US election history. Winning it might not be enough for Democrats to flip the upper chamber, but it would put them in a much stronger position going into 2028.