Hard Numbers: Colombia decriminalizes abortion, Burkina Faso gold mine explosion, US house prices soar, Italy rescues migrants at sea
February 22, 2022
A demonstrator celebrates after Colombia's constitutional court decriminalized abortion until 24 weeks of gestation.
REUTERS/Luisa Gonzalez
3: On Monday, Colombia became the third Latin American country — after Argentina and Mexico — to decriminalize abortion in just over a year. A big shift for the majority-Catholic nation, the constitutional court ruling will allow abortion during the first 24 weeks of pregnancy.
59: At least 59 people died and scores were injured in explosions likely caused by chemicals used to treat gold at a mine in Burkina Faso. Gold is the country’s top export.
19: Homeowners’ investments were “safe as houses” in the US last year, when house prices rose by 19%. Price gains were had nationwide, but the South and Southeast saw gains top 25%. High demand combined with low supply has been driving prices north.
573: Italy’s coastguard service announced Tuesday that it rescued 573 migrants, including 59 minors, off the coast of Calabria. The survivors — one person was found dead — were aboard two fishing boats found in tricky weather conditions. More than 10,000 migrants have already reached Europe by sea this year.