Hard Numbers: Children lost in Aegean Sea, South Asia cyclone, Russians oppose nuclear strikes, ECB continues cinching that belt, Sun-smart Aussies inspire the Dutch

Protesters hold a banner during a demonstration in Athens following a deadly migrant shipwreck off Greece.
Protesters hold a banner during a demonstration in Athens following a deadly migrant shipwreck off Greece.
REUTERS/Louiza Vradi

100: Survivors from a migrant boat that capsized off the Greek coast this week say that as many as 100 children were on the overcrowded fishing vessel when it sank due to an engine malfunction. So far, 78 people have been confirmed dead, but hundreds remain missing. The Greek Coast Guard, meanwhile, is being criticized for failing to act fast enough to rescue the distressed migrants.

180,000: More than 180,000 people were evacuated across Pakistan and India as the region prepared for Cyclone Biparjoy, which means calamity in Bengali. The storm weakened before making landfall in Gujarat state late Thursday, bringing with it heavy winds and flooding.

86: A new poll from the independent Levada Center in Moscow shows 86% of Russians oppose the use of nuclear weapons in Ukraine under any circumstances (source in Russian.) And fewer than one in ten believe Putin would “definitely” use nukes even if it were “necessary.” Think Russian polling just reflects state propaganda? Maybe, but that only makes these numbers more reassuring, doesn’t it?

22: The European Central Bank on Thursday raised interest rates to 3.5%, marking the highest rate in some 22 years. While the US Fed this week hit pause on rate increases, ECB President Christine Lagarde told Europeans to expect more hikes next month as inflation remains persistently higher in the eurozone than in the US.

4: The Netherlands will provide free sunscreen nationwide this summer in a bid to address rising skin cancer rates – the country now has the fourth-highest melanoma rate in the world. Dutch authorities say the campaign was inspired by the Aussies’ “Slip! Slop! Slap!” campaign that first emerged in the 80s and has since become a national call to action. That video is here, and you’re welcome!

More from GZERO Media

People gather outside the National Assembly after South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law, in Seoul, South Korea, on Dec. 4, 2024.
REUTERS/Kim Soo-hyeon

In an unexpected, late-night speech on Tuesday, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law, banning all political activity, taking control of all media, and suspending parliament. For all of a few hours, it turned out.

- YouTube

Ian Bremmer's Quick Take: President Yoon Suk Yeol of South Korea deciding to suddenly declare emergency martial law, announcing together with the military all political activities prohibited. All media now under state control. No strikes, demonstrations allowed. Ian Bremmer breaks down the reason for this decision in this Quick Take.

Proud Source Water became a Walmart supplier in 2021. Today, their team has grown 50%, and they're the largest employer in Mackay, ID. When local suppliers work with Walmart, their business can grow. In fact, two-thirds of Walmart's product spend is on products made, grown, or assembled in America. By working with Walmart, local businesses like Proud Source Water can reach more customers, hire more people, and help their communities thrive. Explore the positive impact of Walmart's $350 billion investment in US manufacturing.

Supporters of Hamas wave their green flags during a celebration marking the 35th anniversary of the founding of Hamas in Gaza City in December 2022.
Yousef Masoud / SOPA Images/Sipa USA via Reuters

Fatah and Hamas are reportedly close to a deal on a post-war government for Gaza, marking a potential end to Hamas’ 17-year rule. The agreement would establish a committee of 12-15 politically unaligned technocrats with authority over issues of the economy, education, health, humanitarian aid, and reconstruction.

Globally, one in five people identify as neurodivergent, an umbrella term that refers to variances in how the brain processes information. A new collaborative study between Microsoft and Ernst & Young reveals insights into how AI-powered tools like Microsoft 365 Copilot are transforming experiences for the neurodiverse in the workplace. The study involving over 300 neurodivergent or disabled employees found that 91% consider Copilot helpful for communication, 85% believe it creates a more inclusive workplace, and 76% say it aids their work performance. This study is part of Microsoft’s ongoing work to increase understanding of how Copilot and other Microsoft tools can improve the workplace. Read more here.

US President Joe Biden shakes hands with Angolan President João Lourenço at the Presidential Palace in Luanda, Angola, on Dec. 3, 2024.
REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz

With seven weeks left as US president, Joe Biden was in Angola on Tuesday to meet with President João Lourenço. It's the very first visit of a US president to this former Portuguese colony.

Courtesy of Midjourney

Throughout Joe Biden’s presidency, the Commerce Department has gradually tightened its chokehold on China’s access to semiconductors needed to access, train, and build artificial intelligence. It just announced its “strongest controls ever," prompting China to respond in kind with restrictions of its own that send a signal to President-elect Donald Trump.