☰
HomeLiving Beyond BordersGZERO WorldSignalIn 60 SecondsPuppet RegimeGZERO World PodcastContact UsAbout UsCareersPrivacy PolicyTerms

Hard Numbers: Hong Kong's anti-democratic crackdown (again), former FARC rebels protest, US election issues to watch, Turkey's woes

November 02, 2020
Gabrielle Debinski
Mask-clad representatives in Hong Kong's legislature argue and throw papers in the air.

8: Hong Kong police arrested 8 pro-democracy politicians over a fight that erupted last May in the city's legislature during a debate over key committee assignments. Asked why only pro-democracy lawmakers were arrested when the scuffle involved pro-China/establishment politicians as well, a police spokesperson simply said: "It's not about social status or political background."

236: Hundreds of former FARC rebels marched in Bogota, Colombia's capital, over the weekend, demanding better implementation of the landmark 2016 peace deal and an end to the killing of former FARC militants. The protesters say that even though former FARC combatants agreed to demobilize and reintegrate into Colombian society, some 236 former rebels have been targeted and killed by government forces over the past four years.

440: Daniel Nichanian, an American political scientist, has put together a comprehensive cheat sheet that tracks key electoral issues to watch on November 3. There are currently 440 issues on Nichanian's meaty list of "things" to keep an eye on, which includes state legislature spats over gun control, mandatory sex education, and redistricting reform.

66: At least 66 people died after an earthquake in the Aegean Sea rocked Turkey and some Greek islands. The Turkish city of Izmir bore the brunt of the quake. The natural disaster will only compound Turkey's recent woes, as the country is already facing high inflation and unemployment, as well as a plunging currency.

More from GZERO Media

Microsoft Digital Defense Report 2025

Microsoft

Last week, Microsoft released its 2025 Digital Defense Report, highlighting the evolving cybersecurity landscape and Microsoft's commitment to defending against emerging threats. The report provides an in-depth analysis of the current threat environment, including identity and access threats, human-operated attacks, ransomware, fraud, social engineering, and nation-state adversary threats. It also outlines advancements in AI for cyber-attack and defense, as well as the emerging cybersecurity threat of quantum technology. The report emphasizes the need for international collaboration, proactive regulatory alignment, and the development of new tools and practices to enhance cybersecurity resilience. Explore the report here.

Could Saudi Arabia join the Abraham Accords?

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman chairs the inaugural session of the Shura Council in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on September 10, 2025.

Saudi Press Agency/Handout via REUTERS

There are a lot of good vibes between the United States and Saudi Arabia right now. Whether that stretches to the Riyadh normalizing relations with Israel is another matter.

Hard Numbers: Japan elects first female prime minister, Former French president goes to jail, The Netherlands to start deporting migrants to Uganda, US army courts private equity

Japan's new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (C, first row) poses during a photo session with members of her cabinet at the prime minister's office in Tokyo, Japan October 21, 2025.
PHILIP FONG/Pool via REUTERS

1: As anticipated, Japan’s Parliament elected Liberal Democratic Party leader Sanae Takichi to be the 104th prime minister – and the first female PM in the country’s history.

Congress is paralyzed. Who will fix it?

- YouTube

youtu.be

Americans frustrated with dysfunction in Congress want action-oriented leaders like President Trump, former GOP strategist Steven Law says on GZERO World. But the next political winner may be the one who can deliver for voters while lowering the political temperature.

Fighting food waste and empowering women farmers

- YouTube

youtu.be

As the world faces rising food demand, social entrepreneur Nidhi Pant is tackling the challenge of food waste while empowering women farmers. Speaking with GZERO Media’s Tony Maciulis on the sidelines of the 2025 World Bank–IMF Annual Meetings, Pant explains how her organization, Science for Society Technologies (S4S), is helping smallholder farmers process and preserve their produce reducing massive post-harvest losses.

About UsCareers PressContact Us Privacy PolicyTerms of Use
© 2025 GZERO Media. All Rights Reserved | A Eurasia Group media company.