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Hard Numbers: Oscars go global, Congress does its job, Peru revives the Senate, Mauritania gets migration money

March 07, 2024
Willis Sparks
Oscar host Jimmy Kimmel appears on a billboard in Hollywood as preparations continue for the 96th Academy Awards Awards Los Angeles, California U.S., March 6, 2024. ​

Oscar host Jimmy Kimmel appears on a billboard in Hollywood as preparations continue for the 96th Academy Awards Awards Los Angeles, California U.S., March 6, 2024.

REUTERS/Mike Blake
10,500: The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (the folks behind the Oscars this weekend) has expanded its member rolls to over 10,500 individuals in over 75 countries, which may help account for the rise in international nominees. However, they still have a long way to go to diversify the Academy’s membership as just 34% of members are women and 18% are from underrepresented ethnic and racial communities.

460,000,000,000: The House of Representatives on Wednesday passed a $460 billion spending bill, which is expected to clear the Senate in time to avoid a partial government shutdown this weekend. The bill keeps about a quarter of the government running through September, and legislators will now turn to the lion’s share of federal spending, which must be passed by March 23.

60: Peru will elect 60 new Senators after legislators passed a bill reviving the institution some 30 years after President Alberto Fujimori dissolved it and rewrote the constitution. Half the body will be elected by individual districts, while half will run nationwide races in elections scheduled for 2026.

210,000,000: The European Union has signed a €210 million ($229 million) deal with Mauritania that includes funds to prevent irregular migration from the Saharan nation into Europe. The money will help Mauritania patrol its waters for vessels carrying migrants to Spain’s Canary Islands and is part of a larger EU effort to work with African countries in tackling migration.

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