News
Hard Numbers: US economy down, Bennett picks up his tab, no ransom in Nigeria, South Koreans spy for North
Paige Fusco
1.4: US economic growth shrank by 1.4% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2022, the first contraction since the pandemic began. Bad news for President Biden, but a recession can still be avoided if Americans keep spending, hiring remains strong, and wages keep pace with inflation.
7,400: Israel's PM Naftali Bennett says he'll pay for his own meals from now on after running up a $7,400 monthly food tab covered by taxpayer money. Bennett, a self-made millionaire who still lives in his private residence, claims to spend three times less per month than his predecessor Bibi Netanyahu, famous for his lavish lifestyle.
15: Nigeria has updated its terror law in a bid to fix its kidnapping problem. Anyone who pays a ransom now faces a minimum 15-year sentence, and abductors who kill now face the death penalty.
2: Two South Koreans have been arrested for allegedly passing secrets to the North. The pair — a crypto CEO and an army officer — are accused of sharing login details for South Korea's joint military command in exchange for a hefty payday in Bitcoin.To understand the deepening rift between the UAE and Saudi Arabia, following the UAE's exit from OPEC, GZERO spoke with Gulf expert Firas Maksad. He breaks down the tensions between Abu Dhabi and Riyadh and what "OPEC-xit" means for the region.
Chinese banks are helping with the investments.
Right-wing leaders have been consolidating power across Latin America, driven by voter frustration with rising organized crime. However, with another batch of elections coming this year and next, the right's winning streak could be under threat.