Raw sewage? In my Hudson river? Unfortunately, it’s not that surprising… and just as likely as you’d think.

Happening in the world: Post-Brexit trade talks have resumed between the UK and the EU. If no deal is reached and ratified by the end of the year, border checks and taxes will be levied on goods traveling between the two entities, dealing a costly blow to both the UK and EU economies. “Sticking points,” such as what to do on fishing rights and business competition rules, continue to trouble the future of any trade agreement. (BBC)

Happening in the US: Rudy Giuliani, the President’s personal lawyer, has tested positive for COVID-19, the President announced via Twitter on Sunday evening. Mr. Giuliani is currently hospitalized, though the severity of his condition is unclear. Mr. Giuliani has been at the forefront of the President’s stream of lawsuits claiming, without evidence, of election fraud in the November 3 election, and has flouted social distancing and mask-wearing all the while. (NYT)

Happening in NYC: According to an unsealed whistleblower complaint from 2016, the NY Waterway ferry company has been illegally dumping raw sewage, including passenger toilet waste and fuel, directly into the Hudson river. The company denies the allegations, and an EPA criminal investigation that opened in 2016 in response to the whistleblower complaints was closed in 2018 without any recommendations for further action. If the accusations are true, it would mean the country’s largest private ferry company had been complicit for years in a massive environmental violation. (Gothamist)

Happening in our community: On Tuesday from 12 pm to 1:30 pm, journalist and political commentator Fareed Zakaria will be discussing his newest book, “Ten Lessons for the Post-Pandemic World.” The talk will explore Zakaria’s perspective on the possible challenges of a post-COVID-19 world. To register for the Zoom event, click here.

Happening in my mind: Watching TikTorchesis this weekend got me really emo… Like, yes, it’s terrible that we are all apart, and I wish we didn’t have to get ~creative~ under these circumstances, but the innovation and talent of our peers at Columbia is still amazing and something to appreciate. Watch TikTorchesis! The Columbia community still exists! Art still exists! Not everything is awful!

Image of a ferry that is Not dumping raw sewage into the river via Wikimedia Commons