Hard Numbers: Bolivian frontrunner, COVID vaccine distribution, Chinese hackers target US, pandemic spurs child poverty

Coronavirus vaccine testing in France. Reuters

172: The World Health Organization announced that 172 countries have signed up to its program to ensure a COVID-19 vaccine is distributed fairly around the world. The COVAX scheme aims to procure and deliver around 2 billion doses of a successful vaccine to all participating countries — both rich and poor — by the end of next year.

40.3: Luis Arce, candidate for the party of former Bolivian President Evo Morales, is the clear frontrunner to win next month's presidential election amid a deeply fractured opposition. A new poll projects he will capture 40.3 percent of the vote — almost four times the support of the embattled incumbent, Jeanine Áñez, and just enough to avoid a runoff.

150 million: The coronavirus pandemic has pushed 150 million more children into poverty worldwide since the beginning of 2020, according to a new report by UNICEF and Save the Children. The calculation is based on "multidimensional poverty" indicators such as access to education, health care, housing, nutrition, sanitation, and water.

5: The US Department of Justice has indicted five Chinese nationals linked to China's intelligence services for allegedly infiltrating over a hundred US companies and organizations, as well as pro-democracy groups in Hong Kong. The accused also worked with two Malaysian citizens to commit theft and money laundering related to the US video games industry.

More from GZERO Media

Small businesses are more than just corner shops and local services. They’re a driving force of economic growth, making up 90% of all businesses globally. As the global middle class rapidly expands, new opportunities are emerging for entrepreneurs to launch and grow small businesses.

U.S. President Donald Trump, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte at a NATO leaders summit in The Hague, Netherlands June 25, 2025.
REUTERS

The two-day NATO summit at the Hague wrapped on Wednesday. The top line? At an event noticeably scripted to heap flattery on Donald Trump, alliance members agreed to the US president’s demand they boost military spending to 5% of GDP over the next decade.

Members of the Basij paramilitary force hold Iranian flag, Lebanese flag, and various militia flags, during a rally commemorating International Quds Day in downtown Tehran, April 14, 2023.
Morteza Nikoubazl via Reuters Connect

As the world reacted to Israel and the US bombing Iran’s nuclear facilities last week, one group was largely silent – Iran’s network of allied militias in the Middle East.

Across North America and Europe, blackouts are becoming more common, often hitting when the demand peaks or when the weather turns extreme. The surging demand for power and new energy sources are putting pressure on the energy systems. Meeting today’s energy needs takes a flexible, pragmatic, “all-of-the-above” approach — drawing on all fuels and technologies. Learn how Enbridge is delivering reliable, affordable energy in uncertain times.