Hard numbers: Iran protests death toll reportedly far higher, Deadly attack on Mexican soccer pitch, Gold prices surpass milestone, & More

30,000: The estimated death toll in Iran during the protests at the start of the year, per local health officials, underscoring the scale of the Islamic Republic’s crackdown on its own citizens. This number would far eclipse initial estimates from the independent Human Rights Activists News Agency, which has so far confirmed 5,459 deaths. The regime itself said there had been 3,117 deaths.

11: The number of people killed on a soccer pitch in the Mexican city of Salamanca on Sunday, after a group of gunmen fired on a group of people who had stayed behind after a match there. The motive for the attack is unclear, though it comes as President Claudia Sheinbaum tries to tamp down on cartel-related violence.

81: The number of UK Labour members of parliament required to initiate a leadership challenge against their leader, Prime Minister Keir Starmer. There’s just one problem: Labour leadership blocked one of the potential challengers, Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, from running to return to parliament after a seat opened up in the area. Burnham can’t run for leader unless he’s an MP.

$5,000: The price of gold surpassed this amount – per troy ounce – for the first time ever on Monday. This comes as speculation grows over possible US-Japan action to support the yen, a move that would put further downward pressure on the US dollar. The price of gold has jolted upwards over the last two years as investors question the US’s status as the global reserve currency.

Bonus number! 54: The number of years since Japan has been without pandas. China is taking back the two bears at Tokyo’s zoo after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s recent comments that Japan could take military action if China attacked Taiwan.