☰
HomeLiving Beyond BordersGZERO WorldSignalIn 60 SecondsPuppet RegimeGZERO World PodcastContact UsAbout UsCareersPrivacy PolicyTerms

Hard Numbers: Pakistan suffers blast, Phoenix melts, Bolivia embraces yuan, US aids Taiwan, Barbie rakes it in

July 30, 2023
Tasha Kheiriddin
​People transport a man injured by a blast in Bajaur, Pakistan, on Sunday.
People transport a man injured by a blast in Bajaur, Pakistan, on Sunday.
REUTERS/Fayaz Aziz

45: At least 45 people were killed and over 150 injured in a bomb blast Sunday in Pakistan at a convention of the country’s conservative Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Party in Bajaur ahead of this year’s elections. No group has claimed responsibility, but a local branch of the Islamic State group in Pakistan is believed to have launched recent attacks in Bajaur.

31: As of Sunday, the city of Phoenix, AZ, had sweltered in 110-degree heat for a record 31 days, according to the National Weather Service. The previous record was 18 days, set in 1974. But luckily, it looks like things are set to cool off with the arrival of late monsoon rains.

10: Bolivia announced that 10% of its trade between May and July was done in yuan, rather than the American dollar. Following in the footsteps of Argentina and Brazil, Bolivia is the third South American nation to begin to pivot from the greenback to the yuan.

345 million: On Friday, the US announced a $345 million military aid package for Taiwan to help counter China. In addition to education, training, intelligence and surveillance capabilities, Washington will send man-portable air defense systems, firearms, and missiles.

750 million: "Barbie" is predicted to top $750 million in box office earnings worldwide after its second weekend in theaters, making it 2023’s fourth-biggest domestic release ("The Super Mario Bros. Movie," "Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse," and "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3" in the 1-2-3 positions). But in case you’ve forgotten that we’re living in a Barbenheimer world, "Oppenheimer" was expected to pull in a cool $400 million by the end of the weekend.
From Your Site Articles

More from GZERO Media

Could Jordan Bardella become France’s youngest president?

Jordan Bardella, president of Rassemblement National or National Rally, gives a speech and flies French flags at a rally in support of Marine le Pen after her conviction on April 6, 2025.

Bastien Ohier/Hans Lucas via Reuters Connect

Jordan Bardella, the 29-year-old president of France’s far-right National Rally, aka RN, has announced his readiness to run for the country’s presidency in 2027 if current party leader Marine Le Pen remains barred from contesting the race.

Funeral diplomacy: World leaders push for peace in Rome

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and US President Donald Trump meet while they attend the funeral of Pope Francis at the Vatican on April 26, 2025.
TPX Images via Reuters

At the Vatican on Saturday, US President Donald Trump sat down with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for a meeting the White House described as “very productive,” and which Zelensky said had the “potential to become historic, if we achieve joint results.”

Is Donald Trump’s foreign policy … working?

President Donald Trump raises a fist during a ceremony where he signs two executive orders that will lead to reciprocal tariffs against other countries that charge tariffs on US goods.

Andrew Leyden/ZUMA Press Wire via Reuters

Barely three months in, President Trump has bashed America’s closest European allies and spooked NATO into worrying about its survival, taken a chainsaw to US foreign aid programs, pulled the rug out from under Ukraine, threatened to expand US territory for the first time since the 19th century, and started a global trade war that’s pushed protectionism to its highest levels since the Great Depression. That’s a lot for 100 days, and it seems chaotic, but there are a few basic aspects of Trump’s worldview and commitment to “America First” that are consistent and worth understanding.

50 Years on, have we learned the Vietnam War's lessons?

- YouTube

youtu.be

Fifty years after the fall of Saigon (or its liberation, depending on whom you ask), Vietnam has transformed from a war-torn battleground to one of Asia’s fastest-growing economies—and now finds itself caught between two superpowers. Ian Bremmer breaks down how Vietnam went from devastation in the wake of the Vietnam War to becoming a regional economic powerhouse.

Graphic and Animation Designer

Eurasia Group and GZERO Media are seeking a highly creative, detail-oriented Graphic and Animation Designer who lives and breathes news, international affairs, and policy. The ideal candidate has demonstrated experience using visual storytelling—including data visualizations and short-form animations—to make complex geopolitical topics accessible, social-friendly, and engaging across platforms. You will join a dynamic team of researchers, editors, video producers, and writers to elevate our storytelling and thought leadership through innovative multimedia content.

About UsCareers PressContact Us Privacy PolicyTerms of Use
© 2020 GZERO Media. All Rights Reserved | A Eurasia Group media company.