Hard Numbers: South African lockdown, Croatia earthquake, Iran’s vaccine trial, windfall for banks

South Africa has now officially surpassed 1 million confirmed COVID-19 cases. Reuters

1 million: South Africa, the African country hardest hit by the coronavirus pandemic, has now officially surpassed 1 million confirmed cases. In response, the government has imposed fresh restrictions on public gatherings and alcohol sales, and mandated mask-wearing in public. In South Africa, as elsewhere on the continent, there are worries about the availability of vaccines.

6.4: An earthquake ringing up 6.4 on the Richter scale rocked a small city near the Croatian capital on Tuesday, killing at least seven people and sending tremors throughout the Balkans. Neighboring Slovenia, which felt the tremors, shut down its main nuclear plant as a precaution.

65,000: More than 65,000 Iranians reportedly "volunteered" to participate in the first phase of human testing of an Iranian-made coronavirus vaccine. Of those, 56 were selected for the trial, which will last up to two months. Iran has already suffered more than 50,000 coronavirus deaths, the eighth highest total in the world.

125 billion: With the world mired in its worst economic crisis in decades, investment banks this year generated a record $125 billion in fees. The surge came as lenders and underwriters helped companies raise cash to weather the pandemic and its economic effects.

More from GZERO Media

- YouTube

President Trump and Elon Musk’s explosive fight marks the end of the White House bromance between the world’s most powerful man and the world’s richest. Ian Bremmer and Semafor's Ben Smith break down the fallout and consequences of such a public feud.

Open Call is the heart of Walmart’s $350 billion commitment to US manufacturing, supporting products made, grown or assembled in America. The pitch event represents a unique opportunity for selected entrepreneurs to meet face-to-face with Walmart merchants and earn a chance to get their products on store shelves nationwide. Last year, finalists from across the country represented 48 states, with entrepreneurs from over half these states receiving deals. It’s all a part of Walmart’s investment in American jobs and communities. Learn more about Walmart’s annual Open Call.

Five years ago, Microsoft set bold 2030 sustainability goals: to become carbon negative, water positive, and zero waste—all while protecting ecosystems. That commitment remains—but the world has changed, technology has evolved, and the urgency of the climate crisis has only grown. Earlier this month, they launched the 2025 Environmental Sustainability Report, offering a comprehensive look at the journey so far and how Microsoft plans to accelerate progress. You can read the report here.

Members of the California National Guard stand in a line, blocking an entrance to the Federal Building, as demonstrators gather nearby, during protests against immigration sweeps, in Los Angeles, California, USA, on June 9, 2025.
REUTERS/Leah Millis

Overnight, hundreds of US Marines began arriving in the city of Los Angeles, where protests, some of them violent, against the Trump Administration’s immigration enforcement have been ongoing since Saturday.

- YouTube

China appears to be preparing for an invasion of Taiwan, but the island’s physical geography and international support would make any armed conflict the most complex and deadly in modern history. CSIS China Power Project director Bonny Lin joins Ian Bremmer on GZERO World.