Hard Numbers: Ukraine hits Iranian drones, Lula still leading, Japan needs stimulus, Chad bans opposition

A view of drones during a military exercise in an undisclosed location in Iran.
A view of drones during a military exercise in an undisclosed location in Iran.
Iranian Army/WANA handout via REUTERS

70: Ukraine's military has shot down 70% of Iranian-made drones launched by Russia since mid-September. The drones are one of several reasons the war is having unexpected spillover effects in Middle Eastern politics.

4: A week out from Brazil's presidential runoff election, former President Lula da Silva is still polling four percentage points ahead of the incumbent, Jair Bolsonaro. Bolsonaro now claims he'll accept the result if nothing weird happens, although many fear he might pull a 6 de Janeiro if he loses.

100 billion: A ruling party exec says that Japan needs an economic stimulus of at least $100 billion to ease the public pain of rising inflation. On Friday, the central bank intervened to stabilize the yen for a second time amid growing pressure to finally raise interest rates — and with PM Fumio Kishida on the ropes.

7: Chad suspended seven opposition political parties after a crackdown against rare violent protests across the country turned deadly. Demonstrators resent that interim leader Mahamat Idriss Déby, son of Chad's longtime former strongman, plans to stay in power for two more years without facing voters.


This article comes to you from the Signal newsletter team of GZERO Media. Sign up today.

More from GZERO Media

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA), speaking alongside Republican leadership House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-MN), left, House Freedom Caucus Chair Andy Harris (R-MD), second from left, and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA), right, during a press conference at the United States Capitol on Tuesday, March 11, 2025.
People in Damascus celebrate after the Kurdish-led and U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) agreed to integrate into Syria's new state institutions.
REUTERS/Khalil Ashawi

The SDF militia, which controls a vast swathe of Northeastern Syria, will integrate into the national government.

Filipino activists hold candles during a protest vigil supporting former President Rodrigo Duterte's arrest warrant by the International Criminal Court, in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines, March 11, 2025.
REUTERS/ Peter Blaza

Philippine authorities on Tuesday arrested former President Rodrigo Duterte in Manila on an International Criminal Court warrant for alleged crimes against humanity linked to his deadly drug crackdown.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford prepares to speak to an American news outlet in his office at the Queens Park Legislature in Toronto on Monday, March 10, 2025.

Chris Young/The Canadian Press via ZUMA Press via Reuters

In a major development on Tuesday, Ontario, Canada, suspended its 25% surcharge on exports of electricity to Michigan, New York, and Minnesota. The announcement followed US President Donald Trump’s threat Tuesday morning that tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum imports would increase from 25% to 50% starting March 12. Ford’s change or heart prompted Trump to reverse course as well.

- YouTube

With recent tensions between Zelensky and Washington, how likely are the Saudi-hosted peace talks to yield real progress? Are we on the cusp of a nuclear proliferation era as Poland and Germany talk of acquiring nuclear weapons? Does Justin Trudeau's replacement, Mark Carney, have a shot of winning Canada's general election? Ian Bremmer shares his insights on global politics this week on World In :60.