Hard Numbers: Guatemala holds inauguration, Biden issues hostage statement, China dominates Davos, Ukraine downs planes, Wealthy get … wealthier

January 15, 2024

Guatemala's new President Bernardo Arevalo attends a ceremony to be recognised as the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, in Guatemala City, Guatemala, January 15, 2024.

REUTERS/Jose Cabezas

9: Bernardo Arévalo was finally inaugurated Sunday night as Guatemala’s president. The event, which was delayed by nine hours due to opposition from right-wing political opponents in Congress, ended months of a concerted government campaign to prevent his taking office. Arevalo, whose SEED movement championed anti-corruption efforts and progressive reforms, was sworn in amid high expectations for change, months after a contentious election in June 2023.

100: On Monday, the Biden administration issued a statement marking the 100 days in captivity of Israeli hostages, including as many as 6 Americans. Biden noted the diplomatic efforts that had led to the release of 105 hostages in November, as well as continued diplomatic efforts by Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and said the U.S. remains committed to securing the release of the remaining captives.

10: Another item on Blinken’s radar is the large size of the Chinese delegation at the World Economic Forum this week in Davos, Switzerland. China has dispatched ten state ministers, with its second-ranking official set to meet with Swiss leaders. Not to be outdone, the US is arranging a special meeting between Blinken and a Swiss official to ensure that Switzerland does not feel slighted.

2: The Ukrainian air force reportedly shot down two Russian aircraft this weekend, a Russian early warning and control plane and a key command center aircraft. The planes are crucial for coordinating Russian military operations, and are hard to replace: their loss, if confirmed, represents a big win for Ukraine and a significant setback for Russian forces.

One trillion: Oxfam International predicts that the world may see its first trillionaire within the next decade. In its annual report on global inequalities, released during the World Economic Forum in Davos, the organization contrasts the growing wealth of Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos, whose fortunes have more than doubled since 2020, with the 5 billion people who have become worse off during the same timeframe.

Can the IMF change to help more women?

Matthew Kendrick

When a country hits rock bottom financially, the International Monetary Fund is meant to step in with funds to stabilize the economy without damaging its society — or the gender gap. But studies show that these programs often push women out of work at a disproportionate rate to men as the economy contracts. Matthew Kendrick reports from the World Bank-IMF Annual Meetings on a push to build more equitable programs.

North Korean troops move into Russia’s border area with Ukraine

Russia's President Vladimir Putin and North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un attend a farewell ceremony before Putin's departure at an airport in Pyongyang, North Korea June 19, 2024.

Gavriil Grigorov/Reuters

Kyiv says that roughly 12,000 North Korean troops are in Russia, a far greater number than reported by the US, though it remains unclear precisely how many have entered what Ukraine referred to as the “combat zone.”

Will Japan’s LDP lose its grip on power?

October 23, 2024, Kamagaya, Japan - Japanese Prime Minister and leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Shigeru Ishiba reacts to his supporters after he delivered a campaign speech for his party candidate Hisashi Matsumoto for the general election at Kamagaya in Chiba prefecture, suburban Tokyo on Wednesday, October 23, 2024.

(photo by Yoshio Tsunoda/AFLO)

As Japan heads to the polls this Sunday, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s decision to call an early election just weeks after taking office is turning out to be a high-stakes gamble.

Global economy at risk if Middle East conflict expands, says World Bank's Ayhan Kose

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While the global economy shows signs of growth and decreasing inflation, the near future involves risks, including the escalation in the Middle East impacting oil prices, strained China-US relations, and an increasingly challenging tariff and trade environment, said Ayhan Kose, World Bank Deputy Chief Economist. He discussed the geopolitical tensions influencing the global economy with GZERO's Tony Maciulis at the IMF and World Bank Annual Meetings in Washington, DC, in a GZERO Global Stage interview.

Hard Numbers: Guatemala holds inauguration, Biden issues hostage statement, China dominates Davos, Ukraine downs planes, Wealthy get … wealthier

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This week World Bank announced a bold initiative to bridge the gender divide by creating more economic opportunity, broadening female leadership, and reducing gender-based violence in the next 5 years as 2030 approaches.

There are times when we need more context, and there are times when we do not. How do we tell the difference?

Kyiv says that roughly 12,000 North Korean troops are in Russia, a far greater number than reported by the US, though it remains unclear precisely how many have entered what Ukraine referred to as the “combat zone.”

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Subscribe to GZERO Media's newsletter: Signal

Georgian Dream insists the country is still on track to join the EU, as critics accuse the party of pushing Georgia in an increasingly anti-Western, authoritarian direction.

In 2001, a Goldman Sachs economist coined an acronym for the four largest and most promising “emerging market” economies: Brazil, Russia, India, and China became known as the “BRIC” countries.

With the latest polls still showing Donald Trump and Kamala Harris neck and neck in the swing states, both candidates are heading to Texas, a far less competitive state, with hopes of reaching key voter groups nationwide.

As Japan heads to the polls this Sunday, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s decision to call an early election just weeks after taking office is turning out to be a high-stakes gamble.