80: The ongoing war in Ukraine, which is nearly two years old, was a big topic in Davos this year. National security advisors from over 80 countries gathered in the Alpine ski town before the summit officially kicked off to discuss Kyiv's 10-point peace plan. Moscow has clearly been paying attention and dismissed meetings on Ukraine's peace formula as "pointless."
250: Over 250 millionaires and billionaires, including Disney heir Abigail Disney, lent their signatures to an open letter addressed to political leaders gathered in Davos, calling on them to do more to tax extreme wealth. "Our request is simple: We ask you to tax us, the very richest in society," the letter said.
15,000,000,000: The cost of rebuilding houses in Gaza will be at least $15 billion, the head of the Palestine Investment Fund said in Davos, as the Israel-Hamas war wreaks havoc on infrastructure across the coastal enclave. Chairman Mohammed Mustafa said it's estimated that around 350,000 housing units in Gaza have been completely or partially destroyed so far.Ever since Donald Trump returned to office last year, governments have been hedging bets on the future of American power and what it might mean for them.
Microsoft is advancing its efforts to eliminate single-use plastics across its global packaging portfolio through material innovation and design changes across products like Surface and Xbox. By rethinking how packaging works—from cushioning to coatings and structural components—the company is reducing waste and demonstrating how design decisions at scale can deliver meaningful sustainability impact. Last week, Microsoft marked a key milestone in reducing single-use plastic in its packaging to just 0.07%, reflecting significant progress toward its broader commitment to become a zero-waste company by 2030. Read the full story here.
In this “ask ian,” Ian Bremmer says the United Arab Emirates’ decision to withdraw from OPEC reflects a broader erosion of trust in longstanding institutions amid growing regional instability.