10 Key Figures in 2017

5 million

The threshold of Syrian refugees that was exceeded according to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), which represents more than a quarter of the Syrian population before the conflict started in 2011.

620,000

The number of Rohingya - a Burmese Muslim minority (2% of the total population) - refugees in Bangladesh according to the UN. On December 1st, 2017, Pope Francis, who was visiting Bangladesh after four days in Burma, called on the international community to take action to address the humanitarian crisis.

13.5 million

The number of Paradise Papers documents, in the survey conducted by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) aggregating 96 media partners, which represents 400 journalists from 67 countries.

$97.5 billion

The amount of international green finance devoted to projects involved in the fight against global warming. France ranks first in Europe and third in the world, with a total of $17 billion out of a total of $97.5 billion.

133

The number of days the Battle of Raqqa lasted (from June 6th to October 17th, 2017) with the support of the international coalition led by the United States. The capture of this city, the most important city controlled by ISIS, is part of the retreat of the Islamic State, following the liberation of Mosul in July of the same year.

11 billion tons

The amount of CO2 emissions that should be reduced by 2030 to achieve the main objective of the Paris Agreement, namely, an increase limited to 2°C of the planet’s average temperature.

12

The number of successful strikes launched by North Korea in 2017. The last one, on November 29th, was particularly significant because it had the capacity to strike the entire American continent. While the country has had nine rounds of sanctions imposed by the Security Council since 2006, it does not seem to intend to abandon its goal of becoming a full-fledged nuclear state.

50

The article of the Treaty of Lisbon activated by the United Kingdom on March 29th, triggering the country’s exit procedure from the European Union. The negotiations are expected to last two years and define (i)the terms of the country’s withdrawal, and (ii) future relations with the European Union.
Trade talks will officially begin on March 29th, 2019, once the United Kingdom becomes a third country.

20 743 128

The number of French voters for Emmanuel Macron in the run-off of the presidential election on May 14, 2017, against Marine Le Pen. This represents 66.1% of all voters. The turnout was 65.6%.

450 million

The amount (in dollars) of Leonardo da Vinci's "Salvator Mundi" painting at an auction in London, making it the most expensive painting in the world.