Henry Tricks, a global business columnist for The Economist, and Alessandro Ford, an expert on Latin America, dive into the recent turnaround of Meta under Mark Zuckerberg’s leadership. They explore the illegal gold rush in Venezuela, where desperate workers turn to dangerous mining amid economic turmoil, and discuss the connection between mining and crime. Additionally, they touch on the cultural significance of North Korea's women's football team, examining how their success serves as propaganda amidst complex social dynamics.
Mark Zuckerberg's decisive actions and strategic initiatives have led to a remarkable turnaround for Meta.
Illegal gold mining in South America is fueled by factors such as poverty, global demand, and support from powerful actors.
Deep dives
Meta's Remarkable Turnaround
Meta, the social media giant that includes Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, experienced a remarkable turnaround over the past year. After facing challenges and missing earnings estimates, CEO Mark Zuckerberg made transformative business decisions by slashing spending plans, laying off workers, and quickly launching internal initiatives to use AI and galvanize Meta's core business. These decisions, along with the introduction of features like Reels and gen AI avatars, improved user engagement and boosted Meta's financial performance. The company reported third quarter earnings of over $34 billion, a significant rise of more than 20% year on year.
Illegal Gold Mining in South America
Illegal gold mining in South America, particularly in Venezuela, is booming. Workers in Venezuela extract significant amounts of dirty gold from illegal mines, using dangerous methods and toxins like mercury. Beyond Venezuela, South America is a major region for illegal gold production, with large quantities being smuggled abroad to meet global demands. On the demand side, central banks' increased gold buying, rising middle classes in China and India, and jewelry sector growth contribute to the boom. On the supply side, poverty induced by the pandemic has led to an influx of informal miners in the region. Powerful actors, including autocratic leaders and criminal organizations, often back these illegal mining operations.
Success of North Korea's Women's Football Team
While South Korea usually dominates in men's football matches against North Korea, the situation is different in women's football. North Korea's women's football team, known as Cholima, has a remarkable record against South Korea, winning 16 out of 21 matches. The team's success reflects the broader role of women in North Korean society, where they often play a significant productive and economic role. Despite their achievements, the patriarchal nature of North Korean society limits the recognition and respect given to women, both in sports and in general. The future of the team may continue to be marked by occasional rule-breaking and displays of strength.
The singular focus on the metaverse of Mark Zuckerberg, Meta’s boss, fretted investors. But in the past year he has pulled off a spectacularly timely turnaround. We look at what is driving an illegal-gold rush in Venezuela as a lens on a wider, regional concern (9:48). And why North Korea’s women’s football team provides such good propaganda (16:48).
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