📈 Future Trends — Ukraine to join NATO cyber defence centre, World’s next megacities, Brazil launches anti-deforestation raids


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January 24, 2023

◯ Conflict ◯ Development ◯ Social ◯ Economics ◯ Politics

IN THIS WEEK'S EDITION

Here's what you need to know: US announces $2.5bn military aid package for Ukraine, Tanzania’s opposition holds first rally in six years, Colombia and ELN rebels to resume peace talks in Mexico, the world’s next megacities, extreme weather predicted with El Niño set to return in 2023, Argentinian farmer celebrates World Cup win with corn crop depicting Messi's face.

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SPECIAL EDITION: UKRAINE

US announces $2.5bn military aid package for Ukraine, but no tanks. The package includes 90 Stryker combat vehicles and 59 Bradley fighting vehicles, however tanks were not included. Germany said it would only send its Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine if Washington sends Abrams tanks.

Ukraine signs agreement to join NATO cyber defence centre. The agreement to join the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence allows Ukraine access to NATO’s technology and research, while CCDCOE members will learn more about defending against cyberattacks during wartime.

US to impose new sanctions against Russia's Wagner private military group. By declaring Wagner a transnational criminal organisation, it freezes any US assets of Wagner and prohibits Americans from providing funds, goods or services to the group. US officials say Wagner have been helping Russia's military in the Ukraine war.

POLITICS

Tanzania’s opposition holds first rally in six years. Tanzania’s main opposition party has held its first mass rally since the lifting of a 2016 ban, raising hopes of greater political freedom in the East African nation. The move was cautiously welcomed as a gain for democracy by rights groups.

One million protest in France against rise in retirement age. More than a million people have protested against plans to move the age of retirement from 62 to 64, severely disrupting public transport and closing many schools. Most European countries have raised official retirement ages, with Italy and Germany on 67 and the UK on 66.

New Zealand's ruling party confirms new prime minister. Former minister for COVID-19, Chris Hipkins, has been confirmed as New Zealand’s next prime minister. Hipkins said his government would cut inessential reforms to focus on the economy with possible changes to make the tax system fairer.

Russia, Estonia expel ambassadors amidst ‘destroyed’ relations. Russia ordered the Estonian Ambassador to leave by February 7, the first time it has expelled an ambassador of an EU country since invading Ukraine. In response, Estonia said the Russian ambassador must leave their country.

Lebanon says it will pay UN dues after losing voting rights. Lebanon will pay arrears to the UN to regain its voting rights at the world body, after the country lost these rights for the second time in three years due to unpaid contributions. Lebanon needs to pay a minimum of $1.8 million.

CONFLICT

Colombia, ELN rebels to resume peace talks in Mexico. Colombia and the National Liberation Army rebel group said they will resume peace talks in Mexico next month, overcoming a recent impasse after the government recently declared and then called off a bilateral ceasefire.

Russia delivers warplanes and helicopters to Mali. The Malian army received 8 warplanes and 2 helicopters from Russia, the latest in a series of Russian deliveries of military equipment. Mali has fought a jihadist insurgency and experienced political and humanitarian crisis since 2012.

Mass withdrawal of Eritrean forces from Ethiopia continues. Following the signing of a peace treaty, Eritrean soldiers are withdrawing from areas they had occupied since November 2020 when they were deployed to back the Ethiopian Government.

Burkina Faso confirms it has ended French military accord. Burkina Faso has ended a military accord allowing French troops to fight armed groups in the country, with Burkinabe authorities wanting French troops gone within a month. France deploys about 400 special forces soldiers in Burkina Faso.

Al-Shabab extremists killed in a deadly battle in Somalia. More than 100 insurgents were killed in battle, after they launched an attack on a Somali National Army base. This is the largest battle since the Somali government launched a military offensive against the insurgents in August.

ECONOMICS

The world’s next megacities. By 2050, 70% of the world’s population will live in cities, up from 54% in 2020, according to a report by the Institute for Economics & Peace. This increase is being driven by both population growth and a continued shift towards urbanization.

Microsoft to invest billions in OpenAI as tech race heats up. Microsoft Corp announced a further multibillion-dollar investment in OpenAI, deepening ties with the startup behind the chatbot sensation ChatGPT and setting the stage for more competition with rival Alphabet Inc's Google.

Russian oil price cap could save African countries $6bn annually. The US Treasury Secretary said ending the war would be the best thing to help the global economy, and estimated a G7-led price cap could save the 17 largest net oil-importing African countries $6 billion annually.

China’s worst economic performances in decades. Impacted by widespread Covid lockdowns and a downturn in the property market, China’s economy expanded by just 3% in 2022 which marks one of its worst performances in nearly half a century.

Pakistan begins restoring power after second major grid breakdown. Nearly 220 million people were without electricity during the second major breakdown in three months, with this outage lasting more than 12 hours during the peak winter season. The electricity grid needs an expensive upgrade.

DEVELOPMENT

Warning of unprecedented heatwaves as El Niño set to return in 2023. Global forecasters are predicting the return of the El Niño climate phenomenon later this year will cause global temperatures to rise. It will exacerbate extreme weather around the globe potentially causing the world to exceed 1.5C of warming.

Brazil launches first anti-deforestation raids in bid to protect Amazon. Brazilian environmental agents cut through the rainforest with machetes in search of criminals in the first anti-deforestation raids under President Lula, who has pledged to end surging destruction inherited from his predecessor.

Malawi cholera vaccine severely depleted. Malawi is reportedly out of the cholera vaccine, as new cases continue to rise and over 900 deaths have been recorded so far in the country’s worst cholera epidemic in decades. The country had almost eradicated the disease before this recent outbreak.

Sierra Leone president signs women’s rights bill into law. The legislation mandating that women make up 30% of Sierra Leone’s workforce and government positions applies to all companies in the private sector that employ 25 or more people. It includes civil service and Cabinet appointments.

Google to cooperate with India watchdog after Android ruling. India’s top court has upheld an antitrust order forcing the tech giant to change how it markets its Android platform. Google must remove restrictions on device makers, including those ensuring exclusivity of its search.

SOCIAL

Argentinian farmer celebrates World Cup win with corn crop depicting Messi's face. The field was sown using an algorithm that calculated where seeds would need to be planted so that when the corn grew it created a huge visual image of Messi's bearded visage.

EU cracks down on waste-related crime. The European Parliament has backed a plan for tighter rules on shipments of waste outside the bloc and to crack down on waste-related crime. Illegal trafficking represents between 15% and 30% of waste shipments in Europe and is worth €9.5 billion annually.

Tech bosses face jail if children not kept safe online after UK parliament deal. They will be criminally liable for repeated breaches of their duty of care to children and could face up to two years in jail.

Squid and human brains develop the same way, despite diverging 500 million years ago. High-resolution cameras focused on longfin squid embryos have shown in spite of years of divergent evolution the basic blueprint for how complex brains and nervous systems evolve may be the same across species.

WiFi can be used to see people through walls in detail. Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University have developed a method for detecting 3D shape and movements of human bodies in a room using only WiFi routers.