Global risks to consider in 2023, Myanmar's army marks two years in power and CES returns with more wacky gadgets
January 2023
Hello readers!👋
Welcome to the first edition of 2023 as well as the Lunar New Year.
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FORECASTING FLASHPOINTS
Academics, think tanks, consultancies and banks have read the tea leaves and peered into crystal balls to predict the global agenda for 2023. Many of those experts also shared their views at the recent Davos summit, which returned to its regular January programming following Covid-19 disruption.
As expected, the outlook is rather bleak. The term “polycrisis” seems to capture the general sentiment, with the Russia-Ukraine war, China’s reopening, Europe’s energy supplies, climate-induced catastrophes and rising interest rates dominating the list of concerns. But beyond the obvious risks, there are other issues worth paying attention to:
Isolated Iran: The government in Tehran is juggling mass protests, escalating tensions with Washington, fresh sanctions and an expanding nuclear programme. According to Eurasia Group, Iran “has shown that it lacks any capacity to respond except with repression”.
Challenges facing West Africa: Democratic erosion, violent clashes and food insecurity are serious threats to the region, says the UN. The international community has called for stronger institutions to combat corruption and promote peace, however, the ruling elites are resistant to change.
Brace for cyber attacks: The World Economic Forum warns that attempts to harm “critical technology-enabled resources and services will become more common”. Agriculture and water, financial systems, transport, communications and energy infrastructure are all vulnerable to hackers.
TikTok troubles: The Chinese-owned digital wunderkind is increasingly becoming a diplomatic landmine. US lawmakers have now banned TikTok on government devices, while several colleges are starting to block the app from campus WiFi networks.
MYANMAR’S MILITARY REGIME
In the two years since Myanmar’s military leaders seized power, the plight of the Southeast Asian country has shifted to the back pages of media coverage.
When I visited Myanmar in 2017, the so-called “land of shadows” was emerging from decades of isolation. The political transition under Aung San Suu Kyi began promisingly but then came the army’s brutal crackdown on Rohingya Muslims. Suddenly, on 1 February 2021, the generals grabbed control again and reversed any progress towards civilian rule.
Although the junta has pledged to hold an election this August, the revised criteria sidelines opposition parties. It’s a move straight out of “the tyrant’s playbook”, notes the Guardian, adding that “all concerned actors, international and domestic, must join together to dethrone” the military regime.
Reports of the junta’s actions are alarming: murder and torture of activists; airstrikes against rebel groups; limiting the operations of aid workers; pushing the courts to lengthen Aung San’s prison sentence. Elsewhere in the country, farmers are said to be boosting opium and heroin production as drug eradication efforts stall.
COOL AND QUIRKY INVENTIONS
Despite widespread layoffs across Silicon Valley, it was business as usual at the world’s premier tech convention, the Consumer Electronics Show (CES). More than 3000 exhibitors, including Amazon, LG, Mercedes-Benz and Sony, descended on Las Vegas to unveil their latest wares and prototypes.
CES never ceases to amaze with its mix of innovative, practical and wacky gadgets, from stylish laptops to self-driving vehicles. Here’s a quick round up of some of the eye-catching product launches:
A stationary bike that charges laptops with pedalling movement
Specially designed face masks that allow for quiet phone calls
A fancy fridge with colour-changing doors and Bluetooth speakers
A lipstick applicator by L’Oréal to assist people with limited hand and arm mobility
An in-toilet sensor with an associated app to analyse urine samples
Portable cuff-less blood pressure kits
A cordless robotic pool cleaner able to move underwater
If you want to dig deeper into CES news and reviews, check out The Verge, CNET and Mashable.
Thanks for reading! Take care and stay curious, Sara x