IEP Future Trends 9/27/2022

 

About Us  Maps + Data  Resources September 27, 2022 ◯ Conflict ◯ Development ◯ Social ◯ Economics ◯ Politics IN THIS WEEK'S EDITION Here's what you need to know: President of Equatorial Guinea set to run for the presidency again, Congo crisis in focus at UN General Assembly, Japanese scientists create a cyborg cockroach, UK sterling falls to a record low, Dutch city bans meat advertisements.   POLITICS President of Equatorial Guinea set to run for the presidency again. The world’s longest-ruling president, who has been in power since 1979, has announced his intention to run again. He has ruled for 43 years. Iran protests: at least 450 arrested in the northern province. Protests were sparked by the death in police custody of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, and have spread across the country. The protests have been met with internet shutdowns and violent repression. The President said he will act decisively to stop the demonstrations. Colombia and Venezuela re-open borders after years of tension. Colombia and Venezuela fully re-opened their border, potentially reactivating billions of dollars in trade that dried up during years of diplomatic tension.  Antigua and Barbuda plans a referendum to decide whether or not to leave the British monarchy. The country plans to hold a referendum to decide on whether to become a republic within the next three years. Last year, Barbados severed its last imperial ties with Britain by declaring itself a republic. Far-right triumphs in Italy's election. Giorgia Meloni looks set to become Italy's first female prime minister, at the head of its most right-wing government since World War Two, after leading a conservative alliance to triumph in the elections. CONFLICT Congo crisis in focus at UN General Assembly. The UN has conceded that its peacekeepers can't defeat the M23. The DRC and Rwanda aired their dispute over claims that Rwanda was backing M23.  Eritrea invades Ethiopia's Tigray region. The TPLF has reported that Eritrea has launched a full-scale offensive in the Tigray region against them. Neither government has commented on the matter, despite the US envoy condemning the offensive. Malians protest against UN peacekeepers. Hundreds of Malians marched in the streets, protesting against UN peacekeepers while chanting anti-UN slogans. Others stated that the peacekeepers have undermined Mali's sovereignty. UN envoy proposes to extend truce in Yemen. The UN Special Envoy for Yemen has submitted a proposal to the Yemeni warring factions to extend the ongoing truce. The government welcomes renewing the UN-brokered truce, which will expire shortly.  DEVELOPMENT Japanese scientists create a cyborg cockroach — part insect, part machine. Remotely controlled and equipped with ultra-thin electronics, flexible materials, and a rechargeable battery attached to a solar cell; it can inspect dangerous areas and monitor the environment. The UK reverses the fracking ban in England to secure the energy supply. The UK Prime Minister has reversed the 2019 ban on hydraulic fracturing, in an effort to boost local fossil fuel production amid a deepening energy crisis.  Denmark to compensate developing nations for damages due to climate change. It is the first country to offer “loss and damages” compensation to those most impacted by the effects of climate change. The government has pledged 100 million Danish krone (€13,4M). Scientists propose a plan to refreeze North and South Poles. A fleet of 125 military air-to-air refueling tankers would release a cloud of microscopic sulphur dioxide particles at an altitude of 43,000ft. ECONOMICS UK sterling falls to a record low. The pound has hit a record low against the dollar, after the UK government announced sweeping tax cuts in a mini-budget. The currency is expected to fall further. Japan intervenes to prop up the yen for the first time since 1998. The Japanese government sold US dollars after the yen slumped past the 145 mark against the dollar. Interest rates in Japan still remain negative which has placed pressure on the currency.  Lebanese banks close indefinitely after a string of robberies. The economic crisis in Lebanon has led to several incidents of robberies in which people demand access to their own savings. Due to a lack of security, the banks’ association has decided to shut banks indefinitely. Inflation in Sri Lanka reached 70.2%. With food prices rising 84.6% and non-food prices 57.1%, the island enters its worst economic crisis of the decade. China reins in its Belt and Road program, $1trillion later. China has spent a trillion dollars on its Belt and Road Initiative. As many countries fail to repay the loans and projects do not meet expectations, Beijing is now overhauling the troubled initiative. SOCIAL Dutch city bans meat advertisements. Haarlem has deemed that meat contributes to the climate crisis, and will therefore ban advertisements starting in 2024 in the hope of reducing consumption. Opposition criticizes the move as a restriction of freedom of expression. US arrests along the Mexico border top 2 million a year for the first time. In the past 11 months, more than 2 million migrant arrests have been reported at the southern border of the United States. This figure considerably surpassed the previous year's figure of 1.7 million arrests. Authorities have reported that since August 2021 there has been a 175% increase in arrests. NASA's DART mission to deflect an asteroid. The DART mission was a test to change the trajectory of a meteorite. It was a successful test that may save the earth from future asteroid impacts.  New Pacific island rises after the underwater volcanic blast. The tiny island came into existence 11 hours after a volcanic eruption and grew to 24,000 square meters in size. Catholics outnumber Protestants in Northern Ireland for the first time. It represents a demographic milestone for a state that was designed, a century ago, to have a permanent Protestant majority. In last week's Future Trends, which country ranked as the fifth biggest economy in the world? United Kingdom India Germany Japan Join the IEP Ambassadors Program The IEP Ambassadors program provides an opportunity for individuals to gain concrete knowledge and resources to help foster peace within their networks and communities. 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