1. From Brazil to Italy, more populists are in power, the global economy is more fragile than it was a year ago, the markets are jittery, a trade war between America and China is under way, technology (and giant tech companies) arouse growing angst and the rules-based international order is under threat. That makes this a tricky time for predictions, but also an intriguing one.
2. By mid-year America will break its record for its longest uninterrupted expansion, but by the end of the year it could be heading into a recession. China's growth rate will slow down, while India's speeds up. Post-chaos Syria will top the global growth league; at the other end will be shrinking Venezuela and Iran. In Europe, Italy will flirt with financial crisis.
3. Optimists hope this will Brin the beginnings of a reversal in the global trend of recent years towards declining freedoms.
4. Years ending in nine bring a clutch of awkward anniversary that worry China's leaders.
5. There's no hiding from, or for, tech. Whether its artificial intelligence or facial recognition, tech will be everywhere. But Silicon Valley, may have peaked, and the tech giants will be in regulators' sights in both America and Europe.
