Global Scans · Social · Weekly Summary

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WHAT'S NEXT?: In the years to come, social commerce will become more widespread and the level of personalization will improve with advanced AI solutions & chatbots. The number of worldwide social media users is projected to grow from 2.1 billion in 2016 to 2.5 billion by 2018.

• Regulatory perspective: The Ethiopian Banking Authority Corporate governance principles for Ethiopian Banks state that an effective risk governance framework requires robust communication about risk issues, including the Ethiopian bank's risk strategy. FinExtra
• As the scientific community debates the advantages and risks of transgenic plants, the proportion of the transgenic field crops has significantly increased worldwide, since last few years, and the public acceptance of transgenic crops continues to demonstrate. SpringerLink
• As India progresses towards becoming a global economic powerhouse, the interim budget provides a foundation for inclusive growth and development, offering hope and opportunities for all sections of society. IPEM
• In terms of the environment, too often the U.S. government has sided with global oil and mining interests when local communities in Latin America and the Caribbean have challenged resource-extracting projects that threaten their environment and endanger public health. CounterPunch.org
• As sea levels rise by multiple feet in the coming decades, communities along the coastal United States will face increasingly frequent flooding from high tides and tropical storms. Ocean Oculus
• China will act to reestablish its international climate leadership: To respond to growing demands by the international community and shift global climate-related attention away from China, while also advancing its own national interests, China is likely to offer a more concrete climate plan in 2024. Asia Society
• By 2035, member states will be required to remove organic matter from urban wastewater before releasing it into the environment in all communities with more than 1,000 people. Circle of Blue
• Another imagined Pakistani terrorists using commercial satellite imagery and communications to hit India with drones, showing that muddy regulations could play a part in drawing America and China inadvertently into a conflict in space. The Economist
• Given the use of social media for extremism, data scares such as the Facebook breach by Cambridge Analytica, anxieties about Russian bots, concerted online abuse, and increased data surveillance, the unbridled optimism that technology will create an educational utopia now seems naive. Educause Review
• The scholarship scheme is not only promoting education but also fostering cultural exchange between Ghana and Lebanon and creating opportunities for more alliances between both countries in the future. CitiNewsroom.com
• The partnership between Telstra International and Trans Pacific Networks to establish the Echo cable represents a significant advancement in enhancing connectivity across the Trans-Pacific region, opening up new opportunities for communication and collaboration. Bollyinside
• The ever-increasing popularity of social media will demand even more attention in 2024 from online retailers to protect brand reputation and retain customer loyalty. Total Retail
• A $3.5 million investment will launch the new Pennsylvania Regional Challenge, which will incentivize regional growth, and support communities by investing funds into the development of comprehensive strategies to propel entire regions forward. Central Penn Business Journal
• In 2024, businesses will need to take a more active role in closing the digital divide and ensuring that communities can gain access to essential online services. New Statesman
• In 2024, the federal government is set to roll out, state by state, tens of billions of dollars in energy incentives that could help more families break free of energy poverty, improve air quality in their communities and cut planet-warming emissions. The Washington Post
• Qatar envisions itself as a global sports hub, hosting major events while promoting its culture and values, whilst Saudi Arabia aims to be a major player in the global sports industry, utilizing sports to enhance its image and invest in domestic sport infrastructure. Gowling WLG
• The military regimes in the three countries of Mali, Niger Republic and Burkina Faso yesterday announced their immediate withdrawal from the West African bloc, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), asserting that it had become a threat to member states. Leadership News
• Spiritual tourism is poised to be a key focus in 2024, and we anticipate more measures aimed at enhancing infrastructure, and accessibility, including last-mile connectivity in spiritual and cultural hubs across India. Mint
• As local organizations are able to provide support to communities at risk of rocket attacks, WCK expects to wind down its efforts in Israel. Hopebuilding
• The Kremlin will likely use the withdrawals of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to continue efforts to expand Russian influence in Francophone Africa. Institute for the Study of War
• China will provide the world with new opportunities through its own development, helping move global human rights governance toward greater fairness, justice, rationality and inclusiveness and promoting the building of a community with a shared future for humankind. Capital News
• The expansion of LNG exports threatens a stable climate for future generations, increases energy costs for American homeowners and businesses, and harms the quality of life in environmental justice communities. The White House
• $1.5 billion over five years to improve marine safety and responsible shipping, protect Canada's marine environment, and create new opportunities for Indigenous and coastal communities. Transport Canada

Last updated: 05 February 2024