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Predictions for 2018
AS the sun sets on 2017, we look at
what could be in store for us in 2018. So what might we expect?
Well, as we look at 2017, we should sadly expect to see more terrorist acts. In
the UK, we will probably an increasing perception of the need to routinely arm
our Police. We are also expecting sadly to see an increase in gun crime, with
young gang members and other criminals using arms more and more. We should also
expect to see an increase in toxic and corrosive chemicals being used by
criminals. On crime, 2018 will most likely see an increase in cyber crimes, as
more and more vulnerabilities in Apple products and other previously less
targeted devices are exposed, as they become more and more popular. However
counter measures are also becoming more sophisticated too...
Even though Windows 7 in 2017 has held its ground against Windows 10, we are
likely to see more operating systems challenging their still dominant position
within the work place. Interestingly, we will also see lots of older software
being released for free, like the source code from Apple's original 1983
operating system, Lisa, due to be released in 2018. Artificial intelligence will
be taking a major leap forward. For Merseyside, expect to see some interesting
developments with some large software and internet companies moving in to the
area.
Banking will be a very hot topic of debate, both nationally and internationally,
but locally, we should expect to see quite a few local branches closing. This
will push the need for businesses to become more and more internet dependent.
Internet companies in 2018 will become more
and more under the spotlight as will telecommunications companies. Russian
activities in 2017 in and around transatlantic cables as well as other related
incidents, including the NHS computer crisis has highlighted our vulnerability
to commerce online. Also, expect more attempts to regulate Social media and non
regulated media outlets that ‘report' news. When it comes to news, we will
likely see Trump using the term ‘Fake News' more and more in 2018,
blurring the true and very worrying issue of real fake news. Also, the likes of
Google will be coming under very close scrutiny, as the new version of Google's
Search Systems are increasingly pushing larger firms and pushing out of the
results, small businesses and news organisations. On the issue of fake news,
Google will also see its search system increasingly investigated, as its latest
system is often promoting unaccredited news outlets and a few very selective
credited news outlets, opening the door to the danger of real fake news strongly
influencing the views of nations. Often this includes advertisements.
Interestingly, watch this space, as the advertisements agency in late 2017, ran
an advert about how it enforces advertisement regulation, which itself gave a
very misleading view to the public in the UK. So keep watching!... IMPRESS will
also assume more importance in 2018, with press regulation again being a topic
for review, with the reappearing allegations of national news organisations
having misled the UK public over Brexit, in 2017.
In 2017, local charity shops, instead of closing, turned to eBay, to sell items
as well as in store. This type of business more should be encouraged for small
shops and businesses, but many do not take these types of opportunities, mostly
due to outdated business practices and issues with banking systems. In 2018,
more businesses in the UK will start to realise that it's not the internet that
is causing the small shops on high streets to fail, by losing out the bigger
businesses; it's the lack of willingness to adapt. This lack of understanding of
the global nature of trade, that we are all now face, along with the fact most
UK based businesses, especially small ones, are just not taking advantage of the
opportunities the internet offers will become more and more relevant throughout
2018.
2018 will be a very turbulent year for the UK; it's not going to be an easy
year. Brexit is getting ever closer and we are still no nearer to sorting out
deals and the EU is set to make an example of the UK. Theresa May will survive
as prime minister through 2018, but mostly due to the fear of a hard Brexit, but
it's going to be very tetchy time ahead for her and her party. We might even see
another General Election called, if things go to wrong, but in UK politics,
anything could happen as of late.
On Merseyside, we will see our Liverpool City Region will become increasingly
more and more financially unstable, with many very hard choices being forced
upon our local Councils. Locally, as well as nationally, the Universal Credit
problems will affect even more claimants, increasing pushing people into
difficulties. Small businesses will be also increasingly facing pressures, as
Councils look to make up the short falls in their budgets. We should brace
ourselves to see even more shops and businesses close in 2018. Plus, if more
wage increases are forced on businesses and the increase in NI and pensions,
rents and insurance premiums, many will be forced to close up for good as, Will
2018 see the authorities waking up to the fact that small businesses are
invariably struggling and simply cannot absorb all these additional welfare
provisions for staff, however merited, It is not their responsibility to make up
the shortfall which results from large companies' tax avoidance! Unlike the
international firms, they can't threaten to pull out of the UK. This, on top of
intimation of quarterly returns to the tax office, which would quadruple
accountancy costs. We will also see an increase in strikes, especially on the
Transport Networks.
Protests about the new road to the Port of Liverpool are inevitable. This issue
is itself a classic example of lack of forward thinking. This need should have
anticipated and tackled years ago, before valuable resources were used to
provide, now much appreciated nature areas.
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With China's economy steadily expanding over the last few years, we will
probably see them taking more advantage of the lower Pound and increasing
opportunities for fire sale deals, as Brexit comes ever closer. This could see
more firms on Merseyside becoming Chinese owned, especially as Liverpool has
extremely close ties to China and is pushing hard to develop business
opportunities with them.
A bit of relief from Brexit issues will be the wedding of Prince Harry to
American actress fiancée, Meghan Markle, on 19 May 2018, in Windsor Castle.
Expect lots of Royal related headlines and events, locally, nationally and
internationally... Also will Trump attend or even visit the UK in 2018?
A building in Liverpool, which was designed in such a way, that it became the
nerve centre of a UK Government agency that intercepted and censored mail to
break enemy codes during World War 2 is getting yet another use of life. If you
don't know what this building was, the iconic former Littlewoods building, on
Edge Lane will become more and more famous as the redevelopment towards becoming
"the Pinewood of the North" gets closer to reality. More and more
films and TV programs will be shot in the Merseyside area, as film studios take
advantage of the lower Pound and fantastic talent on offer within our region.
Well it will deficiently be a CGI, latex and spandex film year... In 2018
we will see many amazing films:- Avengers Infinity War, Ant-Man and the Wasp,
Black Panther, Pacific Rim, Deadpool 2, The Incredibles 2, Ready Player One and
Aquaman. These are just a few of the many films due for release in 2018. For
kids, the top films will likely be Peter Rabbit and Sherlock Gnomes, but don't
thing you're finished with Star Wars, as Solo, A Star Wars Story is heading to
the big screen, so this will definitely become a must see film for all ages...
Depending on its classification mind... It has been rumoured that it might get a
15 rating... The biggest of all the films to be pushed in 2018 will be Jurassic
World Fallen Kingdom. Will Fallen Kingdom rebuild the Jurassic Park image, or
will it loos the magic of the ordinal, just like the others have...? We can't
wait to see... We have to say that 2018 will also be an interesting year for
horror fans, as Predator will be back, and for kids, Hotel Transylvania looks
like it will be a fantastic film for the School's summer holidays...
Next year, we could see a significant increase in numbers of severe earthquakes.
No, that's not due to fracking, but geologists, in 2017, revealed research that
linked the fact that periods of slightly slower rotation of the Earth, occurring
in the last 100 years, have coincided with more earthquakes. 2018 sees the
Earth's rotation slowing once again. So if that correlation reoccurs, we could
see a 30% increase of earthquakes, over magnitude 7. Oddly, the French prophet
Nostradamus, who lived in the 16th century, is reported to have mentioned that
the US will be hit by a major earthquake in 2018. Let's hope he is not correct,
particularly as he says World War 3 might take place! Sadly, that might not be
as improbable as its sounds, as North Korea and a few other nations might yet
make his numerous predictions for doom, in 2018, happen. 2018 will also perhaps
have the most predictable election in recent years, which will take place in
Russia. Vladimir Putin's re-election is seen by many now as a formality,
meaning, should he be re-elected theoretically his term will come to an end in
2024. This would mean he will have been the dominant force within Russian
politics, as either president or prime minister, for almost a quarter of a
century. Quite how this will play out globally is yet to be written in the
history books, but expect lots of posturing with the Russian Military in the run
up to the elections that are due to take place on 18 March 2018.
For us on Merseyside, we expect winter will take hold hard in 2018, with a very
short, but extremely hot summer. This will lead to an increasing in storms. That
will lead to more flooding and other major issues, including problems increasing
with erosion of the sand dunes along the Merseyside Coastline. Pressure will
also be on greenbelt land as the housing crisis continues, but this will not be
addressed by building new homes, as most young people are too overloaded with
debit to afford them. This increased building, on areas that are flood plains
will be of massive concern for local communities in 2018. In Sefton, the
National Trust will see the first full year of its test take over of land on
Formby Point, on the Sefton Coastline, so watch out for lots of developments
from them within local news, throughout 2018. Other issues will be the building
of the new Port Road, the redevelopment plans for the rail network, in
particular Merseyrail and HS2, will be featured in news headlines locally a lot
in 2018.
2018 will see Liverpool pushing harder for the chance to host the host the 2022
World Gymnastics Championships, at Liverpool ACC.
But in 2018, in sport headlines, we will not escape the Football World Cup,
which is set to be held in Russia. Sorry, Russia, but you will not become the
first host to win since 1998, should you win. Talking football, in November
2017, Everton Football club agreed a 200 year lease on the land, Bramley Moore
Dock, so it's safe to say that their plans for a £300 million new stadium will
dominate lots of headlines for the next few years. As too will be what will
happen to the club's Goodison Park, which has been its home for the past 126
years.
It is set to be good news for the Tourism industry in 2018, with the likes of
VisitBritain forecasting a massive
growth within the tourism industry, thanks to
the UK lower Pound. Its also good news for Liverpool as it wants to build a new
"turnaround" facility will allow cruise ships carrying up to 3,600
passengers to start and end their cruises in the City, boosting the cruise
industry still further. But watch out for more objections to be raised by
Southampton, who are worried about Liverpool's extremely successful re-emergence
into the industry it founded.
2018 will have lots of amazing events on Merseyside, from Woodvale Rally, to the
British Musical Fireworks Championships in Southport, to Liverpool's not to be
missed, as it marks, with many celebrations, the 10th Anniversary of becoming
European Capital of Culture, back in 2008. Now with Brexit, a title that no
other UK City is likely to hold, as in 2017 the EU halted European Capital of
Culture bids from UK Cities due to Brexit. That move dashes hopes of Cities,
such as Dundee and Leeds, which were preparing bids costing hundreds of
thousands of pounds.
2018 marks the 100th Anniversary of the end of the First World War. Liverpool
will be 1 of the major Cities to be heavily marking it with many poignant and
extremely moving and exhibitions taking place throughout the year. These as with
so many of the other commemorative ceremonies and events over the 2014 will be
both extremely educational and also thought provoking.
2 of the most anticipated international events on Merseyside are the end of the
2017/18 Clipper Race, in Liverpool and the Grand National. To see some of them,
please use our event Calendar via clicking on
HERE and if you're running any that we
have missed, please do let us know...
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