Events that should mark the year 2017 on a global scale.

1. Vladimir Putin could toughen the game towards the West

If the game seems locked for the presidential election of 2018, Vladimir Putin will continue to lead beyond its borders a strategy that gives Russia its greatness in the concert of nations. The Russian president, whom "Times" has consecrated as the most powerful man on the planet, will he be satisfied with being the master of the game in Syria? If the Europeans do not lift the sanctions against the annexation of Crimea, it might be tempting to raise the stakes. Why not test the solidarity of a NATO in doubt and whose dismantling is its ultimate dream, by operations destabilizing the Baltic countries or Poland?

2. Development indicators improving

Life expectancy at birth, which has risen by four months a year for half a century, is expected to average 72 years worldwide during the year, and infant mortality will fall below 30 per 1,000 births. Another indicator of development improving imperturbably, the number of people living on less than $ 1.90 per day could reach 800 million at the end of 2017, against 2 billion thirty-five years ago. On the current trend, the proportion of illiterate adults could fall below 15% and that of the malnourished population close to 10%. While the number of mobile phone subscriptions will exceed that of the number of human beings ...