Forbes - The great reset 🙌

Every Saturday I send you a tight edit of Forbes’ future trends across tech, entrepreneurship, sustainability and more. Enjoy.

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5 things we learned

America might ship in ‘Freedom Gas’ to help Europe stay warm. Russia’s Gazprom cut deliveries to Europe by half this winter, causing prices to soar. Savvy traders are seeing the upside, making millions from the fast-moving contracts.

Sweden dropped free covid testing. With almost all restrictions dropped, free testing will now be limited to key healthcare workers and the clinically vulnerable. The country has “reached a point where the cost and relevance of testing is no longer justifiable”.

China is just as wary of U.S. tech as the U.S. is wary of Chinese tech. Beijing is stepping up its campaign to de-Americanize its supply chain, fining Chinese companies who list on American stock exchanges and blocking mergers.

No, electric cars aren’t more polluting than gas-guzzlers. Electric cars produce no tailpipe emissions, how green are they really? Despite the naysayers, battery-powered mobility pays off. Good timing for President Biden, who announced $5 billion funding for a national charging network.

Will Amazon’s latest price hike make you rethink your Prime subscription? U.S. customers will see their annual subscriptions rise by $20 this year. But with inflation soaring worldwide, industry analysts described it as a “dangerous move”.

The good

With the office no longer center stage, corporate culture is being redefined. Office ping pong tables and catered lunches are out, replaced with wellness days, diversity training and permanent hybrid working.

The bad

One American hacker took down all of North Korea’s internet. The country’s entire internet went down in the last 2 weeks of January, leading to suspicions of cyber warfare. One lone hacker came forward, claiming they orchestrated the attack as ‘revenge’ on North Korean hackers, who earlier breached Microsoft Windows and Google Chrome.

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Do this

Beethoven’s Fidelio through the lens of Black Lives Matter. Featuring the voices of 100 incarcerated singers from 6 prison choirs, this Beethoven adaptation follows the wrongful conviction of a black activist and his fight for freedom. Met Museum, New York, February 13, from $65.00.

Watch

How film created hope in a time of crisis. When Lebanon was struck by a devastating explosion at the port of Beirut, Filmmaker Mounia Akl rebuilt a sense of order amidst the chaos by choosing to finish a film she had set out to make. TED, available to watch worldwide.

Listen

Business in Beijing. The Winter Olympics are in full swing, but China's global reputation is causing companies to take a more cautious and quiet stance when it comes to promoting their brands. NPR, free to listen worldwide.

Read

Celebrate the Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II. From Christmas speeches to garden parties, follow the extraordinary life of Britain's longest-reigning Monarch through a special selection of photographs taken during her 70-year reign. Royal Collection Trust, from $24.00.

Taste

Chocolate lovers. If romantic dinners aren’t your thing, why not celebrate Valentine’s day this year with an at-home chocolate tasting. Your friends, family or partner will love you for it.

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