Predictions for 2017: there's plenty to keep an eye on in a year that promises change.

• Author: Gochnour, Natalie
• Position: Economic Insight

I love the start of a new year and am typically filled with optimism as I contemplate local and world events. This year the realist in me takes center stage as I look forward with more trepidation and uncertainty, particularly concerning global affairs. While my crystal ball is foggy and blurred, here are a handful of predictions for the new year.

World events

The geopolitics of 2017 will be the biggest story of the year. U.S.-Russia relations will dominate the headlines as our Russian-friendly president and his Secretary of State manage an already edgy relationship with Moscow. Syria and Ukraine will get a lot of attention, but the real fireball will be Russian meddling in U.S. affairs. I predict more and more evidence will emerge about Russian-led cyberattacks. The Trump administration will need to recalibrate their views.

North Korea will continue to be home to the most dangerous man in the world: Kim Jong-un. The supreme leader of Korea declared in a New Year's Day speech that his military will soon be testing an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of reaching the United States. Perhaps the most dangerous combination of 2017 will be the instability and power of North Korea's leader mixed with the Twitter thumbs of Donald Trump.

Technology

Technology will bring good and bad in 2017. Watch for cybercrime to get a lot more attention, not just in world affairs, but in your own sense of privacy and security. If your personal email and social media feeds haven't already been hacked, it's just a matter of time. Everyone will need to be vigilant in password management, security updates and other common sense security protocols.

The growing presence of "fake news" will catch the attention of credible social media sites. Watch for Facebook to lead the way with innovative approaches to warn users. The attribute of "trust" will get more and more attention as major consumer brands realize how important trust is to their bottom line.

Sensors and robots will continue to multiply. Self-driving cars will take another leap forward, and business plans will begin contemplating the disruption. I'm hopeful that driver-assist options like automatic braking to avoid collisions and automatic steering to avoid lane drifting will reduce traffic fatalities.

Sports

The Jazz will make the playoffs and even compete to make the second round. Gordon Hayward will get the nod as an NBA All-Star, a well-deserved honor for this talented athlete. The fan favorite...