Insights

Children can exhibit remarkable bravery in crisis situations, demonstrating selflessness and composure. Research indicates that many young people possess the cognitive and emotional skills to act courageously well before adulthood. Studies show a correlation between courage and personality traits such as extroversion and intellect, with a vast majority of children having performed courageous acts. Psychological mechanisms suggest that stress may trigger altruistic behavior, reinforcing the capacity of even young children to respond empathetically to others' distress. This ability is supported by their developing executive functions and emotional regulation capabilities.
Children are capable of extreme bravery from a young age – a psychologist explains how
Significant investment in artificial intelligence (AI) raises concerns of a potential market bubble, drawing comparisons to past financial bubbles like the dot-com crash and tulip mania. While substantial funds are being directed into AI infrastructure such as data centers, some experts argue this might represent a boom based on solid fundamentals rather than a bubble, as future profit expectations remain reasonable compared to the dot-com era. The concentration of risk in a few innovative companies poses economic implications if they fail, impacting broader consumer spending and growth.
What we mean when we talk about an artificial intelligence ‘bubble’
Global Biodiversity Week in Cali, Colombia, aims to transform nature financing by integrating Indigenous knowledge and ecosystem regeneration into economic models. Despite Latin America's vast biodiversity, less than 1% of funding supports communities protecting it. The event gathers leaders and innovators to discuss financial strategies that prioritize nature-positive investments. The CEIBA Summit will foster collaboration among diverse stakeholders to establish frameworks benefiting biodiversity-rich regions. Initiatives like Nature500 Startups exemplify the merging of innovation, ancestral wisdom, and finance, highlighting the need to reimagine economies that restore rather than deplete natural resources.
Colombia, Costa Rica, Nigeria | Financial services
Global Biodiversity Week in Colombia could move the dial on nature financing
Libya faces significant challenges in achieving political stability and effective governance, essential for transforming its vast oil wealth into sustainable growth. Since Gaddafi's fall in 2011, the nation has struggled with rival governments, fragile institutions, and conflict, leading to economic turmoil and dependency on hydrocarbons, which accounted for over 95% of export earnings in 2021. Despite having the seventh-largest crude oil production in OPEC, Libya's GDP remains 19.1% below its pre-2011 level. The country's political landscape is fragmented, but there is potential for economic growth through integrated reforms, aiming for an average growth rate of 5.4%.
Albania, Algeria, Angola, Bahrain, Benin, Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Gabon, Ghana, Greece, Guinea, Haiti, Jamaica, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Luxembourg, Malawi, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Namibia, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Poland, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, South Africa, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Venezuela, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Beyond oil wealth: Libya’s path to institutional renewal
Investing in cities is crucial for global stability, particularly as urban areas are increasingly affected by conflict, displacement, and climate shocks. To enhance urban crisis response, three systemic shifts are needed: transitioning from emergency projects to city-led long-term investments, moving from fragmented funding to predictable finance, and integrating city-led humanitarian, development, and peace strategies. Effective local governance and community engagement are essential for resilience, as seen in successful initiatives across various countries. Addressing urban fragility is not only vital for social stability but is also a precondition for private sector investment and economic growth.
Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Rwanda, Uganda | Health, Education, Financial services
Why investing in cities is the strategy for global stability
Agentic AI enhances customer experiences by integrating efficiency with empathy, shifting businesses from traditional efficiency-focused models to those prioritizing customer understanding. This empathetic approach fosters trust, builds social capital, and drives economic value. Companies leveraging agentic AI can detect customer emotions in real-time, allowing for personalized interactions that improve satisfaction and operational metrics. Research indicates that organizations focused on empathy experience significantly faster growth and retention rates. Ultimately, mastering empathy equips businesses with a competitive edge, enabling innovation and stronger stakeholder relationships in today's experience economy.
Education
As agentic AI spreads, empathy is the next competitive edge
AI investments are increasingly prioritized by organizations, with 78% now using AI across functions. However, a study indicates that 95% of enterprise AI initiatives fail due to complexity. Successful implementations focus on human enablement, strategic alignment, and disciplined execution. CFOs must consider both visible and hidden costs, ensuring ROI tracking and prioritizing high-impact use cases. Productivity gains from AI, while challenging to quantify, can enhance workflows and efficiency when paired with human adaptability. Long-term success relies on reinvesting productivity improvements into higher-value work.
Cost, productivity gains and the human factor – a CFO’s guide to AI investment
Neurotechnology is rapidly advancing, offering significant potential but also substantial risks associated with sensitive neural data, which reveals thoughts and emotions. A comprehensive security and governance framework is essential to protect identity and foster trust while unlocking neurotechnology's transformative capabilities. Over 70% of neurotech devices exhibit exploitable vulnerabilities, with threats like brainjacking and cognitive manipulation becoming more feasible. Current regulations are inadequate, particularly for consumer devices. A layered ecosystem of security measures, including data governance, technical resilience, and effective regulations, is crucial to ensure neurotechnology progresses responsibly, enhancing rather than compromising human dignity.
Financial services, ICT, Education
The neurosecurity stack: How we balance neurotechnology’s opportunity with security
Countries annually spend billions on environmentally damaging fisheries subsidies, which contribute to global overfishing and threaten food security. A WTO agreement aimed at limiting these subsidies has come into force, offering a chance for fish populations to recover and aligning with UN Sustainable Development Goals. However, implementation is crucial, demanding that member countries comply with Fish 1 rules and contribute to transparency regarding subsidy programs. Discussions for additional rules, termed Fish 2, are ongoing and focus on preventing overcapacity and overfishing, but momentum needs to be maintained to achieve meaningful reforms.
Latin America
Roundtable: What next for fisheries subsidies?
The article explores the geopolitical implications of AI development in the context of Europe, America, and China. It underscores that, similar to France's historical pursuit of nuclear autonomy, the European Union must enhance its AI capabilities to achieve strategic sovereignty and counter American dominance in the tech industry. While the U.S. adopts a rapid "build first, regulate later" approach, Europe favors a "regulate first, build later" strategy. This fundamental divergence raises concerns about Europe's competitive position in AI and the potential impact of its precautionary stance on global technological advancement. The discussion features insights from technology experts Benjamin Bratton and Francesca Bria.
AI Acceleration Vs. Precaution
Artificial intelligence (AI) is identified as a transformative technology crucial for addressing significant sustainability challenges such as biodiversity loss, resource depletion, and ecosystem degradation. Its potential to enhance efficiency, optimize resource use, improve environmental monitoring, and facilitate data-informed decision-making can accelerate progress toward sustainability goals. The Roundtable on Science and Technology discusses leveraging AI to maximize benefits at the intersection of nature and human activities.
Education
Artificial Intelligence for Sustainability
An interconnected power grid in ASEAN is crucial for countries to meet national climate goals and ensure energy affordability, according to energy leaders. A unified grid allows member states to leverage diverse renewable resources while avoiding high-cost energy solutions that may harm climate objectives. The initiative has gained traction, with significant progress on the ASEAN Power Grid, including operational interconnections and a renewed focus on cross-border electricity trade. An interim regional market exchange is proposed to facilitate power trading and bridge the gap in energy availability across regions, emphasizing the need for policy harmonization to support diverse market structures.
Ghana, Indonesia | Financial services
Making the case for an interconnected power grid – a ‘pragmatic path’ for Asean to achieve urgent net zero targets
Infrastructure development in Bangladesh, particularly the Akhaura-Laksam Double Line Railway and Dhaka-Northwest Corridor projects, has faced challenges regarding the relocation of communal property, such as graves and religious sites. These sites hold deep cultural and spiritual significance for local communities, leading to emotional resistance against their displacement. The government responded with strategies emphasizing early stakeholder engagement and culturally sensitive planning. This approach aims to address both tangible and intangible community concerns, fostering trust and ensuring the preservation of cultural values associated with these spaces during the relocation process.
Bangladesh
Safeguarding Communal Bonds Amid Relocation: Lessons from Bangladesh
AI is significantly transforming democracy, presenting both risks and opportunities to disrupt established power structures. In "Rewiring Democracy," Bruce Schneier and Nathan E. Sanders explore how AI influences legislation, enhances the capabilities of civil servants, and alters legal processes. The outcome of AI's integration into democratic practices depends on its development and use, with potential to either empower citizens or reinforce existing inequities. The authors advocate for steering AI towards augmenting democratic engagement and strengthening participatory governance.
Rewiring Democracy: How AI Will Transform Our Politics, Government, and Citizenship
Interactions with algorithms can adversely affect democratic societies. Researchers from RAND, along with graduate students and outside contributors, created a reading list aimed at exploring how AI and socio-technical systems can enhance democracy. This initiative facilitated discussions on steering democracy towards a more sustainable future by examining the implications of AI in democratic decision-making over four weeks.
Enhancing Democracy with AI
Effective leadership in times of crisis, characterized by low public trust, relies heavily on listening to diverse perspectives. Leaders who engage in active listening can foster collective solutions to significant issues like climate change and social polarization. The decline in trust, as highlighted by the 2025 Edelman Trust Barometer, indicates a widespread perception of misleadership and a zero-sum mindset among the populace. Historical examples, such as Nelson Mandela's approach to unity after apartheid, demonstrate that listening can create an inclusive culture conducive to trust-building. Leaders must prioritize transparency and consistent application of decisions to maintain credibility and facilitate collaboration.
Education
Why listening is key to building trust in a world in crisis
Building cyber resilience in space is vital for economic security due to increased vulnerabilities from cyberattacks and the democratization of space access. The growing reliance on satellite services, valued at over $630 billion in 2023 and projected to exceed $1.8 trillion by 2035, faces threats from geopolitical maneuvering and cyber disruptions. The interconnectedness of space systems, including ground control stations and communication links, makes them susceptible to cascading failures, as illustrated by past cyberattacks. The rapid expansion of commercial space operations further enlarges the attack surface, while inadequate regulatory frameworks lag behind technological advancements, necessitating stronger global governance to ensure infrastructure sustainability and security.
Africa | Financial services, Education, ICT
Why cyber resilience in space is essential for economic security
South Africa can learn from Germany's energy transition as it aims to decarbonize its power sector, where over 70% of electricity is currently generated from coal. In 2024, a global record of 585 GW of renewable capacity was added, emphasizing the need for a shift toward decentralized clean energy. Germany reduced its electricity-related emissions by 45% since 2000, with wind and solar accounting for nearly 40% of generation. Both countries face challenges such as grid resilience and the socio-economic impact of the transition on workers. A just transition is essential for South Africa, where over 100,000 jobs are linked to the coal sector.
Burkina Faso, Egypt, Germany, Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa | Financial services, ICT, Education
Lessons learned and shared challenges: Decarbonizing power in South Africa and Germany
Africa loses approximately $195 billion annually in natural capital, facing crises of food insecurity, water scarcity, and biodiversity loss. The continent's ecological wealth, crucial for global stability, is at risk, with a significant portion of land degraded. Mobilizing capital for ecological protection is essential. African high-net-worth individuals control $2.5 trillion in investable assets, much of which is offshore. By redirecting a fraction of this into local investments, Africa can enhance its ecological and economic prospects. Initiatives like Gabon’s debt-for-nature swap demonstrate the potential of framing natural assets as capital to attract necessary funding for sustainability.
Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania | Financial services
Why Africa can't afford a semantic debate on natural capital
In 2024, 95% of data breaches were linked to human error, highlighting the necessity of investing in cybersecurity training alongside technology. Effective training must involve all employees, fostering a culture of awareness and ethical responsibility. As AI influences cyber operations, training must also cover the responsible use of technology and the detection of sophisticated threats, like deepfakes. The gap between cybersecurity specialists and the rest of the workforce needs to be bridged through adaptable, collaborative education methods. Ensuring security as a shared responsibility is crucial for strengthening defenses against evolving cyber threats.
Financial services, Health, ICT, Education
Why cybersecurity’s future depends on people, not just technology

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