World Economic Forum

Catch up on the key stories and developments shaping the financial world. Top stories: IMF flags weaker global growth as geopolitical risks intensify; Earnings season lifts big US banks’ profits; Korea markets rebound on foreign inflows. For more on the World Economic Forum's work in finance, visit the Centre for Financial and Monetary Systems.

Critical thinking has become a go-to response to education in the age of AI and social media. It's crucial to define what critical thinking means in today's context – and even more important that educators know how to teach it. An LA school is introducing a whole module on critical thinking, in a model that others can follow. If you ask educators today what skills we should be developing in young people, they will more or less all say critical thinking.

This monthly round-up brings you a selection of the latest news and updates on global trade. Top international trade stories: Middle East ceasefire impacts oil and shipping; EU-US trade deal a step closer; UNCTAD says global trade hit a record $35tn in 2025. International trade and markets reacted swiftly to the two-week ceasefire agreed by the US and Iran on 7 April.

Energy Transition Published Apr 17, 2026 · Updated Apr 17, 2026 The price of a barrel of crude oil has fluctuated wildly since the start of the new millennium. Image: REUTERS/Regis Duvignau Senior Writer, Forum Stories Visual Designer, Forum Stories Oil prices have seen surges and drops since the US-Iran conflict began in February. But world events have always impacted the energy markets. This chart reveals how oil prices have shifted at key political and economic moments in recent history.

Alternative fuels like clean hydrogen provide a potential solution to current energy transition and security concerns. But while new project announcements abound around the world, only a small fraction have reached final investment decision (FID) stage. To properly scale clean hydrogen to create a climate and energy security solution, project design needs to shift in four ways. The recent disruption in the Strait of Hormuz has once again exposed how fragile global energy supply chains remain.

East Africa’s young population presents an opportunity if skills systems can better match labour market needs. Peer-led reskilling models are helping address access barriers, relevance of training and employer linkages. Early pilots show that applying skills to real community challenges can strengthen learning and improve job readiness. As the world reconfigures around automation and rapid technological change, East Africa faces a defining moment.

Government support is accelerating green materials development in Japan Image: REUTERS Communications Lead, Japan, World Economic Forum Lifecycle carbon emissions from buildings in Japan are estimated to account for approximately 40% of the country’s total greenhouse gas emissions. In addition to decarbonization, energy-efficient materials reduce utility costs, improve indoor comfort for building users.

The conflict currently affecting the Strait of Hormuz is not just feeding through to global energy supplies, it could rewrite the future of artificial intelligence (AI), says serial entrepreneur, Tony Pan. The next phase of the AI race will not be won by code alone, he says, but by the countries that can summon electrons, copper and molecules – even amid geopolitical shifts and tension.

Systemic risk is increasingly shaping the trajectory of economic growth in an era defined by geopolitical, climate and technological volatility. Often invisible at first, systemic risk acts like a hidden tax on growth, raising costs, discouraging innovation and weakening the resilience of economies. In a period of unprecedented risk complexity, the insurance industry can help transform systemic uncertainty into a foundation for sustainable growth.

The first edition of the Intelligent Industrial Operations Outlook explores how industrial operations are shifting from traditional automation to intelligent, connected and increasingly autonomous systems. It shows how frontier technologies such as AI, physical AI and quantum technologies are transforming industrial operations, reshaping how organizations plan, produce, move and improve.