The soft power superpower, shame-driven terrorists and other top stories of the week

Your life span may depend on your country. Pick South Korea, not the US.

Soft power and global influence: France is on top now.

Many terrorists aren’t even religious. Their true motive? Shame.

The average job lasts 4 years. Time for reskilling strategies for employees and employers.

Lifelong learning drives prosperity. Why does hardly anyone do it?

Chinese “deep pockets” vs “America first.” The new Asian geopolitics.

Government by referendum. How Switzerland’s direct democracy works.

The latest dispute between the US and China? Genetic data.

Too big to jail. Why corrupt bankers are almost never punished.

Germany’s anti-aging remedy: immigration.

The missing keys to macroeconomic policy analysis? Race and gender.

Stem cells slow aging in mice. Can they keep people young too?

VR documentary premiered at Davos nominated for Emmy. The Forum helped produce Collisions. (Film Ink)

An app for women’s rights in Saudi Arabia. Cites Global Gender Gap Index. (Los Angeles Times)

Brazil’s jungle-bred start-up. References Global Competitiveness Report. (Bloomberg)

The UAE stands out in digitization. Coverage of the Forum’s Digital Evolution Index. (Emirates 24/7)

ASEAN’s skills gap. Cites Forum Human Capital Report. (Asia Times)