15 must-read stories for the weekend

Africa’s power shortages are limiting growth. Under-investment is the issue. An ambitious new plan aims to plug the finance gap without relying on fossil fuels.

Trial and error in China. If markets only progress through experimentation, what have we learnt from the recent shifts in the Chinese stockmarket?

Greece gets a deal. Bailout negotiations went down to the wire. Now comes the hard part: making it work.

Don’t write off Japan. Two decades of stagnation might have sapped their spirits, but a trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal could revitalise the country’s innovators.

What makes a company efficient? New research suggests it’s less about internal processes, technology or leadership, and more to do with ownership structure.

The politics of technology. Falling participation in democracy risks undermining the foundations that support technical innovation.

The crisis in global leadership. Could better training be the answer? Cites Forum research. (Huffington Post)

PayPal goes it alone. After spinning off from eBay, is it ready to disrupt financial services? Quotes The Future of Financial Services report. (Wall Street Journal)

Time to invest in Latin America? From energy reforms to tax stability agreements, these eight developments could boost business and investment on the continent. Cites Forum research. (Forbes)

The power of water. The Forum has identified water crises as one of the biggest risks we face. But some unlikely alliances might be cause for hope. Cites Forum research.  (Foreign Policy)

Is capitalism ending? The sharing economy, information technology, and new ways of working may be creating change on a scale not seen since the end of feudalism.

Carjacking goes wireless. After hackers took virtual control of a vehicle, how can automakers deal with their worst nighmare?

Predicting obesity. It could be as simple as watching today’s trending food stories.

The Saudi Arabia of tidal power? Could the next generation of green energy be found in the chilly waters off the north of Scotland.

Robotic war. R&D in drones and other unmanned combat technology is growing fast, much of it open-source. Technical and moral challenges are multiplying.

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Author: Adrian Monck is Managing Director and head of Public Engagement at the World Economic Forum.

Image: View of the Coeur Defense office complex at La Defense, the financial and business district west of Paris July 25, 2014. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier