Uncertainty over President Trump’s trip to the elite Swiss Alps gathering - attended by royals, government heads and celebrities - has been rife. The US President is currently scheduled to make a high-profile speech at the World Economic Forum (WEDF) on Friday at 1pm GMT on the fourth and final day of the conference. Listed as ’Special Address by Donald Trump, President of the United States of America’ on the WEF programme, the speech will be the final address made any by world leader at the event. Earlier, as the US government shutdown crisis escalated into a third day, White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders admitted a visit was unlikely to go ahead.

But after US Senators eventually struck a deal in a desperate attempt to lift the political deadlock, the White House confirmed Mr Trump would be attending Davos 2018 after all. The speech itself is under close wraps but The World Economic Forum has given a hint that the the outspoken President will use the opportunity to speak out about US interests. In a statement on its website, the WEF said: “The engagement of the President will allow participants to get a direct perspective on US political and economic priorities. “The US presence in Davos will also comprise key cabinet ministers and a strong participation of the Senate and the House."

White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said in a statement Mr Trump “looks forward to having a bilateral meeting” with Theresa May at Davos 2018 in order to “further strengthen the US–UK Special Relationship”. This follows the embarrassing ruckus caused by Mr Trump just a couple of weeks ago when he denounced the US Embassy move to south London, labelling Nine Elms as an “off location”. What is the Davos World Economic Forum 2018? The World Economic’s Forum’s 48th Annual Meeting runs from January 23 to 26 at the luxury ski resort of Davos, the highest town in Switzerland.

It will be attended by 2,500 high-flyers from across the realms of politics, business, economics, charities and government agencies. WEF’s mission statement says it is “committed to improving the state of the world by engaging business, political, academic, and other leaders of society to shape global, regional, and industry agendas”. This year’s programme is focused around the theme, Creating a Shared Future in a Fractured World.</s>WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - President Donald Trump is scheduled to meet with several world leaders this week as he attends the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.



National security adviser H.R. McMaster announced the meetings during the daily White House press briefing on Tuesday.



McMaster said Trump is scheduled to hold a meeting with U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May at the forum on Thursday.



Trump and May will discuss the conflict in Syria, Iran's destabilizing behavior, ways to address shortcomings in the Iran nuclear deal, and the shared goal of denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula, McMaster said.



The president is also due to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday, with McMaster saying Trump would reiterate America's strong commitment to Israel and discuss efforts to reduce Iran's influence in the Middle East and ways to achieve lasting peace.



On Friday, Trump is scheduled to meet with Rwandan President Paul Kagame, who is currently the chairman of the African Union. McMaster said Trump would reaffirm the U.S.-Africa relationship and discuss shared priorities, including trade and security.



McMaster said Trump will also meet with Swiss President Alain Berset to discuss bilateral investment, economic growth, and innovation.



'The President will use this travel to the World Economic Forum to reiterate his commitment to mutually beneficial partnerships, and, as Gary said, to fair and reciprocal international economic systems,' McMaster said alongside National Economic Council director Gary Cohn. 



He added, 'As the President has repeatedly said and has made clear in the National Security Strategy, economic security is national security.'



McMaster said Trump would also discuss other national security issues, including the international effort to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula and the coalition to defeat ISIS.



(Photo: Gage Skidmore)



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX</s>Why did this happen?

Please make sure your browser supports JavaScript and cookies and that you are not blocking them from loading. For more information you can review our Terms of Service and Cookie Policy.</s>EDINBURGH — President Donald Trump is quick to hammer his critics in the public domain and comes across as a bully in political circles. But that doesn’t faze Business Leadership SA members. They have decided to take on Trump for his derisory comments about Africa and his discrimination against immigrants. Many South African leaders will be boycotting Trump’s address in protest against the racist jibes and policies of the leader of the world’s richest country. South African business players urge others to do the same, says Business Leadership SA CEO Bonang Mohale. @bonang_mohale has penned an open letter to the @realDonaldTrump explaining why the American president has insulted vast swathes of his own people as well as many individuals across the African continent. – Jackie Cameron

We have read with consternation reports of your derisive comments characterising African nations and others as “shithole countries,” and questioning why the United States should allow immigrants from our continent, or other similarly described nations like El Salvador and Haiti. You also stated a preference for immigrants from “countries like Norway.”

The overt racism of these statements is self-evident, and a stain on an office as august as yours.

We are Africans. Like many of our compatriots, we are well aware of the serious challenges faced across the continent–poor governance, unacceptably high unemployment, inadequate public healthcare and education systems that, while improving, remain below the levels needed for us to bootstrap ourselves out of poverty. Some of these challenges are self-made, many are the inevitable result of centuries of colonisation and its aftermath. Many of us are clear-eyed about our difficulties, and how to tackle them and are doing just that.

But like the US, Africa is so much more than the sum of its shortcomings. It is a vibrant, beautiful continent populated by proud people who daily face their challenges head-on, with dignity and with courage, creativity and ingenuity. Africans, in all our wonderful diversity, look to create for ourselves a more promising future, despite the myriad indignities of the past.

You need only visit countries like Kenya, Ghana and our own South Africa, to see how more and more African nations are embracing democracy, whilst building lasting institutions and robust economies that can offer their children the exciting opportunities that have been in short supply for so long. Like any region in the world, some of our people look abroad to find their fortunes (or their safe havens), while others stay home to make their way in the world.

The US, along with many of its businesses and people, its churches and civil society organisations, have been invaluable allies in Africa’s far-reaching and widespread reconstruction effort. Many African nations, in return, have been unwavering allies of the US as we work together to tackle common threats and take advantage of common opportunities.

This has been as beneficial to many parts of Africa, as it’s been strategically important to the US. Now, at a stroke, you have cast a pall over that symbiosis by impugning the dignity of 1.2 billion Africans who call this continent home.

One can only imagine how these views have been received by the millions of Americans descended from the slaves, who were herded and sold like cattle, and shipped to the US to build its economy. In insulting the homeland of their ancestors – who had no say in the genocide and atrocity that was slavery – you have again violated the dignity of those with roots in Africa, wherever they are in the world.

Next week, when you arrive at Davos, Switzerland, to meet with world leaders and others in business and civil society, it will be clear exactly what it is you mean when you lay out your “America First” doctrine. Rather than the laudable ethos upon which modern America is built, namely a nation of immigrants free to strive for excellence and success, regardless of their provenance, it appears you want to pull up the drawbridge for people who are not white, and engineer an exclusive, less diverse America.

Our own country’s recent painful history of entrenching racial prejudice in the statute books through Apartheid makes this an approach with which we are very familiar. It’s encouraging to us that so many of your countrymen and women, who treasure this ideal of the US — including many from within your own Republican party — are already rejecting your monochrome vision.

We join hands with them, in the same spirit of solidarity that many of your citizens showed in rejecting Apartheid and isolating those who sought to entrench racism, segregation and discrimination.

Many of us will be boycotting your address to delegates at Davos in protest against your divisive comments and continued failure to unequivocally apologise. We encourage likeminded peers to do the same. It is our hope, however, that your presence will help stimulate a debate that inspires commitment to a world premised on basic principles of humanity, inclusivity, respect, tolerance and forbearance. An alternative, in other words, to a world where walls, disparagement, and hate dominate the discourse of the leader of the US.</s>High up in Switzerland’s Rhaetian Alps lies a sleepy, snowy suburb by the name of Davos. It would not be out of place in a James Bond movie, so it’s a perfect setting for Presidents and Prime Ministers alike to gather for the World Economic Forum.

The world’s top brass will be discussing global policy, and how to “create a shared future in a fractured world”. That’s according to the WEF’s mission statement for 2018, anyway. But what has drawn these leaders to this idyllic mountain settlement?

Everything you need to know about Davos, Switzerland:

Davos is between the Plessur and Albula Range in the Rhaetian Alps, in Switzerland – a landlocked country in Central-Western Europe famous for its cheese and chocolate.

At an altitude of 1,500 metres, it is officially “the highest town in Europe”.

3) What is the weather like in Davos?

Freezing, snowy, and windy. It’s in an Alpine mountain range, so don’t be so shocked. The town records an average snowfall of 90cm in January, with temperatures averaging around -5C this month. We hope Cyril has brought a jacket with him.

Just over 11,000 people populate the town. In fact, 27% of all residents are foreign nationals. Many Europeans choose to retire here, or base themselves in the town for a getaway from the modern world.

5) Get your skates on

Davos is home to the largest natural ice skating field in Europe.

6) What can you do in Davos?

They have a successful ice hockey team (HC Davos) who play at the 7,000-seater Valliant Stadium. You can take in a top-division game from one of Europe’s most competitive ice hockey leagues.

As long as you’ve got the appropriate gear and the required stamina, the area is beautiful for hiking. It can get a little treacherous in the winter months, so let’s hope our South African delegation remains indoors.

Skiing is the main draw for tourists, however. There is also an abundance of five-star hotels and spas in the Swiss town. So anything the ‘ski’ can do, the ‘après-ski’ can do better!</s>New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday arrived in Switzerland to participate in the World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting at Davos.

The PM will share his vision for India’s future engagements with the international community at the meeting.

PM Modi left for Davos from New Delhi earlier today. In his departure statement, the Prime Minister said that India’s engagement with the outside world in the recent years has become “truly and effectively multi-dimensional covering the political, economic, people to people, security and other spheres”.

“At Davos, I look forward to sharing my vision for India’s future engagement with the international community,” he said.

The Prime Minister is slated to interact with CEOs from various parts of the world at a roundtable on Tuesday. While 40 of the CEOs are from 18 different countries, 20 CEOs from India will attend the dinner.

He will also deliver the opening plenary address at the WEF summit on Tuesday, and conduct separate bilateral meetings with Swiss President Alain Berset and Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven in Davos.

It is being believed that PM Modi is meeting with CEOs with an eye on possible job creation in the country. Notably, 12 of these companies have generated more than 4 million jobs across the world, of which 1 million is in India.</s>(AP Photo/Markus Schreiber). Followed by a television team and assistants Klaus Schwab, center, founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum, walks through the meeting's conference center in Davos, Switzerland, Sunday, Jan. 21, 2018. The ...

(AP Photo/Markus Schreiber). The letters Davos are covered with snow at a hotel roof near the congress center where the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum takes place in Davos, Switzerland, Monday, Jan. 22, 2018. The meeting brings together ent...

DAVOS, Switzerland (AP) - The Latest on the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland (all times local):

Authorities in Davos, Switzerland, have rejected a request by left-wing groups to stage a protest during the World Economic Forum, saying heavy snowfall means there's not enough space.

Davos officials said in a statement Monday that "the extremely tight space situation due to the enormous amount of new snow doesn't allow for a rally in the coming days."

Members of Switzerland's Social Democratic Party and Green Party had requested permission to stage a protest Thursday.

The Alpine resort's inability to cope with the mid-winter glut of snow means that protesters won't get to stage their demonstration on the day U.S. President Donald Trump is due to arrive at the meeting of top political and economic leaders Friday.

The Swiss military is stationing 4,377 troops in and around Davos, Switzerland, to provide security for this year's meetings at the World Economic Forum, which is set to be headlined by U.S. President Donald Trump.

General Aldo Schellenberg told The Associated Press that the number was not changed following the announcement that Trump would be the first serving president U.S. president to attend in nearly 20 years. He also said the security detail is similar to that provided in the past few years.

Around 93 percent of the military on display are conscripts. The Swiss air force is providing 2,580 troops, while 1,600 are infantry and 187 are from the military police.

In light of the heavy snow that's falling around Davos, military and police officials are not sure how many people are preparing to protest against Trump's visit.

There is some uncertainty about Trump's attendance, however, in light of the government shutdown in Washington.

The founder of the World Economic Forum has told The Associated Press that he hopes President Donald Trump's planned visit to a gathering of world decision-makers and elites in Davos later this week will "provide him even better with a global perspective."

Klaus Schwab declined to comment whether the U.S. government shutdown might spoil Trump's plans to attend the event in the Alpine snows and deliver a speech on Friday.

Schwab said Monday: "It's good to have the president here, if the snow conditions and the situation in Washington allow us."

The White House has said Trump plans to detail his "America First" policy in Davos. More than 60 heads of state and government, plus hundreds of business leaders, academics, policy advocates and celebrities are expected for the Tuesday-Friday meeting.

Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.</s>(AP Photo/Markus Schreiber). Followed by a television team and assistants Klaus Schwab, center, founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum, walks through the meeting's conference center in Davos, Switzerland, Sunday, Jan. 21, 2018. The ...

(AP Photo/Markus Schreiber). The letters Davos are covered with snow at a hotel roof near the congress center where the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum takes place in Davos, Switzerland, Monday, Jan. 22, 2018. The meeting brings together ent...

DAVOS, Switzerland (AP) - The Latest on the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland (all times local):

President Donald Trump's trip to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, appears to be on.

White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Monday that if "all things go as expected" with reopening the government, the delegation will travel Tuesday and the president will go later in the week.

A delegation of Cabinet members was scheduled to leave Monday, but it was delayed amid the federal government shutdown. Senate Democrats dropped their objections to a temporary funding bill later in the day.

Trump plans to bring his "America First" message to the gathering of global political and business elites. The event is rarely attended by sitting presidents.

Pope Francis is urging political and business leaders at the World Economic Forum in Davos to create the conditions "for building inclusive, just and supportive societies."

Francis sent meeting participants a message after he returned from a weeklong visit to Chile and Peru on Monday.

He wrote: "We cannot remain silent in the face of the suffering of millions of people whose dignity is wounded, nor can we continue to move forward as if the spread of poverty and justice had no cause."

The pope said "selfish lifestyles" full of "opulence" have boosted unemployment, increased poverty, created new forms of slavery and widened the socio-economic gap in many places.

By rejecting "throwaway" culture and a "mentality of indifference," Francis said entrepreneurs have the potential to effect substantial changes such as "creating new jobs, respecting labor laws, fighting against public and private corruption and promoting social justice."

With stock markets booming and global growth picking up, CEOs are a lot more confident about the future.

In its annual survey of business leaders, consulting firm PwC said a record-breaking proportion of CEOs are optimistic about the global economy, at least in the short term.

According to its survey of almost 1,300 CEOs worldwide, PwC said 57 percent believe global economic growth will improve in the next 12 months, almost double last year's 29 percent. It's the largest-ever increase since PwC began surveying views on global growth in 2012.

PwC singled out the U.S., with optimism recovering strongly following the recent focus on regulation and tax reform by the Trump administration.

PwC's global chairman, Bob Moritz, said "it's no surprise CEOs are so bullish."

The firm's findings chime with others, including the International Monetary Fund, which earlier Monday revised up its global growth forecast for 2018 to a 7-year high of 3.9 percent.

Bob Moritz, chairman of accounting firm PwC, says another Oscar mishap involving his company could really dent the company's brand.

Speaking to The Associated Press at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Moritz said a brand's reputation "can be lost in an instant but it takes decades to create."

Last year, PwC's reputation suffered when actors Faye Dunaway and Warren Beatty wrongly announced the top Oscar went to "La La Land," instead of "Moonlight." The presenters, it turned out, had been given the wrong envelope by a partner from PwC.

Moritz conceded that the PwC brand was "damaged on a temporary basis by a human error and we quickly took responsibility for that."

For this year's 90th Academy Awards on March 4, Moritz said PwC is taking additional measures "so we have the confidence that we won't have that problem again."

The White House says a delegation of Cabinet members is delaying their departure for this year's World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, Switzerland amid the federal government shutdown.

Spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Monday that they will determine what to do "as the day goes on and as we see how the next couple of hours go."

Treasury Secretary Stephen Mnuchin (mih-NOO'-shin) is leading the delegation of Cabinet members and top aides and was scheduled to leave Monday. President Donald Trump was planning to leave later in the week.

Asked if Trump would attend if the government is still shutdown, Sanders said: "I don't know that that's very likely. I wouldn't imagine it is."

The head of Switzerland's Young Socialists is accusing Swiss authorities of bowing to "global elites" by rejecting a request to protest in the town of Davos this week against President Donald Trump's visit.

Tamara Funiciello told The Associated Press on Monday: "I find it scandalous! It's unbelievable."

The authorities said heavy snowfall had limited the space available for a demonstration in Davos on Thursday, the day before Trump is due to address the World Economic Forum.

Funiciello said the move was "a way of hiding behind the power of global elites," adding that the authorities "need stronger spines."

She added: "If they really wanted to give people the space to demonstrate, it would have been possible." She accused the authorities of trampling on Swiss democracy.

Funiciello said her group was searching for other ways of registering their opposition to Trump's visit, such as by airing a live web stream from Davos and refocusing their attention on an anti-Trump demonstration Tuesday in Zurich, Switzerland's largest city.

Authorities in Davos, Switzerland, have rejected a request by left-wing groups to stage a protest during the World Economic Forum, saying heavy snowfall means there's not enough space.

Davos officials said in a statement Monday that "the extremely tight space situation due to the enormous amount of new snow doesn't allow for a rally in the coming days."

Members of Switzerland's Social Democratic Party and Green Party had requested permission to stage a protest Thursday.

The Alpine resort's inability to cope with the mid-winter glut of snow means that protesters won't get to stage their demonstration a day before U.S. President Donald Trump is due to speak at the meeting of top political and economic leaders.

The Swiss military is stationing 4,377 troops in and around Davos, Switzerland, to provide security for this year's meetings at the World Economic Forum, which is set to be headlined by U.S. President Donald Trump.

General Aldo Schellenberg told The Associated Press that the number was not changed following the announcement that Trump would be the first serving president U.S. president to attend in nearly 20 years. He also said the security detail is similar to that provided in the past few years.

Around 93 percent of the military on display are conscripts. The Swiss air force is providing 2,580 troops, while 1,600 are infantry and 187 are from the military police.

In light of the heavy snow that's falling around Davos, military and police officials are not sure how many people are preparing to protest against Trump's visit.

There is some uncertainty about Trump's attendance, however, in light of the government shutdown in Washington.

The founder of the World Economic Forum has told The Associated Press that he hopes President Donald Trump's planned visit to a gathering of world decision-makers and elites in Davos later this week will "provide him even better with a global perspective."

Klaus Schwab declined to comment whether the U.S. government shutdown might spoil Trump's plans to attend the event in the Alpine snows and deliver a speech on Friday.

Schwab said Monday: "It's good to have the president here, if the snow conditions and the situation in Washington allow us."

The White House has said Trump plans to detail his "America First" policy in Davos. More than 60 heads of state and government, plus hundreds of business leaders, academics, policy advocates and celebrities are expected for the Tuesday-Friday meeting.

Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.</s>DAVOS, Switzerland — The Latest on the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland (all times local):

Authorities in Davos, Switzerland, have rejected a request by left-wing groups to stage a protest during the World Economic Forum, saying heavy snowfall means there’s not enough space.

Davos officials said in a statement Monday that “the extremely tight space situation due to the enormous amount of new snow doesn’t allow for a rally in the coming days.”

Members of Switzerland’s Social Democratic Party and Green Party had requested permission to stage a protest Thursday.

The Alpine resort’s inability to cope with the mid-winter glut of snow means that protesters won’t get to stage their demonstration on the day U.S. President Donald Trump is due to arrive at the meeting of top political and economic leaders Friday.

The Swiss military is stationing 4,377 troops in and around Davos, Switzerland, to provide security for this year’s meetings at the World Economic Forum, which is set to be headlined by U.S. President Donald Trump.

General Aldo Schellenberg told The Associated Press that the number was not changed following the announcement that Trump would be the first serving president U.S. president to attend in nearly 20 years. He also said the security detail is similar to that provided in the past few years.

Around 93 per cent of the military on display are conscripts. The Swiss air force is providing 2,580 troops, while 1,600 are infantry and 187 are from the military police.

In light of the heavy snow that’s falling around Davos, military and police officials are not sure how many people are preparing to protest against Trump’s visit.

There is some uncertainty about Trump’s attendance, however, in light of the government shutdown in Washington.

The founder of the World Economic Forum has told The Associated Press that he hopes President Donald Trump’s planned visit to a gathering of world decision-makers and elites in Davos later this week will “provide him even better with a global perspective.”

Klaus Schwab declined to comment whether the U.S. government shutdown might spoil Trump’s plans to attend the event in the Alpine snows and deliver a speech on Friday.

Schwab said Monday: “It’s good to have the president here, if the snow conditions and the situation in Washington allow us.”

The White House has said Trump plans to detail his “America First” policy in Davos. More than 60 heads of state and government, plus hundreds of business leaders, academics, policy advocates and celebrities are expected for the Tuesday-Friday meeting.</s>Gov. Jay Inslee will travel to Switzerland this week to participate in the World Economic Forum's Annual meeting.

 

Inslee's office said Monday that the governor is scheduled to speak on several panels at the meeting in Davos, including a climate change one hosted by former Vice President Al Gore.

 

Inslee leaves the state Tuesday, with his first panel to take place Wednesday and a press conference scheduled for Thursday. Inslee returns to Washington Friday.
Various billionaires, world leaders, and investors gather in Davos, Switzerland to discuss economic issues.