DAVOS: More than 3,000 political, business and civil leaders have descended upon Davos inSwitzerland for the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting on Tuesday.Follow Arab News' live coverage below.
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17:55 - That's a wrap on the Middle East Strategic Outlook panel and Tuesday's action, with some interesting points made by the Ƶn, Emirati and Bahraini panelists - you can catch up with the whole session below:
17:45 -Mohammad Al-Tuwaijri on the journeys undertaken by both Dubai, the UAE and also Ƶ in developing their economies...
: 's Mohammad Al-Tuwaijri: started their journey in 1980s - since then, have been so many bad events in - but they are still growing and showing the world what they can do. "They have done a great job"
— Arab News (@arabnews)
: 's Mohammad Al-Tuwaijri: in Ƶ, we have created new sectors for local talent, and its is a huge business opportunity
— Arab News (@arabnews)
17:30 -Alain Bejjani of Majid Al-Futtaim says that Ƶ's Vision 2030 has "set a vision and plan" for other countries to follow...
- Alain Bejjani: 's has directly for the Kingdom and indirectly for other countries in the region "set a vision and plan" for others to reach or follow suit ()
— Arab News (@arabnews)
17:15 - Strong words fromKhalid Al-Rumaihi, CEO ofBahrain Economic Development Board...
: Outlook - Khalid Al-Rumaihi CEO Economic Development Board: "I think Arab world has missed first three , we must make sure we grab the fourth one. Investment - like that done in - is key"
— Arab News (@arabnews)
While Ƶ'sMohammad Al-Tuwaijri has praised the shift in ideas and investment into renewable energies as "significant," despite the GCC still being reliant on oil.
: 's Mohammad Al-Tuwaijri: still highly relies on , but the shift and investment in has been significant.
— Arab News (@arabnews)
16:45 -Coming up next is an important one for our region- an outlook on the Middle East. The panel includes Ƶ's Minister of Economy and Planning Mohammad Al-Tuwaijri, Youssef Chahed, Tunisia PM and Rami Hamdallah PM of the Palestinian National Authority. Also there will be Mirek Dusek, senior WEF director, who spoke to Arab News on the eve of the summit to reveal what will be on the agenda.The panel will be chaired byHadley Gamble, reporter and anchor, CNBC.
16:15 - Remember David Blaine? As a bit of respite, Davos attendees are being treated to a talk by the magician, illusionist and "endurance artist" on how "awe can shift perception and turn skeptics into believers..."
15:45 - Wondering what the latest Ƶn lines from Davos are? Of course you are. According to the chief of the International Energy Agency (IEA), the Kingdomwill remain the largest global oil exporter for years to come despite the growth of the US oil sector,Fatih Birol told the World Economic Forum.
READ MORE:Ƶ to remain oil exporting kingpin says IEA boss
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15:20 - Pompeo shares his thoughts on Yemen and the Middle East as a whole, and what role the US is looking to play...
: at on - is committed to Middle East stability, but will need "coalitions to be built", threat from in the region is "very real" ()
— Arab News (@arabnews)
: on - Very hopeful of a solution to the crisis, broke agreement on Jan. 10 using weapon of war - we are committed to working with envoy Griffiths on finding a solution ()
— Arab News (@arabnews)
15:10 -Pompeo praises what he calls "beautiful coalitions" with countries in challenging the threat of North Korea and checking China's expansionism as well ascountering terrorism and Iran's "foreign adventurism," but reiterates that there is still a lot of work for the US and the world to do - together...
15:00 - US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo joins WEF19 in Davos - albeit via video-link...
14:45 -Bolsonaro makes some bold claims about what he envisages his government doing to help Brazil and its economy - saying he will “actively support” reform of the WTO, will fight corruption and organised crime and with the help of global partners with technological knowledge tap into Brazil’s “abundant mineral riches” to “develop resources.”
Klaus Schwab says the world looks forward to seeing the progress he makes…
14:30 - Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro says he is "moved and honored" to be addressing the crowd at Davos...
: tells that he plans to attract heavy foreign investment to ensure public security and to encourage tourism to an otherwise "undiscovered" destination - "we stand with open arms"
— Arab News (@arabnews)
14:15 - As attendees start to file back in after a quick bite for lunch, we are looking ahead to addresses by Brazil's new presidentJair Bolsonaro and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in the afternoon session here in Davos - how will Bolsnaro's populist approach go down with the globalist attendees at WEF? Stay tuned to find out...
13:35 -Prince William asksSir Davidabout how technology is being used to further explore the natural world. Attenborough emphasized humans’ responsibility toward the natural world. “We are only too well aware that the whole of the natural world is at our disposal … We can do things accidentally that exterminate a whole area of the natural world and the species that live within in,” he said.
13:25 -Prince William, Duke of Cambridge is interviewing broadcaster and natural historian Sir David Attenborough on the Davos stage now, watch a live stream above...
: Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, interviews broadcaster and natural historian Sir David Attenborough at
— Arab News (@arabnews)
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If you want to follow World Economic Forum panels specifically about the Middle East, check out our handy guide here
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13:10 - The "Belt and Road - China's Trillion-Dollar Vision" panel is currently going on - and it comes after atop financial regulator in China said on Tuesdayit’s “certain” that the Chinese economy will slow further this year — but that’s largely due to a “much-needed” cooling of the real estate market. Speaking at Davos, Fang Xinghai, vice-chairman of the China Securities Regulatory Commission, said the slowdown from last year’s 28-year low rate of 6.6 percent to around 6 percent is not a “collapse.” That remains to be seen...
And the panel has been discussing the pros and cons of free trade - a topic the British are clearly sending a tongue-in-cheek message to Davos about this week, as discovered by our roving reporter Frank Kane...
Brexit message to in Belvedere
— frank kane (@frankkanedubai)
13:00 - Coming up shortly, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge will be interviewing conservationist and broadcaster Sir David Attenborough - and the latter has already come out with one of the "quotes of Davos"...
Quote of the Day from David Attenborough, naturalist and broadcaster.
Read his full speech from the Crystal Awards at Davos 2019:
— World Economic Forum (@wef)
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Arab News is covering WEF19 in depth, and you can read all of our coverage from the World Economic Forum by visiting our Davos 2019 spotlight
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12:50 - David Miliband speaks about the growing global problem of refugees and displaced peoples, he briefly mentions Yemen and his hope that peace talks between the two parties operating in the country will offer a solution to the humanitarian needs of the country.
12:30 -Our next panel is The Humanitarian Crises That Will Shape 2019 - the panel includes:David Miliband, president ofInternational Rescue Committee andHeba Aly who is director ofIRIN - who starts the discussion about climate change affecting millions of lives and the "fragile states" being someof the biggest humanitarian crises the world needs to be working to solve...
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12:20-Up later: Brazil's far-right President Jair Bolsonaro is set to address Davos as the first main headline act of the day. It will be interesting to hear Bolsonaro’s pitch to the “global elite” gathered at the World Economic Forum. Bolsonaro surfed a populist wave to ride to power (sound familiar?) —and seems to be everything the so-called “Davos Man” is not. Still, as with Donald Trump’s appearance at the World Economic Forum a year ago, Bolsonaro’s attendance emphasizes the big global shift toward populism, whether the Davos Man likes it or not.
READ MORE: Brazil’s nationalist leader to address Davos globalist crowd
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12:10 - The terrifying threat of climate change is one of the most important items on the agenda at Davos this year. And many of the panelists would have doubtlessly perfected their speeches on, er, their private jets on the way over. According to the Air Charter Service, a record number of private jet flights — nearly 1,500 — are forecast to travel to airports near Davos in the Swiss Alpsover the week of the World Economic Forum (WEF). That would be up from the more than 1,300 aircraft movements seen at last year’s forum. So for the “Davos elite,” the environment is clearly very important — especially when it comes to putting your feet up on the plane …
READ MORE: Never mind climate change, Davos prefers private jets
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12:00 - Arab News reporter Anna Pukas will be speaking with Young Photographer of the Year 2018 Skye Meaker at the World Economic Forum, who is taking part ina panel with Jane Goodall this afternoon - take a look at some of his beautiful wildlife images here. And to brighten your Tuesday afternoon amid all the serious stuff, here is his stunning winning photo below...
Skye Meaker, Young Photographer of the Year 2018 - winning image
11:50- Gebran Bassil saysthat the Lebanese model of coexistence is "still holding," despite examples of it not working elsewhere around the world, and that while a stable Syria is the target of Lebanon, spreading the Lebanese model to the rest of the region "is not easy."
11:20 -Gebran Bassil, Lebanese foreign ministersays democracy in his country has reached a level of "reconciliation" despite decades of conflict converging on Lebanon, which has oftenacted as a "bumper" during these regional clashes, and wider conflicts.
11:00 - Our next panel -Peace and Reconciliation in a Multipolar World - has started, and the panel includes:Gebran Bassil, Ministry of Foreign AffairsLebanon,Abdullah Abdullah of the Afghanistan government andAbdelkader Messahel, Minister of Foreign Affairs in Algeria. Follow it live here:
: Next panel - Peace and Reconciliation in a Multipolar World - has started, w/ Gebran Bassil, Ministry of Foreign Affairs , Abdullah Abdullah of and Abdelkader Messahel, Minister of Foreign Affairs . Follow live:
— Arab News (@arabnews)
10:50 - Satya Nadella, chief executive officer of Microsoft, is adding his thoughts on how young people can shape the future of society - he acknowledges the problems the young panellists raised, and acknowledges the challenges require new approaches to solve them. He says: "Young people have shown us in constrained environments what can be achieved, your ingenuity and that you did not accept the status quo."
10:40 - We are now hearing an emotional appealand inspiring life story being shared by refugee Mohammed Hassan Mohamud, who lives in - and is Zonal Chairman of - Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya. Powerful stuff.
From a refugee camp to Davos: one Co-Chair’s story
— World Economic Forum (@wef)
10:25 - The first panel -Shaping Globalization 4.0 - has begun featuring young voices from a range of sectors, withBasima Abdulrahman,founder and Chief Executive Officer ofKESK Green Building Consulting, Iraq's first green building company kicking us off...
10:15 - In his opening remarks, Professor Schwab hints at the "Globalization 4.0"theme of the forum by saying:“Globalization has to be human-centered, it has to be more inclusive, it has to be much more sustainable.”
10:00 - The "Welcoming Remarks"and a special address are just getting started, with the founder and executive chairman of WEF Klaus Schwab andUeli Maurer, president of the Swiss Confederation and Federal Councillor of Finance kicking us off...
The welcoming remarks were opened with a lovely tune played by some alpine horn players - WEF19 is well and truly up and running...
Alpine horns. This is what is all about...
— frank kane (@frankkanedubai)
09:55 - Monday saw Ƶn filmmaker Haifaa Al-Mansour awarded at the 25th Crystal Awards, along with conductor Marin Alsop and broadcaster Sir David Attenborough.
: Our next winner at the Crystal Awards at is 's first female filmmaker Haifaa Al-Mansour () who has been recognized for her leadership in cultural transformation in the world
— Arab News (@arabnews)
09:45 -We have quite a packed agenda for Tuesday, with panels on globalization, the environment and strategic outlooks for the Middle East all coming up today. Stay tuned for more details.
