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World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos

World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos
The World Economic Forum (WEF) is a Swiss non-profit foundation that is best known for its annual meeting in Davos, an alpine resort. The meeting brings together global business leaders, politicians, intellectuals and journalists to discuss the issues of the day. The gathering is often simply termed “Davos”, a reference to its venue. The WEF also holds the Annual Meeting of the New Champions (AMNC) or “Summer Davos”.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent arrives at Incheon International Airport in Seoul on Wednesday, ahead of a scheduled meeting with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and trade talks with Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng. Photo: Reuters
2026 Xi-Trump summit

China-US trade talks kick off in Seoul ahead of high-profile leaders’ summit

Trade deals, export controls on critical minerals and the Iran war likely to be talking points as senior officials sit down for negotiations.

Canada

Canada’s Carney says economic ties with US have become a ‘weakness’

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Canada

Canada’s Carney secures majority government with special election wins

Canada

Canadian PM Carney on verge of majority government amid special elections

Votes are being cast in three districts. Winning just one of them would give the Liberals the ability to unilaterally pass any bill.

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Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney speaks in Montreal on Saturday. Photo: AP
My Take

My Take | Why Beijing is now the only true partner of Africa and Latin America

In contrast to friendly China, the United States has weaponised foreign aid on one continent and returned to gunboat diplomacy in the western hemisphere.

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Malaysia

Should wives always obey? Most in Malaysia and Indonesia say yes

A new study also shows 64 per cent of respondents in Singapore agree that efforts to give women equal rights with men ‘have gone far enough’.

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Japan

80 years on, gender gap persists in Japanese politics

New research shows there has been little change since women in Japan first exercised their right to vote nearly 80 years ago.

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Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (centre, front) walks down the stairs to pose for a photo session with members of her cabinet in Tokyo on February 18. Photo: EPA
China jobs

China should up education spending to help population adapt to AI era: economist

Prominent Chinese economist says it is imperative to ensure the next generation can withstand the changes being driven by AI.

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India

India’s AI superpower dream: flush with cash, short on capacity

India’s AI ambitions could add half a trillion dollars to its economy or deepen inequality if cannot train up its workforce fast enough.

Jeffrey Epstein

World Economic Forum CEO Brende resigns over Epstein revelations

The former Norwegian foreign minister had business dinners with the sex offender and communicated with him via email.

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World Economic Forum CEO Borge ​Brende. Photo: Reuters
US-China relations

Opinion | US and China can again find common ground – in AI’s risks

If Beijing and Washington could meet in 1972 to manage a shared threat, today’s leaders can cooperate to shape the rules of AI.

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People use augmented reality headsets during the World Artificial Intelligence Conference at the Shanghai World Expo and Convention Center in Shanghai on July 28, 2025. Photo: AFP / Getty Images / TNS
South Korea

South Korea to observe first, decide later on Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’

A former South Korean ambassador to Egypt will be attending Thursday’s inaugural meeting in Washington.

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Britain

Trump slams clean energy deal between California and the UK, calls Newsom a ‘loser’

The agreement pledged cooperation on technologies such as offshore wind. Trump said it was ‘inappropriate’ for the UK to ‌deal with Newsom.

US-China relations

How AI, quantum computing could help US overcome China’s rare earths advantage

Technologies for synthesising substitutes or alloys could cut time required to secure critical materials to just a few years.

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China controls most of the world’s rare earth mining and nearly 90 per cent of all processing and refining capacity. Photo: Reuters
China economy

Fading US dollar trust threatens world economy, ex-IMF official Zhu Min warns

Former Chinese central banker says military spending, government debt and interest rates are also among risks to financial markets.

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Zhu Min, seen here at the 2025 World Economic Forum in Davos, is the former deputy director of the International Monetary Fund and former deputy governor of the People’s Bank of China. Photo: World Economic Forum/Sandra Blaser
Artificial intelligence

Opinion | In the age of AI, we must learn to act before the future is clear

Many questions about AI, from the outcome of the AI race to speculation about an AI bubble, need more time to be answered. Uncertainty is the new normal.

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Jeffrey Epstein

Norwegian ambassador resigns over Epstein links as scandal widens

Ambassador Mona Juul’s contact with Jeffrey Epstein revealed a ‘serious lapse in judgment’, foreign minister says.

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Donald Trump

Leaders invited to Trump’s Board of Peace meeting in US. Who’s going?

Argentina’s Javier Milei and Hungary’s Viktor Orban confirm attendance after invitations go out.

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US President Donald Trump launched his ‘Board of Peace’ at the World Economic Forum in Davos in January. Photo: AFP
China's space programme

Editorial | Hong Kong need not wait to help Chinese space ambitions take off

As a leading hub for finance and law, the city has the ‘right stuff’ to be proactive in drawing up solid action plans for the space economy.

United States

Opinion | How Trump’s Davos spotlight was upstaged by middle powers breaking away

While they continue to flatter Trump, politicians and businesses are also pursuing new deals and trading partners, diversifying supply chains and exploring ways to reduce dependence on the US.

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United States

Opinion | Tariff by tariff, Trump is building a trade wall around the US

Amid the precarity of Trump’s limited economic success at home, trade wars abroad have only sped up the transition to a multipolar world.

US President Donald Trump leaves the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on January 22. Photo: EPA
Ukraine war

Open Questions | Historian on Trump’s new world order and a Europe in crisis

Luuk van Middelaar explains return of great-power rule, Europe’s wake-up call and its struggle to fend off Putin in Ukraine and respond to ‘danger’ from US.

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Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen
Canada

‘Devil’s in the details’: why Asia may not sign up to Canada’s alliance call

While Canadian PM Mark Carney’s vision appeals to many, analysts say a lack of detail and divergent interests make a unified front unlikely.

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Fifa

Fifa boss sorry for offending British football fans, defends Trump peace prize

Gianni Infantino, who awarded Trump the inaugural Fifa peace prize, had said the Qatar World Cup was special because ‘no Brit was arrested’.

Asean

Asian Angle | ‘Old order is not coming back’: Trump’s US, not China, threatens status quo

American unpredictability is pushing countries to hedge more proactively – and, ironically, soften existing tensions with China.

A protester interrupts US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (right) as he testifies before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Wednesday. Photo: Getty Images
Diplomacy

Opinion | China’s rejection of Darwinian geopolitics is rooted in its history

Davos signalled the collapse of the post-war order but not what will replace it. China can play a role in preventing a descent into anarchy.

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Illustration: Craig Stephens
Artificial intelligence

China tech giants ByteDance and Alibaba to ramp up AI infrastructure efforts

The two firms’ actions are poised to further intensify the global AI arms race.

Trade

Macroscope | Trump weaponises trade as globalisation becomes more fractured

As recognised by Canada, the fracturing of the global economy is in full swing. Policymakers and businesses should expect it to continue.

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