Domestic crises will keep several world leaders away from the annual World Economic Forum in Davos, with only three Group of Seven leaders -- Japan’s Shinzo Abe, Germany’s Angela Merkel and Italian Premier Giuseppe Conte -- due to attend the glitzy event. Other politicians face crises at home -- U.S. President Donald Trump has pulled out to deal with the partial shutdown of the government triggered by his Mexican wall budget, while British Prime Minister Theresa May has opted to stay home to cope with the Brexit crisis. French President Emmanuel Macron withdrew as he fights a continued battle with gilets jaunes protesters across France, and President Emmerson Mnangagwa of Zimbabwe will skip Davos
amid a dire currency crisis and violent protests at home.
Infographics: 42 people hold same wealth as 3.7bn poorest
President Xi Jinping of China, who is grappling with a slowing economy, is sending his deputy, and India’s Narendra Modi is fighting for a second term amid spiralling fuel costs, rising unemployment and alleged corruption over a French warplane deal. Davos attendees will still get to hear from the Japanese PM and German Chancellor, and the latest populist leader -- Brazil’s newly elected President Jair Bolsonaro -- and Giuseppe Conte, representing Italy’s anti-establishment political coalition.
