Davos’ World Economic Forum gets underway with host of issues, speakers arriving

Davos forum opens to debates on economic recovery

DAVOS, Switzerland — Leaders from world politics and business are joining with thinkers, artists and more at the five-day World Economic Forum in the Swiss Alpine resort of Davos.

The forum opens Wednesday and is bringing in some 2,500 people — ranging from Jordan’s King Abdullah to Canadian author Margaret Atwood — to discuss and debate a host of issues facing the planet.

They range from how to keep a nascent economic recovery on track to streamlining humanitarian and disaster aid in the aftermath of the brutal Haiti earthquake.

The annual gathering, now its 40th year, has long been a beacon for talks and debates and draws a who’s who of the world’s public figures.