To listen to Klaus Schwab, give his assessment of the current status of the world right now, “Chicken Little” comes to mind, as Schwab wants everyone to know that the sky is falling, but just like the fabled poultry who thinks that an acorn dropping on his head means the end of the world, Schwab paints, not a complete falsehood, but definitely an exaggeration, at least in his eyes, of how the world is. Schwab is like so many on his political side, that leaves many wondering g if all he is worried about is real or just a veiled threat as to the state of the world, because in the 21st century, science, truth, and even opinions based on facts do not matter, only your political affiliation does, and depending on what side you are on, you can get away with outright lying. As reported by the AP:
Davos, a village in the Swiss Alps, has been transformed into a glitzy venue for a four-day confab ostensibly dedicated to making the world a better place
DAVOS, Switzerland (AP) — The founder of the World Economic Forum says Russia’s war in Ukraine as well as climate change and the global economy are key issues at the gathering of business elites and government leaders in Davos, Switzerland.
Klaus Schwab said Monday in welcoming remarks that “this war is really a turning point of history, and it will reshape our political and our economic landscape in the coming years.”
But also says the world is at “the tail-end of the most serious health catastrophe of the last hundred years — COVID-19.”
Schwab added that climate change and preserving nature is something to urgently address and that concerns about high inflation will affect how to look at the future of the global economy. He pointed to fears of people plunged into poverty and dying of hunger.
The head of chipmaker Intel says a shortage of advanced equipment to make semiconductors could hold up global expansion plans.
CEO Pat Gelsinger said Monday that there have been “quite significant extensions” in delivery times for chipmaking gear for new chip factories, known as “fabs,” that the company plans to build in the U.S. and Europe.
Gelsinger said at a press roundtable on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum that “to us, this is now the No. 1 issue, is in fact the delivery of equipment.”
A handful of suppliers make high-tech semiconductor manufacturing gear, such as Dutch company ASML. A shortage of semiconductors that erupted last year hurt the availability of everything from autos to kitchen appliances and highlighted the industry’s vulnerability to manufacturing centered in Asia.
Intel announced tens of billions of investment in new chipmaking facilities for Europe, including a new fab mega site in Germany and expansion in Ireland. In January, it announced a plan for a $20 billion plant in Ohio.
Gelsinger said supply of chipmaking equipment is “the most important pinch point to the build-out of capacity today.”
He added that he’s urging authorities in the U.S. and Europe, which have each launched their own “Chips Act” to promote national semiconductor manufacturing, to speed up the legislation.
The World Economic Forum’s annual meeting has kicked off Monday in Davos, Switzerland.
The village in the Swiss Alps has been transformed into a glitzy venue for the four-day confab ostensibly dedicated to making the world a better place. The event is resuming in person after a two-year hiatus because of the COVID-19 pandemic, which also delayed this year’s meeting from its usual winter slot.
Thousands of corporate executives, government officials and other VIPs filled the conference venue, both to schmooze and listen to panel discussions on topics like sustainability, climate change and the Russia-Ukraine war.
Attendees also are visiting nearby pavilions on Davos’ main drag set up by companies like Intel, Accenture, and Facebook owner Meta.
One of the main attractions on opening day is a virtual keynote speech by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. There’s also a sizable Ukrainian government delegation attending in person, making their case for more Western support in the country’s fight against Russia.
Source AP
