The World Economic Forum has returned to Davos for its first winter session in three years, with high expectations and record numbers of government officials and business leaders in attendance. However, the absence of several high-profile leaders is also attracting attention. German Chancellor Olaf Schultz is the only group of 7G7 scheduled to attend the 53rd Annual Meeting of the WEF. US President Joe Biden, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, and French President Emmanuel Macron are not in attendance. Other power players outside of the G7 including Chinese President Xi Jinping and Brazilian President Luiz Yinav Lula De Silva are also not attending. The five-day gathering is taking place under the motto, quote, collaboration in a fragmented world, in quote, with a shadow of impending recession hanging over the event marking significant shift from optimistic outlooks in 2021 and 2022.