Clintons mix politics and business at NY think-in

Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams, businessman Denis O'Brien and former Irish president Mary Robinson will be at the annual meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative in New York.

The Davos-style gathering of political leaders and corporate chiefs coincides with the United Nations General Assembly. During the think-in organised by the Clinton family’s charitable foundation multinational companies and rich donors share a stage with prime ministers and heads of state for panel discussions about good causes.

The meeting has become more of a Clinton family affair in recent years with Hillary and daughter Chelsea taking a prominent role at the annual event, now marking its 10th year.

"I wanted them to do more of the heavy lifting. You know, I'm not a young guy anymore," said Bill Clinton, explaining why his wife and daughter had become more active in the family's foundation.

The family’s heightened profile comes as the former first lady considers another run at the White House in 2016.

All the presidents

President Barack Obama will speak at the four-day event, uniquely gathering a former, current and potential future US president with corporate bosses.

Hollywood stars Matt Damon and Eva Longoria will rub shoulders with UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon, King Abdullah of Jordan and Prince Albert of Monaco in a meeting that, this year, follows the lofty if obscure theme Reimagining Impact.

Actor Leonardo Di Caprio was given the Clinton Global Citizen award at a star-studded gala on Sunday for his support of environmental causes.

Mr O'Brien will be on a panel discussing Haiti, one of the poorest countries in the western hemisphere and one of the biggest markets for his mobile phone operator, Digicel.

Laurent Lamothe, Haiti’s prime minister, is also taking part in the discussion.

For the love of Scotland

Other attendees are Jack Ma, chairman of internet giant Alibaba; former British prime minister Tony Blair, and Melinda Gates, wife of Microsoft founder Bill Gates.

King Abdullah used a panel discussion with Bill Clinton and Chilean president Michelle Bachelet to warn that the threat posed by Muslim extremists Islamic State stretched beyond the Middle East, pointing to the $1,000 a month the group pays foreign fighters. “We are asking the international community: please watch our back,” he told delegates.

Referring to Scotland’s referendum, Bill Clinton said he liked how the 55 per cent who voted to stay in the Union were “not less proud” of being Scottish than the 45 per cent who voted for independence.

Gender equality, clean water and sanitation, and the outbreak of ebola are among the wide range topics that are being discussed at this year’s meeting.