Davos delayed until summer 2021 because of Covid-19

The World Economic Forum said the meeting at the Swiss mountain resort would not take place in January as usual because it would be too risky.

The WEF said the decision was a difficult one but that it had taken the advice of experts. Instead it will hold "Davos dialogues" online in January for global leaders to share their views on the world.

"The decision was not taken easily, since the need for global leaders to come together to design a common recovery path and shape the 'great reset' in the post-Covid-19 era is so urgent," the WEF said. "However, the advice from experts is that the Forum cannot do so safely in January."

About 3,000 people attended the 2020 meeting including Donald Trump, JP Morgan boss Jamie Dimon, environmental campaigner Greta Thunberg and the UK's Prince Charles. Former attendees have ranged from U2's Bono to media tycoon Rupert Murdoch.

The meeting is sometimes criticised for being a glitzy elite talking shop that fails to address the fundamental problems of the world and changes little.