Geneva

THE World Economic Forum (WEF) said on Tuesday that its annual gathering at Davos this month will draw a record number of participants and over 300 heads of state and government bigwigs.

The Jan 21-24 meeting of the rich and powerful at the posh Swiss ski resort comes amid a spate of global crises, including the worst post-Cold War stand-off between Russia and the West and renewed fears of financial turmoil.