Super-rich thrive as COVID-19 pushes millions into poverty

The world's 10 wealthiest people more than doubled their fortunes to $1.5 trillion during the pandemic as poverty rates soared, according to a study released by a charity on Monday ahead of a high-profile World Economic Forum (WEF) event.

Heads of state will join chief executives and other prominent figures this week to discuss the planet's most pressing issues - from climate change to COVID-19 vaccine inequity - at the WEF's Davos Agenda 2022 conference.

The online meeting will be a springboard for the WEF's annual summit, which normally sees the world's rich and powerful converge on the Swiss mountain resort of Davos each winter, but which has been moved to the summer due to the pandemic.

Here are some figures on global inequality:

- Billionaires have seen a record surge in their wealth during the pandemic, according to aid agency Oxfam.

- The 10 richest people have boosted their fortunes by $15,000 a second or $1.3 billion a day during the pandemic.

- They own more than the world's poorest 3.1 billion people combined.

- A new billionaire has been created every 26 hours since the pandemic began.

- More than 160 million people are estimated to have been pushed into poverty during the health crisis.