WEF President Borge Brende steps down after Epstein links come to light
Geneva: Borge Brende has resigned as President and Chief Executive Officer of the World Economic Forum (WEF) after details of his past interactions with late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein surfaced in documents released by the United States Department of Justice last month.
Brende, a former Norwegian foreign minister who took charge of the WEF in 2017, announced his decision to step down on Thursday. His exit follows scrutiny over his contacts with Epstein, whose associations with global leaders and business figures have drawn attention in recent disclosures.
In a statement announcing his resignation, Brende said, “After careful consideration, I have decided to step down as President and CEO of the World Economic Forum. My time here, spanning 8-1/2 years, has been profoundly rewarding.” He did not refer to Epstein in the statement but added that he believed it was the right time for the Forum to continue its work “without distractions.”
The WEF, which organises the annual Davos summit, had earlier launched an independent review into Brende’s relationship with Epstein. The move came after the newly released files revealed that Brende had attended three business dinners with Epstein and had exchanged emails and text messages with him.
Epstein was convicted in 2008 for procuring a minor for prostitution and served about a year in prison. He continued to maintain contact with influential figures until 2019, when he was arrested on federal charges of sex trafficking underage girls. Epstein died by suicide in a New York jail that year.
Earlier this month, Brende stated that during a 2018 visit to New York, he had been invited by former Norwegian politician Terje Rod-Larsen to attend a dinner that included “someone who was presented to me as an American investor, Jeffrey Epstein.”
“The following year, I attended two similar dinners with Epstein, alongside other diplomats and business leaders. These dinners, and a few emails and SMS messages, were the extent of my interactions with him,” Brende said.
He maintained that he was unaware of Epstein’s criminal background at the time. “I was completely unaware of Epstein’s past and criminal activities,” he said, adding that he would not have had any contact had he known about the financier’s history. He also expressed regret for not conducting a more thorough background check.
In a separate statement, WEF co-chairs Andre Hoffmann and Larry Fink said the independent review carried out by external counsel had been completed. According to the findings, there were no additional concerns beyond what had already been disclosed.
The WEF announced that Alois Zwinggi will serve as interim President and CEO. The Forum’s board of trustees will oversee the leadership transition and begin the process of identifying a permanent successor.
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Surjewala alleges BJP’s ‘anti-Kannadiga vendetta,’ claims Karnataka denied Rs 2 lakh crore by Centre
Bengaluru (PTI): AICC General Secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala on Sunday said that the Modi-led government and the BJP’s "anti-Kannadiga vendetta" have been exposed, as Karnataka is "denied" its rightful dues of about Rs 2 lakh crore by the Centre.
He added that the deliberate silence of the Karnataka BJP regarding the Modi government's "step-motherly treatment" of Kannadigas' rights and interests cannot remain unpunished, asserting that the BJP has "betrayed" Karnataka and does not deserve the vote.
"The Modi government and the BJP’s anti-Kannadiga vendetta have been exposed in the denial of dues worth Rs 2 lakh crore to Karnataka by the central government. The Modi government has unleashed a sinister conspiracy against Karnataka by blocking core agrarian, irrigation, defence, and infrastructure projects," Surjewala said.
Speaking to reporters, he said the BJP is "harmful" for Karnataka, accusing the saffron party-led government at the Centre of denying budgetary dues, blocking development, and opposing the five Congress guarantees (Shakti, Gruha Lakshmi, Gruha Jyoti, Yuva Nidhi and Anna Bhagya).
"BJP has betrayed Karnataka, and it does not deserve the vote of Kannadigas," he added.
Claiming that the BJP’s "conspiracy" and "anti-Kannadiga vendetta" stands exposed "threadbare", the Congress leader said that BJP union ministers, MPs, MLAs, MLCs, and every single BJP leader need to answer for the stark truth.
"Enmity with Karnataka has led to the denial of its share in taxes and grants from the Centre worth about Rs 2 lakh crore," he said, listing that the denial of Karnataka’s share in the 14th and 15th Finance Commissions resulted in a loss of Rs 79,770 crore; unscientific GST implementation caused a loss of Rs 59,274 crore; and the new GST rationalisation regime led to a direct loss of Rs 9,000 crore, among others.
"In total, the direct loss to the people of Karnataka due to the BJP’s brazen fiscal injustice is Rs 1,97,257 crore, almost Rs 2 lakh crore. Will the BJP leaders answer before seeking votes in Davanagere South and Bagalkot?" he asked.
Alleging the BJP's conspiracy to block agrarian, irrigation, defence, and infrastructure projects in the state, Surjewala claimed it is "an act of revenge" against Kannadigas.
Citing issues concerning various irrigation and drinking water projects pending before the Centre—like the Upper Bhadra River project, Mahadayi (Kalasa-Banduri) project, Yettinahole drinking water project, and Mekedatu irrigation & drinking water project—he said, "BJP leaders of Karnataka, including the union ministers of BJP and JDS, neither have the guts to question the PM nor utter a word seeking justice for Kannadigas."
The AICC general secretary said Karnataka has been denied a defence corridor by the BJP government at the Centre despite contributing 67 per cent of India's aerospace and defence manufacturing.
Karnataka has also been deliberately denied approval for DPR clearance for a "plastic park" in Mangaluru by the union government, he said.
Along with their "sinister silence" on the Modi government's injustice, the Karnataka BJP leaders continue to oppose the five Congress guarantees. Surjewala said that through these schemes, the Congress government has transferred Rs 1.31 lakh crore to Kannadigas. "This makes their patent hatred towards Kannadigas apparent," he alleged.
