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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Hubballi: Gym trainer assaulted; police say clash due to personal reasons
Hubballi: A gym trainer was allegedly assaulted by a group of people following accusations of sexual assault and ‘love jihad’, even as both families involved in the case traded serious allegations.
According to police, a group of individuals went to the residence of Sameer Mulla, a resident of Vijayanagar, and questioned him over his friendship with a woman he had met at a gym. The situation escalated into a clash, during which he was allegedly dragged away and assaulted. He sustained minor injuries and was admitted to KIMS hospital.
N. Shashikumar said that after this incident, members from Sameer’s side went to the woman’s house, leading to another clash in which one person was injured. “It was wrong for groups to go near houses. We will take necessary legal action,” he said, adding that the incident appears to have arisen from personal reasons. Police have taken some individuals into custody and are investigating the matter.
Sameer Mulla was reportedly thrashed by a group of Sangh Parivar activists and later handed over to police at the Old Hubballi Police Station after relatives of the woman and members of Hindu organisations gathered at his residence in Rajnagar.
The woman’s family alleged assault and threats from Sameer’s relatives at their Vikas Nagar residence.
Meanwhile, Sameer’s family denied the allegations and accused the woman’s relatives and others of assaulting and kidnapping him. His sister said the two had been in a relationship for three years and that the allegations were baseless.
Police said statements from both sides have been recorded, and a detailed investigation is underway. Sameer remains hospitalised, and appropriate legal action will be taken based on findings.
In a video statement shared on social media, the 20-year-old woman alleged that Sameer had given her an intoxicant, recorded videos without her consent, and sexually assaulted her. She lodged a complaint alleging rape and blackmail, which police are investigating.
In another video, Sameer denied the allegations, claiming the video was recorded with consent and that the accusations were made under pressure.
Former Hubballi-Dharwad Urban Development Authority (HDUDA) chairman Nagesh Kalburgi termed the incident a serious matter and urged police to take strict action.
Police said the case involves multiple complaints from both sides, and further investigation is underway.
