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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Security forces destroy 23 illegal bunkers, seize 18 IEDs in Manipur
Imphal (PTI): Security forces have destroyed 23 bunkers illegally constructed in Manipur's Ukhrul and seized 18 IEDs in Tengnoupal district in separate operations, a police statement said on Saturday.
The bunkers were destroyed on Thursday in the hill villages of Mongkot Chepu, Shongphel, Mullam, Sirarakhong and Ringue in Litan police station area, it said.
A 12-bore pump action gun, 17 cartridges of different calibres and 111 empty cases of fired bullets were also seized.
At least seven people have been shot dead in different firing incidents and more than 30 houses have been torched since violence broke out between Tangkhul Naga and Kuki communities in Ukhrul district in February this year.
Meanwhile, in a separate operation on Wednesday, security forces seized a cache of arms and explosives in T Bongmol village in Moreh police station area in Tengnoupal district.
Two single-barrel rifles, four 9mm pistols with magazines and 18 improvised explosive devices (IEDs) were seized. The explosives were destroyed on the spot, it added.
