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World Economic Forum greenlights new investigation into whistleblower claims against founder Klaus Schwab

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The World Economic Forum – the globalist body that hosts its annual gathering of elites in Davos, Switzerland – is supporting an independent investigation into whistle-blower allegations brought against its founder, Klaus Schwab, Fox News Digital has confirmed. 

The whistleblower complaint was first reported by the Wall Street Journal on Tuesday, a day after Schwab, 87, stepped down as chairman and as a member of the Board of Trustees, effective immediately. 

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According to the Journal, an anonymous whistleblower penned a letter to the board – which includes former Vice President Al Gore, Jordan’s Queen Rania and European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde as members – alleging financial and ethical misconduct by Schwab and his wife, Hilde. The claims included that Schwab allegedly tapped subordinates to withdraw thousands of dollars from ATMs on his behalf and used WEF funds to pay for private, in-room massages at hotels. 

WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM FOUNDER KLAUS SCHWAB STEPS DOWN FROM GLOBALIST BODY’S BOARD

World Economic Forum (WEF) founder Klaus Schwab speaks at the Annual Meeting of World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025.  (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber, file)

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The letter reportedly also alleged his wife, a former WEF staffer, arranged «token» meetings funded by the forum to rationalize luxury holiday travel on the organization’s tab. 

A spokesperson for the Schwab family denied all allegations about luxury travel and withdrawing money, telling the Journal that Klaus Schwab would always pay the forum back for any massages charged to hotels while traveling. The spokesperson also told the Journal that the family plans to file a lawsuit against whoever was responsible for the whistle-blower letter and «anybody who spreads these mistruths.» 

The Journal reported that the board convened an emergency meeting on Easter Sunday about the whistle-blower allegations to consider a course of action. 

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«The Board of Trustees of the World Economic Forum unanimously supported the Audit and Risk Committee’s decision to initiate an independent investigation following a whistleblower letter containing allegations against former Chairman Klaus Schwab,» the WEF said in a statement obtained by Fox News Digital. «This decision was made after consultation with external legal counsel and in line with the Forum’s fiduciary responsibilities.» 

«The investigation will be led by the Audit and Risk Committee with the support of independent legal experts,» the statement continued. «The Committee will move expediently to determine its processes and parameters and will share its progress with the Board. While the Forum takes these allegations seriously, it emphasizes that they remain unproven, and will await the outcome of the investigation to comment further.»

Trump addresses Davos remotely on screen

President Donald Trump during his address by video conference at the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos on Jan. 23, 2025.  (FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP via Getty Images)

TRUMP’S DAVOS COMMENTS REIGNITE DEBANKING CONTROVERSY

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«Under the interim chairmanship of Peter Brabeck-Letmathe and the continued leadership of President and CEO Børge Brende, the Forum remains fully committed to its mission and responsibilities.» 

In announcing Schwab’s departure on Monday, WEF said its board «acknowledged the outstanding achievements of the retired» Schwab. 

«He created the leading global platform for dialogue and progress, and the Board expressed its gratitude for his 55 years of relentless leadership at the helm of the Forum,» the WEF said in a statement. «At a time when the world is undergoing rapid transformation, the need for inclusive dialogue to navigate complexity and shape the future has never been more critical. The Board of Trustees of the World Economic Forum underlines the importance of remaining steadfast in its mission and values as a facilitator of progress. Building on its trusted role, the Forum will continue to bring together leaders from all sectors and regions to exchange insights and foster collaboration.» 

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Davos meeting participants listen to Trump speech

Participants follow Donald Trump’s speech during the 55th annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland on Jan. 23, 2025.  (Halil Sagirkaya/Anadolu via Getty Images)

The annual meeting in Davos for years has brought together top business executives, government leaders, academics, international organizations, cultural figures, sports legends and celebrities for conversations on world economic affairs. 

President Donald Trump addressed the Davos meeting remotely in January, just three days after his inauguration. 

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«What the world has witnessed in the past 72 hours is nothing less than a revolution of common sense,» Trump said, speaking of his plan to begin a «Golden Age» for America. «Our country will soon be stronger, wealthier and more united than ever before, and the entire planet will be more peaceful and prosperous as a result of this incredible momentum and what we’re doing and going to do.» 


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Seis minutos que aterrorizaron Manchester: la cronología del ataque a la sinagoga durante Yom Kippur

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En pleno servicio religioso, un agresor embistió el templo de Heaton Park, asesinó a dos personas e hirió a cuatro más antes de ser abatido por la policía (REUTERS/Hannah McKay)

En apenas seis minutos, la comunidad judía de Heaton Park, en el norte de Manchester, vivió una secuencia de violencia extrema durante la celebración de Yom Kippur, el día más sagrado del calendario hebreo.

Lo que comenzó como un servicio religioso matutino terminó en tragedia cuando un atacante embistió con su auto las puertas del templo y luego apuñaló a quienes encontró en su camino. Hacia las 9:31 de la mañana, el rabino Daniel Walker tenía su túnica blanca manchada de sangre y el caos se había apoderado de la zona.

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En los instantes previos al atentado, testigos observaron cómo un vehículo negro circulaba erráticamente antes de chocar contra el portón de la sinagoga. Al principio, algunos pensaron que podría tratarse de un accidente o una emergencia médica, pero inmediatamente el conductor salió vestido de negro y comenzó a atacar a los presentes con un cuchillo. “Fue un frenesí”, relató un testigo. Un anciano quedó tendido sin moverse a la entrada y otra persona cayó junto al capó del automóvil.

El agresor intentó forzar la entrada, rompiendo ventanas y buscando acceder al salón principal, mientras fieles bloqueaban las puertas. Al mismo tiempo, dentro y fuera del templo, se vivían escenas de pánico y desesperación. “Vi sangre en la bata del rabino”, comentó Josh Aronson, periodista que se encontraba en las cercanías. Cuatro personas terminaron hospitalizadas en estado grave y otras dos murieron a raíz de las heridas.

Los minutos finales del ataque se precipitaron cuando policías armados respondieron con rapidez. El agresor, al ser interceptado, mostró objetos en su cintura que alarmaron a los oficiales y a quienes miraban desde el interior. “¡Tiene una bomba!”, gritó uno de los presentes. Temiendo más peligro, los agentes dispararon e inmovilizaron al atacante. Al comprobar que los objetos no eran explosivos, procedieron a asegurar la escena y declararon un incidente de terrorismo mayor a las 9:37. En paralelo, se activó el protocolo para ataques múltiples y arribaron equipos especiales y el escuadrón antibombas.

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Escuché un gran estruendo, luego disparos, y en minutos había policías armados y cordones de seguridad por todas partes”, relató Fran Barrie, una vecina que observó lo ocurrido desde una vivienda cercana. “Tuvimos que evacuar el edificio, nos pidieron que fuéramos hacia el fondo y luego salimos por una zona segura; pasamos cerca del robot antibombas, estoy todavía en shock”.

Las autoridades evacuaron la sinagoga y los edificios aledaños, mientras expertos en explosivos realizaron varias detonaciones controladas, incluida una en el vehículo usado por el agresor. La policía identificó al atacante como Jihad Al-Shamie, ciudadano británico de origen sirio, y detuvo a tres personas más bajo sospechas de terrorismo. Dos hombres y una mujer permanecen bajo investigación por supuesta colaboración o incitación de los hechos.

La comunidad judía de Crumpsall, escenario del ataque, ya había sufrido antecedentes recientes de amenazas y mensajes antisemitas. Según datos de la Community Security Trust, se han registrado alrededor de 200 incidentes similares en el área solo en la primera mitad del año. En las horas posteriores, la policía reforzó la vigilancia en sinagogas y hospitales y pidió calma ante el temor de nuevos episodios.

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Esto debe ser una llamada de atención sobre la necesidad de diálogo y la lucha contra el odio”, expresó el propio Aronson, aún conmovido. Mientras voluntarios asistían a quienes abandonaron el templo en medio del trauma, integrantes de la comunidad lamentaban que el ataque haya coincidido con la festividad sagrada del Yom Kippur.

Al cierre del día, la investigación policial seguía en marcha y los controles de seguridad se mantenían extendidos. Para los residentes y los fieles de Heaton Park, la mañana de terror dejó una huella imborrable que reabre el debate sobre la protección de las minorías religiosas y las consecuencias de la ola de intolerancia en la región.



Crime,Law Enforcement,Crime,Europe

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The agency staff Vought might recommend cutting and whether the cuts will be permanent

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NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

Office of Management and Budget (OMB) chief Russell Vought and President Donald Trump are in the midst of mapping out cuts to the federal government after lawmakers on Capitol Hill failed to reach a funding bill agreement early Wednesday morning. 

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Trump set the stage in the lead-up to the shutdown that the federal government is likely to see staffing and program cuts during the shutdown, adding in a message Thursday to Truth Social that many federal agencies are a «political SCAM.» 

«I have a meeting today with Russ Vought, he of PROJECT 2025 Fame, to determine which of the many Democrat Agencies, most of which are a political SCAM, he recommends to be cut, and whether or not those cuts will be temporary or permanent,» Trump posted. 

HERE’S WHAT TRUMP WANTS TO DO TO RESHAPE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DURING THE SHUTDOWN

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«I can’t believe the Radical Left Democrats gave me this unprecedented opportunity. They are not stupid people, so maybe this is their way of wanting to, quietly and quickly, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!»  

Office of Management and Budget chief Russell Vought and President Donald Trump are in the midst of mapping out cuts to the federal government after lawmakers on Capitol Hill failed to reach a funding bill agreement.  (Alex Brandon/The Associated Press )

Fox News Digital spoke with Richard Stern, the Heritage Foundation’s director of the Grover M. Hermann Center for the Federal Budget, Thursday morning to discuss which agencies the OMB chief would likely target for staffing cuts and if such cuts would be permanent. 

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How a shutdown enables cuts 

Stern explained to Fox Digital that there are a pair of overlapping issues that lead to the government’s staffing size. Agencies are required by various laws to provide certain services to citizens. And, separately, appropriation bills set funding floors on how much money an agency has available to spend on staff payroll. 

During a shutdown, however, there is a lapse in funding, meaning agencies do not have «payroll floors from the funding bill,» leaving the executive branch with discretion on how to continue providing required services to citizens, he explained.  

«Because the funding bills set effective floors per salary spending, that tends to dictate how many people work for the agencies. In the event of a shutdown, the only requirement on the administration is to ensure that the agencies provide the services and whatnot that are required by law. But those laws don’t say you need, you know, 100 staffers to write a grant or only one staffer,» Stern told Fox Digital in a phone interview. 

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WHITE HOUSE PREPARES FOR ‘IMMINENT’ FEDERAL LAYOFFS AFTER DEMOCRATS FORCE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN

«They simply say, you know, ‘There’s a grant program that has to go out the door under XYZ parameters.’ So, in the event of a lapse in funding, it means that the administration … can lay out a plan saying, ‘Hey, look, you know, we think the Department of Education, for example, could do everything it is legally required to do, but do it with 10% of the workforce,’» he continued. 

education department

If the administration determines that an agency can fulfill its legally required services to citizens with fewer people, it will subsequently send reduction in force notices, known as RIFs, to staffers.   (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters)

If the administration determines that an agency can fulfill its legally required services to citizens with fewer people, it will subsequently send reduction in force notices, known as RIFs, to staffers. 

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«If the funding was there, and if the funding law required those staff levels, then you wouldn’t be able to RIF,» he said. «But in the lapse of funding, it gives the White House that opportunity.» 

Permanent changes to the government are in a gray zone, however, because RIFs would not be able to take effect until after 60 days. 

«Once the RIF notices go out, you … legally need to wait 60 days before the RIF notices can be enacted,» Stern continued. «Really the shutdown would have to last 60 days, beyond that, to actually act on the RIFs.» 

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The Heritage Foundation expert, who also serves as the conservative think tank’s acting director of the Thomas A. Roe Institute for Economic Policy Studies, stressed that any staffing cuts are not an example of government «downsizing.» 

TRUMP’S WHITE HOUSE DEMANDS AGENCIES MAP OUT MASS LAYOFFS AHEAD OF POTENTIAL SHUTDOWN

«It’s not downsizing the activities of agencies,» he said. «It’s not reducing what they make available, what services they provide. It’s simply reducing the workforce that’s providing the same level and the same amount of services.» 

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Sign for the EPA

Environmental Protection Agency headquarters in Washington, D.C. (Getty)

What agencies could be targeted for cuts? 

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told a gaggle of reporters Thursday that «thousands» of federal employees could be laid off during the shutdown. 

«Look, it’s likely going to be in the thousands. It’s a very good question. And that’s something that the Office of Management and Budget and the entire team at the White House here, again, is unfortunately having to work on today,» Leavitt said.

Stern pointed to a handful of agencies that will likely be targeted for layoffs, citing agencies that have «mission creeped» their original purview into regulatory issues, such as the Environmental Protection Agency, as well as other agencies, like the National Science Foundation, that handle grant writing for programs. 

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«Probably the Department of Ed is, is kind of the poster child on this one,» he said. «They’ve been talking about, they quite literally only need 10% or so on the staff.» 

He also noted the EPA, Department of the Interior and the Department of Labor could face cuts due to the various agencies’ «mission creep into a lot of regulations that are quite harmful to the economy, that are quite harmful to just American families.»

WHITE HOUSE TELLS FEDERAL AGENCIES TO PREPARE LAYOFF PLANS AS GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN LOOMS

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«EPA over … a decade or so, has mission creeped its jurisdiction into more and more regulatory affairs, that just simply the EPA doesn’t have under a statutory capacity,» he said. «They’re regulating outside of the confines, the charge they were given by law, by Congress. So, EPA is another one of those where that makes a lot of sense to cut a lot of the workforce there. Then, at HUD and Department of Labor you have similar things.» 

Stern said the administration likely is also eyeing agencies such as the National Science Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts and Humanities and certain aspects of the Department of Housing and Urban Development that are charged with «running programs that write grants where there’s an enormous amount of legal discretion on who gets the grant money.»

Trump talks to a crowd

President Donald Trump said the shutdown presented the opportunity for the administration to carry out layoffs as part of a continued mission to slim down the federal government.  (Alex Brandon/The Associated Press )

«These grants are not serving some critical, or frankly, constitutional role,» he said, adding the grants often land in the hands of universities and promote «left-wing» ideology on topics, such as transgenderism and climate change. 

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What has Trump said on federal cuts?

Trump said during various public remarks Tuesday, as the deadline clock began to run dry, the shutdown presented him with the opportunity for the administration to carry out layoffs as part of a continued mission to slim down the federal government and snuff out overspending and fraud. Trump, however, repeatedly has stressed he does not support the shutdown, pinning blame on Democrats. 

WHITE HOUSE PREPARES FOR ‘IMMINENT’ FEDERAL LAYOFFS AFTER DEMOCRATS FORCE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN

«We don’t want it to shut down because we have the greatest period of time ever,» Trump said from the Oval Office Tuesday. «I tell you, we have $17 trillion being invested. So, the last person that wants it shut down is us.

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«Now, with that being said, we can do things during the shutdown that are irreversible, that are bad for them and irreversible by them, like cutting vast numbers of people out, cutting things that they like, cutting programs that they like,» he continued. 

Republicans have pinned the shutdown blame on Democrats, arguing they refused to fund the budget as an attempt to reinstate taxpayer-funded medical benefits for illegal immigrants. Democrats have countered that claim as a «lie» and cast blame for the shutdown on Republicans. 

«A lot of good can come down from shutdowns,» Trump added Tuesday. «We can get rid of a lot of things that we didn’t want, and they’d be Democrat things. But they want open borders. They want men playing in women’s sports. They want transgender for everybody. They never stop. They don’t learn. We won an election in a landslide.» 

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Trump’s second administration has spotlighted the size of the federal government as bloated since Inauguration Day, including the president launching the Department of Government Efficiency to weed out potential fraud, overspending and corruption and offering federal employees voluntary buyouts in January to leave their posts before rolling out other RIF initiatives across various agencies. 

Fox News Digital reached out to OMB’s office for comment on the anticipated cuts but did not immediately receive a reply. 

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Fox News Digital’s Elizabeth Elkind and Anders Hagstrom contributed to this report.

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¿Serpiente o lagarto? El fósil que borra las fronteras evolutivas

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El fósil de la nueva especie Breugnathair elgolensis redefine el origen de serpientes y lagartos modernos/Mick Ellison/AMNH

Un equipo de paleontólogos de los Estados Unidos y Europa encontraron un fósil en la isla de Skye, en Escocia, que puede redefinir lo que se sabe sobre el origen de serpientes y lagartos modernos.

El hallazgo fue publicado en la revista Nature y consiste en los restos fósiles de una especie que llamaron Breugnathair elgolensis, un reptil que vivió hace unos 167 millones de años. Para sorpresa de los científicos, presenta características mixtas de serpiente y lagarto.

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El equipo de investigación estuvo formado por especialistas del Museo Estadounidense de Historia Natural, el Museo Nacional de Escocia y el Colegio Universitario de Londres, quienes extrajeron los restos fósiles de una formación rocosa costera.

Para analizarlos, usaron microscopía, tomografías computarizadas y rayos X de alta potencia en el Sincrotrón Europeo de Radiación.

 El hallazgo en Escocia
El hallazgo en Escocia revela un reptil con rasgos mixtos de serpiente y lagarto de hace 167 millones de años. (Archivo/Imagen Ilustrativa Infobae)

Esos métodos permitieron examinar en profundidad la morfología interna del animal sin dañar los delicados huesos. Se revelaron detalles inéditos sobre su estructura.

Breugnathair elgolensis no es exactamente una serpiente ni un lagarto moderno. Se trata de un reptil extinto que tenía características de ambos grupos. Poseía dientes curvos y mandíbulas similares a las de las serpientes, pero conservaba un cuerpo corto y patas desarrolladas, como los lagartos.

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Los científicos lo ubican en una familia extinta llamada parviraptoridos, un grupo de reptiles primitivos.

El fósil muestra que los rasgos de serpiente y lagarto podían coexistir en un mismo animal, lo que sugiere que las fronteras evolutivas entre ambos grupos fueron más difusas en el pasado de lo que se pensaba.

El estudio internacional utilizó tecnología
El estudio internacional utilizó tecnología avanzada para analizar la estructura interna del fósil sin dañarlo./ Mick Ellison/©AMNH

Los ejemplares de la especie Breugnathair elgolensis vivieron hace aproximadamente 167 millones de años. Su nombre significa “falsa serpiente de Elgol”, y está relacionado con la combinación inusual de rasgos que presenta.

El ejemplar tiene mandíbulas y dientes curvados similares a los de las serpientes actuales, pero mantiene un cuerpo corto y patas completamente desarrolladas, propios de un lagarto.

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Los expertos explican que este conjunto de características lo hace único entre los reptiles del pasado. Fue hallado en 2016 por Roger Benson del Museo Americano de Historia Natural y Stig Walsh del Museo Nacional de Escocia, durante una campaña de exploración. El estudio detalla que la preparación y el análisis del espécimen tardaron casi una década, debido a la fragilidad de los huesos y la dificultad para extraerlos de la roca.

El estudio en el Sincrotrón Europeo de Radiación “permitió observar detalles internos del cráneo y la dentadura sin dañar el material”, afirmó Benson.

Breugnathair elgolensis pertenece a la
Breugnathair elgolensis pertenece a la familia extinta de los parviraptóridos, antes conocida solo por fragmentos/ National Museums Scotland Brennan Stokkermans

El análisis evidenció que Breugnathair perteneció a la familia extinta de los parviraptoridos. Hasta ahora, este grupo solo se conocía por fragmentos fósiles dispersos.

El hallazgo mostró que huesos con dientes similares a serpientes y otros con rasgos de gecko, antes atribuidos a especies diferentes, en realidad coexistían en un solo animal.

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“El mosaico de rasgos primitivos y especializados que observamos en los parviraptóridos es una muestra de la complejidad de la evolución”, explicó Susan Evans, coautora del trabajo.

La descripción de Breugnathair elgolensis permite describir formalmente a los parviraptóridos como una nueva familia. Antes la clasificación era solo informal.

El análisis del fósil aporta
El análisis del fósil aporta nuevas perspectivas sobre la evolución de los reptiles escamosos y hábitos depredadores. (Archivo/Imagen Ilustrativa Infobae)

Durante la época del Jurásico, Skye era un ambiente cálido y húmedo, integrado por archipiélagos, lagos y una amplia vegetación.

En esa zona se han encontrado fósiles de reptiles diversos, peces, dinosaurios y mamíferos primitivos.

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El fósil también aporta datos sobre la evolución de los hábitos depredadores en los reptiles. Benson planteó que el origen de las serpientes podría no ser como se suponía, o bien que ciertos hábitos depredadores evolucionaron de manera independiente.

El hallazgo de Breugnathair elgolensis aporta nuevas perspectivas sobre la evolución de los reptiles escamosos y plantea más preguntas sobre el origen de las serpientes.

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