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Polaris of Enlightenment

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Polaris of Enlightenment

The Nordic Times

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https://nordictimes.com/world/klaus-schwab-in-davos-the-future-is-shaped-by-us/

World

Klaus Schwab in Davos: “The future is shaped by us”

The globalist agenda

Published January 27, 2025 – By Editorial staff
Trump joined via video link and did not mince his words.
6 minute read
Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

"Collaboration for the intelligent age" was the main theme as leaders from all corners of the globe gathered for this year's power conference.

The Trump presidency, artificial intelligence, the war in Ukraine, deregulation and the future of Europe's economy were some of the topics on the agenda of the Davos powers that be this week.

The 55th annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, ended on Friday after five days of discussions, networking and grandiose statements from the power elite. Under the theme "collaboration for the intelligent age", nearly 3000 participants from over 130 countries gathered, including more than 350 government leaders and 60 heads of state and government.

– This transition from the Industrial to the Intelligent Age is occurring at an exponential pace, carrying unprecedented risks for humanity as we strive to prepare and adapt for its complexities, declared Forum founder and chairman Klaus Schwab.

– Yet, it also offers significant opportunities to transcend our current challenges and spark a new renaissance – one defined by advancements in knowledge, health, culture and societal welfare, the ultra-globalist continued.

"The future is shaped by us"

Schwab called on the global community to approach the situation with "constructive optimism" and urged stakeholders from all sectors – government, business, civil society and academia – to unite in finding solutions to common challenges.

– By embracing constructive optimism and believing in our collective capacity and commitment to improving the state of the world, we can shape the Intelligent Age as an age where every human being can realize their full potential, he continued

– The future is shaped by us here in this room, he added proudly.

Schwab's words, however, were met with skepticism from critics who argue that the WEF has not delivered concrete results despite decades of lofty rhetoric. This year's conference focused on five key areas: "Reimagining Growth", "Industries in the Intelligent Age", "Investing in People", "Safeguarding the Planet" and "Rebuilding Trust".

Middle East and Ukraine

Talks on Middle East peace intensified following ceasefires between Israel, Hamas and Hezbollah. Speculation grew that Donald Trump, back as US president, could be the one to convince Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to accept a Palestinian state.

Meanwhile, Iran chose to use the forum to signal a willingness to renegotiate the nuclear deal. Vice President Javad Zarif stressed that Iran has no ambition to build nuclear weapons and called for a policy based on opportunities, not threats.

Peace negotiations for Ukraine also took center stage, with Trump expressing via a video link his willingness to meet immediately with the Russian president to negotiate an end to the conflict. However, Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelensky, demanded a 200,000-strong European peacekeeping force as a condition for an agreement – a request that Russia rejected. Meanwhile, Ukraine continues to prepare for increased privatization and foreign investment to support its reconstruction.

Trump at the center

Deregulation in the US was described as a catalyst for economic growth and mergers across industries. At the same time, cryptocurrencies continued to be a topic of debate, with many players awaiting upcoming US regulations before fully integrating crypto-assets into the traditional financial world.

Two years after the breakthrough of ChatGPT, tech leaders discussed how AI could transform the labor market, especially through the automation of repetitive tasks. The United States is currently ahead of China in AI development, but the need for technology-friendly policies and infrastructure investments was emphasized as crucial to maintain the lead.

Donald Trump's decision to withdraw the United States from the Paris Agreement and his efforts to boost the country's energy exploration have received mixed reactions. Europe has often been urged to speed up its own energy transition to remain competitive, while many policymakers in Davos pointed out that China and the EU, rather than the US, are the de facto drivers of the "global climate transition".

The President-elect's decision to dismantle federal programs for alleged diversity, equality and inclusion has caused some concern among left-liberal businesses, which argue that these initiatives have been crucial to their success. Discussions therefore took place on how to reformulate strategies to continue to promote what they claim is equality and representation of minorities in the workplace.

"Existential" challenges for Europe

Trump's return to the White House has also raised concerns among Chinese business leaders and investors that bilateral relations between the world's two largest economies could deteriorate further, but the US president unexpectedly refrained from imposing tariffs on China on his first day back in office, and during his Davos video address he expressed a need for China's help to end the war in Ukraine. The move led some to speculate about a coming rapprochement between Washington and Beijing.

Global investors said they retain an interest in China-related assets but are keen to see more concrete stimulus measures. They will pay particular attention to clues about how Beijing plans to tackle the protracted property crisis, the high indebtedness of local governments and weak consumer demand.

European Central Bank chief Christine Lagarde described Europe's economic challenges as "existential". EU leaders called for faster action to facilitate innovation and prevent new businesses from moving to the US. At the same time, businesses want to see concrete liberalization measures to increase Europe's attractiveness.

Argentina's newly elected president, Javier Milei, shocked many participants with a controversial speech in which he sharply criticized what he called a destructive "woke ideology" and called for a return to libertarian principles. Milei's speech exemplified the growing divide between left-liberal and conservative forces that characterized this year's forum.

Growing criticism

During the forum, Chinese vice-premier Ding Xuexiang also sought to defuse tensions with the West by stressing China's openness to trade and improved business climate, while South African president Cyril Ramaphosa took the opportunity to speak about his country's priorities as G20 chair ahead of the Johannesburg summit later this year, highlighting the importance of solidarity, equality and sustainable development.

His French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, argued for increased joint investment within the EU and deeper cooperation between member states' capital markets. At the same time, his vision of a more "united" Europe is being questioned by voices concerned about European countries losing their national sovereignty.

While discussions in Davos revolved around geopolitical uncertainty, climate change, the economy and technological advances, especially in AI, frustration grew outside the conference center. Activists and critics argue that the WEF has become an exclusive club for the elite, far removed from the realities and concerns of ordinary people. Despite promises to address global challenges, concrete action has often failed to materialize after previous forums.

Many critics also question the relevance of an event where the world's richest and most powerful gather to discuss problems they themselves often help create or exacerbate, describing it as a club of mutual admiration with no real popular influence.

Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

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https://nordictimes.com/europe/eu-wants-to-increase-swedens-membership-fee-by-60-percent/

Europe

EU wants to increase Sweden’s membership fee by 60 percent

The globalist agenda

Published today 12:00 pm – By Editorial staff
1 minute read
Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

The European Commission's budget proposal threatens to make Sweden's EU membership fee 60 percent more expensive. Swedish EU Minister Jessica Rosencrantz (M) calls the proposal "unrealistic".

The Commission's seven-year budget plan for 2028–2034 amounts to nearly €2,000 billion. Sweden's current fee is approximately €4 billion per year.

During Tuesday's ministerial meeting in Brussels, Jessica Rosencrantz, representing Sweden's center-right Moderate Party, distanced herself from the plans.

— For Sweden, this means at least a 60 percent increase in fees. That is not realistic and many other countries face similar challenges, she told Swedish public radio.

Sweden, together with Austria, gathered several net contributors for breakfast before the meeting – countries that pay more into the EU budget than they receive back in support. Rosencrantz notes there is shared concern about how large the increases could be.

But unity was not complete. French Minister Benjamin Haddad made clear that Paris wants a larger budget, not least to secure agricultural subsidies.

— The EU needs more own resources, Haddad stated.

He was referring to a system where money goes directly to Brussels without passing through national parliaments – something Sweden rejects.

The budget issue will be discussed at the summit in December, but a final decision is not expected until 2027.

Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

https://nordictimes.com/world/orban-poland-has-become-a-vassal-of-brussels/

World

Orbán: Poland has become a vassal of Brussels

The globalist agenda

Published November 3, 2025 – By Editorial staff
Relations between Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk (left) and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán are becoming increasingly toxic.
2 minute read
Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

Relations between Viktor Orbán in Hungary and Donald Tusk in Poland are deepening into an open conflict over both EU influence and the war in Ukraine. Orbán argues that the Tusk problem goes far beyond bilateral disagreements — it's about Poland being given the role of Brussels' vassal state.

The Hungarian Prime Minister claims that Poland under Tusk has taken a dramatic step toward losing national autonomy and has also become a "vassal of Brussels".

"He has become one of the loudest warmongers in Europe – yet his war policy is failing: Ukraine is running out of European money, and the Polish people are tired of the war. He cannot change course because he has turned Poland into a vassal of Brussels", Orbán writes in a post on X.

Beyond the war in Ukraine, questions about the EU's role are also central to the conflict. Orbán has previously accused Brussels of playing an active role in helping Donald Tusk's EU-friendly government come to power in Poland.

Donald Tusk has in turn criticized Orbán for viewing "Brussels, democracy and a transparent rule of law are a problem", an attack that has further escalated tensions between the countries.

Shift in Polish public opinion

According to an opinion poll from the IBRiS institute, currently only 33.5 percent of Poles support Ukraine's NATO membership. This represents a shift that leads Orbán to claim that Europe is waking up, and that Polish public support for Ukraine is declining.

Donald Tusk, however, has declared the war in Ukraine as "our war", referring to the fact that the future of Poland and Europe is at stake. Orbán responds that both Poland and the EU are playing a dangerous game with the lives of millions of Europeans.

Hungary's repeated blocking of military support to Ukraine and its application for EU and NATO membership has long been a thorn in the side of Poland and other EU member states.

Poland and Hungary previously belonged to the so-called Visegrád Group (V4) and often shared positions against Brussels. But as the war in Ukraine progressed and major strategic dividing lines emerged, the relationship has become strained.

While Tusk strives to gain increased influence for Poland within the EU and NATO, Orbán has made it clear that he wants to see a different kind of European order — where nation-states have greater freedom and Brussels' central power is questioned.

Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

https://nordictimes.com/world/harsh-criticism-of-nobel-peace-prize-to-maria-corina-machado/

World

Harsh criticism of Nobel Peace Prize to Maria Corina Machado

The globalist agenda

Published October 11, 2025 – By Editorial staff
Maria Corina Machado has previously participated in the globalist forum World Economic Forum.
3 minute read
Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

American journalist Max Blumenthal sharply criticizes the Nobel Committee's decision to award the 2025 Peace Prize to Venezuelan opposition politician Maria Corina Machado.

In a statement on social media, he accuses the laureate of being a US-funded regime change activist and argues that the prize is a green light for military action against Venezuela.

Max Blumenthal, a journalist at the US-based news website The Grayzone, has in a lengthy post on X questioned the Nobel Committee's decision to award the Peace Prize to Maria Corina Machado, leader of Venezuela's opposition.

Blumenthal describes Machado as a political actor working in US interests rather than for peace. "The Nobel Committee has decided to make the case for Trump's war on Venezuela, giving its 'Peace Prize' to Maria Corina Machado, a US govt-funded regime change activist who's helped lead failed military coups, violent street riots, and has likely promised her country's oil and mineral wealth to a consortium of MAGA aligned billionaires in exchange for financing her political arsonism," he writes.

Comparisons to Pinochet and Netanyahu

The journalist harshly attacks the laureate, calling her "a marionette for Marco Rubio, a creation of the CIA-sponsored Gusano Industrial Complex that has brought violent terror and siege to any Latin American country defying the Washington Consensus of privatization and austerity, and a would-be Pinochet in a skirt."

Blumenthal also claims that Machado has turned to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for support. "This icon of peace has even appealed to Benjamin Netanyahu to help her lead a military invasion of Venezuela," he writes.

Criticism for supporting sanctions

A central part of Blumenthal's criticism concerns Machado's alleged lobbying for economic sanctions against her own country. He argues that she "has spent years lobbying for US and EU starvation sanctions on her own country, resulting in waves of migration to the US, fueling the nativist resentment that gave rise to Trump."

Blumenthal also points to Machado's response when Donald Trump sent Venezuelan migrants to a detention camp in El Salvador earlier this year. "When Trump shipped Venezuelan migrants to a torture camp in El Salvador this year, Machado predictably sided with Trump, the main sponsor of her putschist career, over her countrymen," he writes.

Committee's role a "soft power instrument"

The journalist draws parallels to previous controversial awards and argues that the decision regarding Machado is consistent with the Committee's role as a power instrument for the Western world. "Giving the Nobel to Machado is a green light for regime change war on Venezuela, and then Cuba. But the decision is consistent with the Committee's role as a soft power instrument of the Western empire," he states.

He recalls the prize to Barack Obama at the beginning of his first presidential term: "Just recall its award to Obama at the beginning of his first term, granting him infinite legitimacy in advance of his destruction of Libya, escalation of wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and facilitation of Gaza's decimation."

Blumenthal concludes with an interpretation of what he sees as the real purpose behind the award: "Given that nothing has happened in Machado's career without the support and guidance of Washington, the Committee's decision must be seen as the result of another Western op - a coup in Oslo to pave the way for one in Caracas."

Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

https://nordictimes.com/world/tony-blair-could-gain-power-over-gaza/

World

Tony Blair could gain power over Gaza

The globalist agenda

Published October 1, 2025 – By Editorial staff
Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair at the World Economic Forum power conference in Davos, earlier this summer.
3 minute read
Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

The notorious globalist and war hawk Tony Blair now wants to govern post-war Gaza for up to five years. According to WikiLeaks, the plan would give outside forces control over everything from laws to money flows.

Tony Blair, the architect behind Britain's participation in the Iraq War that cost hundreds of thousands of lives, now wants to lead an international transitional authority for Gaza after the war ends. According to people with insight into the Trump administration's peace plan, Blair could become chairman of a "Gaza International Transitional Authority".

The plan has been developed together with Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner and is primarily financed by tech billionaire Larry Ellison. According to reports, Blair would lead a secretariat of 25 people that would administer Gaza for up to five years.

WikiLeaks comments on the development in sharp terms:

"A battle is brewing over who will run the wasteland. Into this vacuum steps Tony Blair, lined up to head a US-backed Gaza International Transitional Authority", the organization writes.

The organization describes the arrangement as something far more comprehensive than traditional post-war governance:

"This is not postwar governance in a conventional sense but a model of neo-trusteeship; external control over territory, law, and the flows of reconstruction, data, and capital".

WikiLeaks also points to the economic interests behind the plan and notes that Blair is backed by principal funder Larry Ellison and plans to lead the administration for up to five years.

Notorious war instigator

Tony Blair is one of modern times' most notorious British politicians. As Prime Minister from 1997-2007, he gave his full support to US invasions of both Afghanistan in 2001 and Iraq in 2003.

Blair was accused of misleading the British Parliament and population about Iraq's alleged weapons of mass destruction – weapons that were never found and whose existence is now questioned. The Chilcot Inquiry in 2016 established that Blair had exaggerated the threat from Saddam Hussein and that the British government had acted on inadequate or falsified intelligence information.

His close relationship with George W. Bush and unconditional support for American foreign policy earned him the nickname "Bush's poodle" from critics. Over one million demonstrated in London against the Iraq War in February 2003, but Blair still pushed through British participation.

Long-standing Israel support

Blair has been an outspoken Israel supporter over the years. As peace envoy for the Quartet – the UN, US, EU and Russia – he was responsible from 2007-2015 for promoting the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians.

During his time, however, illegal settlement construction in the West Bank continued and the Gaza blockade remained. Palestinian leaders and human rights organizations repeatedly accused him of favoring Israel and functioning as a partisan political actor instead of a neutral mediator.

During Israel's war in Gaza, which has so far killed over 65,000 Palestinians according to local health authorities, Blair has been working on his plan for international governance of the area. He met President Trump at the White House last month to present the proposal.

Resistance from the Arab world

European and Arab states have already expressed opposition to the idea of an international trusteeship for Gaza. They argue that such an arrangement would further marginalize Palestinians and lack legitimacy in the eyes of Gaza residents. Instead, they advocate that Gaza should be governed by a committee consisting of Palestinian technocrats with support from the Palestinian Authority, which currently administers parts of the West Bank.

Trump presented his Gaza plan to Arab leaders in New York this week. The proposal gives Palestinians limited administrative power, but real control would lie with an international board – potentially led by Tony Blair.

However, everything could collapse as early as Monday. That's when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets President Trump in Washington – and Netanyahu has already made his position clear: the Palestinian Authority will have no role in Gaza's future and Hamas must be completely eliminated.

Without Israeli approval, the plan cannot be implemented, which would stop both Trump's peace attempt and Blair's return to Middle East politics.

Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com