Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced his decision to resign, bringing an end to his nearly 10-year tenure as leader of the country.

Speaking to reporters in Ottawa on Monday, Trudeau said he will step down as soon as the ruling Liberal Party selects a new leader.

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“I intend to resign as party leader, as prime minister,” Trudeau declared, signaling the conclusion of a political career that began with his election as prime minister in 2015.

The announcement follows months of internal pressure and a political crisis that saw top Liberal Party members urging Trudeau to step aside.

More to follow………. 

Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau is expected to resign this week as internal dissatisfaction within his Liberal Party reaches a breaking point, according to a report by The Globe and Mail on Sunday.

Citing three anonymous sources with knowledge of party deliberations, the report stated that Trudeau’s resignation could be announced as early as Monday.

The timing would allow for his departure to be addressed at a national Liberal Party caucus meeting scheduled for Wednesday.

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“The announcement would likely come before a national Liberal Party caucus on Wednesday,” The Globe and Mail reported, quoting party insiders.

It remains uncertain whether Trudeau would continue in an interim role while the Liberals search for new leadership.

Trudeau’s leadership has faced mounting criticism in recent months. His government barely survived a series of no-confidence votes, and his approval ratings have plummeted as he trails Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre by 20 points in opinion polls.

While Trudeau has vowed to lead the Liberals into the next federal election, slated for October 2025, his position has grown increasingly untenable.

The strain has been compounded by U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s proposed 25% tariff on Canadian goods, a move that threatens to escalate into a full-blown trade war.

Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland resigned in December after reportedly clashing with Trudeau over how to handle Trump’s tariff plans, marking the first significant cabinet fracture.

Later that month, Trudeau reshuffled one-third of his cabinet in an attempt to regain control, but internal unrest persisted.

In November, Trudeau traveled to Florida to meet with Trump at his Mar-a-Lago estate, seeking to defuse trade tensions.

However, the meeting did little to alleviate the strain. Trump continued to target Trudeau publicly, mocking him on social media as the “governor” of Canada and suggesting that Canada should become the 51st U.S. state, calling it a “great idea.”

Trudeau rose to prominence in 2015, sweeping the Liberals to power with a charismatic image and progressive platform.

Over his three terms, he championed Senate reforms, legalized cannabis, introduced a carbon tax, and passed legislation permitting medically assisted suicide.

However, critics argue that Trudeau’s once-strong leadership has been overshadowed by his inability to navigate recent crises, including trade disputes and political dissent.

If Trudeau steps down, it would mark a dramatic shift in Canadian politics and leave the Liberals facing a critical leadership race in the run-up to the 2025 election.

A detective inspector in Lusaka is under arrest following a bizarre New Year’s Eve incident in which he allegedly freed 13 suspects from police custody while intoxicated.

Detective Inspector Titus Phiri, stationed at Leonard Cheelo Police Station, reportedly seized the keys to the detention cells while under the influence of alcohol.

He then unlocked both male and female detention cells, telling the suspects they were “free to cross over into the new year.”

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The suspects were being held on serious charges, including assault, robbery, and burglary. Of the 15 detainees in custody, 13 escaped during the incident.

Police spokesperson Rae Hamoonga confirmed the events, stating that Inspector Phiri forcibly took the keys from Constable Serah Banda before fleeing the scene himself.

“Mr. Phiri, in a state of intoxication, disregarded his duties and allowed suspects to flee custody,” said Hamoonga.

The detective was arrested following the incident, and a manhunt is now underway to recapture the escaped suspects. Inspector Phiri has not yet issued a statement or responded to the allegations.

The incident has sparked comparisons to a controversial New Year’s Eve event in 1997. Former presidential spokesperson and lawyer Dickson Jere weighed in on the matter, describing the current case as both comical and troubling.

“I keep laughing each time I picture the scenario—comical! But then, I remembered a similar incident in 1997,” Jere wrote on Facebook.

Jere was referencing the late High Court Judge Kabazo Chanda, who ordered the release of 53 detainees on New Year’s Eve 1997, citing frustration over delays in bringing the suspects to trial. “Justice delayed is justice denied,” Judge Chanda famously declared.

While some have criticized Inspector Phiri’s conduct, others have pointed to broader systemic issues that allow such incidents to occur.

Authorities are continuing their efforts to locate the escaped suspects, as the case draws national attention for its unusual circumstances and broader implications for justice in Zambia.