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Donald Trump Taps Kash Patel To Lead FBI

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President-elect Donald Trump has announced Kash Patel as his choice to head the Federal Bureau of Investigation, signaling a potential shake-up in federal law enforcement leadership.

Patel, a former national security advisor and Pentagon chief of staff, would replace Christopher Wray, who has served as FBI director since 2017.

“Kash is a brilliant lawyer, investigator, and ‘America First’ fighter who has spent his career exposing corruption, defending justice, and protecting the American people,” Trump said in a post on his Truth Social platform.

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Patel is a vocal critic of what he describes as a “deep state” within the federal government, a term used by Trump allies to accuse bureaucrats of working against his administration’s agenda.

He has also authored a book on the subject and is known for his hardline support of Trump’s policies.

The move to replace Wray, who was originally appointed by Trump, reflects the president-elect’s frustration with the FBI under Wray’s leadership.

The agency investigated Trump during Wray’s tenure, including the 2022 search of his Mar-a-Lago estate for classified documents.

The FBI has also pursued cases against individuals involved in the January 6 Capitol riots, which Trump has repeatedly criticized.

Wray’s 10-year term is set to expire in 2027, meaning he would need to step down or be removed to make way for Patel.

Despite the mounting tensions, an FBI spokesperson reaffirmed Wray’s commitment to the bureau, stating, “Wray’s focus remains on the men and women of the FBI, the people we do the work with, and the people we do the work for.”

Trump praised Patel’s prior service during his first term, emphasizing his role in national security and defense. “Kash did an incredible job during my First Term,” Trump said.

“He will lead the fight to end the growing crime epidemic in America, dismantle migrant criminal gangs, and stop the evil scourge of human and drug trafficking across the Border.”

The announcement of Patel’s nomination came alongside Trump’s selection of Chad Chronister, a Florida sheriff, to lead the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

In his Truth Social post, Trump outlined Chronister’s priorities, including tackling the fentanyl crisis and strengthening border security.

“Chad will work with our great Attorney General, Pam Bondi, to secure the Border, stop the flow of fentanyl and other illegal drugs, and SAVE LIVES,” Trump wrote.

Trump erroneously referred to the DEA as the “Drug Enforcement Agency” in his announcement.

Bondi, a staunch Trump ally and former Florida attorney general, has been tapped to lead the Department of Justice.

As head of the DOJ, Bondi would oversee both the FBI and DEA, further consolidating the leadership of federal law enforcement under Trump loyalists.

The appointment of Patel and other Trump allies to key positions reflects the president-elect’s intent to align federal agencies with his policy priorities and “America First” agenda.

Patel’s nomination, in particular, marks a departure from the FBI’s tradition of granting directors a 10-year term to ensure independence from political influence.

Trump’s supporters view Patel as a necessary reformer who will address issues like crime and trafficking, but critics have expressed concerns about the potential politicization of the FBI.

Patel’s confirmation, along with those of Bondi and Chronister, is expected to face intense scrutiny in the Senate.

 

 

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Growing Internal Dissent Moves Canada PM Towards Resignation

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Four dead, Dozens Injured As Canada Bus Rollover

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.

 

 

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Zambian Detective Arrested For Releasing 13 Suspects While Drunk

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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.

 

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Israeli Airstrike In Southern Gaza Kills Ex-Hamas Police Chief, 10 Others

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Gaza Deadline Expires: Palestinians Flee Amidst Israeli Troop Buildup

An Israeli airstrike overnight on a tent sheltering displaced people in the Al-Mawasi area of southern Gaza has resulted in the deaths of at least 11 individuals, including Mahmud Salah, the former chief of Hamas’ now-dismantled police force, according to Gaza’s civil defense agency.

The attack, which occurred west of Khan Yunis city, also claimed the lives of three children and two women.

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“Eleven people were martyred, including three children and two women, and 15 were injured after the occupation aircraft bombed a tent housing displaced people in the Al-Mawasi area, west of Khan Yunis city in the southern Gaza Strip,” the agency said in a statement.

The agency’s spokesperson, Mahmud Bassal, confirmed that Salah’s deputy, Hussam Shahwan, was also among those killed in the strike.

The Israeli military responded to AFP, stating that it was “looking into the incident.”

The attack comes amid renewed rocket fire from Gaza, which, although causing little damage in Israel, continues to put pressure on the Israeli government politically after more than a year of ongoing conflict.

On Wednesday, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned that Israel would intensify its strikes on Gaza if Hamas continued to fire rockets. He also reiterated Israel’s demand for the release of hostages still held in Gaza.

“These strikes will intensify if Hamas persists,” Katz stated, reinforcing Israel’s stance after nearly 15 months of hostilities.

The situation in Gaza remains critical, with civilian casualties rising as international calls for de-escalation continue to be ignored.

 

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