Latest News
-
France invests 50 million euros in Imerys Lithium project
Imerys announced that France would 'invest 50 million euro ($59.61 million) in a'minority stake' in Imerys lithium mine project. Other investors could join France in this country's flagship battery metal project. The first time the minerals group announced the Emili Project was in 2022. It aimed to produce 34,000 tonnes of lithium hydroxide annually, which could meet the lithium needs of 700,000 electric cars annually. Imerys announced on Wednesday that the French government's investment would help to?cover feasibility before a final decision is made on investment in the mine. It is currently expected to begin production?in 2020. Alessandro Dazza, CEO of the company, told reporters that they expect to bring in more investors to finance the lithium project. He said that it would not necessarily hold a majority share, but would consider itself the logical option to run the future site. THE TOTAL COST OF PROJECTS RAISED TO 1,8 BILLION EUROS Imerys has increased its initial estimate of the cost of the project from 1 billion to 1.8 billion, but Dazza stated that he expects the final figure to be "significantly lower" than the current estimate. The Emili project involves developing a mine underground beneath an existing Kaolin mine in Central France along with a?processing facility. Imerys said late in October that it was in exclusive discussions with a potential buyer to sell a minor stake in the project. Last year, the timeline for?starting production? was?pushed back to 2030 instead of 2028. This is partly because public debate about the project's impact on the environment.
-
Iron ore consumption in China is down after the top consumer releases weak data
Iron ore futures struggled to find direction on Wednesday, before erasing their?early gains. This was despite China, the world's largest consumer, offering financial support. The most-traded May iron ore contract at China's Dalian Commodity Exchange was down by 0.07% to 762.5 Yuan ($110.31). As of 0700 GMT, the benchmark March iron ore was trading at $99.9 per ton on the Singapore Exchange. China's central banks?said on Tuesday that it would increase financial support for domestic demand as a result of?industrial excess and lacklustre consumer confidence, which dampened the growth outlook. Data released on Wednesday showed that China's consumer price inflation decreased in January while the producer price deflation continued. This prompted market participants to call for additional policy measures. The consumer price index (CPI), which measures prices for consumers, increased by 0.2% on a year-over-year basis. This is below the 0.4% rise predicted in a poll. The producer price index (PPI), which measures the cost of goods produced, fell by 1.4% on an annual basis, continuing a trend of deflation that has lasted for years. This continues to affect the profits of industrial firms, and indicates the need for additional policy measures in order to increase the effective demand as well as address the deep-rooted imbalances within the economy. China relies on exports to absorb production capacity. However, a growing list anti-dumping measures in destination countries and trade rules could derail the export-driven growth of demand, especially for Chinese steel exports. According to a ANZ report, as anti-dumping'resistance' grows globally and China signals tighter production, the export momentum will fade in 2026. Total volumes could fall by up to 30%. Coking coal and coke both fell by?0.31%, and 0.86% respectively. The Shanghai Futures Exchange steel benchmarks were mixed. Rebar and wire rod fell by 0.07% and 0.15 % respectively, while stainless steel and hot-rolled coils remained stable at 0.06% and 2.22 % respectively.
-
Portugal's interior minister resigns due to storm response
Maria Lucia Amaral, the Portuguese Interior Minister, resigned amid criticism by opposition parties and communities over what they call a slow and ineffective response from authorities to the devastating 'Storm Kristin' two weeks ago. The office of President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa announced late on Tuesday that it had accepted the resignation of the Minister at the request from Prime Minister Luis Montenegro. Amaral claimed she no longer met the "personal and political requirements" to fulfill the role. The President's Office said Montenegro would temporarily take over interior until a successor was appointed. Storm Kristin hit central Portugal on the morning of January 31. Its winds reached 200 kph and its heavy rains caused widespread damage, including to homes, factories, and critical infrastructure. At least six people were killed. Direct reconstruction costs are estimated to be more than 4 billion euros. Amaral is the first to resign since the centre-right minor government came into power about eight months ago. Andre Ventura of the far-right Chega Party wrote on X, that the resignation showed the government's inability to deal with adversities. Montenegro, he added, was losing control over the government. How long will it be before the government corrects its other "casting mistakes"? ?he asked. Jose Luis Carneiro, leader of the Socialist Party, told reporters late Monday that Montenegro is "the first one responsible" for the failure of the government to respond to storms. In recent weeks, Portugal and Spain were hit by a series of storms. After the devastation caused by Storm Kristin's?wind, rain and flooding, subsequent tempests Leonardo, and Marta, also brought heavy rainfall, strong winds and further damage. According to the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and the Atmosphere, Portugal is currently feeling the 'indirect effects' of Storm Nils. The storm is not expected directly to hit the country.
-
TotalEnergies reports a 13% decline in profit for the fourth quarter due to lower oil and gas prices
TotalEnergies, a French oil major, reported a 13% decline in its fourth-quarter earnings on Wednesday. This was slightly below expectations, as the company's soaring margins from refining fuels, and cash generated by selling stakes in renewables assets, failed to compensate for lower oil and natural gas prices. Total reported a fourth-quarter net profit of $3.8 billion (3,2 billion euros), down from $4.4 billion the year before. According to a LSEG consensus, analysts had predicted $3.9 billion. Total, in an 'year marked by a near doubling of its debt as a result of a series of acquisitions has reduced its share buybacks while increasing oil and gas production during the fourth quarter. This was to compensate for a drop of 15% in Brent crude and 18% on liquefied gas prices. The company reported that it increased production by 5% in the third quarter, but the income from the "exploration" segment fell 21.6% and reached $1.8 billion. Meanwhile e Arnings from the chemical and refining business increased by 215% to $1 billion. TotalEnergies previously stated that margins at European refineries during the period increased by 231% in comparison to the prior year. CEO Patrick Pouyanne attributed?the increase to U.S. Sanctions on Russia's Rosneft, and Lukoil as well as an import ban by the European Union on fuels made from?Russian Oil. The French oil giant?also announced that it would 'buy back $750 millions worth of shares during the first quarter 2026.
-
Voestalpine profits narrowly miss forecasts due to European industrial downturn
Voestalpine missed its core 'profit expectations for nine months' on Wednesday. This was due to the continuing industrial downturn across Europe, and the persistent weakness of Europe's automotive industry. The company reported earnings before taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA), of $1.25 billion ($1.2 billion), for the nine-month period ending in December. This was about $50 million below a Vara consensus forecast. In the same time period of?2024 the figure was 968 million euro. Voestalpine continues to face pressure on its results due to its exposure to both the German industrial sector and the global auto industry. Both have seen a drop in demand as a result of customer destockings and production cuts. The company's strength in niche businesses like aerospace and rail, as well in high-performing areas such as India, were not enough to counteract the wider cyclical problems. Voestalpine announced that its flagship project to reduce emissions from steel production through new technologies is on track. It is investing 1.5 billion euro in the first phase to replace coal-based?blast furnaces with electric arc?furnaces at its 'Austrian sites of Linz and Donawitz. Investors want to know if Voestalpine can protect earnings through its noncyclical green and high-tech divisions. Voestalpine has confirmed its outlook for the full year.
-
Siemens Energy profits nearly tripled on AI-driven demand of gas turbines and grids
Siemens Energy announced on Wednesday that its net profit had nearly tripled during the first quarter of its fiscal year. This was boosted by AI driven demand for grid equipment and gas turbines, as well as a smaller loss in its struggling wind division. The results show a robust demand for large gas turbines, grid technology and wind turbines, which are both essential to the global construction of data centres that will power AI technology. The AI boom helped Siemens Energy's stock increase more than tenfold in the last two years. It now has a market worth of 130 billion euro ($155 billion). Christian Bruch, Chief Executive Officer of the company, said that "the high demand for our grid technologies and gas turbines businesses has a significant impact on overall performance." "There are also early signs of modest improvement in the wind business." In pre-market trading, it was indicated that the shares of the company - now Germany's 6th most valuable listed firm? - would open 4.3% higher. The net?profit for the quarter ended December was 746 million euros (889 million dollars), up from 252 millions a year earlier. This beats out the 732 million predicted in a LSEG poll. Siemens Gamesa, a company plagued with quality problems, has reduced its operating losses to 46 million euros compared to 374 million during the same period last year. This was due to improved productivity.
-
Stocks pause to catch their breath as the yen surges higher
On Wednesday, bond prices rose and stock market gains slowed after U.S. retail figures that were weaker than expected. Meanwhile, the yen's rally has continued and could be signaling a change in investor sentiment since Japan's election. The dollar has been under pressure due to the upcoming release of U.S. employment figures. There is also the possibility that recent numbers will be revised downward. The holiday in Japan slowed trade in Asia, but the third consecutive session of gains in the yen saw it rise to 153.3 per $1. This prompted traders to wonder if it was riding high due to dollar weakness or if it was getting a boost from Tokyo. Since Prime Minister Sanae Takayichi's sweeping election victory on Sunday, the dollar has risen by about 2.5%. This is contrary to some expectations that her stimulus plan would continue to put pressure on the currency. Brent Donnelly is a currency trader, founder of analytics company Spectra Markets, and he said, "To be long yen you must believe that the Nikkei correlation will break, and it will become an unhedged buy Japan' trade." "That's possible. "I just think that the jury is still out." The yen usually falls when the stock exchange rises. In recent sessions, Japan's stock exchange has reached record highs in anticipation of the government supporting consumers. Nikkei Futures rose on Wednesday, even though the cash market remained closed for a holiday. The gold price rose above $5,000 per ounce, and Treasury futures also rose a bit. Cash market was closed. The benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury rate fell by nearly six basis points and reached a low of 4.14 percent on Tuesday. This was after data revealed a 0.1% drop in U.S. core retail sales for December, and downward revisions in November and October. When bond prices increase, yields will fall. The S&P 500 ended 0.3% lower as the recovery from heavy software share selling last week begins to lose momentum. S&P futures were 0.3% higher, European futures flattened out and FTSE Futures rose 0.3%. CBA LEAPS AND CSL SINKS IN AUSSIE EARNINGS China's consumer stocks dropped and bonds rose after weaker-than-expected results The inflation rate is estimated to be around Highlighting weaknesses Hong Kong shares rose 1% and Taiwanese chipset maker TSMC helped Taiwan stock prices reach a record. The Australian?market rose by nearly 1.7% as a result of earnings. Shares of Commonwealth Bank of Australia rose 6.8% after the top Australian mortgage lender reported record earnings and loan growth. It also maintained its market share, while increasing its dividend. CSL shares, a biotech firm that makes the majority of its money by selling blood plasma treatments to treat rare diseases, plunged 11%, reaching an eight-year-low after the company reported a drop in its first-half profits and announced late Tuesday the departure its CEO. The Australian dollar reached a record high of $3.50, while the euro hit $1.19. This was after the central bank's deputy governor stated that inflation is too high. This fueled speculation among investors about the need for further policy tightening. China's Yuan was "steady" near its highest level in nearly three years. This was due to the corporate demand for money ahead of Lunar New Year. Brent crude oil futures remained steady at $69.18 per barrel as markets hung on the U.S. diplomacy with Iran. Bitcoin struggled to break through the $70,000 barrier on Wednesday and was stuck at around $67400. (Reporting and editing by Tom Westbrook, Stephen Coates, Kim Coghill and Shri Navaratnam)
-
India's demand for oil has improved since tensions between the US and Iran.
The oil prices rose on Wednesday as a result of a heightened risk, despite the fact that U.S. Iran?talks remained tense. In addition, signs of easing surpluses, fueled by improved demand from India, also contributed to this increase. Brent crude oil futures rose 55 cents or 0.80% to $69.35 per barrel at 0356 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude oil rose 57 cents or 0.89% to $64.53. LSEG analysts stated in a recent report that "oil maintains a bullish bid for tail risk as US-Iran negotiations continue, but remain fragile. This keeps the Strait of Hormuz premium at a high level amid continued?sanctions, tariff threats related to Iranian trade and a heightened U.S. military posture in the region." Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson stated on Tuesday that the nuclear talks between Iran and the U.S. had allowed Tehran to gauge Washington’s seriousness, as well as a consensus for 'continuing on the diplomatic path'. Diplomats from Iran, the U.S., and Oman held talks last week to try to revive diplomacy after Donald Trump positioned a flotilla of naval ships in the region. This raised fears about new military action. ANZ analysts wrote in a note that while oil prices initially?eased when Oman's Foreign Minister said discussions?tied?to the U.S. Iran talks with Iran's chief security official were productive. Hopes of a peaceful solution were then dashed by reports that the U.S. could send a second plane carrier to the Middle East if the talks fail. Trump announced on Tuesday that he is considering sending a 2nd aircraft carrier to the Middle East. This comes as Washington and Tehran are preparing to resume talks aimed at averting another conflict. Signs of an easing surplus also supported oil prices, as the markets were able to absorb some of the surplus barrels that had been seen in 2025's last quarter. "With oil prices likely to remain stable in the near term, as mainstream oil is returning to normal levels on water and India's demand for oil is increasing," said Vortexa analyst Xavier Tang. Indian refiners have avoided Russian oil purchases in order to help New Delhi sign a trade agreement with Washington. They are now increasing their purchases of oil from West Africa and the Middle East. The Energy Information Administration will release its weekly U.S. Oil Inventory data on Wednesday. The analysts polled estimated that on average crude inventories increased?by 800,000 barrels during the week ending February 6. Distillate and gasoline stocks are expected to have fallen by 1.3 million and 400,000 respectively. U.S. crude stocks rose by 13,4 million barrels during the week ending February 6, according to market sources citing American Petroleum Institute data on Tuesday.
Trump 2.0: Who's gotten a top task in his administration, and who's in the running for one?
Donald Trump has begun the process of picking a cabinet and selecting other high-ranking administration authorities following his presidential election success.
Here are the early choices and top contenders for a few of the key posts supervising defense, intelligence, diplomacy, trade, migration and economic policymaking. Some remain in contention for a variety of posts.
SUSIE WILES, chief of personnel Trump on Thursday announced that Wiles, among his two campaign supervisors, will be his White Home chief of personnel. While the specifics of her political views are somewhat uncertain, Wiles, 67, is credited with running a successful and efficient project. Fans hope she will instill a sense of order and discipline that was often lacking during Trump's very first four-year term, when he cycled through a number of chiefs of personnel.
TOM HOMAN, 'border czar' Trump announced on Sunday night that Homan, the previous performing director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement from his very first administration, will supervise of the country's borders.
Trump made cracking down on individuals in the country illegally a main aspect of his campaign, appealing mass deportations.
Homan said on Monday he would focus on deporting immigrants in the U.S. unlawfully who positioned safety and security risks in addition to those working at task websites.
Trump, in a post on his Truth Social platform, stated Homan will be in charge of our nation's borders ( The Border Czar),. consisting of, however not restricted to, the Southern Border, the Northern. Border, all Maritime, and Air Travel Security, including the. deportation of immigrants in the U.S. illegally.
ELISE STEFANIK, U.N. ambassador. Trump announced on Monday that Stefanik, a Republican politician. congresswoman and staunch Trump supporter, would be his. ambassador to the United Nations.
Stefanik, 40, a U.S. agent from New York state and. Home Republican politician conference chair, took a management position in. the House of Representatives in 2021 when she was elected to. replace then-Representative Liz Cheney, who was ousted for. criticizing Trump's incorrect claims of election scams.
I am honored to nominate Chairwoman Elise Stefanik to serve. in my Cabinet as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Trump. said in a declaration. Elise is an incredibly strong, difficult, and. clever America First fighter.. Stefanik will reach the U.N. after vibrant guarantees by Trump to. end the Russia-Ukraine war and Israel's war in Gaza.
LEE ZELDIN, EPA administrator
Trump announced on Monday he had designated previous. congressman Lee Zeldin of New york city state as administrator of the. Environmental Protection Agency, and Zeldin said he had accepted. the function.
Zeldin, 44, a strong Trump ally, served in Congress from. 2015 to 2023. In 2022 he lost the New York governor's race to. Democratic incumbent Kathy Hochul. Trump has assured to revamp U.S. energy policy, with the objective. of making the most of the country's already record-high oil and gas. production by rolling back regulations and accelerating. allowing.
As head of the EPA, Zeldin will play an essential role in. implementing those policies.
SCOTT BESSENT, potential treasury secretary. Bessent, an essential financial adviser to Trump, is extensively seen as a. leading candidate for treasury secretary. A long time hedge fund. investor who taught at Yale University for a number of years,. Bessent has a warm relationship with the president-elect.
While Bessent has actually long preferred the laissez-faire policies. that were popular in the pre-Trump Republican Party, he has likewise. spoken highly of Trump's use of tariffs as a negotiating tool. He has praised the president-elect's economic viewpoint, which. rests on an apprehension of both policies and worldwide. trade.
JOHN PAULSON, prospective treasury secretary
Paulson, a billionaire hedge fund manager and significant Trump. donor, is another leading competitor for treasury secretary. The. longtime financier has actually informed partners he would have an interest in. the task.
A longtime advocate of tax cuts and deregulation, Paulson's. profile is broadly comparable to that of other prospective members of. Trump's economic team. He has publicly supported targeted. tariffs as a tool to make sure U.S. national security and combat. unreasonable trade practices abroad. One high-profile fundraising event hosted by Paulson in April raked in. over $50 million for the former president.
LARRY KUDLOW, potential treasury secretary
Fox Service Network personality Larry Kudlow, who functioned as. director of the National Economic Council for much of Trump's. initially term, has an outside shot at becoming his treasury. secretary and would likely have an opportunity to take a. different economics-focused position if he is interested.
While he is privately hesitant of broad tariffs, there is. publicly little daylight in between the policies Kudlow supporters. and those of the president-elect.
ROBERT LIGHTHIZER, possible treasury secretary
A follower who functioned as Trump's U.S. trade representative. for essentially the then-president's entire term, Lighthizer. will likely be welcomed back. Though Bessent and. Paulson likely have a better chance at becoming treasury. secretary, Lighthizer has an outside opportunity, and he might be. able to reprise his old role if he's interested. Like Trump, Lighthizer is a trade doubter and a firm believer in. tariffs. He was one of the leading figures in Trump's trade war. with China and the renegotiation of the North American Free. Trade Contract, or NAFTA, with Mexico and Canada during Trump's. initially term.
HOWARD LUTNICK, prospective treasury secretary
The co-chair of Trump's transition effort and the longtime. president of monetary services firm Cantor Fitzgerald,. Lutnick remains in the running for treasury secretary.
A bombastic New Yorker like Trump, Lutnick has evenly. applauded the president-elect's economic policies, including his. usage of tariffs.
He has at times offered elaborate, unvarnished viewpoints about. what policies will be enacted in Trump's second term. Some Trump. allies had independently grumbled that he frequently provided. himself as speaking on behalf of the project.
LINDA McMAHON, potential commerce secretary. Professional wrestling magnate and previous Small Business. Administration director Linda McMahon is viewed as the frontrunner. to lead Trump's Department of Commerce, three sources briefed on. the plans said. McMahon is a significant donor and was an early supporter of the. Republican president-elect when he first ran for the White Home. practically a years earlier. This time, Trump tapped her to co-lead a. shift team formed to assist vet personnel and draft policy. ahead of the Nov. 5 election.
McMahon is the co-founder and former CEO of the professional. battling franchise WWE. She later on served as director of the. Small Company Administration, resigning in 2019, and went on to. lead a pro-Trump political action committee that supported his. 2020 reelection quote.
RICHARD GRENELL, potential secretary of state. Grenell is amongst Trump's closest diplomacy advisors. Throughout. the president-elect's first four-year term, he worked as acting. director of nationwide intelligence and U.S. ambassador to. Germany. When Trump met Ukrainian President Volodymyr. Zelenskiy in September, Grenell sat in on the personal meeting.
Grenell's private negotiations with foreign leaders and. often-caustic character have actually made him the center of numerous. debates, though considerable Republican gains in the Senate. suggest he could likely be confirmed. He is also considered a top. competitor for national security advisor, which does not need. Senate verification. Among the policies he has actually promoted for is establishing an. self-governing zone in eastern Ukraine to end the war there, a. position Kyiv thinks about unacceptable.
ROBERT O'BRIEN, possible secretary of state
O'Brien, Trump's 4th and last national security advisor. throughout his very first term, maintains a close relationship with. Trump, and the 2 frequently speak on nationwide security matters. He is likely in the running for secretary of state or other top. diplomacy and nationwide security posts. He has preserved. close contacts with foreign leaders given that Trump left workplace,. having met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in. Israel in May.
His views are rather more hawkish than a few of Trump's. advisors. He has, for example, been more helpful of military. help for Ukraine than many of his Republican contemporaries, and. he is a proponent of banning TikTok in the United States.
COSTS HAGERTY, possible secretary of state
A U.S. senator from Tennessee who worked on Trump's 2016. transition effort, Hagerty is considered a leading competitor for. secretary of state. He has preserved solid relations with. essentially all factions of the Republican politician Party, and could. likely be verified with ease in the Senate.
He functioned as U.S. ambassador to Japan in the first Trump. administration at a time when the president promoted his warm. relationship with then-Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Hagerty's policies are broadly in line with Trump's. Previously in. the year, he voted versus a major military help bundle for. Ukraine.
MARCO RUBIO, potential secretary of state. Rubio, a U.S. senator from Florida and 2016 Republican. presidential prospect, is also a leading secretary of state. contender whose policies hew closely to those of Trump. Like. Hagerty, he was a contender to be Trump's 2024 running mate.
Rubio has actually long been associated with foreign affairs in the. Senate, particularly as it connects to Latin America, and he has. solid relationships throughout the party.
MIKE WALTZ, prospective defense secretary. A previous Army Green Beret who is presently a U.S. congressman. from Florida, Waltz has actually established himself as one of the. primary China hawks in your house.
Among the various China-related bills he has co-sponsored. are steps created to minimize U.S. dependence on vital. minerals mined in China.
Waltz is on speaking terms with Trump and is commonly. thought about to be a major competitor for secretary of defense.
KEITH KELLOGG, potential candidate for national security. consultant
A retired lieutenant general who served as chief of personnel to. the National Security Council under Trump, Kellogg has Trump's. ear and is a competitor for national security advisor, among. other national security posts. Throughout the campaign, he provided Trump with a plan to end the. war in Ukraine, which involved requiring both celebrations to the. negotiating table and eliminating NATO membership for Ukraine for. the foreseeable future, to name a few procedures.
MARK GREEN, potential homeland security secretary
A former Army flight surgeon and the current chair of the. House Homeland Security Committee, Green is thought about by some. Trump allies in Washington as a contender for the leading job at the. Department of Homeland Security. His fans describe him as. a Trump follower and migration hardliner who also has. significant legal experience. Green was chosen by Trump throughout his very first term to act as. secretary of the Army, but he withdrew his name as past. statements, which were commonly viewed as transphobic and. Islamophobic, drew more examination.
CHAD WOLF, possible homeland security secretary
Wolf, who served as Trump's acting secretary of homeland. security for approximately 14 months during his first presidency, may. have a shot at heading back to DHS.
Wolf loyally carried out Trump's hardline immigration. policies, and he released federal representatives to Portland, Oregon, to. control protests throughout the riots that followed the murder of. George Floyd, a Black man, by a white police officer.
He might have some strikes versus him. He resigned on Jan. 11, 2021, just days after the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.
Trump has actually revealed misgivings about bringing back those who. resigned in the last days of his term. Wolf, however, cited the. legal debate around his visit as DHS secretary -. rather than the Capitol attack - when he stepped down. Several. judges ruled that his appointment by Trump, which effectively. prevented the Senate, was illegal.
JOHN RATCLIFFE, possible CIA director
A former congressman and district attorney who worked as director. of national intelligence throughout Trump's in 2015 in office,. Ratcliffe is viewed as a leading competitor to be director of the. CIA, according to two people knowledgeable about the transition. process. Ratcliffe is likewise a possible attorney general choice. The president-elect's allies view Ratcliffe as a hardcore Trump. patriot who might likely win Senate verification. Still, during. his time as director of nationwide intelligence, Ratcliffe typically. contradicted the assessments of career civil servants, drawing. criticism from Democrats who said he politicized the role.
MIKE LEE, potential attorney general of the United States
A U.S. senator from Utah, Lee is extensively viewed as another top. candidate for chief law officer. Though the previous district attorney. decreased to vote for Trump during the 2016 election, he later. became an unwavering ally, and he has become something of an. intellectual hero amongst some factions of Trumpworld. Lee was an essential figure in attempts by Trump and his allies to. reverse his 2020 election loss to Democrat Joe Biden, and has. spread unproven conspiracy theories about the Jan. 6, 2021,. attack on the Capitol.
KASH PATEL, potential candidate for nationwide security posts
A previous Republican politician Home staffer who served in numerous. high-ranking personnel functions in the defense and intelligence. neighborhoods throughout Trump's first term, Patel regularly appeared. on the project path to rally assistance for the candidate.
Some Trump allies wish to see Patel, thought about the. ultimate Trump patriot, appointed CIA director. Any position. needing Senate confirmation may be a difficulty, nevertheless.
Patel has leaned into controversy throughout his career. In. an interview with Trump ally Steve Bannon in 2015, he guaranteed. to come after political leaders and journalists perceived to be. opponents of Trump.
Throughout the Trump's first term, Patel drew animosity from. some more skilled nationwide security authorities, who saw him. as unpredictable and too eager to please the then-president.
(source: Reuters)