Israel intensifies strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen under Operation Black Flag
Israel’s Minister of Defense announced the launch of Operation Black Flag, with the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) carrying out strikes on multiple mi...
FBI Director Kash Patel has floated the idea of using Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) trainers to improve agents’ martial arts skills, according to four people familiar with the plan.
Patel raised the proposal during his first video call with the FBI’s 55 field office supervisors on Wednesday. Two sources briefed on the discussion described the idea as "surreal" and "wacky."
The FBI declined to comment on the plan, and UFC has not yet responded.
President Donald Trump, a longtime fan of mixed martial arts, attended a UFC event in New York shortly after his election victory in November. UFC President Dana White, a close friend of Trump, has supported him in past campaigns.
During the call, Patel credited Dan Bongino, a far-right podcaster and Trump ally, with inspiring the initiative. Bongino, set to become the FBI's deputy director in mid-March, is reportedly a UFC fan. Patel suggested exploring a partnership with the organization for training purposes.
A former Justice Department official, speaking anonymously, criticized the move, calling it "clearly motivated by glitz and glamour" rather than operational needs.
Since taking office last week, Patel has already begun restructuring the FBI. He has ordered the relocation of 1,500 employees from Washington, D.C., to field offices and an FBI site in Huntsville, Alabama. His book, Government Gangsters, outlines plans to decentralize FBI operations and reduce staffing at headquarters.
Patel reaffirmed his commitment to these changes during the field office call. He also announced that Bongino will begin visiting FBI offices shortly after assuming his role in March.
It remains unclear how a partnership between the FBI and UFC would function.
A magnitude 5.5 earthquake struck off Japan’s Tokara Islands on Wednesday, with no tsunami warning issued but residents advised to remain vigilant.
The United States has rescinded licensing restrictions on ethane exports to China, allowing shipments to resume after a temporary halt and signalling progress in efforts to ease recent trade tensions.
Italy plans to grant approximately 500,000 work visas to non-EU nationals between 2026 and 2028, as announced in a cabinet statement. The initiative aims to address labor shortages by expanding legal immigration pathways
Following a deadly glacier collapse in Blatten, near the Swiss Alpine village of Kandersteg, the town is on high alert as melting permafrost and shifting rock threaten another potential disaster after it was buried a month ago.
China’s northern and western provinces are on high alert for flash floods and landslides as intense monsoon rains continue to overwhelm defences, killing at least seven and displacing communities across the country.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has urged Elon Musk to steer clear of politics and prioritise his companies, after the Tesla CEO announced the formation of a new political party in defiance of President Donald Trump.
TikTok is building a new version of its app for U.S. users ahead of a planned sale to American investors, The Information reported, as President Donald Trump prepares fresh talks with China over the platform’s future.
BRICS leaders meeting in Rio de Janeiro have condemned attacks on Iran, Gaza and Kashmir, while presenting the expanded bloc as a rising force for multilateralism in a world dominated by U.S.-led policies.
Israel’s Minister of Defense announced the launch of Operation Black Flag, with the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) carrying out strikes on multiple military targets belonging to the Houthi movement in Yemen.
UN teams have deployed to Syria’s coastal Latakia province, where wildfires have been burning for four days, forcing hundreds of families to flee and destroying large areas of farmland and infrastructure.
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