Starring in a holiday film inspired by Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s romance is no small feat — and Christmas in the Spotlight stars Jessica Lord and Laith Wallschleger made sure they were up for the challenge. “I watched the Eras Tour , like, so many times to get into that pop star spirit,” Lord, 26, exclusively told Us Weekly. “And I just have such a high level of respect for Taylor as an artist, as a person in the industry, the way that her dedication to her craft and her fans and her nonprofit work. Like, I can really see why we all are so passionate about her and her music.” Lord portrays Bowyn Sykes in the Lifetime film, the world’s biggest pop singer who is gearing up to release her Christmas breakup banger. Despite her career thriving more than ever before, her recent breakup — and genuinely terrible ex-boyfriend — has her battling rumors and slander about her personal life. Wallschleger, 32, plays Drew Bonville, a wide receiver for the (fictional) NFL Bombers who has a history of being both lovable and a total party animal. The two cross paths when Drew takes his niece to one of Bowyn’s concerts, and sparks begin to fly — but their relationship is put to the test under the spotlight of public scrutiny. If that all sounds familiar, it should; the story is inspired by Swift and Kelce’s real-life romance, which began in a similar fashion in summer 2023 and has been a global sensation ever since. While Lord and Wallschleger aren’t playing Swift and Kelce exactly in the movie, it’s impossible not to see the similarities — and both actors understood the responsibility that came with being likened to two American treasures. “I went to see [Swift] live when I was younger. I was obsessed with [her songs] ‘Love Story’ and ‘Our Song,’” Lord told Us . “I have some core memories with my girls when I was younger to those songs. So it’s kind of nostalgic and a full circle moment to even be part of a project like this.” Wallschleger, meanwhile, praised Swift for what she’s done for burgeoning artists over the years. “One thing I love about Taylor Swift, and I’ve seen this on a few occasions, she really steps up for other ladies in the music industry,” he told Us . “When they’re going through a tough time and she’s got their back when maybe nobody else is showing up for them. So I really respect that a lot.” The film itself works hard to highlight that aspect of Swift’s legacy through the portrayal of Bowyn, ensuring the character is seen as a strong business woman who is in control of her own life. “I think that’s a huge part of who [Bowyn] is,” Lord explained. “I think that it was important to show that she does call the shots. She is in, constant business chat with her manager. And that’s really what her life is.” Lord credits Bowyn’s career driven attitude toward her estranged relationship with her parents in the movie — a plot point that steers away from Swift’s own close bond with her family. “I think because of that family background, it’s forced [Bowyn] into being her own boss and taking the lead, being this strong woman that’s very independent and career driven,” Lord said. “Because that is really where all of her energy goes. ... For me personally, I’m really close with my family and I make so much time for them, and when she doesn’t have that time, she can put it all into herself.” Enter Drew, who becomes a “refreshing, lighthearted” — and certainly unexpected addition — to Bowyn’s life. Someone, Lord said, that’s able to bring the “fun” she’s been missing back into her world. “She admits to Drew that she has been losing that joy a little bit,” Lorde explained, “and I think that him really bringing that back for her just allows her to fall in love, not only with Drew, but with the passion for what she does again.” Fans would agree that dynamic parallels what Kelce has brought to Swift’s life, as well. Christmas in the Spotlight is filled with those type of nods to the couple, from recreating milestones in their romance to working Swift song titles into the dialogue. “The writer of this movie, [ Eirene Tran Donohue ], is a huge fan of Taylor Swift,” Wallschleger told Us . “So for those Swifties out there, she left little Easter eggs within the script that was a little nod to them.” There are plenty of tributes to Kelce in the film, too. Drew is not only an all-star football player (albeit not a tight end and not on the Kansas City Chiefs), he’s sharing the NFL space with his brother and has a close relationship with his Midwestern family — particularly his mom and niece. Lord and Wallschleger, for their parts, are slightly less well-versed in Kelce’s legacy than they are of Swift’s. Lord, being from the U.K., confessed she really doesn’t “know much” about football. And while Wallschleger’s brother-in-law is a “huge Chiefs fan,” he’s yet to attend a game. “They have season tickets, so I’m gonna have to fly my butt out there and go with them one day,” he quipped. As for Swift and Kelce’s romance, the pair were really only aware of the couple from a periphery. “I mean, I watch a lot of football just because I’m a fan and I always see [Taylor] at the games, you know, she was at the Super Bowl and you kind of see the ir dynamic a little bit. But I didn’t have any idea what the ir story was of the early beginnings because that was kind of, like, shrouded in mystery.” (Editor’s note: We didn’t tell Wallschleger that he actually quoted a Swift lyric here, but it’s worth noting!) While the actors may not be die-hard Swifties crowning members of Chiefs Kingdom, having space from Kelce and Swift actually worked in their favor. While Lord and Wallschleger were aware of the film’s inspiration when taking on their roles, they were also set on creating something new. “I felt like with our movie we had an opportunity to kind of create our own path and, and discover what that could be.” Wallschleger said. “I feel like in general we made it our own. We especially tried to put ourselves into the character as well. Like, Jessica and Laith into Drew and Bow. So I think we mostly were just focused on Bowyn and Drew’s story as we were filming and every day on the way to set, we were going through our lines, making sure we were on the same page.” Despite wanting to make their own mark on the character, it’s impossible not to see the parallels between the two couples; what makes Bowyn and Drew so great together is similar to why Kelce and Swift are so beloved. “I think the foundation of every really great relationship is you have to be best friends, and you have to be able to play with one another,” Wallschleger noted. “We’re just people at the end of the day. So when [Bowyn and Drew] get to escape together and kind of just be who they are, they can be stupid and playful.” Lord echoed Wallschleger’s sentiments, adding that Drew provides a “sense of normality” that Bowyn typically “never gets to experience.” You have successfully subscribed. By signing up, I agree to the Terms and Privacy Policy and to receive emails from Us Weekly Check our latest news in Google News Check our latest news in Apple News “It’s comfortable, it’s vulnerable,” she said. “Honestly, the keyword for me with Bowyn and Drew is, like, refreshing; it’s authentic. And I think in a world of that high level of fame, it’s really hard to find people and things and anything like that.” There are two very famous people who probably couldn’t agree more. Christmas in the Spotlight premieres on Lifetime Saturday, November 23, at 8 p.m. ET.
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Northern Ireland will face one of Italy or Germany in their 2026 World Cup qualification group Northern Ireland will kick off their bid to qualify for the 2026 World Cup with an away double header in September next year against Luxembourg and either Germany or Italy. Michael O’Neill’s side drew 2-2 in Luxembourg in November as they won their Nations League group and will return there on September 4 in 2025 aiming to secure a victory to start their World Cup campaign in style. Next on September 7, Northern Ireland will be in Germany or Italy. The Green and White Army will have to wait until March to find out which of the football superpowers will be the opposition, with the winners of their Nations League clash hosting Northern Ireland. Incidentally, that match in Italy or Germany will take place exactly 20 years on from Northern Ireland’s famous 1-0 victory over England in Belfast in a World Cup qualifier. In October 2025, O’Neill’s young guns will have two home games. First they will play Slovakia on October 10 and then three days later have a mouth-watering encounter versus Germany or Italy to savour. Northern Ireland will finish what they hope is a successful campaign with two more Group A games in November. They go to Slovakia on November 14 and follow that up with a fixture at Windsor Park against Luxembourg on the 17th. All the match dates were published on the UEFA website on Friday night hours after the draw took place in Zurich. The winners of Northern Ireland’s group automatically qualify for the 2026 World Cup in America, Canada and Mexico with the runners-up going into the Play-Offs. Northern Ireland’s 2026 World Cup qualifiers 04.09.2025 – Luxembourg v Northern Ireland 07.09.2025 – Germany or Italy v Northern Ireland 10.10.2025 – Northern Ireland v Slovakia 13.10.2025 – Northern Ireland v Germany or Italy 14.11.2025 – Slovakia v Northern Ireland 17.11.2025 – Northern Ireland v Luxembourg
Ahmedabad: It has been four years since the National Education Policy 2020 was approved by the Union cabinet, yet state universities have failed to completely implement it. The policy's core focus on student credit transfer remains largely unrealized, particularly affecting students moving between universities within the state. At a recent meeting, state education department officials and vice chancellors of the state's public universities addressed crucial aspects, including credit transfer mechanisms, multiple entry-exit options and swift policy implementation. The department issued directives to develop a comprehensive roadmap within three months. This new education policy, introduced after a 34-year gap, stresses key aspects such as opportunities, accountability, inclusive education and excellence. Despite its launch, implementation issues persist across various public universities. During the meeting, officials stressed immediate policy execution, with vice chancellors being asked to achieve 50% gross enrolment ratio in higher education by 2035. The department will also hold quarterly review meetings to monitor progress in the implementation of NEP 2020. It also ordered VCs to set up objectives and submit detailed implementation strategies at the next quarterly meeting. The policy's provisions for multiple entry-exit points remain largely theoretical, with most universities failing to establish practical systems. Other issues include insufficient internship arrangements. Universities were told to adopt modern technologies, including AI, and move away from traditional practices. Sources said that govt data reveals that while 8 lakh Indian students pursue education abroad annually, India attracts only 45,000 international students. The policy addresses this imbalance by inviting the world's top 100 universities to set up campuses in India. The VCs of state universities were also instructed to create and upload Academic Credit Bank data to DigiLocker. Currently, only a few institutions like GTU and Gujarat University have completed this requirement. Additionally, plans were discussed to integrate all universities into a unified platform like the Gujarat Common Admission Service (GCAS). Sources said that despite biannual meetings between the education department and university authorities, NEP implementation has not progressed as expected. Sources said that universities merely provide data without actual policy implementation.Summary Google has uncovered a network of over 1,000 fake news websites spreading pro-China narratives. The sites are operated by four PR firms acting on behalf of an unknown client. These firms create websites that mimic legitimate news outlets and publish a mix of repurposed and pro-China content. Google has blocked the sites from appearing on its news platforms due to policy violations. The operation highlights the use of PR firms to spread disinformation and obscure the source of the content. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Google’s Threat Intelligence Group (TAG), in collaboration with its cybersecurity firm Mandiant , has discovered a large-scale network of fake news websites operated by four different public relations (PR) firms spreading propaganda aligned with the interests of the Chinese government. Dubbed GLASSBRIDGE, this network of PR firms has been creating and distributing inauthentic content globally to shape public opinion on key geopolitical issues. Since 2022, Google has banned and deindexed over 1,000 websites linked to GLASSBRIDGE from appearing in Google News and Google Discover for violating policies against deceptive practices and lack of editorial transparency. These sites pose as independent media outlets but push narratives that align with Beijing’s political agenda, including topics like Taiwan, the South China Sea, and COVID-19. It is worth noting that this news emerged just weeks after reports revealed North Korean hackers using fake news to distribute malware. “These campaigns show how private PR firms are being used to conduct coordinated influence campaigns,” Google said in a blog post . “By using these firms, the actors behind the information operations gain deniability, obscuring their role in spreading inauthentic content.” The campaigns rely on newswire services to syndicate their content, with two PR firms directly operating these services. The fake news network targets audiences in over 30 countries, including the United States, Australia, Germany, Japan, and Brazil, as well as Chinese-speaking diasporas worldwide. The four firms within the GLASSBRIDGE network are: 1. Shanghai Haixun Technology Shanghai Haixun Technology is the most prolific PR firm in the network, with more than 600 domains linked to its operations already removed by Google. These sites target both English- and Chinese-speaking audiences, as well as countries across Asia, Europe, and the Americas. Haixun’s websites are often filled with low-quality, repetitive content that mixes irrelevant filler articles with pro-China stories. The firm has also been caught using freelance platforms such as Fiverr to hire social media accounts to amplify its messaging. In July 2023, Haixun’s influence campaigns were spotted infiltrating legitimate news outlets through subdomains provided by its newswire services, Times Newswire and World Newswire, allowing it to piggyback on the credibility of established media brands. 2. Times Newswire and Shenzhen Haimai Yunxiang Media Google researchers identified Times Newswire and its operator, Shenzhen Haimai Yunxiang Media, as key players in distributing pro-China propaganda. These entities were tied to the PAPERWALL campaign, a network of over 100 fake websites reported by Citizen Lab earlier this year. These fraud sites, which spanned more than 30 countries, published a combination of copied local news, conspiracy theories, and smear campaigns targeting individuals critical of Beijing. Many of these articles were short, appearing briefly on the sites before being removed to avoid detection. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); 3. DURINBRIDGE DURINBRIDGE, another PR and marketing firm in the network, operates over 200 fake news sites. While most of its content consists of press releases and generic news, a portion is dedicated to spreading pro-China narratives, including articles linked to DRAGONBRIDGE , a long-standing influence operation tracked by Google. These sites have also been used to promote politically motivated smear campaigns, such as targeting Taiwanese presidential candidates in the lead-up to elections. 4. Shenzhen Bowen Media Shenzhen Bowen Media controls a network of more than 100 imitation news sites designed to cater to specific countries and cities. Articles are published in local languages, including French, German, Japanese, and Thai, to appear more credible to regional audiences. The content often blends legitimate-looking local news with pro-Beijing narratives sourced from its newswire service, World Newswire, which is also used by Haixun. The Bigger Picture This operation is part of a growing trend where nation-states outsource influence campaigns to private PR firms, allowing deniability. By using fake news sites instead of traditional social media disinformation, these campaigns can target audiences more effectively, tailoring content to local languages and issues. The operation also refreshes the memory of The EU DisinfoLab, a Brussels-based NGO specializing in disinformation research, which exposed a massive pro-Indian influence operation known as “Indian Chronicles.” This extensive campaign, active for over 15 years, aimed to discredit Pakistan and influence international institutions, including the United Nations and the European Parliament. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Google’s action to block these websites from its news platforms shows disinformation campaigns are a reality. The exposure of the GLASSBRIDGE network. For readers, the lesson is to critically evaluate the sources of news and verify information across multiple outlets. RELATED TOPICS Malicious Abrax666 AI Chatbot Exposed as Potential Scam Hackers used fake job websites to scam jobless US veterans SEC Twitter Hacked, Spreads Fake News About Bitcoin ETFs Android XHelper App Exposed as Money Laundering Network Fake News Site Hit Android and Windows Users with Malware
San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency director of transportation Jeffrey Tumlin has announced he will leave his position as the head of the transit agency at the end of 2024. Tumlin has led the SFMTA since December 2019 and his five-year contract was due to expire. "Serving in this position has been the greatest honor of my life, and I'm extremely proud of what the SFMTA has accomplished during my tenure," he said in a statement. "There is still far more to be done but I have full faith that our talented and highly motivated staff and leadership, working alongside city and state partners, will shepherd the agency into a successful new chapter." SFMTA director of transit Julie Kirschbaum will serve as acting director of transportation starting on Jan. 1, 2025. Mayor London Breed, who appointed Tumlin to the position back in 2019, lost in last month's mayoral election so mayor-elect Daniel Lurie , who takes office Jan. 8, will have the opportunity to appoint a new permanent head for the agency. Breed touted Tumlin in a statement Friday as "a leader in building infrastructure, improving Muni operations, and making the hard decisions necessary for our city as we grow." SFMTA's revenues in the most recent fiscal year were 16% less than before the COVID-19 pandemic, with bus and light-rail vehicle fares, parking fees and other revenue sources all down. The agency estimates that in fiscal year 2026-27, when federal, state and regional relief funds run out, SFMTA's budget deficit will be at least $239 million and as much as $322 million. State Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, thanked Tumlin for his service to the city. "I've been a daily Muni rider for 27 years, and under Jeff's leadership, Muni is better than it's ever been during that time period. Service is faster and more reliable due to Jeff's focus on making Muni work, and as a result Muni rider satisfaction surveys are at historic highs."West Haven says insurance policy will cover most of $1.2M in pandemic relief money lost to theft
WARNING: DISTRESSING CONTENT The woman who is alleged to have murdered her husband and cut up his remains was subjected to years of abuse by him and other family members and reported hearing “angels” amid the mental scars of years of trauma, according to court documents. Nirmeen Noufl, 54, is accused of murdering her husband Mamdouh, butchering his body and then disposing of his remains across southwestern Sydney. The horrifying allegations levelled against Ms Noufl have been revealed in court documents, which also claim she had a tortured upbringing and detail her battle with mental illness. The documents reveal horror claims about the woman’s life, including that she was physically abused from a young age by her father and mother and was forced into an arranged marriage where she again experienced physical abuse. Mr Noufl, who was commonly known as Emad, was last seen in May last year before he was reported missing two months later. His remains have not been found and last month Ms Noufl, who has been charged with his murder, was denied bail by the NSW Supreme Court. 20 TO 30 RUBBISH BAGS The couple, who had eight children together, had been married for over 34 years, during which time they ran small businesses. Up until 2020, Mr Noufl ran a Newtown convenience store and she was a childcare provider and later owned an NDIS business. According to a police fact sheet tendered to the Supreme Court during Ms Noufl’s bail application, Mr Noufl travelled to Egypt in 2022 and became engaged to another woman. Police allege Ms Noufl found out about the other woman that year, causing “tensions” in their marriage. However, that assertion has been denied by her lawyers who said she had for several years been aware of his infidelity. Mr Noufl sent the woman 550,000 Egyptian pounds, or about $15,000, to “assist with setting up a new life together in Egypt”, according to the police. In April 2023, Mr Noufl sold a Condell Park investment property for $1.69m. On May 3 last year, Mr Noufl went to the Egyptian consulate with his wife and signed over power of attorney. That evening, he went to Burwood to go for a walk with an associate and arrived at his Greenacre home about 9pm. It’s alleged that he was killed sometime between arriving home and 2am during a physical altercation with his wife. Police say it’s unknown how Mr Noufl was killed but allege that Ms Noufl had minor facial injuries as a result of the altercation. According to the court documents, it’s alleged Ms Noufl placed plastic sheets on the floor and cut up her husband using kitchen knives and a drop saw before she put his body parts in 20 to 30 plastic rubbish bags. She is accused of cleaning the crime scene using chemicals and bleach over the following days and placing his body parts in residential and industrial bins across Bexley and Chullora. Police further alleged that the flooring in the home’s kitchen, living room and dining room was ripped up and replaced and she disposed of two leather lounges. THE MESSAGES It’s alleged that after his death, Ms Noufl took control of his phone and social media accounts, using them to make out that he was still alive. According to police, his family and friends “received messages from (Mr Noufl’s) mobile phone and social media accounts that were unusual and not typically how (Mr Noufl) communicated”. It’s alleged she also used his social media accounts to demand that his “female companion in Egypt” return money given to her by Mr Noufl. An exchange between Mr Noufl’s “female companion” and Mr Noufl’s Facebook account in Arabic is revealed in court documents. According to the police fact sheet tendered in court, Mr Noufl’s account sent a message saying: “Peace be with you. I urgently need money. Of the money you owe, transfer to me 550,000 (Egyptian pounds).” The account then sent through a bank account number and asked for a picture to confirm the transfer had been sent. The woman replied: “Peace be with you. Please, before I transfer the money, I need you to call me so I can be sure that it is you who is asking for it, and I assure you that I am holding it on trust, and you will take it for sure, but I think I have the right to be sure. “If you cannot call me, you may send a voice recording in which you ask for it. Thank you anyway.” Mr Noufl’s account replied: “You have no shame. You know that this money belongs to my wife Nirmeen.” After further exchanges, the woman sent through proof that the money had been forwarded to the account. Ms Noufl went to Egypt in May 2023 and returned in July with $US200,000 ($A154,000) in her possession, which was believed to be proceeds from the sale of one of Mr Noufl’s Egyptian properties. ‘INHERENT WEAKNESSES’ Ms Noufl is due to appear in Burwood Local Court next week and has yet to enter a plea. Last month, she asked to be released on bail to seek treatment for her mental illnesses, pointed to her strong community ties in Sydney and argued it was estimated that any trial would not take place until 2026. In court documents, her lawyers attacked the strength of the Crown case and described it as having “inherent weaknesses”. Her barristers, Greg James KC and Johnson Jiang, wrote in submissions to the court that there was evidence that Mr Noufl was violent towards Ms Noufl during their marriage, a claim that was supported by police having been called as well as statements made to her doctor. They further argued she had no motive to kill Mr Noufl, saying that she knew about the other woman in Egypt. “Whilst the police describe Mr Noufl to have engaged in an affair with a woman in Egypt and that this caused tension between (Ms Noufl) and Mr Noufl, Mr Noufl’s infidelities are a known quantity to (Ms Noufl) and her family and it would not come as any great shock so as to kill him,” her lawyers wrote. They further argued that she had a clean criminal history, was not known to be a violent person and had no financial motives. Her lawyers also said there was evidence “as to the violent nature of Mr Noufl”. The court has been told that Ms Noufl reported that Mr Noufl was abusive and in 2012 she told a medical practitioner that she was a victim of domestic violence. Police were also called in 2008 and 2009, the court was told, following reports of domestic violence. Police were called to their home in September 2009 after Mr Noufl and his wife argued over her request for a divorce. When police arrived she reported to officers a “long history of physical violence”. It was reported to police that he picked up a knife and told her: “I would rather see you dead than give you a divorce.” And when he put down the knife, she picked it up, but he took it from her grasp during a struggle, the court documents state. ‘SEVERE BEATINGS’ In an affidavit handed up to the court, Ms Noufl’s younger sister detailed how they were both subjected to domestic violence by their father when they were young. She also said they were beaten by their mother while they lived with her in Syria as young children, describing being forced into servitude. The sister claimed Ms Noufl was “stripped”, beaten “with an electric chord” and was forced to make coffee “as if Nirmeen was a slave”. She described their living arrangements as being like “captivity” and said she continually ran away. “The beatings we experienced in Syria haunt me till today and have affected me forever,” she said. They eventually returned to Australia to live with their father. The sister said Ms Noufl returned to Australia 21⁄2 years after her, and when she landed in Sydney, Ms Noufl looked like a “Holocaust survivor”, her sister said in her affidavit. “Extremely fragile, hardly speaking or eating,” she said of her sister’s appearance upon her return to Australia. “Her teeth were black, and she spent most of her days confined to her bedroom.” She said her father arranged for Ms Noufl, when she was about 18 or 19, to be married to Mr Noufl, who at the time was attempting to immigrate to Australia but repeatedly had his visa application refused. “I believe he sold Nirmeen and it was purely a money deal,” she said, adding that Nirmeen did not meet her husband until the day of their wedding. The sister said during the marriage, Mr Noufl “treated Nirmeen like a slave” and subjected her to physical abuse. “She endured severe beatings simply for wearing a T-shirt in the backyard,” the sister wrote. She also said her sister had “experienced mental breakdowns” and “always suffered from mental health conditions” as a result of their traumatic upbringing and abuse. She detailed how Ms Noufl would say: “I can see and hear the angels talking to me.” The sister said this occurred “frequently” after Ms Noufl was subjected to abuse and it “continued into adulthood”. The court was told last month that Ms Noufl had been diagnosed with a depressive disorder and PTSD, and a forensic psychiatrist had observed she had possible psychotic symptoms. Ms Noufl was arrested in October at Bankstown Hospital, where she had checked herself in as a mental health inpatient. Ms Noufl will appear in court again on December 11.JERUSALEM — Israel approved a United States-brokered ceasefire agreement with Lebanon's Hezbollah on Tuesday, setting the stage for an end to nearly 14 months of fighting linked to the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip. In the hours leading up to the Cabinet meeting, Israel carried out its most intense wave of strikes in Beirut and its southern suburbs and issued a record number of evacuation warnings. At least 24 people were killed in strikes across the country, according to local authorities, as Israel signaled it aims to keep pummeling Hezbollah in the final hours before any ceasefire takes hold. Israel's security Cabinet approved the ceasefire agreement late Tuesday after it was presented by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his office said. U.S. President Joe Biden, speaking in Washington, called the agreement “good news” and said his administration would make a renewed push for a ceasefire in Gaza. An Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire would mark the first major step toward ending the regionwide unrest triggered by Hamas’ attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. But it does not address the devastating war in Gaza. U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to bring peace to the Middle East, but neither he nor Netanyahu have proposed a postwar solution for the Palestinian territory, where Hamas is still holding dozens of hostages and the conflict is more intractable. Still, any halt to the fighting in Lebanon is expected to reduce the likelihood of war between Israel and Iran, which backs both Hezbollah and Hamas and exchanged direct fire with Israel on two occasions earlier this year. Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike on Dahiyeh, in Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. Netanyahu presented the ceasefire proposal to Cabinet ministers after a televised address in which he listed a series of accomplishments against Israel’s enemies across the region. He said a ceasefire with Hezbollah would further isolate Hamas in Gaza and allow Israel to focus on its main enemy, Iran, which backs both groups. “If Hezbollah breaks the agreement and tries to rearm, we will attack,” he said. “For every violation, we will attack with might.” Netanyahu's office later said Israel appreciated the U.S. efforts in securing the deal but "reserves the right to act against every threat to its security.” It was not immediately clear when the ceasefire would go into effect, and the exact terms of the deal were not released. The deal calls for a two-month initial halt in fighting and would require Hezbollah to end its armed presence in a broad swath of southern Lebanon, while Israeli troops would return to their side of the border. Thousands of additional Lebanese troops and U.N. peacekeepers would deploy in the south, and an international panel headed by the United States would monitor all sides’ compliance. But implementation remains a major question mark. Israel has demanded the right to act should Hezbollah violate its obligations. Lebanese officials have rejected writing that into the proposal. Biden said Israel reserved the right to quickly resume operations in Lebanon if Hezbollah breaks the terms of the truce, but that the deal "was designed to be a permanent cessation of hostilities.” Hezbollah has said it accepts the proposal, but a senior official with the group said Tuesday that it had not seen the agreement in its final form. “After reviewing the agreement signed by the enemy government, we will see if there is a match between what we stated and what was agreed upon by the Lebanese officials,” Mahmoud Qamati, deputy chair of Hezbollah’s political council, told the Al Jazeera news network. “We want an end to the aggression, of course, but not at the expense of the sovereignty of the state” of Lebanon, he said. “Any violation of sovereignty is refused.” In this screen grab image from video provide by the Israeli Government Press Office, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu makes a televised statement Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024, in Jerusalem, Israel. Even as Israeli, U.S, Lebanese and international officials have expressed growing optimism over a ceasefire, Israel has continued its campaign in Lebanon, which it says aims to cripple Hezbollah’s military capabilities. An Israeli strike on Tuesday leveled a residential building in the central Beirut district of Basta — the second time in recent days warplanes have hit the crowded area near the city’s downtown. At least seven people were killed and 37 wounded, according to Lebanon's Health Ministry. Strikes on Beirut's southern suburbs killed at least one person and wounded 13, it said. Three people were killed in a separate strike in Beirut and three in a strike on a Palestinian refugee camp in southern Lebanon. Lebanese state media said another 10 people were killed in the eastern Baalbek province. Israel says it targets Hezbollah fighters and their infrastructure. Israel also struck a building in Beirut's bustling commercial district of Hamra for the first time, hitting a site that is around 400 meters (yards) from Lebanon’s Central Bank. There were no reports of casualties. The Israeli military said it struck targets in Beirut and other areas linked to Hezbollah's financial arm. The evacuation warnings covered many areas, including parts of Beirut that previously have not been targeted. The warnings, coupled with fear that Israel was ratcheting up attacks before a ceasefire, sent residents fleeing. Traffic was gridlocked, and some cars had mattresses tied to them. Dozens of people, some wearing their pajamas, gathered in a central square, huddling under blankets or standing around fires as Israeli drones buzzed loudly overhead. Hezbollah, meanwhile, kept up its rocket fire, triggering air raid sirens across northern Israel. Israeli military spokesman Avichay Adraee issued evacuation warnings for 20 buildings in Beirut's southern suburbs, where Hezbollah has a major presence, as well as a warning for the southern town of Naqoura where the U.N. peacekeeping mission, UNIFIL, is headquartered. UNIFIL spokesperson Andrea Tenenti told The Associated Press that peacekeepers will not evacuate. A police bomb squad officer inspects the site where a rocket fired from Lebanon landed in a backyard in Kiryat Shmona, northern Israel, Tuesday Nov. 26, 2024. The Israeli military also said its ground troops clashed with Hezbollah forces and destroyed rocket launchers in the Slouqi area on the eastern end of the Litani River, a few kilometers (miles) from the Israeli border. Under the ceasefire deal, Hezbollah would be required to move its forces north of the Litani, which in some places is about 30 kilometers (20 miles) north of the border. Hezbollah began firing into northern Israel, saying it was showing support for the Palestinians, a day after Hamas carried out its Oct. 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel, triggering the Gaza war. Israel returned fire on Hezbollah, and the two sides have been exchanging barrages ever since. Israel escalated its campaign of bombardment in mid-September and later sent troops into Lebanon, vowing to put an end to Hezbollah fire so tens of thousands of evacuated Israelis could return to their homes. More than 3,760 people have been killed by Israeli fire in Lebanon the past 13 months, many of them civilians, according to Lebanese health officials. The bombardment has driven 1.2 million people from their homes. Israel says it has killed more than 2,000 Hezbollah members. Hezbollah fire has forced some 50,000 Israelis to evacuate in the country’s north, and its rockets have reached as far south in Israel as Tel Aviv. At least 75 people have been killed, more than half of them civilians. More than 50 Israeli soldiers have died in the ground offensive in Lebanon. Chehayeb and Mroue reported from Beirut. Associated Press reporters Lujain Jo and Sally Abou AlJoud in Beirut contributed. Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.
NEW YORK—He’s making threats, traveling abroad and negotiating with world leaders. Donald Trump has more than a month and a half to go before he’s sworn in for a second term. But the Republican president-elect is already moving aggressively not just to fill his Cabinet and outline policy goals, but also to achieve them. Trump has threatened to impose a 25% tariff on goods from Canada and Mexico, prompting emergency calls and a visit from Canada’s prime minister that resulted in what Trump claimed were commitments from both US allies on new border security measures. The incoming president has warned there will be “ALL HELL TO PAY” if Hamas does not release the hostages being held in Gaza before his inauguration on Jan. 20, 2025. And this weekend, Trump returned to the global stage, joining a host of other foreign leaders for the reopening of the Notre Dame Cathedral five years after it was ravaged by a fire. There, he was welcomed like a sitting dignitary, with a prime seat next to French President Emmanuel Macron. Absent in Paris: lame duck President Joe Biden, who has largely disappeared from headlines, except when he issued a pardon of his son, Hunter, who was facing sentencing for gun crimes and tax evasion. First lady Jill Biden attended in his place. “I think you have seen more happen in the last two weeks than you’ve seen in the last four years. And we’re not even there yet,” Trump said in an over-the-top boast at an awards ceremony Thursday night. For all of Trump’s bold talk, though, it is unclear how many of his efforts will bear fruit. Breaking precedent The pre-inauguration threats and deal-making are highly unusual, like so much of what Trump does, said Julian Zelizer, a political historian at Princeton University. “Transitions are always a little complicated in this way. Even though we talk about one president at a time,” he said, “the reality is one president plus. And that plus can act assertively sometimes.” Zelizer said that is particularly true of Trump, who was president previously and already has relationships with many foreign leaders such as Macron, who invited both Trump and Biden to Paris this weekend as part of the Notre Dame celebration. “Right now he’s sort of governing even though he’s not the president yet. He’s having these public meetings with foreign leaders, which aren’t simply introductions. He’s staking out policy and negotiating things from drug trafficking to tariffs,” Zelizer said. Foreign leader meetings Trump had already met with several foreign leaders before this weekend’s trip. He hosted Argentinian President Javier Milei in Florida at his Mar-a-Lago club in November. After the tariff threat, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made a pilgrimage to Mar-a-Lago for a three-hour dinner meeting. Canadian officials later said the country is ready to make new investments in border security, with plans for more helicopters, drones and law enforcement officers. Incoming Trump aides have also been meeting with their future foreign counterparts. On Wednesday, several members of Trump’s team, including incoming national security adviser Mike Waltz, met with Andriy Yermak, a top aide to Zelenskyy, in Washington, as Ukraine tries to win support for its ongoing efforts to defend itself from Russian invasion, according to a person familiar with the meeting. Yermak also met with Trump officials in Florida, he wrote on X. That comes after Trump’s incoming Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, traveled to Qatar and Israel for high-level talks about a cease-fire and hostage deal in Gaza, according to a US official familiar with the efforts, meeting with the prime ministers of both countries. The official was not authorized to publicly discuss the matter and spoke on condition of anonymity. One president, two voices There is no prohibition on incoming officials or nominees meeting with foreign officials, and it is common and fine for them to do so—unless those meetings are designed to subvert or otherwise impact current US policy. Trump aides were said to be especially cognizant of potential conflicts given their experience in 2016, when interactions between Trump allies and Russian officials came under scrutiny. That included a phone call in which Trump’s incoming national security adviser, Michael Flynn, discussed new sanctions with Russia’s ambassador to the United States, suggesting things would improve after Trump became president. Flynn was later charged with lying to the FBI about the conversation. Trump’s incoming press secretary Karoline Leavitt said that “all transition officials have followed applicable laws in their interactions with foreign nationals.” She added: “World leaders recognize that President Trump is returning to power and will lead with strength to put the best interests of the United States of America first again. That is why many foreign leaders and officials have reached out to correspond with President Trump and his incoming team.” Such efforts can nonetheless cause complications. If, say, Biden is having productive conversations on a thorny foreign policy issue and Trump weighs in, that could make it harder for Biden “because people are hearing two different voices” that may be in conflict, Zelizer said. Leaders like Russia’s Vladimir Putin and Netanyahu may also anticipate a more favorable incoming administration and wait Biden out, hoping for a better deal. Coordination between incoming and outgoing administrations Although there is no requirement that an incoming administration coordinate calls and meetings with foreign officials with the State Department or National Security Council, that has long been considered standard practice. That is, in part, because transition teams, particularly in their early days and weeks, do not always have the latest information about the state of relations with foreign nations and may not have the resources, including interpretation and logistical ability, to handle such meetings efficiently. It is unclear the level of State Department involvement, but the Biden and Trump teams say they have been talking, particularly on the Middle East, with the incoming and outgoing administrations having agreed to work together on efforts to free hostages who remain held in Gaza, according to a US official, who was not authorized to comment publicly about the sensitive talks and spoke on condition of anonymity. That includes conversations between Witkoff and Biden’s foreign policy team as well as Waltz and Biden’s national security adviser Jake Sullivan. Last month, Biden administration officials said they had kept Trump’s team closely apprised of efforts to broker a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hezbollah on the Israel-Lebanon border. “I just want to be clear to all of our adversaries, they can’t play the incoming Trump administration off of the Biden administration. I’m regularly talking to the Biden people. And so, this is not a moment of opportunity or wedges for them,” Waltz said Friday in a Fox Business interview. Sullivan echoed those comments at the Ronald Reagan National Defense Forum Saturday. “It has been professional. It has been substantive. And frankly, it has been good,” he said of their coordination on national security issues. “Obviously we don’t see eye to eye on every issue, and that’s no secret to anybody,” he went on. But he said both teams believe “it is our job on behalf of the American people to make sure this is a smooth transition,” particularly given the seriousness of issues like the war in Ukraine, conflicts in the Middle East and threats from China. “The nature of the world we find ourselves in today only elevates our responsibility to be engaged, to talk regularly, to meet regularly, to be transparent, to share, and to make sure it’s an effective transition,” he said. Taking credit already Trump’s team, meanwhile, is already claiming credit for everything from gains in the stock and cryptocurrency markets to a decision by Walmart to roll back diversity, equity and inclusion policies Trump opposes. “Promises Kept—And President Trump Hasn’t Even Been Inaugurated Yet,” read one press release that claimed, in part, that both Canada and Mexico have already pledged “immediate action” to help “stem the flow of illegal immigration, human trafficking, and deadly drugs entering the United States.” Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has stopped short of saying Trump mischaracterized their call in late November. But she said Friday that Trump “has his own way of communicating, like when we had the phone call and he wrote that we were going to close the border. That was never talked about in the phone call.” Earlier this week, Mexico carried out what it claimed was its largest seizure of fentanyl pills ever. Seizures over the summer had been as little as 50 grams per week, and after the Trump call, they seized more than a ton. Biden, too, tried to take credit for the seizure in a statement Friday night. Associated Press writers Matthew Lee, Aamer Madhani, Colleen Long and Ellen Knickmeyer in Washington and Mark Stevenson in Mexico City contributed to this report. Image credits: AP/Aurelien Morissard2 Reasons to Buy British American Tobacco Stock at the End of 2024 and 2 Reasons to Avoid It for Now
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The FBI has been political from the start
WASHINGTON — Special counsel Jack Smith moved to abandon two criminal cases against Donald Trump on Monday, acknowledging that Trump’s return to the White House will preclude attempts to federally prosecute him for retaining classified documents or trying to overturn his 2020 election defeat. The decision was inevitable, since longstanding Justice Department policy says sitting presidents cannot face criminal prosecution. Yet it was still a momentous finale to an unprecedented chapter in political and law enforcement history, as federal officials attempted to hold accountable a former president while he was simultaneously running for another term. Trump emerges indisputably victorious, having successfully delayed the investigations through legal maneuvers and then winning re-election despite indictments that described his actions as a threat to the country's constitutional foundations. FILE - Special counsel Jack Smith speaks to the media about an indictment of former President Donald Trump, Aug. 1, 2023, at an office of the Department of Justice in Washington. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File) “I persevered, against all odds, and WON," Trump exulted in a post on Truth Social, his social media website. He also said that “these cases, like all of the other cases I have been forced to go through, are empty and lawless, and should never have been brought.” The judge in the election case granted prosecutors' dismissal request. A decision in the documents case was still pending on Monday afternoon. The outcome makes it clear that, when it comes to a president and criminal accusations, nothing supersedes the voters' own verdict. In court filings, Smith's team emphasized that the move to end their prosecutions was not a reflection of the merit of the cases but a recognition of the legal shield that surrounds any commander in chief. “That prohibition is categorical and does not turn on the gravity of the crimes charged, the strength of the Government’s proof, or the merits of the prosecution, which the Government stands fully behind,” prosecutors said in one of their filings. They wrote that Trump’s return to the White House “sets at odds two fundamental and compelling national interests: on the one hand, the Constitution’s requirement that the President must not be unduly encumbered in fulfilling his weighty responsibilities . . . and on the other hand, the Nation’s commitment to the rule of law.” In this situation, “the Constitution requires that this case be dismissed before the defendant is inaugurated,” they concluded. Smith’s team said it was leaving intact charges against two co-defendants in the classified documents case — Trump valet Walt Nauta and Mar-a-Lago property manager Carlos De Oliveira — because “no principle of temporary immunity applies to them.” Steven Cheung, Trump's incoming White House communications director, said Americans “want an immediate end to the political weaponization of our justice system and we look forward to uniting our country.” Trump has long described the investigations as politically motivated, and he has vowed to fire Smith as soon as he takes office in January. Now he will start his second term free from criminal scrutiny by the government that he will lead. The election case brought last year was once seen as one of the most serious legal threats facing Trump as he tried to reclaim the White House. He was indicted for plotting to overturn his defeat to Joe Biden in 2020, an effort that climaxed with his supporters' violent attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. President-elect Donald Trump arrives before the launch of the sixth test flight of the SpaceX Starship rocket Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024 in Boca Chica, Texas. (Brandon Bell/Pool via AP) But the case quickly stalled amid legal fighting over Trump’s sweeping claims of immunity from prosecution for acts he took while in the White House. The U.S. Supreme Court in July ruled for the first time that former presidents have broad immunity from prosecution, and sent the case back to U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan to determine which allegations in the indictment, if any, could proceed to trial. The case was just beginning to pick up steam again in the trial court in the weeks leading up to this year’s election. Smith’s team in October filed a lengthy brief laying out new evidence they planned to use against him at trial, accusing him of “resorting to crimes” in an increasingly desperate effort to overturn the will of voters after he lost to Biden. In dismissing the case, Chutkan acknowledged prosecutors' request to do so “without prejudice,” raising the possibility that they could try to bring charges against Trump when his term is over. She wrote that is “consistent with the Government’s understanding that the immunity afforded to a sitting President is temporary, expiring when they leave office.” But such a move may be barred by the statute of limitations, and Trump may also try to pardon himself while in office. immunity afforded to a sitting President is temporary, expiring when they leave office. The separate case involving classified documents had been widely seen as legally clear cut, especially because the conduct in question occurred after Trump left the White House and lost the powers of the presidency. The indictment included dozens of felony counts accusing him of illegally hoarding classified records from his presidency at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, and obstructing federal efforts to get them back. He has pleaded not guilty and denied wrongdoing. The case quickly became snarled by delays, with U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon slow to issue rulings — which favored Trump’s strategy of pushing off deadlines in all his criminal cases — while also entertaining defense motions and arguments that experts said other judges would have dispensed with without hearings. In May, she indefinitely canceled the trial date amid a series of unresolved legal issues before dismissing the case outright two months later. Smith’s team appealed the decision, but now has given up that effort. Trump faced two other state prosecutions while running for president. One them, a New York case involving hush money payments, resulted in a conviction on felony charges of falsifying business records. It was the first time a former president had been found guilty of a crime. The sentencing in that case is on hold as Trump's lawyers try to have the conviction dismissed before he takes office, arguing that letting the verdict stand will interfere with his presidential transition and duties. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's office is fighting the dismissal but has indicated that it would be open to delaying sentencing until Trump leaves office. Bragg, a Democrat, has said the solution needs to balance the obligations of the presidency with “the sanctity of the jury verdict." Trump was also indicted in Georgia along with 18 others accused of participating in a sprawling scheme to illegally overturn the 2020 presidential election there. Any trial appears unlikely there while Trump holds office. The prosecution already was on hold after an appeals court agreed to review whether to remove Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis over her romantic relationship with the special prosecutor she had hired to lead the case. Four defendants have pleaded guilty after reaching deals with prosecutors. Trump and the others have pleaded not guilty. Associated Press writers Colleen Long, Michael Sisak and Lindsay Whitehurst contributed to this story. ___ Special Counsel Jack Smith plans to step down before Trump’s inauguration, according to The New York Times. Among President-elect Donald Trump's picks are Susie Wiles for chief of staff, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio for secretary of state, former Democratic House member Tulsi Gabbard for director of national intelligence and Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz for attorney general. Susie Wiles, 67, was a senior adviser to Trump's 2024 presidential campaign and its de facto manager. Trump named Florida Sen. Marco Rubio to be secretary of state, making a former sharp critic his choice to be the new administration's top diplomat. Rubio, 53, is a noted hawk on China, Cuba and Iran, and was a finalist to be Trump's running mate on the Republican ticket last summer. Rubio is the vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. “He will be a strong Advocate for our Nation, a true friend to our Allies, and a fearless Warrior who will never back down to our adversaries,” Trump said of Rubio in a statement. The announcement punctuates the hard pivot Rubio has made with Trump, whom the senator called a “con man" during his unsuccessful campaign for the 2016 GOP presidential nomination. Their relationship improved dramatically while Trump was in the White House. And as Trump campaigned for the presidency a third time, Rubio cheered his proposals. For instance, Rubio, who more than a decade ago helped craft immigration legislation that included a path to citizenship for people in the U.S. illegally, now supports Trump's plan to use the U.S. military for mass deportations. Pete Hegseth, 44, is a co-host of Fox News Channel’s “Fox & Friends Weekend” and has been a contributor with the network since 2014, where he developed a friendship with Trump, who made regular appearances on the show. Hegseth lacks senior military or national security experience. If confirmed by the Senate, he would inherit the top job during a series of global crises — ranging from Russia’s war in Ukraine and the ongoing attacks in the Middle East by Iranian proxies to the push for a cease-fire between Israel, Hamas and Hezbollah and escalating worries about the growing alliance between Russia and North Korea. Hegseth is also the author of “The War on Warriors: Behind the Betrayal of the Men Who Keep Us Free,” published earlier this year. Trump tapped Pam Bondi, 59, to be attorney general after U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz withdrew his name from consideration. She was Florida's first female attorney general, serving between 2011 and 2019. She also was on Trump’s legal team during his first impeachment trial in 2020. Considered a loyalist, she served as part of a Trump-allied outside group that helped lay the groundwork for his future administration called the America First Policy Institute. Bondi was among a group of Republicans who showed up to support Trump at his hush money criminal trial in New York that ended in May with a conviction on 34 felony counts. A fierce defender of Trump, she also frequently appears on Fox News and has been a critic of the criminal cases against him. Trump picked South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, a well-known conservative who faced sharp criticism for telling a story in her memoir about shooting a rambunctious dog, to lead an agency crucial to the president-elect’s hardline immigration agenda. Noem used her two terms leading a tiny state to vault to a prominent position in Republican politics. South Dakota is usually a political afterthought. But during the COVID-19 pandemic, Noem did not order restrictions that other states had issued and instead declared her state “open for business.” Trump held a fireworks rally at Mount Rushmore in July 2020 in one of the first large gatherings of the pandemic. She takes over a department with a sprawling mission. In addition to key immigration agencies, the Department of Homeland Security oversees natural disaster response, the U.S. Secret Service, and Transportation Security Administration agents who work at airports. The governor of North Dakota, who was once little-known outside his state, Burgum is a former Republican presidential primary contender who endorsed Trump, and spent months traveling to drum up support for him, after dropping out of the race. Burgum was a serious contender to be Trump’s vice presidential choice this summer. The two-term governor was seen as a possible pick because of his executive experience and business savvy. Burgum also has close ties to deep-pocketed energy industry CEOs. Trump made the announcement about Burgum joining his incoming administration while addressing a gala at his Mar-a-Lago club, and said a formal statement would be coming the following day. In comments to reporters before Trump took the stage, Burgum said that, in recent years, the power grid is deteriorating in many parts of the country, which he said could raise national security concerns but also drive up prices enough to increase inflation. “There's just a sense of urgency, and a sense of understanding in the Trump administration,” Burgum said. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. ran for president as a Democrat, than as an independent, and then endorsed Trump . He's the son of Democratic icon Robert Kennedy, who was assassinated during his own presidential campaign. The nomination of Kennedy to lead the Department of Health and Human Services alarmed people who are concerned about his record of spreading unfounded fears about vaccines . For example, he has long advanced the debunked idea that vaccines cause autism. Scott Bessent, 62, is a former George Soros money manager and an advocate for deficit reduction. He's the founder of hedge fund Key Square Capital Management, after having worked on-and-off for Soros Fund Management since 1991. If confirmed by the Senate, he would be the nation’s first openly gay treasury secretary. He told Bloomberg in August that he decided to join Trump’s campaign in part to attack the mounting U.S. national debt. That would include slashing government programs and other spending. “This election cycle is the last chance for the U.S. to grow our way out of this mountain of debt without becoming a sort of European-style socialist democracy,” he said then. Oregon Republican U.S. Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer narrowly lost her reelection bid this month, but received strong backing from union members in her district. As a potential labor secretary, she would oversee the Labor Department’s workforce, its budget and put forth priorities that impact workers’ wages, health and safety, ability to unionize, and employer’s rights to fire employers, among other responsibilities. Chavez-DeRemer is one of few House Republicans to endorse the “Protecting the Right to Organize” or PRO Act would allow more workers to conduct organizing campaigns and would add penalties for companies that violate workers’ rights. The act would also weaken “right-to-work” laws that allow employees in more than half the states to avoid participating in or paying dues to unions that represent workers at their places of employment. Scott Turner is a former NFL player and White House aide. He ran the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council during Trump’s first term in office. Trump, in a statement, credited Turner, the highest-ranking Black person he’s yet selected for his administration, with “helping to lead an Unprecedented Effort that Transformed our Country’s most distressed communities.” Sean Duffy is a former House member from Wisconsin who was one of Trump's most visible defenders on cable news. Duffy served in the House for nearly nine years, sitting on the Financial Services Committee and chairing the subcommittee on insurance and housing. He left Congress in 2019 for a TV career and has been the host of “The Bottom Line” on Fox Business. Before entering politics, Duffy was a reality TV star on MTV, where he met his wife, “Fox and Friends Weekend” co-host Rachel Campos-Duffy. They have nine children. A campaign donor and CEO of Denver-based Liberty Energy, Write is a vocal advocate of oil and gas development, including fracking — a key pillar of Trump’s quest to achieve U.S. “energy dominance” in the global market. Wright also has been one of the industry’s loudest voices against efforts to fight climate change. He said the climate movement around the world is “collapsing under its own weight.” The Energy Department is responsible for advancing energy, environmental and nuclear security of the United States. Wright also won support from influential conservatives, including oil and gas tycoon Harold Hamm. Hamm, executive chairman of Oklahoma-based Continental Resources, a major shale oil company, is a longtime Trump supporter and adviser who played a key role on energy issues in Trump’s first term. President-elect Donald Trump tapped billionaire professional wrestling mogul Linda McMahon to be secretary of the Education Department, tasked with overseeing an agency Trump promised to dismantle. McMahon led the Small Business Administration during Trump’s initial term from 2017 to 2019 and twice ran unsuccessfully as a Republican for the U.S. Senate in Connecticut. She’s seen as a relative unknown in education circles, though she expressed support for charter schools and school choice. She served on the Connecticut Board of Education for a year starting in 2009 and has spent years on the board of trustees for Sacred Heart University in Connecticut. Brooke Rollins, who graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in agricultural development, is a longtime Trump associate who served as White House domestic policy chief during his first presidency. The 52-year-old is president and CEO of the America First Policy Institute, a group helping to lay the groundwork for a second Trump administration. She previously served as an aide to former Texas Gov. Rick Perry and ran a think tank, the Texas Public Policy Foundation. Trump chose Howard Lutnick, head of brokerage and investment bank Cantor Fitzgerald and a cryptocurrency enthusiast, as his nominee for commerce secretary, a position in which he'd have a key role in carrying out Trump's plans to raise and enforce tariffs. Trump made the announcement Tuesday on his social media platform, Truth Social. Lutnick is a co-chair of Trump’s transition team, along with Linda McMahon, the former wrestling executive who previously led Trump’s Small Business Administration. Both are tasked with putting forward candidates for key roles in the next administration. The nomination would put Lutnick in charge of a sprawling Cabinet agency that is involved in funding new computer chip factories, imposing trade restrictions, releasing economic data and monitoring the weather. It is also a position in which connections to CEOs and the wider business community are crucial. Doug Collins is a former Republican congressman from Georgia who gained recognition for defending Trump during his first impeachment trial, which centered on U.S. assistance for Ukraine. Trump was impeached for urging Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden in 2019 during the Democratic presidential nomination, but he was acquitted by the Senate. Collins has also served in the armed forces himself and is currently a chaplain in the United States Air Force Reserve Command. "We must take care of our brave men and women in uniform, and Doug will be a great advocate for our Active Duty Servicemembers, Veterans, and Military Families to ensure they have the support they need," Trump said in a statement about nominating Collins to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs. Karoline Leavitt, 27, was Trump's campaign press secretary and currently a spokesperson for his transition. She would be the youngest White House press secretary in history. The White House press secretary typically serves as the public face of the administration and historically has held daily briefings for the press corps. Leavitt, a New Hampshire native, was a spokesperson for MAGA Inc., a super PAC supporting Trump, before joining his 2024 campaign. In 2022, she ran for Congress in New Hampshire, winning a 10-way Republican primary before losing to Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas. Leavitt worked in the White House press office during Trump's first term before she became communications director for New York Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik, Trump's choice for U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard has been tapped by Trump to be director of national intelligence, keeping with the trend to stock his Cabinet with loyal personalities rather than veteran professionals in their requisite fields. Gabbard, 43, was a Democratic House member who unsuccessfully sought the party's 2020 presidential nomination before leaving the party in 2022. She endorsed Trump in August and campaigned often with him this fall. “I know Tulsi will bring the fearless spirit that has defined her illustrious career to our Intelligence Community,” Trump said in a statement. Gabbard, who has served in the Army National Guard for more than two decades, deploying to Iraq and Kuwait, would come to the role as somewhat of an outsider compared to her predecessor. The current director, Avril Haines, was confirmed by the Senate in 2021 following several years in a number of top national security and intelligence positions. Trump has picked John Ratcliffe, a former Texas congressman who served as director of national intelligence during his first administration, to be director of the Central Intelligence Agency in his next. Ratcliffe was director of national intelligence during the final year and a half of Trump's first term, leading the U.S. government's spy agencies during the coronavirus pandemic. “I look forward to John being the first person ever to serve in both of our Nation's highest Intelligence positions,” Trump said in a statement, calling him a “fearless fighter for the Constitutional Rights of all Americans” who would ensure “the Highest Levels of National Security, and PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH.” Trump has chosen former New York Rep. Lee Zeldin to serve as his pick to lead the Environmental Protection Agency . Zeldin does not appear to have any experience in environmental issues, but is a longtime supporter of the former president. The 44-year-old former U.S. House member from New York wrote on X , “We will restore US energy dominance, revitalize our auto industry to bring back American jobs, and make the US the global leader of AI.” “We will do so while protecting access to clean air and water,” he added. During his campaign, Trump often attacked the Biden administration's promotion of electric vehicles, and incorrectly referring to a tax credit for EV purchases as a government mandate. Trump also often told his audiences during the campaign his administration would “Drill, baby, drill,” referring to his support for expanded petroleum exploration. In a statement, Trump said Zeldin “will ensure fair and swift deregulatory decisions that will be enacted in a way to unleash the power of American businesses, while at the same time maintaining the highest environmental standards, including the cleanest air and water on the planet.” Trump has named Brendan Carr, the senior Republican on the Federal Communications Commission, as the new chairman of the agency tasked with regulating broadcasting, telecommunications and broadband. Carr is a longtime member of the commission and served previously as the FCC’s general counsel. He has been unanimously confirmed by the Senate three times and was nominated by both Trump and President Joe Biden to the commission. Carr made past appearances on “Fox News Channel," including when he decried Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris' pre-Election Day appearance on “Saturday Night Live.” He wrote an op-ed last month defending a satellite company owned by Trump supporter Elon Musk. Rep. Elise Stefanik is a representative from New York and one of Trump's staunchest defenders going back to his first impeachment. Elected to the House in 2014, Stefanik was selected by her GOP House colleagues as House Republican Conference chair in 2021, when former Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney was removed from the post after publicly criticizing Trump for falsely claiming he won the 2020 election. Stefanik, 40, has served in that role ever since as the third-ranking member of House leadership. Stefanik’s questioning of university presidents over antisemitism on their campuses helped lead to two of those presidents resigning, further raising her national profile. If confirmed, she would represent American interests at the U.N. as Trump vows to end the war waged by Russia against Ukraine begun in 2022. He has also called for peace as Israel continues its offensive against Hamas in Gaza and its invasion of Lebanon to target Hezbollah. President-elect Donald Trump says he's chosen former acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker to serve as U.S. ambassador to NATO. Trump has expressed skepticism about the Western military alliance for years. Trump said in a statement Wednesday that Whitaker is “a strong warrior and loyal Patriot” who “will ensure the United States’ interests are advanced and defended” and “strengthen relationships with our NATO Allies, and stand firm in the face of threats to Peace and Stability.” The choice of Whitaker as the nation’s representative to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization is an unusual one, given his background is as a lawyer and not in foreign policy. Trump will nominate former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee to be ambassador to Israel. Huckabee is a staunch defender of Israel and his intended nomination comes as Trump has promised to align U.S. foreign policy more closely with Israel's interests as it wages wars against the Iran-backed Hamas and Hezbollah. “He loves Israel, and likewise the people of Israel love him,” Trump said in a statement. “Mike will work tirelessly to bring about peace in the Middle East.” Huckabee, who ran unsuccessfully for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008 and 2016, has been a popular figure among evangelical Christian conservatives, many of whom support Israel due to Old Testament writings that Jews are God’s chosen people and that Israel is their rightful homeland. Trump has been praised by some in this important Republican voting bloc for moving the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Trump on Tuesday named real estate investor Steven Witkoff to be special envoy to the Middle East. The 67-year-old Witkoff is the president-elect's golf partner and was golfing with him at Trump's club in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Sept. 15, when the former president was the target of a second attempted assassination. Witkoff “is a Highly Respected Leader in Business and Philanthropy,” Trump said of Witkoff in a statement. “Steve will be an unrelenting Voice for PEACE, and make us all proud." Trump also named Witkoff co-chair, with former Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler, of his inaugural committee. Trump asked Rep. Michael Waltz, R-Fla., a retired Army National Guard officer and war veteran, to be his national security adviser, Trump announced in a statement Tuesday. The move puts Waltz in the middle of national security crises, ranging from efforts to provide weapons to Ukraine and worries about the growing alliance between Russia and North Korea to the persistent attacks in the Middle East by Iran proxies and the push for a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas and Hezbollah. “Mike has been a strong champion of my America First Foreign Policy agenda,” Trump's statement said, "and will be a tremendous champion of our pursuit of Peace through Strength!” Waltz is a three-term GOP congressman from east-central Florida. He served multiple tours in Afghanistan and also worked in the Pentagon as a policy adviser when Donald Rumsfeld and Robert Gates were defense chiefs. He is considered hawkish on China, and called for a U.S. boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing due to its involvement in the origin of COVID-19 and its mistreatment of the minority Muslim Uighur population. Stephen Miller, an immigration hardliner , was a vocal spokesperson during the presidential campaign for Trump's priority of mass deportations. The 39-year-old was a senior adviser during Trump's first administration. Miller has been a central figure in some of Trump's policy decisions, notably his move to separate thousands of immigrant families. Trump argued throughout the campaign that the nation's economic, national security and social priorities could be met by deporting people who are in the United States illegally. Since Trump left office in 2021, Miller has served as the president of America First Legal, an organization made up of former Trump advisers aimed at challenging the Biden administration, media companies, universities and others over issues such as free speech and national security. Thomas Homan, 62, has been tasked with Trump’s top priority of carrying out the largest deportation operation in the nation’s history. Homan, who served under Trump in his first administration leading U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, was widely expected to be offered a position related to the border, an issue Trump made central to his campaign. Though Homan has insisted such a massive undertaking would be humane, he has long been a loyal supporter of Trump's policy proposals, suggesting at a July conference in Washington that he would be willing to "run the biggest deportation operation this country’s ever seen.” Democrats have criticized Homan for his defending Trump's “zero tolerance” policy on border crossings during his first administration, which led to the separation of thousands of parents and children seeking asylum at the border. Dr. Mehmet Oz, 64, is a former heart surgeon who hosted “The Dr. Oz Show,” a long-running daytime television talk show. He ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate as the Republican nominee in 2022 and is an outspoken supporter of Trump, who endorsed Oz's bid for elected office. Elon Musk, left, and Vivek Ramaswamy speak before Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump at an Oct. 27 campaign rally at Madison Square Garden in New York. Trump on Tuesday said Musk and former Republican presidential candidate Ramaswamy will lead a new “Department of Government Efficiency" — which is not, despite the name, a government agency. The acronym “DOGE” is a nod to Musk's favorite cryptocurrency, dogecoin. Trump said Musk and Ramaswamy will work from outside the government to offer the White House “advice and guidance” and will partner with the Office of Management and Budget to “drive large scale structural reform, and create an entrepreneurial approach to Government never seen before.” He added the move would shock government systems. It's not clear how the organization will operate. Musk, owner of X and CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has been a constant presence at Mar-a-Lago since Trump won the presidential election. Ramaswamy suspended his campaign in January and threw his support behind Trump. Trump said the two will “pave the way for my Administration to dismantle Government Bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure Federal Agencies.” Russell Vought held the position during Trump’s first presidency. After Trump’s initial term ended, Vought founded the Center for Renewing America, a think tank that describes its mission as “renew a consensus of America as a nation under God.” Vought was closely involved with Project 2025, a conservative blueprint for Trump’s second term that he tried to distance himself from during the campaign. Vought has also previously worked as the executive and budget director for the Republican Study Committee, a caucus for conservative House Republicans. He also worked at Heritage Action, the political group tied to The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank. Scavino, whom Trump's transition referred to in a statement as one of “Trump's longest serving and most trusted aides,” was a senior adviser to Trump's 2024 campaign, as well as his 2016 and 2020 campaigns. He will be deputy chief of staff and assistant to the president. Scavino had run Trump's social media profile in the White House during his first administration. He was also held in contempt of Congress in 2022 after a month-long refusal to comply with a subpoena from the House committee’s investigation into the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. Blair was political director for Trump's 2024 campaign and for the Republican National Committee. He will be deputy chief of staff for legislative, political and public affairs and assistant to the president. Blair was key to Trump's economic messaging during his winning White House comeback campaign this year, a driving force behind the candidate's “Trump can fix it” slogan and his query to audiences this fall if they were better off than four years ago. Budowich is a veteran Trump campaign aide who launched and directed Make America Great Again, Inc., a super PAC that supported Trump's 2024 campaign. He will be deputy chief of staff for communications and personnel and assistant to the president. Budowich also had served as a spokesman for Trump after his presidency. McGinley was White House Cabinet secretary during Trump's first administration, and was outside legal counsel for the Republican National Committee's election integrity effort during the 2024 campaign. In a statement, Trump called McGinley “a smart and tenacious lawyer who will help me advance our America First agenda, while fighting for election integrity and against the weaponization of law enforcement.” Associated Press writer Colleen Long contributed to this story. Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.Black Friday is the perfect time to go shopping and if you are looking for a great present, or maybe even a treat for yourself, a perfume from trending brand, Sol de Janeiro is now on offer. LookFantastic has slashed the price of this Sol de Janeiro cheirosa 48 perfume mist lf exclusive 90ml for Black Friday. After starting as a day of big sales and discounts in the USA on the Friday after Thanksgiving, Black Friday is now growing in popularity in the UK. This year Black Friday is taking place on Friday, November 29 and you can read everything you need to know, here. The perfume is now £17.97, in a fab 25% price drop down from £24. This means customers are saving £6.03 on Sol de Janeiro cheirosa '40 which is bursting with juicy notes of guava nectar, coconut water and pink musk, sprinkled with a zesty twist of lemon. Shoppers love this perfume, one said: "This smells absolutely amazing and is by far my favourite from the range. It lasts such a long time too!" Another added: "A Stocking Filler for my daughter, lovely fresh smell- long lasting and definitely worth the money." A third said: "Stocking filler gift for my daughters but I have smelt this before and it is divine." It's not only the cheirosa perfume mist that Sol de Janeiro has cut in price this week, the whole range has 25% off on Look Fantastic ahead of Black Friday this week. One customer was not impressed with the smell, they said: "Smells okay, not my favourite scent. Smells similar to ariana grande thank you next perfume!" If you are looking for a different scent for this Christmas season, Boots is selling the Emporio Armani diamonds eau de parfum for £31. Elsewhere The Perfume Shop is selling the Calvin Klein eternity moment eau de parfum spray for £29.99. For a more floral fragrance head to Boucheron Fleurs edp women's perfume 100ml for £22.99 at Superdrug.
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