South Korea's president avoids an impeachment attempt over short-lived martial lawOne of the pillars for building a virile nation is spirituality. We have neglected this to our ruin. The role of religion in ushering in the industrial revolution that swept across what is today known as Europe is well documented by history. The strong bond between the early church and the Greeco/Roman Empire was not for fun, it was about substance. It was about the inevitability of the spiritual in achieving a healthy society. We know the various interplays that took place between the church and various emperors of the Roman Empire before one of them finally accepted Christianity as a partner in progress and as long as the collaboration lasted the empire thrived and remained very healthy. More judgements curbed the animalistic tendencies in every man. Someone once said, “If you give a man the best in education and deny him moral training, you end up producing a monster.” A critical assessment of the history of development of many nation-states would show this statement to be very true. When the mind is open, psychologists after so many empirical studies have told us, it will be so ready to receive whatever influences flying around. In this condition it is more susceptible to negative vices often prevalent in natural settings. Doing evil is like pulling down an edifice that took several years to build. Destruction is easier than construction. The struggle between England and Anglicanism on the one hand, and the Romans and Catholicism on the other was only about national independence and pride. It bordered also on the place of pure spiritualism in national development. When the British created a class system, which suggested that except a person climbed into the Republican grade, one had no societal standing, hence no contributions to make. Those below were in ordinary, plain language sub-humans. This created a system that was not only inhuman and therefore unacceptable, it was a provoker of all that could destabilize a society and it did cause much problem to the British Empire. America came to be from the ashes of the controversy as the church pushed for change. Those who couldn’t stand the messy situation packed their belongings and left in search of New World and new country – that is the America, which is today pushing the frontiers of freedom in every corner of the globe. Space won’t allow one talk about the place of religious puritans, “The Great Awakening” crusade and the making of modern America. It is a rich and positive history to read. Most, if not all the cardinal constitutional law and civil jurisprudence of America have their roots in Christian principles and rules. We have neglected the spiritual side, and like one observed earlier, it has become too costly. In the course of an argument with someone just last week, he said: “Even men and women who profess major faiths have been in the business of running down the country.” He began to reel out leaders with Christian names in highly placed public positions. The answer one gave was simple and direct: “Most of those people are Christians by accident of birth” – just individuals born into Christian families which in truth doesn’t qualify one as a member of the household of faith. He didn’t understand and we hadn’t the advantage of time to enable me give him further explanations. One has seen friends bear the name ‘Musa’ and you ascribe Islam to him and the person quickly says, “No I am not a Moslem.” Yet names for a greater part of the world is of great significance. Take for example Chukwuemeka. The mere mention of the name takes one’s mind straight to the Southeast. The same goes with Toyin, which would point to Southwest. Politics of identity is embedded in us but our formal education and non-formal tutorship guide us on how we fight this conflict. In all it will require valour which flows from plenty of discretion. It is foolish to rise and punch your “brother” in eyes when it should be very obvious if your senses are still in place that he could become blind as a result of that action from your part. That would reckless we all know. One can’t easily remember the particular sage who said, “there is an external force that pushes men to act in ways contrary to sane thinking.” In the Christian faith it is a strong belief our names unleash forces that propel our behavior. We take a few examples. In Isaiah 9:6-7, the Bible announces the coming of Jesus and it was emphatic on the name: “He will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Prince of Peace.” Jesus turned out to be all that. Abram, meaning “exalted father” stayed just so in his idolatrous family until he was 70 years old, no achievement receiving vain glory until God intervened beginning with a change of name from Abram to Abraham before he gained fruitfulness. Jacob meant a supplanter; he walked the earth that way until God came to change the name to Israel and he birthed modern Israel. Sarai had to be changed to Sarah before a lady who had passed menopause could get a child. Esau was to be senseless, and so for food he gave away his birthright. Reuben’s case is very pathetic far more than the rest. The spirit of the old Jacob had a strong hold on him even in ripe adult life. His father was a supplanter so Reuben came to be, talk of ancestral curse and here we have a classical example to work with. Biblical Reuben was careless and ruthless, a horrible combination to find in one person. Bible says he was unstable. He went after his father’s concubine, Bilhad, who had given birth to two children for the father. Reuben “knew” the lady and from that point he lost himself and a kingdom. He lost his father’s blessing, his position as first son and his tribe, which was to be the first was relegated downwards. All because of one act of indiscretion. When we calculate and make plans to build a modern Nigeria it is very crucial we take spiritual aspect as serious as the physical dimension. Definitely, there is more to earthly journey than what our physical senses can comprehend.Dorn scores 21 as Elon knocks off Navy 69-63Gus Malzahn's Strategic Move to Florida State
SKOPJE, North Macedonia -- A political party in North Macedonia on Saturday demanded authorities ban social networks whose content incites violence and self-destructive behavior after several young people were seriously injured in connection with the popular “Superman challenge” on TikTok. Health authorities said at least 17 students, ages 10 to 17, were brought to hospitals in the capital Skopje and other towns over the past week with broken bones, contusions and bruises. The children were injured after being thrown into the air by their friends to fly like superheroes and get applause on the internet. The Liberal-Democratic Party, which was part of the left-led coalition that ruled the country from 2016 to earlier in 2024, issued a press statement Saturday strongly condemning “the irresponsible spread of dangerous content on social media, such as the latest TikTok 'challenge' known as ‘Superman,’ which has injured six children across (the country) in the past 24 hours.” “The lack of adequate control over the content of social media allows such ‘games’ to reach the most vulnerable users,” the party statement said. It demanded the “immediate introduction of measures to ban content that incites violence and self-destructive behavior, increase surveillance, and sanction platforms that enable dangerous trends.” North Macedonia’s education minister Vesna Janevska said students should focus on education, not TikTok challenges. “The ban on mobile phones in schools will not have an effect. Phones will be available to children in their homes, neighborhoods and other environments,” she said. Psychologists have warned that the desire to be “in” with the trends on social networks, combined with excessive use of mobile phones, is the main reason for the rise in risky behaviors among children. They urged parents and schools to talk with students.The holidays are nearly upon us. Festive gatherings will begin soon. So what are you gonna bring to these parties? What will you buy for the boozy adult on your gift list? Well, hey, maybe I can help. For the past three-plus years I've been breaking down beers, wines, spirits and more for FTW's Beverage of the Week series. That means I've had the chance to drink a loooooot of stuff, even before getting to the fact I'm based in Madison, Wisconsin -- one of the drinking-est towns in the universe. I've had some great drinks and some terrible ones this year. Let's talk about that former category and see if we can't find you some present ideas that will bowl over whomever's on the receiving end. These tend to range toward the more expensive, but there are a few strong moderately priced options as well. Whether the object of your affection like bourbon, Scotch, vodka, wine, cannabis or just likes a good non-alcoholic beverage, there's something here for you. Let's start with a big, bold and stupidly expensive gift. Octomore is the most peated whisky in the world, a marvel of the Outer Hebrides in Scotland that tastes like a delicious, salty camp fire. I understand that sounds bad. I assure you it is not. It's one of the most unique and complex spirits I've ever had. The only problem? It's both difficult to find and costs about $200 to start. My favorite from the 15 series happens to also be the cheapest, which is cold comfort but it's something. Here's what I thought, from an upcoming review: Octomore Super Heavily Peated Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky . I don't have a lot of wine experience under my boozing belt. For me, it's not especially appealing, but I'm happy to sip a glass if it's the only option. That effectively leaves me qualified to tell you if a wine is well made or not with little room for nuance. Fortunately, I have wine friends who were happy to give Nomadica's gorgeous 250 milliliter cans a try. They agreed with me: Nomadica is good wine in an unorthodox package. From an upcoming review: Nomadica . Firestone Walker is a circle of trust brewery for me. I'm happy to buy whatever they've got on the shelf at my local bottle shop because I know it's going to be good. With the quarterly Brewmaster's Collective subscription, you also know it's going to be at least slightly weird. The mailer is meant for beer buffs deep in the woods of dry hopping and barrel aging. You'll get stouts and barleywines infused with flavors you never expected -- and they always turn out pretty great. My most recent mailer included a double-oaked ale brewed with vanilla and pistachio named "Bendy Foldies." I am a 40-year-old dad. This is my love language. From: : Brewmaster's Collective - Firestone Walker Brewing Company . And if Hoste is too pricy, Diageo's got a lineup of familiar premixed cocktails that scratch a similar itch. Check out . Roble Fino isn't cheap. The bottle reflects this; it's big, wears a scarf and is heavy as hell. At more than $100 for the sherry oak finished reposado, you're making an investment here. But the Tequila Partida offshoot stands up as a sipper. It's a track workout through a lineup of flavors -- some you jog through, others you sprint. It's lowkey and intense at the same time. From an upcoming review: Partida Roble Fino Tequila Reposado . I'm sorry, Canadian vodka distillers. I was not familiar with your game. Fortunately, Beattie's put me on the right track. The potato-based spirit from our northern neighbor was a perfect fit for my too-strong mixed drinks. It's subtle but flavorful, bringing flowery, citrus and pepper notes to a booze that can feel too astringent with the slightest mistake. Here's what I thought of it when I mixed it, poorly, into a transfusion. From : Shop - Available to Canadian Residents Only You . Nowadays offers a variety of ways to get federally legal, hemp-derived THC into your bloodstream. There's a tried-and-true route of canned seltzers that do a great job combining form and function. But if you're looking at cannabis as a quick shot or cocktail enhancer they've got you covered as well. 750 milliliter bottles offer doses of three, five, and 10 milligrams of THC per 1.5 ounce shot. Importantly, those shots taste pretty good on their own in addition to mixing well with, say, a typical seltzer. From : Beverage of the Week: I drank La Croix and vinegar because I don't respect myself You . While some cannabis-infused drinks are a trade off between modest highs and clean flavors, Jones Soda Co. puts in work to make sure their weed-y soft drinks taste like the real thing. There's a wide array of flavors from which to choose, but the Mary Jones cola was the one that caught my eye. From an upcoming review: It pours exactly like you'd expect a full-sugar cola. It's dark and effervescent, with bubbles jumping from the top of a glass filled with ice. That sweetness permeates the smell coming off the top of the pour, but there's just enough of a minor THC current to let you know this isn't regular soda. It's not especially weed-y, necessarily, but you can tell there's cannabis lurking inside. The soda is sweet enough to be a bit of a shock for me, a guy who mostly drinks diet sodas to avoid cramming down 300 extra calories of caffeinated drinks every weekday at 2 p.m. It's not sickly or overwhelming, but it does stick to your teeth just enough to let you know you're dealing with real sugar. The taste is a lovely cola blend -- cinnamon, vanilla, nutmeg and whatever else I can use that sounds better than "tastes like Coke." That cinnamon/vanilla is handled gently and well balanced, leaving this as exactly the kind of soda you'd expect from a craft brewer that's been around for decades. It's not quite good enough to supplant my favorite non-THC cola -- Sprecher's Puma Kola, hello -- but it's tasty as hell. That means it is also putting in work to cover up that mild cannabis flavor. You do pick it up a bit toward the end of each sip, but crisp carbonation helps clean that from your palate en route to a smooth, sweet aftertaste. It lingers pleasantly, making it an easy-to-sip can that'll probably last you about half an hour. Half an hour after that, you can expect the 10 milligrams of THC to kick in. That wasn't enough to turn me into a cliche, but it did blur the lines on my evening, helping me get to bed for a few restful hours well ahead of where I'd be had I not drank it. You . I'm not sure I've ever truly reviewed Puma Kola here, but it comes up pretty much any time I write a review that involves soda here. There's a reason for that; it's really, really [expletive] good. Beyond the honey that brings added smoothness to the fire-brewed beverage, there's a swirling base of flavors that make each sip a reward. Cinnamon, vanilla, clove and a deep, rich cola flavor take what Coke does best and turns it up to 11. The end result is almost creamy, leaving behind a lingering sweet aftertaste that sticks with you long after you've finished the bottle (or can, which is an option in some places). It's wonderful. The Orange Dream? That's great too. The root beer? A classic. Just roll with Sprecher; bring a 12-pack to your next gathering, especially if there are some kids in tow. You'll be a quiet hero. (Or bring some Ravin' Red and a little vodka to the adults. You'll be a much louder one.) . Look, I'm just saying it'll run you about $15 and get you invited back to my house every time. Bonus points if you bring it up to Camp Wandawega, a Wisconsin based adult-style summer camp that looks like an Instagram filter and a Wes Anderson movie had a baby. They're both great. One is much more expensive than the other. Check out . Buy some Hamm's wherever.Chinese tech firms lobby influence raises alert in Canberra
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Action hero Gerard Butler's latest character role may share his bearded look, but the similarities between the two end there. The Scot plays Santa Claus in a new TV animation, The Night Before Christmas in Wonderland. But while St Nick is off taking care of Christmas business, Butler is looking forward to a good old festive fight - with his family. The Paisley-born actor will be in Scotland for the holidays, something he tries to do as much as possible. "I almost always come back. It's an important time to check in", says the 55-year-old who now lives in Los Angeles. He believes a "good Scottish Christmas" involves seeing family and friends - then "picking up on fights where they've been left a year ago", which can lead to a few smashed glasses. Butler is best-known for gritty action-packed roles in 300 (2006), Olympus has Fallen (2013) and Kandahar (2023) but thinks finally playing the man in the big red suit is a dream role. He says he can retire happy. "I've finally conquered it," he says. "I'm playing Santa." The film is a mash-up of Clement Clarke Moore's 'Twas The Night Before Christmas poem and Lewis Carroll's Novel, Alice in Wonderland. It follows Santa and his reindeer into the world of Wonderland as they work to boost the Queen of Hearts' Christmas spirit with the help of Alice and the Mad Hatter. Butler says the film "goes bonkers". "We're going down a rabbit hole and stuff is gonna get pretty crazy". Butler says his version of St. Nick is a bit of an idiot who just loves being Santa. "It's awesome to make those kind of movies that you can imagine families sitting watching together at Christmas time," says Butler. "I do think it could become a little Christmas classic". The animation sees Butler return to his singing roots - first showcased in Andrew Lloyd Webber's Phantom of The Opera film in 2004. He said he didn't want to overthink it and to jump straight into a sound booth. "The second I read this script, I could just hear my voice and see those little moments. I almost wanted to step in and do it straight away," "That Scottish accent really lends itself to a dotey, kind of bombastic, fun Santa. It just seemed to work well," says Butler. The Sky Original film is based on the bestselling book of the same name written by Carys Bexington illustrated by Kate Hindley. Butler's Scottish Santa is joined by other famous voices including Game of Thrones' Emilia Clarke as the Queen of Hearts and Bridgerton's Simone Ashley as Alice. The film will be available on Sky Cinema for UK audiences on 13 December.
SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — Spencer Knight made 20 saves, Mackie Samoskevich scored with less than a second left in the second period, and the Florida Panthers got four goals in the third to beat the Carolina Hurricanes 6-0 on Saturday and complete a two-day sweep. Aleksander Barkov, Sam Bennett, Aaron Ekblad, Evan Rodrigues and Adam Boqvist also scored for Florida, which won 6-3 at Carolina on Friday. The Panthers have won three straight — that streak following a stretch of six losses in seven games for the Stanley Cup champions. It was Knight's fourth career shutout, his first since Nov. 9, 2022 — also at home against Carolina. Spencer Martin made 23 saves on 28 shots for the Hurricanes, who have dropped four of their last six games (2-3-1). It was Martin's fourth consecutive start for Carolina. Hurricanes: This was the first time all season that the Hurricanes failed to get a point in the game immediately following a loss. Carolina was 4-0-1 after a defeat entering Saturday. Panthers: A big day for Samoskevich — his alma mater Michigan beat Ohio State in football on Saturday, that game ending just before the Florida-Carolina game started. The Panthers are 5-0-0 when he scores this season. Sam Reinhart had each of the four most recent Florida goals at 19:59, before Samoskevich got his Saturday. The Panthers scored two goals 11 seconds apart in the third to make it 5-0, and Yaniv Perets replaced Martin in the Hurricanes' net with 8:12 remaining. It was the second NHL appearance for Perets, who came on once in relief for Carolina last season. Ekblad's goal was his first in a span of 1,045 regular-season shifts since Feb. 20. Carolina starts a two-game homestand Tuesday against Seattle. Florida goes to Pittsburgh to start a two-game trip on Tuesday. AP NHL: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NHL
BayWa AG announces rights issue and asset sales to tackle cash crunchSouthwest states certify election results after the process led to controversy in previous years
FRISCO - For most of the last two weeks, the vibe has been the same. Sources have whispered it. Troy Aikman came right out and said it. “Mike McCarthy’s a good football coach,” Aikman said on Nov. 18. “He’s proven that at Green Bay. He’s proven it here. You win 12 games three years in a row, you’re doing something right. But he didn’t get a contract extension after he had done that. It’s hard to imagine him getting one now.” Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Thanks for the feedback.
The ceasefire demand in the resolution – adopted with 158 votes in favour – is an escalation by the 193-member General Assembly, which in October last year called for and then – two months later – demanded an immediate humanitarian truce in Gaza. General Assembly resolutions are not binding but carry political weight, reflecting a global view on the war. The United States, Israel and seven other countries voted against the ceasefire resolution, while 13 countries abstained. The world body also threw its support behind the UN Palestinian relief agency UNRWA, adopting a second resolution with 159 votes in favor to deplore a new law that will ban UNRWA’s operations in Israel from late January. It demanded that Israel respect UNRWA’s mandate and “enable its operations to proceed without impediment or restriction.” The US Israel and seven other countries voted no, while 11 countries abstained. (Reporting by Michelle Nichols; Editing by Ismail Shakil and Franklin Paul)
Sell or Hold? A Million-Dollar Dilemma Unfolds. What Would You Do?
Insurgents reach gates of Syria’s capital, threatening to upend decades of Assad ruleUS stock indices pushed to fresh records Tuesday, shrugging off tariff threats from President-elect Donald Trump while European equities retreated. Trump, who doesn't take office until January 20, made his threat in social media posts Monday night, announcing huge import tariffs against neighbors Canada and Mexico and also rival China if they do not stop illegal immigration and drug smuggling. Both the Dow and S&P 500 notched all-time highs, with investors regarding the incoming president's words as a bargaining chip. "In theory, higher tariffs should not be good news for stocks. But, you know, I think the market's chosen to think of (it) as a negotiating tactic," said Steve Sosnick of Interactive Brokers. "You have bullish sentiment," said LBBW's Karl Haeling. "People are tending to look at things as positively as possible." But General Motors, which imports autos from Mexico to the United States, slumped 9.0 percent, while rival Ford dropped 2.6 percent. Overseas bourses were also buffeted by the news. European stocks followed losses in Asia, despite Trump excluding Europe as an immediate target for tariffs. "These are his first direct comments on tariffs and tariff levels since becoming president-elect, and they have roiled markets," said Kathleen Brooks, research director at XTB trading group, ahead of the Wall Street open. "It is early days, and there are plenty of opportunities for Trump to direct his attention to Europe down the line," Brooks added. The US dollar rallied against its Canadian equivalent, China's yuan and Mexico's peso, which hit its lowest level since August 2022. In other economic news, the Conference Board's consumer confidence index rose to 111.7 this month, up from 109.6 in October, boosted by greater optimism surrounding the labor market. "November's increase was mainly driven by more positive consumer assessments of the present situation, particularly regarding the labor market," said Dana Peterson, chief economist at The Conference Board. Pantheon Macroeconomics chief US economist Samuel Tombs added in a note that the increase in consumer confidence overall "likely was driven by euphoria among Republicans." "The index also jumped in late 2016, when Mr. Trump was elected for the first time," he said. Federal Reserve meeting minutes showed policy makers expect inflation to keep cooling, signaling a gradual approach to interest rate cuts if price increases ease further and the job market remains strong. New York - Dow: UP 0.3 percent at 44,860.31 (close) New York - S&P 500: UP 0.6 percent at 6,021.63 (close) New York - Nasdaq: UP 0.6 percent at 19,174.30 (close) London - FTSE 100: DOWN 0.4 percent at 8,258.61 (close) Paris - CAC 40: DOWN 0.9 percent at 7,194.51 (close) Frankfurt - DAX: DOWN 0.6 percent at 19,295.98 (close) Tokyo - Nikkei 225: DOWN 0.9 percent at 38,442.00 (close) Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: FLAT at 19,159.20 (close) Shanghai - Composite: DOWN 0.1 percent at 3,259.76 (close) Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.0482 from $1.0495 on Monday Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.2567 from $1.2568 Dollar/yen: DOWN at 153.06 yen from 154.23 yen Euro/pound: DOWN at 83.41 pence from 83.51 pence Brent North Sea Crude: DOWN 0.3 percent at $72.81 per barrel West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 0.3 percent at $68.77 per barrel bur-jmb/st
Trump wants pardoned real estate developer Charles Kushner to be ambassador to France
Beyond Bank and Cognizant join forces to lead the future of customer-owned bankingDucks starting to ‘play with an identity’ ahead of hosting Ottawa
US stocks rally despite Trump tariff threat but European stocks fallWEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — President-elect Donald Trump said Saturday that he wants real estate developer Charles Kushner , father of Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, to serve as ambassador to France. Trump made the announcement in a Truth Social post, calling Charles Kushner “a tremendous business leader, philanthropist, & dealmaker." Kushner is the founder of Kushner Companies, a real estate firm. Jared Kushner is a former White House senior adviser to Trump who is married to Trump’s eldest daughter, Ivanka. The elder Kushner was pardoned by Trump in December 2020 after pleading guilty years earlier to tax evasion and making illegal campaign donations. Charles Kushner arrives July 20, 2022, for the funeral of Ivana Trump in New York. Prosecutors alleged that after Charles Kushner discovered his brother-in-law was cooperating with federal authorities in an investigation, he hatched a scheme for revenge and intimidation. Kushner hired a prostitute to lure his brother-in-law, then arranged to have the encounter in a New Jersey motel room recorded with a hidden camera and the recording sent to Kushner's own sister, the man’s wife, prosecutors said. Kushner eventually pleaded guilty to 18 counts including tax evasion and witness tampering. He was sentenced in 2005 to two years in prison — the most he could receive under a plea deal, but less than what Chris Christie, the U.S. attorney for New Jersey at the time and later governor and Republican presidential candidate, sought. Christie blamed Jared Kushner for his firing from Trump’s transition team in 2016, and called Charles Kushner’s offenses “one of the most loathsome, disgusting crimes that I prosecuted when I was U.S. attorney.” Trump and the elder Kushner knew each other from real estate circles and their children were married in 2009. 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.” 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. A Republican congressman from Michigan who served from 1993 to 2011, Hoekstra was ambassador to the Netherlands during Trump's first term. “In my Second Term, Pete will help me once again put AMERICA FIRST,” Trump said in a statement announcing his choice. “He did an outstanding job as United States Ambassador to the Netherlands during our first four years, and I am confident that he will continue to represent our Country well in this new role.” 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 said Wednesday that he will nominate Gen. Keith Kellogg to serve as assistant to the president and special envoy for Ukraine and Russia. Kellogg, a retired Army lieutenant general who has long been Trump’s top adviser on defense issues, served as National Security Advisor to Trump's former Vice President Mike Pence. For the America First Policy Institute, one of several groups formed after Trump left office to help lay the groundwork for the next Republican administration, Kellogg in April wrote that “bringing the Russia-Ukraine war to a close will require strong, America First leadership to deliver a peace deal and immediately end the hostilities between the two warring parties.” (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib) 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. Dan Scavino, deputy chief of staff 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. James Blair, deputy chief of staff 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. Taylor Budowich, deputy chief of staff 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. William McGinley, White House counsel 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.” Jay Bhattacharya, National Institutes of Health Trump has chosen Dr. Jay Bhattacharya to lead the National Institutes of Health. Bhattacharya is a physician and professor at Stanford University School of Medicine, and is a critic of pandemic lockdowns and vaccine mandates. He promoted the idea of herd immunity during the pandemic, arguing that people at low risk should live normally while building up immunity to COVID-19 through infection. The National Institutes of Health funds medical research through competitive grants to researchers at institutions throughout the nation. NIH also conducts its own research with thousands of scientists working at its labs in Bethesda, Maryland. Jamieson Greer, U.S. trade representative Kevin Hassett, Director of the White House National Economic Council Trump is turning to two officials with experience navigating not only Washington but the key issues of income taxes and tariffs as he fills out his economic team. He announced he has chosen international trade attorney Jamieson Greer to be his U.S. trade representative and Kevin Hassett as director of the White House National Economic Council. While Trump has in several cases nominated outsiders to key posts, these picks reflect a recognition that his reputation will likely hinge on restoring the public’s confidence in the economy. Trump said in a statement that Greer was instrumental in his first term in imposing tariffs on China and others and replacing the trade agreement with Canada and Mexico, “therefore making it much better for American Workers.” Hassett, 62, served in the first Trump term as chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers. He has a doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania and worked at the right-leaning American Enterprise Institute before joining the Trump White House in 2017. Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox!South Korean opposition to propose new impeachment Bill after bid to impeach President Yoon fails