NoneIt’s been 20 years since the release of Love Actually, but fans of the Christmas classic are still discovering new layers hidden in its most memorable moments. The latest revelation comes from one of the most heartbreaking scenes from treasured actress Emma Thompson. WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: TikTokers spot heartbreaking detail in Love Actually. Thompson’s character, Karen, secretly opens a Christmas gift from her husband Harry (Alan Rickman), only to realise it’s a Joni Mitchell CD instead of the gold necklace she had seen him purchasing earlier. The devastating discovery leaves Karen in tears as she comes to suspect her husband’s infidelity. But eagle-eyed fans have noticed a hidden detail that makes the scene even more poignant. Karen is wearing red earrings, red lipstick, and a red scarf — perhaps an intentional choice, as she was anticipating receiving the gold necklace with ruby red detailing. The matching accessories suggest she had dressed with the necklace in mind, only to have her hopes crushed. The necklace, of course, was revealed to be a gift for Harry’s flirtatious coworker, Mia (Heike Makatsch), in one of the film’s most infamous subplots. TikToker Kathie at the Nook posted a video pointing out the detail to the social media platform on Saturday, sparking the frenzy. “The way she matched her earrings to the necklace, the way she holds it together for the kids, the way she pats down the bed. I stand with Emma Thompson,” she captioned the video. “Yep I’ve always said the earrings, lipstick and cardigan all ready to match it is the saddest part of all,” one user responded. “But how have I never noticed the earrings 😭💔,” a second said. “WAIT. What do you mean she matched her earrings?!! 😭😭😭 How have I NEVER noticed that???” another added. And a commenter observed: “The earrings were the bit that sent me over the edge I swear 😂 every year I’m p***** off all over again.” Released in 2003, Love Actually quickly became a festive favourite and a defining rom-com of the early 2000s. Written and directed by Richard Curtis (known for his work on Four Weddings and a Funeral, and Notting Hill), the film weaves together nine interconnected stories of love, heartbreak, and holiday chaos. With its star-studded cast — including Hugh Grant, Keira Knightley, Colin Firth, Emma Thompson, and Alan Rickman— the movie captured hearts worldwide, and grossed over $A245 million at the global box office.
BN stock soars to all-time high of $60.22 amid robust growth
KYIV: Chancellor Olaf Scholz visited Ukraine on Monday to reaffirm German support for Kyiv after becoming the first major ally of the war-torn country to speak to Vladimir Putin in years to urge negotiations. His surprise visit comes as Ukrainian forces are buckling across the eastern front and amid fears about future US support once Donald Trump returns to the White House in January. Russia launched another aerial barrage of hundreds of drones hours before Scholz arrived, leaving one dead and three wounded in the western Ukrainian city of Ternopil. Scholz had said he would meet with President Volodymyr Zelensky and announce another package of military support worth €650 million ($680 million) to be delivered by the end of the year. Scholz and Zelensky later met at an undisclosed location and reviewed military drones manufactured by Ukrainian and German firms. They also visited a hospital and spoke to people wounded in the war. “I would like to make it clear here on the ground that Germany will remain Ukraine’s strongest supporter in Europe,” said Scholz, who faces new elections in February after his coalition collapsed last month. “Ukraine can rely on Germany — we say what we do. And we do what we say,” he added in a post on social media. Scholz in mid-November spurred controversy and concern in Ukraine by becoming the first Western leader in years to speak by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Low Kremlin expectations for visit Zelensky at the time slammed the call, saying it had opened a “Pandora’s Box” by weakening Putin’s international isolation. In the call, Scholz condemned the war and “urged Russia to show willingness to negotiate with Ukraine with the aim of achieving a just and lasting peace”, the chancellor’s office said. The Kremlin said Monday that it had no expectations from Scholz’s visit. “I would not say we have expectations from this visit. Germany is continuing its line of unconditional support to Ukraine,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, adding that Putin had not passed on a message to Zelensky through Scholz. Ukraine faces a tough winter, with Russia unleashing drone and missile attacks against its power grid. The air force said Russia had attacked overnight with 110 drones, including the Iranian-designed Shahed unmanned aerial vehicle from four regions of Russia. The bombardment killed a 45-year-old man in Ternopil, a town of around 224,000 people, where strikes last month left thousands without electricity, authorities said. “Unpunished evil never stops. And it will not limit itself by our borders,” Zelensky’s chief of staff Andriy Yermak wrote on social media in response to the attack. Scholz’s visit comes ahead of the January 20 inauguration of Trump, who has pledged to speedily end the war, raising fears he will try to force Ukraine to accept a deal on Moscow’s terms. ‘Russian roulette’ Separately, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock on Monday warned her Chinese counterpart that Beijing’s support for Moscow would impact ties and instead urged China to help end the Ukraine conflict. Zelensky said Sunday that his country needed security guarantees from NATO and more weapons to defend itself before any talks with Russia. He made the comments after meeting the EU’s new head of diplomacy Kaja Kallas and EU Council chief Antonio Costa, who were visiting Kyiv as a show of support on their first day in office. Under Scholz, Germany has become the second-biggest arms supplier to Ukraine after the United States, but has refused to send Kyiv long-range missiles that could strike deep inside Russia. Berlin has stuck to that approach even after US President Joe Biden gave the green light for Ukraine to fire long-range ATACMS missiles into Russia for the first time. In a campaign speech in Berlin on Saturday, Scholz criticized political rivals pushing for Germany’s Taurus long-range missile system to be delivered to Ukraine. Speaking to his Social Democratic Party, Scholz said that confronting Moscow, a nuclear power, with such a threat would amount to playing “Russian roulette” with Germany’s security. — AFPOWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) — The biggest question facing the Baltimore Ravens right now has little to do with Lamar Jackson or even a defense that started the season poorly. It's about a kicking conundrum that has turned into a crisis. Can the Ravens make it to the Super Bowl with Justin Tucker? One of the more surprising subplots of this NFL season has been Tucker's decline from one of the greatest of all time to a week-in, week-out liability. Sunday's loss to Philadelphia might have been the nadir — he missed two field goals and an extra point in a game the Ravens ultimately lost 24-19 . “Points were at a premium in the game. They have been in a few of these games. Sometimes we haven't made the most of our opportunity to score points,” coach John Harbaugh said Monday. "We're racking our brains, talking to Justin, looking at what we're doing. I'm very confident that it's going to get fixed. I believe it will. It has to. “And he's the guy to get it fixed.” Harbaugh has given every indication that he's standing by Tucker, who is in his 13th season and is under contract through 2027. When he's at his best, he's the type of kicker that gives his team a clear advantage in close games, but this season he has missed eight field goals. Sunday showed that against a good defensive team, the Ravens (8-5) can't simply assume their excellent offense will pile up points. There almost certainly will be close games in the weeks to come. Tucker's ability to come through will be tested again, and it's hard for Baltimore to feel too confident at the moment. “When he was hitting, three or four years ago, hitting bombs, we were going 57, 58, 56 pretty regularly," Harbaugh said. “That's tightened up a little bit.” The Ravens continue to do a good job stopping the run. Although Saquon Barkley did eventually surpass the 100-yard mark late in the game, Baltimore held the Eagles to 140 yards on the ground, well below their usual output. Even beyond Tucker's problems, Sunday wasn't a great showing by Baltimore's special teams. Tylan Wallace was shaky returning punts, and the Ravens had to start four drives inside their own 20 and two inside their own 10. “They had great bounces, and they downed right down in there,” Wallace said. "I’m pretty sure we’ll come back and talk about those and see what we can do to avoid those.” The Ravens' defense continued to show signs of improvement, holding Philadelphia to 252 total yards. “I think we’ve just locked in on some things, and we’re playing our deep coverages better, bottom line,” Harbaugh said. "You watch the coverage, you watch the guys’ spacing, positioning, eyes, the communication, the checks that get made, and you just keep chasing doing the right things. It’s not (that we) changed the defense. We’re just playing it a lot better.” Harbaugh was vague on receiver Diontae Johnson's situation. He was active Sunday but didn't play, and he has only one catch in four games since the Ravens acquired him in a trade from Carolina. “I’m going to have to wait just to clarify it,” Harbaugh said. "There’s some moving parts there that we’re going to have to figure out and explore and just see where we’re at. I know that’s not the answer you want, but that’s the best I can do in fairness to everybody right now.” The Ravens were missing pass-rushing ace Kyle Van Noy (hamstring/neck) on Sunday, and WR Rashod Bateman was dealing with knee soreness. Through his first 12 seasons, Tucker made field goals at a 90% clip. That's dropped to 70% this season. He had a 95% success rate from under 50 yards, and that's dipped to 83%. The Ravens have this week off before a Dec. 15 road game against the New York Giants. Then comes a home matchup with Pittsburgh that may determine whether Baltimore has any shot to win the AFC North. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nflKIM RICE There will be plenty of palace intrigue at the State House Wednesday with former House Speaker Pro Tem Kim Rice, R-Hudson, deciding to try and deny incumbent Rep. Sherman Packard, R-Londonderry, a third term as leader of the New Hampshire House of Representatives. Voters returned Rice, 58, to a seat in the House last month, this time representing both Hudson and Litchfield, after she voluntarily took a two-year hiatus from the Legislature. From 2014-22, Rice held one of the six seats that voters in Hudson and Pelham elected to the House. Rice had no public comment about her campaign. “I just don’t want this to play out in the press,” she said Monday. Rice did take to social media last week to fire back at some who’ve anonymously been critical of her bold challenge. “If people want to lie about me, have the courage to put your name next to your quote. You’re a coward,” Rice posted Nov. 30 on X. This move likely means the 400 elected to the House will get to choose for speaker between 17-term Rep. Packard, new House Democratic Leader Alexis Simpson of Exeter and Rice. Before that first meeting of the new House, Republicans and Democrats an hour earlier will separately caucus in private. The self-anointed campaign manager for Rice's effort, three-term Rep. Aidan Ankarberg, I-Rochester, has had plenty to say about the effort on social media. Ankarberg claimed on Facebook that he talked Rice into becoming the candidate after Packard won the nomination of his party over Rep. Leonard Turcotte, R-Barrington, who got more than 40% of the vote during a secret ballot GOP caucus last month. “Kim Rice isn't doing anything here. I recruited her, I've done the work of contacting the Democrats and I have been whipping votes amongst the Republican caucus to ensure Sherm Packard and (Majority Leader) Jason Osborne never again hold leadership positions in the New Hampshire House,” Ankarberg said on Facebook. In a statement Monday, Osborne said after growing the GOP majority last month that Packard has more than earned another term as House speaker. “Speaker Packard is the Republican nominee for Speaker. As a proven and tested leader of our diverse membership through many historic challenges, he has earned our commitment to secure his victory on Wednesday,” Osborne said. Rice has made no public invitation to win over House Democrats. Simpson, former House Democratic Leader Matt Wilhelm and the House Democratic staff did not respond to a request for comment Monday. Rice has long been a GOP loyalist, having served as House GOP policy leader and chairman of the House Children and Family Law Committee before Republicans took back control of the House in 2020. In this election cycle, Rice was an early supporter of Republican presidential contender and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley and a fixture at many of Haley’s grassroots events. Early on in 2024, Rice got behind former U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte of Nashua to become the next elected governor, replacing Chris Sununu who did not seek a historic, fifth term. In March 2023, Ankarberg resigned a position in the House GOP leadership team citing conflicts with undisclosed members of Packard’s group. Then after winning a third term to his House seat on Nov. 5, Ankarberg became the first House member to change his party affiliation to independent. This leaves the House makeup with 221 Republicans, 178 Democrats and one independent. Rice, 58, will try to duplicate an outside-the-box feat that two Republicans did in their own speakership coup victories, 10 years apart. In 2004, then House Speaker Gene Chandler, R-Bartlett stepped aside and after pleading guilty to a single misdemeanor that he had failed to report $64,000 in donations to an annual “corn roast” fundraiser on his behalf. Chandler endorsed Majority Leader Mike Whalley, R-Alton, who had the majority of Republicans on his side. But former Speaker Doug Scamman, R-Stratham, returned to power with the help of Democrats and a small band of Republicans. In the next election, Republicans lost control of the House with Portsmouth Rep. Terie Norelli becoming the first Democratic speaker chosen in 84 years. In 2014, firebrand conservative Speaker Bill O’Brien, R-Mont Vernon, failed to win a majority vote before the full House. House Speaker Sherman Packard, R-Londonderry, was the choice of House Republicans to remain as its leader for a third term but former House Speaker Pro Tem Kim Rice, R-Hudson, has agreed to put her name forward as an alternative when the full House meets on Wednesday. House Democratic Leader Alexis Simpson of Exeter is also likely to permit her name to come forward as well though Republicans outnumber Democrats, 228-178 with one independent. Hudson Republican Rep. Shawn Jasper quickly stepped up and took the gavel from O’Brien by getting all the Democrats along with a group of dissident Republicans. In 2017, a GOP-divided House failed to pass a state budget, and Jasper lashed out at 32 House Republicans who rejected the leadership’s spending plan. Months later, Sununu nominated Jasper to be state agriculture commissioner, and the House chose Chandler to serve as a caretaker speaker until the next election when Democrats again took back control. Privately, there’s some resentment in Packard’s inner circle that this challenge is coming from Rice, who Packard had kept on as the third-ranking Republican. Rice did have one notable policy break with Packard in 2022. She refused to support a parental rights bill after the Attorney General’s office civil rights division raised concerns it could conflict with the state’s anti-discrimination laws. “There are a lot of great parents out there,” Rice said, declaring she could not reconcile the problems with the bill at such a late juncture. “Unfortunately, there are also some not-so-great parents out there and those are the kids that are the most vulnerable, and that I am deeply concerned about.” A week before this election, Rice said voters were turning to Republican women leaders who remained true to their values, but could forge consensus. “Ultimately, Republican women exemplify the balance between traditional values and modern leadership, unafraid to make difficult decisions that protect the nation’s core principles while advocating for progress within the bounds of conservative ideology,” Rice wrote in a Union Leader op-ed. klandrigan@unionleader.com
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Will ‘Yellowstone’ Fulfill ‘1883’ Prophecy & 6 More Burning Questions We Need AnsweredA Delaware judge has once again struck down a compensation plan for Tesla Inc TSLA CEO Elon Musk from 2018, news that comes six months after Tesla shareholders approved the pay package for a second time. What Happened: A 2018 pay compensation plan provided several milestones that seemed extremely hard for Musk and Tesla to hit, with high payouts if he could accomplish the improbable. Musk hit the milestone accomplishments from the 2018 incentive plan which led to options paid out worth around $56 billion, as reported by Bloomberg . Delaware Chancery Court Judge Kathaleen McCormick ruled in January that the pay package would be voided due to Tesla's board being influenced by Musk when they adopted the plan. A lawsuit against the plan was previously brought forth by a Tesla shareholder. McCormick ruled once again against the pay package Monday, despite shareholders approving the compensation plan again in a vote announced in June. An overwhelming majority of 77% of votes cast were in favor of the pay package for Musk, the company previously revealed. The judge said the defendants failed to prove "entire fairness" in the case. "The defendants responded by putting the rescinded compensation plan — the exact same plan that the post-trial opinion deemed a breach of the duty of loyalty — to a stockholder vote for the stated purpose of ‘ratifying' it," McCormick writes. McCormick denied the motion to revise and said the defendants' argument goes against settled law and there are at least "four fatal flaws" in their argument. The judge said there was evidence created after trial, common-law ratification can't be raised for the first time after the post-trial opinion, a shareholder vote cannot ratify a transaction and misstatements in the shareholder vote proxy statement were all fatal flaws. "Each of these defects standing alone defeats the motion to revise." The judge also ruled in favor of the plaintiffs for attorney fees in the amount of $345 million, which was less than the $5.6 billion being asked. The fee can be paid via cash or Tesla stock the ruling said. The judge's ruling will likely be appealed, which could continue to be an overhang on Tesla stock in the coming months. Read Also: Tesla Q3 Earnings Highlights: EPS Beat, Revenue Miss, Shares Climb On 2025 Timeline For Lower-Cost EVs Why It's Important: Musk is the world's richest person, worth an estimated $343 billion and up $113 billion in 2024 as reported by Bloomberg . Musk's wealth recently hit an all-time high with Tesla stock soaring and increased valuations for other Musk-related companies gaining after the 2024 election win by his friend Donald Trump. The pay package is the largest for a U.S. corporate executive and the Tesla shares would be worth over $100 billion now, based on the current share price. Without the payout, Musk will likely remain the world's richest person, but the news could take a cut out of his wealth. Wedbush analyst Daniel Ives said the pay package being rejected was not a surprise. "We expect the Musk $56 billion pay package now goes to appeal in Delaware courts and eventually could go the Federal appeals process depending on next steps," Ives tweeted. "This continues to be a soap opera playing out in Delaware." TSLA Price Action: Tesla stock is down 1.35% to $352.26 in after-hours trading Monday after gaining a little over 3% earlier in the trading session. Tesla stock has traded between $138.80 and $361.92 over the last 52 weeks and is up 43.7% year-to-date in 2024. Read Next: Elon Musk Thanks Shareholders, Says Tesla ‘Starting A New Book,’ Could Hit $30 Trillion Valuation: “Hot D***, I Love You Guys’ Photo: Shutterstock © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Larsen to update 2024 activities and expectations for 2025 ZEPHYR COVE, Nev. , Nov. 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- VirnetX Holding Corporation (NYSE: VHC) today announced it will webcast a special company update with CEO Kendall Larsen on December 10, 2024 at 9 a.m. PST . The update will provide a status of the company's activities in 2024 and preview where the company is headed in 2025 and beyond. The company update with Kendall Larsen will be webcast at https://www.webcaster4.com/Webcast/Page/2728/51705 EVENT DETAILS: About VirnetX VirnetX Holding Corporation is an Internet security software and technology company with an industry-leading, patented technology for Zero Trust Network Access ("ZTNA") based secure network communications. VirnetX's team includes experts on technologies related to hiding, securing, and transporting critical communications data, using advanced cryptography, PKI, block chain, and more, between sub-system components and mission tools, capabilities, and applications for secure end-to-end communications. VirnetX's software and technology solutions, including its Secure Domain Name Registry and Technology, VirnetX OneTM, VirnetX War RoomTM, and VirnetX MatrixTM, are designed to be device and location independent, and enable a secure real-time communication environment for all types of enterprise applications, services, and critical infrastructures. For more information, please visit www.virnetx.com . Investor Relations VirnetX Holding Corporation 415.505.0456 ir@virnetx.com View original content: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/virnetx-to-webcast-company-update-with-ceo-kendall-larsen-302313564.html SOURCE VirnetX Holding Corp.Meta platforms' COO Javier Olivan sells $232k in stockTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A white ex-Kansas police detective died Monday in an apparent suicide just before the start of his criminal trial over allegations that he sexually assaulted Black women and terrorized those who tried fight back. Local police found Roger Golubski dead of a gunshot wound on the back porch of his split-level home outside Kansas City, Kansas. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation said “there are no indications of foul play" in the 71-year-old's death, discovered Monday morning after a neighbor heard a gunshot. Fifty miles (80 kilometers) to the west, prosecutors and Golubski's attorneys were inside the federal courthouse in Topeka, where Golubski faced six felony counts of violating women's civil rights. Prosecutors say that, for years, Golubski preyed on female residents in poor neighborhoods, demanding sexual favors and sometimes threatening to harm or jail their relatives if they refused. He had pleaded not guilty. His death led U.S. District Judge Toby Crouse to dismiss the charges at prosecutors' request, though a second criminal case involving three other co-defendants remains. U.S. Department of Justice officials said it's “difficult” when a case cannot “be fully and fairly heard in a public trial,” but advocates for the women who accused Golubski of abusing them were angry, feeling that they and the community were denied a reckoning. “There is no justice for the victims,” said Anita Randle-Stanley, who went to court to watch jury selection. Randle-Stanley, who is not a victim in this case, said Golubski began harassing her when she was a teenager decades ago, but she always refused him. The heart of this trial focused on two women: one who said Golubski began sexually abusing her when she was a young teen in middle school, and another who said he began abusing her after her twin sons were arrested. Prosecutors said seven other women were planning to testify that Golubski abused or harassed them as well. And advocates for the women believe there are other victims who have either died or have been afraid to come forward. The allegations that Golubski preyed on women over decades with seeming impunity outraged the community and deepened its historical distrust of law enforcement. The prosecution followed earlier reports of similar abuse allegations across the country where hundreds of officers have lost their badges after allegations of sexual assaults. Some of the women and their advocates were upset that Golubski was under house arrest while he underwent kidney dialysis treatments three times a week. Cheryl Pilate, an attorney representing some of the women, said she has questions about how well the government was monitoring Golubski. “The community had an enormous interest in seeing this trial go forward,” she added. “Now, the victims, the community and justice itself have been cheated.” After Golubski failed to appear in court Monday, his lead attorney, Christopher Joseph, said his client “was despondent about the media coverage.” Joseph said he had talked to Golubski regularly, including Monday morning, and he was shocked to hear that his client had apparently killed himself. As for Golubski’s death, he said, “I don’t know the details.” This case against Golubski was part of a string of lawsuits and criminal allegations that led the county prosecutor’s office to begin a $1.7 million effort to reexamine cases Golubski worked on during his 35 years on the force. One double murder case Golubski investigated already has resulted in an exoneration , and an organization run by rapper Jay-Z is suing to obtain police records. Joseph had said lawsuits over the allegations were an “inspiration for fabrication” by his accusers. “We have to keep fighting,” said Starr Cooper, who was in the courthouse Monday to watch jury selection and said Golubski victimized her mother before her death in 1983. About 50 people had a short rally Monday morning in sub-freezing temperatures outside the federal courthouse in Topeka to show their support for the women accusing Golubski. They held signs with slogans such as, “Justice Now!” Lora McDonald, executive director of MORE2, a Kansas City-area social justice group, said participants learned that Golubski didn’t show up in court just as the rally began. They dispersed before prosecutors announced his death. They later joined Pilate in calling for an independent, outside investigation into Golubski's death. “Golubski terrorized an entire community and co-conspired with dangerous people,” McDonald said. “Our rally today was not just about Roger Golubski. Rather, it was about the department in which his criminal activity flourished." Pilate lamented that without a trial for Golubski, "In the eyes of the law he died an innocent man.” Max Seifert, a former Kansas City police officer who graduated from the police academy with Golubski in 1975, said Golubski's supporters will treat him as a martyred victim of unfair pretrial publicity. He contends the department condoned misconduct. “I feel that there is always going to be a cloud of mystery about this,” he added. Stories about Golubski remained just whispers in the neighborhoods near Kansas City’s former cattle stockyards partly because of the extreme poverty of a place where crime was abundant and some homes are boarded up. One neighborhood where Golubski worked is part of Kansas’ second-poorest zip code. Fellow officers once revered Golubski for his ability to clear cases, and he rose to the rank of captain in Kansas City before retiring there in 2010 and then working on a suburban police force for six more years. His former partner served a stint as police chief. The inquiry into Golubski stems from the case of Lamonte McIntyre, who started writing to McCloskey’s nonprofit nearly two decades ago. McIntyre was just 17 in 1994 when he was arrested and charged in connection with a double homicide, within hours of the crimes. He had an alibi; no physical evidence linked him to the killings; and an eyewitness believed the killer was an underling of a local drug dealer. In the other federal criminal case involving Golubski, that drug dealer also was charged with him, accused of running a violent sex trafficking operation. McIntyre's mother said in a 2014 affidavit that she wonders whether her refusal to grant regular sexual favors to Golubski prompted him to retaliate against her son. In 2022, the local government agreed to pay $12.5 million to McIntyre and his mother to settle a lawsuit after a deposition in which Golubski invoked his Fifth Amendment right to remain silent 555 times. The state also paid McIntyre $1.5 million. The last name of a woman who says the ex-detective harassed her for years has been corrected. She is Anita Randle-Stanley, not Randel-Stanley. Hollingsworth and Ingram reported from Edwardsville, Kansas.
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Littlemore Bridge, which was built in the 1950s, has visible cracks and missing chunks of concrete, and is a known site of anti-social behaviour. Oxfordshire Council said that repairs to the concrete on bridge were scheduled for early 2025, and that repairs to the concrete on Littlemore Bridge were added to the work programme in August 2023. Littlemore Parish Council said it agreed that lighting under the Bridge was needed at the end of last year, which was followed by discussions over funding, who would be responsible for it and what specific type of lighting was needed. : A statement issued by the council said: “Littlemore Parish Council is committed to working with the city and county council to tackle anti-social behaviour and ensure public safety and well-being in Littlemore. “Ordinarily, street lighting would not be a parish council responsibility. “However, in this case the parish council, recognising the need for it locally, resolved to collaborate with the city and county councils and councillors to source the funding necessary." The council added that the funding was successfully secured by county councillor Trish Elphinstone and deputy lord mayor Tiago Corais from the city council, and that the project would go ahead under their guidance. Councillor David Henwood, who has been campaigning since 2015 for the bridge to be repaired, said the planned repairs and addition of street lighting were “essential to the bridge” He said: “People feel very unsafe walking under it, especially in the dark. “We do get antisocial behaviour in that area, and we have CCTV to help reduce that amount of anti-social behaviour. “[Littlemore] feels neglected for most of the year, and it’s very rare funding gets sent our way. “As local councillors we are trying to turn that narrative back to Littlemore, which has not happened in the past, not on the scale it deserves.” He added that more traffic had been pushed onto the bypass, causing more pressure on the bridge, but the county council deny that any dramatic changes in traffic would have made the condition of the bridge worse. When approached for comment, a county council spokesperson said: “The bridge is not currently unsafe and the condition is not unusual for the structure of this type and age. “The planned repair work is pro-active and aimed at preventing deterioration of the bridge, which would require more costly intervention in the future. “This has led to these repairs now being scheduled for early 2025. Not all repairs can be completed as soon as they are identified. “There have been no recent dramatic changes in increased traffic under the bridge, but this would not have made its condition worse.” He added that the prioritisation of bridge repairs is reviewed across a large stock of bridges across the whole county and is reviewed on a regular basis. Ms Elphinstone and Mr Corais have been contacted for comment.
WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump said Saturday that he will nominate former White House aide Brooke Rollins to be his agriculture secretary, the last of his picks to lead executive agencies and another choice from within his established circle of advisers and allies. The nomination must be confirmed by the Senate, which will be controlled by Republicans when Trump takes office Jan. 20. Rollins would succeed Tom Vilsack , President Joe Biden’s agriculture secretary who oversees the sprawling agency that controls policies, regulations and aid programs related to farming, forestry, ranching, food quality and nutrition. Then-President Donald Trump looks to Brooke Rollins, president and CEO of the Texas Public Policy Foundation, as she speaks during a Jan. 11, 2018, prison reform roundtable in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington. 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. Rollins previously served as an aide to former Texas Gov. Rick Perry and ran a think tank, the Texas Public Policy Foundation. People are also reading... Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams making furniture in Alexander County again Sheriff: 1 arrested, 1 wanted after Statesville man strangled, robbed Lake Norman residents voice concerns with Marshall Steam Station changes Iredell County bridge to close for $1.2 replacement project Basketball transfer Patterson back home at West Iredell to 'bring in some wins' Believers bought airplane for dead preacher thinking he’d rise from grave to fly in it MerMade: Workspace opens in Statesville, caters to artists, crafters Baseball league cries foul as Iredell plans to charge to use Jennings Park fields Statesville embraces underdog role in rematch with defending champ Hickory With supermajority in NC House gone, Iredell's Republican lawmakers talk changes, challenges Mooresville's Farmer, Graham picked to play in Shrine Bowl Catawba native Christina Eagle appears on season 26 of 'The Voice' Iredell County woman wins first $150,000 top prize in new game Statesville sweeps varsity doubleheader with South Iredell; Shehan reaches 1,000 points in Lake Norman win West Iredell starts season strong with win over Bunker Hill The pick completes Trump’s selection of the heads of executive branch departments, just two and a half weeks after the former president won the White House once again. Several other picks that are traditionally Cabinet-level remain, including U.S. Trade Representative and head of the small business administration. Trump taps Bessent for Treasury, Chavez-DeRemer for labor, Turner for housing FATIMA HUSSEIN, CHRIS RUGABER, JOSH BOAK and CHRIS MEGERIANAssociated Press Rollins, speaking on the Christian talk show “Family Talk" earlier this year, said Trump was an “amazing boss” and confessed that she thought in 2015, during his first presidential campaign, that he would not last as a candidate in a crowded Republican primary field. “I was the person that said, ‘Oh, Donald Trump is not going to go more than two or three weeks in the Republican primary. This is to up his TV show ratings. And then we’ll get back to normal,’” she said. “Fast forward a couple of years, and I am running his domestic policy agenda.” Trump didn’t offer many specifics about his agriculture policies during the campaign, but farmers could be affected if he carries out his pledge to impose widespread tariffs. During the first Trump administration, countries like China responded to Trump’s tariffs by imposing retaliatory tariffs on U.S. exports like the corn and soybeans routinely sold overseas. Trump countered by offering massive multibillion-dollar aid to farmers to help them weather the trade war. Brooke Rollins speaks at an Oct. 27 campaign rally for then-Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump at Madison Square Garden in New York. President Abraham Lincoln founded the USDA in 1862, when about half of all Americans lived on farms. The USDA oversees multiple support programs for farmers; animal and plant health; and the safety of meat, poultry and eggs that anchor the nation’s food supply. Its federal nutrition programs provide food to low-income people, pregnant women and young children. And the agency sets standards for school meals. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump’s nominee to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, has vowed to strip ultraprocessed foods from school lunches and to stop allowing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program beneficiaries from using food stamps to buy soda, candy or other so-called junk foods. But it would be the USDA, not HHS, that would be responsible for enacting those changes. In addition, HHS and USDA will work together to finalize the 2025-2030 edition of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. They are due late next year, with guidance for healthy diets and standards for federal nutrition programs. Gomez Licon reported from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Associated Press writers Josh Funk and JoNel Aleccia contributed to this report. Here are the people Trump has picked for key positions so far President-elect Donald Trump 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, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, 67, was a senior adviser to Trump's 2024 presidential campaign and its de facto manager. Marco Rubio, Secretary of State 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, Secretary of Defense 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. Pam Bondi, Attorney General 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. Kristi Noem, Secretary of Homeland Security 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. Doug Burgum, Secretary of the Interior 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., Secretary of Health and Human Services 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, Treasury Secretary 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. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, Labor Secretary 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, Housing and Urban Development 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, Secretary of Transportation 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. Chris Wright, Secretary of Energy 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. Linda McMahon, Secretary of Education 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, Secretary of Agriculture 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. Howard Lutnick, Secretary of Commerce 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, Secretary of Veterans Affairs 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, White House press secretary 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. Tulsi Gabbard, National Intelligence Director 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. John Ratcliffe, Central Intelligence Agency Director 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.” Lee Zeldin, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator 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.” Brendan Carr, Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission 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. Elise Stefanik, Ambassador to the United Nations 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. Matt Whitaker, Ambassador to NATO 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. Mike Huckabee, Ambassador to Israel 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. Steven Witkoff, Special Envoy to the Middle East 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. Mike Waltz, National Security Adviser 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, Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy 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. Tom Homan, ‘Border Czar’ 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, Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services administrator 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 and Vivek Ramaswamy to advise White House on government efficiency 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, Office of Management and Budget 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. Additional selections to the incoming White House 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.” Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.