Ange Postecoglou searching for answers over Tottenham’s injury crisisBy ERIC TUCKER WASHINGTON (AP) — A ninth U.S. telecoms firm has been confirmed to have been hacked as part of a sprawling Chinese espionage campaign that gave officials in Beijing access to private texts and phone conversations of an unknown number of Americans, a top White House official said Friday. Biden administration officials said this month that at least eight telecommunications companies , as well as dozens of nations, had been affected by the Chinese hacking blitz known as Salt Typhoon. But Anne Neuberger, the deputy national security adviser for cyber and emerging technologies, told reporters Friday that a ninth victim had been identified after the administration released guidance to companies about how to hunt for Chinese culprits in their networks. The update from Neuberger is the latest development in a massive hacking operation that has alarmed national security officials, exposed cybersecurity vulnerabilities in the private sector and laid bare China’s hacking sophistication. The hackers compromised the networks of telecommunications companies to obtain customer call records and gain access to the private communications of “a limited number of individuals.” Though the FBI has not publicly identified any of the victims, officials believe senior U.S. government officials and prominent political figures are among those whose whose communications were accessed. Related Articles National News | Court rules Georgia lawmakers can subpoena Fani Willis for information related to her Trump case National News | US homelessness up 18% as affordable housing remains out of reach for many people National News | OpenAI whistleblower death: Parents want to know what happened to Suchir Balaji after apparent suicide National News | Most Americans blame insurance profits and denials alongside the killer in UHC CEO death, poll finds National News | Another jackpot surpasses $1 billion. Is this the new normal? Neuberger said officials did not yet have a precise sense how many Americans overall were affected by Salt Typhoon, in part because the Chinese were careful about their techniques, but a “large number” were in the Washington-Virginia area. Officials believe the goal of the hackers was to identify who owned the phones and, if they were “government targets of interest,” spy on their texts and phone calls, she said. The FBI said most of the people targeted by the hackers are “primarily involved in government or political activity.” Neuberger said the episode highlighted the need for required cybersecurity practices in the telecommunications industry, something the Federal Communications Commission is to take up at a meeting next month. “We know that voluntary cyber security practices are inadequate to protect against China, Russia and Iran hacking of our critical infrastructure,” she said. The Chinese government has denied responsibility for the hacking.

An online debate over foreign workers in tech shows tensions in Trump’s political coalitionHackerTron: Revolutionizing Digital Optimization with Patented AI Technology 12-24-2024 06:54 PM CET | Business, Economy, Finances, Banking & Insurance Press release from: Getnews / PR Agency: Headlineplus Taipei, Taiwan - December 24, 2024 - HackerTron, a leading digital optimization company headquartered in Taiwan, is setting new standards in Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and artificial intelligence (AI) solutions. With its patented AI technology, HackerTron pioneers innovative approaches to digital marketing and customer engagement, including the development of advanced AI chatbots. Driving Excellence in SEO HackerTron specializes in advanced SEO strategies that enable businesses to achieve unparalleled online visibility. By utilizing proprietary tools and cutting-edge algorithms, the company delivers tailored solutions to boost search rankings, enhance web traffic, and maximize conversion rates. HackerTron's services include in-depth keyword research, content optimization, and technical SEO audits, ensuring that every aspect of a client's online presence is fine-tuned for success. This dedication to excellence has positioned HackerTron as a trusted partner for businesses aiming to dominate the digital landscape. Patented AI Technology: Transforming Customer Engagement HackerTron's patented AI technology sets it apart by enabling the creation of intuitive AI chatbots. These chatbots facilitate seamless, personalized customer interactions, from resolving real-time queries to driving sales through intelligent recommendations. HackerTron's AI solutions are built to adapt to various industries, providing scalable and efficient tools for customer engagement. Businesses leveraging these chatbots have reported higher customer satisfaction rates, increased retention, and improved operational efficiency. "Our patented AI technology represents the future of digital optimization," said Yi-Ting Hsieh, CEO of HackerTron. "We're proud to empower businesses with tools that enhance online presence and provide meaningful customer engagement. In today's fast-paced digital world, these capabilities are essential." A Proud Taiwanese Innovation Based in Taiwan, HackerTron blends local expertise with global vision. The company has earned a reputation for innovation, integrity, and results, serving clients from startups to multinational corporations. Taiwan's thriving tech ecosystem has provided HackerTron with access to top talent, advanced infrastructure, and collaborative opportunities, enabling the company to continuously innovate and refine its solutions. "Taiwan is the perfect environment for fostering innovation," added Yi-Ting Hsieh, CEO of HackerTron. "Our team is inspired by the local tech culture and committed to delivering world-class solutions that reflect our roots." Expanding Horizons HackerTron is redefining SEO and AI solutions while exploring partnerships to integrate its technology into industries like e-commerce, healthcare, and education. In the e-commerce sector, HackerTron's AI chatbots help businesses optimize the customer journey, from product discovery to post-purchase support. In healthcare, the company's solutions streamline patient interactions and improve access to information. Similarly, in education, HackerTron's tools facilitate personalized learning experiences and enhance student engagement. With plans to expand its patented AI capabilities globally, HackerTron aims to drive digital transformation across sectors. The company is also investing in research and development to stay ahead of industry trends and ensure that its solutions remain cutting-edge. Commitment to Sustainability and Social Impact HackerTron recognizes the importance of sustainability and social responsibility. The company is committed to reducing its carbon footprint by adopting energy-efficient technologies and promoting digital solutions that minimize resource consumption. Additionally, HackerTron actively supports local community initiatives and collaborates with educational institutions to nurture the next generation of tech professionals. About HackerTron Founded in Taiwan, HackerTron specializes in Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and AI technologies. With a focus on innovation and measurable results, HackerTron empowers businesses to thrive in the digital age. For more information, visit www.HackerTron.zone [ http://www.hackertron.zone/ ] Media Contact Company Name: HackerTron Contact Person: Media Manager Email: Send Email [ http://www.universalpressrelease.com/?pr=hackertron-revolutionizing-digital-optimization-with-patented-ai-technology ] City: Taipei Country: Taiwan Website: http://www.HackerTron.zone This release was published on openPR.

New pro-European coalition approved in Romania amid period of political turmoil

New coach Chris Holtmann has been tasked with rebuilding DePaul to the point where it can return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2004. Northern Illinois coach Rashon Burno knows what it takes to steer DePaul to the NCAAs because he was the starting point guard on the 2000 team that made the tournament -- the Blue Demons' only other NCAA appearance since 1992. Perhaps they can compare notes Saturday afternoon when Burno leads the Huskies (2-3) back to his alma mater as DePaul (5-0) hosts its sixth straight home game in Chicago. Last season, Burno's NIU squad helped accelerate DePaul's need for a new coach -- as the Huskies waltzed into Wintrust Arena and owned Tony Stubblefield's Blue Demons by an 89-79 score on Nov. 25. The Huskies built a 24-point second-half lead before coasting to the finish line. Can history repeat for NIU? There's just one problem with using last year's game as a potential barometer for Saturday's rematch: Almost no players on this year's teams were part of last year's squads. At DePaul, only assistant coach Paris Parham remains as Holtmann had the green light to bring in an all-new roster. UIC graduate transfer Isaiah Rivera (16.0 ppg, .485 3-point rate) and Coastal Carolina transfer Jacob Meyer (15.4 ppg, .406 on 3s) lead a balanced attack that focuses on getting half its shots from beyond the arc. At NIU, Burno retained only two players who competed against DePaul last year -- Ethan Butler and Oluwasegun Durosinmi -- and they combined for three points in 26 minutes in that game. The Huskies' main players used the transfer portal to join such programs as Kansas, Wisconsin, Penn State, Colorado State, James Madison, Georgia State and Niagara. With every starting job open, Butler has jumped into the lineup and produced 11.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.8 blocks and 1.4 steals per game. Transfers Quentin Jones (Cal Poly) and James Dent (Western Illinois) pace the Huskies with 14.4 and 14.0 points per game. NIU is on a two-game losing streak, most recently a 75-48 home defeat at the hands of Elon on Wednesday. Holtmann hopes to have Arkansas transfer Layden Blocker for Saturday's game. Blocker missed Tuesday's 78-69 win over Eastern Illinois with a quad injury. With the combo guard unavailable, point guard Conor Enright handed out a career-high 11 assists in a season-high 38 minutes. "We need (Blocker)," Holtmann said. "I don't want to play Conor 38 minutes." --Field Level MediaPakistani, Chinese varsities sign MoU to boost partnership in education sectorAlmost 200 people were rescued after a metal support structure on a ski resort gondola in Colorado cracked, reports say. The gondola at Winter Park Resort shut down after detecting “ a significant malfunction ” around 12:15 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 21, several news outlets reported. About 174 skiers and snowboarders were trapped on the gondola for roughly five hours while ski patrol lowered them 30 to 50 feet to the ground via ropes, KDVR reported. During that time, photos began circulating on social media showing a huge crack in a metal support structure on one of the towers. “Rough situation for everyone,” someone wrote with a photo they posted of the crack on Reddit. Winter Park Resort spokesperson Jen Miller told Sky-Hi News the crack was “ the source of the malfunction .” “We’re not sure why the part failed and are investigating that,” she told the outlet. Miller and the Colorado Passenger Tramway Safety Board did not immediately respond to McClatchy News’ request for information on Dec. 23. Another person posted a video of ski patrol setting up a rope system for those inside a gondola to lower safely to the ground . “Never seen this before,” Lennon Sarfati said in the caption on the post. Evacuating the gondola called for ski patrol members “climbing the gondola towers, shimmying down the cable, entering the car from the top and using a rope system to lower passengers to a team on the ground,” The Denver Post reported. There were no injuries reported during the evacuation, the outlet reported. Winter Park is about a 70-mile drive west from Denver.

Adams puts up 21, CSU Northridge defeats Montana State 72-69 in OT...Says Prof. Maikudi Facing Unnecessary Distractions ABUJA – The leadership tussle rocking the University of Abuja took a new twist on Thursday as a coalition of 25 Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) threw their weight behind the current Vice Chancellor, Prof. Aisha Maikudi. The CSOs called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene in the leadership crisis, stressing that Maikudu was facing unnecessary distractions from her colleagues to the detriment of the tertiary institution. Speaking during the presentation of their report at the main gate of the University on Friday in Abuja, the coalition, operating under the auspices of Civil Society Coalition for Educational Development, criticized recent protests by some professors at the university, labeling their actions as unnecessary and counterproductive. “We wish to begin by expressing unequivocally, our frustration and disappointment over the recent protest by some professors from University of Abuja over the appointment of a substantive Vice Chancellor in the institution. “It is absurdity and a direct attack on due process, betrayal of their experience, and direct assault on the globally demanded agenda to have more women and youths in leadership,” said Dr. Wisdom Ohalete Chinedu, who spoke on behalf of the group. The CSOs alleged that the protest was part of a deliberate effort to undermine the reputation of the Acting Vice-Chancellor, Professor Aisha Maikudi. “We observed with incontrovertible evidence that the entire protest is about an orchestrated plan to discredit Prof. Aisha Maikudi, the acting Vice Chancellor who had previously served as Deputy Vice Chancellor without any record of failure or non-qualification. “The desperation to pull her down because she is a woman, a youth, and a northerner is antithetical to the development of education in Nigeria, especially at a time when global attention is on harnessing the numerous potentials of young people, especially women, to boost growth,” Chinedu said. The group further condemned the actions of the protesting professors, calling them a “vexatious and demeaning absurdity” aimed at serving parochial interests. “In a long time, Nigerians have not seen professors involving in such a vexatious and demeaning absurdity, just to satisfy certain quarters that believe it is their exclusive right to decide what happens in the educational system. This act in academic circles is preposterous and requires to be nipped in the bud by ensuring that punishments are handed to those involved in the dance of shame.” The coalition also alleged a history of manipulations in UniAbuja’s leadership selections and emphasized the need for a fair process. “The antecedents of leadership selection in the University of Abuja suggest that many have been victims of such satanic manipulation which eventually denied them their rights to be at the very top echelon of their careers. Hence, there is a need to step in and ensure a competent hand is not denied her opportunity to bring greatness to the institution.” According to the group, allegations of southern exclusion from the selection committee were baseless and politically motivated. “After looking dispassionately at the allegations, we discovered that the claim that southerners were not included in the selection committee was untrue and a desperate attempt to discredit the process, acting on the script of their sponsors,” Chinedu said. The coalition urged President Tinubu to take decisive action to safeguard Prof. Maikudi, whom they described as the most qualified candidate for the role. “We demand that President Bola Tinubu, through the Honourable Minister of Education, wade into the ensuing crisis and give needed protection for the acting Vice Chancellor who is obviously a victim of ethnic gang-up, political orchestration, and desperate power mongers in the University of Abuja. This will prevent any attempts to ridicule his efforts in promoting youth and women’s leadership. “We demand that the Nigeria Police invite troublemakers, as outlined in our petition, to serve as a deterrent to others. “We demand that the Minister, after announcing Prof. Aisha Maikudi as recommended by us, should set up a truth and reconciliation panel for the post-VC tussle era,” the coalition insisted.Odisha: BJD MPs allege difference in state, LS polls voting counts

LOS ANGELES — With both teams fighting for playoff position, the Chargers' Week 16 game against their AFC West rival Denver Broncos was moved into a prime-time TV slot, the NFL announced Friday, shifting a game to "Thursday Night Football" for the first time. The Chargers (7-3) will host the Broncos (6-5) at SoFi Stadium on Dec. 19 at 5:15 p.m. PST, pushing a game between the Cleveland Browns (3-8) and Cincinnati Bengals (4-7) to 10 a.m. PST on Dec. 22. It's the first time the NFL has moved a game to Thursday since it was allowed last year. The schedule change gives the Chargers their only Thursday night game of the season, providing the team a 10-day prep week entering a Week 17 road game at New England. The long week could be a welcome rest for the Chargers, who had their bye in Week 4. The Chargers — who will have a short week after hosting the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Dec. 15 — won in Denver on Oct. 13, their first road win against the Broncos since 2018. Both AFC West teams are in playoff position entering Week 12, with the Chargers in the fifth-seed and the Broncos in seventh. The schedule change gave the Chargers their fourth prime-time game in six weeks, a run of TV exposure that includes this week's "Monday Night Football" game against the Baltimore Ravens. They also play the two-time defending champion Kansas City Chiefs at 5:20 p.m. PST on Dec. 8 in Week 14. ©2024 Los Angeles Times. Visit latimes.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.WASHINGTON (AP) — A ninth U.S. telecoms firm has been confirmed to have been hacked as part of a that gave officials in access to private texts and phone conversations of an unknown number of Americans, a top White House official said Friday. Biden administration officials said , as well as dozens of nations, had been affected by the Chinese hacking blitz known as Salt Typhoon. But Anne Neuberger, the deputy national security adviser for cyber and emerging technologies, told reporters Friday that a ninth victim had been identified after the administration released guidance to companies about how to hunt for Chinese culprits in their networks. The update from Neuberger is the latest development in a massive hacking operation that has alarmed national security officials, exposed cybersecurity vulnerabilities in the private sector and laid bare China’s hacking sophistication. The hackers compromised the networks of telecommunications companies to obtain customer call records and gain access to the private communications of “a limited number of individuals.” Though the FBI has not publicly identified any of the victims, officials believe senior U.S. government officials and prominent political figures are among those whose whose communications were accessed. Neuberger said officials did not yet have a precise sense how many Americans overall were affected by Salt Typhoon, in part because the Chinese were careful about their techniques, but a “large number” were in the Washington-Virginia area. Officials believe the goal of the hackers was to identify who owned the phones and, if they were “government targets of interest,” spy on their texts and phone calls, she said. The FBI said most of the people targeted by the hackers are “primarily involved in government or political activity.” Neuberger said the episode highlighted the need for required cybersecurity practices in the telecommunications industry, something the Federal Communications Commission is to take up at a meeting next month. “We know that voluntary cyber security practices are inadequate to protect against China, Russia and Iran hacking of our critical infrastructure,” she said. The Chinese government has denied responsibility for the hacking.

New Delhi: Scientists at the Bose Institute, an autonomous institute of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), have studied archaea — a domain of ancient organisms — to find clues to survival strategies of microorganisms by adapting to harsh conditions with the help of their toxin-antitoxin (TA) systems. Archaea, which means “ancient things” in Greek, are one of the oldest forms of life on Earth and belong to a group called the third domain of life. Many archaea live in some of the harshest environments on Earth, which makes them ideal for studying how life can survive in tough conditions. The team, led by Dr Abhrajyoti Ghosh at the Department of Biological Sciences, explored how certain archaea toxin-antitoxin (TA) systems help these organisms cope with high temperatures. In the study, published in the journal mBio, Ghosh and his team studied a specific TA system in a heat-loving archaeon called Sulfolobus acidocaldarius to understand how it helps these organisms. They examined S. acidocaldarius, which lives in environments with hot volcanic pools like Barren Island in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in India and some other volcanic areas in the world, that can get as hot as 90 degrees Celsius. The detailed analysis of the VapBC4 TA system that helps survival in the high-temperature environment, shows its important role during heat stress. They found that the VapC4 toxin carries out several functions, such as stopping protein production, helping the organism form resilient cells, and influencing biofilm creation. When the cell faces heat stress, a stress-activated protease (which hasn’t been identified in archaea yet) may break down the VapB4 protein (which otherwise checks the VapC4 toxin’s activity). Once VapB4 is gone, the VapC4 toxin is released and can stop protein production. This block in protein production is part of a survival strategy that helps cells form “persister cells” during stress. These persister cells go into a resting state, conserving energy and avoiding making damaged proteins. This dormancy helps them survive tough conditions until the environment improves, the scientists said.Trump wants pardoned real estate developer Charles Kushner to be ambassador to France

Tehran, Dec 24: Iranian government spokeswoman Fatemeh Mohajerani said on Tuesday that Iran and Syria are engaged in diplomatic consultations on the reopening of their embassies in Damascus and Tehran. “We are holding diplomatic consultations to reopen the embassies of the two countries,” the spokeswoman said during a weekly press conference in the capital Tehran, according to the semi-official Tasnim news agency. Mohajerani said Iran pursued a diplomatic approach towards the reopening of the embassies in the two capitals, adding both sides were ready for it. Iran emphasises the need for the formation of a Syrian government based on the votes of the people and for the protection of the Arab country’s territorial integrity, she stated. Mohajerani also stressed the importance of preventing the growth and spread of terrorism to avert any harm to Syria and its neighbouring states, Xinhua news agency reported. In remarks on December 17, Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said the reopening of the country’s embassy in Syria was on the agenda. He added certain requirements have to be met for the reopening, including ensuring the security of the diplomatic mission and its staff, emphasizing, “Once the necessary security and political ground is prepared, Iran will reopen its embassy.” A militant alliance led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group waged a major military operation from northern Syria on November 27. It swept southwards, captured the capital Damascus, and overthrew former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s government within 12 days. On December 8, the Syrian militant groups stormed Iran’s embassy in Damascus, which had been vacated before the attack. A day later, Iran had said that it believes the Syrian people should have the sole right to determine their own future, free from any foreign interference or imposition. “Determining Syria’s future and making decisions about its destiny are solely the responsibility of the Syrian people, without any destructive interference or external imposition,” the Iranian Foreign Ministry said after the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s government It had added that to achieve that, it was necessary to end military conflicts in the country as soon as possible, prevent terrorist actions and start national talks involving all segments of Syria’s society to form an inclusive government representing all Syrian people.

France too much for scrappy ArgentinaFSK Completes Public Offering of $100 million 6.125% Unsecured Notes Due 2030The mother of Upper Hutt teen Maia Johnston - who was missing for two days - says her daughter has a long recovery ahead after falling at a waterfall. The 19-year-old went missing on Saturday night and was last seen leaving a family home in the suburb of Totara Park during heavy rain. She was found injured with a broken leg and ribs, but alive, early on Monday in the hills above Upper Hutt. Family members and friends embraced Johnston as she was carried out of the bush by search and rescue, and loaded into an ambulance. She was taken to hospital and treated for her broken bones and a split lip. Posting on social media, Johnston's mother Amy Walsh said her daughter had "a long recovery ahead". "She's in her first of many surgeries now and will be in hospital for several weeks. "Thank you again to each and every person who supported us in getting her back." Walsh went on to detail how her daughter came to have several broken bones. "She has fought like a trooper for 42 hours alone after falling at a waterfall and getting some quite bad injuries... "[It's] thankfully nothing that can't be fixed. One day at a time." Police thanked the Upper Hutt community for the way they rallied around search staff and the family. Rescue co-ordinator Penny Clash said it was the best outcome after a mammoth effort to find Maia. "The Totara Park team, the people, the community have just rallied together and it just shows what an awesome community Totara Park is. "It's quite a close-knit community and this really showed it." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.WASHINGTON (AP) — A ninth U.S. telecoms firm has been confirmed to have been hacked as part of a that gave officials in access to private texts and phone conversations of an unknown number of Americans, a top White House official said Friday. Biden administration officials said , as well as dozens of nations, had been affected by the Chinese hacking blitz known as Salt Typhoon. But Anne Neuberger, the deputy national security adviser for cyber and emerging technologies, told reporters Friday that a ninth victim had been identified after the administration released guidance to companies about how to hunt for Chinese culprits in their networks. The update from Neuberger is the latest development in a massive hacking operation that has alarmed national security officials, exposed cybersecurity vulnerabilities in the private sector and laid bare China’s hacking sophistication. The hackers compromised the networks of telecommunications companies to obtain customer call records and gain access to the private communications of “a limited number of individuals.” Though the FBI has not publicly identified any of the victims, officials believe senior U.S. government officials and prominent political figures are among those whose whose communications were accessed. Neuberger said officials did not yet have a precise sense how many Americans overall were affected by Salt Typhoon, in part because the Chinese were careful about their techniques, but a “large number” were in the Washington-Virginia area. Officials believe the goal of the hackers was to identify who owned the phones and, if they were “government targets of interest,” spy on their texts and phone calls, she said. The FBI said most of the people targeted by the hackers are “primarily involved in government or political activity.” Neuberger said the episode highlighted the need for required cybersecurity practices in the telecommunications industry, something the Federal Communications Commission is to take up at a meeting next month. “We know that voluntary cyber security practices are inadequate to protect against China, Russia and Iran hacking of our critical infrastructure,” she said. The Chinese government has denied responsibility for the hacking.

Arsenal up to second after Kai Havertz goal sees off struggling IpswichHighway 11 NB reopen after snowstorm blasted the region, stranding motorists

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Quran with translation distributedThe Big Ten race has come down to Oregon vs. Penn State . For the first time this season, the Ducks and Nittany Lions will clash in the 2024 Big Ten Championship Game ( Saturday, Dec. 7 at 8 p.m. ET on CBS ). This will be just the fifth meeting all-time between the two teams and the first since 1995 when Penn State beat Oregon in the Rose Bowl to cap a 12-0 season. In one sense, this game is for College Football Playoff seeding, as both teams are likely in regardless of the result inside Lucas Oil Stadium Saturday in Indianapolis. While that's a heck of a safety net, Oregon and Penn State go into Tuesday's penultimate College Football Playoff Rankings at Nos. 1 and 4, respectively. Penn State's only blemish on its record a 7-point loss against Ohio State at home. Ohio State's Week 14 loss against Michigan opened the door for Penn State to re-enter the title game conversation, and the Nittany Lions pounced on the opportunity with a 44-7 rout of Maryland . Given Oregon and Penn State's résumés thus far, it could be a thrilling Big Ten Championship Game with plenty on the line! What to know about Oregon Dan Lanning has carried on what Mario Cristobal started -- which is loading up on brawn and speed to make Oregon resemble an elite SEC team. The Ducks may be better than everyone at those two aspects, however. Oregon has been No. 1 in the AP Top 25 poll since Oct. 20. The pinnacle of the season, to date, is squeaking out a 32-31 game over Ohio State in Eugene that absolutely lived up to the hype. The Ducks are led by QB Dillon Gabriel , who is within throwing distance of the FBS career passing mark depending on how far Oregon advances in the postseason. Gabriel will make his FBS career record 62nd start against Ohio State. If you're looking for edges, this will be Oregon's 10th straight week of football. The Ducks have been resilient so far, combining a controlled passing game and a punishing running attack with a smothering defense. That defense is led by linebacker Matayo Uiagalelei , who is having an All-American season. The younger brother of DJ Uiagalelei has 8.5 sacks and 10.5 tackles for loss, while his breakout game may have come in the Ohio State win. In that win, he had a then-career high five tackles and a sack of Howard on the Buckeyes' final drive. Lanning is a national coach of the year candidate having assembled the nation's only undefeated team. Instead of adapting to the Big Ten in their first season as a league member, the Ducks have ruled it. Now, can they cap it with a conference title? What to know About Penn State For the first time in eight years, and the second time under coach James Franklin, Penn State is making its way back to Indianapolis. Good news, Nittany Lions: You're 1-0 in your Big Ten Championship Game appearances under Franklin, and you also avoid playing either Ohio State or Michigan with a title on the line. Penn State's defense has been predictably excellent this season. The Nittany Lions entered Week 14 ranked third in the Big Ten in total defense (273.4 yards per game) and second in scoring defense (14.6 points per game). Abdul Carter , who dons Penn State's all-important No. 11, has put together an All-Big Ten campaign with 10 sacks on the year. But the real story has been Penn State's offensive revitalization. Franklin made a splash in the offseason by going out and hiring offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki from Kansas , and he has solidified his status as one of the most innovative minds in the sport. Former five-star quarterback Drew Allar is playing the best football of his career under Kotelnicki. Allar finished the regular season with a 71.6% completion percentage and 2,668 yards passing, which are career highs, and 18 touchdowns through the air. The Nittany Lions also have the Big Ten's top rushing rushing attack behind the stellar running back duo of Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen . And then there's tight end Tyler Warren , who has been a revelation for a Penn State pass game that sorely lacked in playmakers entering the year. Kotelnicki has unlocked Warren's abilities as a multi-dimensional threat; the senior has lined up at tight end, quarterback, fullback, running back, wide receiver and even offensive line this season. He's the clear focal point of Penn State's offense, with a team-high 81 catches for 978 yards and six touchdowns, and the Nittany Lions are likely to go as he does through the postseason.MIAMI — The sense of dread proved all too real Tuesday, with the Miami Heat announcing that guard Dru Smith sustained a season-ending torn left Achilles tendon in Monday night’s victory over the Brooklyn Nets. Having recently emerged as a prime rotation component in his comeback from his season-ending knee injury a year ago, Smith was helped off the court with 8:18 left in Monday night’s second quarter, a collective shudder enveloping Kaseya Center. For his coach and teammates, this was more than a player on a two-way contract going down. It was seeing it happen again. Last November, Smith shredded his right knee on a misstep off a ledge on the Cleveland Cavaliers court. Then came Monday, with Smith still wearing a protective brace on his right knee. “You don’t want to see anybody get hurt,” coach Erik Spoelstra said. “But we all have such incredible deep respect for his journey, what he’s had to overcome. I’ve been in the building all those times the last year, when nobody else was here and he was doing all the extensive treatment and rehab around the clock. He just has incredible fortitude. So you end up absolutely rooting for guys like Dru.” The non-contact injury came with the Heat facing a Sunday deadline to sign another player to a standard contract, required to get back to 14 under standard deals within 14 days of the recent trade of center Thomas Bryant to the Indiana Pacers. That spot was expected to go to Smith, which still could be the case. Such an elevation would more than double Smith’s salary from his two-way deal. The loss of Smith further exacerbates the Heat’s lack of depth at point guard. Among outside options are elevating undrafted rookie guard Isaiah Stevens from the Heat’s G League affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce, or outside available free agents such as Dennis Smith Jr. or Elfrid Payton. For now, according to a source, the Heat later this week will upgrade two-way forward Keshad Johnson to a standard contract and then add another two-way player, likely Stevens. As of now, it appears Dru Smith will remain under Heat two-way contract. Johnson eventually could be flipped back to a Heat two-way deal. But personnel machinations hardly were on the mind in the wake of Smith, who turns 27 on Dec. 30, going down. “All we can do is pray for him,” center Bam Adebayo said. “But it’s definitely a gut punch because he’s sitting next to me on the plane and we have conversations a lot. We really talk about basketball and really reflect on just how grateful we are to have the life that we live. “So to have a guy that’s that pure have an injury, we pray for him and hope the best for him.” Since going undrafted out of Missouri in 2021, Smith has had several stints with the Heat and the team’s G League affiliate, including a season-ending knee injury in 2022 while with the Skyforce. Through it all, he earned this season’s two-way deal and persevered to a degree that teammate Jimmy Butler lobbied for Smith’s elevation into the first unit. Recently, Smith arguably had been at the top of his NBA game. And then came Monday night. “I feel like it’s been the last week and a half, two weeks, he’s really been playing well,” guard Tyler Herro said. “But all the work he put in to come back from the knee injury last year and where he was at before tonight, it’s just really unfortunate to see him go down. “He’s one of my favorite teammates, one of my favorite players to play with. So it’s really heartbreaking. So it’s unfortunate.” ©2024 South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Visit sun-sentinel.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Arsenal up to second after Kai Havertz goal sees off struggling IpswichWEST 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. Among President-elect Donald Trump's picks are Susie Wiles for chief of staff, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio for secretary of state, former Democratic House member Tulsi Gabbard for director of national intelligence and Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz for attorney general. Susie Wiles, 67, was a senior adviser to Trump's 2024 presidential campaign and its de facto manager. Trump named Florida Sen. Marco Rubio to be secretary of state, making a former sharp critic his choice to be the new administration's top diplomat. Rubio, 53, is a noted hawk on China, Cuba and Iran, and was a finalist to be Trump's running mate on the Republican ticket last summer. Rubio is the vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. “He will be a strong Advocate for our Nation, a true friend to our Allies, and a fearless Warrior who will never back down to our adversaries,” Trump said of Rubio in a statement. The announcement punctuates the hard pivot Rubio has made with Trump, whom the senator called a “con man" during his unsuccessful campaign for the 2016 GOP presidential nomination. Their relationship improved dramatically while Trump was in the White House. And as Trump campaigned for the presidency a third time, Rubio cheered his proposals. For instance, Rubio, who more than a decade ago helped craft immigration legislation that included a path to citizenship for people in the U.S. illegally, now supports Trump's plan to use the U.S. military for mass deportations. Pete Hegseth, 44, is a co-host of Fox News Channel’s “Fox & Friends Weekend” and has been a contributor with the network since 2014, where he developed a friendship with Trump, who made regular appearances on the show. Hegseth lacks senior military or national security experience. If confirmed by the Senate, he would inherit the top job during a series of global crises — ranging from Russia’s war in Ukraine and the ongoing attacks in the Middle East by Iranian proxies to the push for a cease-fire between Israel, Hamas and Hezbollah and escalating worries about the growing alliance between Russia and North Korea. Hegseth is also the author of “The War on Warriors: Behind the Betrayal of the Men Who Keep Us Free,” published earlier this year. Trump tapped Pam Bondi, 59, to be attorney general after U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz withdrew his name from consideration. She was Florida's first female attorney general, serving between 2011 and 2019. She also was on Trump’s legal team during his first impeachment trial in 2020. Considered a loyalist, she served as part of a Trump-allied outside group that helped lay the groundwork for his future administration called the America First Policy Institute. Bondi was among a group of Republicans who showed up to support Trump at his hush money criminal trial in New York that ended in May with a conviction on 34 felony counts. A fierce defender of Trump, she also frequently appears on Fox News and has been a critic of the criminal cases against him. Trump picked South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, a well-known conservative who faced sharp criticism for telling a story in her memoir about shooting a rambunctious dog, to lead an agency crucial to the president-elect’s hardline immigration agenda. Noem used her two terms leading a tiny state to vault to a prominent position in Republican politics. South Dakota is usually a political afterthought. But during the COVID-19 pandemic, Noem did not order restrictions that other states had issued and instead declared her state “open for business.” Trump held a fireworks rally at Mount Rushmore in July 2020 in one of the first large gatherings of the pandemic. She takes over a department with a sprawling mission. In addition to key immigration agencies, the Department of Homeland Security oversees natural disaster response, the U.S. Secret Service, and Transportation Security Administration agents who work at airports. The governor of North Dakota, who was once little-known outside his state, Burgum is a former Republican presidential primary contender who endorsed Trump, and spent months traveling to drum up support for him, after dropping out of the race. Burgum was a serious contender to be Trump’s vice presidential choice this summer. The two-term governor was seen as a possible pick because of his executive experience and business savvy. Burgum also has close ties to deep-pocketed energy industry CEOs. Trump made the announcement about Burgum joining his incoming administration while addressing a gala at his Mar-a-Lago club, and said a formal statement would be coming the following day. In comments to reporters before Trump took the stage, Burgum said that, in recent years, the power grid is deteriorating in many parts of the country, which he said could raise national security concerns but also drive up prices enough to increase inflation. “There's just a sense of urgency, and a sense of understanding in the Trump administration,” Burgum said. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. ran for president as a Democrat, than as an independent, and then endorsed Trump . He's the son of Democratic icon Robert Kennedy, who was assassinated during his own presidential campaign. The nomination of Kennedy to lead the Department of Health and Human Services alarmed people who are concerned about his record of spreading unfounded fears about vaccines . For example, he has long advanced the debunked idea that vaccines cause autism. Scott Bessent, 62, is a former George Soros money manager and an advocate for deficit reduction. He's the founder of hedge fund Key Square Capital Management, after having worked on-and-off for Soros Fund Management since 1991. If confirmed by the Senate, he would be the nation’s first openly gay treasury secretary. He told Bloomberg in August that he decided to join Trump’s campaign in part to attack the mounting U.S. national debt. That would include slashing government programs and other spending. “This election cycle is the last chance for the U.S. to grow our way out of this mountain of debt without becoming a sort of European-style socialist democracy,” he said then. Oregon Republican U.S. Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer narrowly lost her reelection bid this month, but received strong backing from union members in her district. As a potential labor secretary, she would oversee the Labor Department’s workforce, its budget and put forth priorities that impact workers’ wages, health and safety, ability to unionize, and employer’s rights to fire employers, among other responsibilities. Chavez-DeRemer is one of few House Republicans to endorse the “Protecting the Right to Organize” or PRO Act would allow more workers to conduct organizing campaigns and would add penalties for companies that violate workers’ rights. The act would also weaken “right-to-work” laws that allow employees in more than half the states to avoid participating in or paying dues to unions that represent workers at their places of employment. Scott Turner is a former NFL player and White House aide. He ran the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council during Trump’s first term in office. Trump, in a statement, credited Turner, the highest-ranking Black person he’s yet selected for his administration, with “helping to lead an Unprecedented Effort that Transformed our Country’s most distressed communities.” Sean Duffy is a former House member from Wisconsin who was one of Trump's most visible defenders on cable news. Duffy served in the House for nearly nine years, sitting on the Financial Services Committee and chairing the subcommittee on insurance and housing. He left Congress in 2019 for a TV career and has been the host of “The Bottom Line” on Fox Business. Before entering politics, Duffy was a reality TV star on MTV, where he met his wife, “Fox and Friends Weekend” co-host Rachel Campos-Duffy. They have nine children. A campaign donor and CEO of Denver-based Liberty Energy, Write is a vocal advocate of oil and gas development, including fracking — a key pillar of Trump’s quest to achieve U.S. “energy dominance” in the global market. Wright also has been one of the industry’s loudest voices against efforts to fight climate change. He said the climate movement around the world is “collapsing under its own weight.” The Energy Department is responsible for advancing energy, environmental and nuclear security of the United States. Wright also won support from influential conservatives, including oil and gas tycoon Harold Hamm. Hamm, executive chairman of Oklahoma-based Continental Resources, a major shale oil company, is a longtime Trump supporter and adviser who played a key role on energy issues in Trump’s first term. President-elect Donald Trump tapped billionaire professional wrestling mogul Linda McMahon to be secretary of the Education Department, tasked with overseeing an agency Trump promised to dismantle. McMahon led the Small Business Administration during Trump’s initial term from 2017 to 2019 and twice ran unsuccessfully as a Republican for the U.S. Senate in Connecticut. She’s seen as a relative unknown in education circles, though she expressed support for charter schools and school choice. She served on the Connecticut Board of Education for a year starting in 2009 and has spent years on the board of trustees for Sacred Heart University in Connecticut. Brooke Rollins, who graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in agricultural development, is a longtime Trump associate who served as White House domestic policy chief during his first presidency. The 52-year-old is president and CEO of the America First Policy Institute, a group helping to lay the groundwork for a second Trump administration. She previously served as an aide to former Texas Gov. Rick Perry and ran a think tank, the Texas Public Policy Foundation. Trump chose Howard Lutnick, head of brokerage and investment bank Cantor Fitzgerald and a cryptocurrency enthusiast, as his nominee for commerce secretary, a position in which he'd have a key role in carrying out Trump's plans to raise and enforce tariffs. Trump made the announcement Tuesday on his social media platform, Truth Social. Lutnick is a co-chair of Trump’s transition team, along with Linda McMahon, the former wrestling executive who previously led Trump’s Small Business Administration. Both are tasked with putting forward candidates for key roles in the next administration. The nomination would put Lutnick in charge of a sprawling Cabinet agency that is involved in funding new computer chip factories, imposing trade restrictions, releasing economic data and monitoring the weather. It is also a position in which connections to CEOs and the wider business community are crucial. Doug Collins is a former Republican congressman from Georgia who gained recognition for defending Trump during his first impeachment trial, which centered on U.S. assistance for Ukraine. Trump was impeached for urging Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden in 2019 during the Democratic presidential nomination, but he was acquitted by the Senate. Collins has also served in the armed forces himself and is currently a chaplain in the United States Air Force Reserve Command. "We must take care of our brave men and women in uniform, and Doug will be a great advocate for our Active Duty Servicemembers, Veterans, and Military Families to ensure they have the support they need," Trump said in a statement about nominating Collins to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs. Karoline Leavitt, 27, was Trump's campaign press secretary and currently a spokesperson for his transition. She would be the youngest White House press secretary in history. The White House press secretary typically serves as the public face of the administration and historically has held daily briefings for the press corps. Leavitt, a New Hampshire native, was a spokesperson for MAGA Inc., a super PAC supporting Trump, before joining his 2024 campaign. In 2022, she ran for Congress in New Hampshire, winning a 10-way Republican primary before losing to Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas. Leavitt worked in the White House press office during Trump's first term before she became communications director for New York Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik, Trump's choice for U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard has been tapped by Trump to be director of national intelligence, keeping with the trend to stock his Cabinet with loyal personalities rather than veteran professionals in their requisite fields. Gabbard, 43, was a Democratic House member who unsuccessfully sought the party's 2020 presidential nomination before leaving the party in 2022. She endorsed Trump in August and campaigned often with him this fall. “I know Tulsi will bring the fearless spirit that has defined her illustrious career to our Intelligence Community,” Trump said in a statement. Gabbard, who has served in the Army National Guard for more than two decades, deploying to Iraq and Kuwait, would come to the role as somewhat of an outsider compared to her predecessor. The current director, Avril Haines, was confirmed by the Senate in 2021 following several years in a number of top national security and intelligence positions. Trump has picked John Ratcliffe, a former Texas congressman who served as director of national intelligence during his first administration, to be director of the Central Intelligence Agency in his next. Ratcliffe was director of national intelligence during the final year and a half of Trump's first term, leading the U.S. government's spy agencies during the coronavirus pandemic. “I look forward to John being the first person ever to serve in both of our Nation's highest Intelligence positions,” Trump said in a statement, calling him a “fearless fighter for the Constitutional Rights of all Americans” who would ensure “the Highest Levels of National Security, and PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH.” Trump has chosen former New York Rep. Lee Zeldin to serve as his pick to lead the Environmental Protection Agency . Zeldin does not appear to have any experience in environmental issues, but is a longtime supporter of the former president. The 44-year-old former U.S. House member from New York wrote on X , “We will restore US energy dominance, revitalize our auto industry to bring back American jobs, and make the US the global leader of AI.” “We will do so while protecting access to clean air and water,” he added. During his campaign, Trump often attacked the Biden administration's promotion of electric vehicles, and incorrectly referring to a tax credit for EV purchases as a government mandate. Trump also often told his audiences during the campaign his administration would “Drill, baby, drill,” referring to his support for expanded petroleum exploration. In a statement, Trump said Zeldin “will ensure fair and swift deregulatory decisions that will be enacted in a way to unleash the power of American businesses, while at the same time maintaining the highest environmental standards, including the cleanest air and water on the planet.” Trump has named Brendan Carr, the senior Republican on the Federal Communications Commission, as the new chairman of the agency tasked with regulating broadcasting, telecommunications and broadband. Carr is a longtime member of the commission and served previously as the FCC’s general counsel. He has been unanimously confirmed by the Senate three times and was nominated by both Trump and President Joe Biden to the commission. Carr made past appearances on “Fox News Channel," including when he decried Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris' pre-Election Day appearance on “Saturday Night Live.” He wrote an op-ed last month defending a satellite company owned by Trump supporter Elon Musk. Rep. Elise Stefanik is a representative from New York and one of Trump's staunchest defenders going back to his first impeachment. Elected to the House in 2014, Stefanik was selected by her GOP House colleagues as House Republican Conference chair in 2021, when former Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney was removed from the post after publicly criticizing Trump for falsely claiming he won the 2020 election. Stefanik, 40, has served in that role ever since as the third-ranking member of House leadership. Stefanik’s questioning of university presidents over antisemitism on their campuses helped lead to two of those presidents resigning, further raising her national profile. If confirmed, she would represent American interests at the U.N. as Trump vows to end the war waged by Russia against Ukraine begun in 2022. He has also called for peace as Israel continues its offensive against Hamas in Gaza and its invasion of Lebanon to target Hezbollah. President-elect Donald Trump says he's chosen former acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker to serve as U.S. ambassador to NATO. Trump has expressed skepticism about the Western military alliance for years. Trump said in a statement Wednesday that Whitaker is “a strong warrior and loyal Patriot” who “will ensure the United States’ interests are advanced and defended” and “strengthen relationships with our NATO Allies, and stand firm in the face of threats to Peace and Stability.” The choice of Whitaker as the nation’s representative to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization is an unusual one, given his background is as a lawyer and not in foreign policy. Trump will nominate former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee to be ambassador to Israel. Huckabee is a staunch defender of Israel and his intended nomination comes as Trump has promised to align U.S. foreign policy more closely with Israel's interests as it wages wars against the Iran-backed Hamas and Hezbollah. “He loves Israel, and likewise the people of Israel love him,” Trump said in a statement. “Mike will work tirelessly to bring about peace in the Middle East.” Huckabee, who ran unsuccessfully for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008 and 2016, has been a popular figure among evangelical Christian conservatives, many of whom support Israel due to Old Testament writings that Jews are God’s chosen people and that Israel is their rightful homeland. Trump has been praised by some in this important Republican voting bloc for moving the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Trump on Tuesday named real estate investor Steven Witkoff to be special envoy to the Middle East. The 67-year-old Witkoff is the president-elect's golf partner and was golfing with him at Trump's club in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Sept. 15, when the former president was the target of a second attempted assassination. Witkoff “is a Highly Respected Leader in Business and Philanthropy,” Trump said of Witkoff in a statement. “Steve will be an unrelenting Voice for PEACE, and make us all proud." Trump also named Witkoff co-chair, with former Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler, of his inaugural committee. Trump 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. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.