President-elect Donald Trump made a series of nominations for top positions in his new government on Wednesday, confirming that he wants Senator Marco Rubio to be secretary of state and raising eyebrows by picking Congressman Matt Gaetz to be attorney general.
Mr Rubio's name first circulated via media reports on Monday, but unlike with other cabinet picks, Mr Trump was slow to confirm his choice.
The Florida senator sits on both the Senate Intelligence Committee and the Foreign Relations Committee. He is staunchly pro-Israel and known for his hawkish views on Iran, China and Cuba.
“Marco is a Highly Respected Leader, and a very powerful Voice for Freedom. 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,” Mr Trump said in a statement.
In the aftermath of Hamas's October 7 attack on southern Israel, which sparked the more than year-long conflict that has consumed the region, Mr Rubio came out strongly in support of Israel.
“I want them to destroy every element of Hamas they can get their hands on,” Mr Rubio once told a protester. “These people are vicious animals who did horrifying crimes.”
The senator has backed military and economic aid to Israel and endorsed the controversial move of the US embassy to Jerusalem in 2018.
“I look forward to working with Marco to Make America, and the World, Safe and Great Again,” Mr Trump said in his statement.
Mr Rubio's nomination came despite him once being a Trump foe, previously calling the president-elect a “con artist” with tiny hands. Mr Trump hit back by calling the senator “Little Marco”.
In announcing Mr Gaetz, a representative from Florida who was the subject of a sex trafficking investigation that resulted in no charges against him, Mr Trump said his nominee would “root out the systemic corruption at DOJ [Department of Justice], and return the Department to its true mission of fighting Crime, and upholding our Democracy and Constitution”.
Mr Gaetz became a conservative star when he joined Congress, appearing as a frequent staunch defender of Mr Trump on cable news.
And Mr Trump selected Tulsi Gabbard, a former Democratic member of Congress and presidential candidate, to serve as his director of national intelligence.
Ms 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.
THE BIO
Favourite place to go to in the UAE: The desert sand dunes, just after some rain
Who inspires you: Anybody with new and smart ideas, challenging questions, an open mind and a positive attitude
Where would you like to retire: Most probably in my home country, Hungary, but with frequent returns to the UAE
Favorite book: A book by Transilvanian author, Albert Wass, entitled ‘Sword and Reap’ (Kard es Kasza) - not really known internationally
Favourite subjects in school: Mathematics and science
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
More on Quran memorisation:
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Fixtures
Wednesday
4.15pm: Japan v Spain (Group A)
5.30pm: UAE v Italy (Group A)
6.45pm: Russia v Mexico (Group B)
8pm: Iran v Egypt (Group B)
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