Trump picks Fox News’ Pete Hegseth for secretary of defense in latest cabinet appointment

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Donald Trump will nominate Fox Information host and veteran Pete Hegseth to be Secretary of Protection, the most recent in a flurry of bulletins concerning the form of the incoming administration.

“Pete has spent his total life as a Warrior for the Troops, and for the Nation. Pete is hard, sensible and a real believer in America First,” the president-elect said in a press release on Tuesday. “With Pere on the helm, America’s enemies are on discover — Our Navy can be Nice Once more, and America will By no means Again Down.”

Hegseth, 44, is a former Bear Stearns banker who later served excursions with the Military Nationwide Guard in Guantánamo Bay, Iraq, and Afghanistan, in addition to led veterans-focused advocacy organizations. He joined Fox Information as a contributor in 2014 and co-hosts “Fox & Pals.”

President-elect Donald Trump has introduced he’ll nominate Pete Hegseth, pictured, as his Secretary of Protection (AP)

Throughout his time on the community, Hegseth lobbied Trump to assist U.S. troopers and contractors accused of struggle crimes, together with Navy SEAL Eddie Gallagher and a gaggle of Blackwater personnel accused of massacring civilians in Baghdad.

On air, Hegseth has complained the U.S. is spending an excessive amount of supporting Ukraine’s combat towards Russia and has been an outspoken advocate for Israel. He’s urged each Israel’s founding as a nation-state and the U.S. revolution towards Nice Britain symbolize “the story of God’s chosen folks.”

The announcement of Hegseth, who will want Senate affirmation, was met with a mixture of approval, criticism, and confusion.

His colleagues at Fox praised the announcement.

“Pete Hegseth has been an distinctive host on FOX & Pals and FOX Nation and a best-selling writer for FOX Information Books for almost a decade,” FOX Information Media mentioned in a press release to The Unbiased. “His insights and evaluation particularly concerning the navy resonated deeply with our viewers and made this system the main success that it’s right this moment. We’re extraordinarily pleased with his work at FOX Information Media and need him the most effective of luck in Washington.”

Others had been extra skeptical.

“Trump choosing Pete Hegseth is probably the most hilariously predictably silly factor,” former Republican congressman and Trump critic Adam Kinzinger wrote on X.

Hegseth interviewing Trump on the White Home in 2017 (Reuters)

Some Senate Republicans, in the meantime, had been stunned, with Senator Invoice Cassidy of Louisiana responding, “Who?” to NBC Information when instructed concerning the choice.

Hegseth has “a wonderful background as a junior officer however doesn’t have the senior nationwide safety expertise that secretaries want,” Mark Cancian, a senior advisor on the Heart for Strategic and Worldwide Research, instructed The Related Press. “I believe Trump was bored with preventing together with his secretaries of protection and picked one who can be loyal to him.”

Trump often clashed together with his earlier Protection Secretaries. James Mattis resigned in 2018, saying he and the president had diverging views on  “treating our allies with respect” and being “clear-eyed” about U.S. enemies, whereas Trump fired Mark Esper in 2020 over his refusal to make use of active-duty troops on Black Lives Matter protesters in 2020.

Trump has crammed out different elements of his protection and intelligence cupboard wishlist, deciding on former director of nationwide intelligence John Ratcliffe to guide the CIA and Kristi Noem to guide the Division of Homeland Safety.

Stock market today: Most of Wall Street rolls higher as bitcoin bounces above $86,000

NEW YORK — Most U.S. shares are rising Monday and including to the positive factors made throughout their greatest week of the yr.

The S&P 500 was up 0.1% in afternoon buying and selling, and two out of each three shares within the index have been climbing. It is coming off a 4.7% spurt final week spurred by Donald Trump’s presidential victory and a reduce to rates of interest by the Federal Reserve to bolster the financial system.

The Dow Jones Industrial Common was up 322 factors, or 0.7%, as of 1:59 p.m. Japanese time, and the Nasdaq composite was 0.1% decrease.

Tesla was the strongest drive pushing the S&P 500 increased after rising 8.1%. Its chief, Elon Musk, has grow to be an in depth ally of Trump’s, and its inventory jumped practically 15% the day after the election and has saved rising.

A number of items of what is often known as the “Trump commerce” additionally helped drive the market, as traders attempt to determine which sorts of corporations will probably be winners underneath a second Trump time period. JPMorgan Chase rose 1.2%, and financial institution shares broadly proceed to learn from expectations for stronger financial development, much less regulation from Washington and a rise in mergers and acquisitions.

A White Home extra pleasant to huge tie-ups has helped Wall Avenue speculate a couple of merger between insurers Cigna Group and Humana, for instance. It has been so feverish that Cigna mentioned Monday it is not pursuing a take care of Humana. Cigna’s inventory rose 7.7%, and Humana’s sank 2%.

Shares of corporations extra centered on the U.S. financial system have been additionally rising greater than the remainder of the market, together with a 1.5% rally for the smaller shares within the Russell 2000 index, as a result of they’re seen as benefiting extra from Trump’s America First insurance policies than huge multinational corporations.

Firms are additionally persevering with to ship earnings experiences displaying they made extra in revenue through the summer time than analysts anticipated. Aramark gained 0.8% after it reported broad-based development through the newest quarter, together with for meals at stadiums and amongst clients all over the world.

They helped offset a drop of 1.9% for Nvidia, which was the heaviest weight in the marketplace and helped drag the Nasdaq composite specifically.

AbbVie tumbled 12% after saying trials investigating its remedy for some adults with schizophrenia failed to indicate statistically important enchancment in contrast with a placebo group at week six.

A few of the sharpest swings have been within the crypto market, the place bitcoin rose above $86,000 for the primary time. Trump has embraced cryptocurrencies usually and pledged to make his nation the crypto capital of the world. Bitcoin hit a file of $86,375, in line with CoinDesk.

One other Trump commerce has been an increase in Treasury yields, as merchants anticipate probably increased financial development, U.S. authorities debt and inflation due to Trump’s insurance policies. However buying and selling within the bond market is closed Monday in observance of Veterans Day.

Treasury yields been usually climbing since September, largely as a result of the U.S. financial system has remained far more resilient than feared. The hope is that it may possibly proceed to remain stable because the Federal Reserve continues to chop rates of interest with a purpose to hold the job market buzzing, now that it is helped get inflation practically right down to its 2% goal.

However Trump’s win has scrambled expectations for coming cuts to charges. Merchants have already begun paring forecasts for what number of the Fed will ship subsequent yr. Whereas decrease charges can enhance the financial system, they will additionally give inflation extra gas.

Inventory markets overseas have swung following Trump’s election amid worries about elevated tariffs and disruptions to international commerce.

Indexes have been combined Monday, with European markets rising whereas South Korea’s and Hong Kong’s sank.
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AP Author Zimo Zhong in Hong Kong contributed to this report.

Copyright © 2024 by The Related Press. All Rights Reserved.

Trump names Fox News host as defence secretary pick

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US President-elect Donald Trump has named Pete Hegseth, a Fox Information host, creator and army veteran, as his decide for defence secretary.

Hegseth, 44, who served in Afghanistan and Iraq, will likely be chargeable for the world’s strongest army in his first political position.

Asserting his alternative on Tuesday, Trump described him as “powerful, good and a real believer in America First”.

The information got here on the identical day Trump introduced one other political newcomer, billionaire Elon Musk, would take a authorities cost-cutting position.

Trump’s administration is taking form after his win in final week’s presidential election. Hegseth was considered one of a flurry of safety appointments that additionally included Trump’s decide of John Ratcliffe to go the Central Intelligence Company (CIA).

If confirmed for his position by the US Senate, Hegseth will arrive on the Pentagon with selections to make on points resembling army help for Israel throughout its marketing campaign in Gaza, and on help for Ukraine within the face of Russia’s invasion.

Trump desires the US to disentangle itself from international conflicts typically. In the course of the election marketing campaign, he criticised the Biden administration’s expenditure to help Kyiv.

Additionally on Tuesday, Trump confirmed that he needed South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem to play a major position as homeland safety secretary. One other army veteran, Michael Waltz, was chosen by Trump as nationwide safety adviser – which means he’ll advise the president on international threats.

Senator Marco Rubio – who shares Waltz’s hawkish views on China – is anticipated to be Trump’s future secretary of state, sources have informed the BBC’s US associate, CBS Information. However the decide isn’t but confirmed.

Republicans have received again management of the Senate, the higher chamber of Congress, and are inching in the direction of a majority within the Home, the decrease chamber, as vote-counting continues.

A number of the authorities appointments – together with Hegseth’s – require a vote of approval by senators, though Trump, additionally a Republican, has demanded that the following chief of the US Senate let him bypass this course of. He may give out different jobs instantly.

Senate Republicans are as a consequence of vote on a brand new chief on Wednesday – the day that Trump can also be anticipated to go to the outgoing president, Joe Biden, on the White Home as a part of the normal switch of energy.

Who’s Pete Hegseth?

Born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Ivy League graduate Hegseth has lately labored as a conservative commentator. He lives along with his spouse and 7 youngsters in Tennessee.

He has hosted programmes on Fox Information, utilizing his platform to attract consideration to army and veterans’ points. He had his final day at Fox on Tuesday.

He’s reported by US media to have efficiently lobbied Trump throughout his first presidency to pardon servicemen accused of conflict crimes.

In his assertion saying Hegseth as his decide for defence secretary on Tuesday, Trump highlighted the previous soldier’s training at Princeton and Harvard universities, and his army expertise in Afghanistan and Iraq.

“With Pete on the helm, America’s enemies are on discover – our army will likely be nice once more, and America won’t ever again down,” Trump wrote in a publish.

The president-elect additionally drew consideration to Hegseth’s work as a printed creator. He mentioned the e-book The Struggle on Warrior “reveals the leftwing betrayal of our warriors, and the way we should return our army to meritocracy, lethality, accountability, and excellence”.

What has he beforehand mentioned concerning the army?

Hegseth has been an outspoken opponent of what he has known as “woke” insurance policies inside the US army and its management.

“The dumbest phrase on planet earth within the army is our variety is our power,” Hegseth mentioned on a podcast this month.

One among his duties as defence secretary could possibly be to behave on Trump’s marketing campaign guarantees to do away with US generals who he accuses of pursuing progressive insurance policies within the drive.

Earlier than his choice by Trump, Hegseth was requested on the identical podcast about what modifications he would make within the army. He referred to “initially” firing the US’ high army officer, Gen Charles “CQ” Brown Jr, saying individuals concerned in variety, equality or inclusion insurance policies had “received to go”.

“Both you are in for conflict combating and that is it, that is the one litmus take a look at we care about,” Hegseth informed the Shawn Ryan Present, in an episode launched final week.

Gen Brown is a former fighter pilot with command expertise within the Pacific and Center East, and was appointed into the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Employees position by President Joe Biden final yr.

On the identical podcast, Hegseth additionally mentioned “no matter” fight requirements have been in 1995, “let’s simply make these the requirements”.

What has the response been?

Hegseth’s decide has been welcomed by quite a few distinguished Republican figures, however different reactions have been extra diversified.

North Carolina senator Thom Tillis informed Related Press the selection was “fascinating”, and Senator Tommy Tuberville, of Alabama, mentioned he would “should assume” about what he considered the appointment.

Incoming nationwide safety advisor Waltz mentioned Hegseth “has the grit” to make “actual reform” occur on the Pentagon. Consultant Adam Smith, the highest Democrat on the Home Armed Companies Committee, mentioned the job “shouldn’t be an entry-level place”.

Posting on X, Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren mentioned the appointment of Hegseth as defence secretary would “make us much less protected and have to be rejected”.

“A Fox & Buddies weekend co-host isn’t certified to be the Secretary of Protection,” she added. “I lead the Senate army personnel panel. All three of my brothers served in uniform. I respect each considered one of our servicemembers.”

North America correspondent Anthony Zurcher is smart of the race for the White Home in his twice-weekly US Election Unspun publication. Readers within the UK can enroll right here. These outdoors the UK can enroll right here.

Timothy West, star of stage, film and television, dies aged 90 | Timothy West

The actor Timothy West, whose profession ranged from Shakespeare, Ibsen and Pinter on stage to TV appearances in Brass, EastEnders and Nice Canal Journeys (together with his spouse, Prunella Scales), has died aged 90.

His youngsters, Juliet, Samuel and Joseph West, stated in an announcement: “After a protracted and extraordinary life on and off the stage, our darling father, Timothy West, died peacefully in his sleep yesterday night. He was 90 years outdated.

“Tim was with family and friends on the finish. He leaves his spouse, Prunella Scales, to whom he was married for 61 years, a sister, a daughter, two sons, seven grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren. All of us will miss him terribly.

“We want to thank the unimaginable NHS workers at St George’s hospital, Tooting, and at Avery Wandsworth for his or her loving care throughout his final days.”

Timothy West as Falstaff in Henry IV Half II on the Outdated Vic theatre, London, in 1997. {Photograph}: Tristram Kenton/The Guardian

Massively well-liked, with a commanding stage presence however unassuming private method, West toured the UK’s regional theatres with the identical adventurous spirit with which he travelled its waterways. “I really feel extra helpful once I’m on the highway, touring this nation and others, enjoying in several theatres, exploring completely different locations, assembly completely different individuals,” he wrote in his witty 2001 memoir A Second In direction of the Finish of the Play. “It’s no option to get wealthy, or well-known, and it drives my agent mad, however I like it.”

There have been many tributes paid to West after information of his demise. The author and broadcaster Gyles Brandreth posted on Instagram: “A marvellous man – a marvellous actor, husband, father, pal. On stage, on display, on a canal boat, on the top of a pier (he cherished a seaside pier!), within the backyard with a glass of wine, he was simply one of the best. The nice Timothy West has died at 90: what a worthwhile, well-filled life.”

Dame Joanna Lumley, who campaigned alongside West to destigmatise dementia, as his spouse Scales has had vascular dementia for over 20 years, stated he was “an enormous loss to everyone.”

”I feel between them, Timothy and Pru did a tremendous, wonderful job of convincing folks that dementia was not one thing that you have to be all the time afraid of, however one thing that you would embrace and reside with and reside with nicely.” she advised Instances Radio.

West performed main roles in Uncle Vanya, Dying of a Salesman, The Grasp Builder, Lengthy Day’s Journey into Evening, Macbeth and, on 4 events, King Lear. He additionally grew to become recognized for portraying real-life characters on stage and display, such because the designer William Morris and conductor Thomas Beecham, in addition to political figures together with Mikhail Gorbachev, Joseph Stalin and Winston Churchill.

An everyday presence on tv for the reason that Nineteen Sixties, he performed the eponymous king in Edward the Seventh in 1975, was the beekeeper in a sticky state of affairs in Royal Jelly (certainly one of Roald Dahl’s Tales of the Surprising) in 1980 and had roles in variations of Charles Dickens’s novels Laborious Instances, Oliver Twist and Bleak Home. Laborious Instances, broadcast in 1977, was parodied within the 1983 TV sequence Brass, the place West performed the self-made northern businessman Bradley Hardacre. He was made a CBE in 1984.

Timothy West in King Lear on the Outdated Vic, London, in 2003. {Photograph}: Tristram Kenton/The Guardian

Maybe his biggest TV success got here with Nice Canal Journeys, a humorous and shifting sequence that was steered by his household’s ardour for narrowboats. Starring West and Scales (whom he married in 1963) The programme, was notable for exploring how the pair navigated Scales’s experiences of dementia. “She will be able to’t keep in mind issues very nicely, however you don’t have to recollect issues on the canal,” he stated. “You possibly can simply get pleasure from issues as they occur – so it’s good for her.”

West had a daughter, Juliet, together with his first spouse, Jacqueline Boyer. Their marriage resulted in divorce. He and Scales had two sons, Samuel and Joseph. Samuel starred alongside his father on a number of events on stage and display, West movies included The Day of the Jackal (1973) and Cry Freedom (1987).

Born in Bradford to actor mother and father Lockwood West and Olive Carleton-Crowe, he had an itinerant early childhood due to the household commerce. Through the second world warfare the household settled in Bristol (West’s stage debut would come reverse his mother and father within the constabulary’s 1943 panto.) He usually performed truant and was expelled from college, however frequently attended performances on the Little theatre in Bristol.

Jean Marsh and Timothy West in The Outdated Nation at Trafalgar Studios, London, in 2006. {Photograph}: Tristram Kenton/The Guardian

After directing an award-winning scholar manufacturing of Thornton Wilder’s Our City in Bristol he left his job as a high quality management engineer at EMI to develop into an assistant stage supervisor at Wimbledon theatre in London; he was quickly taking to the stage in steadily larger roles. Within the Nineteen Sixties, he appeared with the Royal Shakespeare Firm and, for Prospect theatre firm, performed Samuel Johnson (reverse Julian Glover as James Boswell). Alongside that manufacturing, he starred in The Tempest for Prospect, enjoying Prospero.

On a later Prospect tour he had the roles of Bolingbroke in Shakespeare’s Richard II and Mortimer in Marlowe’s Edward II, with each title roles performed by Ian McKellen. It was with Prospect that West first performed Lear, aged 37. His fourth time within the position got here in 2016 in the course of the EU referendum – becoming for a play about “tearing up the map, outdated individuals making a disastrous resolution and letting the youthful individuals kind it out”, he stated.

In 2013 West had a small position in Coronation Road and in 2014 he first appeared on EastEnders as Stan Carter, a personality he performed for greater than a yr. His latest TV credit included Gentleman Jack.

Stock market today: Wall Street rolls higher as bitcoin bursts above $87,000

NEW YORK — U.S. shares rose Monday, led by these seen as benefiting probably the most from Donald Trump’s reelection as president, however drops for some high-profile Huge Tech shares saved indexes in test.

The S&P 500 edged up by 0.1%, coming off its greatest week of the yr following Trump’s victory and a lower to rates of interest by the Federal Reserve to bolster the economic system. The Dow Jones Industrial Common rose 304 factors, or 0.7%, whereas the Nasdaq composite gained 0.1%.

Tesla was the strongest drive pushing upward on the S&P 500 after rising 9.1%. Its chief, Elon Musk, has develop into an in depth ally of Trump’s, and its inventory jumped almost 15% the day after the election and has saved rising.

A number of items of what’s generally known as the “Trump commerce” additionally helped drive the market, as buyers attempt to determine which firms might be winners beneath a second Trump time period. JPMorgan Chase rose 1%, and monetary shares once more helped lead the market on expectations for stronger financial development, much less regulation from Washington and a rise in mergers and acquisitions.

A White Home extra pleasant to massive tie-ups has helped Wall Avenue speculate a couple of merger between insurers Cigna Group and Humana, for instance. It’s been so feverish that Cigna mentioned Monday it isn’t pursuing a take care of Humana. Cigna’s inventory rose 7.3%, and Humana’s sank 2%.

Shares of firms extra targeted on the U.S. economic system had been additionally rising greater than the remainder of the market, together with a 1.5% rally for the smaller shares within the Russell 2000 index, as a result of they’re seen as benefiting extra from Trump’s America First insurance policies than massive multinational firms.

They helped offset a drop of 1.6% for Nvidia, which was the heaviest weight available on the market.

Such Huge Tech shares have rocketed larger on pleasure about artificial-intelligence expertise, they usually had been gaining virtually no matter what the economic system was doing. Now, although, critics say their costs look too costly, and buyers are discovering extra attention-grabbing buys amongst firms that would profit extra from Trump’s second time period.

A drop for Nvidia packs a very heavy punch as a result of its huge worth of almost $3.6 trillion makes it one of the crucial influential shares on the S&P 500 and different indexes.

AbbVie, in the meantime, tumbled 12.6% after saying trials investigating its therapy for some adults with schizophrenia failed to point out statistically important enchancment in contrast with a placebo group at week six.

A few of the sharpest swings had been within the crypto market, the place bitcoin rose above $87,000 for the primary time. Trump has embraced cryptocurrencies usually and pledged to make his nation the crypto capital of the world. Bitcoin hit a file of $87,491, in response to CoinDesk.

One other Trump commerce has been an increase in Treasury yields, as merchants anticipate doubtlessly larger financial development, U.S. authorities debt and inflation due to Trump’s insurance policies. However buying and selling within the bond market was closed Monday in observance of Veterans Day.

Treasury yields been usually climbing since September, largely as a result of the U.S. economic system has remained rather more resilient than feared. The hope is that it may possibly proceed to remain strong because the Federal Reserve continues to chop rates of interest with a purpose to preserve the job market buzzing, now that it’s helped get inflation almost all the way down to its 2% goal.

However Trump’s win has scrambled expectations for coming cuts to charges. Merchants have already begun paring forecasts for what number of the Fed will ship subsequent yr. Whereas decrease charges can enhance the economic system, they will additionally give inflation extra gasoline.

Nonetheless, {many professional} buyers warn to not get carried away by all the large swings following Trump’s victory. It takes time to see what marketing campaign guarantees flip into precise coverage, and that may result in snaps again for the market’s preliminary knee-jerk reactions.

The U.S. inventory market can also be broadly trying dearer, as costs proceed to run up sooner than company income.

“Valuations are more and more elevated, and the tempo of development isn’t sustainable,” in response to Mark Hackett, chief of funding analysis at Nationwide. “Whereas near-term seasonality might be a robust tailwind for markets, valuations could show to be a tipping level as we transfer into 2025.”

All advised, the S&P 500 rose 5.81 factors Monday to six,001.35. The Dow gained 304.14 to 44,293.13, and the Nasdaq composite added 11.99 to 19,298.76.

Inventory markets overseas have swung following Trump’s election amid worries about elevated tariffs and disruptions to world commerce. They had been blended Monday, with European indexes rising whereas South Korea’s and Hong Kong’s sank.

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AP Author Zimo Zhong in Hong Kong contributed to this report.

Timothy West death: EastEnders and Coronation Street stalwart dies, aged 90

Your help helps us to inform the story

From reproductive rights to local weather change to Large Tech, The Unbiased is on the bottom when the story is growing. Whether or not it is investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our newest documentary, ‘The A Phrase’, which shines a lightweight on the American girls combating for reproductive rights, we all know how vital it’s to parse out the info from the messaging.

At such a vital second in US historical past, we want reporters on the bottom. Your donation permits us to maintain sending journalists to talk to either side of the story.

The Unbiased is trusted by Individuals throughout your complete political spectrum. And in contrast to many different high quality information shops, we select to not lock Individuals out of our reporting and evaluation with paywalls. We imagine high quality journalism needs to be out there to everybody, paid for by those that can afford it.

Your help makes all of the distinction.

The actor Timothy West, who was married to fellow star Prunella Scales for 61 years, has died aged 90, his household have confirmed.

An announcement shared by his youngsters, Juliet, Samuel and Joseph West learn: “After a protracted and extraordinary life on and off the stage, our darling father Timothy West died peacefully in his sleep yesterday night. He was 90 years outdated.

“Tim was with family and friends on the finish. He leaves his spouse Prunella Scales, to whom he was married for 61 years, a sister, a daughter, two sons, seven grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren. All of us will miss him terribly.

“We wish to thank the unimaginable NHS workers at St George’s Hospital, Tooting and at Avery Wandsworth for his or her loving care throughout his final days.”

A frequent star of the stage, having appeared in quite a few productions of Macbeth, King Lear and The Grasp Builder, West was maybe finest identified to tv audiences for his roles as Eric Babbage in Coronation Road, which he performed in 2013, and for Stan Carter, who he performed in EastEnders between 2014 and 2015.

West in Might 2019 (Getty)

Quite a few tributes have been paid to West on social media following the information of his demise.

Broadcaster Piers Morgan wrote: “An exquisite actor and pleasant man. My Life Tales interview with him, because the love of his life Prunella Scales sat within the viewers, was so shifting. They have been married 61yrs, and his devotion to her after she developed Alzheimer’s was profoundly touching.”

Director and actor Alice Lowe stated: “[I] first encountered Timothy West in his help of the Scarborough @NSDFest. He was fantastic. An encouraging, optimistic, beneficiant presence in what he knew could be a powerful unrelenting trade, however he gave younger individuals the self perception to hold on with it. Kindness and religion in pleasure.”

Former MP Giles Watling stated: “I’m fortunate to have identified this superb actor and totally good chap. An awesome loss. Ideas go to the household.”

The Royal Shakespeare Firm added: “We’re deeply saddened to listen to of the passing of Timothy West We wish to prolong our heartfelt sympathies to Timothy’s household and buddies – particularly to his spouse Prunella and youngsters, together with Samuel, who’s an Affiliate Artist and can play Malvolio in Twelfth Night time.”

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West stars together with his spouse Prunella Scales and Rodney Bewes within the play ‘Large In Brazil’ on the Outdated Vic Theatre, 1984 (Getty)

Throughout his profession, West additionally performed Winston Churchill 3 times, in Churchill and the Generals (1979), The Final Bastion (1984), and Hiroshima (1995).

In Brass, he performed ruthless self-made businessman Bradley Hardacre from 1982 to 1984 earlier than returning for a 3rd sequence in 1990, whereas in Not Going Out, he performed Geoffrey, the daddy of Lucy Adams (Sally Bretton).

In 2019, the Bradford-born actor performed Non-public Godfrey in Dad’s Military: The Misplaced Episodes, a recreation of three lacking episodes of the BBC comedy Dad’s Military.

In the meantime, on this planet of movie, West starred in Nicholas and Alexandra (1971), The Day of the Jackal (1973), Cry Freedom (1987) and Luc Besson’s 1999 historic epic The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc.

West’s closing appearing credit score was as Charles Usher in Sister Boniface Mysteries in 2023.

West and Scales, 92, who performed Sybil Fawlty within the hit BBC sitcom Fawlty Towers, appeared collectively within the documentary sequence Nice Canal Journeys between 2014 and 2021.

West and Scales in June 2017 (Getty)

The couple married in 1963, and have two sons, actor Samuel West, and Joseph West.

West was additionally married to actor Jacqueline Boyer from 1956 to 1961, and so they had a daughter, Juliet West.

Extra reporting by PA

Trump asks Mike Waltz to serve as his national security adviser



CNN
 — 

President-elect Donald Trump has requested Rep. Mike Waltz of Florida to function his nationwide safety adviser, in response to a supply acquainted.

Within the position, Waltz must navigate quite a few geopolitical conflicts that Trump’s administration will assume as a part of his second time period, together with the Ukraine-Russia and Israel-Hamas wars.

Waltz, a Trump loyalist, is a combat-decorated Inexperienced Beret who served in Afghanistan, the Center East and Africa. He could be the primary former Inexperienced Beret to carry the position.

The provide from Trump, first reported by The Wall Road Journal, comes because the president-elect seems to fill high-powered roles in his incoming administration – from ‘border czar’ to EPA administrator and UN ambassador to lawyer basic – to enact his agenda.

The congressman would step right into a place that hasn’t at all times resulted within the warmest relationships with Trump. The previous president had fallings out with two of the lads to beforehand maintain the position: John Bolton and Retired Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster, who’ve publicly criticized their former boss.

These relationships have knowledgeable Trump’s alternative this go-around, as he seems to reward those that have stood by him over the previous two years and remorse lingers over among the high aides and Cupboard officers throughout his first time period who tried to thwart his often-impulsive calls for and wishes.

The previous president has instructed his nationwide safety crew could be tasked with reassessing america’ posture towards Ukraine, Russia, the battle within the Center East, China and Iran.

Waltz’s choice could also be seen as a blow within the debate over a renewed Trump “America First” agenda that’s pitting his celebration’s nationwide safety hawks in opposition to its isolationist wing. A former Bush White Home coverage staffer, Waltz would doubtless tackle a overseas coverage stance extra akin to Trump’s former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

Requested by CNN’s Jack Tapper on “The Lead” final week about Trump’s immigration guarantees, Waltz pointed to immigrants within the wake of America’s withdrawal from Afghanistan.

“Essentially the most upset immigrant I’ve ever talked to is one which got here legally, waited years, did all the things they have been presupposed to, after which simply watch a authorities — particularly the Biden-Harris administration — flip a blind eye, as these — as they only break the regulation and skip the road,” he mentioned. “And firstly is, of these which are upset, are the Afghans who’re left behind, who have been prepared to battle and die with us and are nonetheless caught over there.”

Requested whether or not he had talked with Trump about Afghans seeking to enter the nation, Waltz responded he had “fairly a while in the past, within the wake of the Afghanistan withdrawal, we talked about it.”

“Look once more, it’s going to be about securing the border. It’s going to be about stopping the influx, getting the worst of the worst out,” Waltz mentioned.

“After which once we discuss these broader points, particularly, he was extremely sympathetic to individuals actually falling off planes, they have been so determined to get out. And he definitely was sympathetic to those that are prepared to battle and die for our troopers.”

This story has been up to date with extra particulars.

Luke Evans gushes over boyfriend Fran Tomas: ‘My best friend’

Quick & Livid star Luke Evans has spoken candidly about his relationship along with his boyfriend: entrepreneur and building mission supervisor, Fran Tomas. 

Talking to Individuals, the out homosexual actor and Hollywood heartthrob revealed that he considers his boyfriend Tomas, who he has been with for 3 years, to be his “finest buddy”.

“We’re an awesome crew in life. He’s my finest buddy. He’s the calm, deep waters, and I’m the dashing, bubbly water. And between the 2 of us, we will clear up something,” Evans shared with the publication.

He defined that the pair work effectively “collectively as a crew”, notably on their clothes and way of life model BDXY, which sells males’s underwear, swimwear and wardrobe necessities.

“Having a enterprise collectively simply is an extension of our life collectively. We work very well collectively. He blows my thoughts. He’s so spectacular in every thing he does, within the enterprise — and in life,” Evans added

Earlier this 12 months, the star – who has lately appeared in a number of queer movies, together with Good Grief with Dan Levy and Our Son with Billy Porter – defined that it’s his relationship with Fran Tomas that retains him “grounded”.

Luke Evans has opened up about his accomplice. (Getty)

“I feel what’s stored me [grounded]… is my family and friends. They’re crucial to me. And my accomplice, he retains me grounded and retains me calm on this unusual world that I dwell in,” he shared with Out Journal.

“He’s an awesome human being. He’s variety, calm. He’s blissful. He’s optimistic. He’s a tough employee. He actually makes me a greater individual. And he has to place up with my s**t, which I can’t think about what that might be like.”

Luke Evans has simply launched his memoir, Boy From the Valleys: My sudden journey, wherein he particulars his life rising up as a homosexual Jehovah’s Witness in Wales.

He explains within the ebook that he skilled extreme bullying at college, each due to his faith on the time, and due to what his friends assumed his sexuality was.

“I used to be bullied for being homosexual earlier than I even understood what it meant,” he wrote within the memoir.

 “The worst nickname was Jovey bender as a result of it mixed two features of my identification that would by no means be reconciled – homosexuality shouldn’t be accepted within the faith.

“It’s a really darkish place to be as a toddler, realizing you’re by some means ‘unsuitable’, however with no concept why that’s or how one can repair it,” he continued.

“I hated faculty. Youngsters may be horribly illiberal, evil little b**tards a few of them. Something barely completely different about you and also you’re a goal – and I used to be completely different in nearly each means potential.”

Boy From the Valleys: My sudden journey is available for purchase now.

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How Narinder Kaur went from Big Brother fame to outspoken TV panellist: From slating the royals to legal row with Laurence Fox over ‘upskirting’ photo, how Meghan Markle-supporting ex reality star is never far from controversy

Narinder Kaur has brazenly admitted that she entered the Large Brother home as a result of she had a burning need to be well-known.

However since reaching her desired ‘movie star standing’ along with her look on the second sequence of the actuality TV present in 2001, Ms Kaur has typically sparked controversy along with her unfiltered rants.

On Remembrance Sunday, she provoked an indignant response from royal followers after saying Kate Middleton has ‘aged a lot’ because the Princess of Wales returned to royal duties following her battle with most cancers.

Now an outspoken TV panellist on reveals together with Good Morning Britain, GB Information and Free Ladies, this was not the primary time Ms Kaur has ignited fury from viewers.

The 51-year-old, who was the primary ever British Indian contestant on Large Brother, as soon as described the late Queen Elizabeth as ‘the Queen of Crime’, claimed the St George’s Cross is related to ‘bigotry, fascism and racism’ and referred to as Kate ‘stiff, boring and unrelatable’.

On Sunday, her stance on the Royal Household was made apparent as soon as once more as she attacked Kate over her look on the Remembrance Sunday commemorations on the Cenotaph.

Sharing a photograph of the Princess of Wales, Ms Kaur wrote on X: ‘Real query – why has Kate aged a lot? Is not she solely 42? Is she a smoker? It is the one rationalization.’

Narinder Kaur made the offensive touch upon X yesterday as she reposted an article concerning the Princess of Wales attending Remembrance Sunday commemorations on the Cenotaph 

Ms Kaur, a media commentator, later shared a video through which she admitted the tweet was ‘silly’ 

Ms Kaur’s tweet provoked a storm of shock, with different X customers calling the remark ‘dreadful’ and ‘disgusting’.

At first she doubled down, replying to a tweet noting that Kate had been by most cancers therapy by saying: ‘My brother had most cancers… he did not age like that.’

The TV character has since shared a video through which she admitted the tweet was ‘silly’ earlier than hitting out at trolls who had despatched her ‘sexual, racist [and] violent abuse’.

She stated: ‘I assumed I might do a fast video as a substitute of tweet after tweet, as a result of it turns into fairly ridiculous – as if it wasn’t ridiculous sufficient already.

‘I put out a silly tweet. That wasn’t my intention, my intention was to not be malicious or nasty or something.

‘I am not like that, anyone who is aware of me. It was silly to ask concerning the ageing. I’ve admitted that, I’ve put my fingers up and apologised if it precipitated offence.

‘The one individuals who have been offended although, as a result of many individuals on Twitter and social media have requested precisely what I’ve requested however didn’t obtain the sexual, racial, violent abuse that I did from accounts with EDL flags, Union Jacks, disgusting abuse.’

Ms Kaur stated her brother ‘went by brutal therapy of chemo’ when he was affected by most cancers earlier than his dying and claimed she would not have made remarks about Kate’s look with regard to her most cancers prognosis.

Ms Kaur recurrently seems as a commentator on reveals together with Good Morning Britain 

Narinder Kaur pictured with fellow Large Brother contestant Brian Dowling who went on to win the second sequence

Because the nation marked the one-year anniversary of Queen Elizabeth’s dying final 12 months, Ms Kaur referred to as her the ‘Queen of Crime’

In the identical video, Ms Kaur went on to outrageously accuse Kate of getting ‘a variety of privilege’ for not having to work whereas she obtained therapy for most cancers.

And, claiming that a variety of the feedback she had obtained in response to her authentic tweet have been about Meghan Markle, she added: ‘What’s Meghan acquired to do with it?’

Ms Kaur has beforehand been very supportive of Meghan, even claiming that her and Prince Harry have been pushed out by the Royal Household who have been ‘jealous’.

In a heated GB Information debate with Nigel Farage about Harry’s resolution to depart the UK for America, she stated final January: ‘Shall I let you know whereas he walked away? As a result of it took marrying a biracial girl to grasp how racist the establishment he’s?’

She added: ‘Meghan and Harry have been so in style, and I believe it was jealousy. 

‘And King Charles the merciless, why hasn’t he spoken to his son? Why hasn’t he protected his son? Properly, really why did not they arrive out?’ 

Farage replied: ‘Extra relevantly? Why hasn’t he taken his son’s title away? Harry and Meghan’s recognition on this nation has gone from stratospherically excessive to very, very low.’

However Ms Kaur continued to criticise the monarchy for the way in which through which they handled ‘racism’ in direction of Meghan, responding: ‘This establishment, the monarchy, wants to talk out towards racism, and so they did not.’

The TV commentator additionally attacked the royals when the nation got here collectively to mark the one-year anniversary of Queen Elizabeth’s dying final 12 months. 

Ms Kaur claimed Nike’s St George’s cross makeover made her really feel ‘included’ as a result of the flag ‘is related to bigotry, fascism and racism’

However she backed Lily Allen when the singer stated that having youngsters ‘ruined her profession’

Sparking controversy once more, she wrote: ‘The dying of the Queen of Crime, Elizabeth II, on the age of 96, after virtually seven many years of rule, has sparked reactions at varied ranges. Nonetheless, essentially the most vital response ought to be thought-about the eruption of anger and resentment brought on by the lasting harm of British Rule.

‘The folks from former and present British colonial international locations regard Elizabeth II because the embodiment of colonialism and the hurt inflicted by England upon their nations.

‘They haven’t hesitated to specific this sentiment following the information of her dying.

‘Though Elizabeth II reigned in the course of the post-colonial period of England, she nonetheless maintained a reference to the colonial previous rooted in racism and violence towards Asian and African colonies.

‘Lately, there was an growing demand for the monarchy to confront.’

In one other tweet, she wrote: ‘What good did she do for the poor of this nation?! She’s remembered for Paddington bear.’ 

Extra not too long ago, in March this 12 months, Ms Kaur additionally waded into the row over Nike’s controversial resolution to change the St George’s cross on the again of the England package with rainbow colors.

Whereas former England gamers slammed the choice, Ms Kaur claimed Nike’s St George’s cross makeover made her really feel ‘included’ as a result of the flag ‘is related to bigotry, fascism and racism’.

She instructed the Jeremy Vine Present on the time: ‘I noticed that flag and I felt included. I felt Nike’s cause was to unite.

‘Sadly the St George’s flag has been hijacked, it’s tarnished. And way back to I can keep in mind – 60s, 70s, 80s, it has been hijacked by far-right teams.

‘All I see after I see the St George’s flag is folks draped in it doing the Nazi salute, being racist and hating Muslims. So there’s nothing to be proud about when these form of persons are brandishing that flag and it is really fairly scary.

‘I do not happy with this flag, I really feel fearful of the flag. That flag would not symbolize tolerance, it represents racism.’

Ms Kaur instructed ‘tolerance’ was a key nationwide attribute and claimed there was a have to ‘reclaim’ the St George’s Cross.

‘What we’d like is for almost all who’re apparently happy with this flag to reclaim what Britain [sic] is about,’ she stated.

‘As a result of in the meanwhile, it is [associated] with bigotry, fascism and racism. And the bulk aren’t displaying it proudly as a result of even they really feel barely ashamed by it.’

In Could, Ms Kaur acquired right into a spat with Laurence Fox, which ended within the actor posting an ‘upskirting’ picture of her.

Fox shared the picture with out her consent amid a spat about their political beliefs. On the time, she thanked folks for his or her assist and stated it was a ‘police matter’.

Narinder Kaur attends the “Christspiracy: Religious Secret” World Premiere at Tate Trendy on March 7 in London

Ms Kaur has additionally gone to struggle with JK Rowling over her gender-critical views

Ms Kaur, who got here ninth on Large Brother in 2001, is extraordinarily opinionated and infrequently leads to heated debates.

She backed Lily Allen when the singer stated that having youngsters ‘ruined her profession’.

Ms Kaur stated: ‘I wish to give Lily Allen a pat on the again as a result of she was utterly trustworthy. I believe she triggered a variety of mums on the market who imagine this fable that you may have all of it – you’ll be able to’t.’

The TV character has additionally hit out at celebrities previously, together with JK Rowling over her gender-critical views.

Referring to a sarcastic Mom’s Day tweet which stated ‘Comfortable Birthing Mum or dad Day, she stated: ‘Of all of the methods Rowling may have used her star standing to make a distinction on the planet, she selected to select on a miniscule per cent of a already very demonised group of individuals. So unhappy.’ 

Simply final month, Ms Kaur made headlines once more as she claimed that she was ‘kicked, punched and verbally abused’ by a passenger on a current flight to India.

She stated she was ‘flung ahead’ by a lady as she slept after rowing over a reclined seat on the Air India flight.

Mr Kaur, who appeared on Large Brother in 2001, in a publicity picture for the sequence 

Sharing the allegations on X, Ms Kaur wrote: ‘Air rage is actual and I had a horrible expertise with a lady actually punching and kicking my seat ahead because it was reclined (I used to be sleeping) while she was attempting to eat behind me.

‘She actually flung me ahead and I did not have my belt on. She proceeded to verbally abuse me. FYI she wasn’t even drunk.

‘Why is there an absence of readability on who has the jurisdiction to penalise the offending passenger: the airline’s nation of operation, the nation of departure or vacation spot, or the passenger’s nation of citizenship?’

In one other put up, Narinder continued: ‘I used to be sleeping..I did not know meals was being served at 4am..and she or he may have ASKED politely- kicking and punching my seat and verbally abusing me is just not acceptable.’

‘I did not pay £1k to sit down upright the complete flight..the person in entrance of me was absolutely reclined and I had PLENTY house..’

Ms Kaur starred on Large Brother in 2001 and was evicted on Day 29, with Brian Dowling occurring to win the sequence.

Explaining her resolution to go on the sequence, she beforehand admitted on her web site: ‘I knew …I simply KNEW, I felt it – I needed to develop into well-known. I used to be sat in a GP surgical procedure and handing out leaflets and knew I needed to make this come true and that it was now or by no means. That I needed to make my goals come true. However how? That is the place BB [Big Brother] got here in …I wasn’t an enormous fan of the primary sequence however realized it was a method in.’

Since her stint in the home, she has gone onto current a present on London’s Lyca Radio, and likewise revealed a tell-all e book about her time in the home titled: Large Brother – The Inside Story in 2007.

Trump names Rep. Mike Waltz as national security adviser : NPR

Rep. Mike Waltz attends the 2024 Concordia Annual Summit in New York on Sept. 23. Waltz has been picked to function President-elect Trump’s nationwide safety adviser, in accordance a supply conversant in the choice.

Riccardo Savi/Getty Photographs


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President-elect Donald Trump has named Rep. Mike Waltz of Florida to function his nationwide safety adviser.

As nationwide safety adviser, Waltz will play an integral position in shaping U.S. coverage on geopolitical conflicts starting from the struggle in Ukraine to the struggle between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. The place will not be a cabinet-level position, and thus wouldn’t require Senate affirmation.

Waltz, a former Military Inexperienced Beret, is a longtime Trump ally who has established himself as a number one critic of China in Congress. Since profitable his seat in 2018, he has championed laws to cut back U.S. reliance on vital minerals from China and safeguard American schools and universities from Chinese language espionage.

A 3rd-term congressman, Waltz involves the position after having served on the Home committees that cowl the navy intelligence businesses and overseas affairs. He has additionally served on the Home activity power trying into the assassination makes an attempt towards Trump throughout the 2024 marketing campaign.

In an interview with NPR forward of the election final week, Waltz mentioned he believed it was “completely affordable” that the struggle in Ukraine might finish with “some sort of diplomatic decision.”

Waltz, 50, recommended the U.S. would have leverage over Russian President Vladimir Putin in any potential negotiations by each implementing vitality sanctions and ramping up U.S. vitality exports.

“His financial system and his struggle machine will dry up in a short time,” Waltz mentioned. “I feel that may get Putin to the desk,” he added. “We’ve got leverage, like taking {the handcuffs} off of the long-range weapons we supplied Ukraine as nicely.”

Waltz rise to the nationwide safety adviser submit might additionally usher in a brand new chapter within the relationship between the Pentagon and Silicon Valley. Chatting with NPR after the election, Waltz mentioned the nation wanted “a tradition change in how we method our protection institution, on how we purchase issues throughout the Pentagon.”

“There’s a complete slew of recent applied sciences from Silicon Valley and elsewhere which are actually chomping on the bit to assist with our protection and safety points, and so they cannot break by means of the paperwork,” Waltz mentioned. “So I feel we do want new management. We want a tradition change.”

Earlier than being elected to Congress, Waltz served for 27 years within the Military and Nationwide Guard, with a number of fight excursions in Afghanistan, the Center East and Africa.