US president-elect Donald Trump on Friday nominated Morgan Ortagus as deputy presidential envoy to the Middle East.
Ms Ortagus will work under Steve Witkoff, whom Mr Trump nominated as special envoy to the Middle East in November.
“She will hopefully be an asset to Steve, a great leader and talent, as we seek to bring calm and prosperity to a very troubled region. I expect great results, and soon,” Mr Trump said in a post on his Truth Social platform.
During the previous Trump administration, Ms Ortagus served as State Department spokeswoman. She has served as an intelligence analyst at the Department of the Treasury and as a public affairs officer at USAID. She is also an officer in the US Navy Reserve.
Her previous Middle East-related experience includes serving as the deputy treasury attache to Saudi Arabia. She was also a member of the “historic Abraham Accords team that brought unprecedented peace to the Middle East”, Mr Trump said.
Ms Ortagus's experience in foreign policy and the Middle East is likely to serve Mr Witkoff well since the incoming special envoy is a real estate investor and Trump campaign donor, and he does not appear to have much experience in diplomacy or the region.
Mr Trump was curiously restrained in his congratulations when announcing Ms Ortagus's appointment, saying: “Early on Morgan fought me for three years, but hopefully has learnt her lesson. These things usually don’t work out, but she has strong Republican support, and I’m not doing this for me, I’m doing it for them. Let’s see what happens … Good luck, Morgan!”
But other Republicans were more effusive in their praise.
“There is no one better to do this job. She is a superstar,” said Joe Wilson, chairman of the House subcommittee on the Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia.
Republicans in the House armed services committee called the nomination of Ms Ortagus a “fantastic choice” by Mr Trump.
In a post on X, Ms Ortagus said she was “honoured” to be nominated for the role.
“To be given the opportunity to once again represent my country and the Trump administration in a crucial diplomatic role is a dream come true,” she said. “The most important thing is that through President Trump, we bring peace and stability to a troubled region, and I'm grateful to play a small role in that endeavour.”
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Pox that threatens the Middle East's native species
Camelpox
Caused by a virus related to the one that causes human smallpox, camelpox typically causes fever, swelling of lymph nodes and skin lesions in camels aged over three, but the animal usually recovers after a month or so. Younger animals may develop a more acute form that causes internal lesions and diarrhoea, and is often fatal, especially when secondary infections result. It is found across the Middle East as well as in parts of Asia, Africa, Russia and India.
Falconpox
Falconpox can cause a variety of types of lesions, which can affect, for example, the eyelids, feet and the areas above and below the beak. It is a problem among captive falcons and is one of many types of avian pox or avipox diseases that together affect dozens of bird species across the world. Among the other forms are pigeonpox, turkeypox, starlingpox and canarypox. Avipox viruses are spread by mosquitoes and direct bird-to-bird contact.
Houbarapox
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
liverpool youngsters
Ki-Jana Hoever
The only one of this squad to have scored for Liverpool, the versatile Dutchman impressed on his debut at Wolves in January. He can play right-back, centre-back or in midfield.
Herbie Kane
Not the most prominent H Kane in English football but a 21-year-old Bristolian who had a fine season on loan at Doncaster last year. He is an all-action midfielder.
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Signed from Newcastle but no relation to United’s brothers Sean and Matty, Luis is a winger. An England Under-16 international, he helped Liverpool win the FA Youth Cup last season.
Yasser Larouci
An 18-year-old Algerian-born winger who can also play as a left-back, Larouci did well on Liverpool’s pre-season tour until an awful tackle by a Sevilla player injured him.
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Steven Gerrard is a fan of his fellow Scouser, who has been on Liverpool’s books since he was in the Under-6s, Lewis was a midfielder, but has been converted into a left-back.
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