web1_NovaTemple.jpg

Josh Hart heats up as Villanova storms past Temple

web1_AP_306196135395.jpg

Publicist: Actor Alan Thicke dies at age 69

<p>NEW YORK (AP) &#8212; President-elect Donald Trump announced Tuesday he has picked Exxon Mobil CEO Rex Tillerson to be secretary of state, calling the oil executive with close to ties to Russia one of the most accomplished &#8220;international dealmakers in the world.&#8221;</p><p>Tillerson&#8217;s business relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin are certain to draw scrutiny and could fuel a Senate confirmation fight. Leading Republicans have already expressed anxieties as they contend with intelligence assessments saying Russia interfered with the U.S. presidential election to help Trump.</p><p>Separately, the president-elect has selected former Texas Gov. Rick Perry to lead the Energy Department, according to people with knowledge of the decision. Perry, who ran two unsuccessful presidential campaigns, is on the board of Texas-based Energy Transfer Partners, the company that is trying to build a 1,200-mile pipeline that would carry crude oil from North Dakota to Illinois and has sparked protests.</p><p>As for Tillerson, Trump says he sees the business leader&#8217;s ties with Moscow as a selling point, along with his &#8220;vast experience at dealing successfully with all types of foreign governments.&#8221;</p><p>&#8220;Rex Tillerson&#8217;s career is the embodiment of the American dream. Through hard work, dedication and smart dealmaking, Rex rose through the ranks to become CEO of Exxon Mobil, one of the world&#8217;s largest and most respected companies,&#8221; the billionaire real estate mogul said in a pre-dawn news release from Trump Tower in New York.</p><p>In an accompanying statement, Tillerson said he was honored by his selection and shares Trump&#8217;s &#8220;vision for restoring the credibility of the United States&#8217; foreign relations and advancing our country&#8217;s national security.&#8221;</p><p>Trump&#8217;s team has voiced confidence about its ability to get the president-elect&#8217;s nominees confirmed. But Tillerson appears likely to pose the toughest challenge.</p><p>In a bid to fend off Republican opposition, Trump&#8217;s team is lining up support for Tillerson from high-profile national security experts. Condoleezza Rice, who served as secretary of state under President George W. Bush, called Tillerson a &#8220;successful business man and a patriot&#8221; who will &#8220;represent the interests and the values of the United States with resolve and commitment.&#8221;</p><p>Exxon is a client of the consulting firm run by Rice and former Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who also endorsed Tillerson&#8217;s nomination Tuesday.</p><p>Still, some Republicans are voicing doubts, including Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, who said he had &#8220;serious concerns&#8221; about the nomination. South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham said he expected the U.S.-Russia relationship to be &#8220;front and center&#8221; in Tillerson&#8217;s confirmation hearings.</p><p>Trump&#8217;s unconventional Cabinet vetting procedures are in keeping with his presidential style thus far, unconcerned with traditions. In recent weeks, he&#8217;s attacked CIA intelligence, spoken to the leader of Taiwan &#8212; irritating China &#8212; and continued his late-night Twitter tirades.</p><p>Beijing is looking forward to working with the new secretary of state &#8220;to push forward greater progress of the bilateral relationship on a new starting point,&#8221; China&#8217;s foreign ministry spokesman, Geng Shuang, said Tuesday.</p><style>
.neFileBlock {
	margin-bottom: 20px;
}
.neFileBlock p {
	margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
}
.neFileBlock .neFile {
	border-bottom: 1px dotted #aaa;
	padding-bottom: 5px;
	padding-top: 10px;
}
.neFileBlock .neCaption {
	font-size: 85%;
}
</style>
<div class='neFileBlock'>
<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/web1_tillerson.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">In this Friday, March 27, 2015 file photo, ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson delivers remarks on the release of a report by the National Petroleum Council on oil drilling in the Arctic, in Washington. President-elect Donald Trump selected Tillerson to lead the State Department on Monday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/web1_tillerson.jpg</photo0><caption0>In this Friday, March 27, 2015 file photo, ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson delivers remarks on the release of a report by the National Petroleum Council on oil drilling in the Arctic, in Washington. President-elect Donald Trump selected Tillerson to lead the State Department on Monday. </caption0><photoCredit0>Evan Vucci File Photo | AP Photo </photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><subheadMeta>Trump picks Exxon Mobil CEO, who has ties with Russia</subheadMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Julie Pace and Catherine Lucey</p><p>Associated Press</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Associated Press writers Ken Thomas and Laurie Kellman in Washington and Alex Sanz in Atlanta contributed to this report.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Trump selects Tillerson for secretary of state, dismissing Russian ties