Despite her reputation as a forceful advocate, colleagues say the petite, soft-spoken Munoz sometimes can be underestimated in a White House inner circle largely dominated by men.

NPR: Obama Immigration Aide Seeks To Finish Journey

Hence the Democrats' cheers this week when a criminal investigation of Republican fundraising in Texas reached the inner circle of the House majority leader.

ECONOMIST: A spot of local bother for Tom DeLay

The fact that I lived in a terraced house in the inner-city neighborhood of Hackney was a flimsy obstacle to my true path.

WSJ: A Horse-Crazy Girl's Separation Vacation

Jack Lew also served in the Clinton administration but he has been one of President Obama's inner circle in the White House, in a way that Mr Geithner and others have not been.

BBC: Obama puts a trusted man at the Treasury

Three SEALs in front broke off to clear the guesthouse as the remaining nine blasted through another gate and entered an inner courtyard, which faced the main house.

NEWYORKER: Getting Bin Laden

Stephen Hess, Senior Fellow Emeritus, Governance Studies at the The Brookings Institution, suggested in 2001 that as a rule of thumb an incoming president need have their White House appointments -- their immediate inner circle -- in place by Thanksgiving (November 27) and Cabinet staff by Christmas (December 25).

CNN: How will Obama build his administration?

Equipped with kitchens and chefs, the trucks will pop up at 13 designated spots around the city in the coming weeks, with possible locations including Belmore Park near Central Station, the Customs House Forecourt at Circular Quay, and nearby inner city suburbs like Pyrmont and Annandale.

BBC: Food trucks are racing towards Sydney

Dine in the inner courtyard on fresh snapper or pomfret, avail yourself of an Ayurvedic massage courtesy of the in-house masseur, or take a quick dip in the sparkling garden-side pool.

BBC: Goa's boutique gems