rabbit fortune slot
WASHINGTON — Donald Trump said he can't guarantee his promised tariffs on key U.S. foreign trade partners won't raise prices for American consumers and suggested once more that some political rivals and federal officials who pursued legal cases against him should be imprisoned. The president-elect, in a wide-ranging interview with NBC's "Meet the Press" that aired Sunday, also touched on monetary policy, immigration, abortion and health care, and U.S. involvement in Ukraine, Israel and elsewhere. Trump often mixed declarative statements with caveats, at one point cautioning "things do change." Here's a look at some of the issues covered: President-elect Donald Trump takes the stage before he speaks at the FOX Nation Patriot Awards, Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024, in Greenvale, N.Y. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa) Trump threatened broad trade penalties, but said he didn't believe economists' predictions that added costs on those imported goods for American companies would lead to higher domestic prices for consumers. He stopped short of a pledge that U.S. an households won't be paying more as they shop. "I can't guarantee anything. I can't guarantee tomorrow," Trump said, seeming to open the door to accepting the reality of how import levies typically work as goods reach the retail market. That's a different approach from Trump's typical speeches throughout the 2024 campaign, when he framed his election as a sure way to curb inflation. In the interview, Trump defended tariffs generally, saying that tariffs are "going to make us rich." He has pledged that, on his first day in office in January, he would impose 25% tariffs on all goods imported from Mexico and Canada unless those countries satisfactorily stop illegal immigration and the flow of illegal drugs such as fentanyl into the United States. He also has threatened tariffs on China to help force that country to crack down on fentanyl production. "All I want to do is I want to have a level, fast, but fair playing field," Trump said. He offered conflicting statements on how he would approach the justice system after winning election despite being convicted of 34 felonies in a New York state court and being indicted in other cases for his handling of national security secrets and efforts to overturn his 2020 loss to Democrat Joe Biden. "Honestly, they should go to jail," Trump said of members of Congress who investigated the Capitol riot by his supporters who wanted him to remain in power. The president-elect underscored his contention that he can use the justice system against others, including special prosecutor Jack Smith, who led the case on Trump's role in the siege on Jan. 6, 2021. Trump confirmed his plan to pardon supporters who were convicted for their roles in the riot, saying he would take that action on his first day in office. As for the idea of revenge driving potential prosecutions, Trump said: "I have the absolute right. I'm the chief law enforcement officer, you do know that. I'm the president. But I'm not interested in that." At the same time, Trump singled out lawmakers on a special House committee who investigated the insurrection, citing Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., and former Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo. "Cheney was behind it ... so was Bennie Thompson and everybody on that committee," Trump said. Asked specifically whether he would direct his administration to pursue cases, he said, "No," and suggested he did not expect the FBI to quickly undertake investigations into his political enemies. At another point, Trump said he would leave the matter up to Pam Bondi, his pick as attorney general. "I want her to do what she wants to do," he said. Such threats, regardless of Trump's inconsistencies, have been taken seriously enough by many top Democrats that Biden is considering issuing blanket, preemptive pardons to protect key members of his outgoing administration. Trump did seemingly back off his campaign rhetoric calling for Biden to be investigated, saying, "I'm not looking to go back into the past." Immigration advocates hold a rally in Sacramento, Calif. on Monday, Dec. 2, 2024, to protest President-Elect Donald Trump's plans to conduct mass deportation of immigrants without legal status. (AP Photo/Haven Daley) Trump repeatedly mentioned his promises to seal the U.S.-Mexico border and deport millions of people who are in the U.S. illegally through a mass deportation program. "I think you have to do it," he said. He suggested he would try to use executive action to end "birthright" citizenship under which people born in the U.S. are considered citizens — though such protections are spelled out in the Constitution. Asked specifically about the future for people who were brought into the country illegally as children and were shielded from deportation in recent years, Trump said, "I want to work something out," indicating he might seek a solution with Congress. But Trump also said he does not "want to be breaking up families" of mixed legal status, "so the only way you don't break up the family is you keep them together and you have to send them all back." President-elect Donald Trump shakes hands with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Notre Dame Cathedral as France's iconic cathedral is formally reopening its doors for the first time since a devastating fire nearly destroyed the 861-year-old landmark in 2019, Saturday Dec.7, 2024 in Paris ( Ludovic Marin, Pool via AP) Long a critic of NATO members for not spending more on their own defense, Trump said he "absolutely" would remain in the alliance "if they pay their bills." Pressed on whether he would withdraw if he were dissatisfied with allies' commitments, Trump said he wants the U.S. treated "fairly" on trade and defense. He waffled on a NATO priority of containing Russia and President Vladimir Putin. Trump suggested Ukraine should prepare for less U.S. aid in its defense against Putin's invasion. "Possibly. Yeah, probably. Sure," Trump said of reducing Ukraine assistance from Washington. Separately, Trump called for an immediate cease-fire. Asked about Putin, Trump said initially that he has not talked to the Russian leader since Election Day last month, but then hedged. "I haven't spoken to him recently," Trump said when pressed, adding that he did not want to "impede the negotiation." Federal Reserve Board Chairman Jerome Powell speaks during a news conference at the Federal Reserve in Washington, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein) The president-elect said he has no intention, at least for now, of asking Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell to step down before Powell's term ends in 2028. Trump said during the campaign that presidents should have more say in Fed policy, including interest rates. Trump did not offer any job assurances for FBI Director Christopher Wray, whose term is to end in 2027. Asked about Wray, Trump said: "Well, I mean, it would sort of seem pretty obvious" that if the Senate confirms Kash Patel as Trump's pick for FBI chief, then "he's going to be taking somebody's place, right? Somebody is the man that you're talking about." Trump promised that the government efficiency effort led by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy will not threaten Social Security. "We're not touching Social Security, other than we make it more efficient," he said. He added that "we're not raising ages or any of that stuff." He was not so specific about abortion or his long-promised overhaul of the Affordable Care Act. On abortion, Trump continued his inconsistencies and said he would "probably" not move to restrict access to the abortion pills that now account for a majority of pregnancy terminations, according to the Guttmacher Institute, which supports abortion rights. But pressed on whether he would commit to that position, Trump replied, "Well, I commit. I mean, are — things do — things change. I think they change." Reprising a line from his Sept. 10 debate against Vice President Kamala Harris, Trump again said he had "concepts" of a plan to substitute for the 2010 Affordable Care Act, which he called "lousy health care." He added a promise that any Trump version would maintain insurance protections for Americans with preexisting health conditions. He did not explain how such a design would be different from the status quo or how he could deliver on his desire for "better health care for less money." Among President-elect Donald Trump's picks are Susie Wiles for chief of staff, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio for secretary of state, former Democratic House member Tulsi Gabbard for director of national intelligence and Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz for attorney general. Susie Wiles, 67, was a senior adviser to Trump's 2024 presidential campaign and its de facto manager. Trump named Florida Sen. Marco Rubio to be secretary of state, making a former sharp critic his choice to be the new administration's top diplomat. Rubio, 53, is a noted hawk on China, Cuba and Iran, and was a finalist to be Trump's running mate on the Republican ticket last summer. Rubio is the vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. “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,” Trump said of Rubio in a statement. The announcement punctuates the hard pivot Rubio has made with Trump, whom the senator called a “con man" during his unsuccessful campaign for the 2016 GOP presidential nomination. Their relationship improved dramatically while Trump was in the White House. And as Trump campaigned for the presidency a third time, Rubio cheered his proposals. For instance, Rubio, who more than a decade ago helped craft immigration legislation that included a path to citizenship for people in the U.S. illegally, now supports Trump's plan to use the U.S. military for mass deportations. Pete Hegseth, 44, is a co-host of Fox News Channel’s “Fox & Friends Weekend” and has been a contributor with the network since 2014, where he developed a friendship with Trump, who made regular appearances on the show. Hegseth lacks senior military or national security experience. If confirmed by the Senate, he would inherit the top job during a series of global crises — ranging from Russia’s war in Ukraine and the ongoing attacks in the Middle East by Iranian proxies to the push for a cease-fire between Israel, Hamas and Hezbollah and escalating worries about the growing alliance between Russia and North Korea. Hegseth is also the author of “The War on Warriors: Behind the Betrayal of the Men Who Keep Us Free,” published earlier this year. Trump tapped Pam Bondi, 59, to be attorney general after U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz withdrew his name from consideration. She was Florida's first female attorney general, serving between 2011 and 2019. She also was on Trump’s legal team during his first impeachment trial in 2020. Considered a loyalist, she served as part of a Trump-allied outside group that helped lay the groundwork for his future administration called the America First Policy Institute. Bondi was among a group of Republicans who showed up to support Trump at his hush money criminal trial in New York that ended in May with a conviction on 34 felony counts. A fierce defender of Trump, she also frequently appears on Fox News and has been a critic of the criminal cases against him. Trump picked South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, a well-known conservative who faced sharp criticism for telling a story in her memoir about shooting a rambunctious dog, to lead an agency crucial to the president-elect’s hardline immigration agenda. Noem used her two terms leading a tiny state to vault to a prominent position in Republican politics. South Dakota is usually a political afterthought. But during the COVID-19 pandemic, Noem did not order restrictions that other states had issued and instead declared her state “open for business.” Trump held a fireworks rally at Mount Rushmore in July 2020 in one of the first large gatherings of the pandemic. She takes over a department with a sprawling mission. In addition to key immigration agencies, the Department of Homeland Security oversees natural disaster response, the U.S. Secret Service, and Transportation Security Administration agents who work at airports. The governor of North Dakota, who was once little-known outside his state, Burgum is a former Republican presidential primary contender who endorsed Trump, and spent months traveling to drum up support for him, after dropping out of the race. Burgum was a serious contender to be Trump’s vice presidential choice this summer. The two-term governor was seen as a possible pick because of his executive experience and business savvy. Burgum also has close ties to deep-pocketed energy industry CEOs. Trump made the announcement about Burgum joining his incoming administration while addressing a gala at his Mar-a-Lago club, and said a formal statement would be coming the following day. In comments to reporters before Trump took the stage, Burgum said that, in recent years, the power grid is deteriorating in many parts of the country, which he said could raise national security concerns but also drive up prices enough to increase inflation. “There's just a sense of urgency, and a sense of understanding in the Trump administration,” Burgum said. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. ran for president as a Democrat, than as an independent, and then endorsed Trump . He's the son of Democratic icon Robert Kennedy, who was assassinated during his own presidential campaign. The nomination of Kennedy to lead the Department of Health and Human Services alarmed people who are concerned about his record of spreading unfounded fears about vaccines . For example, he has long advanced the debunked idea that vaccines cause autism. Scott Bessent, 62, is a former George Soros money manager and an advocate for deficit reduction. He's the founder of hedge fund Key Square Capital Management, after having worked on-and-off for Soros Fund Management since 1991. If confirmed by the Senate, he would be the nation’s first openly gay treasury secretary. He told Bloomberg in August that he decided to join Trump’s campaign in part to attack the mounting U.S. national debt. That would include slashing government programs and other spending. “This election cycle is the last chance for the U.S. to grow our way out of this mountain of debt without becoming a sort of European-style socialist democracy,” he said then. Oregon Republican U.S. Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer narrowly lost her reelection bid this month, but received strong backing from union members in her district. As a potential labor secretary, she would oversee the Labor Department’s workforce, its budget and put forth priorities that impact workers’ wages, health and safety, ability to unionize, and employer’s rights to fire employers, among other responsibilities. Chavez-DeRemer is one of few House Republicans to endorse the “Protecting the Right to Organize” or PRO Act would allow more workers to conduct organizing campaigns and would add penalties for companies that violate workers’ rights. The act would also weaken “right-to-work” laws that allow employees in more than half the states to avoid participating in or paying dues to unions that represent workers at their places of employment. Scott Turner is a former NFL player and White House aide. He ran the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council during Trump’s first term in office. Trump, in a statement, credited Turner, the highest-ranking Black person he’s yet selected for his administration, with “helping to lead an Unprecedented Effort that Transformed our Country’s most distressed communities.” Sean Duffy is a former House member from Wisconsin who was one of Trump's most visible defenders on cable news. Duffy served in the House for nearly nine years, sitting on the Financial Services Committee and chairing the subcommittee on insurance and housing. He left Congress in 2019 for a TV career and has been the host of “The Bottom Line” on Fox Business. Before entering politics, Duffy was a reality TV star on MTV, where he met his wife, “Fox and Friends Weekend” co-host Rachel Campos-Duffy. They have nine children. A campaign donor and CEO of Denver-based Liberty Energy, Write is a vocal advocate of oil and gas development, including fracking — a key pillar of Trump’s quest to achieve U.S. “energy dominance” in the global market. Wright also has been one of the industry’s loudest voices against efforts to fight climate change. He said the climate movement around the world is “collapsing under its own weight.” The Energy Department is responsible for advancing energy, environmental and nuclear security of the United States. Wright also won support from influential conservatives, including oil and gas tycoon Harold Hamm. Hamm, executive chairman of Oklahoma-based Continental Resources, a major shale oil company, is a longtime Trump supporter and adviser who played a key role on energy issues in Trump’s first term. President-elect Donald Trump tapped billionaire professional wrestling mogul Linda McMahon to be secretary of the Education Department, tasked with overseeing an agency Trump promised to dismantle. McMahon led the Small Business Administration during Trump’s initial term from 2017 to 2019 and twice ran unsuccessfully as a Republican for the U.S. Senate in Connecticut. She’s seen as a relative unknown in education circles, though she expressed support for charter schools and school choice. She served on the Connecticut Board of Education for a year starting in 2009 and has spent years on the board of trustees for Sacred Heart University in Connecticut. Brooke Rollins, who graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in agricultural development, is a longtime Trump associate who served as White House domestic policy chief during his first presidency. The 52-year-old is president and CEO of the America First Policy Institute, a group helping to lay the groundwork for a second Trump administration. She previously served as an aide to former Texas Gov. Rick Perry and ran a think tank, the Texas Public Policy Foundation. Trump chose Howard Lutnick, head of brokerage and investment bank Cantor Fitzgerald and a cryptocurrency enthusiast, as his nominee for commerce secretary, a position in which he'd have a key role in carrying out Trump's plans to raise and enforce tariffs. Trump made the announcement Tuesday on his social media platform, Truth Social. Lutnick is a co-chair of Trump’s transition team, along with Linda McMahon, the former wrestling executive who previously led Trump’s Small Business Administration. Both are tasked with putting forward candidates for key roles in the next administration. The nomination would put Lutnick in charge of a sprawling Cabinet agency that is involved in funding new computer chip factories, imposing trade restrictions, releasing economic data and monitoring the weather. It is also a position in which connections to CEOs and the wider business community are crucial. Doug Collins is a former Republican congressman from Georgia who gained recognition for defending Trump during his first impeachment trial, which centered on U.S. assistance for Ukraine. Trump was impeached for urging Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden in 2019 during the Democratic presidential nomination, but he was acquitted by the Senate. Collins has also served in the armed forces himself and is currently a chaplain in the United States Air Force Reserve Command. "We must take care of our brave men and women in uniform, and Doug will be a great advocate for our Active Duty Servicemembers, Veterans, and Military Families to ensure they have the support they need," Trump said in a statement about nominating Collins to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs. Karoline Leavitt, 27, was Trump's campaign press secretary and currently a spokesperson for his transition. She would be the youngest White House press secretary in history. The White House press secretary typically serves as the public face of the administration and historically has held daily briefings for the press corps. Leavitt, a New Hampshire native, was a spokesperson for MAGA Inc., a super PAC supporting Trump, before joining his 2024 campaign. In 2022, she ran for Congress in New Hampshire, winning a 10-way Republican primary before losing to Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas. Leavitt worked in the White House press office during Trump's first term before she became communications director for New York Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik, Trump's choice for U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard has been tapped by Trump to be director of national intelligence, keeping with the trend to stock his Cabinet with loyal personalities rather than veteran professionals in their requisite fields. Gabbard, 43, was a Democratic House member who unsuccessfully sought the party's 2020 presidential nomination before leaving the party in 2022. She endorsed Trump in August and campaigned often with him this fall. “I know Tulsi will bring the fearless spirit that has defined her illustrious career to our Intelligence Community,” Trump said in a statement. 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. Trump has picked John Ratcliffe, a former Texas congressman who served as director of national intelligence during his first administration, to be director of the Central Intelligence Agency in his next. Ratcliffe was director of national intelligence during the final year and a half of Trump's first term, leading the U.S. government's spy agencies during the coronavirus pandemic. “I look forward to John being the first person ever to serve in both of our Nation's highest Intelligence positions,” Trump said in a statement, calling him a “fearless fighter for the Constitutional Rights of all Americans” who would ensure “the Highest Levels of National Security, and PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH.” Kash Patel spent several years as a Justice Department prosecutor before catching the Trump administration’s attention as a staffer on Capitol Hill who helped investigate the Russia probe. Patel called for dramatically reducing the agency’s footprint, a perspective that sets him apart from earlier directors who sought additional resources for the bureau. Though the Justice Department in 2021 halted the practice of secretly seizing reporters’ phone records during leak investigations, Patel said he intends to aggressively hunt down government officials who leak information to reporters. Trump has chosen former New York Rep. Lee Zeldin to serve as his pick to lead the Environmental Protection Agency . Zeldin does not appear to have any experience in environmental issues, but is a longtime supporter of the former president. The 44-year-old former U.S. House member from New York wrote on X , “We will restore US energy dominance, revitalize our auto industry to bring back American jobs, and make the US the global leader of AI.” “We will do so while protecting access to clean air and water,” he added. During his campaign, Trump often attacked the Biden administration's promotion of electric vehicles, and incorrectly referring to a tax credit for EV purchases as a government mandate. Trump also often told his audiences during the campaign his administration would “Drill, baby, drill,” referring to his support for expanded petroleum exploration. In a statement, Trump said Zeldin “will ensure fair and swift deregulatory decisions that will be enacted in a way to unleash the power of American businesses, while at the same time maintaining the highest environmental standards, including the cleanest air and water on the planet.” Trump has named Brendan Carr, the senior Republican on the Federal Communications Commission, as the new chairman of the agency tasked with regulating broadcasting, telecommunications and broadband. Carr is a longtime member of the commission and served previously as the FCC’s general counsel. He has been unanimously confirmed by the Senate three times and was nominated by both Trump and President Joe Biden to the commission. Carr made past appearances on “Fox News Channel," including when he decried Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris' pre-Election Day appearance on “Saturday Night Live.” He wrote an op-ed last month defending a satellite company owned by Trump supporter Elon Musk. Trump said Atkins, the CEO of Patomak Partners and a former SEC commissioner, was a “proven leader for common sense regulations.” In the years since leaving the SEC, Atkins has made the case against too much market regulation. “He believes in the promise of robust, innovative capital markets that are responsive to the needs of Investors, & that provide capital to make our Economy the best in the World. He also recognizes that digital assets & other innovations are crucial to Making America Greater than Ever Before,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. The commission oversees U.S. securities markets and investments and is currently led by Gary Gensler, who has been leading the U.S. government’s crackdown on the crypto industry. Gensler, who was nominated by President Joe Biden, announced last month that he would be stepping down from his post on the day that Trump is inaugurated — Jan. 20, 2025. Atkins began his career as a lawyer and has a long history working in the financial markets sector, both in government and private practice. In the 1990s, he worked on the staffs of two former SEC chairmen, Richard C. Breeden and Arthur Levitt. Jared Isaacman, 41, is a tech billionaire who bought a series of spaceflights from Elon Musk’s SpaceX and conducted the first private spacewalk . He is the founder and CEO of a card-processing company and has collaborated closely with Musk ever since buying his first chartered SpaceX flight. He took contest winners on that 2021 trip and followed it in September with a mission where he briefly popped out the hatch to test SpaceX’s new spacewalking suits. Rep. Elise Stefanik is a representative from New York and one of Trump's staunchest defenders going back to his first impeachment. Elected to the House in 2014, Stefanik was selected by her GOP House colleagues as House Republican Conference chair in 2021, when former Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney was removed from the post after publicly criticizing Trump for falsely claiming he won the 2020 election. Stefanik, 40, has served in that role ever since as the third-ranking member of House leadership. Stefanik’s questioning of university presidents over antisemitism on their campuses helped lead to two of those presidents resigning, further raising her national profile. If confirmed, she would represent American interests at the U.N. as Trump vows to end the war waged by Russia against Ukraine begun in 2022. He has also called for peace as Israel continues its offensive against Hamas in Gaza and its invasion of Lebanon to target Hezbollah. President-elect Donald Trump says he's chosen former acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker to serve as U.S. ambassador to NATO. Trump has expressed skepticism about the Western military alliance for years. Trump said in a statement Wednesday that Whitaker is “a strong warrior and loyal Patriot” who “will ensure the United States’ interests are advanced and defended” and “strengthen relationships with our NATO Allies, and stand firm in the face of threats to Peace and Stability.” The choice of Whitaker as the nation’s representative to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization is an unusual one, given his background is as a lawyer and not in foreign policy. President-elect Donald Trump tapped former Sen. David Perdue of Georgia to be ambassador to China, saying in a social media post that the former CEO “brings valuable expertise to help build our relationship with China.” Perdue lost his Senate seat to Democrat Jon Ossoff four years ago and ran unsuccessfully in a primary against Republican Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp. Perdue pushed Trump's debunked lies about electoral fraud during his failed bid for governor. Trump will nominate former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee to be ambassador to Israel. Huckabee is a staunch defender of Israel and his intended nomination comes as Trump has promised to align U.S. foreign policy more closely with Israel's interests as it wages wars against the Iran-backed Hamas and Hezbollah. “He loves Israel, and likewise the people of Israel love him,” Trump said in a statement. “Mike will work tirelessly to bring about peace in the Middle East.” Huckabee, who ran unsuccessfully for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008 and 2016, has been a popular figure among evangelical Christian conservatives, many of whom support Israel due to Old Testament writings that Jews are God’s chosen people and that Israel is their rightful homeland. Trump has been praised by some in this important Republican voting bloc for moving the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Trump on Tuesday named real estate investor Steven Witkoff to be special envoy to the Middle East. The 67-year-old Witkoff is the president-elect's golf partner and was golfing with him at Trump's club in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Sept. 15, when the former president was the target of a second attempted assassination. Witkoff “is a Highly Respected Leader in Business and Philanthropy,” Trump said of Witkoff in a statement. “Steve will be an unrelenting Voice for PEACE, and make us all proud." Trump also named Witkoff co-chair, with former Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler, of his inaugural committee. Trump said Wednesday that he will nominate Gen. Keith Kellogg to serve as assistant to the president and special envoy for Ukraine and Russia. Kellogg, a retired Army lieutenant general who has long been Trump’s top adviser on defense issues, served as National Security Advisor to Trump's former Vice President Mike Pence. For the America First Policy Institute, one of several groups formed after Trump left office to help lay the groundwork for the next Republican administration, Kellogg in April wrote that “bringing the Russia-Ukraine war to a close will require strong, America First leadership to deliver a peace deal and immediately end the hostilities between the two warring parties.” (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib) Trump asked Rep. Michael Waltz, R-Fla., a retired Army National Guard officer and war veteran, to be his national security adviser, Trump announced in a statement Tuesday. The move puts Waltz in the middle of national security crises, ranging from efforts to provide weapons to Ukraine and worries about the growing alliance between Russia and North Korea to the persistent attacks in the Middle East by Iran proxies and the push for a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas and Hezbollah. “Mike has been a strong champion of my America First Foreign Policy agenda,” Trump's statement said, "and will be a tremendous champion of our pursuit of Peace through Strength!” Waltz is a three-term GOP congressman from east-central Florida. He served multiple tours in Afghanistan and also worked in the Pentagon as a policy adviser when Donald Rumsfeld and Robert Gates were defense chiefs. He is considered hawkish on China, and called for a U.S. boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing due to its involvement in the origin of COVID-19 and its mistreatment of the minority Muslim Uighur population. Stephen Miller, an immigration hardliner , was a vocal spokesperson during the presidential campaign for Trump's priority of mass deportations. The 39-year-old was a senior adviser during Trump's first administration. Miller has been a central figure in some of Trump's policy decisions, notably his move to separate thousands of immigrant families. Trump argued throughout the campaign that the nation's economic, national security and social priorities could be met by deporting people who are in the United States illegally. Since Trump left office in 2021, Miller has served as the president of America First Legal, an organization made up of former Trump advisers aimed at challenging the Biden administration, media companies, universities and others over issues such as free speech and national security. Thomas Homan, 62, has been tasked with Trump’s top priority of carrying out the largest deportation operation in the nation’s history. Homan, who served under Trump in his first administration leading U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, was widely expected to be offered a position related to the border, an issue Trump made central to his campaign. Though Homan has insisted such a massive undertaking would be humane, he has long been a loyal supporter of Trump's policy proposals, suggesting at a July conference in Washington that he would be willing to "run the biggest deportation operation this country’s ever seen.” Democrats have criticized Homan for his defending Trump's “zero tolerance” policy on border crossings during his first administration, which led to the separation of thousands of parents and children seeking asylum at the border. Customs and Border Protection, with its roughly 60,000 employees, falls under the Department of Homeland Security. It includes the Border Patrol, which Rodney Scott led during Trump's first term, and is essentially responsible for protecting the country's borders while facilitating trade and travel. Scott comes to the job firmly from the Border Patrol side of the house. He became an agent in 1992 and spent much of his career in San Diego. When he was appointed head of the border agency in January 2020, he enthusiastically embraced Trump's policies. After being forced out under the Biden administration, Scott has been a vocal supporter of Trump's hard-line immigration agenda. He appeared frequently on Fox News and testified in Congress. He's also a senior fellow at the Texas Public Policy Foundation. Former Rep. Billy Long represented Missouri in the U.S. House from 2011 to 2023. Since leaving Congress, Trump said, Long “has worked as a Business and Tax advisor, helping Small Businesses navigate the complexities of complying with the IRS Rules and Regulations.” Former Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler was appointed in January 2020 by Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp and then lost a runoff election a year later. She started a conservative voter registration organization and dived into GOP fundraising, becoming one of the top individual donors and bundlers to Trump’s 2024 comeback campaign. Even before nominating her for agriculture secretary, the president-elect already had tapped Loeffler as co-chair of his inaugural committee. Dr. Mehmet Oz, 64, is a former heart surgeon who hosted “The Dr. Oz Show,” a long-running daytime television talk show. He ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate as the Republican nominee in 2022 and is an outspoken supporter of Trump, who endorsed Oz's bid for elected office. Elon Musk, left, and Vivek Ramaswamy speak before Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump at an Oct. 27 campaign rally at Madison Square Garden in New York. Trump on Tuesday said Musk and former Republican presidential candidate Ramaswamy will lead a new “Department of Government Efficiency" — which is not, despite the name, a government agency. The acronym “DOGE” is a nod to Musk's favorite cryptocurrency, dogecoin. Trump said Musk and Ramaswamy will work from outside the government to offer the White House “advice and guidance” and will partner with the Office of Management and Budget to “drive large scale structural reform, and create an entrepreneurial approach to Government never seen before.” He added the move would shock government systems. It's not clear how the organization will operate. Musk, owner of X and CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has been a constant presence at Mar-a-Lago since Trump won the presidential election. Ramaswamy suspended his campaign in January and threw his support behind Trump. Trump said the two will “pave the way for my Administration to dismantle Government Bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure Federal Agencies.” Russell Vought held the position during Trump’s first presidency. After Trump’s initial term ended, Vought founded the Center for Renewing America, a think tank that describes its mission as “renew a consensus of America as a nation under God.” Vought was closely involved with Project 2025, a conservative blueprint for Trump’s second term that he tried to distance himself from during the campaign. Vought has also previously worked as the executive and budget director for the Republican Study Committee, a caucus for conservative House Republicans. He also worked at Heritage Action, the political group tied to The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank. Dan Scavino, deputy chief of staff Scavino, whom Trump's transition referred to in a statement as one of “Trump's longest serving and most trusted aides,” was a senior adviser to Trump's 2024 campaign, as well as his 2016 and 2020 campaigns. He will be deputy chief of staff and assistant to the president. Scavino had run Trump's social media profile in the White House during his first administration. He was also held in contempt of Congress in 2022 after a month-long refusal to comply with a subpoena from the House committee’s investigation into the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. James Blair, deputy chief of staff Blair was political director for Trump's 2024 campaign and for the Republican National Committee. He will be deputy chief of staff for legislative, political and public affairs and assistant to the president. Blair was key to Trump's economic messaging during his winning White House comeback campaign this year, a driving force behind the candidate's “Trump can fix it” slogan and his query to audiences this fall if they were better off than four years ago. Taylor Budowich, deputy chief of staff Budowich is a veteran Trump campaign aide who launched and directed Make America Great Again, Inc., a super PAC that supported Trump's 2024 campaign. He will be deputy chief of staff for communications and personnel and assistant to the president. Budowich also had served as a spokesman for Trump after his presidency. Jay Bhattacharya, National Institutes of Health Trump has chosen Dr. Jay Bhattacharya to lead the National Institutes of Health. Bhattacharya is a physician and professor at Stanford University School of Medicine, and is a critic of pandemic lockdowns and vaccine mandates. He promoted the idea of herd immunity during the pandemic, arguing that people at low risk should live normally while building up immunity to COVID-19 through infection. The National Institutes of Health funds medical research through competitive grants to researchers at institutions throughout the nation. NIH also conducts its own research with thousands of scientists working at its labs in Bethesda, Maryland. Dr. Marty Makary, Food and Drug Administration Makary is a Johns Hopkins surgeon and author who argued against pandemic lockdowns. He routinely appeared on Fox News during the COVID-19 pandemic and wrote opinion articles questioning masks for children. He cast doubt on vaccine mandates but supported vaccines generally. Makary also cast doubt on whether booster shots worked, which was against federal recommendations on the vaccine. Dr. Janette Nesheiwat, Surgeon General Nesheiwat is a general practitioner who serves as medical director for CityMD, a network of urgent care centers in New York and New Jersey. She has been a contributor to Fox News. Dr. Dave Weldon, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Weldon is a former Florida congressman who recently ran for a Florida state legislative seat and lost; Trump backed Weldon’s opponent. In Congress, Weldon weighed in on one of the nation’s most heated debates of the 1990s over quality of life and a right-to-die and whether Terri Schiavo, who was in a persistent vegetative state after cardiac arrest, should have been allowed to have her feeding tube removed. He sided with the parents who did not want it removed. Jamieson Greer, U.S. trade representative Kevin Hassett, Director of the White House National Economic Council Trump is turning to two officials with experience navigating not only Washington but the key issues of income taxes and tariffs as he fills out his economic team. He announced he has chosen international trade attorney Jamieson Greer to be his U.S. trade representative and Kevin Hassett as director of the White House National Economic Council. While Trump has in several cases nominated outsiders to key posts, these picks reflect a recognition that his reputation will likely hinge on restoring the public’s confidence in the economy. Trump said in a statement that Greer was instrumental in his first term in imposing tariffs on China and others and replacing the trade agreement with Canada and Mexico, “therefore making it much better for American Workers.” Hassett, 62, served in the first Trump term as chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers. He has a doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania and worked at the right-leaning American Enterprise Institute before joining the Trump White House in 2017. A Republican congressman from Michigan who served from 1993 to 2011, Hoekstra was ambassador to the Netherlands during Trump's first term. “In my Second Term, Pete will help me once again put AMERICA FIRST,” Trump said in a statement announcing his choice. “He did an outstanding job as United States Ambassador to the Netherlands during our first four years, and I am confident that he will continue to represent our Country well in this new role.” Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.
12 Common Smartphone Myths You Need To Stop BelievingCrexendo CEO Jeffrey Korn sells $36,750 in stock
FREMONT, Calif., Dec. 11, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ACM Research, Inc. (“ACM”) (NASDAQ: ACMR), a leading supplier of wafer processing solutions for semiconductor and advanced packaging applications, today issued comments regarding recent updates to U.S. export regulations. On December 2, 2024, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (“BIS”) imposed additional controls on exports to, and transfers within, the People’s Republic of China (“PRC”) relating to advanced integrated circuit (“IC”) products, certain IC manufacturing equipment and technology, and supercomputers associated with artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced computing. As part of the new regulations, among other updates, ACM Research (Shanghai), Inc. (“ACM Shanghai”) and its operating subsidiaries in China and Korea, were added to the Entity List published by BIS. Neither ACM, nor its direct subsidiaries outside of mainland China, were added to the Entity List. ACM is a Delaware corporation founded in California in 1998 to supply capital equipment developed for the global semiconductor industry. Since 2005, ACM has conducted its business operations principally through its subsidiary, ACM Shanghai, a limited liability corporation organized in the PRC. Based on public reports, 140 entities with semiconductor operations related to mainland China were added to the Entity List, 120 of which were semiconductor capital equipment suppliers. We note that neither ACM Shanghai nor its subsidiary was notified of any specific wrongdoing that resulted in its addition to the Entity List. We are assessing the potential impacts to our business and operational plans that may result from the new regulations. We believe the impact to our supply chain and the ability of ACM Shanghai to produce tools in the PRC will be minimized and manageable as a result of having alternative sources and suppliers. We do not anticipate an impact to the ability to sell, deliver and service products to customers outside of the PRC, however the potential impact on sales to our PRC customers will depend, in part, on the effect of the new regulations on their own spending plans. Consistent with prior years, we expect to issue a press release in January with preliminary results for 2024 and our initial revenue outlook for 2025. We will continue to focus on technology innovation for the global market and operate in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. We are confident we can maintain our role as a key supplier of differentiated capital equipment to global customers and protect the interests of partners, employees, and investors as we navigate the ever-evolving geopolitical landscape. Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements contained in this press release are not historical facts and may be forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as “plans,” “expects,” “believes,” “anticipates,” “designed,” and similar words are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on ACM management’s current expectations and beliefs and involve a number of risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict and that could cause actual results to differ materially from those stated or implied by the forward-looking statements. A description of certain of these risks, uncertainties and other matters can be found in filings ACM makes with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, all of which are available at www.sec.gov. Because forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, actual results and events may differ materially from results and events currently expected by ACM. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. ACM undertakes no obligation to publicly update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that occur after the date hereof or to reflect any change in its expectations with regard to these forward-looking statements or the occurrence of unanticipated events. About ACM Research, Inc. ACM develops, manufactures and sells semiconductor process equipment spanning cleaning, electroplating, stress-free polishing, vertical furnace processes, track, PECVD, and wafer- and panel-level packaging tools, enabling advanced and semi-critical semiconductor device manufacturing. ACM is committed to delivering customized, high-performance, cost-effective process solutions that semiconductor manufacturers can use in numerous manufacturing steps to improve productivity and product yield. For more information, visit www.acmr.com. © ACM Research, Inc. The ACM Research logo is a trademark of ACM Research, Inc. For convenience, the trademark appears in this press release without TM symbols, but that practice does not mean ACM will not assert, to the fullest extent under applicable law, its rights to such trademarks. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. For investor and media inquiries, please contact:
Chelsea is reportedly not planning another move for Napoli striker Victor Osimhen in the upcoming January transfer window, despite previous interest in the Nigerian international. The 25-year-old, currently on loan at Galatasaray, has been in sensational form, scoring 12 goals in 15 appearances across all competitions, including two in last month’s Europa League victory over Tottenham Hotspur. Osimhen’s loan move from Napoli followed a breakdown in his relationship with the Serie A club. According to The Athletic, Chelsea, who are currently second in the Premier League table, will not pursue Osimhen in January, instead prioritising a long-term strategy to strengthen their attacking options. The London club had previously made a last-minute attempt to sign the prolific striker on a season-long loan last summer, even proposing an obligation to buy. However, the move failed to materialise, and Osimhen ended up in Turkey with Galatasaray. As reported by football.london in September, Chelsea’s initial interest demonstrated their desire to secure a reliable goalscorer. However, with a well-stocked attack including Jadon Sancho, Pedro Neto, Noni Madueke, Joao Felix, and Christopher Nkunku, the Blues are believed to be holding off on bolstering their frontline in the short term. Instead, Chelsea has identified Ipswich Town’s Liam Delap as a potential future signing, with the club scouting him alongside other striker options. It is suggested that any additions in the attacking department will be revisited next summer. Meanwhile, reports suggest that Chelsea could see player exits in January to make room in their squad. Ben Chilwell, Carney Chukwuemeka, and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall are rumoured to be among those who could leave, having struggled for regular game time under manager Enzo Maresca. Chelsea suffered a 2-1 loss to Fulham at Stamford Bridge on Boxing Day. They are set to conclude their 2024 schedule with a match against Ipswich Town on December 30.Alberta working to get money's worth on Turkish medication deal after two yearsFrontline workers will be asked to serve stints in Government under a push to make the state work like a “start up”. Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Pat McFadden will warn that the Government will fail to deliver if it carries on with business as usual. In a speech in London, he will set out plans for a £100million fund to trial Silicon Valley-style approach to challenges in the public sector. Crack teams will deployed to look at how to drive down use of temporary accommodation in Liverpool and Essex, and improving family support services in Manchester and Sheffield from January. While Mr McFadden will acknowledge "each of these projects is small", he will say "they could rewire the state one test at a time". Tech firm workers will be invited to do a six to twelve-month “tour of duty” in Government to use their skills to help influence reforms. Public service staff like prison governors and social work chiefs will also be invited to take secondments in Whitehall to help ministers deliver Keir Starmer 's plans to change Britain. Mr McFadden will say: "Prison governors, social work heads, directors of children’s services - they are the ones on the ground who can see how things are working, where the obstacles are, and where a policy won’t survive contact with reality. "They have stared the issues and the people that depend on us in the eye, seen how the system has been broken – they have taken the frustrations home with them each week. Now we want them to be part of the solution." It comes after the Prime Minister unveiled six milestones on how voters can hold him to account on key issues like the NHS , crime and education. Be the first with news from Mirror Politics POLITICS WHATSAPP: Be first to get the biggest bombshells and breaking news by joining our Politics WhatsApp group here . We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you want to leave our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice . NEWSLETTER: Or sign up here to the Mirror's Politics newsletter for all the best exclusives and opinions straight to your inbox. PODCAST: And listen to our exciting new political podcast The Division Bell , hosted by the Mirror and the Express every Thursday. Mr McFadden will also order departments to simplify “mind bogglingly bureaucratic and off-putting” applications for civil service jobs after the PM accused Whitehall of being too comfortable with failure. He will warn: “If we keep governing as usual, we are not going to achieve what we want to achieve." Deputy PM Angela Rayner accepted on Sunday that the public want to see the Government deliver. She said: "I know people are impatient for change, but I also know that people will give us that opportunity and will judge us, and that's why Keir set out the clear guidelines on what people should expect we will deliver."
NoneLibra Daily Horoscope Today, Dec 09, 2024 predicts a proper financial plan
Winners and losers from CFP, bowl selections: The Big Ten’s smooth ride, SEC angst, cold-weather dreams, letdowns for UW, USC and more
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra is due to make a major public address on Thursday in which she will outline her cabinet's achievements in the past three months and assert the need for the government's flagship policies in the year to come. These policies include the digital money handout scheme, the village fund and various economic stimulus measures, the PM wrote in a post made on Facebook and repeated on X on Sunday. Titled "2025 Empowering Thais: A Real Possibility", the public address will begin at 10am live on NBT2HD and be streamed on the state-run TV channel's Facebook page as well, she said. The venue for the event, to be attended by around 500 guests, is the headquarters of the National Broadcasting Services of Thailand (NBT) on Vibhavadi Rangsit Road, said the PM. Cabinet ministers, high-level ministerial officials, department heads, division heads, provincial governors, armed forces' leaders, the national police chief, ministerial spokespeople and heads of state enterprises are expected to be among the attendees. A new opinion poll conducted by Suan Dusit Poll, meanwhile, found most Thais are now looking forward to receiving more cash handouts and seeing more measures to help curb their living costs, in what is often perceived as a tradition of New Year gifts from the government. These findings reflect how seriously most people are being affected by the global economic situation, said Pornpan Buathong, president of the Suan Dusit Poll. "The impact of the sluggish economy now is holding back festive spending after the survey found that only 56.02% of poll respondents intended to travel over New Year," said Asst Prof Unchalee Rattana, a political science lecturer with Suan Dusit University. In another development, Prime Minister's Office Minister Chousak Sirinil said the Pheu Thai Party is now ready to submit its political amnesty bill as soon as the House of Representatives' session resumes on Dec 12. The essence of its bill is that all those prosecuted in politically motivated cases from 2005 up until now should be eligible for an amnesty, he said. The final decision in each instance will be made by a formal amnesty committee, while there will also be a clear list of offences to which this amnesty bill will apply when passed into law, he said. Details of who will make up the committee have yet to be fleshed out. As for the constitutional referendum bill, Pheu Thai has resolved to reassert the Lower House stipulation requiring only a simple majority to make passage of the matter easier before the next election. This will mean the bill will have to be suspended for 180 days before the Lower House can veto changes made by the Senate. Passed by the House in August, the bill was rejected by the higher chamber, prompting a joint House-Senate committee to be formed to find a way to mend their differences in a bid to forge unity over what has been a controversial topic. The government, opposition and Senate whips are being encouraged to find common ground before any further move towards setting up a new charter drafting assembly can begin, he said. On Friday, House Speaker Wan Muhammad Noor Matha said a meeting of the three whips is scheduled to take place on Friday to discuss when deliberation of the charter-amending bills should begin. However, not all 17 bills will be deliberated, with only those deemed urgent given a priority, he said. A survey conducted by Nida Poll, meanwhile, showed an extremely small difference between the percentage of poll respondents who support charter amendments (27.63%) and those who don't believe it necessary (27.02%). More importantly, the vast majority of these respondents (78.97%) said if the charter is to be amended, only certain parts of it should be touched, not the entire document, according to the poll conducted on Dec 2-3 on 1,310 people in all regions of the country.Thai PM to go live over govt record
W.W. Grainger Inc. stock underperforms Friday when compared to competitorsClarksville, TN, Dec. 06, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Dickey’s Barbecue Pit franchisee Doug Keenum is making waves in Tennessee with a remarkable expansion journey. Since stepping into the world of Legit. Texas. Barbecue. in 2022, Keenum has transformed locations, opened a brand-new store, and taken on new opportunities with grit and determination. Doug began his barbecue journey by taking over the Madison Street location in Clarksville, TN, in August 2022. “The Madison location had a challenging reputation,” Keenum recalls. “We brought that one back to life, and now it’s getting great feedback from our guests.” Building on this success, Keenum opened a new Dickey’s location on Fort Campbell Blvd. in Clarksville in July 2024, just a stone’s throw from the local military base. “This store has been an exciting addition,” says Keenum. “We’re working hard to introduce our brand to more of the Clarksville community and make this location a favorite among military families.” In August 2024, Keenum expanded again, taking over an existing location in Brentwood, TN, just outside Nashville. “This location is another opportunity to make a positive impact,” says Keenum. “We’re focused on improving operations and creating a welcoming environment for our guests.” Doug’s efforts exemplify the entrepreneurial spirit that defines Dickey’s franchisees. Laura Rea Dickey, CEO of Dickey’s Barbecue Restaurants, Inc., praises his resilience and strategic growth. “Doug’s dedication to excellence and his ability to revitalize locations are truly inspiring,” she says. “He’s a tremendous asset to the Dickey’s family, and his success showcases the power of hard work and community focus.” Roland Dickey, Jr., CEO of Dickey’s Capital Group, echoes these sentiments. “Doug has embraced the life of franchise ownership,” Roland says. “His growth in Tennessee reflects the strength of the Dickey’s brand and the entrepreneurial vision that drives it forward.” Doug’s three Tennessee locations are part of his mission to bring Legit. Texas. Barbecue. to more communities. With a focus on quality, hospitality, and community engagement, Keenum continues to expand and enhance the Dickey’s experience for families across the state. About Dickey’s Barbecue Restaurants, Inc. Founded in 1941 by The Dickey Family, Dickey's Barbecue Restaurants, Inc. is the world’s largest barbecue concept and continues as a third-generation family-run business. For over 80 years, Dickey’s Barbecue Pit has served millions with its signature Legit. Texas. Barbecue.TM Slow-smoked over hickory wood-burning pits, Dickey’s barbecued meats are paired with a variety of southern sides. Committed to authentic barbecue, Dickey’s never takes shortcuts—because real barbecue can’t be rushed. With over 866 restaurants across eight concepts in the U.S. and several countries, Dickey’s Barbecue Franchise and Dickey’s Restaurant Brands continues to grow under the leadership of Roland Dickey, Jr ., CEO of Dickey’s Capital Group, and Laura Rea Dickey, CEO of Dickey’s Barbecue Pit, Inc. Dickey’s has been recognized on Newsweek’s 2022 "America’s Favorite Restaurant Chains" list, Nation’s Restaurant News 2024 top fast-casual brands for value, and USA Today’s 2021 Readers’ Choice Awards. The brand has also ranked in the Top 20 of Fast Casual’s “Top 100 Movers and Shakers” for four of the past five years. Additional accolades include Entrepreneur's Top 500 Franchise and Hospitality Technology’s Industry Heroes list. The brand has been featured by Fox News, Forbes, Franchise Times, The Wall Street Journal, and People Magazine . For more information, visit www.dickeys.com . For information about becoming a franchise partner, visit www.dickeysfranchise.com Attachment Doug Keenum and TeamShort Sellers Lose $1.4 Billion as Super Micro Computer (SMCI) Stock Rises 53% - TipRanks
To experience an onsen (hot spring) getaway that offers a true escape from the big city, head to Tottori — Japan’s least-populated prefecture. Famous for delectable local food , the hometowns of classic manga artists and Japan’s largest sand dunes , Tottori offers countless activities for travelers who want to sightsee in between enjoying hot springs. Those whose main aim is to relax, meanwhile, can retreat to laid-back, uncrowded hot spring towns that are rich in natural beauty and cultural connections. Regular domestic flights and express trains offer access to Tottori from Japan’s major urban hubs. Local trains and buses, meanwhile, whisk visitors to must-see sightseeing spots and the most famous hot spring resorts. Read on for a quick guide to the prefecture’s top three hot spring destinations. Kaike Onsen is a seaside hot spring resort with over a dozen hotels and ryokan (traditional-style inns) accommodating day visitors and overnight guests. Simply enjoying hotel facilities and strolling along Kaike Onsen Beach makes for a good trip. However, Kaike Onsen’s location in the city of Yonago also ensures that visitors can easily access western Tottori’s most famous sights. Mount Daisen — the highest mountain in Japan’s Chugoku Region — is accessible by bus from Yonago station (check the Yonago City Tourist Information Center located in the station for current bus timetables). After the snow falls, skiing and snowboarding at Daisen White Resort is the mountain’s most popular attraction. Yonago station also operates regular shuttle buses to Tottori Hanakairo Flower Park — famous for its winter illumination displays — and trains to Mizuki Shigeru Road. A must-see for fans of manga and Japanese folklore, this street celebrates the late manga artist Mizuki Shigeru and his famous supernatural series Gegege no Kitaro. Yonago is accessible by plane from Tokyo via Yonago Kitaro Airport. The city is also accessible by train via the Sunrise Express from Tokyo or the Yakumo limited express from Okayama . From Yonago station, buses and taxis can take visitors to Kaike Onsen. Travelers planning to visit both eastern and western Tottori can break up their journey with an overnight stay at Hawai Onsen or Togo Onsen, which are located in the prefecture’s center. Nestled on the shores of Lake Togo and removed from the largest local cities, these adjacent resorts provide respite. A must-see attraction for guests at either resort is a group of seven hot spring foot baths spread out over about four kilometers between Togo Onsen and Hawai Onsen. Each of these uniquely-designed foot baths is named after one of the Shichifukujin (Seven gods of fortune) — deities who have been venerated in Japan for centuries. By walking to each of these foot baths, visitors can become acquainted with the local townscape and beautiful lakeside views. Togo Onsen is the easiest resort to access by train as many accommodations are located within walking distance of JR Matsuzaki station. Attractions such as Chinese Garden Enchoen — one of the largest authentic Chinese gardens in Japan — are also accessible from Togo Onsen on foot. Guests heading to Hawai Onsen, meanwhile, should stop at Kurayoshi station. Hawai Onsen is accessible from here by local bus or taxi in about ten to twenty minutes, and certain hotels and ryokan operate shuttle buses from Kurayoshi station. Both Kurayoshi station and Matsuzaki station are accessible via local trains. Kurayoshi is also a stop along the Super Hakuto limited express’s route, which provides fast transportation from Kyoto, Osaka, Kobe, Himeji and Tottori City . Legend claims that spending three mornings bathing at Misasa Onsen has the power to cure any ailment. This is just one of the stories connected to this hot spring area. Allegedly, Misasa Onsen was discovered over 800 years ago after being revealed in a dream to a samurai who had chosen to spare the life of a white wolf he encountered. After this, the springs became popular with pilgrims who planned to climb the nearby Mount Mitoku. Today, Misasa Onsen is recognized as a Japan Heritage site by the government’s Agency for Cultural Affairs, acknowledging the area’s rich legacy. The waters of Misasa Onsen are unique because they contain trace amounts of radon. Modern studies say that the springs are safe to bathe in, however, because they contain less radiation than technologies such as x-rays. Instead, it is believed that exposure to the springs’ small quantities of radon can have health benefits such as boosting immunity. Taxis from Kurayoshi station can reach Misasa Onsen in about fifteen minutes while local buses can transport visitors in twenty to thirty minutes. This makes it possible to enjoy Misasa Onsen as an overnight visitor or on a day trip from Kurayoshi . Day visitors are welcome at hot spring foot baths and day-use springs such as Kabuyu Public Bath — said to be the spring discovered by the samurai centuries before. Every hot spring facility in Tottori has its own rules, but it is currently common for local hot springs to not allow guests with tattoos into the main baths. However, tattooed visitors can possibly be accommodated in kashikiri buro (private rental) baths. Often used by couples or families, kashikiri can usually be reserved for time periods of about 45 minutes to one hour upon checking in to an accommodation (day visitors can sometimes rent them, but this depends on the facility). Not every hotel or ryokan has kashikiri, so make sure to confirm your desired accommodation has one ahead of time. Alternatively, many hotels and ryokan offer guest rooms that come with private hot spring baths. Tottori is a hidden gem that offers the best of rural Japan without sacrificing accessibility. There are a myriad of things to see and do throughout the year, and winter months are a particularly inviting time to experience local hot springs. When the desire to get away arises, Japan’s most peaceful prefecture is waiting for you.
NoneNone
OpenAI could reportedly give Microsoft access to its as-yet-unrealized artificial general intelligence (AGI). As it stands now, the artificial intelligence (AI) startup has a provision that blocks Microsoft from accessing OpenAI’s AGI, or AI that can think and perform tasks at or above the level of humans. However , OpenAI is considering removing that rule from its corporate structure, allowing Microsoft — its biggest benefactor — to continue to invest and access OpenAI technology once AGI is achieved , the Financial Times (FT) reported Friday (Dec. 6), citing sources familiar with the matter. According to the report, OpenAI initially added the provision to protect AGI from being misused for commercial purposes, giving ownership of the technology to its nonprofit board. “AGI is explicitly carved out of all commercial and IP licensing agreements,” the company’s website says. However, the FT said , this clause could limit the value of OpenAI’s partnership with Microsoft, which has invested more than $13 billion into the startup. The company will need more funding as it competes with much wealthier rivals in the AI race, like Amazon and Google. OpenAI — recently valued at $150 billion — began as a nonprofit research lab but is now restructuring to transform into a public benefit corporation. Source told the FT that — as part of these changes — the company is discussing new terms with Microsoft and other investors. “When we started, we had no idea we were going to be a product company or that the capital we needed would turn out to be so huge,” CEO Sam Altman told a New York Times conference last week, per the FT. “If we knew those things, we would have picked a different structure. “We’ve also said that our intention is to treat AGI as a mile marker along the way. We’ve left ourselves some flexibility because we don’t know what will happen,” added Altman, who could for the first time gain a direct equity stake in OpenAI under the restructure. It’s also not clear when AGI will arrive, though Altman said at the same conference that it will happen “sooner than most people in the world think and it will matter much less .” Earlier this year, OpenAI board member Adam D’Angelo predicted that AGI would happen “within five to 15 years,” calling it a “very, very important change in the world when we get there.”
Trump says he can't guarantee tariffs won't raise prices, won't rule out revenge prosecutions
- Previous: rabbit fortune pg
- Next: rabbit friends zodiac
