Despite the brief encounter, the snapshot of Zhao Liying and Lin Gengxin together created a buzz among fans, who were quick to express their joy and admiration for the two stars' humble and down-to-earth attitudes. The sight of Zhao Liying with her adorable son, and Lin Gengxin's friendly demeanor, left a lasting impression of genuine warmth and kindness, resonating with fans and onlookers alike.
President-elect Donald Trump’s pick of Andrew Ferguson to head the Federal Trade Commission is the latest sign that his administration plans to continue a crackdown on Big Tech bad actors that began during his first term in office, experts told The Post. Ferguson, who has served as an FTC commissioner since April and is the former chief counsel to Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), has pledged to crack down on Big Tech censorship – though he is expected to take a far more deal-friendly approach. The Republican regulator, who also once clerked for Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, will replace current FTC Chair Lina Khan, a Democrat who routinely infuriated Wall Street with a hard-charging approach to antitrust enforcement and merger review. Immediately after being announced as incoming chair, Ferguson said he would “end Big Tech’s vendetta against competition and free speech” and “make sure that America is the world’s technological leader and the best place for innovators to bring new ideas to life.” “I think he’ll certainly bring the heat on Big Tech but will likely be more targeted in his approach than Chair Khan,” said Joel Thayer, a DC-based tech policy lawyer. “His recent concurrence on ad cartels is a key example of that.” As recently as this month, Ferguson slammed the rise of “Big Tech censorship collusion” that blocked the flow of online discussion on everything from the COVID-19 pandemic to The Post’s exclusive reporting on Hunter Biden’s laptop. Ferguson also called out groups like the now-defund Global Alliance for Responsible Media (GARM) and NewsGuard for their role in stifling the flow of advertising dollars to outlets who are arbitrarily deemed risks to “brand safety.” The Republican warned that such organizations could be in violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act. Ferguson’s remarks echoed those of incoming FCC chairman Brendan Carr, an outspoken critic of Big Tech-enabled censorship who has also vowed to address bias in the digital advertising industry. “The Commission must use the full extent of its authority to protect the free speech of all Americans,” Ferguson said in a Dec. 2 statement. “That authority includes the power to investigate collusion that may suppress competition and, in doing so, suppress free speech online. We ought to conduct such an investigation. And if our investigation reveals anti-competitive cartels that facilitate or promote censorship, we ought to bust them up.” As FTC chair, Ferguson will inherit the agency’s various lawsuits – including pending cases against Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta and Amazon. Last month, Khan approved a major investigation against Microsoft that is focused on the company’s cloud-computing and artificial intelligence efforts. Ferguson frequently objected to Khan’s aggressive crackdown on dealmaking – and plans to reverse it. In a one-page memo circulated ahead of his nomination, Ferguson vowed to “reverse Lina Khan’s anti-business agenda,” including by instituting a repeal of what he described as “burdensome regulations.” Ferguson also said he would “end the FTC’s attempt to become an AI regulator” and “stop Lina Khan’s war on mergers.” “Based off of his dissents, it’s clear that Ferguson’s decisions are going to be a bit more measured than his predecessor,” added Thayer. “He seems very conscious of where the courts are on the administrative law issues.” Trump also appointed Mark Meador, a former DOJ and FTC official who served as an antitrust policy adviser for Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah), to serve as an FTC commissioner. Once confirmed, Meador will give the Republicans a majority at the agency. Meador is known to be a Big Tech skeptic and is expected to support efforts to crack down on the industry’s efforts to stifle smaller rivals. As The Post reported , Ferguson and Meador were both contenders for the FTC chair gig alongside fellow current Republican commissioner Melissa Holyoak, who drew scrutiny from anti-monopoly advocates over concerns that she would take a softer approach toward Big Tech. As a current FTC commissioner, Ferguson does not need to be confirmed again by the Senate – a fact that Trump addressed by noting he will be “able to fight on behalf of the American people on Day One of my administration.” “Andrew will be the most America First, and pro-innovation FTC Chair in our Country’s History,” Trump said.
Title: Xue Jianing Visits Zhao Lusi Again: Netizens Comment, "Being Together with Good Friends is Truly Wonderful"
Founder of failed crypto lending platform Celsius Network pleads guilty to fraud chargesRuud van Nistelrooy treated himself to a beer after enjoying a perfect start to his reign as Leicester manager. Van Nistelrooy’s first game in charge ended with a 3-1 win over West Ham, thanks to goals from Jamie Vardy, Bilal El Khannouss and Patson Daka. The Dutchman, who was out of work for just two weeks following his four-game spell as Manchester United interim boss, only started on Sunday so was happy to end a hectic three days in style. “It has been very busy getting to know everyone, start working together,” he said. “Everybody was involved with that and helping, it was busy, long days, but worth it. I was focused on the game and what the game needed, the subs, the half-time talk, so focused on the moment, so I am going to get myself a little beer and reflect on the last three days.” He endured a dream start as Vardy scored after just 98 seconds with El Khannouss and Daka adding second-half goals. It was by no means one-way traffic, though, as West Ham – who scored a consolation through Niclas Fullkrug at the death – had 30 shots on goal. But Van Nistelrooy saw enough to think he can deliver on his objective of keeping the Foxes in the Premier League. “I am very happy, if you look at the result – and it is about the result – it was a great night, three points, three good goals and also very effective. Ruud at the wheel 🛞 pic.twitter.com/eVgIwWAcYw — Leicester City (@LCFC) December 3, 2024 “Overall the game of course we have seen and how dominant West Ham were at certain stages and what they created, that is a fact and something we have to look at. “Overall, what I expected of the players going forward was togetherness and hunger, energy and spirit in this team that is fighting for every inch. “Eleven players on the pitch who are fighting as a foundation to play the rest of the Premier League. I saw that completely with every single player that started and came on. “That’s the foundation we have to build on, without that it will be impossible to get where we want to go. I am very happy about that.” West Ham’s hierarchy will have seen what impact a managerial change can have as the jury remains out on Julen Lopetegui, with away fans making their feelings clear by chanting “You’re getting sacked in the morning”. Lopetegui expects to keep his job but forthcoming games against his former club Wolves, Bournemouth, Brighton and Southampton could determine the Spaniard’s future. “The only thing that I am worried about is to go to training session tomorrow and stand up the players and prepare the next challenge,” he said. “We have one month of December with a lot of matches and I am sure with this attitude we are going to achieve many more points. “I believe in the players. I am confident that tomorrow we are going to be ready to prepare the next match. “Understanding the question, but at the end of the season maybe we talk in another way. There are a lot of matches and points, a lot of things can happen. “I believe in these players and team, I am sure the position is going to be much better. They are only words but we have to work a lot to achieve this.”
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The long-running gang and racketeering trial that led Atlanta rapper Young Thug to plead guilty in October ended on Tuesday with the last two defendants found not guilty of racketeering, murder and gang-related charges. Deamonte Kendrick, who raps as Yak Gotti, was acquitted of all charges and Shannon Stillwell was found guilty only of gun possession. The verdicts came nearly two years after jury selection began and a year after opening statements in a trial plagued with problems. The original, sweeping indictment used song lyrics and social media posts as evidence and charged 28 people with conspiring to violate Georgia’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act. Young Thug, a Grammy-winning artist whose real name is Jeffery Williams, was set free on probation after he pleaded guilty in October to gang, drug and gun charges. RELATED STORY | Rapper Young Thug pleads guilty to gang, drug and gun charges Kendrick and Stillwell were charged in a 2015 drive-by shooting outside an Atlanta barbershop that killed Donovan Thomas Jr., also known as “Big Nut,” who prosecutors said was in a rival gang. Stillwell also was charged with fatally shooting Shymel Drinks at a red light in 2022, allegedly in retaliation for the killings days earlier of two associates in a gang known as YSL, which prosecutors said was co-founded by Young Thug. Stillwell was sentenced to the 10-year maximum for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon previously convicted of a felony involving a gun, with credit for the two years he already served and the balance to be served on probation. Nine of the defendants, including the rapper Gunna, accepted plea deals before the trial began, and four more pleaded guilty during the trial, in October. Charges against 12 others remain pending. Prosecutors dropped charges against one defendant after he was convicted of murder in an unrelated case. That left Kendrick and Stillwell, both of whom were stabbed while in jail — Stillwell last year and Kendrick on Sunday. Tuesday's verdicts were a major setback for Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis. Critics had criticized her use of the state’s anti-racketeering law, which she also used to bring charges against President-elect Donald Trump for his attempts to overturn the 2020 election. “We always respect the verdict of a jury,” said Jeff DiSantis, a spokesperson for Willis. Defense attorneys said the state relied on faulty evidence — song lyrics, cherry-picked social media posts and unreliable witness testimony — to create a misleading narrative about young men who turned to music to escape economic hardship and difficult pasts. The jury's decision left Tasha Kendrick, Kendrick's mom, in tears. “I’m just thankful for a lot of things right now,” she said. “My emotions are all over the place right now." RELATED STORY | Judge removed from gang and racketeering case against rapper Young Thug Prosecutors said Williams and two others founded Young Slime Life in association with the national Bloods gang in 2012. The 33-year-old artist also has a record label called Young Stoner Life. Kendrick is featured on two of the most popular songs from the label’s compilation album Slime Language 2, “Take It to Trial” and “Slatty,” as well as Young Thug’s “Slime Sh-t," which prosecutors presented as evidence. Williams entered a risky “blind” plea — meaning he pleaded guilty without an agreement on his sentence — in October. Williams’ lawyer said he felt like they were winning, but the rapper complained that sitting in court felt like “hell” and wanted to go home to his family. Judge Paige Reese Whitaker let him out of jail on probation with tight restrictions, including a 10-year ban from metro Atlanta except for certain occasions. The trial shook Atlanta’s rap scene. Williams grew up in a violent Atlanta housing project and became a highly successful artist who added his own melodic twist to the modern Southern trap sound he helped popularize. Fulton County Superior Court Judge Ural Glanville was removed from the case in July after he met with prosecutors and a state witness without defense attorneys present. Kendrick’s attorney Doug Weinstein said defendants got a “fair trial” once Whitaker took over. Among other things, she reprimanded the prosecution for being disorganized and not sharing evidence. During closings, Stillwell’s defense attorney Max Schardt sought to cast doubts on the gang investigators and other state witnesses. Several alleged YSL members testified they had lied to police to stay out of prison. Schardt said officers had threatened them with long prison sentences if they didn’t say the right thing. Prosecutors said those witnesses were honest with police but lied on the stand, in front of the people they had “snitched” on. They said their statements were corroborated by other evidence such as songs and social media posts where they said defendants were “bragging about murder.” RELATED STORY | Why Young Thug's popularity is making his court case so complex Prosecutors threw together lyrics, social media posts and irrelevant evidence to “see what sticks,” Weinstein argued, but did not prove they were connected to a criminal enterprise. While defendants did commit crimes in the past, Schardt said during closings, it was to make money for themselves in communities stripped of economic opportunity — not to advance a gang. And music let some of them move on. “As a whole, we know the struggles that these communities have had,” Schardt said. “A sad, tacit acceptance that it’s either rap, prison or death.” Both defense attorneys said Kendrick and Stillwell have other pending charges but hope to get them released from jail as soon as possible. Stillwell is not “blind to the fact that he is getting a second chance at life," Schardt said. Weinstein said Kendrick, who is close friends with Young Thug, was laser-focused on his music career before the state pulled him back into the criminal justice system. “I’m so happy that he can kind of draw a line in the sand now,” Weinstein said. “All of this is behind him. He can get on with his life and not worry about this nonsense.”The employee, whose identity remains undisclosed, had been with the company for several years and had consistently demonstrated hard work and dedication in their role. Feeling undervalued and underpaid, they decided to take the initiative to address their concerns by sending an email to their supervisor requesting a salary increase.