Michail Antonio had video call with West Ham team before their win over WolvesWASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect on Tuesday named Andrew Ferguson as the next chair of the . He will replace Lina Khan, who became a lightning rod for Wall Street and Silicon Valley by blocking billions of dollars’ worth of corporate acquisitions and suing Amazon and Meta while . Ferguson is already one of the FTC’s five commissioners, which is currently made up of three Democrats and two Republicans. “Andrew has a proven record of standing up to Big Tech censorship, and protecting Freedom of Speech in our Great Country,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, adding, “Andrew will be the most America First, and pro-innovation FTC Chair in our Country’s History.” The replacement of Khan likely means that the FTC will operate with a lighter touch when it comes to antitrust enforcement. The new chair is expected to appoint new directors of the FTC’s antitrust and consumer protection divisions. “These changes likely will make the FTC more favorable to business than it has been in recent years, though the extent to which is to be determined,” wrote Anthony DiResta, a consumer protection attorney at Holland & Knight, . Deals that were blocked by the Biden administration could find new life with Trump in command. For example, the new leadership could be more open to a proposed merger between the country’s two biggest supermarket chains, Kroger and Albertsons, which forged a $24.6 billion deal to combine in 2022. Two judges Tuesday night. The FTC had earlier this year to block the merger, claiming the deal would eliminate competition, leading to higher prices and lower wages for workers. The two companies say a merger would help them lower prices and compete against bigger rivals like Walmart. One of the judges said the FTC had shown it was likely to prevail in the administrative hearing. Yet given the widespread public concern over high grocery prices, the Trump administration may not fully abandon the FTC’s efforts to block the deal, some experts have said. And the FTC may continue to scrutinize Big Tech firms for any anticompetitive behavior. Many Republican politicians have accused firms such as Meta of censoring conservative views, and some officials in Trump’s orbit, most notably Vice President-elect JD Vance, have previously expressed support for Khan’s scrutiny of Big Tech firms. In addition to Fergson, Trump also announced Tuesday that he had selected Jacob Helberg as the next undersecretary of state for economic growth, energy and the environment.jl99 jili slot download 。

French Ambassador to Korea Philippe Bertoux gives a speech during an event held at his residence in Seoul, Dec. 9. Korea Times photo by Kim Hyun-bin By Kim Hyun-bin French Ambassador to Korea Philippe Bertoux praised the remarkable achievements of 2024, with a special focus on the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics and Paralympics, during an event held at his residence in Seoul, Dec. 9. Addressing a distinguished gathering, Bertoux highlighted the unforgettable moments the Games brought to the world, emphasizing the event's role in uniting people through the power of sports. "The Paris 2024 Summer Olympics and Paralympics were the highlights of the year," he said. "From the opening ceremony along the River Seine to the electrifying performances across all sports, we have witnessed unforgettable moments that showcase the power of sports to bring people together." Bertoux underscored the revolutionary nature of the Paris Games, sharing staggering audience figures released by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). "The figures in terms of audience are truly astonishing, with 5 billion viewers and 16.7 billion commitments on social networks. The Paris Games are by far the most successful ever organized," he said. The ambassador took the opportunity to commend the athletes from around the world, with a special mention of the Korean Olympic and Paralympic teams. "Tonight, we will, of course, especially congratulate the South Korean Olympic and Paralympic team. You have made your country proud, and you are truly inspiring for all of us," Bertoux said. "I want to have a special word of appreciation for you and your coaches who share in your successes." Bertoux also highlighted the growing significance of esports, acknowledging the presence of the Team Vitality League of Legends team. "Today, we are very proud to welcome Team Vitality, who has been training at the Gen.G Academy. Your cooperation and the time spent training in Korea will surely inspire future successes," he said. The golden cross designed by French artist Guillaume Blardet over the tabernacle at the Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral in Paris, Dec. 8. The Notre Dame de Paris Cathedral reopened Dec. 7 after nearly six years of renovation work following its destruction by a fire on April 15, 2019. EPA-Yonhap In addition to the Paris Games, Bertoux celebrated the reopening of the Notre-Dame Cathedral on Dec. 7, a significant event following a devastating fire in 2019. The reopening included a series of celebratory events and special tours that highlighted the history and significance of the cathedral. "This weekend, we had an incredible event with the reopening of Notre-Dame Cathedral. French craftsmen have worked tirelessly to restore this beloved symbol in less than five years," he said. The ambassador linked these accomplishments to the broader "Make it Iconic" campaign, aimed at promoting France not just as a destination but as a symbol of creativity and resilience. "We offer in France a diversity of people and talents who keep challenging new ideas and contribute to French attractiveness," Bertoux said. Turning to economic matters, Bertoux highlighted France's resilience in the face of global challenges. "Our economy has been particularly resilient despite the COVID crisis and current geopolitical complexities. Over the last 12 months, our growth reached 13 percent, higher than the EU average," he said. He emphasized France's strategic position for foreign investments, including those from Korea, due to its nearly decarbonized electricity and world-class scientists. Bertoux concluded his speech by celebrating the deepening ties between Korea and France. "The number of Korean tourists traveling to France has increased steadily. We believe that by promoting new travel experiences, sustainable tourism and deeper cultural exchanges, we will encourage more Koreans to explore the wonders of our nation," he said. As the year closes, Bertoux expressed his gratitude to all attendees, especially the Olympic champions who contributed to the warmth and strength of bilateral relations. Looking ahead, he noted the upcoming 140th anniversary of the Korea-France friendship in 2026 as another milestone to celebrate.American and European stock markets mostly rose on Wednesday after inflation data cemented expectations that the US Federal Reserve will trim interest rates next month. While the Dow fell slightly, the other two major US indices advanced, led by the tech-rich Nasdaq, which piled on almost two percent to close above 20,000 points for the first time. The consumer price index (CPI) rose to 2.7 percent last month from a year ago, up slightly from 2.6 percent in October. "With the CPI numbers broadly in line, it is likely that the Fed will not be derailed and will cut rates again next week," Jochen Stanzl, chief market analyst at CMC Markets. "The data is not a showstopper for the current bull run on Wall Street," he added. Ahead of the data, investors priced in an 86 percent chance the Fed will cut interest rates next week by a quarter percentage point. That rose to more than 98 percent after the CPI data was published. Stocks in Paris and Frankfurt rose ahead of the European Central Bank's own interest rate announcement on Thursday, with analysts expecting another cut as it seeks to boost eurozone growth. Investors are also eyeing political developments in France, where officials said President Emmanuel Macron aims to name a new prime minister "within 48 hours" as he seeks to end political deadlock following the ouster of Michel Barnier. In company news, shares in German retail giant Zalando shed more than four percent on Frankfurt's DAX index, after it acquired domestic rival About You in a deal worth around 1.1 billion euros ($1.2 billion). Shares in Zara owner Inditex slid more than six percent after a record quarterly profit for the group fell short of market estimates. Among US companies, Google parent Alphabet earned 5.5 percent as it announced the launch of Gemini 2.0, its most advanced artificial intelligence model to date. That added to gains after Google also announced Tuesday details of a breakthrough quantum chip. Shares in Shanghai rose but Hong Kong gave up an early rally to end in the red. Traders were keeping tabs on China to see if it will announce further measures to support its struggling economy as leaders were to gather Wednesday for a conference to hammer out next year's agenda. President Xi Jinping and other top leaders on Monday announced their first major shift in policy for more than a decade, saying they would "implement a more active fiscal policy and an appropriately relaxed" strategy. Those remarks sparked hopes for more interest rate cuts and the freeing up of more cash for lending. New York - Dow: DOWN 0.2 percent at 44,148.56 (close) New York - S&P 500: UP 0.8 percent at 6,084.19 (close) New York - Nasdaq Composite: UP 1.8 percent at 20,034.89 (close) London - FTSE 100: UP 0.3 percent at 8,301.62 (close) Paris - CAC 40: UP 0.4 percent at 7,423.40 (close) Frankfurt - DAX: UP 0.3 percent at 20,399.16 (close) Tokyo - Nikkei 225: FLAT at 39,372.23 (close) Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: DOWN 0.8 percent at 20,155.05 (close) Shanghai - Composite: UP 0.3 percent at 3,432.49 (close) Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.0498 from $1.0527 on Tuesday Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.2752 from $1.2771 Dollar/yen: UP at 152.40 yen from 151.95 yen Euro/pound: DOWN at 82.31 from 82.42 pence Brent North Sea Crude: UP 1.8 percent at $73.52 per barrel West Texas Intermediate: UP 2.4 percent at $70.29 per barrel burs-jmb/mlm

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Shoppers have been poking fun at the absence of Harry and Meghan from Selfridges' Royal family Christmas bauble range, with some suggesting that the Sussexes' decorations might be "in the bargain bin". The high-end Oxford Street store is selling £40 ornaments resembling King Charles, the late Queen Elizabeth , and the Waleses, but neither the Sussexes nor King Charles' wife Camilla , the Queen consort, are included. Social media users have reacted to this omission, with one quipping: "I'm presuming that the Harry and Meghan baubles are in the bargain bin?!" Another chimed in with a sarcastic: "I am sure Queen Camilla is very grateful!" However, not everyone was taken with the design and quality of the baubles on offer. One critic labelled them as "tacky", while another questioned: "Who in God's name would want to look at William or his dad? " A third disparaged the baubles of the Prince and Princess of Wales, remarking: "Both awful looking. No doubt the royal sycophants on here will lap these up, though." Despite the criticism, the unique baubles did attract attention inside Selfridges, with many shoppers pausing to admire them before being deterred by the hefty price tag. A pair of American tourists took a photo with the Prince William bauble but noted: "It's nice - but not for £40!" Similarly, a woman observed to her companion: "They're sweet - but £40 just for one?" Prince William 's baubles were nestled between those resembling British actress Audrey Hepburn and American musician Post Malone. Other celebrities featured around the future king included Amy Winehouse, Harry Styles, Freddie Mercury, Britney Spears , and Paul Hollywood . The festive ornaments, crafted from coloured glass, stand approximately 12 - 13cm tall. King Charles is portrayed in his full Coronation Day attire, while the late Queen Elizabeth is adorned with one of her many crowns. On its website, Selfridges describes its Kate Middleton decoration as "a stunning depiction of Her Royal Highness Princess Kate." Regarding its Prince William bauble, the store states: "This piece is sure to add a hint of regal sophistication to your Christmas decor."By CHRISTOPHER RUGABER WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday named Andrew Ferguson as the next chair of the Federal Trade Commission . He will replace Lina Khan, who became a lightning rod for Wall Street and Silicon Valley by blocking billions of dollars’ worth of corporate acquisitions and suing Amazon and Meta while alleging anticompetitive behavior . Ferguson is already one of the FTC’s five commissioners, which is currently made up of three Democrats and two Republicans. “Andrew has a proven record of standing up to Big Tech censorship, and protecting Freedom of Speech in our Great Country,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, adding, “Andrew will be the most America First, and pro-innovation FTC Chair in our Country’s History.” Related Articles National Politics | Donald Trump is returning to the world stage. So is his trolling National Politics | Biden says he was ‘stupid’ not to put his name on pandemic relief checks like Trump did National Politics | Biden issues veto threat on bill expanding federal judiciary as partisan split emerges National Politics | Trump lawyers and aide hit with 10 additional felony charges in Wisconsin over 2020 fake electors National Politics | After withdrawing as attorney general nominee, Matt Gaetz lands a talk show on OANN television The replacement of Khan likely means that the FTC will operate with a lighter touch when it comes to antitrust enforcement. The new chair is expected to appoint new directors of the FTC’s antitrust and consumer protection divisions. “These changes likely will make the FTC more favorable to business than it has been in recent years, though the extent to which is to be determined,” wrote Anthony DiResta, a consumer protection attorney at Holland & Knight, in a recent analysis . Deals that were blocked by the Biden administration could find new life with Trump in command. For example, the new leadership could be more open to a proposed merger between the country’s two biggest supermarket chains, Kroger and Albertsons, which forged a $24.6 billion deal to combine in 2022. Two judges halted the merger Tuesday night. The FTC had filed a lawsuit in federal court earlier this year to block the merger, claiming the deal would eliminate competition, leading to higher prices and lower wages for workers. The two companies say a merger would help them lower prices and compete against bigger rivals like Walmart. One of the judges said the FTC had shown it was likely to prevail in the administrative hearing. Yet given the widespread public concern over high grocery prices, the Trump administration may not fully abandon the FTC’s efforts to block the deal, some experts have said. And the FTC may continue to scrutinize Big Tech firms for any anticompetitive behavior. Many Republican politicians have accused firms such as Meta of censoring conservative views, and some officials in Trump’s orbit, most notably Vice President-elect JD Vance, have previously expressed support for Khan’s scrutiny of Big Tech firms. In addition to Fergson, Trump also announced Tuesday that he had selected Jacob Helberg as the next undersecretary of state for economic growth, energy and the environment.

The Indiana vs. Notre Dame matchup in the first round of the College Football Playoff is the most expensive ticket on StubHub, but it's Tennessee vs. Ohio State that's selling the fastest. StubHub spokesperson Adam Budelli said Monday that the game being hosted in Columbus, Ohio, on Dec. 21 has sold 34% more tickets than the game in South Bend, Indiana, on Dec. 20. “The expanded college football playoffs are seeing early high demand, especially as we see new teams enter the competition for the first time,” Budelli said. StubHub lists tickets for sale from official event organizers, but most of its offerings are from the resale market. Here's the ticket marketplace's average CFP first-round prices as of Monday evening: 1. Indiana at Notre Dame — $733 2. Clemson at Texas — $518 3. Tennessee at Ohio State — $413 4. SMU at Penn State — $271 ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football

Israeli troops forcibly remove staff and patients from northern Gaza hospital, officials sayNoneNasdaq surges above 20,000 after US inflation data matches estimates

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