Jim Chao, CEO of Confidence USA, Featured in Exclusive Online Interview on Health and InnovationIn conclusion, the inaugural Amazon Global Selling Seller Summit in Nanjing marks a pivotal moment in the city's journey towards becoming a prominent player in the global e-commerce landscape. Through strategic initiatives and partnerships, Nanjing is poised to empower businesses, drive innovation, and solidify its position as a hub for cross-border trade. As the city continues to prioritize the development of high-quality cross-border e-commerce enterprises, the future looks promising for Nanjing's ascent on the global stage.
Officer kills pet dog mistaken for a coyote in Massachusetts town. The owner says it was unnecessary An animal control officer shot and killed a pet dog in a Massachusetts town after mistaking it for a coyote in an incident local police are describing as a sad mix-up. Police in Northbridge, Massachusetts, say the shooting happened on Tuesday after police received a call of a report of a coyote in a residential backyard. Police say the animal control officer went into the woods to look for the coyote and found what they thought was the animal in a threatening position and shot it. The incident happened as communities around Massachusetts and the country have dealt with an uptick in interactions between coyotes and people. Alyssa Nakken, first full-time female coach in MLB history, leaving Giants to join Guardians CLEVELAND (AP) — Alyssa Nakken, the first woman to coach in an MLB game, is leaving the San Francisco Giants to join the Cleveland Guardians. Nakken made history in 2022 when she took over as first-base coach following an ejection. A former college softball star at Sacramento State, Nakken joined the Giants in 2014 and was promoted to a spot on manager Gabe Kapler’s staff in 2020, becoming the majors’ first full-time female coach. Nakken has been hired as an assistant director within player development for the Guardians, who won the AL Central last season under first-year manager Stephen Vogt. Nakken, 34, will work with former Giants coaches Craig Albernaz and Kai Correa. Kendrick Lamar surprises with new album 'GNX' LOS ANGELES (AP) — Kendrick Lamar gave music listeners an early holiday present with a new album. The Grammy winner released his sixth studio album “GNX” on Friday. The 12-track project is the rapper’s first release since 2022’s “Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers.” Lamar’s new album comes just months after his rap battle with Drake. The rap megastar will headline February's Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show in New Orleans. The 37-year-old has experienced massive success since his debut album “good kid, m.A.A.d city” in 2012. Since then, he’s accumulated 17 Grammy wins and became the first non-classical, non-jazz musician to win a Pulitzer Prize. NBA memo to players urges increased vigilance regarding home security following break-ins MIAMI (AP) — The NBA is urging its players to take additional precautions to secure their homes following reports of recent high-profile burglaries of dwellings owned by Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis and Kansas City Chiefs teammates Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce. In a memo sent to team officials, a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press, the NBA revealed that the FBI has connected some burglaries to “transnational South American Theft Groups” that are “reportedly well-organized, sophisticated rings that incorporate advanced techniques and technologies, including pre-surveillance, drones, and signal jamming devices.” Ancient meets modern as a new subway in Greece showcases archaeological treasures THESSALONIKI, Greece (AP) — Thessaloniki, Greece’s second-largest city, is opening a new subway system, blending ancient archaeological treasures with modern transit technology like driverless trains and platform screen doors. The project, which began in 2003, uncovered over 300,000 artifacts, including a Roman-era thoroughfare and Byzantine relics, many of which are now displayed in its 13 stations. Despite delays caused by preserving these findings, the inaugural line has been completed, with a second line set to open next year. Conor McGregor must pay $250K to woman who says he raped her, civil jury rules LONDON (AP) — A civil jury in Ireland has awarded more than $250,000 to a woman who says she was raped by mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor in a Dublin hotel penthouse after a night of heavy partying. The jury on Friday awarded Nikita Hand in her lawsuit that claimed McGregor “brutally raped and battered” her in 2018. The lawsuit says the assault left her heavily bruised and suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. McGregor testified that he never forced her to do anything and that Hand fabricated her allegations after the two had consensual sex. McGregor says he will appeal the verdict. At least 19 people are sick in Minnesota from ground beef tied to E. coli recall U.S. health officials say at least 19 people in Minnesota have been sickened by E. coli poisoning tied to a national recall of more than 167,000 pounds of potentially tainted ground beef. Detroit-based Wolverine Packing Co. recalled the meat sent to restaurants nationwide. Minnesota state agriculture officials reported multiple illnesses and found that a sample of the product tested positive for E. coli, which can cause life-threatening infections. No illnesses have been reported outside of Minnesota. Symptoms of E. coli poisoning include fever, vomiting, diarrhea and signs of dehydration. Actor Jonathan Majors’ ex-girlfriend drops assault and defamation lawsuit against once-rising star NEW YORK (AP) — Jonathan Majors’ ex-girlfriend has dropped her assault and defamation lawsuit against the once-rising Hollywood star after reaching a settlement. Lawyers for Majors and Grace Jabbari agreed to dismiss the case with prejudice Thursday. Jabbari is a British dancer who had accused Majors of subjecting her to escalating incidents of physical and verbal abuse during their relationship. Representatives for Majors didn’t respond to emails seeking comment Friday. Jabbari’s lawyer said the suit was “favorably settled” and her client is moving on with “her head held high.” Majors was convicted of misdemeanor assault and harassment last December and sentenced to a yearlong counseling program. Hyundai, Kia recall over 208,000 electric vehicles to fix problem that can cause loss of power DETROIT (AP) — Hyundai and Kia are recalling over 208,000 electric vehicles to fix a pesky problem that can cause loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash. The recalls cover more than 145,000 Hyundai and Genesis vehicles including the 2022 through 2024 Ioniq 5, the 2023 through 2025 Ioniq 6, GV60 and GV70, and the 2023 and 2024 G80. Also included are nearly 63,000 Kia EV 6 vehicles from 2022 through 2024. The affiliated Korean automakers say in government documents that a transistor in a charging control unit can be damaged and stop charging the 12-volt battery. Dealers will inspect and replace the control unit and a fuse if needed. They also will update software. Christmas TV movies are in their Taylor Swift era, with two Swift-inspired films airing this year Two of the new holiday movies coming to TV this season have a Taylor Swift connection that her fans would have no problem decoding. “Christmas in the Spotlight” debuts Saturday on Lifetime. It stars Jessica Lord as the world’s biggest pop star and Laith Wallschleger, playing a pro football player, who meet and fall in love, not unlike Swift and her boyfriend, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. On Nov. 30, Hallmark will air “Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story.” Instead of a nod to Swift, it’s an ode to family traditions and bonding, like rooting for a sports team. Hallmark’s headquarters is also in Kansas City.AP Trending SummaryBrief at 7:10 a.m. EST
Avior Wealth Management LLC Trims Stock Holdings in KeyCorp (NYSE:KEY)Zach Kittley finalizing agreement to take over as Florida Atlantic coach, AP source says
Mayor Frey: Minneapolis can prove to the nation it’s possible to run an effective governmentHezbollah attack draws Israeli strikes on Lebanon, killing 11 people and testing ceasefire's limits
As we head into December, all eyes will be on the oil market to see if prices continue to decline and reach new lows. While this trend is encouraging for consumers and businesses, it's crucial to approach the situation with caution and be mindful of potential risks and uncertainties in the market.The implications of this phenomenon are far-reaching, with potential consequences for both the environment and human activity. On a climatic level, the lack of cooling down following heavy snow could disrupt ecosystems and natural habitats, impacting wildlife and vegetation. For example, certain plant and animal species may be negatively affected by the failure of temperatures to drop, throwing off their seasonal cycles and reproductive patterns. In the long term, such disruptions could have cascading effects on biodiversity and ecosystem functioning.
The overwhelming demand caused the OpenAI website to become temporarily inaccessible for some users, as servers strained to accommodate the massive influx of traffic. But despite the technical difficulties, the excitement and anticipation surrounding Sora's debut only continued to grow.The investigation stems from complaints raised regarding Nvidia's business practices in China, particularly related to its dominance in the GPU market and potential anti-competitive behavior. China's anti-monopoly laws aim to protect fair competition and prevent monopolistic practices that harm consumer interests. As one of the world's largest GPU manufacturers, Nvidia's market power has raised concerns about its impact on competition and pricing in the industry.
In the end, Real Madrid emerged victorious, securing a crucial win that reignited their hopes in the European competition. The players celebrated with passion and pride, knowing that their sacrifice and hard work had paid off in the most fulfilling way possible. The early comeback had been a gamble, but it had paid dividends, restoring faith and confidence in the team's abilities.Ollie Schniederjans and a LIV rules official assessing Schniederjans' lie on Friday. LIV Golf/YouTube If you were trying to identify the Next Big Thing in 2015, Ollie Schniederjans would have been on your short list. Until he wasn’t. All of which helps explain why this week Schniederjans is playing golf halfway across the world on a quest to land a new home with LIV Golf , where purses are $25 million and last season only seven players made less than $2 million. Joining Schniederjans at the LIV Golf Promotions event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, were 92 other hopefuls, only one of whom — the winner of the 72-hole event — will earn entrée to LIV for the 2025 season (though the top 10 finishers, including ties, will earn full exemptions into the Asian Tour’s 2025 International Series). We say were because after Friday’s second round at Riyadh Golf Club, the field was whittled down to 20 golfers who will play 36 holes on Saturday to determine the champion. Trimming a field down to a round number typically requires a playoff, and this event was no exception. On Friday, six entrants — Schniederjans among them — finished 36 holes tied for 20th at three under, meaning a sudden-death playoff was necessary to determine which one of those players would advance. When Schniederjans and MJ Maguire were the only players to birdie the first playoff hole — the 396-yard par-4 18th — the 6-for-1 playoff quickly became 2-for-1, which is how it stayed when Schniederjans and Maguire replayed 18 and made matching birdies again. On their third go-around on the home hole (fourth including regulation), Maguire found the fairway, but Schniederjans did not; after carrying the water, his ball settled into a sandy waste area roughly 30 yards short and right of the green. His lie looked wicked — his ball nestled up against the crusty collar of rough on the far side of the sand — and it was wicked, especially given the magnitude of the approach shot Schniederjans was facing. Bad break? Nope, quite the opposite, actually, because Schniederjans was about to get free relief from an unusual rule. Thanks to a local rule instituted by LIV this week to prevent players from hurting themselves when faced with precarious shots like this one, Schniederjans was permitted to identify his nearest point of relief — in this case, the light rough outside the waste area — and drop his ball within a club-length of that spot. “It’s a short enough shot that he wouldn’t really hurt himself, but you can’t take that into account when you’re designing the local rules,” LIV Golf analyst Jerry Foltz said on the broadcast. Su-Ann Heng, LIV’s on-course reporter, called the ruling “a huge break,” later adding of the drop, “MJ is looking pretty closely at it, too.” Schniederjans’ break got even better when during his drop procedure, his ball twice rolled out of the relief area, meaning he was permitted to place his ball on a perfect lie. “Every once in a while, the rules work to your advantage,” Foltz said. To which Heng said: “If you’re MJ, though, I’m sure you’re a little bit disappointed.” Schniederjans didn’t catch his approach as cleanly as he would have liked, leaving himself about 10 feet for birdie. Maguire’s attempt from the middle of the fairway also left little to be desired as it ran 20 feet by the hole from where he failed to make 3. Then it was Schniederjans’ turn: hole the putt and advance to Saturday’s 36-hole finale, or miss it and play a fourth playoff hole. As Schniederjans’ ball rolled toward the cup, there was never a doubt. Bingo . Asked about the ruling after the round, Schniederjans said, “I was assuming I was getting relief, but I hadn’t been in that spot all week. That was obviously a great break.” Of course, for Schniederjans, there is still much work to be done. Thirty-six holes and 19 players still stand between him and a chance to prove himself in LIV’s big-money showdowns in 2025. But that chance is something Schniederjans desperately wants. “I’ve been through a lot,” he said Friday evening as dusk settled over Riyadh Golf Club. “I want to play against the best players in the world again. I think I’m coming back to I’m fully healthy. I just want to prove myself again and get that opportunity.” Latest In News Golf.com Editor As GOLF.com’s executive editor, Bastable is responsible for the editorial direction and voice of one of the game’s most respected and highly trafficked news and service sites. He wears many hats — editing, writing, ideating, developing, daydreaming of one day breaking 80 — and feels privileged to work with such an insanely talented and hardworking group of writers, editors and producers. Before grabbing the reins at GOLF.com, he was the features editor at GOLF Magazine. A graduate of the University of Richmond and the Columbia School of Journalism, he lives in New Jersey with his wife and foursome of kids.Qatar Airways has launched its latest safety video - titled "A safety video coming from the Hart" - led by comedian Kevin Hart and a host of other famous names. The humorous yet informative video will be available on select flights this month before a full rollout in January 2025. Qatar Airways new safety video ft. Kevin Hart New Qatar Airways Global Brand Ambassador Kevin Hart is at the center of the airline's upcoming safety video set to play onboard all Qatar Airways flights by next month. Hart has established himself as one of Hollywood's most bankable stars and will be joined by the likes of Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Khaby Lame, Anwar and Amal Jibawi, and Adam Waheed. The seven-minute safety video was directed by Hollywood veteran Tim Story, who has collaborated with Hart before on the 'Ride Along' franchise. The video opens with Hart sitting in first class accepting a challenge to create a safety video that isn't "flat out boring." Parts of the video take passengers around Nairobi, Paris, New York, Sydney and various sites in Qatar - the first celebrity to cameo is Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, who helps Kevin Hart stow an item of cabin baggage into the overhead locker. Kevin Hart commented, "Buckle Up! This safety video is unlike anything you have seen on-board a luxury airline before. I have loved partnering with Qatar Airways to produce a video that passengers will not only pay attention to but remember for a long time coming, or at least until their next flight." Giving passengers something to watch Airlines have invested a lot in their safety videos in recent years in an attempt to grab attention. With smartphones becoming ubiquitous around a decade ago, a lot of passengers instinctively reach for their phones when they've taken their seat, usually missing out on most of the safety information on the screen in front. With a star like Kevin Hart leading an action-packed and funny video, it is hoped passengers will put their phones away and enjoy the interesting content. As Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Officer, Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, noted, "As we continue to become more technologically advanced, we are seeing more and more passengers not paying enough attention to the in-flight safety video, instead opting for entertainment content on their other devices. We decided there was no better way to capture their attention than with their favourite celebrities and content creators." Over the years, we've seen safety demonstrations move from the cabin crew to the seatback screen. Not on all airlines, of course - many still task the flight attendants with this important job. However, on plenty of international carriers, the inflight safety demonstration has evolved into more of a marketing tool than anything else. We've seen catchy songs, videos promoting destinations in the airline's home country, the iconic LOTR Air New Zealand effort... even United with its strange blue ball. But do we need all this distraction? Personally, I prefer a basic safety video - just some people delivering the information that is going to keep me and my family safe during the flight. It does seem that we are perhaps seeing a return to more basic safety videos - Cathay's newly released creation doesn't overdo the frills and delivers information quite well (although it is still 6 minutes long!). For me, I'd rather have a real person doing the demo or at least a very stripped-back video pl This is something other airlines have recognized too - one recent example that comes to mind is British Airways, which rolled out an extravagant period drama-inspired safety video this summer. Nowadays, when you're flying with a major airline, you can expect some kind of song and dance in your safety video - however, Middle Eastern carrier Emirates went in the opposite direction for its latest safety video, instead opting for a "no-nonsense" approach and keeping the entertainment for its IFE content.By JILL COLVIN and STEPHEN GROVES WASHINGTON (AP) — After several weeks working mostly behind closed doors, Vice President-elect JD Vance returned to Capitol Hill this week in a new, more visible role: Helping Donald Trump try to get his most contentious Cabinet picks to confirmation in the Senate, where Vance has served for the last two years. Vance arrived at the Capitol on Wednesday with former Rep. Matt Gaetz and spent the morning sitting in on meetings between Trump’s choice for attorney general and key Republicans, including members of the Senate Judiciary Committee. The effort was for naught: Gaetz announced a day later that he was withdrawing his name amid scrutiny over sex trafficking allegations and the reality that he was unlikely to be confirmed. Thursday morning Vance was back, this time accompanying Pete Hegseth, the “Fox & Friends Weekend” host whom Trump has tapped to be the next secretary of defense. Hegseth also has faced allegations of sexual assault that he denies. Vance is expected to accompany other nominees for meetings in coming weeks as he tries to leverage the two years he has spent in the Senate to help push through Trump’s picks. Vice President-elect JD Vance, still a Republican senator from Ohio, walks from a private meeting with President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to be attorney general, former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to be attorney general, former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., center, and Vice President-elect JD Vance, left, walk out of a meeting with Republican Senate Judiciary Committee members, at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis) FILE – Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, departs the chamber at the Capitol in Washington, March 15, 2023. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File) FILE – Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, center speaks during a Senate Banking Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, March 7, 2023. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File) FILE – Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, right, speaks with Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, before testifying at a hearing, March 9, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf, File) FILE – Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, arrives for a classified briefing on China, at the Capitol in Washington, Feb. 15, 2023. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File) FILE – Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, arrives for a vote on Capitol Hill, Sept. 12, 2023 in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, File) FILE – Sen. JD Vance R-Ohio speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Feb. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File) Vice President-elect JD Vance, still a Republican senator from Ohio, walks from a private meeting with President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to be attorney general, former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) Vance is taking on an atypical role as Senate guide for Trump nominees The role of introducing nominees around Capitol Hill is an unusual one for a vice president-elect. Usually the job goes to a former senator who has close relationships on the Hill, or a more junior aide. But this time the role fits Vance, said Marc Short, who served as Trump’s first director of legislative affairs as well as chief of staff to Trump’s first vice president, Mike Pence, who spent more than a decade in Congress and led the former president’s transition ahead of his first term. ”JD probably has a lot of current allies in the Senate and so it makes sense to have him utilized in that capacity,” Short said. Unlike the first Trump transition, which played out before cameras at Trump Tower in New York and at the president-elect’s golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, this one has largely happened behind closed doors in Palm Beach, Florida. There, a small group of officials and aides meet daily at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort to run through possible contenders and interview job candidates. The group includes Elon Musk, the billionaire who has spent so much time at the club that Trump has joked he can’t get rid of him. Vance has been a constant presence, even as he’s kept a lower profile. The Ohio senator has spent much of the last two weeks in Palm Beach, according to people familiar with his plans, playing an active role in the transition, on which he serves as honorary chair. Mar-a-Lago scene is a far cry from Vance’s hardscrabble upbringing Vance has been staying at a cottage on the property of the gilded club, where rooms are adorned with cherubs, oriental rugs and intricate golden inlays. It’s a world away from the famously hardscrabble upbringing that Vance documented in the memoir that made him famous, “Hillbilly Elegy.” His young children have also joined him at Mar-a-Lago, at times. Vance was photographed in shorts and a polo shirt playing with his kids on the seawall of the property with a large palm frond, a U.S. Secret Service robotic security dog in the distance. Related Articles On the rare days when he is not in Palm Beach, Vance has been joining the sessions remotely via Zoom. Though he has taken a break from TV interviews after months of constant appearances, Vance has been active in the meetings, which began immediately after the election and include interviews and as well as presentations on candidates’ pluses and minuses. Among those interviewed: Contenders to replace FBI Director Christopher Wray , as Vance wrote in a since-deleted social media post. Defending himself from criticism that he’d missed a Senate vote in which one of President Joe Biden’s judicial nominees was confirmed, Vance wrote that he was meeting at the time “with President Trump to interview multiple positions for our government, including for FBI Director.” “I tend to think it’s more important to get an FBI director who will dismantle the deep state than it is for Republicans to lose a vote 49-46 rather than 49-45,” Vance added on X. “But that’s just me.” Vance is making his voice heard as Trump stocks his Cabinet While Vance did not come in to the transition with a list of people he wanted to see in specific roles, he and his friend, Trump’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., who is also a member of the transition team, were eager to see former Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. find roles in the administration. Trump ended up selecting Gabbard as the next director of national intelligence , a powerful position that sits atop the nation’s spy agencies and acts as the president’s top intelligence adviser. And he chose Kennedy to lead the Department of Health and Human Services , a massive agency that oversees everything from drug and food safety to Medicare and Medicaid. Vance was also a big booster of Tom Homan, the former acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, who will serve as Trump’s “border czar.” In another sign of Vance’s influence, James Braid, a top aide to the senator, is expected to serve as Trump’s legislative affairs director. Allies say it’s too early to discuss what portfolio Vance might take on in the White House. While he gravitates to issues like trade, immigration and tech policy, Vance sees his role as doing whatever Trump needs. Vance was spotted days after the election giving his son’s Boy Scout troop a tour of the Capitol and was there the day of leadership elections. He returned in earnest this week, first with Gaetz — arguably Trump’s most divisive pick — and then Hegseth, who has was been accused of sexually assaulting a woman in 2017, according to an investigative report made public this week. Hegseth told police at the time that the encounter had been consensual and denied any wrongdoing. Vance hosted Hegseth in his Senate office as GOP senators, including those who sit on the Senate Armed Services Committee, filtered in to meet with the nominee for defense secretary. While a president’s nominees usually visit individual senators’ offices, meeting them on their own turf, the freshman senator — who is accompanied everywhere by a large Secret Service detail that makes moving around more unwieldy — instead brought Gaetz to a room in the Capitol on Wednesday and Hegseth to his office on Thursday. Senators came to them. Vance made it to votes Wednesday and Thursday, but missed others on Thursday afternoon. Vance will draw on his Senate background going forward Vance is expected to continue to leverage his relationships in the Senate after Trump takes office. But many Republicans there have longer relationships with Trump himself. Sen. Kevin Cramer, a North Dakota Republican, said that Trump was often the first person to call him back when he was trying to reach high-level White House officials during Trump’s first term. “He has the most active Rolodex of just about anybody I’ve ever known,” Cramer said, adding that Vance would make a good addition. “They’ll divide names up by who has the most persuasion here,” Cramer said, but added, “Whoever his liaison is will not work as hard at it as he will.” Cramer was complimentary of the Ohio senator, saying he was “pleasant” and ” interesting” to be around. ′′He doesn’t have the long relationships,” he said. “But we all like people that have done what we’ve done. I mean, that’s sort of a natural kinship, just probably not as personally tied.” Under the Constitution, Vance will also have a role presiding over the Senate and breaking tie votes. But he’s not likely to be needed for that as often as was Kamala Harris, who broke a record number of ties for Democrats as vice president, since Republicans will have a bigger cushion in the chamber next year. Colvin reported from New York. Associated Press writer Mary Clare Jalonick contributed to this report.