New Hampshire courts hear two cases on transgender girls playing girls sportsOver the last few years, DraftKings (DKNG) has positioned itself as the clear leader in America’s digital gaming revolution, with its stock soaring well over 100% year-to-date towards a market capitalization of $35 billion. Despite some recent headwinds, the acceleration of sports betting legalization across the U.S. makes me highly bullish on the company’s future prospects. Don't Miss our Black Friday Offers: Unlock your investing potential with TipRanks Premium - Now At 40% OFF! Make smarter investments with weekly expert stock picks from the Smart Investor Newsletter Revenue Growth Accelerates Past Expectations I’m encouraged to see DraftKings continue its exceptional momentum, with Q3 2024 revenue surpassing $1 billion, a remarkable 39% increase from $790 million in the previous year. This rate significantly outpaces competitors in the broader gaming industry, strongly reinforcing my bullish outlook. Moreover, the company boasts some impressively robust fundamentals, with $878 million in cash and a relatively modest debt level of $1.34 billion when compared to market capitalization. This provides plenty of resources for continued expansion and support for any unseen challenges. A resilient balance sheet is one of the green flags I look for in a company looking to capitalize on new market opportunities, so I’m fairly confident that this growth story can continue. Looking ahead, DraftKings projects impressive growth for the coming year, with revenue expected to reach between $6.2-$6.6 billion, representing 27-35% growth from 2024’s guidance midpoint of $4.9 billion. User Base Expands Dramatically The platform’s popularity continues to surge, with Monthly Unique Payers (MUPs) jumping to 3.6 million, up significantly from 2.3 million last year. This 57% increase demonstrates an impressive ability to attract and retain customers. I place real value on the first-mover advantage the company has across many states, where many customers will likely stay loyal to the brand long after competition moves in, especially where the experience is enjoyable, accessible, and overwhelmingly positive. Average Revenue per Monthly Unique Payer (ARPMUP) is clearly a critical indicator for management. This has now reached $103, demonstrating the company’s ability to monetize its user base effectively. When excluding recent acquisitions, ARPMUP increased 8% year-over-year to $122, demonstrating significant improvements in the monetization of the core platform. Technology Innovation Drives Market Leadership For me, the company’s interface and user experience is unmatched. Recent recognition as the number one U.S. Mobile Sportsbook App highlights this, with the platform ranking first in key categories, including User Experience, Betting Interface, and overall Features. Management has clearly prioritized and invested heavily in product enhancement for the most popular sports on the platform, particularly in NBA betting markets, where it now develops and powers all player prop and derivative markets in-house. This opens up the potential for further analysis and greater flexibility for new product offerings. The live betting experience has also undergone significant upgrades, with new features including real-time trending bets and new ‘micro-betting’ capabilities. Users now benefit from integrated real-time scores, statistics, and enhanced live content, creating a more engaging and informed betting experience. I suspect such investments may help to cement the company as the obvious destination for sports fans going forward. Wall Street Endorses DKNG’s Growth Strategy Wall Street’s enthusiasm mirrors my own bullish stance, with analysts generally on a Strong Buy consensus based on 25 Buy ratings and only 3 Hold ratings. Furthermore, the average DKNG price target of $50.20 per share implies 15.3% upside from the current level. See more DKNG analyst ratings In addition, several prominent firms have recently raised their price targets, with TD Cowen increasing to $55 from $50 and Barclays raising to $50 from $45. Temporary Headwinds Create Opportunity I’m clearly very bullish on this one, but the share price has admittedly suffered a few bumps in the road as of late. Some recent NFL outcomes have negatively hit revenues, with the latest quarter seeing the most customer-friendly stretch in company history. For this, companies tend to look at the Hold Percentage, which shows the percentage that the company expects to retain from the total amount wagered by bettors. The company’s own analysis of NFL Hold Percentages shows that these recent results are outliers compared to the typical performance over the past two years, suggesting a likely return to normalized rates in future periods. As a result, I tend to view these as statistical anomalies rather than structural issues within the company’s betting algorithms. Such an outcome could be viewed as a positive in the long run, with increased returns boosting enthusiasm for the platform, retaining customers, and building the market further. Rising Acquisition Costs Will Likely Be Overcome Another potential headwind to keep one eye on is the competitive landscape. As many would expect from such a potentially lucrative sector, established gaming companies and new entrants are looking to capture market share. As a result, DraftKings has experienced some increases in the price of acquiring customers over the last year, potentially as the latest wave of excitement and enthusiasm for sports betting fades. However, this is likely to be experienced by all involved in the sector. Fortunately for investors, I’d expect DraftKings’ technological edge, robust balance sheet, and market leadership to position it well to overcome these challenges as these cycles inevitably continue. DraftKings Presents a Highly Compelling Opportunity From my perspective, DraftKings presents a highly compelling opportunity. Clearly, the ongoing state-by-state legalization of sports betting provides a solid stream of growth opportunities. With management demonstrating strong execution capability and rapidly improving financials, to me, DraftKings remains very well-positioned to capitalize, particularly as sports betting gains mainstream acceptance. The combination of first-mover advantage, robust user growth, and a compelling platform experience sets DraftKings aside from the competition. While some near-term volatility may persist, the company’s strong fundamentals in this market with enormous potential suggest this is definitely one to watch over the coming years. DisclosureSIR Rod Stewart earns his stripes after sticking up for wife Penny over her Gregg Wallace run-in — and enjoys a night out as a reward. The 79-year-old singer and Penny, 53, partied at Annabel’s private members club in Mayfair, central London, on Friday night. 2 MasterChef co-host Gregg stepped down from his role following an abuse scandal across numerous shows Credit: Getty It came after MasterChef co-host Wallace, 60, stepped down from his role. We told on Friday how Rod had called him a “tubby, bald-headed, ill-mannered bully” for “humiliating” Penny on the celeb show in 2021. Earlier this week, Rod slammed Gregg as a 'bully' in an online post. Gregg was first accused of making "inappropriate sexual comments" to a female BBC staffer on Impossible Celebrities. READ MORE ON GREGG WALLACE GREGG PROBE LATEST Major update on Gregg Wallace probe as string of new allegations emerge ON AIR HORROR Gregg Wallace yelled 'you stupid cow' after groping me on MasterChef set Some 13 people who worked with Gregg across a range of shows over a 17-year period have now accused him of making sexual comments, the BBC confirmed today. The Baby Jane hitmaker took to social media on Thursday to hit out at Gregg for his treatment towards his wife Penny. Former Loose Women panellist Penny appeared on BBC Celebrity MasterChef back in 2021. Rod shared a scathing post, claiming: "So Gregg Wallace gets fired from MasterChef. Good riddance Wallace. Most read in News TV BIG BREAK ‘Women would be safer if men were under curfew,’ actor on new house arrest show TELLY CLAIM MasterChef's Gregg Wallace steps aside as star accuses him of 'sexualised' joke TOP TELLY BBC Scotland's Christmas schedule revealed - including Sir Alex Ferguson doc BALLSED UP Lorraine apologises on air for using phrase she 'didn't know' was a swear word "You humiliated my wife when she was on the show, buy you had that but cut out didn't you? "You're a tubby, bald-headed, ill-mannered bully. "Karma got ya." 2 Sir Rod Stewart enjoyed a night out with Penny Lancaster after the singer blasted 'bully' Gregg Wallace for 'humiliating' her Credit: BackGrid Watch creepy moment MasterChef’s Gregg Wallace tells ‘distressed’ Strictly star ‘I don’t wear underwear’ and grabs his crotch
ENGLAND'S smart motorways are set to switch off today as part of an essential tech update. The roads will remain open throughout the coming week but things like car-detection software and variable speed limit signs will be unavailable. Smart motorways are those that include an adaptive lane which can be used as normal but turned into a hard shoulder at a moment's notice if a car is forced to pull over and stop. The idea is to increase traffic flow while still retaining a hard shoulder in the event of breakdowns. Controversy over the safety of the scheme led to the further rollout of smart motorways being halted by the Government last year. But stretches of the UK's road network still make use of the tech, including the M42, M25, M23 and M62. READ MORE MOTORS NEWS Now, National Highways has confirmed that many of these will be affected by crucial maintenance work in the coming days. This will start tonight with smart motorways in all regions of the country affected from 10pm to 3am tomorrow morning. Then, from December 2 to December 4, there will be extensive work carried out on several motorways during the daytime. Starting on Monday, the M23 will be affected from J10 to J8, as well as the M25 from J12 to J14, with the disruption lasting from 10am to 2pm and 3pm respectively. Most read in Motors The next day will see the M25 affected in the opposite direction from J14 to J13, while all motorways in the East region will be impacted from 9am to noon. These are coupled with a series of overnight work, with J7a of the M42 affected from 10.30pm to 5am both Monday and Tuesday night. And another "all regions" shutdown will take place from 11pm on December 3 to 1am on December 4. No closures are planned for the period, but officials will not be able to adjust electronic signage or use the car detection software that is used to regulate the hard shoulder. A spokesperson for National Highways said: "As a result of essential technology maintenance, Smart Motorway stopped vehicle detection and/or the ability to reset electronic signs and signals will not be in operation along some sections of the above motorways for periods during these times. "There are no road closures planned for this work. "Where required, we have well-rehearsed plans and mitigations including extra Traffic Officer patrols, increased CCTV monitoring and reduced speed limits in locations that require these measures to be put in place."Emerging tight end Noah Gray gives Mahomes and the Chiefs another option in passing gameWASHINGTON (AP) — A person accused of accosting U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace in a Capitol Office building pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to a misdemeanor assault charge. Witnesses told police that James McIntyre, 33, of Chicago, shook Mace's hand in an “exaggerated, aggressive” manner after approaching the South Carolina Republican in the Rayburn House Office Building on Tuesday evening, according to a police affidavit. Mace, who is identified only by her initials in a court filing, posted a string of social media messages about the incident. She said she was “physically accosted” at the Capitol, and she thanked President-elect Donald Trump for calling her Wednesday morning to check on her condition. “I’m going to be fine just as soon as the pain and soreness subside,” Mace wrote. Mace declined to be treated by a paramedic after her encounter with McIntyre, who was arrested Tuesday by the Capitol Police, the affidavit says. Mace told police that McIntyre said, “Trans youth serve advocacy,” while shaking her hand. Last month, Mace proposed a resolution that would prohibit any lawmakers and House employees from “using single-sex facilities other than those corresponding to their biological sex.” Mace said the bill is aimed specifically at Delaware Democrat Sarah McBride — the first transgender person to be elected to Congress. A magistrate judge ordered McIntyre’s release after an arraignment in Superior Court of the District of Columbia. Efforts to reach an attorney for McIntyre weren't immediately successful. The Associated Press
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Ziyambi’s Plea: Rethinking Sanctions and Their Human ImpactThe world has agreed to a new climate deal at COP29, with wealthy countries pledging to provide $US300 ($461 billion) billion annually by 2035 to poorer countries to help them cope with the increasingly catastrophic impacts of the climate crisis – a figure many developing countries criticised as vastly insufficient. The agreement in Baku, Azerbaijan, on Sunday came after more than two weeks of bitter divisions and fractious negotiations, thrown into chaos by boycotts, political spats and open celebrations of fossil fuels. At points there was fear the talks would implode, as groups representing vulnerable small island states and the least-developed countries walked out of negotiations on Saturday. But at 2.40am on Sunday (8.30am AEDT), more than 30 hours after deadline, the gavel finally went down on the agreement between nearly 200 countries. READ MORE: Police arrest 170 at Australian port climate change protest Activists participate in a demonstration for climate finance at the COP29 UN Climate Summit, on Saturday. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits) "People doubted that Azerbaijan could deliver. They doubted that everyone could agree. They were wrong on both," said Mukhtar Babayev, the Azerbaijani state-oil company veteran and president of COP29. The $US300 billion will go to vulnerable, poorer nations to help them cope with increasingly devastating extreme weather and to transition their economies toward clean energy. "It has been a difficult journey, but we've delivered a deal," said Simon Stiell, head of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. "This new finance goal is an insurance policy for humanity, amid worsening climate impacts hitting every country." The amount pledged, however, falls far short of the $US1.3 trillion ($2 trillion) economists say is needed to help developing countries cope with a climate crisis they have done least to cause — and there has been a furious reaction from many developing countries. In a fiery speech... CNN
The Competition Commission has approved the deal for Infinite Partners' Core Equity Fund and Co-Investment firms to acquire Evotel, Link Layer, Magnolia Tree, and Net99, without conditions. Infinite Partners has interests in various industries, including software development, fintech, the industrial sector, technology and communications, information and communication technology, clothing, and automotive parts. Evotel, Link Layer, and Magnolia Tree are fibre network operators. Net99 is an Internet service provider. "The Commission is of the view that the proposed transaction is unlikely to substantially lessen or prevent competition in any market. The proposed transaction does not raise significant public interest concern," the Competition Commission said. Established in 2022, Infinite Partners has invested in companies... Myles Illidge
New to the Street Show 614 Premieres Tonight on Bloomberg Television at 9:30 PM PST, Featuring HPB High Performance Battery AG With CEO Sebastian Heinz
Washington Commanders kicker Austin Seibert has had better days at the ballpark than he did on Sunday. Seibert made only 2-of-3 field goal attempts and missed both extra point tries, including one that would have tied the game at 27 following Jayden Daniels' improbable 87-yard touchdown pass to Terry McLaurin with 21 seconds remaining. Instead, Seibert was wide left, and Dallas Cowboys defensive back Juanyeh Thomas sealed a 34-26 win by returning the ensuing onside kick for a touchdown. After the game, Seibert, who had missed the last two weeks with a hip injury, took full responsibility for the misses, even after a reporter said it seemed like the snap on the fateful missed extra point seemed low. "Didn't make a difference at all. It's on me," Seibert said . Asked what was going through his mind following the loss, Seibert said he felt bad for not holding up his end of the bargain. Greg Fiume/Getty Images "I just want to play better for my teammates," he said. "Definitely don't want to do that. Just wasn't striking it well, but it means a lot to me to be here with these guys, so just want to put my best foot moving forward." Seibert also told reporters he "felt fine" coming into the game and made the decision to play after his two-game absence. Veteran Zane Gonzalez took Seibert's place while he was sidelined. The two missed extra points were Seibert's first misfires on one-pointers all season. He's still 27-of-30 on field goals as well, so it's not like there was much concern about the 28-year-old special teamer coming into today. Earlier this year, Seibert went 7-for-7 on field goals, accounting for all of Washington's points in a Week 2 win over the New York Giants. He also connected on four field goals apiece in wins over the Carolina Panthers and Chicago Bears. Seibert will aim to bounce back next Sunday against the Tennessee Titans. Related: Commanders Announce Injury Diagnosis For RB Austin EkelerPercentages: FG .440, FT .926. 3-Point Goals: 10-27, .370 (Byrd 4-5, Gonsalves 3-9, Berrett 2-7, Bieker 1-4, Riley 0-2). Team Rebounds: 5. Team Turnovers: None. Blocked Shots: 4 (Ariyibi 3, Rainwater). Turnovers: 14 (Ariyibi 3, Rainwater 3, Byrd 2, Gonsalves 2, Riley 2, Bieker, Misic). Steals: 5 (Bieker 2, Ariyibi, Byrd, Riley). Technical Fouls: None. Percentages: FG .556, FT .550. 3-Point Goals: 8-17, .471 (Washington 3-6, Jones 2-2, Barbee 1-1, Martindale 1-2, Adams 1-3, Beard 0-1, Brinson 0-1, Cain 0-1). Team Rebounds: 4. Team Turnovers: None. Blocked Shots: 5 (Jones 3, Fofana 2). Turnovers: 11 (Jones 3, Adams 2, Beard, Brinson, Fofana, Fuller, Martindale, Washington). Steals: 7 (Barbee 2, Jones 2, Washington 2, Adams). Technical Fouls: None. A_138 (7,321).
Mastercard Now Offering Kount Payment Fraud Prevention and Chargeback Mitigation to Payment Providers and Merchants ATLANTA and NORTHAMPTON, Mass. , Dec. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Equifax ® (NYSE: EFX) and Mastercard (NYSE: MA) have joined forces to empower Latin American financial institutions, payment service providers, acquiring banks, and merchants to overcome payment fraud challenges without disruption to the customer experience. Enhanced fraud management tools, including Mastercard Identity, Ethoca Alerts and Ethoca Consumer Clarity are now available to Mastercard business customers in Latin America through the Kount Payment Fraud solution from Equifax. The combined solutions protect the entire digital payments environment through identity verification and fraud risk assessment while preventing chargebacks through order validation and alerting services. Latin America has one of the highest fraud rates globally, with studies showing that merchants are losing upward of 4.6% of their e-commerce revenue to payment fraud . With e-commerce revenue expected to nearly double in the region from $85 billion in 2021 to $160 billion by next year , Equifax and Mastercard are helping empower businesses to achieve their full growth potential by stopping threats in real time. The Kount Payment Fraud solution from Equifax is used by more than 20,000 businesses operating in more than 40 countries around the world due to its real-time fraud prevention capabilities during transactions. "As a global leader in fraud prevention, we are thrilled to work with Mastercard to help Latin American merchants and partners combat fraud and continue to innovate across the financial sector," commented Chris Jones , President of Equifax Latin America. "This strategic alignment will provide safer payment transactions and reduce chargebacks, enabling businesses of all sizes in Latin America to improve their bottom line." "Adding to our existing capabilities, this collaboration is the next step in our journey to make the digital economy safe and more seamless for payment providers and merchants in the region," said Ana Lucia Magliano , Executive Vice President, Services, Mastercard Latin America and the Caribbean . "By working together, we're advancing our shared goal of not only meeting the payments ecosystem security needs, but also addressing a broader effort to enhance the consumer's digital experience." The Kount Payment Fraud solution is available in collaboration with Mastercard to financial institutions, payment service providers, acquirers, merchants and others across Latin America , excluding Brazil . For more details, visit https://kount.com/equifax-mastercard . ABOUT EQUIFAX INC. At Equifax (NYSE: EFX ), we believe knowledge drives progress. As a global data, analytics, and technology company, we play an essential role in the global economy by helping financial institutions, companies, employers, and government agencies make critical decisions with greater confidence. Our unique blend of differentiated data, analytics, and cloud technology drives insights to power decisions to move people forward. Headquartered in Atlanta and supported by nearly 15,000 employees worldwide, Equifax operates or has investments in 24 countries in North America , Central and South America , Europe , and the Asia Pacific region. For more information, visit Equifax.com . ABOUT MASTERCARD Mastercard is a global technology company in the payments industry. Our mission is to connect and power an inclusive, digital economy that benefits everyone, everywhere by making transactions safe, simple, smart and accessible. Using secure data and networks, partnerships and passion, our innovations and solutions help individuals, financial institutions, governments and businesses realize their greatest potential. With connections across more than 210 countries and territories, we are building a sustainable world that unlocks priceless possibilities for all. FOR MORE INFORMATION: Mario Arrua ( Latin America ) or Tiffany Smith (US) for Equifax mediainquiries@equifax.com Andrea Denadai for Mastercard Andrea.denadai@mastercard.com View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/equifax-and-mastercard-join-forces-to-combat-payment-fraud-in-latin-america-302322882.html SOURCE Equifax Inc.
Trump threatens 100% tariff on the BRIC bloc of nations if they act to undermine US dollar
Canada's Trudeau returns home after Trump meeting without assurances that tariffs are off the table
Luke Littler, the teenage darts sensation, demonstrated his immense respect for Fallon Sherrock while discussing their potential match-up at the PDC World Darts Championship. Sherrock, known as the 'Queen of the Palace', will face Ryan Meikle in the tournament's first round next month. If she triumphs over the Englishman, a tantalising clash with last year's finalist awaits her. Littler, who enters the competition in the second round as one of the top 32 players globally, broke his silence on the possibility of facing Sherrock following this week's draw announcement. The champion expressed his admiration for the 30-year-old who shocked the sports world in 2019 by becoming the first woman to win a world championship match, eventually reaching the third round. READ MORE: 2025 World Darts Championship draw in full as Luke Littler and Luke Humphries learn opponents READ MORE: How you can win £60,000 for watching World Darts Championship He recalled how "it was incredible to watch" when he was just 12-years-old. Speaking to Sky Sports, the now 17-year-old said: "If I do come across her, I don't know what the crowd would be like. Against Fallon, it might be a bit different. I don't think anyone really missed it [when Sherrock reached the third round]. It was incredible to watch." Almost a year after his own spectacular run at the tournament, Littler confessed he's feeling the "buzz" and is eagerly counting down the days until his return to Ally Pally. He commented on the upcoming match: "Good luck to them both. It should be a really interesting game, because Ryan's playing really good, and so is Fallon. "It won't be easy [against either of them]. No game will be easy this year, but it'll be a tough test for both of them facing each other in the first round. Either way, I'm very confident, whoever wins. I just can't wait to get on stage. Ever since the Worlds [last year] it has been crazy – this is where it all started for me. The buzz is there, I can feel it." After failing to progress past the first round in her last three appearances at the world championships, Fallon Sherrock is hoping that her next attempt will be more successful, potentially setting up a tie with the teenage prodigy. Sherrock shared her anticipation for the competition on X (formerly Twitter), following the draw announcement: "So I now know I'll be playing Ryan Meikle in round one at the @OfficialPDC World Championship," she posted. "The winner will play a certain Mr Littler in round two. Can't wait to play at the Palace again."Romanian nationalist Calin Georgescu has surprised observers by likely topping the first round of the country’s presidential election, according to provisional results. With more than 80 percent of ballots counted, in the early hours of Monday Georgescu, who has gained traction for his anti-Ukraine war stance, holds 22.1 percent of the vote, narrowly ahead of sitting Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, who follows with just over 22 percent. Georgescu, an ultra-religious and nationalist figure, has campaigned on reducing Romania’s reliance on imports and boosting domestic food and energy production. He has been a vocal critic of Bucharest’s role in the ongoing Ukraine conflict, arguing that NATO and the EU do not represent Romanian interests and suggesting that the war is being manipulated by American military companies. The shock result has upended expectations, as Elena Lasconi – billed as a ‘reformer’ – was initially predicted to make it into the runoff, but now trails at 15.3 percent. Far-right candidate George Simion, also considered a strong contender, lags behind with 14.8 percent support. The final composition of the runoff is still uncertain as further ballots are counted. Georgescu’s views have struck a chord with a significant portion of the electorate, but have also drawn heavy criticism, particularly for his past support of Romania’s 20th-century fascist Legionary Movement. A relative political outsider, he has leveraged social media platforms like TikTok to rally voters, capitalizing on dissatisfaction with the political establishment. He has garnered a sizable following, particularly among those disillusioned with the current government’s foreign policy. Voter turnout for the election was 52.5 percent, slightly higher than in the 2019 presidential race. The second round of voting is scheduled for December 8, following Romania’s parliamentary elections next Sunday.
MISSOULA, Mont. (AP) — Marcus Adams Jr.'s 25 points helped CSU Northridge defeat Utah Tech 89-79 on Sunday night at the Stew Morrill Classic. Adams added five rebounds for the Matadors (4-1). Keonte Jones added 23 points while shooting 8 of 15 from the field and 5 for 10 from the line while they also had nine rebounds and three blocks. Scotty Washington had 19 points and went 7 of 14 from the field (3 for 6 from 3-point range). The Trailblazers (1-5) were led by Hakim Byrd, who posted 23 points. Utah Tech also got 15 points from Noa Gonsalves. Samuel Ariyibi finished with 14 points and three blocks. The Matadors play Denver and Utah Tech takes on Montana when the event wraps up on Monday. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .
The large mysterious drones reported flying over parts of New Jersey in recent weeks appear to avoid detection by traditional methods such as helicopter and radio, according to a state lawmaker briefed Wednesday by the Department of Homeland Security. In a post on the social media platform X, Assemblywoman Dawn Fantasia described the drones as up to 6 feet in diameter and sometimes traveling with their lights switched off. The Morris County Republican was among several state and local lawmakers who met with state police and Homeland Security officials to discuss the spate of sightings that range from the New York City area through New Jersey and westward into parts of Pennsylvania, including over Philadelphia. The devices do not appear to be The dronees wereffffflown by hobbyists, Fantasia wrote. Dozens of mysterious nighttime flights started last month and have raised growing concern among residents and officials. Part of the worry stems from the flying objects initially being spotted near the Picatinny Arsenal, a U.S. military research and manufacturing facility; and over President-elect Donald Trump’s golf course in Bedminster. Drones are legal in New Jersey for recreational and commercial use, but they are subject to local and Federal Aviation Administration regulations and flight restrictions. Operators must be FAA certified. Most, but not all, of the drones spotted in New Jersey were larger than those typically used by hobbyists. The number of sightings has increased in recent days, though officials say many of the objects seen may have been planes rather than drones. It’s also possible that a single drone has been reported more than once. Gov. Phil Murphy and law enforcement officials have stressed that the drones don’t appear to threaten public safety. The FBI has been investigating and has asked residents to share any videos, photos or other information they may have. Two Republican Jersey Shore-area congressmen, U.S. Reps. Chris Smith and Jeff Van Drew, have called on the military to shoot down the drones. Smith said a Coast Guard commanding officer briefed him on an incident over the weekend in which a dozen drones followed a motorized Coast Guard lifeboat “in close pursuit” near Barnegat Light and Island Beach State Park in Ocean County. Coast Guard Lt. Luke Pinneo told The Associated Press Wednesday “that multiple low-altitude aircraft were observed in vicinity of one of our vessels near Island Beach State Park.” The aircraft weren't perceived as an immediate threat and didn't disrupt operations, Pinneo said. The Coast Guard is assisting the FBI and state agencies in investigating. In a letter to U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, Smith called for military help dealing with the drones, noting that Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst has the capability "to identify and take down unauthorized unmanned aerial systems.” However, Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh told reporters Wednesday that “our initial assessment here is that these are not drones or activities coming from a foreign entity or adversary.” Many municipal lawmakers have called for more restrictions on who is entitled to fly the unmanned devices. At least one state lawmaker proposed a temporary ban on drone flights in the state. “This is something we’re taking deadly seriously. I don’t blame people for being frustrated," Murphy said earlier this week. A spokesman for the Democratic governor said he did not attend Wednesday's meeting. Republican Assemblyman Erik Peterson, whose district includes parts of the state where the drones have been reported, said he also attended Wednesday's meeting at a state police facility in West Trenton. The session lasted for about 90 minutes. Peterson said DHS officials were generous with their time, but appeared dismissive of some concerns, saying not all the sightings reported have been confirmed to involve drones. So who or what is behind the flying objects? Where are they coming from? What are they doing? “My understanding is they have no clue,” Peterson said. A message seeking comment was left with the Department of Homeland Security. Most of the drones have been spotted along coastal areas and some were recently reported flying over a large reservoir in Clinton. Sightings also have been reported in neighboring states. James Edwards, of Succasunna, New Jersey, said he has seen a few drones flying over his neighborhood since last month. “It raises concern mainly because there's so much that's unknown,” Edwards said Wednesday. “There are lots of people spouting off about various conspiracies that they believe are in play here, but that only adds fuel to the fire unnecessarily. We need to wait and see what is really happening here, not let fear of the unknown overtake us." —— AP reporters Mike Catalini in Morrisville, Pennsylvania; and Wayne Parry in Point Pleasant, New Jersey, contributed to this report.
2 Carson High students arrested for weapon at schoolMinutes after South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol declared martial law on Tuesday night, plunging the country into its worst crisis in decades, his stunned finance minister knew his priorities: throw everything at defending the currency. By around 11pm, Choi Sang-mok, who was among the majority of cabinet members who opposed martial law, had set up an emergency meeting at the Seoul Bankers Club, an unofficial meeting place for top policymakers from the central bank, finance ministry and banking and markets regulators. As soldiers stormed the nation’s parliament, Korea’s top four financial authorities, known as F4, activated an emergency playbook that had been used during past crises, scrambling to head off a crippling selloff in the won before Asian markets awoke. Choi led discussions between the authorities, three people familiar with the meeting told Reuters, with the Bank of Korea (BoK) responsible for efforts to stabilise the currency. The first announcement came swiftly. South Korea would inject unlimited cash into markets as needed, the finance ministry said, which pulled the won back from lows last seen in 2009 during the global financial crisis. “It was BoK Governor Rhee Chang-yong’s idea to put this message out quickly,” one government official said. “Rhee said it was really important to pre-emptively act, as the news should be a bigger shock to foreign investors than for local people.” In the four decades since South Korea was last under martial law, the nation has weathered several crises and significantly evolved its systems to eschew the strongman politics of the past and focus instead on ensuring economic stability. Lessons from the 1998 Asian financial crisis formed the basis for the playbook. That episode ran deepest for South Korea, a country hugely exposed then to short-term debt and a playground for foreign speculators, forcing it into what many Koreans saw as a humiliating rescue package from the International Monetary Fund. Citizens donated their gold to a depleted national coffer. “We have had many crises. We experienced ups and downs through those crises, including the pandemic, and have a set of tools ready,” said one Bank of Korea official, speaking on condition of anonymity. The last time Korea’s four big agencies intervened this heavily in markets was in 2020 as the Covid-19 pandemic toppled its export-driven markets. Korea’s current struggles with anaemic growth, labour strikes, a budget impasse and the troubles of trade partner China meant authorities were already on heightened alert for sharp currency swings. The won is down 9% this year against the dollar, while the KOSPI index has shed 8%, both lagging their emerging market peers. Foreign money has been leaving Korea’s stock market since August, with outflows in four months topping $14bn. “They were obviously aware of the fact that there would be a little bit of panic, particularly from foreigners, and so they did the right thing,” said Jon Withaar, who manages an Asia special situations hedge fund at Pictet Asset Management. “This is now really what governments and central banks do now, when they see these types of events, they just offer unlimited liquidity. That was the playbook in Covid.” Until this week, Choi was one of Yoon’s conservative loyalists in the cabinet who served multiple government positions since the president was elected in March 2022, starting as a secretary of the economy division. He advanced to chief economic secretary, a position that allowed him to travel with Yoon around the world, before taking his current job in December 2023. During this week’s chaos, Choi was the “control tower”, sources said, directing the messaging and responses through the next day and even as subsequent developments led to the entire cabinet offering to resign.Ensuring AI Accountability Through Product Liability: The EU Approach and Why American Businesses Should Care