BALTIMORE — The bright lights of drone-like objects lighting up the night sky have been spotted in Maryland, prompting lawmakers, federal agencies and even a former governor to search for answers. “I am aware of reports of numerous apparent drone sightings over the Delmarva Peninsula and in Salisbury, Maryland, in my district,” Maryland Republican Congressman Andy Harris told The Baltimore Sun on Saturday. “We need transparency now from the White House to find out if these drones are a threat to our national security, and if they are, we need to take proper corrective action immediately.” This increased activity first made national headlines in New Jersey , and now widespread questions have been raised about the origin of the drones, which also have been spotted in Pennsylvania and New York. Federal officials have not ruled out that some of the objects could be airplanes or helicopters. However, the drones do not appear to be a threat to national security — for the time being. “We have no evidence at this time that the reported drone sightings pose a national security or public safety threat or have a foreign nexus,” the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI said in a joint statement. “The FBI, DHS and our federal partners, in close coordination with the New Jersey State Police, continue to deploy personnel and technology to investigate this situation and confirm whether the reported drone flights are actually drones or are instead manned aircraft or otherwise inaccurate sightings.” Precautions are being taken. On Saturday, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland announced a temporary flight restriction in place for the annual Army-Navy game at Northwest Stadium in Landover. The area was considered a “No Drone Zone” for a 2-nautical-mile radius around the stadium and up to 2,000 feet above ground level. Former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan expressed his concerns about the drone activity on social media after claiming he spotted an object in the sky around 9:45 p.m. Thursday near his Davidsonville home. He sees this phenomenon as a growing problem in Maryland and throughout the U.S. “Like many who have observed these drones, I do not know if this increasing activity over our skies is a threat to public safety or national security,” Hogan wrote on X. “But the public is growing increasingly concerned and frustrated with the complete lack of transparency and the dismissive attitude of the federal government. The government has the ability to track these from their point of origin but has mounted a negligent response. People are rightfully clamoring for answers, but aren’t getting any.” Other drone sightings have been reported in the Woodberry neighborhood of Baltimore and Prince Frederick in Calvert County. The drone activity is also a concern among industry experts. Eric Brown, founder and CEO of Imperio Consulting, spent 24 years in the Special Forces as a Green Beret and has seen firsthand the evolution of drone technology. If drones are appearing in areas where they shouldn’t, especially near critical infrastructure, it’s a signal that someone is gathering information or testing boundaries. This would naturally be a concern for any government agency tasked with ensuring public safety and national security, according to Brown. “The potential risks depend on how the drones are used. In combat, drones were essential for gathering intelligence and ensuring mission success, but that same technology could be used for surveillance of sensitive locations,” Brown told The Baltimore Sun. “Drones can also deliver payloads, as we utilized them to carry ordnance in certain missions. While such use requires precision and authorization in military contexts, the potential for misuse in civilian settings — accidentally or intentionally — is significant.” Yashin Manraj, CEO of Pvotal Technologies, said the surge in national interest and curiosity has attracted many copycats who are now flying their FAA-compliant drones to “troll” the media. The most effective way would be to identify the drone handlers and penalize them in a public setting to inform and quell the fears related to this activity, he said. “We hope that lawmakers take a nuanced approach and balance the hysteria with a concerted effort to empower the U.S. technological hegemony to extend to drones rather than letting other countries get ahead while we curtail our growth and progress for political reasons,” Manraj said. Melissa Swisher, the chief revenue officer at SkySafe, said rising drone activity is a serious concern for both local and federal governments due to the increasing risks posed to public safety and critical infrastructure. Unauthorized drones can disrupt operations at airports, power plants, water treatment facilities and even military bases. These incidents not only endanger lives but can also lead to significant economic and operational disruptions. Governments are under pressure to address these threats while managing the growing adoption of drones in legitimate industries, she said. “The dangers of drones are wide-ranging. Unauthorized drones can be used for espionage, and weaponized to damage power grids, disrupt airspace, endanger aircraft, jeopardize public events, smuggle contraband into secure facilities, and deliver harmful payloads,” Swisher told The Baltimore Sun. “They also pose a surveillance risk, potentially violating individual privacy and compromising sensitive operations or infrastructure.” Hogan has demanded answers. The mystery of these objects has created unease among residents. “We are being told that neither the White House, the military, the FBI, nor Homeland Security have any idea what they are, where they came from, or who has launched or is controlling them — and that they pose no threat,” Hogan wrote on X. “That response is entirely unacceptable. I join with the growing bipartisan chorus of leaders demanding that the federal government immediately address this issue. The American people deserve answers and action now.” ©2024 Baltimore Sun. Visit baltimoresun.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.J.K. Dobbins and Alohi Gilman are placed on injured reserve by ChargersSADO, Japan (AP) — Japan held a memorial ceremony on Sunday near the Sado Island Gold Mines , listed this summer as a UNESCO World Heritage site after the country moved past years of historical disputes with South Korea and reluctantly acknowledged the mines' dark history. However, it has not offered an apology. At these mines, hundreds of Koreans were forced to labor under abusive and brutal conditions during World War II, historians say. Japanese officials at Sunday’s ceremony time paid tribute for the first to “all workers” including Korean laborers who died at the mines, without acknowledging they were forced laborers — part of what critics call a persistent policy of whitewashing Japan's history of sexual and labor exploitation before and during the war. The ceremony, supposed to further mend wounds, renewed tensions between the two sides. South Korea boycotted Sunday's memorial service citing unspecified disagreements with Tokyo over the event. “As a resident, I must say (their absence) is very disappointing after all the preparations we made,” said Sado Mayor Ryugo Watanabe. “I wish we could have held the memorial with South Korean attendees.” The Associated Press explains the Sado mines, their history and the controversy. The 16th-century mines on the island of Sado, about the size of the Pacific island of Guam, off the western coast of Niigata prefecture, operated for nearly 400 years, beginning in 1601, and were once the world’s largest gold producer. They closed in 1989. During the Edo period, from 1603 to 1868, the mines supplied gold currency to the ruling Tokugawa Shogunate. Today, the site has been developed into a tourist facility and hiking site where visitors can learn about the changes in mining technology and production methods while looking at the remains of mine shafts and ore dressing facilities. Critics say the Japanese government only highlights the glory of the mines and covers up its use of Korean victims of forced labor and their ordeals. The mines were registered as a cultural heritage site in July after Japan agreed to include an exhibit on the conditions of Korean forced laborers and to hold a memorial service annually after repeated protests from the South Korean government. A few signs have since been erected, indicating former sites of South Korean laborers’ dormitories. A city-operated museum in the area also added a section about Korean laborers, but a private museum attached to the main UNESCO site doesn't mention them at all. At the UNESCO World Heritage Committee July meeting, the Japanese delegate said Tokyo had installed new exhibition material to explain the “severe conditions of (the Korean laborers’) work and to remember their hardship.” Japan also acknowledged that Koreans were made to do more dangerous tasks in the mine shaft, which caused some to die. Those who survived also developed lung diseases and other health problems. Many of them were given meager food rations and nearly no days off and were caught by police if they escaped, historians say. But the Japanese government has refused to admit they were “forced labor.” South Korea had earlier opposed the listing of the site for UNESCO World Heritage on the grounds that the Korean forced laborers used at the mines were missing from the exhibition. South Korea eventually supported the listing after consultations with Japan and Tokyo’s pledge to improve the historical background of the exhibit and to hold a memorial that also includes Koreans. Historians say Japan used hundreds of thousands of Korean laborers, including those forcibly brought from the Korean Peninsula, at Japanese mines and factories to make up for labor shortages because most working-age Japanese men had been sent to battlefronts across Asia and the Pacific. About 1,500 Koreans were forced to work at the Sado mines, according to Yasuto Takeuchi, an expert on Japan’s wartime history, citing wartime Japanese documents. The South Korean government has said it expects Japan to keep its pledge to be truthful to history and to show both sides of the Sado mines. “The controversy surrounding the Sado mines exhibit underscores a deeper problem” of Japan’s failure to face up to its wartime responsibility and its growing “denialism” of its wartime atrocities, Takeuchi said. All workers who died at the Sado mines were honored. That includes hundreds of Korean laborers who worked there during Japan’s 1910-1945 colonization of the Korean Peninsula. At Sunday’s ceremony, four Japanese representatives, including central and local government officials and the head of the organizing group, thanked all mine workers for their sacrifice and mourned for those who died. None offered any apology to Korean forced laborers for the harsh treatment at the mines. Attendants observed a moment of silence for the victims who died at the mines due to accidents and other causes. The ceremony dredged up long-standing frustrations in South Korea. About 100 people, including officials from Japan’s local and central government, as well as South Korean Foreign Ministry officials and the relatives of Korean wartime laborers, were supposed to attend. Because of South Korea's last-minute boycott, more than 20 seats remained vacant. The Foreign Ministry said in a statement Saturday it was impossible to settle the disagreements between both governments before the planned event on Sunday, without specifying what those disagreements were. There has been speculation that the South Korean boycott might have been due to the presence of parliamentary vice minister Akiko Ikuina at Sunday's ceremony. In August 2022, Ikuina reportedly visited Tokyo’s controversial Yasukuni Shrine , weeks after she was elected as a lawmaker. Japan’s neighbors view Yasukuni, which commemorates 2.5 million war dead including war criminals, as a symbol of Japan’s past militarism. Her visit could have been seen as a sign of a lack of remorse. Some South Koreans criticized the Seoul government for throwing its support behind an event without securing a clear Japanese commitment to highlight the plight of Korean laborers. There were also complaints over South Korea agreeing to pay for the travel expenses of Korean victims’ family members who were invited to attend the ceremony. Critics say Japan’s government has long been reluctant to discuss wartime atrocities. That includes what historians describe as the sexual abuse and enslavement of women across Asia, many of them Koreans who were deceived into providing sex to Japanese soldiers at frontline brothels and euphemistically called “comfort women,” and the Koreans who were mobilized and forced to work in Japan, especially in the final years of World War II. Korean compensation demands for Japanese atrocities during its brutal colonial rule have strained relations between the two Asian neighbors, most recently after a 2018 South Korean Supreme Court ruling ordered Japanese companies to pay damages over their wartime forced labor. Japan’s government has maintained that all wartime compensation issues between the two countries were resolved under the 1965 normalization treaty. Ties between Tokyo and Seoul have improved recently after Washington said their disputes over historical issues hampered crucial security cooperation as China’s threat grows in the region. South Korea’s conservative President Yoon Suk Yeol announced in March 2023 that his country would use a local corporate fund to compensate forced labor victims without demanding Japanese contributions. Japan’s then-Prime Minister Fumio Kishida later expressed sympathy for their suffering during a Seoul visit. Security, business and other ties between the sides have since rapidly resumed. Japan’s whitewashing of wartime atrocities has risen since the 2010s, particularly under the past government of revisionist leader Shinzo Abe . For instance, Japan says the terms “sex slavery” and “forced labor” are inaccurate and insists on the use of highly euphemistic terms such as “comfort women” and “civilian workers” instead. Takeuchi, the historian, said listing Japan’s modern industrial historical sites as a UNESCO World Heritage is a government push to increase tourism. The government, he said, wants “to commercialize sites like the Sado mines by beautifying and justifying their history for Japan’s convenience.” Associated Press writer Kim Tong-hyung in Seoul, South Korea contributed to this report.
J.K. Dobbins and Alohi Gilman are placed on injured reserve by Chargers
By AAMER MADHANI, Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — A top White House official on Wednesday said at least eight U.S. telecom firms and dozens of nations have been impacted by a Chinese hacking campaign. Deputy national security adviser Anne Neuberger offered new details about the breadth of the sprawling Chinese hacking campaign that gave officials in Beijing access to private texts and phone conversations of an unknown number of Americans. Neuberger divulged the scope of the hack a day after the FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency issued guidance intended to help root out the hackers and prevent similar cyberespionage in the future. White House officials cautioned that a number of telecommunication firms and countries impacted could still grow. The U.S. believes that the hackers were able to gain access to communications of senior U.S. government officials and prominent political figures through the hack, Neuberger said. “We don’t believe any classified communications has been compromised,” Neuberger added during a call with reporters. She added that Biden has been briefed on the findings and that the White House “has made it a priority for the federal government to do everything it can to get to the bottom this.” The Chinese embassy in Washington on Tuesday rejected the accusations that it was responsible for the hack after the U.S. federal authorities issued new guidance. “The U.S. needs to stop its own cyberattacks against other countries and refrain from using cyber security to smear and slander China,” embassy spokesperson Liu Pengyu said. The embassy did not immediately respond to messages on Wednesday. Associated Press writer David Klepper contributed reporting.NoneFor those of you who are weary of what you find in the news these days, I hearken back to a column I wrote 20 years ago that was not about politics, foreign wars or Western wildfires but about geese. A goose, to be precise. A dead one. The headline in the Charlotte Observer read, “Students jailed in goose killing.” Who could pass up the lure of that story? Not I. Five fraternity boys in Davidson, North Carolina, went to a local park, dropped some bread crumbs on the ground and lured a goose within striking distance of a five iron (or maybe it was a putter or a driver). The unsuspecting goose was knocked senseless and put in the trunk of the boys’ car. Meanwhile, the equally unsuspecting carload of goose-nappers failed to see that a passerby watched this exceedingly unfunny “Monte Python” skit unfold and took down their tag number. The story took a true “Law and Order” turn when the perps were arrested and the victim was found dead in the trunk. From what I later read (and heard) you would think this goose killing rivaled the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre in murder and mayhem. First off, I wonder about a judge who would put a $20,000 bond on a college student for killing a goose. A nasty case of wanton, unjustifiable destruction it was. But $20,000! Good grief, was this really the goose that laid the golden eggs? A statement released by Davidson College said that the students’ actions were “both repugnant and senseless,” a position I and presumably any normal person would completely agree with. But I take issue with the idea that killing a goose should be perceived as any worse than some of the actions people take against other native wildlife. Understand, now, I am not condoning killing geese in public parks with golf clubs, even during hunting or golf season. But let's put the incident in perspective, shall we? One of the town commissioners went on record as saying that people were “stunned” by the incident. Again, we should not deride someone for feeling emotional about an animal getting bludgeoned to death or being angered by outright vandalism. But do you suppose that commissioner would be stunned to know that on that same night more than a dozen raccoons, possums, skunks and foxes were probably killed on highways that the commission had approved over the last decade? And what about the sanctioned loss of small wetlands that has resulted in the untimely deaths of millions of amphibians, reptiles and small mammals? And would Davidson College issue a statement about the “repugnant and senseless” killing of a harmless kingsnake or rat snake on campus? The point is that this goose should not get any more sympathy than other native wildlife that suffer horrible deaths every day and night in that region — and every other region of the country. Especially when some of their deaths are because of decisions made by some of the same people who are whooping and hollering about a single dead goose. People everywhere should consider the importance of protecting natural habitats and the wildlife inhabiting them. Killing the goose was a dumb thing to do. It was also cruel. But destroying wildlife in other ways is even crueler. One goose is trivial compared to the daily losses to our native wildlife populations from other causes; yet most people pay no attention to that slaughter. If court time and public taxes are to be spent on prosecuting the five goose killers, I hope that on the same docket will be the people in the area who have destroyed wetlands that amphibians depend on, built unnecessary highways and intentionally killed harmless snakes. I don’t mind if a goose becomes the symbol for a community’s stand against insensitive attitudes toward wildlife. I do mind if people are upset simply because it was a goose instead of something else.
New Jersey Assemblyman Erik Peterson told CNN 's Victor Blackwell Saturday morning that the government is "lying" about recent drone sightings over the Garden State. Drones have been spotted in recent weeks across New Jersey and neighboring states, prompting concern among residents and lawmakers and launching investigations by the FBI and other law enforcement agencies. The FBI says that it has received over 3,000 tips related to the drone sightings, with most of the purported observations occurring at night. The FBI and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said in a joint statement on Thursday that there was "no evidence at this time that the reported drone sightings pose a national security or public safety threat or have a foreign nexus." New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy said in a letter dated Thursday to President Joe Biden requesting more federal resources to investigate the matter, saying that since November 18 state police have been receiving reports of UAS [unmanned aircraft systems] sightings in New Jersey's airspace. Murphy said Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas briefed his administration and the state's Congressional delegation "on actions the agency would take to learn more about the reported UAS activity." During an appearance on CNN This Morning on Saturday, Peterson, who was briefed by the DHS, said the agency is gaslighting New Jeresyans about the drone sightings. "They're lying to us. First, they say you're not seeing what you're seeing. There's nothing here, nothing here to be seen. And then they tell us that they don't know what it is. They don't know what's happening. It's all a lie," the state official said. Peterson talked about his first-hand experience with the reported drones. "I've seen the drones myself outside my house. I live in a rural part of New Jersey where there's no lights. We don't have streetlights. We don't have anything. It gets dark at night. You can see very clearly we're not in any flight path for any airlines or other craft. And you can look up in the sky and see these drones and the way that they're moving, they move forward, they stop, they hover, they move sideways, they stop, they hover, they move backwards. It's obviously not an airplane. It's not a helicopter because it's not making any noise. And so, it's a drone. And they're multiple of them," Peterson said. The state official continued: "And then they tell us, you're not seeing drones, you're mistaken identity. So you go on Flightradar24 and you can see that there's no planes in the area. So they're just lying to us that we're not seeing what we're seeing. And more importantly, they're lying to us that it's not a safety threat." Newsweek reached out to DHS via email for comment late Saturday afternoon. Mayorkas told CNN's Wolf Blitzer on The Situation Room on Friday evening during a conversation about the reported drone activity over the Northeast, "We have not seen anything unusual. We have not seen any unusual activity. We know of no threat. We know of no nefarious activity." "It is very common for individuals who think they see drones, to actually see small aircraft and we have a case of mistaken identity. Also, we have six different people reporting what they think is a drone and all of a sudden we have reports of six drone sightings. So, there's some duplication," the secretary said. Mayorkas said that he has been in contact with Murphy every day and the DHS has its "state-of-the-art technology" and experts on the ground in New Jersey. "That technology has not confirmed any drone sightings. In addition, it has confirmed that some reported drone sightings are in fact small aircraft. Pilots have not reported seeing drones. That's not to say that there aren't drones flying in the air, but we have no concern at this point concerning a threat or any nefarious activity," Mayorkas said.I made £250 a month at the Co-op - now I'm singing for the Pope, says EMELI SANDE
'We are on it': US official seeks to allay drone sighting concernsThe science of Assisted Reproductive Technology is progressing at a much faster pace. Compared to fertility treatments done a decade ago, today the technology has improved, giving rise to improved success rates. Earlier women dealing with low ovarian reserve, medical conditions like Premature Ovarian Insufficiency, were often advised to go for a donor cycle. However, there could be techniques like Ovarian PRP & Stem cell therapy leading to rejuvenation which if proven beyond its experimental stage, may benefit women facing low ovarian reserve. Times Now Digital spoke to Dr Sonia Malik, Chief Clinical Mentor at Nova IVF Fertility, about Ovarian PRP Rejuvenation and how it is beneficial. Ovarian PRP Rejuvenation: What Is It?Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) is a platelet concentration obtained from an individual's blood. Growth factors that promote tissue regeneration and repair are abundant in platelets. In order to potentially increase the quality and number of eggs produced, ovarian PRP rejuvenation involves injecting PRP directly into a woman's ovaries. It works on the principle that in women who generally suffer with low ovarian reserve or age-related reduction in fertility, the growth factors in PRP may help repair ovarian tissue, boosting the natural process of egg formation. Who Can Benefit from Ovarian PRP?The primary patients for ovarian PRP treatment are women with premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) or diminished ovarian reserve (DOR). POI can cause early menopause, especially in women under 40, while DOR is the early loss of viable egg production by the ovaries. Furthermore, PRP rejuvenation may be an option for women experiencing age-related fertility decline, especially those in their late 30s who wish to prolong their reproductive window. PRP may be an alternative option for women whose low egg quality has resulted in several failed IVF cycles to increase their chances of success. ConclusionOvarian PRP rejuvenation is a significant advancement in reproductive treatment, especially for women dealing with age-related infertility or low ovarian reserve, while ovarian PRP rejuvenation is not a guaranteed solution for infertility. As research continues, this treatment could become a standard offering in fertility clinics worldwide, providing hope for women who are otherwise primarily advised donor cycles. Get Latest News Live on Times Now along with Breaking News and Top Headlines from Health and around the world.
The Energy Commission of Nigeria has expressed outrage over the arrest of its workers by police at the construction site of the multi-billion-naira Renewed Hope Bio-Methanol Pilot Plant in Nkanu West Local Government Area, Enugu State. The commission, an agency under the Ministry of Innovation, Science, and Technology, alleged that the arrests, which occurred on Friday, were orchestrated by the Enugu State Government. According to the commission, the detained workers have not yet been released, and construction activities at the site have been halted. An official of the commission, Mr. E. Okeke, told journalists in Enugu that seven construction workers were arrested during the operation. He identified them as Ambrose Edeh, Chibuike Edeh, Monday Nwodo, Obinna Samuel, Ebuka Chukwurah, Chibuike Okereke, and Maduabuchi Okoro. Okeke reported that police officers, accompanied by the chairmen of Nkanu East and Nkanu West Local Government Areas, also removed batteries from earth-moving machines at the site to disrupt construction. “The workers were initially detained at the RRS Government House in Enugu, then moved to the anti-kidnapping section at Independence Layout. Around midnight, they were transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department,” Okeke said. The methanol plant is said to be valued at over N40bn. Alongside the proposed N60bn Solar PV project for solar panel production, both projects are expected to generate significant employment opportunities for Enugu youths. Related News Energy commission accuses Enugu of methanol project disruption $4bn investment needed to boost renewable energy supply - ECN FG inaugurates committee to harness bioenergy potential Community leaders in Nkanuland, which is also the homeland of Governor Peter Mbah and the Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, Chief Uche Nnaji, expressed anger over the incident. They claimed the land for the project was properly donated to the Federal Government. Chief John Ogbodo, a community elder, described the arrests as politically motivated, alleging that the state government was attempting to disrupt the project. Efforts to get comments from key Enugu government officials proved unsuccessful. Calls and messages to the spokesman for the Enugu State Police Command, Daniel Ndukwe, went unanswered. Similarly, the Chairman of Nkanu West Local Government Area, John Ogbodo, who reportedly led the police operation, did not respond to inquiries. The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Media, Mr. Dan Nwaome, was also unreachable as of the time of filing this report.
NEW YORK (AP) — A gunman killed UnitedHealthcare’s CEO on Wednesday in a “brazen, targeted attack” outside a Manhattan hotel where the health insurer was holding its investor conference, police said, setting off a massive search for the fleeing assailant hours before the annual Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting nearby. Brian Thompson, 50, was shot around 6:45 a.m. as he walked alone to the New York Hilton Midtown from a nearby hotel, police said. The shooter appeared to be “lying in wait for several minutes” before approaching Thompson from behind and opening fire , New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said. Police had not yet established a motive. “Many people passed the suspect, but he appeared to wait for his intended target,” Tisch said, adding that the shooting "does not appear to be a random act of violence.” Surveillance video reviewed by investigators shows someone emerging from behind a parked car, pointing a gun at Thompson’s back, then firing multiple times from several feet away. The gunman continues firing, interrupted by a brief gun jam, as Thompson stumbles forward and falls to the sidewalk. He then walks past Thompson and out of the frame. “From watching the video, it does seem that he’s proficient in the use of firearms as he was able to clear the malfunctions pretty quickly,” NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said. Thompson was shot at least once in the back and once in the calf, Tisch said. The shooter, who wore a jacket, face mask and large backpack, fled through Midtown on foot before pedaling an e-bike into Central Park a few blocks away, police said. The assailant remained at large Wednesday afternoon, sparking a search that included police drones, helicopters and dogs. “Brian was a highly respected colleague and friend to all who worked with him,” the insurer’s Minnetonka, Minnesota-based parent company, UnitedHealth Group Inc., said in a statement. "We are working closely with the New York Police Department and ask for your patience and understanding during this difficult time.” Police issued a poster showing a surveillance image of the man pointing what appeared to be a gun and another image that appeared to show the same person on a bicycle. Minutes before the shooting, he stopped at a nearby Starbucks, according to additional surveillance photos released by police on Wednesday afternoon. They offered a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to an arrest and conviction. Thompson’s wife, Paulette Thompson, told NBC News that he told her “there were some people that had been threatening him.” She didn’t have details but suggested the threats may have involved issues with insurance coverage. Eric Werner, the police chief in the Minneapolis suburb where Thompson lived, said his department had not received any reports of threats against the executive. The killing shook a part of New York City that's normally quiet at that hour, happening about four blocks from where tens of thousands of people were set to gather for Wednesday night’s tree lighting. Police promised extra security for the event. The hotel is also a short walk from other tourist sites, including the Museum of Modern Art and Radio City Music Hall, and is often dense with office workers and visitors on weekday mornings. Many security cameras are nearby. “We’re encouraging New Yorkers to go about their daily lives and their daily business but to be alert,” NYPD Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey said. Investigators recovered several 9 mm shell casings from outside the hotel and a cellphone from the alleyway through which the shooter fled. They were also searching Thompson's hotel room, interviewing his UnitedHealthcare colleagues and reviewing his social media, Kenny said. Police said the e-bike that the shooter used to ride into Central Park came from the city’s bike-share program, CitiBike. A spokesperson for Lyft, which operates the program, said police had not yet contacted the company. Health care giant UnitedHealth Group was holding its annual meeting with investors to update Wall Street on the company's direction and expectations for the coming year. The company ended the conference early in the wake of Thompson's death. “I’m afraid that we — some of you may know we’re dealing with a very serious medical situation with one of our team members,” a company official told attendees, according to a transcript. “And as a result, I’m afraid we’re going to have to bring to a close the event today. ... I’m sure you’ll understand.” Thompson, a father of two sons, had been with the company since 2004 and served as CEO for more than three years. UnitedHealthcare is the largest provider of Medicare Advantage plans in the U.S. and manages health insurance coverage for employers and state-and federally funded Medicaid programs. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz posted on the social platform X that the state is “sending our prayers to Brian’s family and the UnitedHealthcare team.” “This is horrifying news and a terrible loss for the business and health care community in Minnesota,” the Democrat wrote. Associated Press writers Tom Murphy in Indianapolis, Steve Karnowski in St. Paul, Minnesota, and Anthony Izaguirre in Albany, New York, contributed to this story.
DETROIT, Nov. 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- DT Midstream, Inc. ("DT Midstream" or the "Company") DTM today announced that it has priced an offering (the "Offering") of $650,000,000 of 5.800% Senior Secured Notes due 2034 (the "Notes"). The Notes will be issued by DT Midstream, guaranteed by certain of DT Midstream's subsidiaries and secured by a first priority lien on certain assets of DT Midstream and its subsidiary guarantors that secure DT Midstream's existing credit facilities and existing senior secured notes. The Offering is expected to close on December 6, 2024, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions. DT Midstream intends to use the net proceeds from the sale of the Notes, together with the proceeds from its recently completed offering of common stock, borrowings under its revolving credit facility and cash on hand, to fund the consideration payable by DT Midstream in the previously announced, pending acquisition of all of the equity interests in Guardian Pipeline, L.L.C., Midwestern Gas Transmission Company and Viking Gas Transmission Company from ONEOK Partners Intermediate Limited Partnership and Border Midwestern Company (the "Pending Acquisition"). The Notes are being sold in a private placement to persons reasonably believed to be "qualified institutional buyers" pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and to non-U.S. persons outside the United States under Regulation S under the Securities Act. The Notes have not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act and other applicable securities laws. This press release is neither an offer to sell nor a solicitation of an offer to buy the Notes, nor shall there be any sale of the Notes in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. About DT Midstream DT Midstream DTM is an owner, operator and developer of natural gas interstate and intrastate pipelines, storage and gathering systems, compression, treatment and surface facilities. The Company transports clean natural gas for utilities, power plants, marketers, large industrial customers and energy producers across the Southern, Northeastern and Midwestern United States and Canada. The Detroit-based company offers a comprehensive, wellhead-to-market array of services, including natural gas transportation, storage and gathering. DT Midstream is transitioning towards net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, including a goal of achieving 30% of its carbon emissions reduction by 2030. Forward-Looking Statements This release contains statements which, to the extent they are not statements of historical or present fact, constitute "forward-looking statements" under the securities laws. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "believe," "expect," "expectations," "plans," "intends," "continues," "forecasts," "goals," "strategy," "prospects," "estimate," "project," "scheduled," "target," "anticipate," "could," "may," "might," "will," "should," "see," "guidance," "outlook," "confident" and other words of similar meaning. The absence of such words, expressions or statements, however, does not mean that the statements are not forward-looking. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future results and conditions, but rather are subject to numerous assumptions, risks, and uncertainties that may cause actual future results to be materially different from those contemplated, projected, estimated, or budgeted. This release contains forward-looking statements about DT Midstream's intention to issue the Notes at the closing of the Offering, DT Midstream's intended use of proceeds and the Pending Acquisition. The closing of the Offering of the Notes is subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions. DT Midstream may not be able to close the Offering of the Notes on the anticipated timeline or at all. For additional discussion of risk factors which may affect DT Midstream's results, please see the discussion under the section entitled "Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and any other reports filed with the SEC. The above list of factors is not exhaustive. New factors emerge from time to time. DT Midstream cannot predict what factors may arise or how such factors may cause actual results to vary materially from those stated in forward-looking statements. Given the uncertainties and risk factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, you should not put any undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which such statements are made. We are under no obligation to, and expressly disclaim any obligation to, update or alter our forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, subsequent events or otherwise. © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Johnson's 29, Rivera's game-winner lead Fordham past Bryant, 86-84Arkansas State vs. Jackson State Predictions & Picks: Spread, Total – December 5Musk says US is demanding he pay penalty over disclosures of his Twitter stock purchases DETROIT (AP) — Elon Musk says the Securities and Exchange Commission wants him to pay a penalty or face charges involving what he disclosed — or failed to disclose — about his purchases of Twitter stock before he bought the social media platform in 2022. In a letter, Musk’s lawyer Alex Spiro tells the outgoing SEC chairman, Gary Gensler, that the commission’s demand for a monetary payment is a “misguided scheme” that won’t intimidate Musk. The letter also alleges that the commission reopened an investigation this week into Neuralink, Musk’s computer-to-human brain interface company. The SEC has not released the letter. Nor would it comment on it or confirm whether it has issued such a demand to Musk. Senate begins final push to expand Social Security benefits for millions of people WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate is pushing toward a vote on legislation that would provide full Social Security benefits to millions of people. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer began the process on Thursday for a final vote on the bill, known as the Social Security Fairness Act. It would eliminate policies that currently limit Social Security payouts for roughly 2.8 million people. The legislation has passed the House. The bill would add more strain on the Social Security Trust funds, which are already estimated to be unable to pay out full benefits beginning in 2035. The measure would add an estimated $195 billion to federal deficits over 10 years, according to the Congressional Budget Office. Trump offers support for dockworkers union by saying ports shouldn't install more automated systems WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump is offering his support for the dockworkers union before their contract expires next month at Eastern and Gulf Coast ports. He posted on social media Thursday that he met with union leaders and that any further “automation” of the ports would harm workers. He wrote that the “amount of money saved is nowhere near the distress, hurt, and harm it causes for American Workers.” The International Longshoremen’s Association has until Jan. 15 to negotiate a new contract with the U.S. Maritime Alliance, which represents ports and shipping companies. The Maritime Alliance says the technology will improve worker safety and strengthen our supply chains, among other things. IRS recovers $4.7 billion in back taxes and braces for cuts with Trump and GOP in power WASHINGTON (AP) — IRS leadership on Thursday announced that the agency has recovered $4.7 billion in back taxes and proceeds from a variety of crimes. The announcement comes under the backdrop of a promised reckoning from Republicans who will hold a majority over both chambers of the next Congress and have long called for rescinding the tens of billions of dollars in funding provided to the agency by Democrats. IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel said improvements made to the agency will help the incoming administration and new Republican majority congress achieve its goals of administering an extension of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. OpenAI's Altman will donate $1 million to Trump's inaugural fund LOS ANGELES (AP) — OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is planning to make a $1 million personal donation to President-Elect Donald Trump’s inauguration fund, joining a number of tech companies and executives who are working to improve their relationships the incoming administration. A spokesperson for OpenAI confirmed the move on Friday. The announcement comes one day after Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, said it donated $1 million to the same fund. Amazon also said it plans to donate $1 million. China signals it's prepared to double down on support for the economy as Trump tariffs loom BANGKOK (AP) — Chinese leaders met this week to plot economic policy for the coming year and sketched out plans to raise government spending and relax Beijing's monetary policy. Analysts said the broad-brush plans from the annual Central Economic Work Conference were more of a recap of current policy than ambitious new initiatives at a time when the outlook is clouded by the President-elect Donald Trump's threats to sharply raise tariffs once he takes office. The ruling Communist Party did commit to raising China's deficit and to doing more to encourage consumer spending by bringing wage increases in line with the pace of economic growth. Here's a look at China's main priorities and their potential implications. Stock market today: Wall Street slips at the end of a bumpy week Stocks slipped as Wall Street closes out a rare bumpy week. The S&P 500 was down less than 0.1% in afternoon trading Friday and headed for a weekly loss. The benchmark index hit its latest in a string of records a week ago. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 25 points. The Nasdaq composite was down less than 0.1%. Broadcom surged after the semiconductor company beat Wall Street’s profit targets and gave a glowing forecast, highlighting its artificial intelligence products. Treasury yields edged higher in the bond market. European markets were mostly lower and Asian markets mostly fell. Next Week: Retail sales, Fed policy update, existing home sales The Commerce Department releases its monthly snapshot of U.S. retail sales Tuesday. Federal Reserve officials wrap up a two-day meeting and issue an interest rate policy update Wednesday. The National Association of Realtors issues its latest update on U.S. home sales Thursday. African Union chairperson candidates advocate for permanent UN Security Council seats NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Three African leaders seeking to head the African Union have detailed their plans for regional security amid conflicts and political coups while strongly advocating for inter-Africa trade. The race for chairperson debate was held Friday in Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa. Kenya’s Raila Odinga, Djibouti’s Mahamoud Ali Youssouf and Madagascar’s Richard Randriamandrato are seeking to be elected as chairperson for the 55-member state African Union. They had a two-hour debate Friday in which they all advocated for two permanent seats for African countries at the U.N. Security Council to effectively represent the continent with the youngest population. The three are seeking to convince most African countries before the February election to succeed the African Union Chairperson Moussa Faki. From a 10-year-old to a Muppet to a president-elect, NYSE bell-ringers range from famous to obscure The first guest invited to ring the bell at the New York Stock Exchange in 1956 wasn’t a company executive, a politician or a celebrity. It was a 10-year-old boy, Leonard Ross, who received the honor by winning a television quiz show. Since then, business titans, political giants and global film stars have all been among those ringing the opening bell at the NYSE. Ronald Reagan rang the bell as president in 1985. Billionaire businessman and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Hollywood star Robert Downey Jr. have also rung the bell. The even list includes famous Muppets: Miss Piggy was once a bell ringer.
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Andrew Luck, the most significant recruit during the Jim Harbaugh era at Stanford, a quarterback who led the Cardinal from also-rans to national prominence, is returning The Farm as the football team’s general manager. Luck will oversee “all aspects” of the program starting immediately, the school announced in a news release Saturday morning. ESPN’s Pete Thamel was the first to report the news. “I think Stanford is taking an assertive and innovative step,” Luck, who starred for the Cardinal from 2009-2011 after redshirting in 2008, told ESPN. “We’re undoubtedly the best athletic department in college sports. We have to re-prove it in football, and we’re excited to be part of that challenge.” According to ESPN, Luck’s position will be a redefined role from the traditional college general manager. Instead of primarily being a subordinate to the head coach, Luck, 35, will preside over the coaching staff, player personnel staff and recruiting, as well as the business side of the program. It is no secret that Stanford has struggled to keep pace during the name, image and likeness era of college sports. The announcement of Luck’s return comes one day after Stanford lost to San Jose State to complete its fourth consecutive 3-9 season, the past two under coach Troy Taylor. “I am a product of this University, of Nerd Nation; I love this place,” Luck said in Stanford’s news release. “I believe deeply in Stanford’s unique approach to athletics and academics and the opportunity to help drive our program back to the top. Coach Taylor has the team pointed in the right direction, and I cannot wait to work with him, the staff, and the best, brightest and toughest football players in the world.” Stanford’s release noted that Luck will work with Taylor on recruiting and roster management and with athletics and university leadership on everything from fundraising and alumni relations to student-athlete support and stadium experience. Luck, who has remained close to his alma mater since leaving for the NFL as the No. 1 overall pick by the Indianapolis Colts in 2012, told ESPN that the idea of rejoining Stanford football first surfaced when he spoke to school president Jonathan Levin about a month ago. According to Luck, Levin suggested, “Why don’t you run football, Andrew?” “Andrew Luck exemplifies the Stanford student-athlete,” Levin said in a statement Saturday. “I’m excited he’s returning to campus to help lead our football program and ensure that our student-athletes achieve excellence in the changing collegiate athletics environment.” Luck most recently served as quarterbacks coach at Palo Alto High School, which is across the street from Stanford Stadium, and began working on his Master’s degree at Stanford in 2022. This month, Luck was among the Stanford dignitaries who attended the San Jose Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony at SAP Center as the class included the late real estate developer and philanthropist John Arrillaga, a mega-donor for Cardinal athletics. “Besides my folks and the friends and extended family I grew up with, Stanford, this is home for my wife and I,” Luck told ESPN. “I’m profoundly influenced by Jim Harbaugh, David Shaw, Pep Hamilton and all the coaches and professors that I’ve ever had.” Luck was the runner-up in Heisman Trophy voting in 2010 and 2011. “Andrew’s credentials as a student-athlete speak for themselves, and in addition to his legacy of excellence, he also brings a deep understanding of the college football landscape and community, and an unparalleled passion for Stanford Football,” Stanford athletic director Bernard Muir said in a statement. “I could not think of a person better qualified to guide our football program through a continuously evolving landscape, and I am thrilled that Andrew has agreed to join our team. This change represents a very different way of operating our program and competing in an evolving college football landscape.” ©2024 MediaNews Group, Inc. Visit at mercurynews.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Kakko's late goal lifts Rangers past Canadiens 4-3NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks slipped in afternoon trading Friday as Wall Street closes out a rare bumpy week. The S&P 500 fell 0.2%, and is on track for a loss for the week after three straight weekly gains. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 81 points, or 0.2% to 43,833 as of 12:56 p.m. Eastern time. The Nasdaq fell 0.3% and is hovering around its record. Broadcom surged 20.2% after the semiconductor company beat Wall Street’s profit targets and gave a glowing forecast, highlighting its artificial intelligence products. The company also raised its dividend. The company's big gain helped cushion the market's broader fall. Pricey stock values for technology companies like Broadcom give the sector more weight in pushing the market higher or lower. Artificial intelligence technology has been a focal point for the technology sector and the overall stock market over the last year. Tech companies, and Wall Street, expect demand for AI to continue driving growth for semiconductor and other technology companies. Furniture and housewares company RH, formerly known as Restoration Hardware, surged 14.3% after raising its forecast for revenue growth for the year. Wall Street's rally stalled this week amid mixed economic reports and ahead of the Federal Reserve's last meeting of the year. The central bank will meet next week and is widely expected to cut interest rates for a third time since September. Expectations of a series of rate cuts has driven the S&P 500 to 57 all-time highs so far this year . The Fed has been lowering its benchmark interest rate following an aggressive rate hiking policy that was meant to tame inflation. It raised rates from near-zero in early 2022 to a two-decade high by the middle of 2023. Inflation eased under pressure from higher interest rates, nearly to the central bank's 2% target. The economy, including consumer spending and employment, held strong despite the squeeze from inflation and high borrowing costs. A slowing job market, though, has helped push a long-awaited reversal of the Fed's policy. Inflation rates have been warming up slightly over the last few months. A report on consumer prices this week showed an increase to 2.7% in November from 2.6% in October. The Fed's preferred measure of inflation, the personal consumption expenditures index, will be released next week. Wall Street expects it to show a 2.5% rise in November, up from 2.3% in October. The economy, though, remains solid heading into 2025 as consumers continue spending and employment remains healthy, said Gregory Daco, chief economist at EY. “Still, the outlook is clouded by unusually high uncertainty surrounding regulatory, immigration, trade and tax policy,” he said. Treasury yields edged higher. The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.39% from 4.34% late Thursday. European markets slipped. Britain's FTSE 100 fell 0.1%. Britain’s economy unexpectedly shrank by 0.1% month-on-month in October, following a 0.1% decline in September, according to data from the Office for National Statistics. Asian markets closed mostly lower.