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.
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Participants pose during the Digital Solutions Korea 2024 Business Networking Reception in Seoul, Dec. 3. Courtesy of EU Delegation Office in Seoul By Kim Hyun-bin The EU Business Hub has successfully concluded its first business mission, Digital Solutions Korea 2024. Held from Dec. 2 to 6, the event provided a dynamic platform for EU small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and startups in the digital solutions sector to explore business opportunities and build partnerships in Korea. Digital Solutions Korea 2024 brought together SMEs and startups from the EU, showcasing their expertise in cutting-edge digital technologies, including AI, blockchain, cybersecurity, digital health, XR, media, robotics, semiconductors, software and telecommunication infrastructure. The event featured groundbreaking solutions, incorporating the latest IT advancements such as generative AI, cloud computing and digital twin. Notable innovations included AI-powered medical diagnostic systems, spatial computing solutions and robotic navigation solutions. Korean SMEs and large corporations from various digital solutions sectors participated, showing a keen interest in partnering with EU counterparts. The event's main program, the Business Exhibition, allowed Korean companies to discover advanced technologies and discuss partnership opportunities through one-on-one meetings. A highlight of the mission was the Business Networking Reception on Dec. 3, where companies from 17 EU countries and Korea engaged in networking conversations, fostering future collaborations in an informal setting. "It turned out to be a much more dynamic and proactive networking experience than expected. It provided a meaningful opportunity to freely connect with a diverse range of European countries that are usually hard to reach, share key insights on global business expansion and technological innovation and directly explore the potential for collaboration,” a Korean participant said. Additionally, the EU Business Hub program operated a booth at Softwave 2024 at COEX in Seoul from Dec. 4 to 6. This booth introduced the EU Business Hub program and facilitated B2B matchmaking for Softwave 2024 participants. EU SMEs and startups participating in Digital Solutions Korea 2024 also visited Softwave 2024 in person, engaging with Korean companies. "We look forward to the connections established between the EU companies and local business partners during this one-week business matchmaking and networking event to continue and grow into durable partnerships," said Tanith Bello, EU Business Hub program officer at the EU delegation to Korea. The mission received positive feedback from participating companies, which described it as "an opportunity to expand horizons, build connections and position their company for growth in an ever-evolving global landscape.”
5 top tech gifts for the holidaysCHARLESTON, S.C. — Mitch Mascari’s 22 points helped the Drake men’s basketball team defeat Florida Atlantic 75-63 on Friday in a semifinal of the Charleston Classic. Mascari shot 6 for 9 (6 for 8 from 3-point range) and 4 of 4 from the free-throw line for the Bulldogs (5-0). Bennett Stirtz scored 17 points and added six assists. Tavion Banks had 12 points and shot 2 of 5 from the field and 8 of 10 from the free-throw line. The Owls (4-3) were led in scoring by Leland Walker, who finished with 14 points and five assists. Matas Vokietaitis and Tre Carroll each scored 10 points. Drake entered halftime up 32-28. Mascari paced the team in scoring in the first half with 11 points. Drake took the lead for what would be the final time on Banks’ free throw with 14:22 left in the second half. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .
ANTERIX TO PRESENT AT JANNEY CLEAN ENERGY INVESTMENT SYMPOSIUM DECEMBER 4-5, 2024LA CENTA broadens its reach to offer specialized care to additional communities in LA LOS ANGELES , Nov. 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Los Angeles Center for Ear, Nose, Throat, and Allergy (LA CENTA) announced today the opening of their new location in Brentwood, CA. This is LA CENTA's eleventh office location and will be led by Dr. Cong Ivy Ran . Dr. Ran is a highly trained plastic surgeon specializing in facial aesthetics. She earned a degree in molecular genetics from The Ohio State University and then pursued her medical degree and Ph.D. in genetics at Dartmouth College's Geisel School of Medicine. After her academic training, Dr. Ran completed her internship and residency in general surgery and otolaryngology-head and neck surgery at Northwestern University in Chicago, IL. Dr. Ran tailors treatments to the unique needs and aspirations of each patient, understanding that everyone's vision of beauty is distinct. Acknowledging that Western aesthetic standards may not always suit Asian patients, she is among the few plastic surgeons in Los Angeles who offers customized procedures for patients of all backgrounds utilizing a blend of advanced techniques and cutting-edge technologies. She specializes in head and neck procedures, including surgical facelifts, neck lifts, and brow lifts, as well as blepharoplasty and general ENT services. "We're excited to expand our services and strengthen our commitment to our patients and community with the opening of our new Brentwood office," said LA CENTA Founder and CEO, Dr. Geoff Trenkle . "Dr. Ran's focus on advancing treatments and technologies will help further our mission to provide top-tier care to patients in various LA communities." As with their other offices, LA CENTA will offer a variety of high-quality, university caliber medical services at their Brentwood location. The new office is located at 11600 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 324 Los Angeles, CA 90025. Additional LA CENTA locations include Pasadena , Boyle Heights, Glendale , Hollywood , Montebello , Downtown LA, Huntington Park , Palmdale , South Bay, and Palm Springs . About LA CENTA: The Los Angeles Center for Ear, Nose, Throat and Allergy (LA CENTA) provides University caliber, subspecialty care to the communities in which they operate. They were founded on the principle of accessibility and availability, and they are working to improve the quality of community healthcare in Los Angeles and beyond. LA CENTA believes it is important to work synergistically with their community hospitals and healthcare system to provide the most comprehensive care for their patients. They accept a wide variety of insurances and service multiple hospitals to help serve this end. They also offer online booking, virtual appointments, and services in house to streamline their appointment scheduling. LA CENTA has multiple locations in LA including Pasadena , Boyle Heights, Glendale , Hollywood , Montebello , Downtown LA, Huntington Park , Palmdale , South Bay, and Palm Springs . Contact: The Co-Op Agency Erica Markle | 310.734.7834 [email protected] SOURCE LA CENTARanger Energy director Michael Kearney sells $409,964 in stock
