Latest news with #DetroitMetropolitanAirport
CBS News
16-07-2025
- CBS News
Egyptian locust discovered among luggage at Detroit Metro, CBP officials say
An Egyptian locust was found earlier this year among the luggage of a traveler arriving at Detroit Metropolitan Airport, prompting a reminder and alert from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Office of Field Operations. While the locust incident happened in March, the CPB related the details and a photo in a social media post on July 10. CBP agriculture experts working at Detroit Metro found the live Egyptian locust (Anacridium aegyptium) in a traveler's luggage from Albania. "Exotic locusts present a serious threat to U.S. agriculture due to them feeding on a variety of plants, including crops like grapevines, citrus trees, deciduous orchard trees, and vegetables," the report said. CBP's agriculture specialists work to prevent the introduction of harmful exotic species, diseases and potential agricultural bioterrorism. The agency says known prohibited items are destroyed, unknown pests are sent to the U.S. Department of Agriculture for further investigation. This is not the first time that agriculture specialists have found unwelcome insects at DTW. The CBP has previously issued reports for cases that include a non-native burrowing grasshopper in the luggage of a passenger arriving from Kenya found in 2024, and six giant African snails found in the suitcase of a traveler arriving from Ghana in 2023. "Most importers and passengers unintentionally bring these threats to the United States. Unfortunately, certain bad actors engage in agro-terrorism. Agro-terrorism specifically targets a component of agriculture or the food supply," the agency said.
Fashion Network
08-07-2025
- Business
- Fashion Network
Eastside Golf opens first US retail store at Detroit Metropolitan Airport
Lifestyle brand Eastside Golf has opened its first U.S.-based retail store inside Detroit Metropolitan Airport. The 300-square-foot space, operated in partnership with Paradies Lagardère, offers a curated selection of the brand's signature apparel and accessories, including its signature Swingman sweatshirts, tracksuits, performance polos and bucket hats. Founded in 2019 by former Morehouse College golf teammates Olajuwon Ajanaku and Earl Cooper, Eastside Golf has been recognized for reshaping the game's image and appeal through authentic storytelling, collaborations, and fashion-forward design. "I came up with the idea for Eastside Golf while I was working in finance in Detroit," explained Ajanaku, Eastside Golf's founder and creative director. "I remember showing Earl a sketch of our Swingman logo, and he suggested I put it on a T-shirt. I did, and I was stopped so many times while I was walking around Detroit by people asking where I got this shirt. At that point, I knew there was something there and Eastside Golf was born. With that history, it just feels right to open our first store here.' "Detroit, and the state of Michigan, will always have a special place in my heart," added Cooper, co-founder of Eastside Golf, who was born in Flint and spent years working as a PGA Teaching Professional at the Detroit Golf Club. "I was born in Flint, and became the first-ever Black PGA Teaching Professional at the Detroit Golf Club. To be able to open our first store in a city that has so much meaning for both Olajuwon and me feels like a full circle moment for our brand.' The store's launch follows a strong year for Eastside Golf, which has expanded its retail footprint through new partnerships with Nordstrom, Dick's Sporting Goods, Golf Galaxy, and House of Sport. It also operates a store in Tokyo in collaboration with High Draw and launched in PGA Tour Shops in 2024, leading to a presence in 10 PGA Tour locations.
New Indian Express
14-06-2025
- Science
- New Indian Express
Two Chinese scientists will stay in jail while accused of bringing biological material to US
DETROIT: Two Chinese scientists accused of smuggling or shipping biological material into the United States for use at the University of Michigan will remain in custody after waiving their right to a hearing Friday in federal court. Yunqing Jian and Chengxuan Han said in separate court appearances in Detroit that they would not challenge the government's request to keep them locked up while their cases move forward. 'This is a constantly evolving situation involving a large number of factors,' Han's attorney, Sara Garber, told a judge. She didn't elaborate and later declined to comment. Han was arrested Sunday at Detroit Metropolitan Airport after arriving on a flight from China, where she is pursuing an advanced degree at Huazhong University of Science and Technology in Wuhan. She planned to spend a year completing a project at the University of Michigan lab, and is accused of shipping biological material months ago to laboratory staff. It was intercepted by authorities. The FBI, in a court filing, said the material is related to worms and lacked a government permit. Experts told The Associated Press it didn't appear to be dangerous. Jian's case is different. She is charged with conspiring with her boyfriend, another scientist from China, to bring a toxic fungus into the US Fusarium graminearum can attack wheat, barley, maize and rice. The boyfriend, Zunyong Liu, was turned away at the Detroit airport last July and sent back to China after authorities found red plant material in his backpack. Jian, who worked at the university lab, was arrested June 2. Messages between Jian and Liu in 2024 suggest that Jian was already tending to Fusarium graminearum at the lab before Liu was caught at the airport, the FBI said. Jian's attorneys declined to comment Friday.
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Business Standard
14-06-2025
- Health
- Business Standard
2 Chinese scientists to remain in jail for bringing illegal material to US
Two Chinese scientists accused of smuggling or shipping biological material into the United States for use at the University of Michigan will remain in custody after waiving their right to a hearing Friday in federal court. Yunqing Jian and Chengxuan Han said in separate court appearances in Detroit that they would not challenge the government's request to keep them locked up while their cases move forward. This is a constantly evolving situation involving a large number of factors, Han's attorney, Sara Garber, told a judge. She didn't elaborate and later declined to comment. Han was arrested Sunday at Detroit Metropolitan Airport after arriving on a flight from China, where she is pursuing an advanced degree at Huazhong University of Science and Technology in Wuhan. She planned to spend a year completing a project at the University of Michigan lab, and is accused of shipping biological material months ago to laboratory staff. It was intercepted by authorities. The FBI, in a court filing, said the material is related to worms and lacked a government permit. Experts told The Associated Press it didn't appear to be dangerous. Jian's case is different. She is charged with conspiring with her boyfriend, another scientist from China, to bring a toxic fungus into the US Fusarium graminearum can attack wheat, barley, maize and rice. The boyfriend, Zunyong Liu, was turned away at the Detroit airport last July and sent back to China after authorities found red plant material in his backpack. Jian, who worked at the university lab, was arrested June 2. Messages between Jian and Liu in 2024 suggest that Jian was already tending to Fusarium graminearum at the lab before Liu was caught at the airport, the FBI said. Jian's attorneys declined to comment Friday. Federal authorities so far have not alleged that the scientists had a plan to unleash the fungus somewhere. Fusarium graminearum is already prevalent in the US particularly in the east and Upper Midwest and scientists have been studying it for decades. Nicknamed vomitoxin because it's most known for causing livestock to throw up, it can also cause diarrhea, abdominal pain, headache and fever in animals and people. Researchers often bring foreign plants, animals and even strains of fungi to the US to study them, but they must file certain permits before moving anything across state or national borders. The university has not been accused of misconduct. It said it has received no money from the Chinese government related to the work of the three scientists. In a statement, it said it strongly condemns any actions that seek to cause harm, threaten national security or undermine the university's critical public mission.
New York Post
13-06-2025
- Science
- New York Post
Chinese scientists, accused of smuggling biological matter into the US, will stay in jail
Two Chinese scientists accused of smuggling or shipping biological material into the United States for use at the University of Michigan will remain in custody after waiving their right to a hearing Friday in federal court. Yunqing Jian and Chengxuan Han said in separate court appearances in Detroit that they would not challenge the government's request to keep them locked up while their cases move forward. 'This is a constantly evolving situation involving a large number of factors,' Han's attorney, Sara Garber, told a judge. She didn't elaborate and later declined to comment. Advertisement 5 Mugshot of Yunqing Jian, one of the scientists accused, both did not challenge the government's request to keep them imprisoned while their cases move forward. AP 5 Mugshot of Chengxuan Han, who was arrested at Detroit Metropolitan Airport after arriving on a flight from China. AP Han was arrested Sunday at Detroit Metropolitan Airport after arriving on a flight from China, where she is pursuing an advanced degree at Huazhong University of Science and Technology in Wuhan. She planned to spend a year completing a project at the University of Michigan lab, and is accused of shipping biological material months ago to laboratory staff. Advertisement 5 Han sent four packages that 'contained biological material related to round worms' from China, according to court documents. US District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan It was intercepted by authorities. The FBI, in a court filing, said the material is related to worms and lacked a government permit. Experts told The Associated Press it didn't appear to be dangerous. Jian's case is different. She is charged with conspiring with her boyfriend, another scientist from China, to bring a toxic fungus into the U.S. Fusarium graminearum can attack wheat, barley, maize and rice. 5 Jian was charged with conspiring with her boyfriend to bring a toxic fungus into the U.S. called Fusarium graminearum that can attack wheat, barley, maize and rice. via REUTERS Advertisement 5 Defense lawyers for Chinese scientist Yunqing Jian, from left, David Duncan, James Gerometta and Norman Zalkind leave federal court. AP The boyfriend, Zunyong Liu, was turned away at the Detroit airport last July and sent back to China after authorities found red plant material in his backpack. Jian, who worked at the university lab, was arrested June 2. Messages between Jian and Liu in 2024 suggest that Jian was already tending to Fusarium graminearum at the lab before Liu was caught at the airport, the FBI said. Jian's attorneys declined to comment Friday. Advertisement Federal authorities so far have not alleged that the scientists had a plan to unleash the fungus somewhere. Fusarium graminearum is already prevalent in the U.S. — particularly in the east and Upper Midwest — and scientists have been studying it for decades. Nicknamed 'vomitoxin' because it's most known for causing livestock to throw up, it can also cause diarrhea, abdominal pain, headache and fever in animals and people. Researchers often bring foreign plants, animals and even strains of fungi to the U.S. to study them, but they must file certain permits before moving anything across state or national borders. The university has not been accused of misconduct. It said it has received no money from the Chinese government related to the work of the three scientists. In a statement, it said it strongly condemns any actions that 'seek to cause harm, threaten national security or undermine the university's critical public mission.'
