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    Feds Searched Washington Football Facility, Trainer on Leave

    Washington Football Team helmets are seen on the ground before the start of training camp at the Bon Secours Washington Football Team training center park on July 29, 2021 in Richmond, Virginia.
    Kevin Dietsch | Getty Images

    Federal investigators executed a search warrant at the Washington Football Team’s training facility and a nearby home on Friday, law enforcement sources tell News4. The team’s head athletic trainer is on leave because of an investigation, the team said. 
    Ryan Vermillion, the WFT’s director of sports medicine and head athletic trainer, is on leave, the team said in a brief statement Monday. 

    “Ryan Vermillion has been placed on administrative leave due to an ongoing criminal investigation that is unrelated to the team,” the team said. 
    Vermillion didn’t immediately comment and it was unclear if he had a lawyer.
    The searches occurred Friday afternoon at the INOVA Sports Performance Center in Ashburn and at a home in Loudoun County, sources said.
    Residents of the townhome complex said they saw multiple U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration agents. 
    Vermillion is in his second season as Washington’s head athletic trainer, after 18 seasons in the role for the Carolina Panthers, his team bio says. He worked for the Panthers under current Washington Head Coach Ron Rivera for nine seasons.

    More from NBC 4 Washington:

    News4 and NBC Sports Washington are working to learn more about the target of the investigation. 

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    Global airline industry is expected to cut losses in 2022 by 78% to $12 billion in slow pandemic recovery

    Global airlines will continue to lose money in 2022, but that amount will drop nearly 78% to $12 billion, IATA forecasts.
    The industry group says a “path to recovery is coming into view” for the industry.
    Airlines will have lost more than $200 billion from the Covid pandemic through next year.

    A plane lands on the southern runway at London Heathrow Airport. US and EU travellers who are fully vaccinated against coronavirus will be allowed to enter England and Scotland without the need to quarantine from Monday.
    Steve Parsons | PA Images | Getty Images

    The global airline industry is expected to lose close to $12 billion next year, cutting its losses from this year by 78% as carriers slowly recover from the Covid-19 pandemic, the International Air Transport Association said in a forecast Monday.
    The IATA, which represents nearly 300 airlines that operate more than 80% of the world’s air traffic, said industry losses in 2021 will be worse than originally thought, totaling $51.8 billion, widening from a forecast in April of $47.7 billion.

    Net losses in 2020 were $137.7 billion, more than the $126.4 billion the IATA estimated earlier this year and bringing the industry’s total net losses from the pandemic to more than $200 billion.
    “We are past the deepest point of the crisis,” IATA’s director general, Willie Walsh, said during the group’s annual meeting, which was held in Boston. It was its first in-person annual meeting since June 2019. “While serious issues remain, the path to recovery is coming into view.”
    The IATA forecast the industry would return to profitability in 2023 and said the total passenger numbers would rise to 3.4 billion people next year from 2.3 billion this year.
    Walsh said the lifting of international travel restrictions tied to the pandemic would fuel bookings but slammed countries’ lack of uniform guidelines on safety protocols such as Covid testing windows, age exemptions and methods to validate vaccinations.
    The Biden administration last month said that in November it would lift bans on international visitors that were put in place early in the pandemic, but officials haven’t yet disclosed a date.

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    Upstart activist Engine No. 1 takes stake in GM, supports EV transition plan

    Upstart activist firm Engine No. 1 has taken a stake in General Motors, which it believes is taking the necessary steps to become an automaker of the future.
    “We think that this can become a growth company again. … We think this stock could triple over the next five years,” Engine No. 1 founder Chris James said Monday on CNBC’s “Squawk Box.”
    The firm rose to prominence after waging a successful campaign against Exxon.

    Engine No. 1, the firm that rose to prominence after waging a successful campaign against Exxon, announced Monday an investment in General Motors. This time, the upstart activist’s stake signals support for the automaker as it transitions to electric vehicles.
    Engine No. 1 pointed to the similarities between Exxon and GM, noting that each company is in an industry undergoing a transformation. But unlike Exxon, GM is taking actionable steps in what the firm believes is an imperative for long-term success: linking ESG criteria to economic outcomes.

    “GM, with the support of a really strong management team and a great board, has decided that they’re going to embrace the future. They’re going to make the investments necessary in order to be successful during this transition,” Engine No. 1 founder Chris James said Monday on CNBC’s “Squawk Box.”
    In January, GM announced plans to exclusively offer electric vehicles by 2035, which is part of a broader plan to become carbon neutral by 2040. By 2025, the company plans to release 30 new electric vehicles globally as part of a $27 billion investment in electric and autonomous vehicles.
    James said GM’s “all in, both feet in the pool approach” toward embracing EVs is rare for an incumbent company and sets the automaker up for success. Rather than looking to protect its legacy business first and foremost, which is the typical move, James said the company is embracing change.
    Tesla has focused on battery electric vehicles from the start, and Wall Street has rewarded the company for its leadership in EV production. The company’s market cap is well above $700 billion, according to FactSet, significantly ahead of GM’s $77.1 billion valuation. But the latter delivers millions more cars each year than Tesla does, and James noted this advantage of scale positions GM for future returns.
    “We think that this can become a growth company again. … We think this stock could triple over the next five years, and that, for us, is something that gets us pretty excited,” he said. “We think for the first time, they have the ability to gain an enormous amount of market share.”

    James said that with Exxon and GM, the goal was to zero in on what’s best for the company over the long-term. He shies away from the description of “activist investor,” preferring to call himself an active owner.
    Still, the firm is coming off a high-profile campaign against Exxon. The firm began targeting the oil giant in December with just a 0.02% position. After a monthslong battle, Engine No. 1 successfully placed three of its four nominees on Exxon’s board.
    “We’re not going at all hostile, we think they’re doing the right thing,” James said of GM. He added that CEO Mary Barra and the automaker’s entire management team have been open to discussions about the company’s future and long-term goals.
    “It was a real difference and it couldn’t have been more of a 180 than what we faced when we were talking to Exxon during the early stages,” he said.
    Shares of GM are up more than 30% for 2021, and have gained roughly 80% over the last year.

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    Ford's sales improving but still down by 27.4% in the third quarter

    Ford’s U.S. vehicle sales during the third quarter fell by 27.4% from last year as an ongoing shortage of semiconductor chips interrupted vehicle production and cut dealer inventories.
    The drastic fall was narrower than auto forecasters expected, but wider than the overall industry that was anticipated to be down between 13% and 14% from the same time last year.

    Thousands of Ford F-150s without chips are stored at Kentucky Speedway in Sparta, Kentucky, U.S., September 8, 2021.
    Jeff Dean | Reuters

    DETROIT – Ford Motor’s U.S. vehicle sales showed signs of improvement during the third quarter, but still fell by 27.4% from last year as an ongoing shortage of semiconductor chips interrupted vehicle production.
    The drastic decline was narrower than auto forecasters expected, but wider than the overall industry that was estimated to be down between 13% and 14% from the same time last year. Cox Automotive expected Ford’s sales to be down by 37.3% during the third quarter, while Edmunds forecast a 29.3% decline.

    A silver lining is Ford’s sales improved during the quarter from losses of more than 30% in July and August to 17.7% in September, signaling better supply of semiconductor chips. Its vehicle inventory also improved to 236,000 cars and trucks, up 21,000 units compared with the start of September.
    Shares of Ford were up by more than 4% in trading Monday morning.

    Ford sold 400,843 vehicles in the third quarter, including more than 156,600 in September. Its sales heading into October were nearly 1.4 million, down by 7% compared with the first three quarters of 2020.
    Ford said reservations for its upcoming F-150 Lightning electric pickup have topped more than 150,000. That compares with 100,000 reservations at the end of the second quarter, according to the company.

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    World's longest under-sea electricity cable begins operations

    Sustainable Energy

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    Britain’s National Grid dubs the 1.6 billion euro North Sea Link “the world’s longest subsea electricity interconnector.”
    The idea behind the NSL is for it to harness Norway’s hydropower and the U.K’s wind energy resources.

    Wind turbines in waters off the coast of the U.K.
    Lakeland-Photos | iStock | Getty Images

    A 450-mile subsea cable which connects the U.K. and Norway, enabling them to share renewable energy, has started operations.
    In a statement at the end of last week, Britain’s National Grid dubbed the 1.6 billion euro ($1.86 billion) North Sea Link “the world’s longest subsea electricity interconnector.” The North Sea Link is a joint venture with Norway’s Statnett, the owner and operator of the country’s power transmission network.

    The idea behind the NSL is for it to harness Norway’s hydropower and the U.K’s wind energy resources. According to National Grid, when Britain’s wind production is high and demand for electricity is low, the system will facilitate exports to Norway. This will in turn help to conserve water in the latter’s reservoirs.
    “When demand is high in Britain and there is low wind generation, hydro power can be imported from Norway,” it added.
    While Norway has a long history of oil and gas production, authorities there say 98% of its electricity production stems from renewables, with hydropower accounting for the vast majority.

    Read more about clean energy from CNBC Pro

    National Grid has previously described interconnectors as “high voltage cables that are used to connect the electricity systems of neighbouring countries,” facilitating the trade of surplus power. 
    The project links the English town of Blyth to Kvilldal in Norway and will have an initial maximum capacity of 700 megawatts. This will increase to a “full capacity” of 1,400 MW across a three-month timeframe.

    In its own announcement, Statnett referred to the three months as a “trial period.” In comments published by National Grid, Statnett’s CEO Hilde Tonne said: “As North Sea Link goes into trial operations, I am proud of the engineering feat produced by our joint team.”

    More from CNBC Climate:

    The North Sea Link is National Grid’s fifth interconnector — others link to the Netherlands, France and Belgium. Looking ahead, National Grid said 90% of the electricity imported through its interconnectors would come from zero-carbon sources by the year 2030.
    Last November, plans were announced for a multi-billion pound “underwater energy superhighway” which would allow electricity produced in Scotland to be sent to the northeast of England.
    The Eastern Link project, as it’s known, is to focus on the development of a pair of high-voltage direct current cables that will have a total capacity of up to 4 gigawatts.
    If fully realized the project, which is currently in the early stages of development, would connect two points in Scotland — Peterhead and Torness — to Selby and Hawthorn Point in England. More

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    Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin is launching William Shatner on October tourist spaceflight

    William Shatner is scheduled to launch on the next crewed spaceflight of Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin.
    Blue Origin plans to fly the Canadian actor, who famously played Captain Kirk in the original Star Trek television series, as one of the passengers on the company’s New Shepard rocket.
    The launch is planned for Oct. 12, with the crew of four also including Planet Labs co-founder Chris Boshuizen and Medidata cofounder Glen de Vries.

    Actor William Shatner speaks at the “William Shatner” panel during the 17th annual official Star Trek convention at the Rio Hotel & Casino on August 4, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
    Gabe Ginsberg | Getty Images

    Science fiction will soon become reality, as William Shatner is scheduled to launch on the next crewed spaceflight of Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin.
    Blue Origin plans to fly the Canadian actor, who famously played Captain Kirk in the original Star Trek television series, as one of the passengers on the company’s New Shepard rocket.

    The launch is planned for Oct. 12. Blue Origin’s vice president of mission and flight operations Audrey Powers is joining the flight, with the crew of four rounded out by the previously announced members Planet Labs co-founder Chris Boshuizen and Medidata co-founder Glen de Vries.
    Blue Origin will host a live webcast of the mission, called NS-18, with coverage set to begin at 8 a.m. ET on Oct. 12.

    William Shatner as Captain James T. Kirk
    CBS | Getty Images

    Blue Origin’s New Shepard crew (L-R) Oliver Daemen, Jeff Bezos, Wally Funk, and Mark Bezos pose for a picture near the booster after flying into space in the Blue Origin New Shepard rocket on July 20, 2021 in Van Horn, Texas. Mr. Bezos and the crew were the first human spaceflight for the company.
    Joe Raedle | Getty Images

    A trip on Blue Origin’s New Shepard lasts about 10 minutes from liftoff to landing. The reusable rocket carries the capsule up past the U.S. boundary of space at 80 kilometers altitude, with the spacecraft and crew floating in microgravity for a couple of minutes before returning to land under a set of parachutes.

    The New Shepard Blue Origin rocket lifts-off from the launch pad carrying Jeff Bezos along with his brother Mark Bezos, 18-year-old Oliver Daemen, and 82-year-old Wally Funk prepare to launch on July 20, 2021 in Van Horn, Texas.
    Joe Raedle | Getty Images

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    Stocks making the biggest moves in the premarket: Tesla, Moderna, Novavax, GM and more

    Take a look at some of the biggest movers in the premarket:
    Tesla (TSLA) – Tesla shares rose 3% in the premarket after the company announced it delivered 241,300 vehicles during the third quarter, its most ever for a quarter and a 73% increase over the same quarter a year ago.

    Moderna (MRNA), Novavax (NVAX) – Moderna and Novavax shares are under pressure once again this morning. Both Covid-19 vaccine makers saw double-digit percentage losses Friday, following news of Merck’s (MRK) successful late-stage trial for its new anti-viral pill. Moderna fell 4% in premarket trading, while Novavax slid 3.3%. Merck rallied another 2.7% in the premarket following Friday’s 8.4% surge.
    General Motors (GM) – Hedge fund Engine No. 1 announced its support for GM’s goal to have a 100% electric car portfolio by 2035, as well as an investment in the automaker. Engine No. 1 gained prominence earlier this year by successfully placing three climate-focused independent directors on Exxon Mobil’s (XOM) board.
    Delta Air Lines (DAL) – Delta reinstated its original third-quarter revenue forecast, after cutting it a month ago. CEO Ed Bastian said ticket sales stabilized and then improved, and the airline is also expecting 2022 domestic bookings to surpass pre-pandemic levels. Delta will report third-quarter results on October 13.
    Southwest Airlines (LUV) – Southwest added 1.4% in premarket trading after Barclays upgraded the stock to “overweight” from “equal weight,” saying it sees bluer skies ahead for airlines and that it favors low-cost, low-fare carriers like Southwest.
    Sun Life Financial (SLF) – The financial services company struck a deal to buy oral health care provider DentaQuest for $2.47 billion in cash. The transaction is aimed at increasing Sun Life’s employee benefits offerings.

    3M (MMM) – 3M fell 1.5% in the premarket after J.P. Morgan Securities downgraded the stock to “neutral” from “overweight,” citing a lack of “fundamental direction” for the company.
    Roper Technologies (ROP) – Roper is selling its engineering solutions unit TransCore to Singapore Technologies Engineering for $2.68 billion. TransCore focuses on safety solutions for roads, bridges and tunnels.
    Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) – Johnson & Johnson is planning to ask the Food and Drug Administration this week to authorize a booster shot for its Covid-19 vaccine, according to The New York Times citing officials familiar with the company’s plans.
    Amazon.com (AMZN) – Amazon released what it is billing as “Black Friday-worthy” deals – nearly eight weeks before the actual Black Friday date. Amazon also announced a program that will allow Prime members to send gifts using just a mobile phone number or email, without having to know the recipient’s address.

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    The Philippines has thousands of islands — here’s a guide to 6 of them

    CNBC Travel

    At first glance, the more than 7,100 islands that make up the Philippines may appear to be similar.
    Those islands — of which some 2,000 are inhabited — differ by history, culture and religion, meaning they draw tourists for different reasons.

    Here are six — some well-known, some not — and the types of travelers that gravitate to each.

    Boracay

    Boracay was once known as the Philippines’ quintessential party island. That changed following a six-month closure in 2018.
    Along with an intensive environmental cleanup, the island freshened its image. It now caters to family-friendly experiences over hedonistic beach raves.

    Boracay’s sudden closure in 2018 cleaned both the environment and reputation of the popular island.
    35007 | E+ | Getty Images

    Boracay is divided into three “stations,” or areas.
    Station 1 is home to White Beach, an area famous for its sunsets, white sands and gentle waves where little ones can frolic and splash. To eat, drink and shop, travelers can walk down the beach or hop on a “tricycle” — a motorcycle with an attached passenger cab — to reach the busier Station 2.

    “Station Zero” is home to some of the island’s most luxurious hotels, including the Shangri-La Boracay.
    suntill / Imazins | ImaZinS | Getty Images

    Station 3 is generally less busy but those looking for the most secluded escape can consider the northwest part of the island — an area locals call “Station Zero.” Home to three luxury resort companies — Crimson, Movenpick and Shangri-La, it’s for travelers who want a quiet cocktail while their kids build sandcastles on the beach.
    With beach shacks giving way to resorts, some travelers may say the soul of the island has changed. Boracay is different now, for sure, but some may say for the better.

    Palawan

    The province of Palawan comprises one main island and more than 1,700 other islands and islets. Limestone rock formations descend into turquoise waters, and some islands house luxe resorts.
    The municipality of El Nido attracts people who want beach culture, restaurants and small resorts. It’s also where travelers will find Pangulasian Island, an eco-luxury resort in Bacuit Bay, an area popular with divers.

    Palawan, a needle-thin archipelago in west Philippines, has been dubbed the most beautiful island in the world by various media outlets.
    danilovi | E+ | Getty Images

    Further north are the more rustic islands of the municipality of Coron. Operated by Discovery Resorts, Club Paradise has a Robinson Crusoe vibe, with thatched beachfront huts and breakfast that can include unexpected visitors — think monkeys rifling through your fruit basket. It’s a starting point for wreck divers to explore sunken ships from World War II.
    A resort called Flower Island is operated by the family behind the pearl brand Jewelmer. Travelers can visit the company’s pearl farms there.

    A diver explores World War II Japanese wreckage near Coron, Palawan.
    Brandi Mueller | Moment | Getty Images

    Luxury holidaymakers can fly east to the Cuyo Islands and indulge in Amanpulo’s top-notch service. Opened in 1993, the private island hotel remains one of the country’s most exclusive beach resorts.

    Bohol

    For a blend of Philippine culture and beachside serenity, Bohol may be the place to go.
    The island is home to historical and natural attractions. Tourists can explore the Chocolate Hills, paddleboard through the green-hued Loboc River, or visit a tarsier sanctuary to learn about this big-eyed primate.

    Tarsiers are tiny and can fit inside a human hand, though tourists are cautioned not to touch them.
    Tuul & Bruno Morandi | The Image Bank | Getty Images

    Rice paddies carpet the countryside amid a backdrop of colonial-era churches and watchtowers. Avid divers can take a day trip to Balicasag Island to explore its coral reefs.
    Most resorts are concentrated on Panglao Island, which while usually crowded, can still provide pockets of relaxation. Donatela Resort & Sanctuary, though not quite beachfront, has hillside villas and ocean views from the main lawn. Travelers can consider Eskaya Beach Resort & Spa for a luxury spa stay while Amorita is popular with families.

    Bohol’s Chocolate Hills are named after the browning that occurs when the grass dries during the first half of the year.
    John Philip Harper | Image Source | Getty Images

    The Anda Peninsula is quiet, as is the secluded, family-run Amun Ini Beach Resort & Spa, which means “this is ours” in the local dialect.

    Siargao

    Famous for its surf break called Cloud 9, the laid back island of Siargao attracts surfers from all over the world. The tides control much of the islands’ activities, with many locals heading out to surf at dawn and dusk.

    Siargao is known as the surfing capital of the Philippines.
    Cavan Images | Cavan | Getty Images

    Though not the place for soft sands and gentle waves, Siargao has ocean activities such as cocktails on a sand bar and trips to Naked Island — so named for its bareness. Beyond the surf, travelers can swim in the Magpupungko Rock Pools or go cave diving at Sohoton Cove.
    Most action is concentrated around the town of General Luna. There travelers can find cafés serving cappuccinos and smoothie bowls by the sea. There are also tapas joints with local craft beer and motorcycle pubs with live music and ceviche.
    Accommodations range from one-room beach shacks to yoga retreats and villas. Harana Surf Resort is a classic spot and a favorite hangout for local surfing legends.

    Guyam Island is a small island near Siargao that is popular among island hopping tourists.
    Photo by TanMan | Moment | Getty Images

    Kalinaw Resort is a boutique hotel in the heart of General Luna. Run by two Frenchmen, the resort has large sea-facing villas, many with their own swimming pools.
    The Nay Palad Hideaway is a more luxurious destination. Guests are encouraged to go barefoot and leave their worries at the door.

    Siquijor

    Known as the island of witchcraft and sorcery, Siquijor remains largely untouched by outside influence.
    Some locals are too frightened to visit, and few international travelers know about it. That’s slowly changing due to a slow influx of curious foreigners and adventurous local visitors.

    Villagers in Siquijor gather ashes from a cemetery to use in rituals to protect their homes and livestock.
    ROMEO GACAD | AFP | Getty Images

    Visitors can ride bicycles around its circumference, then stop to snorkel in the ocean. Further inland is a network of rivers, waterfalls and lagoons, ensconced in jungle. The most popular is Cambugahay Falls, where rapids flow into a crystal pool, making it the island’s most photographed spot.
    Void of flashy hotel developments, accommodations on the island are modest. But comfortable options exist, such as Coco Grove Beach Resort and the Bermuda Triangle Bungalows.

    Cambugahay Falls is a three-tiered waterfall and popular swimming hole on Siquijor.
    Matteo Colombo | DigitalVision | Getty Images

    Siquijor’s mystical traditions are still alive, as evidenced by a healing festival celebrated once a year. The mix of ancient beliefs, shamanistic practices and Christian faith is an emblem of the complexities of Philippine culture and history.

    Zamboanga

    Mindanao’s Zamboanga Peninsula has rich history and beautiful beaches, particularly the pink sands of Santa Cruz Island.
    The culture mixes influences from indigenous tribes, local seafarers and the Spanish — the latter reflected in the area’s dialect called Chavacano. The result is a city with colonial buildings, locals in vibrant handmade clothes and an ocean dotted with traditional boats.

    Two boys fish against the sunset sky in Zamboanga, Philippines.
    Christian Quilalang / EyeEm | EyeEm | Getty Images

    The cuisine is complex. Curacha, a local delicacy, is grilled spanner crab that is usually eaten with Alavar — a sauce of crab roe, coconut milk and spices. Grilled skewers called satti are served with a fiery blend of chilies, called ta’mu.
    True to the area’s Spanish roots, paella is a favorite, and it’s often prepared with fresh seafood. The Muslim Malay influence is also present, particularly with dishes such as beef rendang and chicken pianggang. While those dishes are common across Southeast Asia, Zamboangeños use extra coconut and lemongrass.
    Travelers who want a white sand experience can take a boat to Once Islas, or Eleven Islands — an eco-tourism attraction that opened in 2018. More