New York City

Prosecutors say they may bring additional charges against NY City mayor

Federal prosecutors said on Wednesday they are pursuing "several related investigations" that could lead to additional corruption charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams and indictments for people in his orbit. Prosecutors made the disclosure as the first-term Democrat appeared in court for the first time since his arraignment last week on charges that he accepted about USD 1,00,000 worth of free or deeply discounted international flights, hotel stays, meals and entertainment, and sought illegal campaign contributions from foreign interests. The allegations span nearly a decade, dating to when Adams was Brooklyn's borough president. US District Judge Dale Ho didn't immediately set a trial date. Adams' lawyer, Alex Spiro, asked that it be held in March, before an important mayoral election deadline. Prosecutors say Adams' travel perks were arranged by a senior Turkish diplomatic official in New York and Turkish businesspeople who wanted to gain influence with Adams. The ...

Harvey Weinstein to be arraigned on additional sex crimes charges in NY

Harvey Weinstein is expected to be arraigned Wednesday in Manhattan on a new indictment charging him with up to three additional sex offenses, his lawyer said. Weinstein's lawyer Arthur Aidala said the jailed ex-movie mogul will appear in court in person to face his latest legal hurdle after he was excused from a hearing last week while recovering from emergency heart surgery. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's office disclosed at the September 12 hearing last week that a grand jury had returned a new indictment charging Weinstein with previously uncharged offenses. The indictment will remain under seal until Weinstein is arraigned. Prosecutors have said that the grand jury heard evidence of up to three alleged assaults: in the mid-2000s at the Tribeca Grand Hotel, now known as the Roxy Hotel, and a Lower Manhattan residential building, and, in May 2016, at a Tribeca hotel. At the same time, Weinstein is awaiting retrial in his landmark #MeToo case after New York's highest .

US lawmakers, officials condemn vandalism of BAPS temple in New York

Bipartisan lawmakers across the US have strongly condemned the vandalism at a Hindu temple here and called for an investigation into the incident, asserting that America must stand together against all forms of hate. The road and the signage outside the BAPS Swaminarayan Temple in Melville, New York, were sprayed with expletives on Monday, according to footage shared online. The BAPS Public Affairs said in a post on X that it was deeply saddened by the desecration of the temple, calling it an act aimed at inciting hatred against Hindus". "Today, local, state & federal leaders gathered to promote peace, respect and unity. Guided by our faith, we stand united against hate with compassion and solidarity, it said. Melville is located in in Suffolk County, on Long Island and is about 28 kilometres from the 16,000-seater Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum where Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to address a mega community event on September 22. US lawmakers across party lines ...

NYC mayor mixes up India with Pak in remarks at Independence Day event

In a gaffe, New York City Mayor Eric Adams referred to India and its diaspora community as Pakistan' in his remarks at an Indian Independence Day celebration in Queens. Adams was addressing members of the Indian-American community at the Queens 9th India Day Parade on Saturday. The stage from where he addressed the diaspora was decorated with Indian flags, balloons in hues of the tricolour and banners that read Mayor Adams Celebrates the Indian Community'. Adams himself was holding the Indian tricolour and the American flag and was surrounded by members of the Indian diaspora waving Indian flags, wearing tricolour sashes and tricolour-themed attire. However, during his remarks, as he spoke about the diaspora community, Adams mixed up India with Pakistan thrice. "We raised the flag earlier this week at Bowling GreenAnd I think no greater symbol of what you offer to this community than the men and women who are part of the law enforcement community, who are here, the Pakistani office

India's Independence Day celebrated with enthusiasm across New York City

The hues of the Indian tricolour, India's rich cultural heritage and strong bilateral relations with the US resonated across the city as the country's 78th Independence Day was celebrated here with patriotic fervour. A slew of events commemorating India's Independence Day were held across the city on Thursday highlighting the strong people-to-people ties between India and the US as well as India's rich heritage. Flag hoisting ceremonies were held at the Consulate General of India in New York, Permanent Mission of India to the UN, Times Square and lower Manhattan in the presence of members of the Indian diaspora and city officials. Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita, who was in the city before travelling on to Latin America, addressed members of the diaspora at the flag hoisting ceremony in the Consulate and Times Square. Leading diaspora organisation Federation of Indian Associations NY-NJ-CT-NE (FIA) held a special Independence Day celebration at the iconic N

Trump's lawyers urge NY appeals court to overturn civil fraud verdict

Fresh off victories in other legal cases, Donald Trump on Monday pressed a New York appeals court to overturn the nearly USD 500 million New York civil fraud judgment that threatens to drain his personal cash reserves as he campaigns to retake the White House. In paperwork filed with the state's mid-level appeals court, the former president's lawyers said Manhattan Judge Arthur Engoron's Feb. 16 finding that Trump lied to banks, insurers and others about his wealth was erroneous and egregious." Trump's appeal arguments echoed many of the gripes he delivered during his trial to TV cameras outside the courtroom. His lawyers argued that New York Attorney General Letitia James' lawsuit should have been promptly dismissed, the statute of limitations barred some allegations, that no one was harmed by Trump's alleged fraud and that James' involvement in private business transactions threatens to drive business out of the state. Trump's lawyers contend that Engoron's decision, if upheld, .

Weinstein scheduled to appear in NYC courtroom for upcoming retrial heaing

Harvey Weinstein is scheduled to appear in a New York court Friday ahead of a planned retrial on rape and sexual assault charges. The former Hollywood movie mogul's pretrial hearing in Manhattan criminal court will address issues related to evidence in the case, including text messages. At a hearing last week, prosecutors said they anticipate a November retrial. They told Judge Curtis Farber they are still actively pursuing new claims against Weinstein, though the prosecutors conceded they hadn't yet brought any findings to a grand jury. Weinstein's lawyer, Arthur Aidala, argued the investigation was simply a delay tactic. New York's highest court threw out Weinstein's 2020 conviction earlier this year, ruling that the original trial judge unfairly allowed testimony against him based on allegations that weren't part of the case. The conviction had been considered a landmark in the #MeToo movement, an era that began in 2017 amid numerous allegations of sexual misconduct against the

Ram Mandir tableau to be highlight at FIA's India Day parade in NYC

A tableau featuring the Ayodhya Ram Mandir will be the highlight of the India Day parade that will be organised in the heart of Manhattan next month to commemorate the Indian Independence Day. Leading diaspora body Federation of Indian Associations NY-NJ-CT-NE (FIA) said at a curtain-raiser event hosted at the Consulate General of India in New York here that the 42nd Annual India Day Parade NYC, to be held on August 18, will feature the special Ram Mandir tableau. FIA further announced that renowned Indian actor Pankaj Tripathi will be the Guest of Honour at the parade that passes through New York City's popular Madison Avenue and is attended by thousands of members of the Indian diaspora. India's rich cultural heritage, traditions and accomplishments are highlighted at the annual parade as the city's Madison Avenue gets seeped in the colours of the Indian tricolour and Indian patriotic and popular songs waft through the celebratory atmosphere. Consul General of India in New York .

World's worst traffic congestion is in New York and it costs $9 billion

The busiest corridor in the US last year was Interstate 4 in Orlando, Florida, between Beachline Expressway and the Western Beltway, jumping from 10th place in 2022

Consulate General of India leads Yoga session at NY's Times Square

Thousands of Yoga enthusiasts and practitioners assembled at the iconic Times Square here for day-long sessions of the ancient Indian practice on the eve of the commemoration of the International Day of Yoga. The Consulate General of India in New York along with the Times Square Alliance hosted special yoga sessions at Times Square Thursday, the day of the summer solstice, as yoga enthusiasts geared to celebrate the International Day of Yoga, marked every year on June 21. Amid heat advisories in place for the New York area, which experienced temperatures as high as 93F (33.8C) during the day, people from all walks of life and nationalities arrived early morning and rolled out their yoga mats in the heart of the popular New York City destination. Yoga instructor and Breath Meditation teacher Richa Dhekne, who has over two decades of experience as a volunteer and faculty member with the Art of Living Foundation, led the yoga and meditation session hosted by the Consulate General of ..

New York guv signs bill to limit 'addictive' social media feeds for kids

New York Governor Kathy Hochul on Thursday signed a bill that would allow parents to block their children from getting social media posts suggested by a platform's algorithm, a move to limit feeds critics argue are addictive. Under the legislation, feeds on apps like TikTok and Instagram would be limited for people under age 18 to posts from accounts they follow, rather than content suggested by an automated algorithm. It would also block platforms from sending minors notifications on suggested posts between midnight and 6 am. Both provisions could be turned off if a minor gets what the bill defines as verifiable parental consent. The law does not take effect immediately. State Attorney General Letitia James is now tasked with crafting rules to determine mechanisms for verifying a user's age and parental consent. After the rules are finalised, social media companies will have 180 days to implement the regulations. We can protect our kids. We can tell the companies that you are not

NYC's court declines to hear Trump's appeal of gag order in hush money case

New York's top court declined on Tuesday to hear Donald Trump's gag order appeal, leaving the restrictions in place following his felony conviction last month. The Court of Appeals found that the order does not raise substantial constitutional issues that would warrant an immediate intervention. The decision is the latest legal setback for the Republican former president, who has repeatedly railed against the gag order, which prevents him from commenting on witnesses, jurors and others who were involved in the hush money case. But it could be short lived. The trial judge, Juan M Merchan, is expected to rule soon on a defence request to lift the gag order. Trump's attorneys filed a notice of appeal with the state's high court on May 15, during the former president's landmark criminal trial. They argued that the gag order restricted Trump's core political speech on matters of central importance at the height of his Presidential campaign. But the Court of Appeals disagreed. In a deci

Trump ends pre-sentencing interview after less than 30 mins of questioning

Donald Trump's mandatory pre-sentencing interview Monday ended after less than a half-hour of routine and uneventful questions and answers, a person familiar with the matter told the Associated Press. The person was not authorized to speak publicly and did so on condition of anonymity. The former president was quizzed by a New York City probation officer for a report that will be compiled and presented to trial judge Juan M. Merchan prior to Trump's July 11 sentencing in his hush money criminal case. Merchan can use the report to help decide Trump's punishment following his May 30 felony conviction for falsifying business records to cover up a potential sex scandal. The judge has discretion to impose a wide range of punishments, ranging from probation and community service to up to four years in prison. Trump, who declined to testify at the trial, appeared for the probation interview Monday by video conference from his residence at the Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida, with hi

Trump to undergo probation interview Monday before his New York sentencing

Former President Donald Trump is scheduled to be interviewed by New York probation officials Monday, a required step before his July sentencing in his criminal hush money case, according to three people familiar with the plan. Trump will do the interview via a computer video conference from his residence at the Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida, the people told The Associated Press. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorised to disclose the plans publicly. One of Trump's lawyers, Todd Blanche, will be present for the interview. People convicted of crimes in New York usually meet with probation officials without their lawyers, but the judge in Trump's case, Juan Merchan, said in a letter Friday that he would allow Blanche's presence. The usual purpose of a pre-sentencing probation interview is to prepare a report that will tell the judge more about the defendant, and potentially help determine the proper punishment for the crime. Such reports are ...

T20 World Cup 2024: ICC accepts Nassau County pitch not up to the standards

The venue is scheduled to host the all-important India vs Pakistan encounter on Sunday, June 9

New York to restrict social media algorithms to control content for teens

Social media platforms have in recent years come under scrutiny for its addictive nature and impact on the youth

NY to set aside money to help local news outlets hire, retain employees

New York is offering up to $90 million in tax credits for news outlets to hire and retain journalists in an effort to help keep the shrinking local news industry afloat. The U.S. newspaper industry has been in a long decline, driven by factors including a loss in advertising revenue as outlets have moved from primarily print to mostly digital. That prompted state lawmakers to help in a measure passed in the state budget. New York's three-year program allows some news organizations to tap into refundable tax credits each year, with a single outlet able to receive tax credits of up to $320,000 annually. State Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal, a Democrat who sponsored the legislation, said preserving journalism jobs is vital for the health of democracy. As evidence, he cited the weakened New York news media's failure to research the background of George Santos, a Republican who fabricated many details of his life story, until after he had been elected to Congress. Some of my colleagues have ..

Another Indian student dies in US, this time in bike accident in NY

An Indian student died in a bike accident in New York, US, on Wednesday, the Consulate General of India informed on Thursday.Shri Belem Atchyuth was a student at the State University of New York.The Consulate General of India in New York offered condolences to the family of the deceased student, saying that they were in touch with his family members and have also called on local agencies to extend all assistance.In a post on X, the Consulate General of India in New York stated, "Saddened to learn about the untimely demise of Shri Belem Atchyuth, a student at SUNY who met with a bike accident and passed away yesterday evening; our deepest condolences to the family; @IndiainNewYork is in touch with the bereaved family & local agencies to extend all assistance including sending the mortal remains back to India."The incident comes amid a spike in the deaths of Indian-origin students in the US. Earlier, in April, an Indian student, who had been missing since March this year, was ...

India's NY consulate to remain open year-round for emergency services

The Consulate General of India in New York has announced that it will remain open throughout the year, including on all holidays, to help and facilitate people's travel to India in case of genuine emergencies. The Consulate said in a press release on Friday that it will remain open during all holidays, including Saturdays and Sundays, as well as other public holidays from 2 pm to 4 pm to address emergency requirements of the general public. The Consulate reiterated that this facility is for people with genuine emergencies and not for regular consular services. It advised applicants that before coming for any emergency service, they should call the Consulate's emergency helpline number to ascertain the per-requisite of supporting documents for these services and ensure that they fall in the category of emergency services, which cannot be postponed to its next working day. The facility, which came into effect on Friday, is only for emergency requirements of travel documents such as .

NYC to require warning labels for sugary foods, drinks in chain restaurants

New York City residents may soon see warning labels next to sugary foods and drinks in chain restaurants and coffee shops, under a law set to go into effect later this year. The rule requires food businesses with 15 storefronts or more to post a warning icon a black and white spoon loaded with sugar next to menu items containing at least 50 grams of added sugar. Businesses will also have to post the following written label to accompany the logo: Warning: indicates that the added sugar content of this item is higher than the total daily recommended limit of added sugar for a 2,000 calorie diet (50g). Eating too many added sugars can contribute to type 2 diabetes and weight gain. The city's health department posted its proposed rule language last week and set a public hearing for late May. City officials and Mayor Eric Adams, a Democrat, approved the law last year. The rule is scheduled to go into effect June 19 for prepackaged food items and December 1 for other items. Asked about