Page 9 - New York

New wildfires burn in US Northeast; California, West witness bigger blazes

New wildfires burned Tuesday across the Northeast, adding to a series of blazes that have come amid very dry weather and killed at least one person, while much larger fires raged in California and other western states. Heavy smoke led to poor air quality and health advisories for parts of New Jersey and New York, including New York City. Firefighters in Massachusetts worked to contain dozens of fires amid strong winds and drought conditions. The National Weather Service issued a red flag warning for much of that state and parts of Connecticut, saying conditions were critical and fires could rapidly spread. Massachusetts officials said all of the 200 or so fires they had been dealing with this month had been caused by human behaviour, and Governor Maura Healey urged people to avoid lighting fires. Now is not the time to burn leaves. Now is not the time to go outside and light a fire, she told reporters in Middleton. One fire in southern New Jersey tripped fire alarms and set off ca

Immigration policy: Trump picks duo who back family separation, deportation

Donald Trump's first picks for immigration policy jobs spent the last four years angling for this moment. Stephen Miller and Thomas Homan had critical roles in the first Trump administration and are unapologetic defenders of its policies, which included separating thousands of parents from their children at the border to deter illegal crossings. With Trump promising sweeping action in a second term on illegal immigration, the two White House advisers will bring nuts-and-bolts knowledge, lessons from previous setbacks and personal views to help him carry out his wishes. After Trump left office in 2021, Miller became president of America First Legal, a group that joined Republican state attorneys general to derail President Joe Biden's border policies and plans. Homan, who worked decades in immigration enforcement, founded Border 911 Foundation Inc., a group that says it fights against a border invasion and held its inaugural gala in April at Trump's Florida estate. Homan knows how t

Judge strikes down NY law intended to protect minority groups' voting power

A judge has struck down a state law that made it easier for New Yorkers to sue over electoral divisions and voting rules that weakened the political voice of minority groups, saying its special protections based on race and ethnicity are unconstitutional. Orange County state court Justice Maria Vazquez-Doles struck down New York's Voting Rights Act of 2022 on Thursday in a decision in which she also dismissed a lawsuit brought by six Black and Hispanic voters against the Town of Newburgh. In the suit, the residents challenged the way people were elected to the town's board, arguing that at-large elections to pick board members in the majority-white town had kept Black and Hispanic residents from electing their candidates of choice. They asked the court to impose a system in which the town, located about 60 miles (96 kilometres) north of New York City, would elect board members by district. New York's Voting Rights Act created a pathway for voters to challenge at-large elections that

US election result: New York's Times Square soaked in election fever

New York's Times Square is soaked in election colour with huge crowd, both supporters of Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, have gathered there.

Blackstone targets two new European markets in global wealth push

To help expand the business, Blackstone has promoted Sheila Rapple to chief operating officer for EMEA wealth, who relocated to London from New York in October

New York City declares a 'drought watch', asks residents to conserve water

New York's mayor urged residents to take shorter showers, fix dripping faucets and otherwise conserve water, issuing a drought watch Saturday after a parched October here and in much of the United States. A drought watch is the first of three potential levels of water-saving directives, and Adams pitched it in a social media video as a step to try to ward off the possibility of a worse shortage in the United States' most populous city. Mother Nature is in charge, and so we must make sure we adjust, said Adams, a Democrat. He ordered all city agencies to get ready to implement their water conservation plans. He asked the public to do its part by, for example, turning off taps while brushing teeth and sweeping sidewalks instead of hosing them down. The mayor also exhorted residents to report opened-up fire hydrants and other street leaks. The recommendation comes days after the city fixed a leaky Brooklyn hydrant that fed a homespun goldfish pond on the sidewalk. Just 0.01 inches (0

Trump defends NY rally with crude remarks, calls it absolute lovefest

Urged by some allies to apologise for racist comments made by speakers at his weekend rally, Donald Trump took the opposite approach on Tuesday, saying it was an honour to be involved in such an event and calling the scene a lovefest - the same term he has used to describe the Jan. 6 insurrection at the US Capitol. Trump gathered supporters and reporters to his Mar-a-Lago resort two days after a massive rally at Madison Square Garden featured a number of crude remarks by various speakers, including a set by comedian Tony Hinchcliffe in which he joked that Puerto Rico was a floating island of garbage. Some of Trump's top Republican allies have condemned the remarks, and his campaign took the rare step of publicly distancing itself from Hinchcliffe's joke, though not the other comments. But given the opportunity to apologize at multiple events and in interviews Tuesday, Trump instead leaned in. Speaking at his Florida resort, he said that there's never been an event so beautiful as his

Trump's campaign faces backlash for racist jokes, anti-immigration push

Donald Trump's rally at Madison Square Garden criticised for harsh anti-immigrant push, racist jokes, misogyny, and fear-mongering a week ahead of US polls

Demonstrators beat PM Modi's effigy outside NY court on Pannu row

Demonstrators who blame the Indian government for a murder-for-hire scheme targeting a prominent Sikh separatist leader living in New York City beat an effigy of the country's prime minister outside a Manhattan courthouse on Friday after a hearing for a man charged in the foiled plot. The demonstration by more than a dozen Sikhs came one day after a rewritten indictment in the case charged an Indian government employee in connection with the foiled plan. The India-based employee, Vikash Yadav, remains at large. Across the street from the courthouse, the demonstrators put a shackled effigy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi inside a makeshift jail cell. Another cardboard likeness of Modi was pounded in the face and kicked around on the sidewalk. Nikhil Gupta, who has previously charged, pleaded not guilty during the hearing, which alleges that Yadav recruited Gupta to orchestrate the assassination. Gupta, 53, has been held without bail since he was extradited to the United States in Ju

Air India Mumbai-New York flight diverted to Delhi after bomb threat

A New York-bound Air India plane carrying 239 passengers from Mumbai was diverted to the national capital early morning on Monday due to a bomb threat, according to officials. Police said following standard security protocols, a thorough inspection was conducted and no suspicious item was found inside the aircraft. "Flight AI 119 operating from Mumbai to JFK on October 14 received a specific security alert and on instructions of the government's security regulatory committee, (it) was diverted to Delhi," Air India said in a statement. "Staff on ground are working to minimise the inconvenience caused to our guests by this unexpected disruption, it said. All 258 people onboard the aircraft have disembarked and are currently undergoing security procedures. Once the security protocols are completed, the passengers will be moved to hotels, it added. There were 239 passengers and 19 crew members onboard the plane. The flight has been rescheduled and will now depart for New York from De

Watch: Plane with 'Stop Violence on Bangladesh Hindus' banner flies over New York City

In a powerful appeal to the global community, Hindu American groups flew a massive airline banner, calling for urgent global action to stop the ongoing violence against Hindus in Bangladesh.

'Work in progress': TotalEnergies CEO Pouyanne on plans for NY listing

The company's plan to turn its American depositary receipts into ordinary shares is "work in progress," Pouyanne said during the company's annual investor day in New York Wednesday

EAM S Jaishankar meets foreign ministers of G4 nations in New York

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has met his counterparts from the G4 countries, reaffirming the grouping's commitment to urgent reform of the United Nations Security Council through text-based negotiations. The G4 nations comprise Brazil, Germany, India, and Japan. Jaishankar, who is in the US on an official visit, on Monday met his Japanese counterpart Yoko Kamikawa, the Foreign Minister of Germany Annalena Baerbock and Brazil's Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira on the sidelines of the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly. "Glad to join the traditional #G4 Foreign Ministers Meeting along with colleagues @ABaerbock, @Kamikawa_Yoko and Mauro Vieira in New York today. G4 reaffirmed its commitment for an urgent reform of the United Nations Security Council through Text Based Negotiations," Jaishankar said in a post on X. The G4 nations support each other's bids for permanent seats on the United Nations Security Council. India has been at the forefront of years-long

Watch: Key moments from PM Modi's address to Indian diaspora in New York

PM Modi addressed the Indian diaspora at a community event held at Nassau Coliseum in New York on September 22. Thousands of Indian diaspora members attended the event in New York.

PM Modi urges global tech CEOs to be part of India's growth story

Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated in a "fruitful" roundtable with the CEOs of leading American tech companies where he emphasised India's growth prospects and discussed initiatives to foster bilateral collaborations across various sectors. The meeting took place at the Lotte New York Palace Hotel on Sunday during the second leg of Modi's three-day US visit. It saw the participation of CEOs of major US-based firms working on cutting-edge technologies such as AI, quantum computing and semiconductors. "Had a fruitful roundtable with tech CEOs in New York, discussing aspects relating to technology, innovation and more. Also highlighted the strides made by India in this field. I am glad to see immense optimism towards India," Modi said in a post on X. Organised by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) School of Engineering, the CEOs of top US tech firms, including Google CEO Pichai and Adobe CEO Shantanu Narayena, attended the conference. "Further cementing technology

Harris raises $27 mn in NY fundraiser, promises economic speech this week

Vice President Kamala Harris raised USD 27 million at a packed New York City fundraiser on Sunday, her largest fundraising haul since she took over at the top of the ticket from President Joe Biden, according to a Harris campaign aide. Though Harris has far more money than former President Donald Trump, the money will be needed to compete with pricey advertising by deep-pocketed outside groups that support Trump, said the aide, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss private fundraising details. The blockbuster fundraiser was held at Cipriani Wall Street in a massive Greek Revival ballroom with over a dozen columns. Much of the crowd stood shoulder to shoulder as Harris needled Trump for refusing to debate her again. My opponent seems to be looking for an excuse, Harris told the crowd. I feel very strongly that we owe it to the American people, to the voters, to meet once more before Election Day." She reiterated that later, telling reporters after landing outside Washington

India to open new consulates in Boston, Los Angeles: PM Modi in US visit

India will open two new consulates in Boston and Los Angeles, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday, meeting the long-pending demand of the fast-growing Indian American community in these two large American cities. While Boston is considered as the education and pharma capital of the US, Los Angeles, home to Hollywood, is hosting the next summer Olympics and current US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti is the city's former mayor. Friends last year, I had announced that our government had plans to open a new consulate in Seattle. It is now operational. I had asked for suggestions from you for two more consulates. I am happy to announce that after reviewing your suggestions, India has decided to open two new consulates in Boston and Los Angeles, Modi announced during his address to Indian Americans in New York's Nassau Veterans Coliseum. India currently has six consulates in New York, Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, San Francisco and Seattle. The Embassy is in Washington DC. The ...

India has no role in causing destruction: PM Modi on climate change

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that India has no role in causing destruction to the world, in an apparent criticism of the West. Addressing thousands of Indian-Americans at a community event in New York, Modi said that India has 17 per cent of the world's population and its carbon emissions are less than four per cent. Talking about India's green energy transition, he said a large number of green jobs are being created in India. "India represents about 17 per cent of the world's population, and despite that, our contribution to emission is about only four per cent," he said, adding India today has "no role in causing destruction to the world. China is the world's biggest carbon emitter followed by the US, India and the EU. "Our carbon emission is almost negligible, he said, adding that like other countries, India could also have opted for a carbon fuel-driven growth. But that's not the case. It's India's tradition for the love of nature, and that is why India is focu

Watch: Visuals from Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum; PM Modi to visit on Sep 22

Watch visuals from Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Long Island, where PM Modi is scheduled to address the Indian diaspora, on September 22.

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 ...