New York: Pakistani-Origin US-based Wattoo Family head Aslam Wattoo has passed away in Lahore, the Capital of Punjab Province, after a brief ailment.
As per family sources, Aslam’s body was paralyzed and undergoing medical treatment at a private hospital (Doctor Hospital) in Lahore.
However, he could not recover, and breathed his last on Wednesday, leaving behind loved ones including family, friends, and relatives to mourn his death.
His body will be transported to the native village on the outskirts of Gujranwala District in Punjab.
Aslam will be laid to rest in a local graveyard of Juranwala on Thursday, December 29, amid tears and mourning.
The Pakistani-Americans have expressed their deep sorrow over the sad demise of Aslam Wattoo and extended condolence to his loved ones including his daughter Shazia Wattoo, Son Shehbaz Wattoo, Asif Wattoo and Son-in-law Karim Wattoo.
New York: Acclaimed Muslim scholar Tariq Jameel has suffered cardiac arrest, and moved to a hospital in Canada, according to his family. This is 2nd time he has suffered cardiac arrest in three years.
Tariq Jameel’s son Yousuf Jameel confirmed on his micro-blogging site –a Twitter message that his father suffered a heart attack in Canada, and has been rushed to the hospital due to a heart attack.
He said that by the grace of Allah, his condition is much better, and requested the people to pray for his speedy recovery.
He said that at around 1:00 PM according to Pakistan Standard Time and 3 PM night according Canadian time, he suffered heart and chest pain.
It is relevant to mention here that Maulana Tariq Jameel suffered a cardiac arrest in January 2019, and underwent a successful angioplasty in Lahore. A stent was inserted in his heart to clear the blockage of arteries, according to Pakistani news reports.
WASHINGTON: U.S. President Joe Biden authorized federal support for New York state on Monday after a severe winter storm left at least 27 people dead in the Buffalo area and tens of thousands of residents without power, the White House said in a statement and quoted by Reuters.
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has especially been authorized to coordinate efforts in the greater Buffalo metro area, according to D.W.Com.
Biden spoke with Governor Kathy Hochul late on Monday night to offer “the full force of the federal government” to support emergency efforts in the state.
“My heart is with those who lost loved ones this holiday weekend. You are in my and Jill’s prayers,” Biden tweeted earlier in the day.
More than 4 feet (1.2 meters) of snow fell on western New York state in what Governor Hochul has called “an epic, once-in-a-lifetime” catastrophe.
Hundreds of National Guard troops were deployed to assist emergency personnel on Monday. However, roads remain littered with cars and even plows burred under snow, complicating rescue efforts.
Hochul said the wild weather go down in history as “the Blizzard of ’22” and added that it is “way too early to say this is at its completion.”
Local officials ranked it as the worst Buffalo-area snowstorm since a 1977 blizzard that killed nearly 30 people.
Preparations are being made to celebrate the arrival of the New Year around the world.
The preparations to install the crystal ball at Times Square have also reached the final stages.
According to the national media, In New York, Times Square starts the final preparations for New Year’s Eve, which means the piecing together of the famous ball.
The ball is 12 feet in diameter and weighs over 11,000 pounds. The ball is covered with 2,688 Waterford Crystal triangles that vary in size, and range in length from 4 ¾ inches to 5 ¾ inches per side.
The 2,688 Waterford Crystal triangles are bolted to 672 LED modules which are attached to the aluminum frame of the Ball.
The Ball is illuminated by 32,256 LEDs. Each LED module contains 48 LEDs, 12 red, 12 blue, 12 green, and 12 white for a total of 8,064 of each color.
The Ball is capable of displaying a palette of more than 16 million vibrant colors and billions of patterns that creates a spectacular kaleidoscope effect atop One Times Square.
Every year thousands of people gathered at Times Square to watch the Ball Drop and to celebrate the New Year.
New York: Sam Bankman-Fried, the founder of the cryptocurrency exchange company – FTX, involved in the major cryptocurrency fraud of United States history, was released by the court on a bail package of $250 million.
According to the details, FTX co-founder and former CEO Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF) was arrested in the case for cheating the customers and investors of FTX for a year.
He made his first appearance before a Manhattan magistrate judge yesterday, where he was released on bail.
According to the bail package, the 30-year-old former FTX boss will remain under house arrest at his parents’ home in California.
Federal prosecutors said the bail on which Bankman was released was one of the largest pretrial bonds in American history.
Bankman was indicted by federal prosecutors in Manhattan on Dec. 13, alleging that over a year he illegally diverted billions of dollars of FTX customer funds for personal expenses, political donations and real estate purchases. , and he did this through his other crypto company, Alameda Research.
New York: ICNA Relief volunteers rescued the Hispanic-American family members right after their car met a tragic accident in Pennsylvania.
The couple (wife and husband) and their little kid were traveling in a car that crashed in a deserted area somewhere in Pennsylvania.
ICNA Relief workers, in-charge New York Ishaq Alpar, Osama Siddiqui and Hasfi Bakhsh were going to Chicago from New York to carry out relief activities.
The car accident was seen in a deserted place in Pennsylvania and they noticed a person desperately crying for help. ICNA Relief volunteers stopped the car and came to help the person. They also found a women and children.
The three friends immediately pulled the mother and son out of the car and approached rescuers at 911, after which the family was taken to the hospital by ambulance.
New York: Christians around the world including US are celebrating Christmas today. Special prayer events are being organized in all big and small church centers on the birthday of Jesus.
US president Joe Biden has extended his heartfelt felicitations to the nation in connection with Christmas. He took to twitter saying: “From the entire Biden family to yours: Merry Christmas, America.”
New York City Mayor Eric Adams congratulated his city dwellers. In his message, Eric Adams said: “This is a season of peace, joy and a spirit of being there for one another. Our city is back because of that spirit. Merry Christmas New York City.”
Christmas is being celebrated with enthusiasm around the world. The buildings are decorated with electric bulbs. Christmas trees, shops, and swings for children have been installed at various places.
The biggest Christmas prayer event took place in Vatican City. Pope Francis opened the ceremony with religious rites and appealed to take care of the poor.
The spiritual leader of Catholic Christians, Pope Francis, offered a special prayer on this occasion. In his address, Pope Francis wished Christmas to Christians around the world and highlighted the teachings of Jesus.
On this occasion, he urged the international community to help those affected by the war in Ukraine. Pope Francis, without naming Ukraine, said that the level of greed and hunger for power is such that some people even kill their neighbors.
Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year when people across the world come together to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Each year, on Christmas, families come together, celebrate and indulge themselves in parties. Christmas is not only the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, but also the spirit of giving and affection celebrated across faiths.
The birth of Jesus Christ marks the utmost importance for Christmas as they believed that God had sent his son on earth as a sacrifice to redeem the people of the world from their sins.
According to the national media, a former military base will be home to one of the largest film production studios in the world as entertainment giant Netflix has agreed to buy almost 300 acres of land not far from the Jersey Shore.
Streaming giant Netflix will invest $905 million to transform the Fort Monmouth base in New Jersey into its East Coast production hub.The streamer, known for hits like “Stranger Things” and “Emily in Paris,” said it paid $55 million for the 292-acre Fort Monmouth base in Eatontown and Oceanport.
“We believe a Netflix studio can boost the local and state economy with thousands of new jobs and billions in economic output while sparking a vibrant production ecosystem in New Jersey,” said Ted Sarandos, Netflix co-C, EO, and chief content officer, in announcing the deal.
The California-based company plans to invest nearly $850 million worth of investments in 12 sound stages and for other uses related to the film industry.
“We’re thrilled to continue and expand our significant investment in New Jersey and North America,” said Ted Sarandos, the company’s co-CEO and chief content officer. “We believe a Netflix studio can boost the local and state economy with thousands of new jobs and billions in economic output while sparking a vibrant production ecosystem in New Jersey.”
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said Netflix’s arrival will create more than 1,500 permanent production jobs in the area, as well as 3,500 construction jobs.
“This transformative investment will serve as a cornerstone in our efforts to create a thriving industry from whole cloth,” Murphy said. “As a result of nearly a billion dollars in film production spending, New Jersey will further solidify its status as an emerging national leader in the television and film industries.”
Murphy said the project will create new housing, hotel, and film-related businesses in the area, which has suffered economically since the Army closed the base in 2011.The project is due to be completed in two phases over several years. The first will include the construction of a dozen sound stages, each ranging in size from 15,000 to 40,000 square feet (around 1,400 to 3,700 square meters.
The plan still needs numerous levels of approval from local and state officials.
According to the national media, New York Governor Kathy Hochul nominated Judge Hector LaSalle to serve as the next chief judge of the state’s highest court, the Court of Appeal.
“He has the skills, experience, and intellect to ensure that our highest court is seen as a leader across the country”, Hochul said in a statement.
If approved by the democrat-led Senate, LaSalle would be the first Latino to lead the Court of Appeals and serve as head administrator for the sprawling statewide court system.
LaSalle is a Long Island native and former prosecutor who is currently the presiding justice of the state’s 2nd Appellate Division, which handles appeals from state courts in Staten Island, Brooklyn, Queens, and Long Island.
He was elected as a State Supreme Court justice in 2008 and appointed to the 2nd Appellate Division in 2014. He became the presiding judge of the division last year.
The nomination, however, drew immediate pushback from progressive lawmakers, unions, and advocates who hoped Hochul would pick someone with a less conservative background to lead the judiciary.
The Senate has 30 days to vote on Hochul’s choice. Senators return to Albany for the start of the legislative session on Jan. 4.
New York: A massive fire broke out at the brand new Staten Island Ferry Sandy Ground, built at a cost of $ 85 million, at the port of New York.
According to the New York Fire Department, the fire broke out in the engine room of the ferry. Five people were injured in the fire, three of whom were taken to the hospital.
Photo courtesy: Daily Mail
According to the authorities, the cause of the fire is yet to be known.
The Staten Island Ferry was traveling from Sandy Ground, Lower Manhattan to Staten Island, with 866 passengers and 16 crew members on board.
Photo courtesy: Daily Mail
The Coast Guard says passengers aboard the ferry were safely evacuated and taken to the St. George Ferry Terminal on Staten Island.
The ferry named Sandy Ground has been in use since February this year.
New York: As many as 14,000 nurses working at New York City’s private hospitals voted to go on strike if their demands were not met by the authorities concerned.
The aim of the strike is to protest in favor of salary hikes and benefits and to resolve the issue of the shortage of staff in hospitals.
The New York State Nurses Association conducted polls, with 99 percent of nurses voting in favor of the strike.
Contracts for nurses at twelve private hospitals, including Montefiore, Mount Sinai, and New York Presbyterian, expire on December 31.
With no final decision on a new contract, nurses have announced a strike after the contract expires.
Nurses are demanding that more recruitment should be made in the hospital, and salaries and benefits should be increased.
Nurses say that amid rising cases of Covid-19, flu and RSV, hospitals are understaffed and unable to provide adequate care to patients.
The union says hospitals have increased their fees, but have not covered hospital staffing shortages or paid nurses during the pandemic.
Nancy Hagans, president of the New York State Nurses Association said: “a strike would be our last option. If the hospital administration does not listen to us, we are ready to strike.”
According to ABC 7 NY, there is some good news for U.S. cities that have been absorbing the influx of migrants from the southern U.S. border. Federal lawmakers have negotiated $800 million to give out as grants to those cities.
Sources say New York Sen. Chuck Schumer has already discussed with FEMA the allocation of a substantial amount of that money for NYC.
In an interview with Eyewitness News anchor Bill Ritter, Mayor Eric Adams said the city expects to spend about $1 billion through June or July on things including housing, education, and food for the migrants. Adams says services for New Yorkers could be cut if there isn’t help from the state or government.
“It’s unfair for me to go to long-term New Yorkers and say, ‘The housing you were looking for, the education you need for your children, the basic subsidies you needed, we are going to now have to cut back on those services,’” said Adams. “That is just unfair to the states and cities in America.”
American Pakistani Advocacy Group (APAG) organized a third annual Holiday Toy Drive for recently migrated asylum seeker children at Red Cross Headquarters, New York. Founder and President of APAG Ali Rashid, NYC Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs Commissioner Manuel Castro, and others attended the event.
APAG distributed toys among the children of asylum seekers in collaboration with the NYC Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs.
Founder and President of APAG Ali Rashid said that the reason to arrange a toy drive this holiday season is to help and support the migrants. It’s our fifth drive this year and our main focus is to help those who came from hardships.
Commissioner Manuel Castro, Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs, thanked APAG to bring the joy on the faces of the asylum seeker families and children. Commissioner Manuel Castro said that asylum seekers have gone through a lot to be here and are living in difficult times.
Organizers said that as we are also part of an immigrant family so we can better understand the difficulties faced by them, and this holiday season we want to support them.
Ali Rashid thanked Commissioner Manuel Castro, the APAG team, and others for their efforts.
DELHI: The Indian government is likely to reintroduce restrictions to stem the spread of the Covid-19 virus in the country, media reports suggest.
Quoting sources, the Economics Times reported that Indian travelers returning from abroad during the current holiday season, Christmas and New Year are advised to take specific precautions to prevent new strains of the deadly infection from entering the country.
Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya announced some new rules to limit the spread of Covid in the country and announced regulations.
Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya tweeted to the public: “COVID is not over yet. I have directed all concerned to be alert and strengthen surveillance.”
VK Paul , a member of the NITI Aayog Covid Task Force, also issued an important statement advising people to wear masks in crowded places. He further added that international air travel guidelines have not changed at this time.
In addition, the Health Minister is expected to address the media on COVID-19 cases in India, and travel guidelines for international passengers may be implemented. It should be noted that masks are not yet compulsory in the country.
Meanwhile Federal Health Minister Rajesh Bhushan issued a notice Tuesday evening to all states to prepare for genomic sequencing of all positive Covid samples in the region for early detection of new variants.
Despite an explosion of Covid cases in China and other countries, India has kept the number of coronavirus cases under control for the time being, with just 131 new cases recorded today. The health ministry said there was no need to be alarmed just yet.
According to the national media, New Jersey lawmakers hope to pass a bipartisan resolution recognizing January as Muslim Heritage Month statewide.
Lawmakers say the goal is to increase awareness and appreciation of Muslim American communities in New Jersey.
The bill is backed by state Sen. Joe Pennacchio.
“This is an important thing we can do to show our Muslim friends camaraderie and gratitude for their contributions,” Republican Senator Joseph Pennacchio said. “This is just a resolution recognizing … all the things that this community has done,” Pennacchio said.
The Council of American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) testified on behalf of the new legislation.
“If the state of New Jersey truly takes great pride in the religious and cultural diversity of its residents, it is critical to passing Senate Joint Resolution, SJR-105, which would recognize our large community in the state,” says Madina Ouedraogo, government affairs manager for CAIR-NJ.
CAIR says it hopes the new bill can bring more awareness to the rise of anti-Muslim incidents in New Jersey.
According to Dina Sayedahmed, communications manager for the New Jersey section of the CAIR, hate incidents against Muslims have increased in New Jersey.
She added that her office has recently received more than 160 calls for help and hopes this will help reduce the number of hate incidents against Muslims.
If New Jersey approves the resolution, the state will be the only state, along with Utah, Washington, and Illinois, to recognize January as a month celebrating Muslim American heritage.
According to the national media, seven-foot-tall 2023 numerals arrived in Times Square ahead of the annual New Year’s Eve celebration.
The four numerals arrived Tuesday morning following a cross-country trip that started in Los Angeles and included several stops along the way. The coast-to-coast tour started at the Kia Forum in Los Angeles, California, and visited holiday events in Nevada, Tennessee, Washington D.C., and Pennsylvania, giving people across the country an opportunity to cheer the arrival of 2023.
Photo Courtesy: Times Square NYC/Instagram
The four numerals are lit with a total of 602 energy-efficient LED bulbs; the numeral “2” contains 145 bulbs, the “0” contains 164 bulbs, and the “3” contains 148 bulbs.
The numerals will stay on the Times Square plaza for the public to have the opportunity to take photos with them through noon on Friday.
They will then be placed atop One Times Square and will light up at midnight on December 31.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams has warned the city may be forced to cut public services to fund migrant assistance programs ahead of an expected influx after the pandemic-era border restriction (known as Title 42 border restriction) expires.
It is relevant to note that the New York City comptroller’s annual report released Thursday projected $1 billion in annual spending through 2026 to cover housing, education, food, and other programs for migrants.
NYC Mayor said in a statement: “Our shelter system is full, and we are nearly out of money, staff, and space, projecting an additional 1,000 migrants will begin arriving in the city weekly after the pandemic-era border restriction expires.
‘Truth be told, if corrective measures are not taken soon, we may very well be forced to cut or curtail programs New Yorkers rely on, and the pathway to house thousands more is uncertain,’ Daily Mail quoted the NYC Mayor as saying.
‘These are not choices we want to make, but they may become necessary, and I refuse to be forced to choose new arrivals over current New Yorkers,’ he said, requesting urgent state and federal budget assistance.
Adams didn’t elaborate further on which public services may face be pared back.
The Title 42 border restrictions are a public health order that enabled US authorities to turn back most migrants at the southern border, including people seeking asylum from persecution.
The pandemic-era had been extended from its original endpoint in May to this Wednesday, December 21.
‘With the expiration of Title 42 just days away, we need the federal government — both in the administration and in Congress — to share their plans to move asylum seekers to other cities, to allow asylum seekers to work, and to send aid to the cities that have borne the brunt of this crisis,’ said Adams in his recent statement.
According to the national media, at least 36 people have been injured, after a Hawaiian Airlines flight from Phoenix to Honolulu was hit by severe turbulence.
The incident on Flight HA35 happened on Sunday morning, shortly before the plane came to land at Honolulu’s Daniel K Inouye International Airport.
Twenty people were taken to local hospitals with injuries ranging from lacerations, bruising, and loss of consciousness to head injuries.
Thunderstorms were reported in the area at the time of the turbulence.
A statement from Hawaiian Airlines read: “Medical care was provided to several guests and crew members at the airport for minor injuries while some were swiftly transported to local hospitals for further care.”
Of the people taken to hospital, about 17 were passengers and three were crew members.
Jon Snook, the airline’s chief operating officer, said the airline hasn’t experienced an incident of this nature in recent history. The flight was full, carrying 278 passengers and 10 crew members, he said during a news conference.
Jon Snook said he was “grateful” for the support provided by emergency services and that “it looks like everybody’s going to survive”. He added there had been unstable weather conditions in Hawaii recently that created challenges for airlines.
On Monday, the US National Transportation Safety Board announced it is investigating the incident.
According to the national media, thousands of New York Uber drivers went on a 24-hour strike Monday in protest of a New York Supreme Court judge’s recent decision to halt pay raises for now.
The strike began at 12:01 a.m. Monday and ends at midnight, according to the New York Taxi Workers Alliance, the union that represents about 15,000 Uber, Lyft, and taxi cab drivers.
The drivers drove over the Brooklyn Bridge and then gathered outside Uber’s headquarters in Manhattan.
The New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission had approved raises for Uber and Lyft drivers. The raises, which Uber has sued to block, were supposed to go into effect on Monday.
Uber has sued the commission, arguing that enacting those raises would cost the company between $21 million and $23 million per month and force Uber to increase fares by 10%, the company said in the suit.
The judge put in a temporary restraining order until the case can be heard in court on January 31.
According to the national media, New York City Councilman Robert F. Holden warns about the city’s future amid migrant flux.
Councilor Robert F. Holden spoke about the issue in an interview Monday in Good Day New York.
“We’re bursting at the seams now. By the way, how can we accommodate thousands more every day, so this becomes a situation where we can’t accommodate them and that’s a critical situation,” Holden said. “We have no room in New York City.”
He also used a position touted nationally by Republicans.
“The answer is to secure the border,” Holden says. “We’re a sovereign nation. We should get to choose who comes in.”
He says the buses should be turned around and suggested sending them to the White House.
“We can’t absorb this many people coming into New York City,” Holden says.
Holden warns that there is not enough housing for people already living in New York City and thousands of unplanned migrants are unsustainable.
“New York City is not going to survive if this keeps going on,” Holden says.
Holden is among three Queens council members who are members of the Commonsense Caucus. It says its goal is to prioritize the quality of life issues to improve the everyday experience of living, working, and raising families in New York City.
NEW YORK: New York City Mayor Eric Adams today launched a major new visioning process to reimagine Fifth Avenue — from Bryant Park at 42nd Street to Central Park at 59th Street — as a safer, less congested, pedestrian-centered boulevard that also prioritizes cyclists, mass transit, and the public realm.
Building on Recent “New New York” Report and Incredibly Popular, Largest-Ever Holiday Season-Specific Open Street, Vision for Fifth Avenue Will Prioritize Pedestrians, Cyclists, Mass Transit, and the Public Realm. Planning Process Will Bring Together Unique Public-Private Partnership with Stakeholders Across East Midtown and Build on Years of Study of This Crucial Corridor, said a report posted on the Website of the City of New York.
photo courtesy: The Official Website of the City of New York
Bringing together city government and community stakeholders across East Midtown, the process will draw on the years of study of this critical corridor — one of the world’s leading shopping, office, and tourism destinations and a key economic engine for the neighborhood and the city — to craft a plan that will make Fifth Avenue more appealing to residents, workers, and visitors with world-class public space.
The new effort builds on the “New New York: Making New York Work for Everyone” action plan released last week by Mayor Adams and New York Governor Hochul and on the widely popular, largest-ever holiday season-specific Open Street on Fifth Avenue and around Rockefeller Center, which Mayor Adams visited this afternoon.
“Fifth Avenue is an iconic corridor and an engine of our Midtown economy. But it is also an unmissable opportunity to show the city and the country how world-class public space can help create vibrant central business districts,” said Mayor Adams. “New York isn’t coming back, New York is back. But New Yorkers don’t sit on our hands — we will continue to bring everyone to the table, come up with innovative ideas together, and make our city safer, fairer, and more prosperous.”
“As a world-class city and destination, New York City needs a world-class, pedestrian-forward avenue,” said Deputy Mayor for Operations Meera Joshi. “From historic Central Park to the iconic Bryant Park, Fifth Avenue has the potential to become an even grander corridor, open to New Yorkers and international tourists alike. I look forward to working with the stakeholders for this important planning process as we design an even more inviting Fifth Avenue.”
“Reimagining and rebuilding our streets and public spaces is the most effective path toward neighborhood recovery, economic recovery, and long-term sustainability,” said Deputy Mayor for Economic and Workforce Development Maria Torres-Springer. “Building on the success of our Fifth Avenue Open Street, we will deliver a world-class boulevard connecting Central Park to Bryant Park and take a critical step towards a ‘New New York’ and a better, bolder city.”
The “New New York” action plan reimagines New York’s business districts as vibrant 24/7 destinations as a critical goal for the city’s economic recovery, with public realm improvements being one key initiative. Mayor Adams’ holiday season Open Streets plan for Fifth Avenue and the area around Rockefeller Center demonstrated the clear demand for increased pedestrian space and significant benefits for local businesses — in line with the findings of the New York City Department of Transportation’s (DOT) October 2022 “Streets for Recovery” report.
According to the national media, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer ask food and Drugs Administration to investigate the nationwide drug shortage affecting Children.
Parents are now concerned over empty shelves at pharmacies instead of toy stores this time of year.
During a news conference in Manhattan, the New York Democrat said there are “spot shortages” of basic kids’ needs across the region, including Tylenol, Robitussin, and ibuprofen amid a tridemic of viruses around the country.
He said the basic drugs are hard to find because three viruses COVID, flu and RSV, are hitting New York at the same time, and noted parents in NYC and on Long Island are having trouble getting what their kids need.
“The spot shortages are becoming serious problems for parents, caregivers, so we’re asking the FDA to investigate the problems locally and nationally and determine what official action they will take,” Schumer said.
“Today, I am urging FDA to investigate the shortages and consider several actions to reduce those shortages,” Schumer said. “These shortages are temporary; they are supply chain shortages, but we need to alleviate them.”
Schumer has been in touch with the FDA about this and has a few possible solutions in mind, starting with asking for permission to get help from overseas.
The FDA could expedite the importation approvals of foreign manufacturers and work with industry to target chemical and material shortages for making drugs, he said.
They should consider temporarily licensing new companies under the strictest of safety conditions to produce these drugs in the short term,” Schumer said.
According to the national media, the largest free-standing cylindrical aquarium in the world and home to 1,500 tropical fish burst open Friday (December 16) and flooded the Radisson Blu hotel and nearby streets in the German capital.
The massive aquarium stood 46 ft (14 meters) tall and contained over a million liters of water, and was the centerpiece attraction of the Radisson Blu hotel foyer in the DomAquaree leisure complex in Berlin.
The 1,500 fish from the aquarium died, said a spokesperson for Union Investment, which manages the real estate fund that owns the property.
Photo Courtesy: Twitter
The Berlin Police reported “incredible maritime damage”, and two people were injured by glass shards. Debris from the shattering flooded out onto the streets along with over 100 varieties of marine life.
Efforts are underway to rescue fish from several smaller tanks that were near the AquaDom and that escaped destruction but have been subjected to power cuts in the building, he said.
Around 350 people who had been staying at the hotel in the complex were asked to pack their belongings and leave the building.
Photo Courtesy: Twitter
Emergency services shut a major road next to the complex that leads from Alexanderplatz toward the Brandenburg Gate due to the large volume of water that had flooded out of the building.
A spokesperson for the fire brigade told Reuters it was still unclear what had caused the AquaDom aquarium to burst.
According to NBC New York, nurses at NYC’s private hospitals are preparing to potentially go on strike soon, a move that could turn the current tridemic into a full-blown crisis.
The New York State Nurses Association tells News 4 that ballot boxes have been deployed at hospitals across the city for members to vote on a strike authorization ahead of their contracts expiring on Dec. 31.
The association has 17,000 members at 12 hospitals subject to that looming expiry; ballot boxes have been deployed already to facilities covering 14,000 of them. The rest will get the chance to vote this coming week.
Nancy Hagans, the president of the association, said that at the hospitals where votes have already been counted, support for a strike is running well ahead of the two-thirds threshold needed.
Voting could end at some hospitals this week, after which the union would have to give a hospital a 10-day strike notice before taking any action. That suggests strikes could begin relatively quickly in the New Year.
The union says members are upset about staffing ratios at the local hospitals, contract proposals that they feel dramatically worsen their healthcare benefits, and Mayor Eric Adams’ recent move to forcibly hospitalize psychiatric patients.
Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office said they are “monitoring the situation.”
All of this comes as the city deals with what is being called a tridemic – simultaneous and serious spikes in infections with COVID, the flu, and the respiratory condition RSV.
The city has already issued an advisory (but not a mandate) suggesting that people go back to wearing masks indoors.
New York: As part of the 11th Interfaith Holiday Celebration, the South Asian Community Outreach (SACO) – a not-for-profit organization brought together South Asians under one roof in New Jersey.
SACO organized a grand ceremony in honor of the guests in a local hall, which was also graced by US officials with their presence.
The 11th Interfaith Holiday Celebration of South Asia Community Outreach started with the National Anthem of the United States of America.
After which SACO President Nilesh Dasondi and Chairman Sam Khan welcomed the guests and thanked the attendees for making the event a success.
They said that the New York Police Department’s (NYPD’s) Muslim Officers Society (MOS) paid a detailed visit to Pakistan and helped the flood victims. The local people not only appreciated this great humanitarian gesture but a short documentary film based on their tour of duty was also shown.
Guests were invited on stage to raise their hands to light the candle of unity
People belonging to different religions offered prayers according to their religious beliefs.
SACCO also conferred awards upon those who have rendered services to South Asian communities and other issues.
South Asian Community Outreach’s Interfaith Holiday Celebration also featured South Asian music. The singers danced and the expert dancers gave a great performance.
A sumptuous dinner was also given to the guests by SACO. South Asian Community Outreach has been bringing communities together every year for 11 years to convey the message that development depends on unity.
New York: A coastal storm is bringing heavy rain, strong winds, and snow to parts of New York City, According to the National Weather Service.
Parts of New York and New Jersey may experience significant snowfall during the storm, while other areas may experience light snowfall or heavy rain, the NWS said.
The National Weather Service said in a briefing that many things could be affected during this coastal storm.
Due to expected inclement weather, some flights may be delayed or canceled.
The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning for western Ulster County until 10 a.m. Saturday and 7 p.m. Friday for Sullivan County.
Parts of New Jersey, along with other parts of New York State, will be affected by the storm. The National Weather Service says Long Island could experience gusts of 45 to 50 mph.
New York: New Yorkers will no more be able to buy dogs cats and rabbits from retail pet stores under the law, as the government has placed a ban on the sale of these animals in an attempt to stop pet abuses at the hands of people.
The new law, which was signed by Gov. Kathy Hochul and takes effect in 2024, lets pet shops work instead with shelters to offer rescued or abandoned animals up for adoption. It will also ban breeders from selling more than nine animals a year, a report suggests.
Hochul, a Democrat, said banning pet stores from selling pets will help protect animal welfare and clamp down on abusive, wholesale breeders.
Retail sales of dogs, cats, and rabbits have been banned in New York, now people in the city will not be able to buy all these pets from pet stores.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has signed a bill banning the sale of dogs, cats and rabbits at retail pet stores in an effort to stop pet abusers.
New York’s dogs, cats and rabbits deserve loving homes, and humane treatment, Kathy Hochul said the other day, according to a statement from the Governor’s House.
Animal welfare groups celebrated the bill’s signing, while some pet businesses voiced concerns that it would damage legitimate operators in the industry.
“I am proud to sign this legislation, which will take meaningful steps to reduce animal abuse and protect animal welfare across the state,” NYC Governor said.
Animal advocacy and rescue groups that have long supported the legislation have applauded the move. While the pet shopkeepers have objected the move, saying that this law will put them out of business.
In 2017, California became the first state to ban the retail sale of dogs, cats and rabbits.
According to Fox News, the Biden administration announced plans to alter the civics component of the naturalization test required for immigrants to become U.S. citizens by changing responses to multiple choices and adding new material to be covered.
According to a notice in the Federal Register published Wednesday, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) plans to conduct a trial next year to ultimately make the change to the test.
The current test requires applicants to answer six of 10 questions correctly, with questions taken from a bank of 100 possible questions. The questions are asked orally. The proposed new test would show questions on a tablet screen, and applicants would choose an answer from four multiple-choice responses.
The Federal Register notice also indicated that the trial test will cover some new material in addition to what is currently being tested.
The Trump administration had proposed its changes to the test — keeping the oral administration but requiring most applicants to answer 12 of 20 questions correctly — but the Biden administration scrapped those changes.
The Biden administration is also looking into a standardized English-speaking component of the test, which will involve applicants asked to describe several photographs.
The trial is expected to run for five months in 2023, with the expectation of implementing the changes in late 2024.
According to the national media, Harvard University named Claudine Gay as the 30th President, making her the first Black person and the second woman to lead the Ivy League School.
Gay, who is currently a dean at the university and a democracy scholar, will become president on July 1. She replaces Lawrence Bacow.
Gay, the daughter of Haitian immigrants who joined Harvard as a professor in 2006, succeeds Lawrence Bacow as president of the prestigious, nearly 400-year-old Ivy League university. She will take over in July 2023.
Gay is regarded as a leading voice on the issue of American political participation. In 2006, she joined Harvard as a professor of government and African and African American studies and has since explored a variety of issues, including how a range of social and economic factors shape political views and voting.
She currently serves as the Edgerley Family Dean of Harvard’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences.
According to the national media, NYC Uber drivers won’t get a raise before the holidays after all. Manhattan Supreme Court has granted Uber’s bid to temporarily block a pay hike for ride-share drivers from going into effect next week.
Uber filed suit against the city Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) seeking to halt a new rule that would raise driver’s pay from 2019 rates, by 7.42% per minute and 23.93% per mile.
The company claimed the increase would force it to shell out an additional $21 million to $23 million per month and raise rider fares by 10% amid the holiday season.
Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Arthur Engoron granted an order blocking the raise from taking effect, at least until arguments can be heard in the case on January 31.
The TLC said that it plans to appeal the decision.
“We are disappointed for the tens of thousands of drivers who are once again being made to bear the rising costs of inflation all on their own, with no help from the multibillion-dollar company they work under,” TLC Commissioner David Do said in a statement. “We will aggressively defend this important standard for our drivers.”
In its suit, Uber argued that the pay hike is “arbitrary and capricious” because the TLC changed the way it calculated for inflation and refused to provide the documentation that it based the measure on.
Uber spokesperson Freddi Goldstein said: “Drivers do critical work and deserve to be paid fairly, but rates should be calculated in a way that is transparent, consistent and predictable.”
The parties are due back in court on January 31st.
