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Author: World News

  • NY Governor needs to sign 100+ bills passed by State Lawmakers

    Web Desk:

    According to the fox5ny, New York state lawmakers passed more than a thousand bills this legislative session. However with only a few weeks to go until the end of the year, New York Governor Kathy Hochul still has more than 100 bills to sign.

    One bill waiting for Hochul’s signature would ban the sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits at pet stores. The bill has been in the works for more than 4 years.

    One piece of legislation some business leaders are urging Hochul to veto is called the Justice for Injured Workers Act.

    If signed, a worker who is partially disabled due to a workplace injury would receive the full benefit awarded to employees with a total disability throughout their recovery.

    Another interesting bill which is also waiting for Hochul’s signature would legalize the composting of human remains. Advocates argue this is greener and less costly than traditional burial or cremation.

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  • FTX founder Samuel Bankman-Fried faces fraud charges

    Web Desk:

    According to the national media, Samuel Bankman-Fried, the founder and former CEO of crypto-currency exchange FTX and Alameda Research, could face up to 115 years in prison if convicted on all eight counts against him in a federal indictment unsealed Tuesday morning, according to congressional statutory maximum sentencing guidelines.

    Federal prosecutors in New York City say that beginning in 2019 Bankman-Fried devised “a scheme and artifice to defraud” FTX’s customers and investors. He illegally diverted their money to cover expenses, debts, and risky trades at his crypto hedge fund, Alameda Research, and to make lavish real estate purchases and large political donations, prosecutors said in a 13-page indictment.

    Bankman-Fried, 30, was arrested Monday in the Bahamas at the request of the U.S. government. The charges against him including wire fraud, wire fraud conspiracy, and conspiracy to commit money laundering, each carry a maximum prison sentence of 20 years, according to a press release from the US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.

    Bankman-Fried’s next court hearing is on the morning of February 8th.

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  • Massive fire broke out in NYPD Warehouse

    Web Desk:

    According to Associated Press, eight people suffered minor injuries in a fire at NYPD warehouse that houses DNA evidence from crime scenes as well as cars, e-bikes, and motor scooters, police and fire officials said.

    The fire at the Erie Basin Auto Pound, a low warehouse situated atop a long, curving breakwater on the Brooklyn waterfront, broke out at around 10:30 a.m., FDNY Chief of Department John Hodgens said.

    The fire, which sent a plume of smoke that could be seen for miles, was still going Tuesday afternoon and might take days to bring under control, Hodgens said.

    Hodgens said three firefighters, three emergency medical workers, and two civilians suffered minor injuries

    Police Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey said the facility is used to store DNA evidence from crime scenes as well as e-bikes, motorbikes and cars. It’s mainly evidence but we store other things there as well.

    Maddrey said that once the fire is under control, police property specialists will go inside and see what has been destroyed and what can be salvaged. “We don’t know the severity of the damage inside,” he said

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  • Mayor Eric Adams’ focus on public safety is working

    New York: Mayor Eric Adams-led administration seems making serious efforts to curb the menace of crime and maintain peace in the bustling New York City, as overall index crimes has dropped by 1.2 percent in November 2022, compared to same period of 2021, according to the Mayor Office Data.

    Mayor Adams’ top priority towards public safety is in line with demands made by New Yorkers time and again that peace and tranquility must prevail in metropolis.

    The Adams administration stressed upon law and order throughout the year. Today, for the first time this year, the city saw a drop of 1.2% in overall index crimes in November compared to November of 2021.  What does that mean?  It means that in November of 2022 compared to November of 2021, the city saw a 32.8% decrease in shootings, a 14.1% decrease in rapes, a 6% decrease in burglary, and a 5.5% in grand larceny, suggests the Mayor office data.

    New Yorkers want to feel safe in their neighborhoods, at their places of worship, in the subway and on the streets.  That is the reason which made public safety  Eric Adams’ top priority, and under the bold leadership of NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell, their efforts are paying off.  They have a lot more work to do, but everyone must be clear to New Yorkers: NYC is making progress.

    The administration also removed more than 6750 guns from streets so far this year.  Gun arrests are at a 27-year high.  And we’ve seen a decrease in murders and shootings.

    This is not a coincidence.  It shows that the focus on public safety is working. NYC created an anti-gun unit that has been effective at removing illegal firearms, and it added more checks to detect illegal guns before they enter New York City. It has also had success in its fight against “Ghost Guns”—these are guns that can be ordered online and assembled at home; they do not have serial numbers and are untraceable, which makes stopping them from entering our city even more urgent.

    The Eric Administration has more officers on patrol in key neighborhoods, and newly-created Neighborhood Safety Teams are focusing on the 30 precincts where a majority of violence occurs.  It is working hard and working smart to make the most of its resources and to make the city safer.

    As part of our Subway Safety Plan, NYC administration is sending mobile crisis teams and outreach workers into the system to connect with homeless New Yorkers and help them get the assistance they need.  It has also introduced a surge of 1200 additional police officers patrolling subway platforms and trains each day. As a result, in just over a month, we have seen a 12.8% reduction in major crime in transit stations compared to the same period last year.

    NYC is addressing the problem of “Ghost Cars”—cars with illegal paper or obscured license plates that don’t follow our traffic rules.  And we’re pursuing targeted bail reform in Albany.

    Just as important, it has achieved historic diversity in hiring.  The administration  wants NYPD academy classes to resemble the neighborhoods they serve so they can better understand our diverse communities’ needs and form closer connections. So the most recent hires to the NYPD are on average 41% Hispanic, 23% white, 19% black and 15% Asian.  And on average, this group is 29% female.

    There is much more work that remains to be done.  Crime is still substantially higher than it was in 2107, and New Yorkers deserve to be safer than they are right now.  The government should not rest until New Yorkers both ARE safe and FEEL safe.  Public safety is the key to prosperity.  It is the only way we can achieve a just and equitable New York in which everyone—no matter what language you speak, or where you come from—can thrive.

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  • Children living in NYC shelters chronically miss schools

    Web Desk:

    According to fox5ny news, more than 100,000 students in the NYC public school system are homeless. That alone is considered a crisis. On top of that, nearly three-quarters of those children are chronically absent from school, a report says.

    Advocates for Children of New York project director Jennifer Pringle said the city needs to urgently address this “huge problem” if it wants to break the cycle of homelessness.

    “We know that kids who don’t graduate from high school are three and a half times more at risk of experiencing homelessness as young adults,” Pringle said.

    A report from the nonprofit said 64% of students living in shelters were chronically absent from school last year. That means they missed more than 10% of the school year. One of the primary reasons the students miss school is a long commute.

    “40% of kids in shelter are placed in a shelter far away from their schools,” Pringle said, “in a different borough from where their school is.”

    The city has hired about 40 Department of Education community coordinators who are working in shelters to help students get to school. The city plans to hire about 60 more.

    “We’re urging the city to get those folks in those jobs as quickly as possible so they can start supporting families,” Pringle said.

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  • NYC’s involuntary hospitalization plan challenged in court

    Web Desk:

    According to the national media, New York Mayor Eric Adams’ plan to involuntarily hospitalize people showing signs of severe mental illness is now being met with a legal challenge.

    A group of lawyers and advocates are asking a federal judge to immediately halt the implementation of Adams’ mental health policy.

    Marinda van Dalen, a senior staff attorney with the New York Lawyers for the Public Interest said that “People are now scared to leave their homes because they think that they may get picked up by the police and involuntarily transported to a hospital for psychiatric evaluation”.

    The federal court motion filed last Thursday alleges that Adams’ mental health plan is too broad, lacks details, and argues the policy violates the U.S. Constitution and the Americans with Disabilities Act.

    In a statement, a spokesperson for the mayor’s legal department said, “Mayor Adams’ compassionate plan to connect New Yorkers with severe mental illness to support and carefully complies with federal and state law, and we look forward to making our case before the court.”

    Right now, a federal judge is still considering whether to grant a temporary stay on the mayor’s new mental health policy to keep it from moving forward.

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  • NYS Health Department says state of emergency over polio is no longer necessary.

    Web Desk:

    NYS Health department says that a state of emergency is no longer necessary to battle polio because fewer samples of the virus were detected in wastewater from counties of concern.

    The state of emergency was first put in place three months ago after officials identified the virus in New York City and Nassau, Rockland, Orange, and Sullivan counties.

    The order allowed the state to loosen rules on who could administer polio vaccines, but it’s not needed now that some 50,000 doses of the polio vaccine have been administered to children 18 years and Youngers and fewer samples of polio have been detected in wastewater in Rockland, Orange, Sullivan, and Nassau counties, the department said.

    New York State Health Commissioner Dr. Mary T. Bassett said that the health department together with our partners at national and local levels launched a focused and urgent response to protect New Yorkers from polio.

    We have made progress but the work to increase immunization rates and protect children from paralytic disease and other vaccine-preventable illnesses is ongoing, said Dr. Mary Bassett.

    Officials said the campaign to get more people immunized will continue along with the surveillance of wastewater surveillance.

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  • NYC Mayor says construction of $72.1 million affordable housing development begins

    New York: New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York Governor Kathy Hochul have announced that construction has begun on a $72.1 million affordable housing development in the Fordham Heights section of the Bronx.

    As per details available on the Official Website of the City of New York, Bedford Green House II will create 46 affordable apartments for families and seniors and 70 supportive apartments for families, individuals, and seniors experiencing homelessness.

    The development will also house a 2,410-square-foot medical clinic offering services to residents and the wider community.

    “Our administration has never wavered in our commitment to creating new housing, and that’s why we are working every day to build 15,000 units of supportive housing with onsite social services to help families who are struggling,” said Mayor Adams.

    “The combination of supportive homes and a medical clinic here will deliver residents and the entire community access to care they may not otherwise be able to access. I was proud to be there to celebrate the opening of 118 new homes at Bedford Green House I, and I’m excited to celebrate the kickoff of construction on the next 116 at Bedford Green House II.”

    “With this milestone, we are one step closer to delivering hundreds of units of affordable and supportive housing to Bronx families, seniors, and individuals experiencing homelessness,” said Governor Hochul. “As our state faces a severe housing shortage, essential projects, like this Bedford Green development, are critical to ensuring that all New Yorkers have a safe, stable, and affordable place to call home. My administration remains laser-focused on addressing New York’s housing crisis, and I look forward to working with Mayor Adams and other local and state partners to make affordable housing available to all.”

    Bedford Green House II will consist of a newly constructed, 17-story building located at 2880 Jerome Avenue. Bedford Green House I, the first phase of this two-part development, was completed in December 2021.

    All of Bedford Green House II’s apartments will be affordable to households with incomes at or below 60 percent of the area median income. Of the 116 units, 80 will be studios, 24 will have one bedroom, and 12 will have two bedrooms.

    Seventy apartments will be reserved for households in need of supportive services. These residents will have access to rental subsidies and on-site services funded through the Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative (ESSHI) and administered by the New York State Office of Mental Health.

    Supportive services provided by Project Renewal will include coordination of medical services, occupational therapy, crisis management, and assistance with access to public benefits.

    Fifty-five apartments will be set aside for seniors aged 62 or older through New York City’s Zoning for Quality and Affordability amendment and Affordable Independent Residences for Seniors provision. Of these 55 apartments, 14 will house seniors who will also benefit from the above-mentioned supportive services through ESSHI.

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  • Karen Bass sworn in as the First Female Mayor of Los Angeles in 241 years

    Web Desk:

    According to the national media, after 241 years, the nation’s second-largest city Los Angeles has its first female mayor.

    Karen Bass has been sworn in as the 43rd Mayor of Los Angeles in a historic inauguration at the Microsoft Theater. She was sworn in by Vice President Kamala Harris and becomes the first woman and second Black person to hold the city’s top job.

    Bass focused her remarks Sunday on her plans to solve the city’s housing crisis, with some 40,000 people living on the streets.

    Karen Bass said that “Today, too many Angelenos have no choice but to crowd multiple families into one home, and to work multiple jobs just to barely pay rent.”

    She said her first act as mayor will be to declare a state of emergency on homelessness.

    Bass’s plan calls for housing 15,000 people by the end of one year and ending tent encampments using existing funding. Bass has argued that her longtime relationships with state and national lawmakers would result in increased funding to Los Angeles to address the city’s housing crisis.

    Bass has also promised to address concerns about crime, noting her proposal to bring police staffing back up at a time when the city has struggled to recruit new officers.

    When Bass takes office, the four largest cities in the US will all have Black mayors – that includes Eric Adams of New York City, Lori Lightfoot of Chicago, and Sylvester Turner of Houston.

     

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  • Lincoln Tunnel finally switches to cashless tolls

    Web Desk:

    According to national media, starting Sunday toll booths at the Lincoln Tunnel became a thing of the past.

    The tunnel which connects New Jersey with Midtown Manhattan will no longer accept cash toll payments.

    The tunnel is the sixth and final one of the Port Authority’s crossings to make the switch to cashless tolls, with the new system billing drives via E-ZPass or by billing by mail after photographing the license plate.

    The Port Authority says the change will reduce commute times, and accidents, and is more environmentally friendly, saving drives over a million gallons of fuel each year and cutting over 11,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide.

    The change comes after the MTA announced in November that tolls on its bridges and tunnels are expected to rise by $1 in 2023.

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  • Queens shooting leaves three injured

    Web Desk:

    According to national media, three men were shot and injured in Queens Street on Sunday, according to the cops.

    Authorities say the incident happened just before 6 p.m. on 94th Street in Jackson Heights.

    A 24-year-old and a 55-year-old both suffered gunshot wounds to their legs, while a 24-year-old was shot in the hip. All three men were taken to Elmhurst Hospital, where they were all in stable condition.

    There have been no arrests and the investigation remains underway.

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  • Rising Apartment prices in NYC irk tenants

    New York: Despite the declining trend in apartment prices in New York City, rising apartment prices compounded the hardships for the inflation-hit tenants.

    While the demand for apartments in New York City appears to be decreasing, their prices have also increased in recent months.

    Apartment leases rose 2% in November compared to October, significantly higher than last year.

    Tenants don’t expect rents to drop in Manhattan until inflation slows.

    Mortgages accounted for 12.8% of all home loan applications in the week ending Oct. 14, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.

    At the start of the year, mortgages represented just 3.1% of all mortgage applications.

    The average rate on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage was 3.22%, up from 7% last month.

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  • NYC ready to provide financial and legal assistance to small businessmen.

    New York:

    Small business in New York who are suffering from financial crisis and want to start a new business need not worry anymore.

    New York City is ready to provide them grants to overcome the financial crisis and loans on easy terms for new businesses. Representatives held an awareness camp in Coney Island, Brooklyn, and provided information to the community before Friday sermons at the Makki Mosque.

    Business Outreach Specialist Mahedi Hasan informed that the city government will also provide licenses and legal support for businesses along with grants and loans.

    In this one-day awareness campaign, Muslim Liaison Officer Atiya Shahnaz from the Mayor’s Office of New York City also received support.

    The city government says that small business owners and new small traders can also get more information about this by contacting their website nyc.gov/sbs and their given number 888-727-4692.

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  • NYC Health Officials Urge New Yorkers to Wear Masks

    Web Desk:

    According to the national media, New York City faces high levels of Covid-19, flu, and RSV cases in the following holiday season. To slow the transmission of viruses, NYC health officials issued a health advisory strongly urging New Yorkers to use masks.

    New York Health Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan said that the rise in respiratory viruses is the reason why the city’s health office is recommending, not only the use of masks but also vaccinations and boosters.

    The advisory recommends New Yorkers use high-quality masks when indoors and in crowded outdoor settings. This is especially important for those who are at increased risk for complications from COVID-19, RSV, or the flu, such as those ages 65 and older and immune-compromised people.

    “Wear a high-quality mask, such as a KN95 or KF94 or an N95 respirator, for additional protection,” city health officials say.

    The Advisory also urges people to get vaccinated for COVID-19 and flu, even if they have been vaccinated previously.

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  • Former NYPD officer sentenced to 25 years to life for the murder of his 8 years old son

    Web Desk

    According to the national media, a former NYPD officer was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison Thursday after he was found guilty last month of murder in the second degree related to the death of his 8-year-old son, Thomas.

    Michael Valva, 45, was found guilty of second-degree murder and four counts of endangering the welfare of a child in November in connection with the January 2020 death of his son Thomas Valva.

    Thomas and Anthony both of whom are autistic, were forced to sleep in the couple’s garage for months before Thomas’ death on January 17, 2020, prosecutors said in citing trial evidence.

    A surveillance camera showed Michael Valva screaming at Thomas and sending him outside in the subfreezing temperatures, where he was hosed down with water, according to the district attorney’s office, and Thomas lost consciousness and fell face-first onto a concrete patio several times.

    Valva delayed calling 911 for help until about an hour later and by the time Thomas arrived at the hospital, his temperature was 76 degrees, which is 20 degrees below normal, prosecutors said, citing testimony and evidence at trial.

    Valva’s co-defendant and former fiancée, Angela Pollina, 45, is also charged with murder in the second degree and four counts of endangering the welfare of a child. She is scheduled for trial on February 21, 2023.

    The Suffolk County Department of Social Services said it had investigated multiple complaints against the household, including a petition for child neglect in 2018.

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  • Pakistan’s stunning debutant Abrar Ahmed destroys England’s batting order

    MULTAN: In his dream test debut, Pakistan’s ‘mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed crushed the batting line of mighty England, bagging a rich haul of seven wickets on the first day of the 2nd Test match being played at Multan Cricket Stadium.

    The 24-year-old bowler took 7-114 and put Pakistan in a stronger position on Friday. The England batters initially played aggressively however, as Abrar began bowling they could not stand before him. He took the first wicket of Craweley who was playing at his individual score 19, while England’s total was 38.

    England won the toss and opted to bat first.

    Abrar’s bowling gave great help for his side on the dry wicket at Multan Cricket Stadium. Pakistani bowlers dismissed England for 281 inside the first two sessions.

    According to APP, England got rid of both Pakistan openers — Imam-ul-Haq and Abdullah Shafique — early before captain Babar Azam’s unbeaten 61 carried the home team to 107-2 at stumps when bad light stopped play with 10 overs still remaining in the day.

    Saud Shakeel, who scored a gritty half century in Pakistan’s 74-run defeat in the first test at Rawalpindi, was not out on 32.

    Of the 12 wickets that fell on the day, James Anderson was the only fast bowler to dismiss a batter when he found an edge off Pakistan opener Imam-ul-Haq, who departed without scoring.

    Abdullah Shafique scored 14 before edging spinner Jack Leach to keeper Ollie Pope, but Babar and Saud saw off the day with a third-wicket unbroken stand of 56.

    Babar brought up his 24th Test half-century off just 57 deliveries whereas Saud also looked in control during his undefeated 46-ball stay on the opening day.

    According to Pakistan Cricket Board (PBC), the Mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed became 252nd player from Pakistan to play Test cricketer as he was named in the XI announced by Pakistan captain Babar Azam at the toss for the second of the three Tests against England at the Multan Cricket Stadium.

    Abrar had received maiden call-up in the Test squad ahead of this series following an impressive run in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2022-23.

    The 24-year-old right-arm spinner won the best bowler of the tournament award and topped the leading wicket-taker chart with 43 scalps in seven matches at an average of 21.95.

    Pakistan XI for the second Test: Abdullah Shafique, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam (c), Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (vc & wk), Salman Ali Agha, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Zahid Mehmood, Abrar Ahmed and Mohammad Ali

    Overall, Pakistan made three changes from the side that played the first Test at the Pindi Cricket Stadium with Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah, who has a niggle in his bowling shoulder, and Azhar Ali being replaced with Abrar, Faheem Ashraf and Mohammad Nawaz.

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  • New York Times employees stage the first strike in 40 years

    Web Desk:

    According to the national media, hundreds of reporters, editors, photographers, and other employees of The New York Times have walked off the job for 24 hours, the first major strike at the newspaper in more than 40 years.

    Fed up with negotiating that has dragged on since their last contract expired in March 2021, newsroom staffers began a 24-hour work stoppage on Thursday.

    The NewsGuild of New York, a union representing the striking workers, had said that a key sticking point was the management’s refusal to raise wages in line with surging inflation. The union went through with its pledge to strike after the two sides failed to reach a deal in marathon negotiations that broke off Wednesday evening.

    The NewsGuild tweeted that “over 1,100 New York Times workers are now officially on work stoppage, the first of this scale at the company in four decades”. “It’s never an easy decision to refuse to do work you love, but our members are willing to do what it takes to win a better newsroom for all,” it said.

    But New York Times spokeswoman Danielle Rhoades Ha said in a statement that the sides were still in negotiations when the company was told that the strike was happening.

    “It is disappointing that they are taking such an extreme action when we are not at an impasse,” she said.

    Ms Rhoades Ha told The Associated Press that the company has “solid plans in place” to continue producing content, including relying on international reporters and other journalists who are not union members.

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  • Amazon to pay $2 per month to spy on your phone’s internet traffic?

    New York: In a surprising move, the American multinational technology company – Amazon is now offering customers $2 per month for letting the company monitor the traffic on their phones.

    By doing so, Amazon wants to monitor all the ads people see and when and where they see themselves, including its own ads. The data it gathers will “help brands offer better products and make ads from Amazon more relevant,” according to the program’s website.

    As reported by Insider on Monday, Amazon is now offering payment for ad verification to members of the Amazon Shopper Panel, an invite-only reward program available to US and UK Amazon customers.

    As per an image shared on the Shopper Panel’s website, users can opt in to ad verification, which lets Amazon “confirm which ads from Amazon they saw on their device. This can include Amazon’s own advertising or ads from third-party businesses that advertise through Amazon ads.”

    Those who opt in give the Amazon Shopper Panel App Store and Play Store apps permission to “collect and use information” about the websites and time of day where you view ads on your smartphone.

    “Your participation will help brands offer better products and make ads from Amazon more relevant,” Amazon’s Shopper Panel page says.

    Under the company’s new invite-only Ad Verification program, Amazon is tracking what ads participants saw, where they saw them, and the time of day they were viewed. This includes Amazon’s own ads and third-party ads on the platform.

    Through the program, Amazon hopes to offer more personalized-ad experiences to customers that reflect what they have previously purchased, according to Amazon.

    “Your participation will help brands offer better products and make ads from Amazon more relevant,” Amazon wrote in its Shopper Panel FAQ.

    The $2 reward only applies to Amazon users invited to participate in the program, though customers who didn’t get invited can get added to a waitlist and potentially join later, an Amazon spokesperson told Insider. The spokesperson declined to tell Insider how the company decided who to invite.

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  • Shoplifting could lead to price jumps, store Closure, CEO Walmart

    Web Desk:

    Supermarkets in the US are struggling with an uptick in shoplifting. Walmart is one of the largest companies to provide job opportunities in the US, which also faces the loss of millions of dollars due to the increase in shoplifting incidents. Walmart management has started considering the option to increase the price or close its stores.

    In an interview with CNBC, Walmart CEO Doug McMillon said that “theft is an issue. It’s higher than what it has historically been.”

    He said that “We’ve got safety measures, security measures that we’ve put in place by store location. I think local law enforcement being staffed and being a good partner is part of that equation, and that’s normally how we approach it.”

    He added that unless authorities take action to tackle the problem, “prices will be higher, and/or stores will close.”

    “It’s city by city, location by location. It’s store managers working with local law enforcement and we’ve got great relationships there for the most part,” he added.

    Walmart isn’t the only big box retailer struggling with a shoplifting surge. Target CFO Michael Fiddelke recently said that theft has jumped 50% year-over-year, costing the company more than $400 million in this fiscal year alone.

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  • Clergy Council 49th Pct, Bronx Borough jointly organize prayer for the recovery of Sunoco gas station shooting victim Zulfiqar Ali Albi

    New York: The Clergy Council 49th Pct in conjunction with Bronx Borough President and community held an event – a ‘prayer response against violence’ for the speedy recovery of Zulfiqar Ali Albi – a Pakistani community member in New York, who was shot and injured by assailants, recently at the Sunoco gas station. 

    Zulfiqar Ali Albi is a member of the Pakistani community who was shot in the head on duty at the Sunoco gas station on Boston Road, at Astor Avenue, in Allerton, last Tuesday.

    Zulfiqar Ali, the Sunoco gas shooting victim

    He is still being treated in the hospital in critical condition.

    A prayer event was organized by Clergy Council 49th Precinct and Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson against violence at the gas station.

    Bronx Borough President who participated in the event, said that we are against those who are involved in violence. Such elements should be dealt with iron hand.

    We pray for Zulfikar Ali Albi that he gets well soon. We are with you every step of the way.

    President of New York Police Department’s (NYDC) Muslim Officer Society (MOS), Adeel Rana and others who participated in the event said that they have gathered here to express solidarity over the incident with Zulfiqar Albi.

    “Such an incident can happen to anyone. We must show solidarity,” they stressed.

    The organizers thanked the people present at the prayer event saying that we are especially grateful to the 49th Precinct, President of the Community Council, Mr. Jill Thompson and all the others who participated in the prayer.

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  • Police chief resigns after she flashed her badge to escape a traffic stop

    Web Desk:

    According to  National Media, the chief of the Tampa Police Department has resigned after the release of a body-cam video showing the chief flashing her badge to get out of a traffic violation on a golf cart.

    Mary O’Connor resigned Monday after being asked to leave by Tampa Mayor Jane Castor. That move followed an internal investigation that found she violated department policy and “compromised her and the city of Tampa’s professionalism and ethics by using her position of authority.”

    In body camera footage, a county sheriff’s deputy explains the cart didn’t have a license plate tag despite being driven on a roadway, a violation of local traffic laws. O’Connor asks “is your body camera on?” before identifying herself as the police chief in Tampa, handing over her badge, and adding, “I’m hoping you’ll just let us go tonight.”

    Later in the exchange, O’Connor apologizes and hands over her business card, saying, “if you ever need anything, call me. Seriously. I appreciate you.”

    In a statement released last week, O’Connor apologized to the residents of Tampa and said she called the sheriff’s office offering to pay for any citations.

    Assistant Chief Lee Bercaw will serve as acting chief while the department conducts a national search.

     

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  • More 5G Towers Coming to NYC

    Web Desk:

    According to NBC New York, to expand internet access across New York City, 5G transmission poles are in the works for another Manhattan neighborhood.

    There are already 26 of the three-story towers operational throughout the five boroughs. The city plans to add another 2,000 more over the next few years.

    Matthew Fraser, the city’s chief technology officer, has a message for the residents urging a “no” vote at the community board this week.

    “My message is, you have to give technology a chance,” said Fraser.

    He stood with NYC Mayor Eric Adams when the administration tested out the first Link 5G tower in the Bronx over the summer. It’s the size of a light pole with a boxier shape to hold and encase the technology.

    “It was a real travesty. (In) Public housing, 40 percent of households didn’t have broadband access,” Fraser said.

    But the city knows getting neighborhoods to approve such large towers can be a tall order. The letter to Manhattan’s community board 8, where the business community is opposed to the towers, said the towers are “invaluable tools that provide free high-speed Wi-Fi, free nationwide calling, free charging ports for mobile devices, and 911 and 311 access to millions of people.”

    If the rollout goes smoothly, the idea is that by 2026 people will be able to walk almost anywhere in the city with full bars and full service — and at no cost.

    “That’s the dream. Broadband available and ubiquitous,” Fraser said.

    The post More 5G Towers Coming to NYC first appeared on VOSA.

  • Judge throws out bribery, fraud charges against ex-New York lt. governor

    Web desk:

    According to National Media, bribery and fraud charges against former New York Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin were tossed out Monday by a federal judge, leaving Benjamin to face only records falsification charges and prompting his lawyers to say it was tragic that the case was ever brought.

    Judge J. Paul Oetken issued an opinion saying prosecutors failed to allege an explicit example in which Benjamin provided a favor for a bribe, an essential element of bribery and honest services fraud charges.

    Benjamin, a Democrat, resigned after his arrest last April. He pleaded not guilty to charges that he had obtained campaign contributions from a real estate developer in exchange for his influence to get a $50,000 grant of state funds for a nonprofit organization the developer controlled.

    Benjamin’s arrest created a political crisis for Gov. Kathy Hochul, a fellow Democrat who chose him to serve as second-in-command when she became governor following a sexual harassment scandal that had driven her predecessor, Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo, from office.

    At the time of his arrest, Benjamin’s lawyers issued a statement saying they planned to show the courts that their client’s actions were laudable rather than a crime.

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  • Five killed including seven years old girl in US

    Web Desk:

    In the United States, five people including seven years old girl were killed in different incidents. Police have arrested the killer of a little girl.

    The girl was found dead after missing from Texas. Police arrested and charged the FedEx driver involved in the kidnapping and murder of a 7-year-old girl Athena Strand, who had disappeared from her home’s driveway in Texas earlier this week.

    In another incident, four members of a family have killed in Kentucky. Further details of the incident are still unknown.

    Every year thousands of people are victimized by the gun culture in the US.  Possession and use of weapons create a high risk of security within the country. Due to this thousands of citizens are facing threats from armed extremists.

    In the US the gun lobby is strong enough that no government can pass effective laws to limit the use of weapons.

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  • US experiences highest level of Flu patients in a decade, CDC

    Web Desk:

    According to Reuters, the US is experiencing the highest level of hospitalization from influenza that it has seen in a decade or this time of year, the head of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said. She further added that 14 children have died so far this flu season.

    CDC Director Rochelle Walensky said that U.S. hospital systems also continue to be stressed with a high number of patients with other respiratory illnesses such as a respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and COVID-19.

    “Especially for RSV and flu, these levels are higher than we generally see this time of year,” Walensky told reporters in a telephone news briefing. She said flu season started earlier and “hospitalizations for flu continue to be the highest we have seen at this time of year in a decade.”

    There have been at least 8.7 million illnesses, 78,000 hospitalizations, and 4,500 deaths from flu so far this season, according to CDC estimates. It urged people to get vaccinated.

    The post US experiences highest level of Flu patients in a decade, CDC first appeared on VOSA.

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • PPP USA marks party’s 55th Foundation Day with renewed commitment to uphold democratic norms

    New York: Pakistan People’s Party USA chapter celebrated the party’s 55th Foundation Day with great enthusiasm and grandeur.

    Members of the Pakistan People’s Party in America gathered at a local restaurant in Jackson Heights to celebrate the day.

    Party officials and workers participating in the foundation day renewed their commitment to follow the manifesto of their leaders.

    On this occasion, President of People’s Party of America Khalid Awan said that Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto took historic steps to include Pakistan in the ranks of developed countries which will never be forgotten.

    While PPP New York President Zafar Chatha reiterated his determination to make Bilawal Bhutto the next Prime Minister of Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

    Meanwhile, Sehrish Waqar, who joined the People’s Party, was welcomed and Khalid Awan also announced her appointment as the Secretary General of the People’s Party Women’s Wing USA.

    On this occasion, senior leaders Azra Dar and Sahrish Waqar said that Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto included every citizen in politics and gave a complete constitution to Pakistan, and they vowed to follow the footsteps of the leaders.

    The foundation day was also attended by party office-bearers and workers from other political parties and community members.

    They said that all the political parties should continue to work together in the future to get the country out of the current difficulties and crisis.

    At the end of the ceremony, everyone gathered at a cake cutting ceremony. They remembered the founders of the party and other martyrs and prayed for their elevation.

    The post PPP USA marks party’s 55th Foundation Day with renewed commitment to uphold democratic norms first appeared on VOSA.

  • Rally in the streets of NYC in solidarity with COVID-19 lockdown protests in China

    Web Desk:

    According to CBS News, there was a rally in the city on Sunday in solidarity with mass anti-government protests in China.

    Dozens gathered in Washington Square Park calling on China to ease up on its strict COVID-19 lockdown measures.

    Organized by China, Hong Kong, and Tibet activists, they’re demanding the government allow public vigils commemorating victims of the draconian lockdowns. They also want all arrested protesters released.

    “We are here because we’re united in our collective effort to seek freedom, to seek human rights out from under the oppression of the communist Chinese party,” one demonstrator said.

    Last week, widespread demonstrations broke out after 10 people died in an apartment fire because firefighters were not allowed access to the building due to positive COVID cases inside.

    The post Rally in the streets of NYC in solidarity with COVID-19 lockdown protests in China first appeared on VOSA.

  • Man Shot in Exchange of Gunfire With New York City Police

    Web Desk:

    According to Associated Press, a man was injured during an exchange of gunfire with New York City police officers in the Bronx, police said.

    The shots were fired after police chased a car they determined was stolen into the borough at around midnight Saturday.

    Two suspects got out of the car a few blocks from Yankee Stadium. One of them was apprehended and the other exchanged shots with officers as he fled, NYPD Chief of Patrol John Chell said at a briefing.

    A police helicopter spotted the 39-year-old man about 10 minutes later in a marshy area near the Major Deegan Expressway, and he was struck during the second exchange of gunfire, Chell said. Officers immediately provided “life-saving” aid on the side of the highway.

    The man was hospitalized and police have not provided details of his condition. Police did not say how many times the man was struck or provide his name.

    No officers were injured.

    The post Man Shot in Exchange of Gunfire With New York City Police first appeared on VOSA.

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • NYPD warns New Yorkers, tourists to keep an eye on pickpockets at holiday hotspots

    New York: New York Police Department (NYPD) has warned New Yorkers and tourists to be on the lookout for pickpockets while enjoying holiday moments at tourist hotspots.

    NYPD is working to keep people safe from pickpockets at key tourist places such as Rockefeller Center, Saks Fifth Avenue, Brightly Park, and Times Square, according to officials.

    Police officers say most people are deprived of cell phones at recreation places.

    Thieves take valuables such as cell phones from people, often they take them to other counties, and sale, where their value is doubled.

    According to police officers, on the first day of Tree Lighting, many pockets of pockets have been arrested. People who were arrested last year were doing the same thing. They were both men and women. Some were 15 years old and some were 60 years old.

    Police said the pickpockets deprive citizens and tourists enjoying holiday lights, who engage in photographs etc. of their valuables.

    NYPD asked people to report if any suspicious person found, so that police can take prompt action and protect the citizens.

    The post NYPD warns New Yorkers, tourists to keep an eye on pickpockets at holiday hotspots first appeared on VOSA.

  • Fire in Hamilton Heights leaves 10 injured, dozens homeless

    New York:  At least ten persons including eight firefighters were injured in a massive fire that engulfed Hamilton Heights Apartment in New York, as rescuers doused off the blaze after hours-long hectic efforts.

    The fire broke out in the building when most people living there were sleeping in the wee hours of Sunday.

    FDNY Fire officials say the fire incident might be the result of the electric shot circuit.

    Some firefighters were also injured during rescue efforts and suffered some minor injuries.

    Firefighters extinguished the fire during a six-storey apartment for six hours

    More than 200 firefighters participated in the operation; the fire was so severe that the upper floor turned into debris.

    According to FDNY, eight firefighters and two tenants of the building suffered minor injuries.

    Authorities said that each destination has been damaged to some extent

    The Red Cross has begun supporting 41 homeless families.

    Inspectors are examining to see if the building is still structurally fine and able to live in.

    The post Fire in Hamilton Heights leaves 10 injured, dozens homeless first appeared on VOSA.

    This post was originally published on VOSA.