Days after Google announced laying off 12,000 employees in January this year, some employees off the company went on a rally to protest in New York. The protesters said that they felt betrayed and now don't know what the future holds.

US: Ex-Google employees rally against layoffs, protest outside company story in Manhattan

A wildlife group has claimed&nbsp;that a pigeon that was rescued from a park in New York City may have been colored&nbsp;a vibrant pink for a gender reveal party.&nbsp;In Manhattan's Madison Square Park, a young king pigeon with signs of malnutrition was discovered.&nbsp;It was rescued, and the Wild Bird Fund adopted it for treatment.&nbsp;The nonprofit organisation that deals with animal rescue and education stated that it suspected the pigeon had been intentionally dyed.&nbsp;

Wild Bird Fund wrote in a Twitter threat, "As a domestic bird unable to find food in the wild, fly well, or escape predators, this poor kid had it bad enough before being dyed."

"Luckily a kind person rescued him in Madison Square Park, and he's now safely in care."

The group responded to a user who asked the motivation behind such an act by stating that "gender reveal is a theory growing in popularity."

Pregnant couples organise lavish celebrations to reveal the sex of their unborn child before delivery. This practise originated in the US.

There is frequently a ceremony involved, such as cutting a cake or exploding a balloon whose contents will either be blue or pink to announce the child's sex.

Wild Bird Fund told another Twitter user that they would give the pigeon a couple of baths to wash the dye out of the feathers in the hopes that the bird will shed and develop new feathers that would match his original colour, as reported by the BBC.

The Wild Bird Fund organisation claims that it treats more than 7,500 sick, hurt, orphaned animals each year before releasing them to New York City.

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A wildlife group has claimed that a pigeon that was rescued from a park in New York City may have been colored a vibrant pink for a gender reveal party. In Manhattan's Madison Square Park, a young king pigeon with signs of malnutrition was discovered.

A wildlife group has claimed that a pigeon that was rescued from a park in New York City may have been colored a vibrant pink for a gender reveal party. In Manhattan's Madison Square Park, a young king pigeon with signs of malnutrition was discovered. It was rescued, and the Wild Bird Fund adopted it for treatment. The nonprofit organisation that deals with animal rescue and education stated that it suspected the pigeon had been intentionally dyed. Wild Bird Fund wrote in a Twitter threat, "As a domestic bird unable to find food in the wild, fly well, or escape predators, this poor kid had it bad enough before being dyed." "Luckily a kind person rescued him in Madison Square Park, and he's now safely in care." The group responded to a user who asked the motivation behind such an act by stating that "gender reveal is a theory growing in popularity." Pregnant couples organise lavish celebrations to reveal the sex of their unborn child before delivery. This practise originated in the US. There is frequently a ceremony involved, such as cutting a cake or exploding a balloon whose contents will either be blue or pink to announce the child's sex. Wild Bird Fund told another Twitter user that they would give the pigeon a couple of baths to wash the dye out of the feathers in the hopes that the bird will shed and develop new feathers that would match his original colour, as reported by the BBC. The Wild Bird Fund organisation claims that it treats more than 7,500 sick, hurt, orphaned animals each year before releasing them to New York City. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

New Yorkers discover pink-dyed pigeon, suspect it was used in gender-reveal party

During the election canvassing trail, most politicians appear to support a cause for the optics, only to later back out of it. However, an independent&nbsp;Manhattan candidate, running for&nbsp;New York's 12th District took a rather unconventional approach to show his support for a particular cause.

Reportedly,&nbsp;Mike Itkis, an independent candidate has a poll plank of 'sex positivity' where he is gunning to legalise sex work and protect sexual rights. While most politicians would have released a statement or done a couple of interviews, explaining their position, Mike didn't do any of it.

Instead, he starred and acted in a 13-minute long pornographic movie with an adult star to show his support towards the idea of 'sex positivity'.

"If I would just talk about it, it wouldn’t demonstrate my commitment to the issue. And the fact I actually did it was a huge learning experience, and it actually influenced items on my platform," Itkis told City &amp; State after the release of the video.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood/news-mel-gibson-can-testify-against-harvey-weinstein-in-rape-sexual-assault-trial-says-judge-525568">Read more:&nbsp;Mel Gibson can testify against Harvey Weinstein in rape, sexual assault trial, says judge</a>

Calling himself an introvert who wanted to start a 'conversation' on the issue,&nbsp;Itkis said the video was his first time having coitus on camera.&nbsp;

“I’m very much an introvert.&nbsp;I’m kind of a nerd who doesn’t like to be the centre of attention if I can avoid it. But I thought the issues I’m trying to address are so important...I wanted to have my issues talked about in some way.”

Itkis, reportedly, paired up with porn star&nbsp;Nicole Sage and titled the video&nbsp;“Bucket List Bonanza" before publishing it on a popular adult video platform.&nbsp;

Itkis on his election website&nbsp;also laid down his 'sex positive approach'&nbsp;policy by stating, "Actively oppose the conservative idea that sex should only happen between a man and a woman who are married to each other."

Notably,&nbsp;Itkis&nbsp;through his rather 'offbeat' campaign is attempting to unseat longtime Democrat&nbsp;Rep. Jerrold Nadler. The extent of competition Mike is facing can be gauged by the fact that Nadler won the June primary against New York city heavyweight&nbsp;Carolyn Maloney in her own bastion.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/japan-tokyo-opens-applications-for-same-sex-partnership-system-524403">Read more:&nbsp;Japan: Tokyo opens applications for same-sex partnership system</a>

Most poll pundits believe that&nbsp;Itkis will be blown away in the election race. However, his peculiar election campaign has certainly brought eyeballs and made him an overnight celebrity amongst several online chatrooms.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies) 
 
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During the election canvassing trail, most politicians appear to support a cause for the optics, only to later back out of it. However, an independent Manhattan candidate, running for New York's 12th District took a rather unconventional approach to show his support for a particular cause.

During the election canvassing trail, most politicians appear to support a cause for the optics, only to later back out of it. However, an independent Manhattan candidate, running for New York's 12th District took a rather unconventional approach to show his support for a particular cause. Reportedly, Mike Itkis, an independent candidate has a poll plank of 'sex positivity' where he is gunning to legalise sex work and protect sexual rights. While most politicians would have released a statement or done a couple of interviews, explaining their position, Mike didn't do any of it. Instead, he starred and acted in a 13-minute long pornographic movie with an adult star to show his support towards the idea of 'sex positivity'. "If I would just talk about it, it wouldn’t demonstrate my commitment to the issue. And the fact I actually did it was a huge learning experience, and it actually influenced items on my platform," Itkis told City & State after the release of the video. Read more: Mel Gibson can testify against Harvey Weinstein in rape, sexual assault trial, says judge Calling himself an introvert who wanted to start a 'conversation' on the issue, Itkis said the video was his first time having coitus on camera. “I’m very much an introvert. I’m kind of a nerd who doesn’t like to be the centre of attention if I can avoid it. But I thought the issues I’m trying to address are so important...I wanted to have my issues talked about in some way.” Itkis, reportedly, paired up with porn star Nicole Sage and titled the video “Bucket List Bonanza" before publishing it on a popular adult video platform. Itkis on his election website also laid down his 'sex positive approach' policy by stating, "Actively oppose the conservative idea that sex should only happen between a man and a woman who are married to each other." Notably, Itkis through his rather 'offbeat' campaign is attempting to unseat longtime Democrat Rep. Jerrold Nadler. The extent of competition Mike is facing can be gauged by the fact that Nadler won the June primary against New York city heavyweight Carolyn Maloney in her own bastion. Read more: Japan: Tokyo opens applications for same-sex partnership system Most poll pundits believe that Itkis will be blown away in the election race. However, his peculiar election campaign has certainly brought eyeballs and made him an overnight celebrity amongst several online chatrooms. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

New York congressional candidate releases sex tape to show his 'sex positive' stance

One of the top banks in the world, Barclays is now in legal trouble. It has been sued in the US District Court in Manhattan.

Multinational bank Barclays in legal trouble, sued for $17.6 bn debt sale blunder

New York's 9/11 Tribute Museum closed its physical location in lower Manhattan, less than a month before the 21st anniversary of the September 11 terror attacks. Molly Gambhir tells you more.

WION Fineprint: 9/11 Museum closes its doors, citing financial losses

A 20-year-old woman pushing a baby in the stroller has been shot dead in New York city on Wednesday night, no suspect has been taken into custody yet.

New York: A 20-year-old woman shot dead while pushing baby stroller in Manhattan

Gianni Versace's former townhouse in Manhattan is up for sale. The seven-bedroom mansion was bought by the late fashion designer in 1995 and is now reportedly priced at $70 million. 
 
Versace had fully refurbished the interior, according to the Sotheby's International Realty listing. 
 
The mansion was originally built in 1950 and offers the buyer the chance to "live like royalty" and "own a piece of real estate and fashion history," the listing says. 
 
In total the townhouse had 17 lavishly decorated rooms spread across six floors, the property overlooks Fifth Avenue and borders Central Park. 
 
The floors are Italian marble and Austrian parquet. There are five fireplaces, painted walls and ceilings and mosaic. Every floor of the mansion is decorated with a different, distinct theme.&nbsp; 
 
"Versace's genius and vision are revealed over the first 4 floors, each presenting the designer's legendary taste and permeates the home," the listing adds. 
 
The entrance opens to a marble staircase and gallery with a decorative Greek key pattern border, and the garden level has hand-painted canvas walls inspired by an English neoclassical manor. 
 
The third-floor ceiling resembles the vault of the Sistine Chapel, alongside restored 19th-century panels Versace sourced from a Florentine palazzo. 
 
The fourth floor of the mansion offers a double bathroom spa that the listing describes as "one of the grandest in the city," and the fifth and sixth floors house bedrooms and a Moroccan-style media room. 
 
One of the most influential figures in fashion in the 20th century, Gianni Versace was shot dead on the steps of his Miami Beach Villa in 1997. Following his death, his sister Donatella Versace lead the brand's creative vision which now under US company Capri Holdings which bought the brand in 2018. &nbsp;

Gianni Versace's former townhouse in Manhattan is up for sale. The seven-bedroom mansion was bought by the late fashion designer in 1995 and is now reportedly priced at $70 million.

Gianni Versace's former townhouse in Manhattan is up for sale. The seven-bedroom mansion was bought by the late fashion designer in 1995 and is now reportedly priced at $70 million. Versace had fully refurbished the interior, according to the Sotheby's International Realty listing. The mansion was originally built in 1950 and offers the buyer the chance to "live like royalty" and "own a piece of real estate and fashion history," the listing says. In total the townhouse had 17 lavishly decorated rooms spread across six floors, the property overlooks Fifth Avenue and borders Central Park. The floors are Italian marble and Austrian parquet. There are five fireplaces, painted walls and ceilings and mosaic. Every floor of the mansion is decorated with a different, distinct theme. "Versace's genius and vision are revealed over the first 4 floors, each presenting the designer's legendary taste and permeates the home," the listing adds. The entrance opens to a marble staircase and gallery with a decorative Greek key pattern border, and the garden level has hand-painted canvas walls inspired by an English neoclassical manor. The third-floor ceiling resembles the vault of the Sistine Chapel, alongside restored 19th-century panels Versace sourced from a Florentine palazzo. The fourth floor of the mansion offers a double bathroom spa that the listing describes as "one of the grandest in the city," and the fifth and sixth floors house bedrooms and a Moroccan-style media room. One of the most influential figures in fashion in the 20th century, Gianni Versace was shot dead on the steps of his Miami Beach Villa in 1997. Following his death, his sister Donatella Versace lead the brand's creative vision which now under US company Capri Holdings which bought the brand in 2018.

Versace's Manhattan townhouse goes up for sale for $70 million

A prosecutor who had been leading a criminal investigation into Donald Trump before quitting last month said in his resignation letter that he believes the former president is “guilty of numerous felony violations” and he disagreed with the Manhattan district attorney’s decision not to seek an indictment.

In the letter, published Wednesday by The New York Times, Mark Pomerantz told District Attorney Alvin Bragg there was “evidence sufficient to establish Mr. Trump’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt” of allegations he falsified financial statements to secure loans and burnish his image as a wealthy businessman.

“The team that has been investigating Mr. Trump harbors no doubt about whether he committed crimes — he did,” Pomerantz wrote.

Pomerantz and his former co-leader on the Trump probe, Carey Dunne, resigned on Feb. 23 after clashing with Bragg over the future of the case.

Both were top deputies tasked with running the investigation on a day-to-day basis. Both started on the probe under former District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr., and Bragg asked them to stay when he took office in January. Both Vance and Bragg are Democrats.

Watch | Gravitas: Why Donald Trump has failed to act like a President

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In his resignation letter, Pomerantz wrote that Vance had directed his deputies to present evidence to a grand jury and seek an indictment of Trump and other defendants “as soon as reasonably possible.” No former president has ever been charged with a crime.

“I believe that your decision not to prosecute Donald Trump now, and on the existing record, is misguided and completely contrary to the public interest,” Pomerantz wrote.

Danielle Filson, a spokesperson for Bragg, said in a statement Wednesday night that the investigation into Trump is continuing and that a “team of experienced prosecutors is working every day to follow the facts and the law. There is nothing we can or should say at this juncture about an ongoing investigation.”

A message seeking comment was left with Trump’s lawyer.

Trump has called the investigation a politically motivated “witch hunt.” 
 
Watch | Gravitas: A disastrous end for Trump's presidency

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The Associated Press requested copies of Pomerantz and Dunne’s resignation letters under New York’s open records law, but the district attorney’s office rejected the request Feb. 25.

In its rejection, the office said: “The criminal matter both individuals were assigned remains pending; as such, the public release of the letters which reflect internal deliberations and opinions about an on-going investigation will likely interfere with that investigation.”

The Manhattan district attorney’s office started investigating Trump in 2019, first examining hush-money payments paid to women on his behalf and then expanding into an inquiry into whether the president’s company misled lenders or tax authorities about the value of its properties.

So far, the three-year investigation has resulted only in tax fraud charges against Trump’s company, the Trump Organization, and its longtime finance chief Allen Weisselberg relating to lucrative fringe benefits such as rent, car payments and school tuition.

Pomerantz, a former mafia prosecutor, was brought out of private practice by Vance to add his expertise in white collar investigations to the Trump probe. Dunne argued before the U.S. Supreme Court in a successful, multiyear fight for Trump’s tax records.

After taking office in January, Bragg said he was proud of the continuity that Dunne and Pomerantz had brought in running the high-profile investigation as he took over the D.A.’s office from Vance, who retired after a dozen years in office.

Also in January, New York Attorney General Letitia James claimed in court filings in a parallel civil investigation that her office had uncovered evidence the Trump Organization used “fraudulent or misleading” valuations of assets to get loans and tax benefits.

Trump has given his Statement of Financial Condition — a yearly snapshot of his holdings — to banks to secure hundreds of millions of dollars worth of loans on properties such as a Wall Street office building and a Florida golf course, and to financial magazines to justify his place among the world’s billionaires.

His lawyers have argued that the statements were accurate, and that any attempts to spin disagreements about the value of real estate into a crime were politically motivated.

Some legal experts had said that Manhattan prosecutors faced a potential hurdle in proving that Trump or his company intentionally falsified financial statements.

In his resignation letter, Pomerantz wrote that Trump should be prosecuted “without any further delay,” noting that much of the evidence related to before Trump was president, that the investigation had already been prolonged by the tax return battle and other fights.

Waiting to see if more damning evidence could be found would likely be unfruitful, he wrote, and would only “raise additional questions about the failure to hold Mr. Trump accountable for his criminal conduct.”

“No case is perfect. Whatever the risks of bringing the case may be, I am convinced that a failure to prosecute will pose much greater risks in terms of public confidence in the fair administration of justice,” Pomerantz wrote.

A prosecutor who had been leading a criminal investigation into Donald Trump before quitting last month said in his resignation letter that he believes the former president is “guilty of numerous felony violations” and he disagreed with the Manhattan district attorney’s decision not to seek an indictment.

A prosecutor who had been leading a criminal investigation into Donald Trump before quitting last month said in his resignation letter that he believes the former president is “guilty of numerous felony violations” and he disagreed with the Manhattan district attorney’s decision not to seek an indictment. In the letter, published Wednesday by The New York Times, Mark Pomerantz told District Attorney Alvin Bragg there was “evidence sufficient to establish Mr. Trump’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt” of allegations he falsified financial statements to secure loans and burnish his image as a wealthy businessman. “The team that has been investigating Mr. Trump harbors no doubt about whether he committed crimes — he did,” Pomerantz wrote. Pomerantz and his former co-leader on the Trump probe, Carey Dunne, resigned on Feb. 23 after clashing with Bragg over the future of the case. Both were top deputies tasked with running the investigation on a day-to-day basis. Both started on the probe under former District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr., and Bragg asked them to stay when he took office in January. Both Vance and Bragg are Democrats. Watch | Gravitas: Why Donald Trump has failed to act like a President In his resignation letter, Pomerantz wrote that Vance had directed his deputies to present evidence to a grand jury and seek an indictment of Trump and other defendants “as soon as reasonably possible.” No former president has ever been charged with a crime. “I believe that your decision not to prosecute Donald Trump now, and on the existing record, is misguided and completely contrary to the public interest,” Pomerantz wrote. Danielle Filson, a spokesperson for Bragg, said in a statement Wednesday night that the investigation into Trump is continuing and that a “team of experienced prosecutors is working every day to follow the facts and the law. There is nothing we can or should say at this juncture about an ongoing investigation.” A message seeking comment was left with Trump’s lawyer. Trump has called the investigation a politically motivated “witch hunt.” Watch | Gravitas: A disastrous end for Trump's presidency The Associated Press requested copies of Pomerantz and Dunne’s resignation letters under New York’s open records law, but the district attorney’s office rejected the request Feb. 25. In its rejection, the office said: “The criminal matter both individuals were assigned remains pending; as such, the public release of the letters which reflect internal deliberations and opinions about an on-going investigation will likely interfere with that investigation.” The Manhattan district attorney’s office started investigating Trump in 2019, first examining hush-money payments paid to women on his behalf and then expanding into an inquiry into whether the president’s company misled lenders or tax authorities about the value of its properties. So far, the three-year investigation has resulted only in tax fraud charges against Trump’s company, the Trump Organization, and its longtime finance chief Allen Weisselberg relating to lucrative fringe benefits such as rent, car payments and school tuition. Pomerantz, a former mafia prosecutor, was brought out of private practice by Vance to add his expertise in white collar investigations to the Trump probe. Dunne argued before the U.S. Supreme Court in a successful, multiyear fight for Trump’s tax records. After taking office in January, Bragg said he was proud of the continuity that Dunne and Pomerantz had brought in running the high-profile investigation as he took over the D.A.’s office from Vance, who retired after a dozen years in office. Also in January, New York Attorney General Letitia James claimed in court filings in a parallel civil investigation that her office had uncovered evidence the Trump Organization used “fraudulent or misleading” valuations of assets to get loans and tax benefits. Trump has given his Statement of Financial Condition — a yearly snapshot of his holdings — to banks to secure hundreds of millions of dollars worth of loans on properties such as a Wall Street office building and a Florida golf course, and to financial magazines to justify his place among the world’s billionaires. His lawyers have argued that the statements were accurate, and that any attempts to spin disagreements about the value of real estate into a crime were politically motivated. Some legal experts had said that Manhattan prosecutors faced a potential hurdle in proving that Trump or his company intentionally falsified financial statements. In his resignation letter, Pomerantz wrote that Trump should be prosecuted “without any further delay,” noting that much of the evidence related to before Trump was president, that the investigation had already been prolonged by the tax return battle and other fights. Waiting to see if more damning evidence could be found would likely be unfruitful, he wrote, and would only “raise additional questions about the failure to hold Mr. Trump accountable for his criminal conduct.” “No case is perfect. Whatever the risks of bringing the case may be, I am convinced that a failure to prosecute will pose much greater risks in terms of public confidence in the fair administration of justice,” Pomerantz wrote.

Trump is guilty of 'numerous' felonies, senior prosecutor who resigned says in letter

Wilton Cartagena, who runs a grocery store on Coney Island, is relieved that a new ferry service connecting the remote beachfront community to Manhattan will cut the four-hour commute for his employees, most of whom live in the Bronx.

He anticipates that the ferries will also bring an economic boon to its shores, which are best known for an amusement park but tethered to a limited summer season. "Coney Island has been very neglected for a long time, so this is going to be good for business," said Cartagena, who owns J-R Market near the anticipated pier.

Except that what is good for business may be coming at the expense of Brooklyn's last remaining creek and the wildlife that live there. Scientists for the city's Parks Department, which oversees Coney Island Creek Park, say city officials pushed ahead with the plan to build the ferry landing on the creek despite concerns that a service there would damage the ecosystem and release toxic pollution.

The Coney Island Creek — popular among bird-watchers, fishermen, schoolchildren and even those who perform baptisms — attracts nearly 250 bird species, some of them rarities such as the white-winged dove and the thick-billed murre that fly all the way from the Arctic. The creek bottom is filled with horseshoe crabs, a major food source for the birds.

Construction of the pier and waves caused by the ferries will probably disrupt the habitat for the crabs that are dependent on quiet waters, scientists say, toppling the entire food chain and erasing a precious wildlife sanctuary in New York City.

The new ferry line, which is expected to cut the daily slog to Manhattan by half an hour, is part of outgoing Mayor Bill de Blasio’s flagship initiative to connect the five boroughs via water, and is tied to redevelopment efforts on Coney Island.

Concerns about the environmental impact flared up almost immediately after the city issued a feasibility study in 2018, offering as options two locations: one to the east and the other to the west of the narrow waterway that connects the creek with Gravesend Bay. The city initially did not consider a Coney Island service for the ferry project, and only started looking into it seriously three years ago.

The Economic Development Corporation, a semi-independent city agency in charge of the project, ultimately settled on the location to the west, just across Kaiser Park, saying it had more water depth and was less exposed to adverse weather.

But in recent weeks, local residents have stepped up their opposition to having the pier on the waterway, after they learned that scientists within the Parks Department had cautioned against the selection.

They have questioned whether there was pressure to rush the ferry service to meet de Blasio’s goal for a robust ferry system before his term ends and to support the luxury condominiums being built there by John Catsimatidis, a billionaire developer who has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars lobbying the city over the past three years to build a ferry stop on Coney Island.

A lobbying firm hired by Catsimatidis pushed officials for a stop on Coney Island as well as funding for a shuttle service from the ferry landing to the beachfront, where Catsimatidis’ condos and the amusement park stand.

Catsimatidis, in an interview, confirmed that sales of condo units hinged on an operational ferry service. He has already constructed two buildings as part of his Ocean Drive complex, and even though it was yet to be completed, ads were placed in newspapers with the catch: “Ferry to Manhattan Coming Soon!”

“As far as we’re concerned, we built two beautiful buildings and we spent $400 million,” he said. “You know, that’s a lot of money.” He used an expletive to describe the environmental concerns.

Although the ferry service is set to begin within weeks, residents are still asking the city to slow down.

Besides the effects on the wildlife, there are fears that dredging during construction and the shaking of waters by high-speed ferries would release carcinogens such as mercury, lead and dioxins trapped in the creek bed. The area sits across Calvert Vaux Park, a former industrial dump site, and toxins released in the air and water could affect nearby residents, many of whom live in affordable housing, scientists and environmentalists familiar with the area said.

Last month, video footage showed a subcontractor dredging the creek bed without following stringent protocols used to prevent contaminants from being stirred up. The city Economic Development Corporation responded by firing the subcontractor, saying in an email it had not followed rules properly.

Ann Valdez, 55, who lives in a public-housing complex right across the creek, started having breathing problems over the past couple of months, and her doctor prescribed her a nebulizer. She worried that her breathing would get worse when the ferries stir up toxins from the creek bed.

“People are going to get sick. I have children, grandchildren, and I wouldn’t want them to have to be exposed to that,” she said, adding, “The one thought in my mind is — environmentally, it’s crazy.”

The ferry service wouldn’t necessarily relieve commutes for residents like her either, she said, because she would have to pay extra for the ferry ride to lower Manhattan on top of the subway ride from Pier 11, which is a few blocks away from the nearest station. A one-way ticket on the ferry would cost $2.75, the same amount for a single ride on the subway.

“It makes no sense whatsoever because in reality, they’re not trying to make traveling for us, the average person here, any better because the average person still would have to take other transportation to continue their ride,” she said.

Several scientists employed by NYC Parks told The New York Times that they had provided their superiors extensive data showing the negative impacts of operating a ferry service from Coney Island Creek, including the disruption to the birds and horseshoe crabs.

Crabs depend on quiet waters, and because the shoreline is not armored — meaning it cannot withstand boat waves — wake impacts and dredging during construction would lead to lower sand content, reducing shoreline habitat used by aquatic organisms.

The scientists said their comments were not reflected in a key report sent to regulators to help determine whether to issue a permit, and instead the document said the opposite — that there would be no significant environmental impact.

“We do not see how it was concluded that there will be no significant impacts from expanding ferry service to Coney Island Creek,” the parks scientists wrote to their superiors. “The criteria for such a determination were not set out and were never provided.”

Anessa Hodgson, a parks spokesperson, said the environmental impact statement went through several rounds of review by experts across the agency and also considered public comment. The Parks Department, she added, came to the “ultimate concurrence with the conclusions” outlined in the development agency’s final statement.

The state Department of Environmental Conservation said it follows its own process for approving projects, but that much of its assessment is based on statements provided by the applicant itself — in this case, the Economic Development Corporation. (The conservation scientists themselves do not inspect a site.)

The Army Corps of Engineers, a separate regulator that primarily looks at dredging and in-water construction activities, also concluded that there would not be a significant ecological impact and issued a permit.

In an email, the Economic Development Corporation said it took environmental concerns seriously and that construction would not have proceeded without full approval by the Department of Environmental Conservation and the Army Corps of Engineers.

Still, critics questioned the process and said that had the Parks Department aligned with its own scientists, regulators may have taken more time to assess the situation before issuing the permit. But that could mean delaying the launch of the ferry service to a later date — probably not during de Blasio’s tenure, which ends Dec. 31.

A former Economic Development Corporation official involved in the project said that despite the agency being technically independent, pushing back against the mayor’s wishes was virtually impossible.

“If Parks said that there are impacts, this can add significant cost to the project and results in a lot of arguing back and forth about what should be done, where and how,” said Ida Sanoff, executive director of the Natural Resources Protective Association.

Many residents want the ferry service and are hopeful that it would bring a much-needed boost to the local economy. Businesses are hoping it will make the seasonally operated amusement park open year-round.

The ferry at Coney Island Creek also means bringing more people to the side of Coney Island, opposite from the beach and amusement district, where they normally would not venture.

Assemblywoman Mathylde Frontus, whose district includes Coney Island and who has been leading the opposition to the Coney Island Creek location, said she wanted a ferry service too — but not at any cost.

“We would be thrilled and do backflips if we have a ferry in Coney Island, so we want it done properly,” she said.

“If we’re not ready now, we should in fact wait a little longer. Our health is so important that it’s much more important to have it done the right way than any old way.”

Wilton Cartagena, who runs a grocery store on Coney Island, is relieved that a new ferry service connecting the remote beachfront community to Manhattan will cut the four-hour commute for his employees, most of whom live in the Bronx.

Wilton Cartagena, who runs a grocery store on Coney Island, is relieved that a new ferry service connecting the remote beachfront community to Manhattan will cut the four-hour commute for his employees, most of whom live in the Bronx. He anticipates that the ferries will also bring an economic boon to its shores, which are best known for an amusement park but tethered to a limited summer season. "Coney Island has been very neglected for a long time, so this is going to be good for business," said Cartagena, who owns J-R Market near the anticipated pier. Except that what is good for business may be coming at the expense of Brooklyn's last remaining creek and the wildlife that live there. Scientists for the city's Parks Department, which oversees Coney Island Creek Park, say city officials pushed ahead with the plan to build the ferry landing on the creek despite concerns that a service there would damage the ecosystem and release toxic pollution. The Coney Island Creek — popular among bird-watchers, fishermen, schoolchildren and even those who perform baptisms — attracts nearly 250 bird species, some of them rarities such as the white-winged dove and the thick-billed murre that fly all the way from the Arctic. The creek bottom is filled with horseshoe crabs, a major food source for the birds. Construction of the pier and waves caused by the ferries will probably disrupt the habitat for the crabs that are dependent on quiet waters, scientists say, toppling the entire food chain and erasing a precious wildlife sanctuary in New York City. The new ferry line, which is expected to cut the daily slog to Manhattan by half an hour, is part of outgoing Mayor Bill de Blasio’s flagship initiative to connect the five boroughs via water, and is tied to redevelopment efforts on Coney Island. Concerns about the environmental impact flared up almost immediately after the city issued a feasibility study in 2018, offering as options two locations: one to the east and the other to the west of the narrow waterway that connects the creek with Gravesend Bay. The city initially did not consider a Coney Island service for the ferry project, and only started looking into it seriously three years ago. The Economic Development Corporation, a semi-independent city agency in charge of the project, ultimately settled on the location to the west, just across Kaiser Park, saying it had more water depth and was less exposed to adverse weather. But in recent weeks, local residents have stepped up their opposition to having the pier on the waterway, after they learned that scientists within the Parks Department had cautioned against the selection. They have questioned whether there was pressure to rush the ferry service to meet de Blasio’s goal for a robust ferry system before his term ends and to support the luxury condominiums being built there by John Catsimatidis, a billionaire developer who has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars lobbying the city over the past three years to build a ferry stop on Coney Island. A lobbying firm hired by Catsimatidis pushed officials for a stop on Coney Island as well as funding for a shuttle service from the ferry landing to the beachfront, where Catsimatidis’ condos and the amusement park stand. Catsimatidis, in an interview, confirmed that sales of condo units hinged on an operational ferry service. He has already constructed two buildings as part of his Ocean Drive complex, and even though it was yet to be completed, ads were placed in newspapers with the catch: “Ferry to Manhattan Coming Soon!” “As far as we’re concerned, we built two beautiful buildings and we spent $400 million,” he said. “You know, that’s a lot of money.” He used an expletive to describe the environmental concerns. Although the ferry service is set to begin within weeks, residents are still asking the city to slow down. Besides the effects on the wildlife, there are fears that dredging during construction and the shaking of waters by high-speed ferries would release carcinogens such as mercury, lead and dioxins trapped in the creek bed. The area sits across Calvert Vaux Park, a former industrial dump site, and toxins released in the air and water could affect nearby residents, many of whom live in affordable housing, scientists and environmentalists familiar with the area said. Last month, video footage showed a subcontractor dredging the creek bed without following stringent protocols used to prevent contaminants from being stirred up. The city Economic Development Corporation responded by firing the subcontractor, saying in an email it had not followed rules properly. Ann Valdez, 55, who lives in a public-housing complex right across the creek, started having breathing problems over the past couple of months, and her doctor prescribed her a nebulizer. She worried that her breathing would get worse when the ferries stir up toxins from the creek bed. “People are going to get sick. I have children, grandchildren, and I wouldn’t want them to have to be exposed to that,” she said, adding, “The one thought in my mind is — environmentally, it’s crazy.” The ferry service wouldn’t necessarily relieve commutes for residents like her either, she said, because she would have to pay extra for the ferry ride to lower Manhattan on top of the subway ride from Pier 11, which is a few blocks away from the nearest station. A one-way ticket on the ferry would cost $2.75, the same amount for a single ride on the subway. “It makes no sense whatsoever because in reality, they’re not trying to make traveling for us, the average person here, any better because the average person still would have to take other transportation to continue their ride,” she said. Several scientists employed by NYC Parks told The New York Times that they had provided their superiors extensive data showing the negative impacts of operating a ferry service from Coney Island Creek, including the disruption to the birds and horseshoe crabs. Crabs depend on quiet waters, and because the shoreline is not armored — meaning it cannot withstand boat waves — wake impacts and dredging during construction would lead to lower sand content, reducing shoreline habitat used by aquatic organisms. The scientists said their comments were not reflected in a key report sent to regulators to help determine whether to issue a permit, and instead the document said the opposite — that there would be no significant environmental impact. “We do not see how it was concluded that there will be no significant impacts from expanding ferry service to Coney Island Creek,” the parks scientists wrote to their superiors. “The criteria for such a determination were not set out and were never provided.” Anessa Hodgson, a parks spokesperson, said the environmental impact statement went through several rounds of review by experts across the agency and also considered public comment. The Parks Department, she added, came to the “ultimate concurrence with the conclusions” outlined in the development agency’s final statement. The state Department of Environmental Conservation said it follows its own process for approving projects, but that much of its assessment is based on statements provided by the applicant itself — in this case, the Economic Development Corporation. (The conservation scientists themselves do not inspect a site.) The Army Corps of Engineers, a separate regulator that primarily looks at dredging and in-water construction activities, also concluded that there would not be a significant ecological impact and issued a permit. In an email, the Economic Development Corporation said it took environmental concerns seriously and that construction would not have proceeded without full approval by the Department of Environmental Conservation and the Army Corps of Engineers. Still, critics questioned the process and said that had the Parks Department aligned with its own scientists, regulators may have taken more time to assess the situation before issuing the permit. But that could mean delaying the launch of the ferry service to a later date — probably not during de Blasio’s tenure, which ends Dec. 31. A former Economic Development Corporation official involved in the project said that despite the agency being technically independent, pushing back against the mayor’s wishes was virtually impossible. “If Parks said that there are impacts, this can add significant cost to the project and results in a lot of arguing back and forth about what should be done, where and how,” said Ida Sanoff, executive director of the Natural Resources Protective Association. Many residents want the ferry service and are hopeful that it would bring a much-needed boost to the local economy. Businesses are hoping it will make the seasonally operated amusement park open year-round. The ferry at Coney Island Creek also means bringing more people to the side of Coney Island, opposite from the beach and amusement district, where they normally would not venture. Assemblywoman Mathylde Frontus, whose district includes Coney Island and who has been leading the opposition to the Coney Island Creek location, said she wanted a ferry service too — but not at any cost. “We would be thrilled and do backflips if we have a ferry in Coney Island, so we want it done properly,” she said. “If we’re not ready now, we should in fact wait a little longer. Our health is so important that it’s much more important to have it done the right way than any old way.”

A ferry is coming to coney island. Here’s why some residents are angry.

Several people has been injured after a women drove her car into the crowd of protesters in Manhattan, New York city on Friday. Six injured as car rams into protesters, investigations are currently underway.

Car rams into protest in Manhattan, investigation underway

Political tensions over the upcoming presidential election escalated on New York City’s streets Sunday, as supporters of President Donald Trump clashed with counterprotesters during a day of demonstrations.

Seven people were arrested during skirmishes between opposing sides in Manhattan, where Rudy Giuliani, the president’s personal lawyer and the city’s former mayor, encountered protesters targeting a caravan of cars organized by a group that identifies itself as Jews for Trump.

In one video, Giuliani could be seen on the passenger side of a vehicle with the window rolled down as anti-Trump protesters screamed at him.

In an interview, Giuliani said that he had encountered the caravan and the protesters while driving down Fifth Avenue after taping his radio show.

“I would love to have had a campaign commercial of it and put it on in the middle of America and say, ‘Who would you prefer for the next four years?” he said. “This group of foul-mouthed people who don’t seem to have a vocabulary beyond three words, or these very nice Jewish people who are driving in the car and not saying anything back and not doing anything other than exercising their right to say they’re for Donald Trump.”

According to the police, the pro-Trump caravan passed through Times Square, where it converged with a group of anti-Trump protesters who had marched from Brooklyn. The cars in the convoy were then blocked by counterprotesters, and some drivers got out of their cars to confront the anti-Trump demonstrators.

The two sides hurled political slurs — calling each other “fascists” and “anarchists”— traded blows, and fought over the Trump supporters’ flags before police broke them apart, according to videos posted online.

In some videos, a group of people can be seen yelling expletives and throwing eggs and other projectiles at passing cars flying pro-Trump flags in midtown, while in another, a group of people holding pro-Trump banners march on one side of the street as people across the street yell, “New York hates you.”

The clashes came as the Police Department was preparing for more possible unrest as Election Day approached, including days or weeks of protests in the aftermath of the vote. Hundreds of police officers have been assigned to polling stations for both early voting and Election Day, with thousands more on standby for protests.

Top police officials have stressed the need for officers to remain neutral, despite their unions’ open embrace of Trump. But officials said an officer crossed the line late Saturday when he used a police loudspeaker to voice support for the president while arguing with a man on the street in Flatbush, Brooklyn, who called him a “fascist.”

“Trump 2020,” the officer responded. “Put it on YouTube. Put it on Facebook. Trump 2020.”

The officer, whose name the police withheld, was suspended without pay Sunday after videos of the incident went viral on social media. Department policy prohibits officers from engaging in political activity on duty or in uniform, including endorsing a candidate or party.

“One hundred per cent unacceptable. Period,” Commissioner Dermot F. Shea commented on one of the videos of the suspended officer on Twitter. “Law Enforcement must remain apolitical, it is essential in our role to serve ALL New Yorkers regardless of any political beliefs. It is essential for New Yorkers to trust their Police.”

The Police Benevolent Association, the officer’s labour union, declined to comment.

It is unclear whether two other officers who were with the suspended officer will face discipline.

His suspension is the beginning of a disciplinary process that can take months or even years to play out. But Mayor Bill de Blasio promised quick action.

“ANY NYPD Officer pushing ANY political agenda while on duty will face consequences,” he wrote on Twitter. “We will act fast here, and this will not be tolerated.”

State Sen. Brad Hoylman, D-Manhattan, expressed concern over the incident, noting that police officers transport ballots from poll sites to the Board of Elections.

“There must be swift consequences and protections against election interference,” he said.

Despite the directives from the top, the city’s biggest police unions have heartily embraced Trump, whose law and order message resonates with those who feel Democrats have made the city too soft on crime. Patrick J. Lynch, the president of the Police Benevolent Association, endorsed the president in a speech before the Republican National Convention. Ed Mullins, the president of the Sergeants Benevolent Association, has appeared at the White House and regularly praises Trump in his official messages to officers.

The demonstrators detained in Times Square on Sunday afternoon, five men and two women, were expected to be charged with disorderly conduct, police said. Investigators were also looking for at least two people seen throwing projectiles at a pro-Trump caravan as it travelled on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway.

The caravan, organized by Orthodox Jewish leaders, consisted of dozens of cars and trucks whose participants rode from Brooklyn to Manhattan’s Upper East Side on Sunday. Drivers honked their horns and passengers waved American flags.

Political tensions over the upcoming presidential election escalated on New York City’s streets Sunday, as supporters of President Donald Trump clashed with counterprotesters during a day of demonstrations.

Political tensions over the upcoming presidential election escalated on New York City’s streets Sunday, as supporters of President Donald Trump clashed with counterprotesters during a day of demonstrations. Seven people were arrested during skirmishes between opposing sides in Manhattan, where Rudy Giuliani, the president’s personal lawyer and the city’s former mayor, encountered protesters targeting a caravan of cars organized by a group that identifies itself as Jews for Trump. In one video, Giuliani could be seen on the passenger side of a vehicle with the window rolled down as anti-Trump protesters screamed at him. In an interview, Giuliani said that he had encountered the caravan and the protesters while driving down Fifth Avenue after taping his radio show. “I would love to have had a campaign commercial of it and put it on in the middle of America and say, ‘Who would you prefer for the next four years?” he said. “This group of foul-mouthed people who don’t seem to have a vocabulary beyond three words, or these very nice Jewish people who are driving in the car and not saying anything back and not doing anything other than exercising their right to say they’re for Donald Trump.” According to the police, the pro-Trump caravan passed through Times Square, where it converged with a group of anti-Trump protesters who had marched from Brooklyn. The cars in the convoy were then blocked by counterprotesters, and some drivers got out of their cars to confront the anti-Trump demonstrators. The two sides hurled political slurs — calling each other “fascists” and “anarchists”— traded blows, and fought over the Trump supporters’ flags before police broke them apart, according to videos posted online. In some videos, a group of people can be seen yelling expletives and throwing eggs and other projectiles at passing cars flying pro-Trump flags in midtown, while in another, a group of people holding pro-Trump banners march on one side of the street as people across the street yell, “New York hates you.” The clashes came as the Police Department was preparing for more possible unrest as Election Day approached, including days or weeks of protests in the aftermath of the vote. Hundreds of police officers have been assigned to polling stations for both early voting and Election Day, with thousands more on standby for protests. Top police officials have stressed the need for officers to remain neutral, despite their unions’ open embrace of Trump. But officials said an officer crossed the line late Saturday when he used a police loudspeaker to voice support for the president while arguing with a man on the street in Flatbush, Brooklyn, who called him a “fascist.” “Trump 2020,” the officer responded. “Put it on YouTube. Put it on Facebook. Trump 2020.” The officer, whose name the police withheld, was suspended without pay Sunday after videos of the incident went viral on social media. Department policy prohibits officers from engaging in political activity on duty or in uniform, including endorsing a candidate or party. “One hundred per cent unacceptable. Period,” Commissioner Dermot F. Shea commented on one of the videos of the suspended officer on Twitter. “Law Enforcement must remain apolitical, it is essential in our role to serve ALL New Yorkers regardless of any political beliefs. It is essential for New Yorkers to trust their Police.” The Police Benevolent Association, the officer’s labour union, declined to comment. It is unclear whether two other officers who were with the suspended officer will face discipline. His suspension is the beginning of a disciplinary process that can take months or even years to play out. But Mayor Bill de Blasio promised quick action. “ANY NYPD Officer pushing ANY political agenda while on duty will face consequences,” he wrote on Twitter. “We will act fast here, and this will not be tolerated.” State Sen. Brad Hoylman, D-Manhattan, expressed concern over the incident, noting that police officers transport ballots from poll sites to the Board of Elections. “There must be swift consequences and protections against election interference,” he said. Despite the directives from the top, the city’s biggest police unions have heartily embraced Trump, whose law and order message resonates with those who feel Democrats have made the city too soft on crime. Patrick J. Lynch, the president of the Police Benevolent Association, endorsed the president in a speech before the Republican National Convention. Ed Mullins, the president of the Sergeants Benevolent Association, has appeared at the White House and regularly praises Trump in his official messages to officers. The demonstrators detained in Times Square on Sunday afternoon, five men and two women, were expected to be charged with disorderly conduct, police said. Investigators were also looking for at least two people seen throwing projectiles at a pro-Trump caravan as it travelled on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway. The caravan, organized by Orthodox Jewish leaders, consisted of dozens of cars and trucks whose participants rode from Brooklyn to Manhattan’s Upper East Side on Sunday. Drivers honked their horns and passengers waved American flags.

Fights erupt during ‘Jews for Trump’ rally in Manhattan

NEW YORK — Facebook has just leased enough new office space in Manhattan to nearly triple its current local workforce, including at one of the city’s most iconic buildings, the 107-year-old former main post office complex near Pennsylvania Station.

Apple, which set up its first office in New York a decade ago, is expanding to another building in Manhattan. And Google and Amazon are stitching together corporate campuses in the city more quickly than anywhere else in the world. Amazon paid roughly $1 billion in March for the iconic Lord &amp; Taylor building on Fifth Avenue.

Despite a pandemic that has ravaged New York, hollowed out many of its office buildings and raised fundamental questions about its future, the four companies collectively known as Big Tech are all significantly expanding their footprint in the city, giving it a badly needed vote of confidence.

With fears that the virus could spike again in the colder months, many companies are grappling with how, when and even if office workers will come back to buildings in Manhattan. And the tech giants have not brought their workers back yet, either.

Even so, the giants have not only moved forward with previous growth plans, but have also increased their pace of hiring and office acquisition during the pandemic.

The industry’s embrace of New York City comes despite the tumultuous reception that Amazon received last year when it proposed building a sprawling headquarters in Queens. Amazon abandoned the plans in the face of political and community opposition, but now has acquired more than 2 million square feet of office space for corporate workers, as well as warehouses from Staten Island to Queens to the Bronx.

After Amazon bought the Lord &amp; Taylor building, it announced in August that 2,000 employees would eventually work there, increasing by half its current tech workforce of 4,000.

Amazon now has eight office properties in New York, most of which are clustered in Midtown. The company recently expanded outside Manhattan, leasing space on the Brooklyn waterfront for its Amazon Music team.

“We know that talent attracts talent, and we believe that the creative energy of cities like New York will continue to attract diverse professionals from around the world,” said Ardine Williams, Amazon’s vice president of workforce development.

Even with Big Tech’s expansion, the city continues to face a fundamental challenge: Most offices have been deserted since March, devastating the local economy and the ecosystem of transit, stores, restaurants and other business that depend on workers. Only about 12% of workers have returned to Manhattan offices managed by CBRE, a commercial real estate firm that manages 20 million square feet of office space in the city.

Many people do not want to go back to offices until there is a vaccine. Even after that, there are mounting questions about whether the pandemic has fundamentally tarnished the allure of the office towers of Midtown and Lower Manhattan.

What’s more, a recent uptick in new cases in parts of Brooklyn and Queens has raised fears that a second wave looms and that restrictions on daily life could be reimposed.

Collectively, Amazon, Google, Facebook and Apple have hired more than 2,600 employees in the city so far this year, bringing their total employment to over 22,000 people. Facebook alone has added 1,100 workers to bring its current workforce up to 4,000.

Apple, Amazon and Facebook have gobbled up more than 1.6 million square feet of office space since the start of the year, most of which was leased or bought during the pandemic. Before the pandemic, Google added about 1.7 million square feet of office space as part of a corporate campus rising along the Hudson River in Manhattan.

The companies now have enough new office space to hire another 15,000 employees. When those workers will arrive at the new offices remains uncertain; all four companies have allowed their employees to work remotely and some, including Facebook, foresee a future in which up to half its employees work from home.

Executives at the companies said their investments even during one of the city’s darkest periods reflect their belief that the features that set New York apart — its diversity, culture, regional transportation network and numerous colleges and universities — will keep luring people after the pandemic.

To a large extent, the companies are also wagering that current and future employees will be eager to return to shared workplaces that promote spontaneity and collaboration.

“The big takeaway here is that New York will always be a tech hub,” said William Floyd, director of external affairs for Google’s New York offices, which has about 9,000 workers, more than half of whom are engineers.

Google is on target to employ 14,000 people in the city in the coming years, fulfilling a 2018 pledge to double its New York City workforce. The company has pieced together a sizable corporate campus in and around the Chelsea neighborhood in Manhattan, including several properties that are under construction.

The tech sector first settled in New York more than two decades ago, a tiny player in the shadows of the city’s traditional powerhouse industries like finance, media, real estate and health care. Google opened its first outpost outside California, a sales office in Manhattan with a lone employee, in 2000.

But in recent years, New York has blossomed into a bona fide tech hub, an East Coast rival to Silicon Valley that has become a second home to tech behemoths but has also given rise to thousands of startups.

The larger companies have established a tech corridor on Manhattan’s West Side, stretching from West 34th Street in Midtown south to the World Trade Center area in Lower Manhattan.

The focus of the tech companies in New York has shifted from marketing and sales departments to teams that mirror those in Silicon Valley. They have recruited engineers and developers from local and regional universities and filled some roles with West Coast employees who want to decamp to New York City.

For every Big Tech company in the city, there are numerous smaller but still sizable firms, including Salesforce, LinkedIn, Spotify and ZocDoc. Microsoft, another tech giant, has a modest presence in offices near Times Square.

Before the pandemic, the city’s tech sector employed 150,100 people, and had added a total of 15,700 jobs in 2018 and 2019, according to the New York state comptroller’s office. Most of the new jobs were in fields like software, data processing and internet publishing.

The pace of hiring is expected to keep climbing.

In August, when Facebook grabbed all the office space at the James A. Farley Building near Pennsylvania Station, it cemented Manhattan’s West Side as its East Coast campus.

The company said it leased 730,000 square feet at the old post office in part because of its cavernous layout — a rarity among New York City buildings — which mimics the large open areas at its headquarters in Menlo Park, California. When a renovation is completed next year, the building will be filled with engineers.

“The floor plan will allow for multiple teams to be housed on those floors,” said Jamila Reeves, a company spokeswoman, “and we don’t necessarily have to break folks up.”

Around the corner from the Farley Building, Apple signed a lease for 220,000 square feet at 11 Penn Plaza, a 1923 art deco tower near Madison Square Garden.

Before the deal, Apple, which has said very little about its plans in the city, had not expanded beyond an office building on Fifth Avenue in the Flatiron neighborhood that it moved into in 2011.

Smaller tech companies have also kept adding to their payrolls right through the outbreak.

MongoDB, a cloud database platform whose headquarters are in Midtown Manhattan, has hired 97 employees since the beginning of the pandemic, bringing its total workforce in the city to 551.

The company, whose products are used by Verizon, eBay and Adobe among other companies, has more than 2,100 employees worldwide and is creating a hybrid work model to have employees work remotely some days and in the office on others.

“While there are questions about what the future of work post-COVID will look like, we plan to maintain office spaces in New York,” said Dev Ittycheria, the company’s chief executive. “We believe that being physically present with colleagues in an office can offer important opportunities for in-person interaction, collaboration, and connection that are important for the success of our company.”

One of the company’s newest hires, Farah Wahab, started in August as a product marketing manager after working for five years at tech companies in San Francisco.

Though San Francisco has a far larger tech scene, she said the city felt more insular compared with New York.

“I love S.F. but it can feel a bit like a tech-centric bubble isolated from the real world,” Wahab, 32, said. “Being around different industries and types of people, as well as greater access to the market, was important to me both personally and professionally.”

Kia D. Floyd, Facebook’s head of public policy for the east and Midwest regions, pointed out that the company set up shop in New York shortly before the 2008 Great Recession, another challenging period of uncertainty in the city.

“People fled the city then and didn’t think it would come back,” Floyd said. “But the city has grit and resilience and diversity, and it was always going to be inspirational for businesses like ours.” 
&nbsp;

NEW YORK — Facebook has just leased enough new office space in Manhattan to nearly triple its current local workforce, including at one of the city’s most iconic buildings, the 107-year-old former main post office complex near Pennsylvania Station.

NEW YORK — Facebook has just leased enough new office space in Manhattan to nearly triple its current local workforce, including at one of the city’s most iconic buildings, the 107-year-old former main post office complex near Pennsylvania Station. Apple, which set up its first office in New York a decade ago, is expanding to another building in Manhattan. And Google and Amazon are stitching together corporate campuses in the city more quickly than anywhere else in the world. Amazon paid roughly $1 billion in March for the iconic Lord & Taylor building on Fifth Avenue. Despite a pandemic that has ravaged New York, hollowed out many of its office buildings and raised fundamental questions about its future, the four companies collectively known as Big Tech are all significantly expanding their footprint in the city, giving it a badly needed vote of confidence. With fears that the virus could spike again in the colder months, many companies are grappling with how, when and even if office workers will come back to buildings in Manhattan. And the tech giants have not brought their workers back yet, either. Even so, the giants have not only moved forward with previous growth plans, but have also increased their pace of hiring and office acquisition during the pandemic. The industry’s embrace of New York City comes despite the tumultuous reception that Amazon received last year when it proposed building a sprawling headquarters in Queens. Amazon abandoned the plans in the face of political and community opposition, but now has acquired more than 2 million square feet of office space for corporate workers, as well as warehouses from Staten Island to Queens to the Bronx. After Amazon bought the Lord & Taylor building, it announced in August that 2,000 employees would eventually work there, increasing by half its current tech workforce of 4,000. Amazon now has eight office properties in New York, most of which are clustered in Midtown. The company recently expanded outside Manhattan, leasing space on the Brooklyn waterfront for its Amazon Music team. “We know that talent attracts talent, and we believe that the creative energy of cities like New York will continue to attract diverse professionals from around the world,” said Ardine Williams, Amazon’s vice president of workforce development. Even with Big Tech’s expansion, the city continues to face a fundamental challenge: Most offices have been deserted since March, devastating the local economy and the ecosystem of transit, stores, restaurants and other business that depend on workers. Only about 12% of workers have returned to Manhattan offices managed by CBRE, a commercial real estate firm that manages 20 million square feet of office space in the city. Many people do not want to go back to offices until there is a vaccine. Even after that, there are mounting questions about whether the pandemic has fundamentally tarnished the allure of the office towers of Midtown and Lower Manhattan. What’s more, a recent uptick in new cases in parts of Brooklyn and Queens has raised fears that a second wave looms and that restrictions on daily life could be reimposed. Collectively, Amazon, Google, Facebook and Apple have hired more than 2,600 employees in the city so far this year, bringing their total employment to over 22,000 people. Facebook alone has added 1,100 workers to bring its current workforce up to 4,000. Apple, Amazon and Facebook have gobbled up more than 1.6 million square feet of office space since the start of the year, most of which was leased or bought during the pandemic. Before the pandemic, Google added about 1.7 million square feet of office space as part of a corporate campus rising along the Hudson River in Manhattan. The companies now have enough new office space to hire another 15,000 employees. When those workers will arrive at the new offices remains uncertain; all four companies have allowed their employees to work remotely and some, including Facebook, foresee a future in which up to half its employees work from home. Executives at the companies said their investments even during one of the city’s darkest periods reflect their belief that the features that set New York apart — its diversity, culture, regional transportation network and numerous colleges and universities — will keep luring people after the pandemic. To a large extent, the companies are also wagering that current and future employees will be eager to return to shared workplaces that promote spontaneity and collaboration. “The big takeaway here is that New York will always be a tech hub,” said William Floyd, director of external affairs for Google’s New York offices, which has about 9,000 workers, more than half of whom are engineers. Google is on target to employ 14,000 people in the city in the coming years, fulfilling a 2018 pledge to double its New York City workforce. The company has pieced together a sizable corporate campus in and around the Chelsea neighborhood in Manhattan, including several properties that are under construction. The tech sector first settled in New York more than two decades ago, a tiny player in the shadows of the city’s traditional powerhouse industries like finance, media, real estate and health care. Google opened its first outpost outside California, a sales office in Manhattan with a lone employee, in 2000. But in recent years, New York has blossomed into a bona fide tech hub, an East Coast rival to Silicon Valley that has become a second home to tech behemoths but has also given rise to thousands of startups. The larger companies have established a tech corridor on Manhattan’s West Side, stretching from West 34th Street in Midtown south to the World Trade Center area in Lower Manhattan. The focus of the tech companies in New York has shifted from marketing and sales departments to teams that mirror those in Silicon Valley. They have recruited engineers and developers from local and regional universities and filled some roles with West Coast employees who want to decamp to New York City. For every Big Tech company in the city, there are numerous smaller but still sizable firms, including Salesforce, LinkedIn, Spotify and ZocDoc. Microsoft, another tech giant, has a modest presence in offices near Times Square. Before the pandemic, the city’s tech sector employed 150,100 people, and had added a total of 15,700 jobs in 2018 and 2019, according to the New York state comptroller’s office. Most of the new jobs were in fields like software, data processing and internet publishing. The pace of hiring is expected to keep climbing. In August, when Facebook grabbed all the office space at the James A. Farley Building near Pennsylvania Station, it cemented Manhattan’s West Side as its East Coast campus. The company said it leased 730,000 square feet at the old post office in part because of its cavernous layout — a rarity among New York City buildings — which mimics the large open areas at its headquarters in Menlo Park, California. When a renovation is completed next year, the building will be filled with engineers. “The floor plan will allow for multiple teams to be housed on those floors,” said Jamila Reeves, a company spokeswoman, “and we don’t necessarily have to break folks up.” Around the corner from the Farley Building, Apple signed a lease for 220,000 square feet at 11 Penn Plaza, a 1923 art deco tower near Madison Square Garden. Before the deal, Apple, which has said very little about its plans in the city, had not expanded beyond an office building on Fifth Avenue in the Flatiron neighborhood that it moved into in 2011. Smaller tech companies have also kept adding to their payrolls right through the outbreak. MongoDB, a cloud database platform whose headquarters are in Midtown Manhattan, has hired 97 employees since the beginning of the pandemic, bringing its total workforce in the city to 551. The company, whose products are used by Verizon, eBay and Adobe among other companies, has more than 2,100 employees worldwide and is creating a hybrid work model to have employees work remotely some days and in the office on others. “While there are questions about what the future of work post-COVID will look like, we plan to maintain office spaces in New York,” said Dev Ittycheria, the company’s chief executive. “We believe that being physically present with colleagues in an office can offer important opportunities for in-person interaction, collaboration, and connection that are important for the success of our company.” One of the company’s newest hires, Farah Wahab, started in August as a product marketing manager after working for five years at tech companies in San Francisco. Though San Francisco has a far larger tech scene, she said the city felt more insular compared with New York. “I love S.F. but it can feel a bit like a tech-centric bubble isolated from the real world,” Wahab, 32, said. “Being around different industries and types of people, as well as greater access to the market, was important to me both personally and professionally.” Kia D. Floyd, Facebook’s head of public policy for the east and Midwest regions, pointed out that the company set up shop in New York shortly before the 2008 Great Recession, another challenging period of uncertainty in the city. “People fled the city then and didn’t think it would come back,” Floyd said. “But the city has grit and resilience and diversity, and it was always going to be inspirational for businesses like ours.”

Manhattan emptied out during the pandemic. But Big Tech is moving in

With the revamp to the iconic 15-digit digital clock installed in Metronome, New York, we will now get to know the window left to negate the effects of global warming before it becomes irreversible as claimed by its creators.&nbsp;

Gan Golan who is behind this makeover along with Andrew Boyd says it is their "way to shout that number from the rooftops", as quoted by The New York Times. &nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/two-dead-14-injured-in-mass-shooting-in-new-yorks-rochester-328596">Two dead, 14 injured in mass shooting in New York's Rochester</a>

The report added that on Saturday at 3:20 pm, there were messages on display, one of which read "The Earth has a deadline" as the clock showed the numbers 7:103:15:40:07.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/new-york-fashion-week-2020-trends-masks-social-distancing-and-voting-328552">New York Fashion Week 2020 trends? Masks, social distancing and voting</a>

Golan and Boyd, who call their work "Climate Clock", said their project will be displayed till September 27, the end of climate week.&nbsp;

They want to permanently install this on the 14th Street building, One Union Square South or somewhere else.&nbsp;

Earlier, the duo had made a similar clock which can be held by someone on their hands for teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg before her appearance last year at the United Nations climate summit.&nbsp;

The work was also influenced by the Doomsday Clock, maintained online by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, and by the National Debt Clock close to Bryant Park in Manhattan.&nbsp;

Golan and Boyd decided that their creation would have the most impact if it were shown in a very visible public space and presented as a work of art.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

With the revamp to the iconic 15-digit digital clock installed in Metronome, New York, we will now get to know the window left to negate the effects of global warming before it becomes irreversible as claimed by its creators.

With the revamp to the iconic 15-digit digital clock installed in Metronome, New York, we will now get to know the window left to negate the effects of global warming before it becomes irreversible as claimed by its creators. Gan Golan who is behind this makeover along with Andrew Boyd says it is their "way to shout that number from the rooftops", as quoted by The New York Times. Also read | Two dead, 14 injured in mass shooting in New York's Rochester The report added that on Saturday at 3:20 pm, there were messages on display, one of which read "The Earth has a deadline" as the clock showed the numbers 7:103:15:40:07. Also read | New York Fashion Week 2020 trends? Masks, social distancing and voting Golan and Boyd, who call their work "Climate Clock", said their project will be displayed till September 27, the end of climate week. They want to permanently install this on the 14th Street building, One Union Square South or somewhere else. Earlier, the duo had made a similar clock which can be held by someone on their hands for teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg before her appearance last year at the United Nations climate summit. The work was also influenced by the Doomsday Clock, maintained online by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, and by the National Debt Clock close to Bryant Park in Manhattan. Golan and Boyd decided that their creation would have the most impact if it were shown in a very visible public space and presented as a work of art.

New York: Clock turns back to tell the time remaining

A U.S. appeals court on Tuesday granted President Donald Trump's request to delay Manhattan's district attorney from accessing his tax returns in connection with a criminal probe of his business practices.

The unsigned order by a panel of the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan was a victory for the president in his yearlong quest to block District Attorney Cyrus Vance from enforcing a grand jury subpoena for eight years of personal and corporate returns.

Trump has been challenging an Aug. 20 decision by U.S. District Judge Victor Marrero to let Vance obtain the returns from the president's longtime accounting firm Mazars USA.

The district attorney had wanted access to the returns even during Trump's appeal, but Tuesday's order ends that possibility for now. Oral arguments have been scheduled for Sept. 25.

A spokesman for Vance declined to comment.

Jay Sekulow, one of Trump's lawyers, said they were pleased with the order and looked forward to arguing the merits of the president's appeal.

Vance began his probe after news that Trump's former lawyer Michael Cohen paid pornographic film actress Stormy Daniels $130,000 to keep quiet before the 2016 election about claimed sexual encounters with Trump, which the president has denied.

In July, the Supreme Court refused to block the subpoena, rejecting Trump's claim of absolute immunity from criminal probes while in the White House, but said Trump could raise other objections.

Trump is seeking re-election on Nov. 3. Vance has complained that dragging out the litigation has effectively given the Republican president the immunity he wanted.

Grand jury proceedings are held in secret, and if Trump's tax returns were handed over it could take months for the public to learn their contents.

The prior six presidents, both Republican and Democrat, from Jimmy Carter to Barack Obama, have released their tax returns.

Following the Supreme Court decision, Trump claimed that the subpoena from Vance, a Democrat, was "wildly overbroad" and issued in bad faith.

In seeking a stay, William Consovoy, another lawyer for Trump, told the appeals court that giving Vance a chance even to see the returns would cause the president irreparable harm.

"The status quo can never be restored," he said. "We can't make them forget what they learn."

Carey Dunne, a lawyer for Vance, downplayed that concern. "The toothpaste can be put back into the tube sufficiently to protect people's rights," he said.

Dunne also said each category of documents Vance sought was "directly relevant" to his probe, and Trump offered no specifics to suggest otherwise. 
&nbsp;

A U.S. appeals court on Tuesday granted President Donald Trump's request to delay Manhattan's district attorney from accessing his tax returns in connection with a criminal probe of his business practices.

A U.S. appeals court on Tuesday granted President Donald Trump's request to delay Manhattan's district attorney from accessing his tax returns in connection with a criminal probe of his business practices. The unsigned order by a panel of the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan was a victory for the president in his yearlong quest to block District Attorney Cyrus Vance from enforcing a grand jury subpoena for eight years of personal and corporate returns. Trump has been challenging an Aug. 20 decision by U.S. District Judge Victor Marrero to let Vance obtain the returns from the president's longtime accounting firm Mazars USA. The district attorney had wanted access to the returns even during Trump's appeal, but Tuesday's order ends that possibility for now. Oral arguments have been scheduled for Sept. 25. A spokesman for Vance declined to comment. Jay Sekulow, one of Trump's lawyers, said they were pleased with the order and looked forward to arguing the merits of the president's appeal. Vance began his probe after news that Trump's former lawyer Michael Cohen paid pornographic film actress Stormy Daniels $130,000 to keep quiet before the 2016 election about claimed sexual encounters with Trump, which the president has denied. In July, the Supreme Court refused to block the subpoena, rejecting Trump's claim of absolute immunity from criminal probes while in the White House, but said Trump could raise other objections. Trump is seeking re-election on Nov. 3. Vance has complained that dragging out the litigation has effectively given the Republican president the immunity he wanted. Grand jury proceedings are held in secret, and if Trump's tax returns were handed over it could take months for the public to learn their contents. The prior six presidents, both Republican and Democrat, from Jimmy Carter to Barack Obama, have released their tax returns. Following the Supreme Court decision, Trump claimed that the subpoena from Vance, a Democrat, was "wildly overbroad" and issued in bad faith. In seeking a stay, William Consovoy, another lawyer for Trump, told the appeals court that giving Vance a chance even to see the returns would cause the president irreparable harm. "The status quo can never be restored," he said. "We can't make them forget what they learn." Carey Dunne, a lawyer for Vance, downplayed that concern. "The toothpaste can be put back into the tube sufficiently to protect people's rights," he said. Dunne also said each category of documents Vance sought was "directly relevant" to his probe, and Trump offered no specifics to suggest otherwise.

US court grants Donald Trump delay for giving access to his tax returns

Boarded-up shops, a depressing sight for New Yorkers after looters infiltrated anti-racism marches in the city's trendiest neighborhoods, are being transformed into canvases of hope with paintbrushes wielded by a small army of artists.

Artists paint boarded-up stores to bring hope to lower Manhattan

Up, up and away from street level - 1,131 feet (345 meters) in the air the finishing touches are being put on the highest outdoor observation deck in the Western hemisphere. Edge is being built as part of the new New York City's luxury Hudson Yards complex.

101 floors above Manhattan, a sky high outdoor deck is set to open

Scientists say a giant floating raft of pumice, .about the size of Manhattan, may help restore parts of the ailing Great Barrier Reef. The giant pumice is heading towards Australia. It came from an underwater volcano eruption.

Scientists say giant floating pumice may help restore ailing Great Barrier Reef

New Mexico's attorney general on Thursday called for the cancellation of state land leases to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/jeffrey-epstein-wrote-will-two-days-before-death-puts-578-million-in-assets-into-trust-with-unnamed-beneficiaries-report-244262">Jeffrey Epstein </a>as his office investigated allegations the late financier sexually abused girls and women at his ranch south of Santa Fe.

The leased land forms part of Epstein's nearly 10,000-acre Zorro Ranch near Stanley, New Mexico, one of the multiple luxury properties held by Epstein, who was found dead in a Manhattan jail cell on August 10.

Attorney General Hector Balderas requested the state retake the 1,244 acres of grassland after an investigation by his office found it appeared to have been improperly leased in the late 1990s.

"This sweetheart deal must be cancelled and reassigned to a New Mexico ranching family," Balderas said in an emailed statement. 
Epstein, a 66-year-old money manager who once counted the US.&nbsp;

President Donald Trump as a friend was arrested on July 6 and pleaded not guilty to sex trafficking charges involving dozens of girls as young as 14.

A New York City medical examiner concluded that he died in custody this month due to suicide by hanging.

A federal judge in New York on Thursday dismissed the criminal sex trafficking case against Epstein because of his death.&nbsp;

Federal prosecutors said the government's investigation into potential co-conspirators was ongoing.

Balderas said in July his office was investigating allegations Epstein's Zorro ranch was at the centre of his alleged sexual abuse and trafficking of girls and women in the state.

Leases signed by Epstein's holding company Cypress Inc in 1997 and 1999 said the state land forming part of the ranch would be used for grazing, according to the New Mexico State Land Office (NMSLO).&nbsp;

Balderas said in a Thursday letter to state land commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard that a review by the attorney general's office found no cattle on the lands.

Balderas said the leases "appear to simply have been taken by him (Epstein) to increase privacy and the landmass surrounding his estate.

Epstein's lawyers could not immediately be reached for comment on Thursday.

Angie Poss, an NMSLO spokeswoman, said Epstein employees had not responded to requests by her agency to inspect the land.

The Zorro Ranch is one of the few Epstein properties yet to be raided by law enforcement officials following his arrest.

"We are in the process of cancelling those leases by Cypress Inc," Poss said.

New Mexico's attorney general on Thursday called for the cancellation of state land leases to Jeffrey Epstein as his office investigated allegations the late financier sexually abused girls and women at his ranch south of Santa Fe.

New Mexico's attorney general on Thursday called for the cancellation of state land leases to Jeffrey Epstein as his office investigated allegations the late financier sexually abused girls and women at his ranch south of Santa Fe. The leased land forms part of Epstein's nearly 10,000-acre Zorro Ranch near Stanley, New Mexico, one of the multiple luxury properties held by Epstein, who was found dead in a Manhattan jail cell on August 10. Attorney General Hector Balderas requested the state retake the 1,244 acres of grassland after an investigation by his office found it appeared to have been improperly leased in the late 1990s. "This sweetheart deal must be cancelled and reassigned to a New Mexico ranching family," Balderas said in an emailed statement. Epstein, a 66-year-old money manager who once counted the US. President Donald Trump as a friend was arrested on July 6 and pleaded not guilty to sex trafficking charges involving dozens of girls as young as 14. A New York City medical examiner concluded that he died in custody this month due to suicide by hanging. A federal judge in New York on Thursday dismissed the criminal sex trafficking case against Epstein because of his death. Federal prosecutors said the government's investigation into potential co-conspirators was ongoing. Balderas said in July his office was investigating allegations Epstein's Zorro ranch was at the centre of his alleged sexual abuse and trafficking of girls and women in the state. Leases signed by Epstein's holding company Cypress Inc in 1997 and 1999 said the state land forming part of the ranch would be used for grazing, according to the New Mexico State Land Office (NMSLO). Balderas said in a Thursday letter to state land commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard that a review by the attorney general's office found no cattle on the lands. Balderas said the leases "appear to simply have been taken by him (Epstein) to increase privacy and the landmass surrounding his estate. Epstein's lawyers could not immediately be reached for comment on Thursday. Angie Poss, an NMSLO spokeswoman, said Epstein employees had not responded to requests by her agency to inspect the land. The Zorro Ranch is one of the few Epstein properties yet to be raided by law enforcement officials following his arrest. "We are in the process of cancelling those leases by Cypress Inc," Poss said.

New Mexico official orders cancellation of Jeffrey Epstein land leases

The New York's Manhattan subway station was evacuated on Friday.

According to local media reports, the station was shut down after two pressure cookers were found in the station. The New York police bomb squad arrived at the station after it was reported by a 911 caller.

The bomb squad after investigating determined the pressure cookers "non-explosives" and has been cleared from the station.

"Bomb Squad has cleared the devices inside of Fulton Street subway station in Lower Manhattan. They are NOT explosive devices.&nbsp; Out of an abundance of caution, officers have searched nearby stations,"&nbsp;NYPD counterterrorism informed on Twitter.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Our <a href="https://twitter.com/NYPDCT?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NYPDCT</a> Bomb Squad has cleared the devices inside of Fulton Street subway station in Lower Manhattan. They are NOT explosive devices. 
 
Out of an abundance of caution officers have searched nearby stations. <a href="https://t.co/Y32I9DFEDf">pic.twitter.com/Y32I9DFEDf</a>
— NYPDCounterterrorism (@NYPDCT) <a href="https://twitter.com/NYPDCT/status/1162337478566653952?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 16, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Meanwhile, police have advised passengers to avoid the Fulton Street subway station.

US law enforcement have been highly responsive to pressure cookers since a pair of ethnic Chechen brothers killed three people and injured more than 200 with two homemade pressure-cooker bombs at the 2013 Boston Marathon.

The Fulton Street station complex, close to the World Trade Center site, is served by about a dozen subway lines. Authorities warned of residual delays for commuters.

The New York's Manhattan subway station was evacuated on Friday. According to local media reports, the station was shut down after two pressure cookers were found in the station.

The New York's Manhattan subway station was evacuated on Friday. According to local media reports, the station was shut down after two pressure cookers were found in the station. The New York police bomb squad arrived at the station after it was reported by a 911 caller. The bomb squad after investigating determined the pressure cookers "non-explosives" and has been cleared from the station. "Bomb Squad has cleared the devices inside of Fulton Street subway station in Lower Manhattan. They are NOT explosive devices. Out of an abundance of caution, officers have searched nearby stations," NYPD counterterrorism informed on Twitter. Our @NYPDCT Bomb Squad has cleared the devices inside of Fulton Street subway station in Lower Manhattan. They are NOT explosive devices. Out of an abundance of caution officers have searched nearby stations. pic.twitter.com/Y32I9DFEDf — NYPDCounterterrorism (@NYPDCT) August 16, 2019 × Meanwhile, police have advised passengers to avoid the Fulton Street subway station. US law enforcement have been highly responsive to pressure cookers since a pair of ethnic Chechen brothers killed three people and injured more than 200 with two homemade pressure-cooker bombs at the 2013 Boston Marathon. The Fulton Street station complex, close to the World Trade Center site, is served by about a dozen subway lines. Authorities warned of residual delays for commuters.

Manhattan subway shutdown: Suspicious pressure cookers not explosive, says NYPD bomb squad

A Florida man who mailed pipes filled with explosives to prominent Democrats and critics of<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-nominee-sparks-worries-of-intelligence-politicization-239554"> US President Donald Trump </a>was sentenced to 20 years in prison on Monday.

Cesar Sayoc, 57, who pleaded guilty in March to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-indicts-chinese-nationals-for-dealings-with-north-korean-companies-in-producing-weapons-of-mass-destruction-238031">using weapons of mass destruction</a> and other crimes, began crying when US District Judge Jed Rakoff in Manhattan read the sentence.

Prosecutors had asked Rakoff to sentence Sayoc to life in prison, while Sayoc's lawyers had sought a sentence of 10 years plus one month.

Ian Marcus Amelkin, one of Sayoc's lawyers, argued that Sayoc's crimes were caused by paranoid, delusional thinking brought on by heavy use of steroids.

He said Sayoc, who was living in a van at the time of his arrest last year, had struggled all his life with severe learning disabilities, the effects of childhood abuse and social isolation.

Sayoc, Amelkin said, saw Trump as a "father figure" and became obsessed with conspiracy theories about people he perceived as being enemies of the president.

"We believe that the president's rhetoric contributed to Mr Sayoc's behaviour," he said.

Assistant US Attorney Jane Kim, one of the prosecutors, argued that Sayoc was a danger to the public and that his crimes warranted severe punishment.

"The defendant here set out to terrorise people," she said.

Sayoc expressed remorse shortly before the sentencing. "I am so very sorry for what I did," he said.

Sayoc sent packages containing pipes stuffed with explosives, wires and alarm clocks to 16 intended targets, including former President Barack Obama, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, US Senators Cory Booker and Kamala Harris, billionaire investor and Democratic donor George Soros, former Central Intelligence Agency director John Brennan, actor Robert De Niro and CNN.

All of the devices were intercepted and none exploded.

A report by federal investigators concluded they had no mechanism to trigger an explosion and "would not have functioned as designed."

Prosecutors argued that Sayoc nonetheless meant to injure his targets, while his lawyers said he meant only to inspire fear.

Sayoc himself said in a handwritten letter to Rakoff after his guilty plea that the bombs were a "hoax."

Rakoff said he believed Sayoc.

"He hated his victims. He wished them no good, but he was not so lost as to wish them dead, at least not by his hand," the judge said.

Still, the judge said, Sayoc's crimes were "far too horrible" for a "relatively lenient" 10-year sentence.

A Florida man who mailed pipes filled with explosives to prominent Democrats and critics of US President Donald Trump was sentenced to 20 years in prison on Monday.

A Florida man who mailed pipes filled with explosives to prominent Democrats and critics of US President Donald Trump was sentenced to 20 years in prison on Monday. Cesar Sayoc, 57, who pleaded guilty in March to using weapons of mass destruction and other crimes, began crying when US District Judge Jed Rakoff in Manhattan read the sentence. Prosecutors had asked Rakoff to sentence Sayoc to life in prison, while Sayoc's lawyers had sought a sentence of 10 years plus one month. Ian Marcus Amelkin, one of Sayoc's lawyers, argued that Sayoc's crimes were caused by paranoid, delusional thinking brought on by heavy use of steroids. He said Sayoc, who was living in a van at the time of his arrest last year, had struggled all his life with severe learning disabilities, the effects of childhood abuse and social isolation. Sayoc, Amelkin said, saw Trump as a "father figure" and became obsessed with conspiracy theories about people he perceived as being enemies of the president. "We believe that the president's rhetoric contributed to Mr Sayoc's behaviour," he said. Assistant US Attorney Jane Kim, one of the prosecutors, argued that Sayoc was a danger to the public and that his crimes warranted severe punishment. "The defendant here set out to terrorise people," she said. Sayoc expressed remorse shortly before the sentencing. "I am so very sorry for what I did," he said. Sayoc sent packages containing pipes stuffed with explosives, wires and alarm clocks to 16 intended targets, including former President Barack Obama, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, US Senators Cory Booker and Kamala Harris, billionaire investor and Democratic donor George Soros, former Central Intelligence Agency director John Brennan, actor Robert De Niro and CNN. All of the devices were intercepted and none exploded. A report by federal investigators concluded they had no mechanism to trigger an explosion and "would not have functioned as designed." Prosecutors argued that Sayoc nonetheless meant to injure his targets, while his lawyers said he meant only to inspire fear. Sayoc himself said in a handwritten letter to Rakoff after his guilty plea that the bombs were a "hoax." Rakoff said he believed Sayoc. "He hated his victims. He wished them no good, but he was not so lost as to wish them dead, at least not by his hand," the judge said. Still, the judge said, Sayoc's crimes were "far too horrible" for a "relatively lenient" 10-year sentence.

Twenty year sentence for Florida man who sent explosives to Trump critics

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/judge-dismisses-epsteins-bail-plea-in-child-sex-trafficking-case-236986">Jeffrey Epstein</a>, the financier facing charges of sex trafficking involving dozens of underage girls, was found unconscious in a Manhattan jail cell with injuries to his neck, media reported late on Wednesday, citing unidentified sources.

Epstein was found by guards sprawled on the floor of a cell at the Metropolitan Correctional Center on Wednesday, media reported. Some media reported that his face appeared blue.

The billionaire financier was taken to hospital, the New York Post reported, but it was unclear where he was taken or what his condition was.

It was not clear how he suffered his injuries.

Neither a representative for the correctional centre nor Epstein's attorney returned calls or email inquiries from Reuters.

Epstein was recently denied bail, a move his lawyers plan to appeal according to a court notice made public on Tuesday.

Epstein was expected to ask the 2nd US Circuit Court of Appeals to overturn the judge's July 18 rejection of his request to remain under house arrest in his $77 million mansions on Manhattan's Upper East Side.

Epstein has pleaded not guilty to the charges and the appeal for bail was expected. His lawyer Reid Weingarten did not immediately respond to requests for comment. A spokesman for US Attorney Geoffrey Berman in Manhattan declined to comment.

The charges, concerning alleged misconduct from at least 2002 to 2005, were announced more than a decade after Epstein pleaded guilty to state prostitution charges in Florida.

In denying him bail, US District Judge Richard Berman in Manhattan said the government had shown by clear and convincing evidence that Epstein would pose a danger to the community if released pending trial.

Jeffrey Epstein, the financier facing charges of sex trafficking involving dozens of underage girls, was found unconscious in a Manhattan jail cell with injuries to his neck, media reported late on Wednesday, citing unidentified sources.

Jeffrey Epstein, the financier facing charges of sex trafficking involving dozens of underage girls, was found unconscious in a Manhattan jail cell with injuries to his neck, media reported late on Wednesday, citing unidentified sources. Epstein was found by guards sprawled on the floor of a cell at the Metropolitan Correctional Center on Wednesday, media reported. Some media reported that his face appeared blue. The billionaire financier was taken to hospital, the New York Post reported, but it was unclear where he was taken or what his condition was. It was not clear how he suffered his injuries. Neither a representative for the correctional centre nor Epstein's attorney returned calls or email inquiries from Reuters. Epstein was recently denied bail, a move his lawyers plan to appeal according to a court notice made public on Tuesday. Epstein was expected to ask the 2nd US Circuit Court of Appeals to overturn the judge's July 18 rejection of his request to remain under house arrest in his $77 million mansions on Manhattan's Upper East Side. Epstein has pleaded not guilty to the charges and the appeal for bail was expected. His lawyer Reid Weingarten did not immediately respond to requests for comment. A spokesman for US Attorney Geoffrey Berman in Manhattan declined to comment. The charges, concerning alleged misconduct from at least 2002 to 2005, were announced more than a decade after Epstein pleaded guilty to state prostitution charges in Florida. In denying him bail, US District Judge Richard Berman in Manhattan said the government had shown by clear and convincing evidence that Epstein would pose a danger to the community if released pending trial.

Billionaire financier Jeffrey Epstein found injured in jail cell: Media

A power outage gripped New York's Manhattan on Saturday, sending Broadway theatres plunging into darkness, subways grinding to a halt and flicking off billboards in Times Square.

About 42,000 customers lost electricity in the early evening, according to the Con Edison utility.

Mayor Bill de Blasio said on Twitter that the outage was caused by a "manhole fire," but later told CNN it was under investigation.

"This appears to be something that just went wrong in the way that they transmit power from one part of the city to another to address demand," de Blasio said.

On social media, dozens of users posted photos of subway stations bathed in darkness.

"While Con Edison works to restore power in Manhattan, we encourage everyone to avoid below-ground subway stations," New York's Metropolitan Transportation Authority said on Twitter.

Firefighters said they were responding to numerous requests for help, particularly from people trapped in elevators.

New Yorkers took Saturday's outage in stride, with passersby standing in intersections to direct traffic and a disrupted Carnegie Hall concert continuing in the street.

The cut affected the western chunk of Manhattan, particularly the Hell's Kitchen neighbourhood and the Broadway theatre district.

It took place on the anniversary of the 1977 "Blackout" power cut that affected virtually the entirety of New York in the midst of an economic crisis.

Looting and vandalism then broke out, affecting more than a thousand businesses.

Twenty-five hours and several hundred arrests later, the lights came back on.

A power outage gripped New York's Manhattan on Saturday, sending Broadway theatres plunging into darkness, subways grinding to a halt and flicking off billboards in Times Square.

A power outage gripped New York's Manhattan on Saturday, sending Broadway theatres plunging into darkness, subways grinding to a halt and flicking off billboards in Times Square. About 42,000 customers lost electricity in the early evening, according to the Con Edison utility. Mayor Bill de Blasio said on Twitter that the outage was caused by a "manhole fire," but later told CNN it was under investigation. "This appears to be something that just went wrong in the way that they transmit power from one part of the city to another to address demand," de Blasio said. On social media, dozens of users posted photos of subway stations bathed in darkness. "While Con Edison works to restore power in Manhattan, we encourage everyone to avoid below-ground subway stations," New York's Metropolitan Transportation Authority said on Twitter. Firefighters said they were responding to numerous requests for help, particularly from people trapped in elevators. New Yorkers took Saturday's outage in stride, with passersby standing in intersections to direct traffic and a disrupted Carnegie Hall concert continuing in the street. The cut affected the western chunk of Manhattan, particularly the Hell's Kitchen neighbourhood and the Broadway theatre district. It took place on the anniversary of the 1977 "Blackout" power cut that affected virtually the entirety of New York in the midst of an economic crisis. Looting and vandalism then broke out, affecting more than a thousand businesses. Twenty-five hours and several hundred arrests later, the lights came back on.

Manhattan plunges into darkness as 42,000 customers suffer power outage

All of the power was restored late Saturday (July 13) night after a wide swath of New York's Manhattan borough was plunged into darkness after a transformer explosion knocked out power to subways, stores and Broadway theaters.

Power is restored in New York after partial blackout

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-president-donald-trump-seeks-to-override-supreme-court-ruling-on-census-233448">US President Donald Trump</a> violated the Constitution by blocking people whose views he disliked from his Twitter account, a federal appeals court ruled on Tuesday.

In a 3-0 decision, the 2nd US Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan said the First Amendment forbids Trump from using Twitter's "blocking" function to limit access to his account, which has 61.8 million followers.

"The First Amendment does not permit a public official who utilizes a social media account for all manner of official purposes to exclude persons from an otherwise-open online dialogue because they expressed views with which the official disagrees," wrote Circuit Judge Barrington Parker, citing several Supreme Court decisions.

Kelly Laco, a spokeswoman for the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-lawmakers-introduce-bipartisan-bills-targeting-chinas-huawei-and-zte-190862">US Department of Justice</a>, which argued the appeal, said: "We are disappointed with the court's decision and are exploring possible next steps."

The White House declined to comment. White House social media director Dan Scavino was also a defendant. Twitter &lt;TWTR.N&gt; declined to comment.

Trump has made his @RealDonaldTrump account, which he opened in 2009, a central and controversial part of his presidency, using it to promote his agenda and to attack critics.

His blocking of critics was challenged by the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University, as well as seven Twitter users he had blocked.

"The decision will help ensure the integrity and vitality of digital spaces that are increasingly important to our democracy," said Jameel Jaffer, Knight's executive director.

Tuesday's decision upheld a May 2018 ruling by US District Judge Naomi Reice Buchwald in Manhattan, which prompted Trump to unblock some accounts.

The Justice Department had called her ruling "fundamentally misconceived," saying Trump used Twitter to express his views, not to offer a public forum for discussion.

Parker, however, said Trump's account bears "all the trappings of an official, state-run account" and is "one of the White House's main vehicles for conducting official business."

He said Trump and his aides have characterized the president's tweets as official statements, and that even the National Archives considers them official records.

Parker also found it ironic that Trump censored speech at a time the conduct of the US government and its officials is subject to intense, passionate and wide-open debate.

"This debate, as uncomfortable and as unpleasant as it frequently may be, is nonetheless a good thing," he wrote. "We remind the litigants and the public that if the First Amendment means anything, it means that the best response to a disfavoured speech on matters of public concern is more speech, not less."

The case is Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University et al v Trump et al, 2nd US Circuit Court of Appeals, No. 18-1691.&nbsp;

US President Donald Trump violated the Constitution by blocking people whose views he disliked from his Twitter account, a federal appeals court ruled on Tuesday.

US President Donald Trump violated the Constitution by blocking people whose views he disliked from his Twitter account, a federal appeals court ruled on Tuesday. In a 3-0 decision, the 2nd US Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan said the First Amendment forbids Trump from using Twitter's "blocking" function to limit access to his account, which has 61.8 million followers. "The First Amendment does not permit a public official who utilizes a social media account for all manner of official purposes to exclude persons from an otherwise-open online dialogue because they expressed views with which the official disagrees," wrote Circuit Judge Barrington Parker, citing several Supreme Court decisions. Kelly Laco, a spokeswoman for the US Department of Justice, which argued the appeal, said: "We are disappointed with the court's decision and are exploring possible next steps." The White House declined to comment. White House social media director Dan Scavino was also a defendant. Twitter <TWTR.N> declined to comment. Trump has made his @RealDonaldTrump account, which he opened in 2009, a central and controversial part of his presidency, using it to promote his agenda and to attack critics. His blocking of critics was challenged by the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University, as well as seven Twitter users he had blocked. "The decision will help ensure the integrity and vitality of digital spaces that are increasingly important to our democracy," said Jameel Jaffer, Knight's executive director. Tuesday's decision upheld a May 2018 ruling by US District Judge Naomi Reice Buchwald in Manhattan, which prompted Trump to unblock some accounts. The Justice Department had called her ruling "fundamentally misconceived," saying Trump used Twitter to express his views, not to offer a public forum for discussion. Parker, however, said Trump's account bears "all the trappings of an official, state-run account" and is "one of the White House's main vehicles for conducting official business." He said Trump and his aides have characterized the president's tweets as official statements, and that even the National Archives considers them official records. Parker also found it ironic that Trump censored speech at a time the conduct of the US government and its officials is subject to intense, passionate and wide-open debate. "This debate, as uncomfortable and as unpleasant as it frequently may be, is nonetheless a good thing," he wrote. "We remind the litigants and the public that if the First Amendment means anything, it means that the best response to a disfavoured speech on matters of public concern is more speech, not less." The case is Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University et al v Trump et al, 2nd US Circuit Court of Appeals, No. 18-1691.

Donald Trump's blocking of Twitter critics unconstitutional:  US appeals court

History of helicopter crashes in New York

An elderly man died late Saturday after a blaze erupted on the 50th floor of Trump Tower in New York which also injured four firefighters, officials said.

The New York Police Department said the 67-year-old man was found "unconscious and unresponsive" when officers arrived at the scene of the fire.

The man was pronounced dead after being taken to Mount Sinai Roosevelt Hospital, according to police, which said the medical examiner's office would determine the cause of death as part of an ongoing investigation.

"This was a very difficult fire. As you can imagine, the apartment is quite large, we are 50 stories up. The rest of the building had a considerable amount of smoke," the New York City Fire Department (FDNY) said.

It said the four firefighters had "non-life threatening" injuries and that the blaze had been brought "under control."

Smoke began rising from the skyscraper in Midtown Manhattan around 6:00 pm (2200 GMT).

Streets surrounding the building owned by US President Donald Trump that serves as the headquarters for The Trump Organization and houses the president's penthouse were closed off as tourists snapped pictures on their phones.

The FDNY earlier tweeted a picture of the building with several windows of the 50th floor ablaze.

Trump later said the fire had been extinguished.

"Fire at Trump Tower is out. Very confined (well built building). Firemen (and women) did a great job. THANK YOU!" he said.

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Fire at Trump Tower is out. Very confined (well built building). Firemen (and women) did a great job. THANK YOU!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/982750459877380096?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 7, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Smoke began rising from the skyscraper in Midtown Manhattan around 6:00 pm.

An elderly man died late Saturday after a blaze erupted on the 50th floor of Trump Tower in New York which also injured four firefighters, officials said. The New York Police Department said the 67-year-old man was found "unconscious and unresponsive" when officers arrived at the scene of the fire. The man was pronounced dead after being taken to Mount Sinai Roosevelt Hospital, according to police, which said the medical examiner's office would determine the cause of death as part of an ongoing investigation. "This was a very difficult fire. As you can imagine, the apartment is quite large, we are 50 stories up. The rest of the building had a considerable amount of smoke," the New York City Fire Department (FDNY) said. It said the four firefighters had "non-life threatening" injuries and that the blaze had been brought "under control." Smoke began rising from the skyscraper in Midtown Manhattan around 6:00 pm (2200 GMT). Streets surrounding the building owned by US President Donald Trump that serves as the headquarters for The Trump Organization and houses the president's penthouse were closed off as tourists snapped pictures on their phones. The FDNY earlier tweeted a picture of the building with several windows of the 50th floor ablaze. Trump later said the fire had been extinguished. "Fire at Trump Tower is out. Very confined (well built building). Firemen (and women) did a great job. THANK YOU!" he said. Fire at Trump Tower is out. Very confined (well built building). Firemen (and women) did a great job. THANK YOU! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 7, 2018 ×

Trump Tower fire kills 1, injures 4

Two people were injured, one seriously, in an early-morning fire near the top of Trump Tower in midtown Manhattan, the New York Fire Department said on Monday.

US President Donald Trump was in Washington at the time.

Although local media initially reported there were no injuries, one person sustained a serious, possibly life-threatening injury, and another had a minor injury, the Fire Department said.

Eric Trump, one of the president&#39;s sons, said on Twitter that it was a small electrical fire in the cooling tower on the building&#39;s roof.

&quot;The New York Fire Department was here within minutes and did an incredible job,&quot; said the younger Trump. &quot;The men and women of the #FDNY are true heros and deserve our most sincere thanks and praise!&quot; 
 
Several social media users posted video and images, showing smoke rising from the roof of the building, which houses both residences and businesses.

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So Trump Tower NYC seems to be on fire... Photos courtesy of my Cousin. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/trumptower?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#trumptower</a> <a href="https://t.co/MGhoq9zfBB">pic.twitter.com/MGhoq9zfBB</a>
&mdash; Hugh Curran (@hughcurran) <a href="https://twitter.com/hughcurran/status/950342794631053312?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 8, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Trump tower on fire <a href="https://t.co/mQgvpapw5U">pic.twitter.com/mQgvpapw5U</a>
&mdash; Andy Constan (@constanandy) <a href="https://twitter.com/constanandy/status/950342868329168898?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 8, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Looks like fire dying down at Trump Tower <a href="https://t.co/wX0FgceBkH">pic.twitter.com/wX0FgceBkH</a>
&mdash; Jeff Levi (@levi1994) <a href="https://twitter.com/levi1994/status/950343153558618118?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 8, 2018</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

The fire was reported by phone shortly before 7am EST (noon GMT) on the top floor of the 68-story structure, which had been Trump&#39;s primary residence before his election victory and inauguration nearly a year ago, the department said.

More than 90 minutes after the initial report, 84 firefighters and 26 units were still on the scene, according to department spokesman Firefighter Ken Reilly.

A fire broke out Monday on the roof of Trump Tower in New York.

Two people were injured, one seriously, in an early-morning fire near the top of Trump Tower in midtown Manhattan, the New York Fire Department said on Monday. US President Donald Trump was in Washington at the time. Although local media initially reported there were no injuries, one person sustained a serious, possibly life-threatening injury, and another had a minor injury, the Fire Department said. Eric Trump, one of the president's sons, said on Twitter that it was a small electrical fire in the cooling tower on the building's roof. "The New York Fire Department was here within minutes and did an incredible job," said the younger Trump. "The men and women of the #FDNY are true heros and deserve our most sincere thanks and praise!" Several social media users posted video and images, showing smoke rising from the roof of the building, which houses both residences and businesses. So Trump Tower NYC seems to be on fire... Photos courtesy of my Cousin. #trumptower pic.twitter.com/MGhoq9zfBB — Hugh Curran (@hughcurran) January 8, 2018 × Trump tower on fire pic.twitter.com/mQgvpapw5U — Andy Constan (@constanandy) January 8, 2018 × Looks like fire dying down at Trump Tower pic.twitter.com/wX0FgceBkH — Jeff Levi (@levi1994) January 8, 2018 × The fire was reported by phone shortly before 7am EST (noon GMT) on the top floor of the 68-story structure, which had been Trump's primary residence before his election victory and inauguration nearly a year ago, the department said. More than 90 minutes after the initial report, 84 firefighters and 26 units were still on the scene, according to department spokesman Firefighter Ken Reilly.

Two injured in fire at New York's Trump Tower

The White House said today <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/new-york-explosion-suspect-identified-as-bangladesh-had-no-criminal-record-26498">that President Trump&#39;s immigration</a> reform policy would have prevented the New York blast suspect&#39;s entry in the US.

A 27-year-old pipe bomber of <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/live-updates-explosion-in-manhattan-trains-being-evacuated-26474">Bangladeshi decent exploded a device beneath </a>New York&#39;s Times Square on Monday, he had reportedly learned to make the device on the internet at his Brooklyn apartment

President Trump in a statement said America must &quot;fix its lax immigration system&quot;, adding it &quot;allows far too many dangerous, inadequately vetted people to access our country.&quot;

White House press secretary Sarah Sanders describing the pipe bomber as a &quot;terrorist&quot;, said: &quot;If President Trump&#39;s policy had been in place, then that attacker would not have been allowed to come in the country.&quot;

Three people were injured in the explosion at the New York subway system with the suspected bomber Akayed Ullah receiving injuries to his torso.

Trump said Akayed Ullah had entered the US through &quot;extended-family chain migration,&quot; which allows a family to sponsor relatives to go to the United States.

&quot;The Department of Homeland Security has confirmed, that the suspect was admitted to the United States after presenting a passport displaying an F43 Family Immigrant Visa in 2011,&quot; Sanders said.

&quot;And so we know that the president&#39;s policy calls for an end to chain migration, which is what this individual came to the United States through,&quot; the press secretary added.

Trump also said the controversial travel ban on eight countries was &quot;one step forward in securing our immigration system.&quot;

White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders described the pipe bomber as a 'terrorist'

The White House said today that President Trump's immigration reform policy would have prevented the New York blast suspect's entry in the US. A 27-year-old pipe bomber of Bangladeshi decent exploded a device beneath New York's Times Square on Monday, he had reportedly learned to make the device on the internet at his Brooklyn apartment President Trump in a statement said America must "fix its lax immigration system", adding it "allows far too many dangerous, inadequately vetted people to access our country." White House press secretary Sarah Sanders describing the pipe bomber as a "terrorist", said: "If President Trump's policy had been in place, then that attacker would not have been allowed to come in the country." Three people were injured in the explosion at the New York subway system with the suspected bomber Akayed Ullah receiving injuries to his torso. Trump said Akayed Ullah had entered the US through "extended-family chain migration," which allows a family to sponsor relatives to go to the United States. "The Department of Homeland Security has confirmed, that the suspect was admitted to the United States after presenting a passport displaying an F43 Family Immigrant Visa in 2011," Sanders said. "And so we know that the president's policy calls for an end to chain migration, which is what this individual came to the United States through," the press secretary added. Trump also said the controversial travel ban on eight countries was "one step forward in securing our immigration system."

Trump's immigration policy wouldn't have allowed New York attacker to enter US: White House

A Bangladeshi man with a homemade bomb strapped to his body set off an explosion at a New York commuter hub during rush hour on Monday, wounding himself and three others in what New York Mayor Bill de Blasio called an attempted terrorist attack.

The suspect in the incident at the Port Authority Bus Terminal, a block from Times Square, was identified as Akayed Ullah, the New York Police Department commissioner said. The suspect had burns and lacerations while three other people, including a police officer, sustained minor injuries.

Ullah is from the Bangladeshi city of Chittagong and is a U.S. resident, said the city&#39;s police chief. He had no criminal record there and last visited Bangladesh on Sept. 8, the chief said.

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<h5>The incident was captured on security video, police said. Video posted on NYPost.com showed smoke and a man lying in the tunnel that connects sections of the Times Square subway station and the bus station. A photograph showed a man lying face-down, with tattered clothes and burns on his torso</h5>
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Ullah had a black cab/limousine driver&#39;s license from 2012 to 2015, after which it expired, the New York Taxi and Limousine Commission said.

The weapon was based on a pipe bomb and fixed to the suspect with zip ties and velcro, police said. New York state Governor Andrew Cuomo, speaking at a news conference near the site, described the device as &quot;amateur-level.&quot;

De Blasio told the same news conference that the incident, which happened at the start of the city&#39;s rush hour, was &quot;an attempted terrorist attack.&quot;

&quot;As New Yorkers our lives revolve around the subways. When we hear of an attack in the subways, it is incredibly unsettling,&quot; de Blasio said.

New York City was a target, said John Miller, deputy police commissioner of intelligence and counterterrorism.

Miller cited the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, that killed more than 2,750 people in New York and nearly 3,000 people total; and the World Trade Center bombing of February 26, 1993, which killed six people.

&quot;In the course of the post-9/11 world, as you are aware, there&#39;s also been approximately 26 plots that we can talk about that have been prevented through intelligence, investigation and intervention.&quot;

The incident was captured on security video, police said. Video posted on NYPost.com showed smoke and a man lying in the tunnel that connects sections of the Times Square subway station and the bus station. A photograph showed a man lying face-down, with tattered clothes and burns on his torso.

&quot;There was a stampede up the stairs to get out,&quot; said one commuter, Diego Fernandez. &quot;Everybody was scared and running and shouting.&rdquo;

Alicja Wlodkowski, a Pennsylvania resident in New York for the day, was sitting in a restaurant in the bus terminal.

&ldquo;Suddenly, I saw a group of people, like six people, running like nuts. A woman fell. No one even went to stop and help her because the panic was so scary.&quot;

The bus terminal was temporarily shut down and a large swath of midtown Manhattan was closed to traffic. Subway train service returned to normal after earlier disruptions.

WABC reported the suspect was in his 20s and that he has been in the United States for seven years and has an address in New York&#39;s Brooklyn borough. Police shut down the entire block and there was a heavy police presence outside the home.

First reports of the incident began soon after 7 a.m. (1200 GMT). New York in December sees a surge of visitors who come to see elaborate store displays, the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree and Broadway shows.

The bus terminal is the busiest in the United States, according to the Port Authority. On a typical weekday, about 220,000 passengers arrive or depart on more than 7,000 buses.

More than 200,000 people use the Times Square station, the city&#39;s busiest, each weekday, according to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

The bus terminal is connected to the Times Square subway station - which serves 10 train lines - through a long, narrow below-ground tunnel that carries thousands of commuters during rush hour. Buskers and other entertainers at entrances to the tunnel often draw crowds.

The incident rippled through American financial markets, briefly weakening equity markets as they were starting trading for the week and giving a modest lift to safe-haven assets such as U.S. Treasuries.

S&amp;P 500 index emini futures dipped in the moments after the initial reports of an explosion, but major stock indexes later opened slightly higher.

On the West Coast, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation authority asked law enforcement for heightened security along bus and rail lines as a precaution.

The incident occurred less than two months after an Uzbek immigrant killed eight people by speeding a rental truck down a New York City bike path, in an attack for which Islamic State claimed responsibility.

In September 2016, a man injured 31 people when he set off a homemade bomb in New York&#39;s Chelsea district.

Akayed Ullah, 27, set off a homemade bomb strapped to his body at the Port Authority Bus Terminal

A Bangladeshi man with a homemade bomb strapped to his body set off an explosion at a New York commuter hub during rush hour on Monday, wounding himself and three others in what New York Mayor Bill de Blasio called an attempted terrorist attack. The suspect in the incident at the Port Authority Bus Terminal, a block from Times Square, was identified as Akayed Ullah, the New York Police Department commissioner said. The suspect had burns and lacerations while three other people, including a police officer, sustained minor injuries. Ullah is from the Bangladeshi city of Chittagong and is a U.S. resident, said the city's police chief. He had no criminal record there and last visited Bangladesh on Sept. 8, the chief said. The incident was captured on security video, police said. Video posted on NYPost.com showed smoke and a man lying in the tunnel that connects sections of the Times Square subway station and the bus station. A photograph showed a man lying face-down, with tattered clothes and burns on his torso × Ullah had a black cab/limousine driver's license from 2012 to 2015, after which it expired, the New York Taxi and Limousine Commission said. The weapon was based on a pipe bomb and fixed to the suspect with zip ties and velcro, police said. New York state Governor Andrew Cuomo, speaking at a news conference near the site, described the device as "amateur-level." De Blasio told the same news conference that the incident, which happened at the start of the city's rush hour, was "an attempted terrorist attack." "As New Yorkers our lives revolve around the subways. When we hear of an attack in the subways, it is incredibly unsettling," de Blasio said. New York City was a target, said John Miller, deputy police commissioner of intelligence and counterterrorism. Miller cited the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, that killed more than 2,750 people in New York and nearly 3,000 people total; and the World Trade Center bombing of February 26, 1993, which killed six people. "In the course of the post-9/11 world, as you are aware, there's also been approximately 26 plots that we can talk about that have been prevented through intelligence, investigation and intervention." The incident was captured on security video, police said. Video posted on NYPost.com showed smoke and a man lying in the tunnel that connects sections of the Times Square subway station and the bus station. A photograph showed a man lying face-down, with tattered clothes and burns on his torso. "There was a stampede up the stairs to get out," said one commuter, Diego Fernandez. "Everybody was scared and running and shouting.” Alicja Wlodkowski, a Pennsylvania resident in New York for the day, was sitting in a restaurant in the bus terminal. “Suddenly, I saw a group of people, like six people, running like nuts. A woman fell. No one even went to stop and help her because the panic was so scary." The bus terminal was temporarily shut down and a large swath of midtown Manhattan was closed to traffic. Subway train service returned to normal after earlier disruptions. WABC reported the suspect was in his 20s and that he has been in the United States for seven years and has an address in New York's Brooklyn borough. Police shut down the entire block and there was a heavy police presence outside the home. First reports of the incident began soon after 7 a.m. (1200 GMT). New York in December sees a surge of visitors who come to see elaborate store displays, the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree and Broadway shows. The bus terminal is the busiest in the United States, according to the Port Authority. On a typical weekday, about 220,000 passengers arrive or depart on more than 7,000 buses. More than 200,000 people use the Times Square station, the city's busiest, each weekday, according to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. The bus terminal is connected to the Times Square subway station - which serves 10 train lines - through a long, narrow below-ground tunnel that carries thousands of commuters during rush hour. Buskers and other entertainers at entrances to the tunnel often draw crowds. The incident rippled through American financial markets, briefly weakening equity markets as they were starting trading for the week and giving a modest lift to safe-haven assets such as U.S. Treasuries. S&P 500 index emini futures dipped in the moments after the initial reports of an explosion, but major stock indexes later opened slightly higher. On the West Coast, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation authority asked law enforcement for heightened security along bus and rail lines as a precaution. The incident occurred less than two months after an Uzbek immigrant killed eight people by speeding a rental truck down a New York City bike path, in an attack for which Islamic State claimed responsibility. In September 2016, a man injured 31 people when he set off a homemade bomb in New York's Chelsea district.

New York explosion: Suspect identified as Bangladeshi, had no criminal record

New York Police said Monday that they were responding to reports of an explosion in Manhattan.&nbsp;

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The NYPD is responding to reports of an explosion of unknown origin at 42nd Street and 8th Ave, <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Manhattan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Manhattan</a>. The A, C and E line are being evacuated at this time. Info is preliminary, more when available. <a href="https://t.co/7vpNT97iLC">pic.twitter.com/7vpNT97iLC</a>
&mdash; NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) <a href="https://twitter.com/NYPDnews/status/940200522698706945?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 11, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Police said the explosion was of unknown origin.&nbsp;

But that some subway trains were being evacuated.&nbsp;

(This is a developing story)

The cause of the explosion is not yet know

New York Police said Monday that they were responding to reports of an explosion in Manhattan. The NYPD is responding to reports of an explosion of unknown origin at 42nd Street and 8th Ave, #Manhattan. The A, C and E line are being evacuated at this time. Info is preliminary, more when available. pic.twitter.com/7vpNT97iLC — NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) December 11, 2017 × Police said the explosion was of unknown origin. But that some subway trains were being evacuated. (This is a developing story)

Explosion in Manhattan, trains being evacuated

manhattan

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