In his address during the 76th Session of the UNGA, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres warned global leaders that the world has never been more threatened or more divided, and is facing the "greatest cascade" of crises, citing the COVID pandemic, a global climate crisis, and unrest in Afghanistan and other countries as examples.

WION USA Direct: UN Chief General Antonio Guterres speaks on Covid, Afghan unrest at UNGA Summit

Bollywood actor Bhumi Pednekar, who has been a fierce advocate of climate conservation, has been invited to speak at the Climate Week in New York. 
 
Announcing the development, Divya Sharma, India Executive Director, Climate Group, said, "We are pleased to host Bhumi Pednekar at Climate Week NYC 2021 which is a critical moment to influence climate action across the world." 
She added, "Along with being a talented artist, Bhumi has been a strong advocate for environment-friendly choices and green solutions. In line with this year`s theme of 'Getting It Done,' young voices like Bhumi`s will truly inspire others to do more at Climate Week NYC." 
 
Bhumi will be speaking on September 23 during Climate Week NYC. The actor will talk about how India will play a vital role in the global response to the climate emergency, and how the Indian industry will play a critical role in this journey forward. 
 
Now in its thirteenth year, Climate Week NYC is the largest climate week on earth. Run by Climate Group in partnership with the United Nations, COP26 and the City of New York, Climate Week NYC is where the world gathers to showcase leading action and discuss how to do more. 
 
Climate Group is an international non-profit, publicly launched in 2004, with offices in London, New Delhi and New York with the mission to see a world of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. 
 
Coming back to Bhumi, she spearheads the hugely lauded social media initiative `Climate Warrior` that aims at raising awareness towards protecting nature. 
 
The actor has always been an environmentally conscious citizen who has taken up climate conservation as a cause for life and through 'Climate Warrior', she is constantly aiming to mobilise the citizens of India to actively participate in protecting the environment. 
 
Meanwhile, on the film front, Bhumi has a couple of projects in her kitty including 'Raksha Bandhan', 'Badhaai Do' and 'Takht'.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Bollywood actor Bhumi Pednekar, who has been a fierce advocate of climate conservation, has been invited to speak at the Climate Week in New York. Announcing the development, Divya Sharma, India Executive Director, Climate Group, said, "We are pleased to host Bhumi Pednekar at Climate Week NYC 2021 which is a critical moment to influence climate action across the world.

Bollywood actor Bhumi Pednekar, who has been a fierce advocate of climate conservation, has been invited to speak at the Climate Week in New York. Announcing the development, Divya Sharma, India Executive Director, Climate Group, said, "We are pleased to host Bhumi Pednekar at Climate Week NYC 2021 which is a critical moment to influence climate action across the world." She added, "Along with being a talented artist, Bhumi has been a strong advocate for environment-friendly choices and green solutions. In line with this year`s theme of 'Getting It Done,' young voices like Bhumi`s will truly inspire others to do more at Climate Week NYC." Bhumi will be speaking on September 23 during Climate Week NYC. The actor will talk about how India will play a vital role in the global response to the climate emergency, and how the Indian industry will play a critical role in this journey forward. Now in its thirteenth year, Climate Week NYC is the largest climate week on earth. Run by Climate Group in partnership with the United Nations, COP26 and the City of New York, Climate Week NYC is where the world gathers to showcase leading action and discuss how to do more. Climate Group is an international non-profit, publicly launched in 2004, with offices in London, New Delhi and New York with the mission to see a world of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Coming back to Bhumi, she spearheads the hugely lauded social media initiative `Climate Warrior` that aims at raising awareness towards protecting nature. The actor has always been an environmentally conscious citizen who has taken up climate conservation as a cause for life and through 'Climate Warrior', she is constantly aiming to mobilise the citizens of India to actively participate in protecting the environment. Meanwhile, on the film front, Bhumi has a couple of projects in her kitty including 'Raksha Bandhan', 'Badhaai Do' and 'Takht'.

Bhumi Pednekar to speak at Climate Week in New York

A volunteer's photo and video showing deaths of migratory birds after crashing into New York's glass highrises has undelined the problem the city faces. The reflection from the glass facades of the building make the birds unable to change path and thus meet their end in collision with the surface.

"When you have 226 dead window-struck migratory birds from one morning, it’s hard to get them all in one photo.&nbsp; 
@_WTCOfficial — lights can be turned off, windows can be treated. Please do something. @4WTC and&nbsp; 
@3wtcnewyork don’t let this be your legacy. @NYCAudubon @wildbirdfund"," tweeted Melissa Breyer

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When you have 226 dead window-struck migratory birds from one morning, it’s hard to get them all in one photo. <a href="https://twitter.com/_WTCOfficial?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@_WTCOfficial</a> — lights can be turned off, windows can be treated. Please do something. <a href="https://twitter.com/4WTC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@4WTC</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/3wtcnewyork?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@3wtcnewyork</a> don’t let this be your legacy. <a href="https://twitter.com/NYCAudubon?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NYCAudubon</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/wildbirdfund?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@wildbirdfund</a> <a href="https://t.co/Qiu8Wqmilf">pic.twitter.com/Qiu8Wqmilf</a>
— Melissa Breyer (@MelissaBreyer) <a href="https://twitter.com/MelissaBreyer/status/1437823618055122947?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 14, 2021</a></blockquote>
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In another of her tweet, she posted a disturbing video in which birds could be literally seen dropping dead from the sky after colliding with the buildings.

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I did this for 65 minutes straight doing one loop around <a href="https://twitter.com/4WTC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@4WTC</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/3NYWTC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@3NYWTC</a> — most of these before sunrise. Please can we turn off lights during migration??? <a href="https://t.co/pCXoJkUXo0">pic.twitter.com/pCXoJkUXo0</a>
— Melissa Breyer (@MelissaBreyer) <a href="https://twitter.com/MelissaBreyer/status/1437813494141886467?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 14, 2021</a></blockquote>
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“As soon as I got to the buildings, the birds were everywhere on the sidewalk,” Breyer was quoted as saying by The Guardian

“Looking north, covered, south, covered, west, covered, the sidewalks were literally covered with birds.”

This week's death toll is understood to be particularly high. Bad weather on Monday night and into Tuesday may have been a contributing factor.

A volunteer's photo and video showing deaths of migratory birds after crashing into New York's glass highrises has undelined the problem the city faces. The reflection from the glass facades of the building make the birds unable to change path and thus meet their end in collision with the surface.

A volunteer's photo and video showing deaths of migratory birds after crashing into New York's glass highrises has undelined the problem the city faces. The reflection from the glass facades of the building make the birds unable to change path and thus meet their end in collision with the surface. "When you have 226 dead window-struck migratory birds from one morning, it’s hard to get them all in one photo. @_WTCOfficial — lights can be turned off, windows can be treated. Please do something. @4WTC and @3wtcnewyork don’t let this be your legacy. @NYCAudubon @wildbirdfund"," tweeted Melissa Breyer When you have 226 dead window-struck migratory birds from one morning, it’s hard to get them all in one photo. @_WTCOfficial — lights can be turned off, windows can be treated. Please do something. @4WTC and @3wtcnewyork don’t let this be your legacy. @NYCAudubon @wildbirdfund pic.twitter.com/Qiu8Wqmilf — Melissa Breyer (@MelissaBreyer) September 14, 2021 × In another of her tweet, she posted a disturbing video in which birds could be literally seen dropping dead from the sky after colliding with the buildings. I did this for 65 minutes straight doing one loop around @4WTC and @3NYWTC — most of these before sunrise. Please can we turn off lights during migration??? pic.twitter.com/pCXoJkUXo0 — Melissa Breyer (@MelissaBreyer) September 14, 2021 × “As soon as I got to the buildings, the birds were everywhere on the sidewalk,” Breyer was quoted as saying by The Guardian “Looking north, covered, south, covered, west, covered, the sidewalks were literally covered with birds.” This week's death toll is understood to be particularly high. Bad weather on Monday night and into Tuesday may have been a contributing factor.

Hundreds of birds pictured dead after collision with NYC glass towers

The United Nations General Assembly convened for its 76th session on Tuesday, as the COVID-19 continues to rock the world.&nbsp;

Every year, diplomats and international leaders gather in New York City, the headquarters of the United Nations, to review the year's agenda and work toward solutions to global issues.

The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) is the Organization's main policy-making body.

It provides a unique platform for multilateral discussion of the complete spectrum of international issues covered by the United Nations Charter. It is composed of all UN Member States.

Each of the United Nations' 193 member states has an equal vote.

What is the United Nations General Assembly?

The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) is the UN's main decision-making body, and it serves as a forum for multilateral deliberations on some of the world's most sensitive problems, such as peace and security.

In January 1946, 51 world leaders gathered in London to discuss world problems, including Clement Attlee, the United Kingdom's postwar prime minister, and Prince Fahd of Saudi Arabia.

Many of the problems debated in the inaugural session, such as refugee rights, nuclear disarmament, and peacekeeping, are still on the table today.&nbsp;

What does the General Assembly do?

The General Assembly's responsibilities include choosing the secretary general (on the 15-member Security Council's proposal), electing non-permanent members of the Security Council and other UN organisations, and approving the UN budget.

The assembly's responsibilities are defined under the UN Charter as discussing, debating, and making recommendations on issues of international peace and security.

Up to seven months before the assembly, member states start putting together the agenda.

The list of issues is gradually reduced down, culminating in a final vote that officially establishes the assembly's agenda.

(With inputs from agencies)

The United Nations General Assembly convened for its 76th session on Tuesday, as the COVID-19 continues to rock the world. Every year, diplomats and international leaders gather in New York City, the headquarters of the United Nations, to review the year's agenda and work toward solutions to global issues.

The United Nations General Assembly convened for its 76th session on Tuesday, as the COVID-19 continues to rock the world. Every year, diplomats and international leaders gather in New York City, the headquarters of the United Nations, to review the year's agenda and work toward solutions to global issues. The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) is the Organization's main policy-making body. It provides a unique platform for multilateral discussion of the complete spectrum of international issues covered by the United Nations Charter. It is composed of all UN Member States. Each of the United Nations' 193 member states has an equal vote. What is the United Nations General Assembly? The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) is the UN's main decision-making body, and it serves as a forum for multilateral deliberations on some of the world's most sensitive problems, such as peace and security. In January 1946, 51 world leaders gathered in London to discuss world problems, including Clement Attlee, the United Kingdom's postwar prime minister, and Prince Fahd of Saudi Arabia. Many of the problems debated in the inaugural session, such as refugee rights, nuclear disarmament, and peacekeeping, are still on the table today. What does the General Assembly do? The General Assembly's responsibilities include choosing the secretary general (on the 15-member Security Council's proposal), electing non-permanent members of the Security Council and other UN organisations, and approving the UN budget. The assembly's responsibilities are defined under the UN Charter as discussing, debating, and making recommendations on issues of international peace and security. Up to seven months before the assembly, member states start putting together the agenda. The list of issues is gradually reduced down, culminating in a final vote that officially establishes the assembly's agenda. (With inputs from agencies)

What is the United Nations General Assembly and what are its functions and responsibilities?

The 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) began on September 14, with the General Debate — a chance for representatives from all 193 member states to speak in front of the chamber — starting the following week.&nbsp;

The week-long General Debate, which will draw diplomats from all over the world to New York, will be the highlight of the event.&nbsp;

The first day of the high-level General Debate will be Tuesday, September 21, 2021.

The General Assembly General Debate is divided into two segments each day.

The morning sessions run from 9 AM until 2.45 PM local time.

The afternoon sessions run from 3 PM to 9 PM.

The following is a tentative speaker schedule:&nbsp;

Tuesday, September 21.

Brazil, United States, Maldives, Colombia, Qatar, Slovakia, Portugal, Kyrgyzstan, Lithuania, Uzbekistan, Iran, Chile, Korea, Turkey, Switzerland,

Croatia, Egypt, Peru, France, Turkmenistan, Latvia, Philippines, El Salvador, Argentina, Palau, Romania, Costa Rica, Mexico, Poland, Ecuador, Finland, Bulgaria, Zambia, and Hungary.

Wednesday, September 22.

Morning: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Jordan, Monaco, Ghana, Sri Lanka, Tunisia, Guatemala, Marshall Islands, Republic of Moldova, Uruguay, Estonia, Suriname, Sierra Leone

Afternoon: Venezuela, Mongolia, Kenya, Honduras, Indonesia, Ukraine, Malawi, Cabo Verde, Vietnam, Togo, Mozambique, Dominican Republic, Guinea-Bissau, Djibouti, Central African Republic, Somalia

Thursday, September 23.

South Africa, Guyana, Botswana, Cuba, Angola, Burkina Faso, Panama, Montenegro, Namibia, Morocco, North Macedonia, Cameroon, Nauru, Zimbabwe, Chad, Comoros, Gabon, Tanzania, Liberia.

Micronesia, Burundi, Benin, Bolivia, Rwanda, Tajikistan, Uganda, Azerbaijan, Libya, Madagascar, Equatorial Guinea, South Sudan, Kiribati, Dominica, Seychelles, Kazakhstan, Israel, Seychelles

Friday, September 24

Morning: Cyprus, Nigeria, Lebanon, Senegal, Nicaragua, Germany, Slovenia, State of Palestine, European Union, Gambia, Armenia, Mauritius, Sweden, Barbados, Bangladesh, Netherlands, Japan, Malta, Ireland&nbsp;

Afternoon: Albania, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Luxembourg, Greece, United Kingdom, Pakistan, Georgia. Australia, Kuwait, Serbia, Trinidad and Tobago, Denmark, Jamaica, Norway, Italy, Lesotho, Belize,

Saturday, September 25,

Morning: India, Nepal, Saint Lucia, Andorra, Canada, eSwatini, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Haiti, Malaysia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Sudan, Cambodia, Fiji, Bhutan, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Belgium, Bahamas, Thailand, Iraq,&nbsp;

Afternoon: Samoa, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Antigua and Barbuda, Solomon Islands, Congo, Tonga, Mali, Holy See, China, Ethiopia, Russian Federation, Czech Republic, Liechtenstein, Austria

Monday, September 27,

Morning: Singapore, Belarus, Yemen, United Arab Emirates, Syria, Iceland, Algeria, Saudi Arabia, Grenada, Eritrea, Bahrain, San Marino, Oman, Sao Tome and Principe, Paraguay, Cote d'Ivoire, Timor Leste, Brunei, Mauritania, Niger

Afternoon: Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Myanmar, Guinea, Afghanistan

The 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) began on September 14, with the General Debate — a chance for representatives from all 193 member states to speak in front of the chamber — starting the following week.

The 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) began on September 14, with the General Debate — a chance for representatives from all 193 member states to speak in front of the chamber — starting the following week. The week-long General Debate, which will draw diplomats from all over the world to New York, will be the highlight of the event. The first day of the high-level General Debate will be Tuesday, September 21, 2021. The General Assembly General Debate is divided into two segments each day. The morning sessions run from 9 AM until 2.45 PM local time. The afternoon sessions run from 3 PM to 9 PM. The following is a tentative speaker schedule: Tuesday, September 21. Brazil, United States, Maldives, Colombia, Qatar, Slovakia, Portugal, Kyrgyzstan, Lithuania, Uzbekistan, Iran, Chile, Korea, Turkey, Switzerland, Croatia, Egypt, Peru, France, Turkmenistan, Latvia, Philippines, El Salvador, Argentina, Palau, Romania, Costa Rica, Mexico, Poland, Ecuador, Finland, Bulgaria, Zambia, and Hungary. Wednesday, September 22. Morning: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Jordan, Monaco, Ghana, Sri Lanka, Tunisia, Guatemala, Marshall Islands, Republic of Moldova, Uruguay, Estonia, Suriname, Sierra Leone Afternoon: Venezuela, Mongolia, Kenya, Honduras, Indonesia, Ukraine, Malawi, Cabo Verde, Vietnam, Togo, Mozambique, Dominican Republic, Guinea-Bissau, Djibouti, Central African Republic, Somalia Thursday, September 23. South Africa, Guyana, Botswana, Cuba, Angola, Burkina Faso, Panama, Montenegro, Namibia, Morocco, North Macedonia, Cameroon, Nauru, Zimbabwe, Chad, Comoros, Gabon, Tanzania, Liberia. Micronesia, Burundi, Benin, Bolivia, Rwanda, Tajikistan, Uganda, Azerbaijan, Libya, Madagascar, Equatorial Guinea, South Sudan, Kiribati, Dominica, Seychelles, Kazakhstan, Israel, Seychelles Friday, September 24 Morning: Cyprus, Nigeria, Lebanon, Senegal, Nicaragua, Germany, Slovenia, State of Palestine, European Union, Gambia, Armenia, Mauritius, Sweden, Barbados, Bangladesh, Netherlands, Japan, Malta, Ireland Afternoon: Albania, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Luxembourg, Greece, United Kingdom, Pakistan, Georgia. Australia, Kuwait, Serbia, Trinidad and Tobago, Denmark, Jamaica, Norway, Italy, Lesotho, Belize, Saturday, September 25, Morning: India, Nepal, Saint Lucia, Andorra, Canada, eSwatini, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Haiti, Malaysia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Sudan, Cambodia, Fiji, Bhutan, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Belgium, Bahamas, Thailand, Iraq, Afternoon: Samoa, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Antigua and Barbuda, Solomon Islands, Congo, Tonga, Mali, Holy See, China, Ethiopia, Russian Federation, Czech Republic, Liechtenstein, Austria Monday, September 27, Morning: Singapore, Belarus, Yemen, United Arab Emirates, Syria, Iceland, Algeria, Saudi Arabia, Grenada, Eritrea, Bahrain, San Marino, Oman, Sao Tome and Principe, Paraguay, Cote d'Ivoire, Timor Leste, Brunei, Mauritania, Niger Afternoon: Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Myanmar, Guinea, Afghanistan

UNGA 2021: Schedule of speakers at the 76th General Assembly in New York

Vaccine mandates for two groups of workers in New York hit legal roadblocks Tuesday, as judges temporarily blocked the requirements from taking effect as scheduled later this month.

Late in the day, a state court judge in Manhattan, responding to a lawsuit filed last week by a group of labor unions representing public employees in New York City, issued a temporary restraining order covering Mayor Bill de Blasio’s requirement that all workers in the city’s schools get at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine by Sept. 27.

The judge, state Supreme Court Justice Laurence L. Love, scheduled a hearing in the matter for Sept. 22.

Earlier in the day, a federal judge in upstate New York, David Hurd, issued a similar ruling that temporarily blocks the state government from forcing medical workers, including those at hospitals and nursing homes, to be vaccinated by Sept. 27.

The order came in response to a lawsuit filed by a group of health professionals, including doctors and nurses, who say the state requirement violates their constitutional rights because it does not allow for religious exemptions.

Bill Neidhardt, a spokesperson for de Blasio, said in a statement that the ruling on the requirement for school employees — including teachers, principals, custodians, school safety agents and central office staff members — would not keep it from being imposed as planned.

“New York City’s education worker vaccine mandate, which has been embraced by the White House, goes into effect on Sept. 27,” Neidhardt said.

Henry Garrido, executive director of one of the unions, District Council 37, welcomed the ruling.

“The fight is not over,” Garrido said in a statement. “But we are energized by this decision and ready to keep going on behalf of our members.”

In their suit, the unions say they “support vaccination and encourage all employees to vaccinate if they are able.” Nonetheless, they argue, the city’s requirement is “extremely coercive” because it forces workers to choose between their jobs and doing something that violates their “bodily integrity and right to refuse medical treatment.”

The roughly 148,000 employees of the Department of Education are the first group of municipal workers in New York City to face a full vaccine mandate. The city’s other public employees can choose to be tested weekly for the virus rather than being vaccinated.

Vaccine mandates for two groups of workers in New York hit legal roadblocks Tuesday, as judges temporarily blocked the requirements from taking effect as scheduled later this month.

Vaccine mandates for two groups of workers in New York hit legal roadblocks Tuesday, as judges temporarily blocked the requirements from taking effect as scheduled later this month. Late in the day, a state court judge in Manhattan, responding to a lawsuit filed last week by a group of labor unions representing public employees in New York City, issued a temporary restraining order covering Mayor Bill de Blasio’s requirement that all workers in the city’s schools get at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine by Sept. 27. The judge, state Supreme Court Justice Laurence L. Love, scheduled a hearing in the matter for Sept. 22. Earlier in the day, a federal judge in upstate New York, David Hurd, issued a similar ruling that temporarily blocks the state government from forcing medical workers, including those at hospitals and nursing homes, to be vaccinated by Sept. 27. The order came in response to a lawsuit filed by a group of health professionals, including doctors and nurses, who say the state requirement violates their constitutional rights because it does not allow for religious exemptions. Bill Neidhardt, a spokesperson for de Blasio, said in a statement that the ruling on the requirement for school employees — including teachers, principals, custodians, school safety agents and central office staff members — would not keep it from being imposed as planned. “New York City’s education worker vaccine mandate, which has been embraced by the White House, goes into effect on Sept. 27,” Neidhardt said. Henry Garrido, executive director of one of the unions, District Council 37, welcomed the ruling. “The fight is not over,” Garrido said in a statement. “But we are energized by this decision and ready to keep going on behalf of our members.” In their suit, the unions say they “support vaccination and encourage all employees to vaccinate if they are able.” Nonetheless, they argue, the city’s requirement is “extremely coercive” because it forces workers to choose between their jobs and doing something that violates their “bodily integrity and right to refuse medical treatment.” The roughly 148,000 employees of the Department of Education are the first group of municipal workers in New York City to face a full vaccine mandate. The city’s other public employees can choose to be tested weekly for the virus rather than being vaccinated.

Judges temporarily block vaccine mandates for some New York workers

Broadway`s biggest musicals roared back to life on Tuesday after an unprecedented 18-month, pandemic-induced shutdown that cast an eerie silence over New York`s usually bustling theater district. 
 
The curtain rose again on top musicals 'Hamilton,'&nbsp;'The Lion King'&nbsp;and 'Wicked'&nbsp;before packed audiences in the biggest sign that Broadway is open again for business. 
 
'Hamilton'&nbsp;creator Lin-Manuel Miranda kicked off the night by hosting a rousing impromptu rendition of 'New York, New York'&nbsp;at the stage door with the casts of all three musicals. 
 
"Broadway is back. Get a mask, get vaccinated and come see live theater!" Miranda urged fans. 
 
'Chicago'&nbsp;also reopened on Tuesday. 
 
Broadway was one of the first institutions to close when the pandemic hit in mid-March 2020 and is the last to reopen in the United States. It has taken months to upgrade air filter systems and figure out how to maintain social distancing on stages full of blood, sweat and tears. 
 
Audiences, actors, musicians and backstage crew must provide proof of full vaccinations and wear masks during all Broadway and off-Broadway shows in New York. 
 
'Hamilton,'&nbsp;'The Lion King'&nbsp;and 'Wicked'&nbsp;were the biggest box office earners, each taking in more than $1 million a week, before the pandemic shuttered some 40 theaters in mid-March 2020, throwing thousands of actors, stagehands, musicians and dancers out of work. 
 
"Every single nerve is tingling with joy and world peace. How lucky we are to be back at work," said "Hamilton" producer Jeffrey Seller, speaking at the theater. 
 
"It has been 700,000, 100 and 25 minutes since we`ve last been able to perform for a live audience, and what I perceive here is 1,300 people who are teeming with the energy and the desire to get back to the theater," Seller added. 
 
Musicals "Hadestown" and "Waitress" returned 10 days ago, and the first new play, "Pass Over," opened its doors in August. The discount TKTS ticket booth in Times Square also reopened on Tuesday. 
 
Talking Heads musician David Byrne, whose "American Utopia" musical reopens on Friday, said theater-goers are overjoyed to be back. 
 
"The audiences are just erupting in applause and cheers and excitement just to be back together in a theater, to be back together with other people," Byrne told Reuters. 
 
Another dozen musicals and plays will re-open during September, bringing back one of the city`s biggest cultural attractions. City authorities hope their return will also spur tourism and revitalize once-crowded restaurants, bars and hotels. 
 
Broadway and city authorities are organizing a weekend festival of concerts and performances in Times Square to promote theater, with performers from 18 musicals taking part. 
 
"Broadway`s reopening is like a huge welcome mat for New Yorkers and visitors to return to Times Square," Tom Harris, president of the Times Square Alliance, said in a statement. 
 
 
 
(Reporting by Alicia Powell and Jill Serjeant; Editing by Leslie Adler) 
&nbsp;

Broadway`s biggest musicals roared back to life on Tuesday after an unprecedented 18-month, pandemic-induced shutdown that cast an eerie silence over New York`s usually bustling theater district.

Broadway`s biggest musicals roared back to life on Tuesday after an unprecedented 18-month, pandemic-induced shutdown that cast an eerie silence over New York`s usually bustling theater district. The curtain rose again on top musicals 'Hamilton,' 'The Lion King' and 'Wicked' before packed audiences in the biggest sign that Broadway is open again for business. 'Hamilton' creator Lin-Manuel Miranda kicked off the night by hosting a rousing impromptu rendition of 'New York, New York' at the stage door with the casts of all three musicals. "Broadway is back. Get a mask, get vaccinated and come see live theater!" Miranda urged fans. 'Chicago' also reopened on Tuesday. Broadway was one of the first institutions to close when the pandemic hit in mid-March 2020 and is the last to reopen in the United States. It has taken months to upgrade air filter systems and figure out how to maintain social distancing on stages full of blood, sweat and tears. Audiences, actors, musicians and backstage crew must provide proof of full vaccinations and wear masks during all Broadway and off-Broadway shows in New York. 'Hamilton,' 'The Lion King' and 'Wicked' were the biggest box office earners, each taking in more than $1 million a week, before the pandemic shuttered some 40 theaters in mid-March 2020, throwing thousands of actors, stagehands, musicians and dancers out of work. "Every single nerve is tingling with joy and world peace. How lucky we are to be back at work," said "Hamilton" producer Jeffrey Seller, speaking at the theater. "It has been 700,000, 100 and 25 minutes since we`ve last been able to perform for a live audience, and what I perceive here is 1,300 people who are teeming with the energy and the desire to get back to the theater," Seller added. Musicals "Hadestown" and "Waitress" returned 10 days ago, and the first new play, "Pass Over," opened its doors in August. The discount TKTS ticket booth in Times Square also reopened on Tuesday. Talking Heads musician David Byrne, whose "American Utopia" musical reopens on Friday, said theater-goers are overjoyed to be back. "The audiences are just erupting in applause and cheers and excitement just to be back together in a theater, to be back together with other people," Byrne told Reuters. Another dozen musicals and plays will re-open during September, bringing back one of the city`s biggest cultural attractions. City authorities hope their return will also spur tourism and revitalize once-crowded restaurants, bars and hotels. Broadway and city authorities are organizing a weekend festival of concerts and performances in Times Square to promote theater, with performers from 18 musicals taking part. "Broadway`s reopening is like a huge welcome mat for New Yorkers and visitors to return to Times Square," Tom Harris, president of the Times Square Alliance, said in a statement. (Reporting by Alicia Powell and Jill Serjeant; Editing by Leslie Adler)

Broadway raises curtain again on big musicals, and casts serenade the city

To mark the moment at 0846 local time (1246 GMT) when the first of two planes hit the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, the Bell of Hope rang out at St Paul's Chapel in New York on Saturday morning. &nbsp;

Rev Phillip Jackson, the priest-in-charge and vicar from nearby Trinity Church Wall Street, led the prayer service and remembrance on the 20th anniversary of the deadly attacks. &nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;The 9/11 terror attacks: 3 hours that changed the world

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On every anniversary since 2002, the Bell of Hope has been rung when it was presented to New York City by London to honour the nearly 3,000 people, who died in the attacks. &nbsp;

Meanwhile, US Presidents Joe Biden, Barack Obama and Bill Clinton along with their wives stood somberly side by side at the National September 11 Memorial to mark the anniversary of the nation's worst terror attack. They all shared a moment of silence on the occasion. &nbsp; &nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/after-911-us-failed-to-achieve-goals-in-afghanistan-taliban-general-412424" hreflang="en">After 9/11, US failed 'to achieve goals' in Afghanistan: Taliban General</a>

These leaders gathered at the site where the World Trade Centre towers fell two decades ago. They also wore blue ribbons and held hands over hearts. &nbsp; &nbsp;

Watched by hundreds of Americans gathered at the remembrance, a procession also marched with a flag at the memorial. Some people also carried photos of loved ones lost in the attacks. &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

To mark the moment at 0846 local time (1246 GMT) when the first of two planes hit the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, the Bell of Hope rang out at St Paul's Chapel in New York on Saturday morning.

To mark the moment at 0846 local time (1246 GMT) when the first of two planes hit the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, the Bell of Hope rang out at St Paul's Chapel in New York on Saturday morning. Rev Phillip Jackson, the priest-in-charge and vicar from nearby Trinity Church Wall Street, led the prayer service and remembrance on the 20th anniversary of the deadly attacks. Watch | The 9/11 terror attacks: 3 hours that changed the world × On every anniversary since 2002, the Bell of Hope has been rung when it was presented to New York City by London to honour the nearly 3,000 people, who died in the attacks. Meanwhile, US Presidents Joe Biden, Barack Obama and Bill Clinton along with their wives stood somberly side by side at the National September 11 Memorial to mark the anniversary of the nation's worst terror attack. They all shared a moment of silence on the occasion. Also Read | After 9/11, US failed 'to achieve goals' in Afghanistan: Taliban General These leaders gathered at the site where the World Trade Centre towers fell two decades ago. They also wore blue ribbons and held hands over hearts. Watched by hundreds of Americans gathered at the remembrance, a procession also marched with a flag at the memorial. Some people also carried photos of loved ones lost in the attacks. (With inputs from agencies)

On 9/11 anniversary, Bell of Hope rings at St Paul's Chapel in New York  

America marks the 20th anniversary of&nbsp;9/11&nbsp;Saturday with solemn ceremonies given added poignancy by the recent chaotic withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan and return to power of the Taliban.

Heart-wrenching commemorations will unfold at each of the three sites where 19 Al-Qaeda hijackers -- mostly from Saudi Arabia -- crashed packed airliners, striking the cultural, financial and political hearts of the United States and changing the world forever.

The memorials come with US troops finally gone from Afghanistan, but national discord -- and for President Joe Biden, political peril -- are overshadowing any sense of closure.

At New York's Ground Zero, where two pools of water now stand where the Twin Towers used to, relatives will read out the names of the nearly 3,000 people killed, in a four-hour-long service starting at 8:30 am (1230 GMT).

Six moments of silence will be observed, corresponding with the times the two World Trade Center towers were struck, and fell, and the moments the Pentagon was attacked and Flight 93 crashed.

Monica Iken-Murphy, who lost her 37-year-old husband Michael Iken in the World Trade Center, says this will be a "heightened" anniversary for many Americans.

<img alt="A view of the 9/11 memorial pools where once the World Trade Center north and south towers stood in New York, on September 10, 2021" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="24866781-a208-4b0c-8a08-93f1558acfc4" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/WTO2.jpg" />

But for her, as for many other survivors, the pain has never wavered.

"I feel like it just happened," she told AFP.

A whole generation has grown up since the morning of September&nbsp;11, 2001.

In the interim, Al-Qaeda founder Osama bin Laden has been hunted down and killed. A towering new skyscraper has risen over Manhattan, replacing the Twin Towers. And less than two weeks ago, the last US soldiers flew from Kabul airport, ending the so-called "forever war."

But the Taliban who once sheltered bin Laden are back ruling Afghanistan, the mighty US military humiliated. In Guantanamo Bay, accused&nbsp;9/11&nbsp;mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and four other men continue to await trial, nine years after charges were filed.

Even the full story of how the attack came to happen remains secret. Only last week did Biden order the release of classified documents from the FBI investigation over the next six months.

<h2>'Honor and memorialize'&nbsp;</h2>

At Ground Zero, some 2,753 people, from all over the world, were killed in the initial explosions, jumped to their deaths, or simply vanished in the inferno of the collapsing towers.

At the Pentagon, an airliner tore a fiery hole in the side of the superpower's military nerve centre, killing 184 people in the plane and on the ground.

And in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, the third wave of hijackers crashed into a field after passengers fought back, sending United 93 down before reaching its intended target -- likely the US Capitol building in Washington.

Biden and First Lady Jill Biden will stop at each of these places on Saturday to "honour and memorialize the lives lost," the White House said.

<img alt="A view of the One World Trade Center building 'Freedom Tower' in New York" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="99ab719a-7c2b-4a7e-91d6-d9887eaee416" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/WTO.jpg" />

The president had planned for this to be a pivotal day in his nearly eight-month-old presidency.

However, instead of presiding over a moment of unity, Biden will traverse a country angry about the messy Kabul evacuation, which included 13 US soldiers killed by a suicide bomber, and stung by the broader realization of failure and defeat.

For the relatives of victims, the anniversary, as always, is about keeping the memory of their loved ones alive.&nbsp;

"It's like Pearl Harbor," said Frank Siller, whose firefighter brother Stephen died at the World Trade Center.

"People who weren't alive don't have the same feeling about it as those who were alive. But America has never forgotten about Pearl Harbour and America will never forget about&nbsp;9/11."

America marks the 20th anniversary of 9/11 Saturday with solemn ceremonies given added poignancy by the recent chaotic withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan and return to power of the Taliban.

America marks the 20th anniversary of 9/11 Saturday with solemn ceremonies given added poignancy by the recent chaotic withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan and return to power of the Taliban. Heart-wrenching commemorations will unfold at each of the three sites where 19 Al-Qaeda hijackers -- mostly from Saudi Arabia -- crashed packed airliners, striking the cultural, financial and political hearts of the United States and changing the world forever. The memorials come with US troops finally gone from Afghanistan, but national discord -- and for President Joe Biden, political peril -- are overshadowing any sense of closure. At New York's Ground Zero, where two pools of water now stand where the Twin Towers used to, relatives will read out the names of the nearly 3,000 people killed, in a four-hour-long service starting at 8:30 am (1230 GMT). Six moments of silence will be observed, corresponding with the times the two World Trade Center towers were struck, and fell, and the moments the Pentagon was attacked and Flight 93 crashed. Monica Iken-Murphy, who lost her 37-year-old husband Michael Iken in the World Trade Center, says this will be a "heightened" anniversary for many Americans. But for her, as for many other survivors, the pain has never wavered. "I feel like it just happened," she told AFP. A whole generation has grown up since the morning of September 11, 2001. In the interim, Al-Qaeda founder Osama bin Laden has been hunted down and killed. A towering new skyscraper has risen over Manhattan, replacing the Twin Towers. And less than two weeks ago, the last US soldiers flew from Kabul airport, ending the so-called "forever war." But the Taliban who once sheltered bin Laden are back ruling Afghanistan, the mighty US military humiliated. In Guantanamo Bay, accused 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and four other men continue to await trial, nine years after charges were filed. Even the full story of how the attack came to happen remains secret. Only last week did Biden order the release of classified documents from the FBI investigation over the next six months. 'Honor and memorialize' At Ground Zero, some 2,753 people, from all over the world, were killed in the initial explosions, jumped to their deaths, or simply vanished in the inferno of the collapsing towers. At the Pentagon, an airliner tore a fiery hole in the side of the superpower's military nerve centre, killing 184 people in the plane and on the ground. And in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, the third wave of hijackers crashed into a field after passengers fought back, sending United 93 down before reaching its intended target -- likely the US Capitol building in Washington. Biden and First Lady Jill Biden will stop at each of these places on Saturday to "honour and memorialize the lives lost," the White House said. The president had planned for this to be a pivotal day in his nearly eight-month-old presidency. However, instead of presiding over a moment of unity, Biden will traverse a country angry about the messy Kabul evacuation, which included 13 US soldiers killed by a suicide bomber, and stung by the broader realization of failure and defeat. For the relatives of victims, the anniversary, as always, is about keeping the memory of their loved ones alive. "It's like Pearl Harbor," said Frank Siller, whose firefighter brother Stephen died at the World Trade Center. "People who weren't alive don't have the same feeling about it as those who were alive. But America has never forgotten about Pearl Harbour and America will never forget about 9/11."

US honours 9/11 dead on 20th anniversary of attacks

United States President Joe Biden called on the Americans to show unity as the country prepares to mark the 20th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people.

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On the eve of the 20th anniversary of the horrific 9/11 attacks, President Biden honors the lives of those we lost and highlights how even at our most vulnerable – unity is our greatest strength.<a href="https://t.co/TdVhw9TVpb">pic.twitter.com/TdVhw9TVpb</a>
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1436454819028508672?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 10, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Speaking in a six-minute recording at the White House that was shared on the official Twitter handle on Friday, Biden said, “To me, that’s the central lesson of September 11. It’s that at our most vulnerable, in the push and pull of all that makes us human, in the battle for the soul of America, unity is our greatest strength.”

The President’s appeal for unity comes at a time when the US is facing rising instances of hate crimes. According to a report by the FBI, hate crimes against African and Asian Americans surged in the past one year.

Also read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/america-was-very-far-away-how-afghans-remember-911-412095">&nbsp;'America was very far away': How Afghans remember 9/11</a>

Moreover, hate crimes against Arab Americans, Muslims and others perceived as Arab or Muslim had also surged post the 9/11 attacks. And while they have subsided in recent years, the numbers have never returned to levels seen before the attacks, the FBI data shows. More recently, the United States has also seen a rise in anti-Semitic discrimination.

“Unity doesn't mean we have to believe the same thing, but we must have a fundamental respect and faith in each other and in this nation," Biden said in the video.

Also watch

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-20-years-after-911-here-is-how-the-taliban-is-celebrating-its-victory-412216/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

On Saturday, Biden and first lady Jill Biden will visit New York City—where two airliners destroyed the World Trade Center and killed around 2,700 people—the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia—where a third airliner crashed—and Shanksville, Pennsylvania—where passengers forced down a fourth aircraft believed to have been headed to the U.S. Capitol or White House.

Joe Biden will then be joined at Ground Zero in New York by former president Barack Obama, whom he served for two terms as vice-president.

Small memorial ceremonies will be held across the US, and millions are expected to tune in to coverage that will blanket the TV networks throughout the day.

There will be six moments of silence during the ceremony, marking the moment each tower was struck and the time each fell, as well as the moment when the Pentagon was attacked, and the time that Flight 93 crashed in Pennsylvania after passengers stopped it from reaching its likely intended target of the US Capitol.

As three of the four most recent US presidents attend official ceremonies, Donald Trump will also reportedly visit the 9/11 memorial on Saturday afternoon, once the ceremony has finished and after Biden has left the city.

(With inputs from agencies)

United States President Joe Biden called on the Americans to show unity as the country prepares to mark the 20th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people.

United States President Joe Biden called on the Americans to show unity as the country prepares to mark the 20th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people. On the eve of the 20th anniversary of the horrific 9/11 attacks, President Biden honors the lives of those we lost and highlights how even at our most vulnerable – unity is our greatest strength.pic.twitter.com/TdVhw9TVpb — The White House (@WhiteHouse) September 10, 2021 × Speaking in a six-minute recording at the White House that was shared on the official Twitter handle on Friday, Biden said, “To me, that’s the central lesson of September 11. It’s that at our most vulnerable, in the push and pull of all that makes us human, in the battle for the soul of America, unity is our greatest strength.” The President’s appeal for unity comes at a time when the US is facing rising instances of hate crimes. According to a report by the FBI, hate crimes against African and Asian Americans surged in the past one year. Also read | 'America was very far away': How Afghans remember 9/11 Moreover, hate crimes against Arab Americans, Muslims and others perceived as Arab or Muslim had also surged post the 9/11 attacks. And while they have subsided in recent years, the numbers have never returned to levels seen before the attacks, the FBI data shows. More recently, the United States has also seen a rise in anti-Semitic discrimination. “Unity doesn't mean we have to believe the same thing, but we must have a fundamental respect and faith in each other and in this nation," Biden said in the video. Also watch On Saturday, Biden and first lady Jill Biden will visit New York City—where two airliners destroyed the World Trade Center and killed around 2,700 people—the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia—where a third airliner crashed—and Shanksville, Pennsylvania—where passengers forced down a fourth aircraft believed to have been headed to the U.S. Capitol or White House. Joe Biden will then be joined at Ground Zero in New York by former president Barack Obama, whom he served for two terms as vice-president. Small memorial ceremonies will be held across the US, and millions are expected to tune in to coverage that will blanket the TV networks throughout the day. There will be six moments of silence during the ceremony, marking the moment each tower was struck and the time each fell, as well as the moment when the Pentagon was attacked, and the time that Flight 93 crashed in Pennsylvania after passengers stopped it from reaching its likely intended target of the US Capitol. As three of the four most recent US presidents attend official ceremonies, Donald Trump will also reportedly visit the 9/11 memorial on Saturday afternoon, once the ceremony has finished and after Biden has left the city. (With inputs from agencies)

US President Joe Biden calls for unity on the eve of 9/11 attacks

US President Joe Biden continued his tour of damage caused by Hurricane Ida, traveling to New York and New Jersey to see the first-hand devastation caused by the massive storm inflicted on the Northeast.

Biden tours flood-hit area, calls for action on climate change

The remains of two more victims of 9/11 have been identified, thanks to advanced DNA technology, New York officials announced Tuesday, just days before the 20th anniversary of the attacks.

The office of the city's chief medical examiner said it had formally identified the 1,646th and 1,647th victim of the al-Qaeda attacks on New York's Twin Towers which killed 2,753 people.

They are the first identifications of victims from the collapse of the World Trade Center since October 2019.

"Twenty years ago, we made a promise to the families of World Trade Center victims to do whatever it takes for as long as it takes to identify their loved ones, and with these two new identifications, we continue to fulfill that sacred obligation," chief medical examiner Barbara Sampson said in a statement.

"No matter how much time passes since September 11, 2001, we will never forget, and we pledge to use all the tools at our disposal to make sure all those who were lost can be reunited with their families," she added.

The 1,646th victim was identified as Dorothy Morgan, of Hempstead, Long Island. Her identity was confirmed through DNA testing of remains recovered in 2001, the examiner's office said.

The other identification was a man whose name is being withheld at the request of his family. His identification was confirmed through DNA testing of remains recovered in 2001, 2002 and 2006, the statement added.

The medical examiner described the painstaking push to identify every victim as "the largest and most complex forensic investigation in the history of the United States."

The office said new identifications 20 years after the tragedy were being made possible by advances in DNA science.

Its laboratory uses advanced testing to match DNA fragments from victims with samples provided by relatives.

The medical examiner's office said its recent adoption of next-generation DNA sequencing technology meant further identifications were likely.

Some 1,106 victims, or 40 percent of those who died, remain unidentified.

The remains of two more victims of 9/11 have been identified, thanks to advanced DNA technology, New York officials announced Tuesday, just days before the 20th anniversary of the attacks.

The remains of two more victims of 9/11 have been identified, thanks to advanced DNA technology, New York officials announced Tuesday, just days before the 20th anniversary of the attacks. The office of the city's chief medical examiner said it had formally identified the 1,646th and 1,647th victim of the al-Qaeda attacks on New York's Twin Towers which killed 2,753 people. They are the first identifications of victims from the collapse of the World Trade Center since October 2019. "Twenty years ago, we made a promise to the families of World Trade Center victims to do whatever it takes for as long as it takes to identify their loved ones, and with these two new identifications, we continue to fulfill that sacred obligation," chief medical examiner Barbara Sampson said in a statement. "No matter how much time passes since September 11, 2001, we will never forget, and we pledge to use all the tools at our disposal to make sure all those who were lost can be reunited with their families," she added. The 1,646th victim was identified as Dorothy Morgan, of Hempstead, Long Island. Her identity was confirmed through DNA testing of remains recovered in 2001, the examiner's office said. The other identification was a man whose name is being withheld at the request of his family. His identification was confirmed through DNA testing of remains recovered in 2001, 2002 and 2006, the statement added. The medical examiner described the painstaking push to identify every victim as "the largest and most complex forensic investigation in the history of the United States." The office said new identifications 20 years after the tragedy were being made possible by advances in DNA science. Its laboratory uses advanced testing to match DNA fragments from victims with samples provided by relatives. The medical examiner's office said its recent adoption of next-generation DNA sequencing technology meant further identifications were likely. Some 1,106 victims, or 40 percent of those who died, remain unidentified.

Two more victims of 9/11 attacks identified

It is the skyscraper that replaced the Twin Towers in New York's skyline. Inaugurated in 2014, the One World Trade Center has become a symbol of resilience after the horror of 9/11.&nbsp;

Commonly referred to as the "Freedom Tower," it is America's tallest building at 1,776 feet (541 meters) and an emblem of the US economic capital.

From its conception, the tower had to testify to New York's durability -- looking to the future despite the tragedy -- according to one of its architects, Kenneth Lewis.

As harrowing as the images were of the Twin Towers collapsing to the ground on September 11, 2001, no one questioned replacing them with another skyscraper, situated right next "Ground Zero."

For the architects at SOM, which builds skyscrapers around the world, it was an opportunity to realize concepts that they had been thinking about for years.

"We were thinking it's the beginning of the millennium, we were thinking that this had to be the next generation of buildings, both in terms of safety, as well as environmental impact," recalled Lewis.

Evacuation time

Among the most nightmarish images from 9/11 are those of people jumping to their deaths from the towers to escape the blaze.

The architects launched ideas about how to evacuate people other than from the stairs. Inventors came back with a giant chute, and a zip wire, with a parachutist demonstrating the latter, Lewis remembers.

"It was the scariest thing," he says. "We just couldn't imagine someone who might be a little bit overweight or a little bit afraid taking a jump out the window."

In the end, the only solution was to shield the heart of the building with reinforced concrete, "broad enough that people can get out of there," he explained.

The architects implemented safety standards on One WTC that have since become standard for skyscrapers.

They include wide stairwells to allow a quick evacuation of the 104-storey tower, a signaling light to alert aircraft, fire-resistant cameras and communication tools on every floor to allow rescuers to constantly monitor the situation.

"We had a goal, which was an hour evacuation total time to evacuate the whole building," said Lewis. 
Firefighters were invited to planning meetings. It was they who suggested a back-up system capable of compensating for the failure of emergency generators on 9/11 to provide electricity long enough to evacuate the building.

"They had been through such trauma, they had to be a part of the solutions we were coming up with," said Lewis. 
Fire was not the only concern: in the fall of 2001, several anonymous letters containing anthrax were sent to some media and politicians, killing five people.

"We started to think about the filtering system and the air quality," Lewis explained.

"Think of a worst-case scenario and then what would that mean, and then prepare for it," he added, explaining their methodology.

'Transformative moment'

Almost 20 years later and the pandemic has left One WTC and most of Manhattan's prestigious towers empty for months.

"People were thinking we were going to come back much quicker than we have," admitted Lewis.

"We were immediately looking at the types of filtration systems that are in there these buildings, and most new buildings have high efficiency filters, particulate filters that also deal with viruses."

But if the office towers have not yet regained their pre-pandemic occupancy rate, their preeminence in New York's skyline cannot be called into question.

A tower of some 600 apartments is under construction in Brooklyn and will become the first "super-skyscraper" outside Manhattan when it is completed next year.&nbsp;

Around 20 other skyscrapers are in the works across New York.

As well as the environment, the mental health of the occupants of these buildings is now also a priority, said Lewis.

"We're in 2021 and we're talking about well-being and incorporating that into the spaces we're doing, creating outdoor spaces that people can work in, rooftop terraces that are really workspaces, meeting spaces.

"It really is a transformative moment," he said.

In the meantime, One WTC is on the way to becoming as iconic as its predecessors.

While the 9/11 Memorial symbolises "the void" created by the attacks, the "Freedom Tower" tower represents "the positive," according to Lewis.

"A place of innovation and new thinking and modern ideas of safety and security," he said.

It is the skyscraper that replaced the Twin Towers in New York's skyline. Inaugurated in 2014, the One World Trade Center has become a symbol of resilience after the horror of 9/11.

It is the skyscraper that replaced the Twin Towers in New York's skyline. Inaugurated in 2014, the One World Trade Center has become a symbol of resilience after the horror of 9/11. Commonly referred to as the "Freedom Tower," it is America's tallest building at 1,776 feet (541 meters) and an emblem of the US economic capital. From its conception, the tower had to testify to New York's durability -- looking to the future despite the tragedy -- according to one of its architects, Kenneth Lewis. As harrowing as the images were of the Twin Towers collapsing to the ground on September 11, 2001, no one questioned replacing them with another skyscraper, situated right next "Ground Zero." For the architects at SOM, which builds skyscrapers around the world, it was an opportunity to realize concepts that they had been thinking about for years. "We were thinking it's the beginning of the millennium, we were thinking that this had to be the next generation of buildings, both in terms of safety, as well as environmental impact," recalled Lewis. Evacuation time Among the most nightmarish images from 9/11 are those of people jumping to their deaths from the towers to escape the blaze. The architects launched ideas about how to evacuate people other than from the stairs. Inventors came back with a giant chute, and a zip wire, with a parachutist demonstrating the latter, Lewis remembers. "It was the scariest thing," he says. "We just couldn't imagine someone who might be a little bit overweight or a little bit afraid taking a jump out the window." In the end, the only solution was to shield the heart of the building with reinforced concrete, "broad enough that people can get out of there," he explained. The architects implemented safety standards on One WTC that have since become standard for skyscrapers. They include wide stairwells to allow a quick evacuation of the 104-storey tower, a signaling light to alert aircraft, fire-resistant cameras and communication tools on every floor to allow rescuers to constantly monitor the situation. "We had a goal, which was an hour evacuation total time to evacuate the whole building," said Lewis. Firefighters were invited to planning meetings. It was they who suggested a back-up system capable of compensating for the failure of emergency generators on 9/11 to provide electricity long enough to evacuate the building. "They had been through such trauma, they had to be a part of the solutions we were coming up with," said Lewis. Fire was not the only concern: in the fall of 2001, several anonymous letters containing anthrax were sent to some media and politicians, killing five people. "We started to think about the filtering system and the air quality," Lewis explained. "Think of a worst-case scenario and then what would that mean, and then prepare for it," he added, explaining their methodology. 'Transformative moment' Almost 20 years later and the pandemic has left One WTC and most of Manhattan's prestigious towers empty for months. "People were thinking we were going to come back much quicker than we have," admitted Lewis. "We were immediately looking at the types of filtration systems that are in there these buildings, and most new buildings have high efficiency filters, particulate filters that also deal with viruses." But if the office towers have not yet regained their pre-pandemic occupancy rate, their preeminence in New York's skyline cannot be called into question. A tower of some 600 apartments is under construction in Brooklyn and will become the first "super-skyscraper" outside Manhattan when it is completed next year. Around 20 other skyscrapers are in the works across New York. As well as the environment, the mental health of the occupants of these buildings is now also a priority, said Lewis. "We're in 2021 and we're talking about well-being and incorporating that into the spaces we're doing, creating outdoor spaces that people can work in, rooftop terraces that are really workspaces, meeting spaces. "It really is a transformative moment," he said. In the meantime, One WTC is on the way to becoming as iconic as its predecessors. While the 9/11 Memorial symbolises "the void" created by the attacks, the "Freedom Tower" tower represents "the positive," according to Lewis. "A place of innovation and new thinking and modern ideas of safety and security," he said.

'Freedom Tower' - the skyscraper symbolising New York's resilience

Flash floods were observed in several parts of New York as the Hurricane Ida left the area tattered with heavy rain.<o:p></o:p>

At least 44 people have been killed in the flash floods overnight into Thursday, with several people still hiding in their basements to ensure their survival.<o:p></o:p>

The Hurricane Ida brought a record rainfall which led to a flash flood in the New York City. Several streets of the developed city were seen submerged in rainwater and subway services had to be shut down as the water took over the platforms and tracks.<o:p></o:p>

In addition to subway, hundreds of domestic and international flights were suspended from the LaGuardia and JFK and Newark airports.

<o:p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/flash-floods-from-tropical-storm-ida-swamp-new-york-city-41-dead-410331">WATCH |</a></o:p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/flash-floods-from-tropical-storm-ida-swamp-new-york-city-41-dead-410331/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

"We're all in this together. The nation is ready to help," US President Joe Biden said. He is also scheduled to visit the state of Louisiana to assess the damage caused by the Hurricane Ida.<o:p></o:p>

The southern state of Louisiana was left without power and several buildings were destroyed due to the heavy winds and rains. <o:p></o:p>

After Louisiana, it is now New Jersey, Ney York City, Manhattan, The Bronx and Queens who are battling the after effects of the hurricane. <o:p></o:p>

For the first time in over 40-50 years, the area has seen such heavy rains. The fire department had to come to rescue of hundreds of people who were caught in their cars, submerged under water.<o:p></o:p>

New Jersey’s Governor, Phil Murphy, reported that at least 23 people have died and the “majority of these deaths were individuals who got caught in their vehicles”.<o:p></o:p>

"We're enduring an historic weather event tonight with record-breaking rain across the city, brutal flooding and dangerous conditions on our roads," New York Mayor Bill de Blasio said late Wednesday.<o:p></o:p>

Flash floods were observed in several parts of New York as the Hurricane Ida left the area tattered with heavy rain. At least 44 people have been killed in the flash floods overnight into Thursday, with several people still hiding in their basements to ensure their survival.

Flash floods were observed in several parts of New York as the Hurricane Ida left the area tattered with heavy rain. At least 44 people have been killed in the flash floods overnight into Thursday, with several people still hiding in their basements to ensure their survival. The Hurricane Ida brought a record rainfall which led to a flash flood in the New York City. Several streets of the developed city were seen submerged in rainwater and subway services had to be shut down as the water took over the platforms and tracks. In addition to subway, hundreds of domestic and international flights were suspended from the LaGuardia and JFK and Newark airports. WATCH | "We're all in this together. The nation is ready to help," US President Joe Biden said. He is also scheduled to visit the state of Louisiana to assess the damage caused by the Hurricane Ida. The southern state of Louisiana was left without power and several buildings were destroyed due to the heavy winds and rains. After Louisiana, it is now New Jersey, Ney York City, Manhattan, The Bronx and Queens who are battling the after effects of the hurricane. For the first time in over 40-50 years, the area has seen such heavy rains. The fire department had to come to rescue of hundreds of people who were caught in their cars, submerged under water. New Jersey’s Governor, Phil Murphy, reported that at least 23 people have died and the “majority of these deaths were individuals who got caught in their vehicles”. "We're enduring an historic weather event tonight with record-breaking rain across the city, brutal flooding and dangerous conditions on our roads," New York Mayor Bill de Blasio said late Wednesday.

At least 44 people dead in New York due to heavy rains caused by Hurricane Ida

Flash floods from tropical storm Ida swamped New York City and have killed close to 41 people till now. Record rainfall in the city, has prompted an unprecedented flash flood emergency and turned streets into rivers, and shut down subway services as water cascaded down platforms onto tracks.

Flash floods from tropical storm Ida swamp New York City, 41 dead

The aftermath of Hurricane Ida, which walloped the region with record-breaking rain days after one of the strongest US hurricanes on record hit the Gulf Coast, left a surprised US East Coast with a rising death toll, swelling rivers, and wreckage.

The storm killed at least 18 people from Maryland to New York on Wednesday night as basement apartments suddenly filled with water, rivers and creeks swelled to record levels, and streets turned into car-swallowing canals in an area that hadn't expected a significant blow from the no-longer-hurricane.&nbsp;

On Wednesday night, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio called the floods and weather a "historic weather event," and the National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning for the first time in the city.&nbsp; 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/in-pics-flash-flooding-and-record-breaking-rainfall-hit-new-york-city-410255#rescuing-people-410248">In Pics | Flash flooding and record-breaking rainfall hit New York City</a> 
 
The rain turned the streets of this metropolis into rivers, flooding basements and first-floor apartments.

A flash flooding emergency has been declared by the National Weather Service in New York, a rare warning for instances where flooding poses a "serious threat to human life and catastrophic damage." 
 
Watch:

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According to Mayor Bill de Blasio, a travel advisory is still in effect, and all non-emergency vehicles are recommended to stay off city roadways as clean-up efforts continue.

The devastation comes only days after Hurricane Ida made landfall in Louisiana with winds of 150 miles per hour on Sunday.

At least seven people have died previously, including two each in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama, as well as one in Maryland.

Almost 1 million Louisiana power consumers were still without power on Thursday.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

The aftermath of Hurricane Ida, which walloped the region with record-breaking rain days after one of the strongest US hurricanes on record hit the Gulf Coast, left a surprised US East Coast with a rising death toll, swelling rivers, and wreckage.

The aftermath of Hurricane Ida, which walloped the region with record-breaking rain days after one of the strongest US hurricanes on record hit the Gulf Coast, left a surprised US East Coast with a rising death toll, swelling rivers, and wreckage. The storm killed at least 18 people from Maryland to New York on Wednesday night as basement apartments suddenly filled with water, rivers and creeks swelled to record levels, and streets turned into car-swallowing canals in an area that hadn't expected a significant blow from the no-longer-hurricane. On Wednesday night, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio called the floods and weather a "historic weather event," and the National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning for the first time in the city. In Pics | Flash flooding and record-breaking rainfall hit New York City The rain turned the streets of this metropolis into rivers, flooding basements and first-floor apartments. A flash flooding emergency has been declared by the National Weather Service in New York, a rare warning for instances where flooding poses a "serious threat to human life and catastrophic damage." Watch: According to Mayor Bill de Blasio, a travel advisory is still in effect, and all non-emergency vehicles are recommended to stay off city roadways as clean-up efforts continue. The devastation comes only days after Hurricane Ida made landfall in Louisiana with winds of 150 miles per hour on Sunday. At least seven people have died previously, including two each in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama, as well as one in Maryland. Almost 1 million Louisiana power consumers were still without power on Thursday. (With inputs from agencies)

New York City floods: Death toll rises to 18 after Hurricane Ida’s remnants hit northeast

According to officials, at least seven people have died in New York City as a result of record-breaking rains and flash flooding.

After Tropical Storm Ida slammed the city, a state of emergency was established.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio stated the city was "in the midst of a historic weather catastrophe," with "severe flooding" and "hazardous driving conditions."

As the leftovers of the tropical storm delivered torrential rain, the potential of flash floods, and tornadoes to sections of the northern mid-Atlantic, nearly all New York City subway lines were suspended.

In reaction to Ida, New Jersey issued a state of emergency.&nbsp;

The National Weather Service issued five flash flood warnings Friday evening, spanning from Philadelphia to northern New Jersey.&nbsp;

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Updated observed rainfall totals for the last 48 hours ending 11 pm Wednesday September 1st. Most of this rain has fallen during the last 12-24 hours. We needed to increase the color scale values from the map we previously posted with totals through 8 pm. <a href="https://t.co/B9gIPnLsTw">pic.twitter.com/B9gIPnLsTw</a>
— NWS Eastern Region (@NWSEastern) <a href="https://twitter.com/NWSEastern/status/1433273320133300230?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 2, 2021</a></blockquote>
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New York City was also flooded, with photographs on social media showing water pouring over subway platforms and trains.

The Metropolitan Transit Authority announced that due to the floods, subway service was "very limited."

The mayor of New York City has urged residents not to go outside.&nbsp;

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We’re keeping our eyes on our power grid. We’ve seen about 5,300 customers without power. 
 
We expect the rain to stop in the next few hours. But until then, again, if you’re not inside, get inside.
— Mayor Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) <a href="https://twitter.com/NYCMayor/status/1433270459185913857?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 2, 2021</a></blockquote>
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"Please stay off the streets tonight and let our first responders and emergency services get their work done. If you're thinking of going outside, don't. Stay off the subways. Stay off the roads. Don't drive into these heavy waters. Stay inside", he said on Twitter. 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

According to officials, at least seven people have died in New York City as a result of record-breaking rains and flash flooding. After Tropical Storm Ida slammed the city, a state of emergency was established.

According to officials, at least seven people have died in New York City as a result of record-breaking rains and flash flooding. After Tropical Storm Ida slammed the city, a state of emergency was established. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio stated the city was "in the midst of a historic weather catastrophe," with "severe flooding" and "hazardous driving conditions." As the leftovers of the tropical storm delivered torrential rain, the potential of flash floods, and tornadoes to sections of the northern mid-Atlantic, nearly all New York City subway lines were suspended. In reaction to Ida, New Jersey issued a state of emergency. The National Weather Service issued five flash flood warnings Friday evening, spanning from Philadelphia to northern New Jersey. Updated observed rainfall totals for the last 48 hours ending 11 pm Wednesday September 1st. Most of this rain has fallen during the last 12-24 hours. We needed to increase the color scale values from the map we previously posted with totals through 8 pm. pic.twitter.com/B9gIPnLsTw — NWS Eastern Region (@NWSEastern) September 2, 2021 × New York City was also flooded, with photographs on social media showing water pouring over subway platforms and trains. The Metropolitan Transit Authority announced that due to the floods, subway service was "very limited." The mayor of New York City has urged residents not to go outside. We’re keeping our eyes on our power grid. We’ve seen about 5,300 customers without power. We expect the rain to stop in the next few hours. But until then, again, if you’re not inside, get inside. — Mayor Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) September 2, 2021 × "Please stay off the streets tonight and let our first responders and emergency services get their work done. If you're thinking of going outside, don't. Stay off the subways. Stay off the roads. Don't drive into these heavy waters. Stay inside", he said on Twitter. (With inputs from agencies)

At least 7 dead in New York City after flash floods

The governors of New York and New Jersey have declared a state of emergency late&nbsp;as record-breaking rains from tropical storm Ida led to flooding and hazardous conditions on the roads, with media reporting at least six deaths.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio described the flooding and weather as a "historic weather event".

At least one person was killed in flash flooding that inundated the New Jersey city of Passaic, Mayor Hector Lora told CNN.

New&nbsp;Yorkers were inundated by&nbsp;heavy&nbsp;rain&nbsp;and&nbsp;flash&nbsp;flooding&nbsp;early Thursday as&nbsp;Storm&nbsp;Ida&nbsp;wreaked havoc on the northeast United States, forcing flight cancellations and state of emergency declarations.&nbsp;

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ALERT 🚨 Vehicles literally floating in flood water in Queens, New York City <a href="https://t.co/Xd99tYWrE0">pic.twitter.com/Xd99tYWrE0</a>
— Insider Paper (@TheInsiderPaper) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheInsiderPaper/status/1433271779020185601?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 2, 2021</a></blockquote>
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28th street and 7th avenue <a href="https://twitter.com/MTA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MTA</a> station tonight. Very Heavy rain, if you in New York City, avoid traveling tonight if you can. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/newyork?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#newyork</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/flood?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#flood</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Floodbot?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Floodbot</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/mta?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#mta</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/newyorkcity?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#newyorkcity</a> <a href="https://t.co/bRUKjjQU1G">pic.twitter.com/bRUKjjQU1G</a>
— Maps DK NY (@maps_dk) <a href="https://twitter.com/maps_dk/status/1433258107145183233?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 2, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Ida&nbsp;slammed into the southern state of Louisiana over the weekend, bringing severe&nbsp;flooding&nbsp;and tornadoes.

Hundreds of flights have been cancelled at nearby LaGuardia and JFK airports, as well as at Newark.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/nepal-government-forms-committee-to-study-border-issue-with-china-410087">Also read |&nbsp;Nepal government forms committee to study border issue with China</a>

Flooding&nbsp;has closed major roads across multiple boroughs including Manhattan, The Bronx and Queens.

The NWS recorded 3.15 inches of&nbsp;rain&nbsp;in Central Park in just an hour, the area's wettest hour on record. The&nbsp;city&nbsp;earlier issued a rare&nbsp;flash&nbsp;flood emergency warning urging residents to move to higher ground.&nbsp;

In Annapolis, 30 miles from the US capital, a tornado ripped up trees and toppled electricity poles.

US President Joe Biden is due to travel Friday to Louisiana, where&nbsp;Ida&nbsp;destroyed buildings and left more than a million homes without power.&nbsp;

The governors of New York and New Jersey have declared a state of emergency late as record-breaking rains from tropical storm Ida led to flooding and hazardous conditions on the roads, with media reporting at least six deaths.

The governors of New York and New Jersey have declared a state of emergency late as record-breaking rains from tropical storm Ida led to flooding and hazardous conditions on the roads, with media reporting at least six deaths. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio described the flooding and weather as a "historic weather event". At least one person was killed in flash flooding that inundated the New Jersey city of Passaic, Mayor Hector Lora told CNN. New Yorkers were inundated by heavy rain and flash flooding early Thursday as Storm Ida wreaked havoc on the northeast United States, forcing flight cancellations and state of emergency declarations. ALERT 🚨 Vehicles literally floating in flood water in Queens, New York City pic.twitter.com/Xd99tYWrE0 — Insider Paper (@TheInsiderPaper) September 2, 2021 × 28th street and 7th avenue @MTA station tonight. Very Heavy rain, if you in New York City, avoid traveling tonight if you can. #newyork #flood #Floodbot #mta #newyorkcity pic.twitter.com/bRUKjjQU1G — Maps DK NY (@maps_dk) September 2, 2021 × Ida slammed into the southern state of Louisiana over the weekend, bringing severe flooding and tornadoes. Hundreds of flights have been cancelled at nearby LaGuardia and JFK airports, as well as at Newark. Also read | Nepal government forms committee to study border issue with China Flooding has closed major roads across multiple boroughs including Manhattan, The Bronx and Queens. The NWS recorded 3.15 inches of rain in Central Park in just an hour, the area's wettest hour on record. The city earlier issued a rare flash flood emergency warning urging residents to move to higher ground. In Annapolis, 30 miles from the US capital, a tornado ripped up trees and toppled electricity poles. US President Joe Biden is due to travel Friday to Louisiana, where Ida destroyed buildings and left more than a million homes without power.

Hurricane Ida: Emergency declared in New York amid flooding; 7 dead

An 11-month-old 80-pound cougar was removed from an apartment in New York where the big cat was being kept as a pet illegally.

The owner surrendered the female cougar to animal welfare officials, Kelly Donithan, director of animal disaster response for the Humane Society of the United States, said in a news release on Monday.

According to the Associated Press, the cougar, nicknamed Sasha, spent the weekend at the Bronx Zoo receiving veterinary care and is headed to the Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge in Arkansas.

The Humane Society coordinated with zoo officials, the state Department of Environmental Conservation and the New York Police Department on the big cat’s removal.

“I’ve never seen a cougar in the wild, but I’ve seen them on leashes, smashed into cages, and crying for their mothers when breeders rip them away. I’ve also seen the heartbreak of owners, like in this case, after being sold not just a wild animal, but a false dream that they could make a good ‘pet’,” Donithan said.

He said the cougar was “relatively lucky” because her owners, who live in the Bronx, recognised that their flat was not a hospitable environment for a wildcat, and surrendered her.

“The owner’s tears and nervous chirps from the cougar as we drove her away painfully drives home the many victims of this horrendous trade and myth that wild animals belong anywhere but the wild,” he said.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/un-report-identifies-migratory-species-as-most-vulnerable-to-plastic-pollution-409772">UN report identifies migratory species as most vulnerable to plastic pollution</a>

Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Basil Seggos asserted that while cougars “may look cute and cuddly when young, these animals can grow up to be unpredictable and dangerous”.

Bronx Zoo director Jim Breheny said the exotic pet trade makes no contribution to the conservation of endangered species.

“These animals often end up in very bad situations, kept by private individuals who don’t have the resources, facilities, knowledge, or expertise to provide for the animals’ most basic needs,” Breheny was quoted as saying.

(With inputs from agencies)

An 11-month-old 80-pound cougar was removed from an apartment in New York where the big cat was being kept as a pet illegally. The owner surrendered the female cougar to animal welfare officials, Kelly Donithan, director of animal disaster response for the Humane Society of the United States, said in a news release on Monday.

An 11-month-old 80-pound cougar was removed from an apartment in New York where the big cat was being kept as a pet illegally. The owner surrendered the female cougar to animal welfare officials, Kelly Donithan, director of animal disaster response for the Humane Society of the United States, said in a news release on Monday. According to the Associated Press, the cougar, nicknamed Sasha, spent the weekend at the Bronx Zoo receiving veterinary care and is headed to the Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge in Arkansas. The Humane Society coordinated with zoo officials, the state Department of Environmental Conservation and the New York Police Department on the big cat’s removal. “I’ve never seen a cougar in the wild, but I’ve seen them on leashes, smashed into cages, and crying for their mothers when breeders rip them away. I’ve also seen the heartbreak of owners, like in this case, after being sold not just a wild animal, but a false dream that they could make a good ‘pet’,” Donithan said. He said the cougar was “relatively lucky” because her owners, who live in the Bronx, recognised that their flat was not a hospitable environment for a wildcat, and surrendered her. “The owner’s tears and nervous chirps from the cougar as we drove her away painfully drives home the many victims of this horrendous trade and myth that wild animals belong anywhere but the wild,” he said. Also read | UN report identifies migratory species as most vulnerable to plastic pollution Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Basil Seggos asserted that while cougars “may look cute and cuddly when young, these animals can grow up to be unpredictable and dangerous”. Bronx Zoo director Jim Breheny said the exotic pet trade makes no contribution to the conservation of endangered species. “These animals often end up in very bad situations, kept by private individuals who don’t have the resources, facilities, knowledge, or expertise to provide for the animals’ most basic needs,” Breheny was quoted as saying. (With inputs from agencies)

11-month-old female cougar kept as pet removed from New York apartment

Kathy Hochul became the first female governor of New York on Tuesday, and outlined her goals for combating deadly COVID-19 pandemic.

The 62-year-old said she&nbsp;wants to impose vaccines for all educational workers in the state, with the option to test out weekly.&nbsp; 
 
"Your priorities are my priorities and right now that means fighting the delta variant, none of us want a re-run of last year's horrors with COVID-19," she said. 
 
Hochul said she will lead a "dramatic transformation in culture, with responsibility and no tolerance for people who cross the line" in her first speech to New Yorkers since being sworn in as the state's 57th governor. 
 
Elevated from the relative obscurity as lieutenant governor to the post of prominent position of New York’s 57th governor at the stroke of midnight, Hochul said she wants to revive faith in government after a ceremonial swearing-in on Tuesday morning. &nbsp; 
 
Watch:&nbsp;US Supreme Court requires Biden to revive Trump-era 'remain in Mexico' policy

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The New York’s new governor said, “I want people to believe in our government again. It’s important to me that people have faith – our strength comes from the faith and the confidence of the people who put us into these offices and I take that very seriously.” &nbsp;

Hochul also talked about “changing the culture of Albany. I’m looking forward to a fresh collaborative approach – that’s how I’ve always conducted myself, it’s nothing new to me, but it’s something I’ll be introducing to the state Capitol.” &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-vice-president-offers-vietnam-support-to-counter-beijing-in-south-china-sea-408161">US vice president offers Vietnam support to counter Beijing in South China Sea&nbsp;</a>

Without mentioning the predecessor Andrew Cuomo’s name, she criticised the leader in her remarks. &nbsp;

Cuomo was the governor of the state for a decade until he was brought down by a devastating report from the state attorney general based on sexual harassment accusations from 11 women.&nbsp; 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

Kathy Hochul became the first female governor of New York on Tuesday, and outlined her goals for combating deadly COVID-19 pandemic. The 62-year-old said she wants to impose vaccines for all educational workers in the state, with the option to test out weekly.

Kathy Hochul became the first female governor of New York on Tuesday, and outlined her goals for combating deadly COVID-19 pandemic. The 62-year-old said she wants to impose vaccines for all educational workers in the state, with the option to test out weekly. "Your priorities are my priorities and right now that means fighting the delta variant, none of us want a re-run of last year's horrors with COVID-19," she said. Hochul said she will lead a "dramatic transformation in culture, with responsibility and no tolerance for people who cross the line" in her first speech to New Yorkers since being sworn in as the state's 57th governor. Elevated from the relative obscurity as lieutenant governor to the post of prominent position of New York’s 57th governor at the stroke of midnight, Hochul said she wants to revive faith in government after a ceremonial swearing-in on Tuesday morning. Watch: US Supreme Court requires Biden to revive Trump-era 'remain in Mexico' policy × The New York’s new governor said, “I want people to believe in our government again. It’s important to me that people have faith – our strength comes from the faith and the confidence of the people who put us into these offices and I take that very seriously.” Hochul also talked about “changing the culture of Albany. I’m looking forward to a fresh collaborative approach – that’s how I’ve always conducted myself, it’s nothing new to me, but it’s something I’ll be introducing to the state Capitol.” Also Read: US vice president offers Vietnam support to counter Beijing in South China Sea Without mentioning the predecessor Andrew Cuomo’s name, she criticised the leader in her remarks. Cuomo was the governor of the state for a decade until he was brought down by a devastating report from the state attorney general based on sexual harassment accusations from 11 women. (With inputs from agencies)

Kathy Hochul becomes first female governor of New York state

New York City shut down on Saturday its star-studded concert meant to mark its "homecoming" in the wake of the pandemic's worst devastation, over the threat of severe weather as Hurricane Henri churned closer.

Barry Manilow, who was on a line-up that included Bruce Springsteen, Patti Smith and Paul Simon, was cut off mid-song by a booming voice urging concertgoers to proceed swiftly but calmly to the nearest exit due to approaching storm clouds.

Some 60,000 people were expected at the concert in Central Park, like the hurricane, packing maximum sustained winds near 75 miles (120 kilometres) per hour and heavy rains were drawing closer to making landfall sometime on Sunday. &nbsp;

"I guess for safety it makes sense. I mean I can hear the thunder," said attendee Maria Fuentes.

It cut short a show that had begun with groups of revellers cheering and dancing, with seating marked out by laying down picnic blankets ahead of five hours of live music that kicked off at 5 pm (2100 GMT).

Even before the bad weather hit, many were still concerned over Covid-19, despite vaccination requirements.

All attendees aged 12 and over had to provide proof of vaccination, except for those prevented from getting shots for reasons of disability. Masks were not required at the outdoor event, except for unvaccinated children.

"At least everyone is vaccinated" at the shows, said Ilana Gomez, who was most excited to see guitarist Carlos Santana's band play.

"Music is what I missed the most" during the pandemic, the 27-year-old told AFP, adding that it was "amazing" to be with so many people but that she thought it wasn't "the best idea" to have such a large event.

- 'We are back' -

Speaking on local radio Friday, Mayor Bill de Blasio had said the concert was meant as a marker of recovery. The celebration was planned "to really tell people New York City was back, to tell the whole world," he said.

The pandemic hit New York hard in early 2020, and has left more than 33,000 people dead. But life-long New York resident, Bill Thompson, said he was "more guarded than ever."

Despite lingering coronavirus concerns, the 69-year-old said "it's a joy" to see the city coming back to life.&nbsp;"It feels so free to be able to enjoy what people have missed for so long."

In the week leading up to Saturday's show, the city hosted a series of hip-hop concerts across the New York boroughs, featuring performances from Big Daddy Kane, Slick Rick, KRS-1, and Wu-Tang Clan members Ghostface Killah and Raekwon.

Except for VIP spots, tickets are free for Saturday's concert, which was also set to feature performances from Jennifer Hudson and LL Cool J.

- Henri threats -

Some 68 per cent of adult New Yorkers are fully vaccinated, though cases have ticked up recently to more than 1,850 a day, a 19 percent increase in two weeks.

The unvaccinated population continues to face risks of both contracting the virus and feeling its worst effects. "My heart goes out to everyone who suffered," said attendee Laurie Ramirez, an educator in her 50s. She won a ticket to the event because of her essential worker status during the pandemic.

"It's extraordinary. It's the most beautiful thing" to be here, she told AFP. But the threat of bad weather cast a pall over the revelry even before the event was cut off, as US meteorologists upgraded storm Henri to a hurricane on Saturday.

Henri was anticipated to miss New York City by miles, but could still cause tropical storm conditions beginning Saturday night.

New York City shut down on Saturday its star-studded concert meant to mark its "homecoming" in the wake of the pandemic's worst devastation, over the threat of severe weather as Hurricane Henri churned closer.

New York City shut down on Saturday its star-studded concert meant to mark its "homecoming" in the wake of the pandemic's worst devastation, over the threat of severe weather as Hurricane Henri churned closer. Barry Manilow, who was on a line-up that included Bruce Springsteen, Patti Smith and Paul Simon, was cut off mid-song by a booming voice urging concertgoers to proceed swiftly but calmly to the nearest exit due to approaching storm clouds. Some 60,000 people were expected at the concert in Central Park, like the hurricane, packing maximum sustained winds near 75 miles (120 kilometres) per hour and heavy rains were drawing closer to making landfall sometime on Sunday. "I guess for safety it makes sense. I mean I can hear the thunder," said attendee Maria Fuentes. It cut short a show that had begun with groups of revellers cheering and dancing, with seating marked out by laying down picnic blankets ahead of five hours of live music that kicked off at 5 pm (2100 GMT). Even before the bad weather hit, many were still concerned over Covid-19, despite vaccination requirements. All attendees aged 12 and over had to provide proof of vaccination, except for those prevented from getting shots for reasons of disability. Masks were not required at the outdoor event, except for unvaccinated children. "At least everyone is vaccinated" at the shows, said Ilana Gomez, who was most excited to see guitarist Carlos Santana's band play. "Music is what I missed the most" during the pandemic, the 27-year-old told AFP, adding that it was "amazing" to be with so many people but that she thought it wasn't "the best idea" to have such a large event. - 'We are back' - Speaking on local radio Friday, Mayor Bill de Blasio had said the concert was meant as a marker of recovery. The celebration was planned "to really tell people New York City was back, to tell the whole world," he said. The pandemic hit New York hard in early 2020, and has left more than 33,000 people dead. But life-long New York resident, Bill Thompson, said he was "more guarded than ever." Despite lingering coronavirus concerns, the 69-year-old said "it's a joy" to see the city coming back to life. "It feels so free to be able to enjoy what people have missed for so long." In the week leading up to Saturday's show, the city hosted a series of hip-hop concerts across the New York boroughs, featuring performances from Big Daddy Kane, Slick Rick, KRS-1, and Wu-Tang Clan members Ghostface Killah and Raekwon. Except for VIP spots, tickets are free for Saturday's concert, which was also set to feature performances from Jennifer Hudson and LL Cool J. - Henri threats - Some 68 per cent of adult New Yorkers are fully vaccinated, though cases have ticked up recently to more than 1,850 a day, a 19 percent increase in two weeks. The unvaccinated population continues to face risks of both contracting the virus and feeling its worst effects. "My heart goes out to everyone who suffered," said attendee Laurie Ramirez, an educator in her 50s. She won a ticket to the event because of her essential worker status during the pandemic. "It's extraordinary. It's the most beautiful thing" to be here, she told AFP. But the threat of bad weather cast a pall over the revelry even before the event was cut off, as US meteorologists upgraded storm Henri to a hurricane on Saturday. Henri was anticipated to miss New York City by miles, but could still cause tropical storm conditions beginning Saturday night.

New York's 'homecoming' concert called off as hurricane

Lawmakers in the&nbsp;New&nbsp;York&nbsp;Assembly&nbsp;have suspended their&nbsp;impeachment investigation of Governor Andrew&nbsp;Cuomo&nbsp;in light of his promise to step down from office over sexual harassment complaints, Speaker Carl&nbsp;Heastie said in a statement on Friday.

The&nbsp;Assembly, controlled by&nbsp;Cuomo's fellow Democrats, opened the&nbsp;impeachment investigation in March&nbsp;after&nbsp;at least two women who formerly worked for the&nbsp;governor went public with complaints that&nbsp;Cuomo&nbsp;had sexually harassed them.

A damning report released this month by the&nbsp;state's attorney general concluded&nbsp;Cuomo&nbsp;had broken state and federal law by harassing at least 11 women, including aides and a state trooper.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/businesses-in-portland-oregon-close-early-amid-scorching-heat-405201">Also read |&nbsp;Businesses in Portland, Oregon, close early amid scorching heat</a>

Cuomo&nbsp;said on Tuesday&nbsp;he&nbsp;would resign and leave office in two weeks.&nbsp;He&nbsp;has denied harassing anyone, though&nbsp;he&nbsp;has acknowledged making some women uncomfortable by engaging in what&nbsp;he&nbsp;characterized as well-intentioned efforts to show affection.

Heastie said the&nbsp;impeachment inquiry was no longer needed since its purpose was "to determine whether Governor&nbsp;Cuomo&nbsp;should remain in office."

He&nbsp;also said lawmakers have been advised by legal counsel that the&nbsp;state's constitution does not allow the&nbsp;legislature to&nbsp;impeach&nbsp;an elected official who is no longer in office.

If&nbsp;impeached in the&nbsp;state&nbsp;Assembly,&nbsp;Cuomo&nbsp;would have faced a trial in the&nbsp;state Senate, which also has a Democratic majority. A conviction would permit lawmakers to bar&nbsp;Cuomo&nbsp;from ever holding public office again.

Prior to his resignation,&nbsp;Cuomo&nbsp;appeared almost certain to be&nbsp;impeached and ousted from office, as Democratic legislators abandoned him following the&nbsp;report from Attorney General Letitia James' office.

The&nbsp;impeachment probe was not limited to the&nbsp;harassment allegations.

Investigators were also examining whether the&nbsp;Cuomo&nbsp;administration deliberately under-reported nursing home deaths during the&nbsp;coronavirus pandemic as well as whether&nbsp;Cuomo&nbsp;improperly used state resources in penning a published memoir.

While incomplete, the&nbsp;inquiry had gathered enough evidence to likely result in&nbsp;impeachment had&nbsp;Cuomo&nbsp;not stepped down,&nbsp;Heastie said.

Cuomo&nbsp;has denied any wrongdoing with regard to nursing home data as well as his book.

He&nbsp;still faces potential criminal investigations from several district attorneys' offices.

Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, will become the&nbsp;state's first female governor when she&nbsp;takes over for&nbsp;Cuomo. She&nbsp;announced on Thursday she&nbsp;intends to run for a full term in 2022.

Lawmakers in the New York Assembly have suspended their impeachment investigation of Governor Andrew Cuomo in light of his promise to step down from office over sexual harassment complaints, Speaker Carl Heastie said in a statement on Friday.

Lawmakers in the New York Assembly have suspended their impeachment investigation of Governor Andrew Cuomo in light of his promise to step down from office over sexual harassment complaints, Speaker Carl Heastie said in a statement on Friday. The Assembly, controlled by Cuomo's fellow Democrats, opened the impeachment investigation in March after at least two women who formerly worked for the governor went public with complaints that Cuomo had sexually harassed them. A damning report released this month by the state's attorney general concluded Cuomo had broken state and federal law by harassing at least 11 women, including aides and a state trooper. Also read | Businesses in Portland, Oregon, close early amid scorching heat Cuomo said on Tuesday he would resign and leave office in two weeks. He has denied harassing anyone, though he has acknowledged making some women uncomfortable by engaging in what he characterized as well-intentioned efforts to show affection. Heastie said the impeachment inquiry was no longer needed since its purpose was "to determine whether Governor Cuomo should remain in office." He also said lawmakers have been advised by legal counsel that the state's constitution does not allow the legislature to impeach an elected official who is no longer in office. If impeached in the state Assembly, Cuomo would have faced a trial in the state Senate, which also has a Democratic majority. A conviction would permit lawmakers to bar Cuomo from ever holding public office again. Prior to his resignation, Cuomo appeared almost certain to be impeached and ousted from office, as Democratic legislators abandoned him following the report from Attorney General Letitia James' office. The impeachment probe was not limited to the harassment allegations. Investigators were also examining whether the Cuomo administration deliberately under-reported nursing home deaths during the coronavirus pandemic as well as whether Cuomo improperly used state resources in penning a published memoir. While incomplete, the inquiry had gathered enough evidence to likely result in impeachment had Cuomo not stepped down, Heastie said. Cuomo has denied any wrongdoing with regard to nursing home data as well as his book. He still faces potential criminal investigations from several district attorneys' offices. Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, will become the state's first female governor when she takes over for Cuomo. She announced on Thursday she intends to run for a full term in 2022.

New York Assembly suspends Cuomo impeachment effort after his resignation

To celebrate the 75th Independence day, an organisation representing the Indian diaspora in the US has said it will be hoisting the biggest tricolour at Times Square in New York on August 15.

The magnificent flag will be unfurled by the consul general of India in New York, Randhir Jaiswal, according to the Federation of Indian Associations (FIA).

This ceremony will be a part of the day-long celebrations organised by FIA on August 15.

Also, the first India Day billboard at Times Square will be displayed for 24 hours, and, the Empire State Building will be lit in the colours of the Indian tricolour.

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The day will end with a gala cruise on the Hudson River to be attended by top government officials, special guests and members of the Indian American community.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/isros-eos-3-satellite-launch-on-gslv-mk2-rocket-fails-350-seconds-after-launch-404761">Also read |&nbsp;ISRO’s EOS-3 satellite launch on GSLV Mk2 rocket fails 350 seconds after launch</a>

An Independence Day message will also be displayed on the largest Jumbotron at Times Square for 24 hours.

Anil Bansal, FIA president, revealed that the organisation will also hoist the tricolour at the State Capital in Rhode Island.

As per the reports by PTI, &nbsp;Indian American sporting icons Abhimanyu Mishra, who at 12 is the youngest Grandmaster in chess history, and 17-year-old Samir Banerjee, who made history by winning the Wimbledon boys’ singles final last month, will be honoured at the event.&nbsp;

Mishra and Banerjee, who are from New Jersey, are expected to be present at the event Sunday.

To celebrate the 75th Independence day, an organisation representing the Indian diaspora in the US has said it will be hoisting the biggest tricolour at Times Square in New York on August 15.

To celebrate the 75th Independence day, an organisation representing the Indian diaspora in the US has said it will be hoisting the biggest tricolour at Times Square in New York on August 15. The magnificent flag will be unfurled by the consul general of India in New York, Randhir Jaiswal, according to the Federation of Indian Associations (FIA). This ceremony will be a part of the day-long celebrations organised by FIA on August 15. Also, the first India Day billboard at Times Square will be displayed for 24 hours, and, the Empire State Building will be lit in the colours of the Indian tricolour. Watch: Indian Flag hoisted at New York's times square https://t.co/rIv4TyG9Um pic.twitter.com/nUCwGdmogJ — Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) August 15, 2020 × The day will end with a gala cruise on the Hudson River to be attended by top government officials, special guests and members of the Indian American community. Also read | ISRO’s EOS-3 satellite launch on GSLV Mk2 rocket fails 350 seconds after launch An Independence Day message will also be displayed on the largest Jumbotron at Times Square for 24 hours. Anil Bansal, FIA president, revealed that the organisation will also hoist the tricolour at the State Capital in Rhode Island. As per the reports by PTI, Indian American sporting icons Abhimanyu Mishra, who at 12 is the youngest Grandmaster in chess history, and 17-year-old Samir Banerjee, who made history by winning the Wimbledon boys’ singles final last month, will be honoured at the event. Mishra and Banerjee, who are from New Jersey, are expected to be present at the event Sunday.

Indian diaspora organisation to hoist biggest tricolour at Times Square on Independence Day

The fall of Andrew Cuomo is more than a New York story. It is a story about abuse of power- both at political offices and in newsrooms. The scandal exposed the nexus between American networks like CNN and powerful men like Cuomo. Palki Sharma tells you all about it.

Gravitas: The fall of New York Governor Andrew Cuomo

President Biden has called on New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo to resign. This move came after an explosive new report released by the New York state attorney general's office on allegations of sexual harassment against the governor.

US President Biden calls upon New York Governor Andrew Cuomo to resign

As part of the new proof of vaccination program, New York City will create a health pass called the ‘Key to NYC Pass’.

NYC to require Covid vaccine proof for all indoor events

A funeral for rapper Biz Markie was held on Monday after the hip-hop personality known for his 1989 hit 'Just a Friend' died in July. 
 
Fans gathered outside the Patchogue Theatre on Long Island in New York during the service for the pioneering beatboxer whose birth name was Marcel Theo Hall. He was born in Harlem and raised in Patchogue. 
 
Police put up barricades to hold crowds on the sidewalks and keep the street in front of the theater clear. 
 
Media reports said a private viewing for the family was followed by a live-streamed service. The Rev. Al Sharpton tweeted that he was to deliver the eulogy. "May his legacy live on," the civil rights leader said on Twitter. 
 
Hip-hop performers LL Cool J, Fat Joe and Big Daddy Kane were set to attend, media reports said. 
 
Markie died on July 16 aged 57 of complications from diabetes. 
&nbsp;

A funeral for rapper Biz Markie was held on Monday after the hip-hop personality known for his 1989 hit 'Just a Friend' died in July. Fans gathered outside the Patchogue Theatre on Long Island in New York during the service for the pioneering beatboxer whose birth name was Marcel Theo Hall.

A funeral for rapper Biz Markie was held on Monday after the hip-hop personality known for his 1989 hit 'Just a Friend' died in July. Fans gathered outside the Patchogue Theatre on Long Island in New York during the service for the pioneering beatboxer whose birth name was Marcel Theo Hall. He was born in Harlem and raised in Patchogue. Police put up barricades to hold crowds on the sidewalks and keep the street in front of the theater clear. Media reports said a private viewing for the family was followed by a live-streamed service. The Rev. Al Sharpton tweeted that he was to deliver the eulogy. "May his legacy live on," the civil rights leader said on Twitter. Hip-hop performers LL Cool J, Fat Joe and Big Daddy Kane were set to attend, media reports said. Markie died on July 16 aged 57 of complications from diabetes.

Funeral service for rapper Biz Markie held in New York

Broadway’s theatre owners and operators, citing the ongoing dangers of the coronavirus pandemic, said Friday that they have decided to require that theatregoers be <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus-vaccine">vaccinated</a>&nbsp;against <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus">COVID-19</a> and wear masks in order to attend a performance.

The policy announced just days before the first Broadway play in more than 16 months is to start performances, allows children ineligible for vaccination to attend shows if tested for the virus. But some performing arts venues in New York say they will go even further: The Metropolitan Opera, which hopes to reopen in late September, and Carnegie Hall, which is planning to reopen in October, are planning not only to require vaccinations but also to bar children younger than 12 who are not yet eligible to be vaccinated.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/lifestyle/news-new-yorks-met-opera-mandates-vaccines-for-new-season-401064">New York's Met Opera mandates vaccines for new season</a>

The new vaccination requirements for visitors to New York’s most prominent performing arts venues come as the highly contagious delta variant has caused COVID-19 cases to rise, leading the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to recommend that vaccinated Americans in virus hot spots resume wearing masks indoors. Several major businesses, local governments and the federal government have recently decided to require their employees to get vaccinated or submit to frequent testing.

The Broadway rules, which will be in place at least through October and apply to all 41 Broadway theatres, require that audiences wear masks, except when eating or drinking.

The Broadway vaccination mandate will apply not only to audiences but also to performers, backstage crew and theatre staff. There will be limited exceptions: “people with a medical condition or closely held religious belief that prevents vaccination,” as well as children younger than 12, can attend with proof of a recent negative coronavirus test.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/new-york-offers-100-to-citizens-who-get-vaccinated-against-covid-19-401523">New York offers $100 to citizens who get vaccinated against COVID-19</a>

A vaccine mandate is already in place for Bruce Springsteen’s concert-show, which began performances in June, and for “Pass Over,” the new play that plans to start performances Aug. 4. The new rules will affect all of the shows that follow; 27, including many of the blockbuster musicals, plan to get underway in September and October, starting with “Hadestown” and “Waitress” on Sept. 2.

“We have said from day one that we want our casts, our crews and our audiences to be safe, and we believe that this is a precaution to ensure that,” said Charlotte St. Martin, president of the Broadway League. “We’re doing everything we can to open safely and protect everyone.”

Deciding what to do about young children has proved particularly vexing, given that no vaccine has yet been approved for pediatric use. Although Broadway, which has a number of shows that depend on ticket buying by families with children, has decided to allow those younger than 12 to attend if tested, the Met Opera, which draws fewer young children to most of its productions, is taking a more restrictive approach.

“Children under the age of 12, for whom there is no currently available vaccine, are not permitted to enter the Met regardless of the vaccination status of their guardian,” the company declares on its website.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/biden-to-make-coronavirus-vaccine-compulsory-for-federal-workers-reports-401159">Biden to make coronavirus vaccine compulsory for federal workers: Reports</a>

“Obviously, it’s painful to me personally and to the company not to have young people coming into the theater,” said Peter Gelb, general manager of the Met, who said that the company’s vaccination policies were designed to protect its roughly 3,000 employees and to make audiences feel comfortable about coming back and sitting in close quarters. The Met is also requiring all visiting artists and the members of its orchestra and chorus, as well as its staff, to be vaccinated.

Barring children younger than 12, for now, had been a difficult decision, Gelb said: “They are our future audience.”

Gelb said that he hoped children would become eligible for vaccines by December when the Met is planning two holiday presentations aimed at families and children: the company’s shortened, English-language version of “The Magic Flute,” and “Cinderella,” an English-language adaptation of Massenet’s “Cendrillon.”

Both Broadway and the Met are planning to open at full capacity, meaning no social distancing, and the Met says that masks will be optional. Broadway theatres range in size from 600-1,900 seats, while the Met can seat 3,800.

Broadway will provide additional safety measures backstage. An agreement announced Thursday between the Broadway League, a trade association representing producers as well as theatre owners, and Actors’ Equity Association, the labour union representing performers and stage managers, requires weekly testing for employees, as well as the vaccine mandate.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/new-york-govt-gives-new-incentives-for-people-getting-vaccinated-against-coronavirus-401500/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo">
The tough new rules for audiences are not entirely a surprise. “Springsteen on Broadway” and “Pass Over” have mandated audience vaccination, and Disney Theatrical Productions, which produces “The Lion King” and “Aladdin” on Broadway, required proof of vaccination by attendees at a four-night concert run this month at the New Amsterdam Theater. (Disney allowed those younger than 12 to enter if accompanied by a vaccinated adult.)

There are some venues staging work in New York without requiring vaccinations, but others have implemented mandates, including Madison Square Garden, which in June required vaccination for patrons at a Foo Fighters concert. The Park Avenue Armory, which had accepted proof of vaccination or a recent negative test for its first dance show this summer, has been getting stricter; all attendees must be fully vaccinated for its next show, a new work by choreographer Bill T. Jones called “Deep Blue Sea” that is scheduled to start performances in September.

Broadway theatres are especially high-visibility and especially challenging since they draw audiences of all ages and from all over the world to sit side by side in tightly packed buildings with small lobbies and bathrooms and cramped backstage areas. Gov. Andrew Cuomo of New York had suggested in May that Broadway should consider a vaccination mandate, but some producers had hoped to avoid such a step, fearing that it could dampen attendance at a time when tourism is down and consumer readiness to return to theatergoing remains uncertain. The recent rise in transmission persuaded the industry’s leadership to set aside those concerns and embrace the vaccination mandate, at least for the next few months.
</div>

For those who have already purchased tickets and are unwilling or unable to comply with the new policies, there are likely to be options: Most shows have adopted liberal refund and exchange policies for the fall.

The League said that in September it would reassess safety protocols for performances in November and beyond.

Broadway’s theatre owners and operators, citing the ongoing dangers of the coronavirus pandemic, said Friday that they have decided to require that theatregoers be vaccinated against COVID-19 and wear masks in order to attend a performance.

Broadway’s theatre owners and operators, citing the ongoing dangers of the coronavirus pandemic, said Friday that they have decided to require that theatregoers be vaccinated against COVID-19 and wear masks in order to attend a performance. The policy announced just days before the first Broadway play in more than 16 months is to start performances, allows children ineligible for vaccination to attend shows if tested for the virus. But some performing arts venues in New York say they will go even further: The Metropolitan Opera, which hopes to reopen in late September, and Carnegie Hall, which is planning to reopen in October, are planning not only to require vaccinations but also to bar children younger than 12 who are not yet eligible to be vaccinated. Also read | New York's Met Opera mandates vaccines for new season The new vaccination requirements for visitors to New York’s most prominent performing arts venues come as the highly contagious delta variant has caused COVID-19 cases to rise, leading the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to recommend that vaccinated Americans in virus hot spots resume wearing masks indoors. Several major businesses, local governments and the federal government have recently decided to require their employees to get vaccinated or submit to frequent testing. The Broadway rules, which will be in place at least through October and apply to all 41 Broadway theatres, require that audiences wear masks, except when eating or drinking. The Broadway vaccination mandate will apply not only to audiences but also to performers, backstage crew and theatre staff. There will be limited exceptions: “people with a medical condition or closely held religious belief that prevents vaccination,” as well as children younger than 12, can attend with proof of a recent negative coronavirus test. Also read | New York offers $100 to citizens who get vaccinated against COVID-19 A vaccine mandate is already in place for Bruce Springsteen’s concert-show, which began performances in June, and for “Pass Over,” the new play that plans to start performances Aug. 4. The new rules will affect all of the shows that follow; 27, including many of the blockbuster musicals, plan to get underway in September and October, starting with “Hadestown” and “Waitress” on Sept. 2. “We have said from day one that we want our casts, our crews and our audiences to be safe, and we believe that this is a precaution to ensure that,” said Charlotte St. Martin, president of the Broadway League. “We’re doing everything we can to open safely and protect everyone.” Deciding what to do about young children has proved particularly vexing, given that no vaccine has yet been approved for pediatric use. Although Broadway, which has a number of shows that depend on ticket buying by families with children, has decided to allow those younger than 12 to attend if tested, the Met Opera, which draws fewer young children to most of its productions, is taking a more restrictive approach. “Children under the age of 12, for whom there is no currently available vaccine, are not permitted to enter the Met regardless of the vaccination status of their guardian,” the company declares on its website. Also read | Biden to make coronavirus vaccine compulsory for federal workers: Reports “Obviously, it’s painful to me personally and to the company not to have young people coming into the theater,” said Peter Gelb, general manager of the Met, who said that the company’s vaccination policies were designed to protect its roughly 3,000 employees and to make audiences feel comfortable about coming back and sitting in close quarters. The Met is also requiring all visiting artists and the members of its orchestra and chorus, as well as its staff, to be vaccinated. Barring children younger than 12, for now, had been a difficult decision, Gelb said: “They are our future audience.” Gelb said that he hoped children would become eligible for vaccines by December when the Met is planning two holiday presentations aimed at families and children: the company’s shortened, English-language version of “The Magic Flute,” and “Cinderella,” an English-language adaptation of Massenet’s “Cendrillon.” Both Broadway and the Met are planning to open at full capacity, meaning no social distancing, and the Met says that masks will be optional. Broadway theatres range in size from 600-1,900 seats, while the Met can seat 3,800. Broadway will provide additional safety measures backstage. An agreement announced Thursday between the Broadway League, a trade association representing producers as well as theatre owners, and Actors’ Equity Association, the labour union representing performers and stage managers, requires weekly testing for employees, as well as the vaccine mandate. The tough new rules for audiences are not entirely a surprise. “Springsteen on Broadway” and “Pass Over” have mandated audience vaccination, and Disney Theatrical Productions, which produces “The Lion King” and “Aladdin” on Broadway, required proof of vaccination by attendees at a four-night concert run this month at the New Amsterdam Theater. (Disney allowed those younger than 12 to enter if accompanied by a vaccinated adult.) There are some venues staging work in New York without requiring vaccinations, but others have implemented mandates, including Madison Square Garden, which in June required vaccination for patrons at a Foo Fighters concert. The Park Avenue Armory, which had accepted proof of vaccination or a recent negative test for its first dance show this summer, has been getting stricter; all attendees must be fully vaccinated for its next show, a new work by choreographer Bill T. Jones called “Deep Blue Sea” that is scheduled to start performances in September. Broadway theatres are especially high-visibility and especially challenging since they draw audiences of all ages and from all over the world to sit side by side in tightly packed buildings with small lobbies and bathrooms and cramped backstage areas. Gov. Andrew Cuomo of New York had suggested in May that Broadway should consider a vaccination mandate, but some producers had hoped to avoid such a step, fearing that it could dampen attendance at a time when tourism is down and consumer readiness to return to theatergoing remains uncertain. The recent rise in transmission persuaded the industry’s leadership to set aside those concerns and embrace the vaccination mandate, at least for the next few months. For those who have already purchased tickets and are unwilling or unable to comply with the new policies, there are likely to be options: Most shows have adopted liberal refund and exchange policies for the fall. The League said that in September it would reassess safety protocols for performances in November and beyond.

Broadway audiences will need proof of vaccination and masks

Ride-hailing company&nbsp;Didi&nbsp;Global on Thursday denied a media report that the company was considering going private to placate Chinese authorities and compensate investor losses since it listed in the United States.

The Wall Street Journal, citing people familiar with the matter, reported that the Chinese company has been mulling delisting plans as a crackdown in China widens and it has received support from cybersecurity regulators.

Didi, which listed in New York last month after raising $4.4 billion in an initial public offering (IPO), said in a statement that the WSJ report was not true.

"The company affirms that the above information is not true," it said, in reference to the report. "The company is fully cooperating with the relevant government authorities in China in the cybersecurity review of the company."

Shares in&nbsp;Didi&nbsp;jumped as much as 40% in premarket trade on news of the WSJ report, but pared gains when trading opened on Wall Street.&nbsp;Didi&nbsp;rose 11.2% from Wednesday to close at $9.86 a share, but is down 29.6% from its listing price on June 30.

Days after&nbsp;Didi's market debut, the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) launched an investigation into the company and asked it to stop registering new users, citing national security and the public interest.

The regulator also said it would remove the mobile apps operated by&nbsp;Didi&nbsp;from app stores.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/chinese-regulators-suggested-ride-hailing-giant-didi-delay-its-us-ipo-report-396087">Also read |&nbsp;Chinese regulators suggested ride-hailing giant Didi delay its US IPO: Report</a>

Didi's listing was the biggest stock sale by a Chinese company since the 2014 listing of e-commerce behemoth Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.

The action against&nbsp;Didi&nbsp;came close on the heels of a month-long regulatory crackdown on China's massive internet sector for antitrust, customer data privacy and other violations, which has rattled investors.

Beijing said earlier this month that officials from at least seven departments, including the CAC, Ministry of Transport, and State Administration for Market Regulation (SMAR) were conducting an on-site cybersecurity review of&nbsp;Didi.

The CAC had been looking into whether there is a possibility of some of the company's data ending up in the hands of a foreign entity given Beijing's sensitivity about usage of onshore data, sources have told Reuters.

Didi&nbsp;has been in talks with bankers, regulators and key investors to try to resolve the problems following its listing on the New York Stock Exchange, the WSJ report said.&nbsp;

The WSJ reported that&nbsp;Didi&nbsp;had asked its major underwriters to assess investors' views regarding a privatisation plan, as well as the pricing range that they would accept.

A take-private deal that would involve a tender offer for its publicly traded shares is one of the preliminary options being considered, the WSJ report said.

Chinese companies have been under increasing US&nbsp;scrutiny.

A commissioner with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission said on Monday that US-listed Chinese companies must disclose the risks of Chinese government interference in their business as part of their regular reporting obligations.

The SEC in March adopted measures that would kick foreign companies off American stock exchanges if they do not comply with US&nbsp;auditing standards. The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board has long complained about its lack of access in China.

Ride-hailing company Didi Global on Thursday denied a media report that the company was considering going private to placate Chinese authorities and compensate investor losses since it listed in the United States.

Ride-hailing company Didi Global on Thursday denied a media report that the company was considering going private to placate Chinese authorities and compensate investor losses since it listed in the United States. The Wall Street Journal, citing people familiar with the matter, reported that the Chinese company has been mulling delisting plans as a crackdown in China widens and it has received support from cybersecurity regulators. Didi, which listed in New York last month after raising $4.4 billion in an initial public offering (IPO), said in a statement that the WSJ report was not true. "The company affirms that the above information is not true," it said, in reference to the report. "The company is fully cooperating with the relevant government authorities in China in the cybersecurity review of the company." Shares in Didi jumped as much as 40% in premarket trade on news of the WSJ report, but pared gains when trading opened on Wall Street. Didi rose 11.2% from Wednesday to close at $9.86 a share, but is down 29.6% from its listing price on June 30. Days after Didi's market debut, the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) launched an investigation into the company and asked it to stop registering new users, citing national security and the public interest. The regulator also said it would remove the mobile apps operated by Didi from app stores. Also read | Chinese regulators suggested ride-hailing giant Didi delay its US IPO: Report Didi's listing was the biggest stock sale by a Chinese company since the 2014 listing of e-commerce behemoth Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. The action against Didi came close on the heels of a month-long regulatory crackdown on China's massive internet sector for antitrust, customer data privacy and other violations, which has rattled investors. Beijing said earlier this month that officials from at least seven departments, including the CAC, Ministry of Transport, and State Administration for Market Regulation (SMAR) were conducting an on-site cybersecurity review of Didi. The CAC had been looking into whether there is a possibility of some of the company's data ending up in the hands of a foreign entity given Beijing's sensitivity about usage of onshore data, sources have told Reuters. Didi has been in talks with bankers, regulators and key investors to try to resolve the problems following its listing on the New York Stock Exchange, the WSJ report said. The WSJ reported that Didi had asked its major underwriters to assess investors' views regarding a privatisation plan, as well as the pricing range that they would accept. A take-private deal that would involve a tender offer for its publicly traded shares is one of the preliminary options being considered, the WSJ report said. Chinese companies have been under increasing US scrutiny. A commissioner with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission said on Monday that US-listed Chinese companies must disclose the risks of Chinese government interference in their business as part of their regular reporting obligations. The SEC in March adopted measures that would kick foreign companies off American stock exchanges if they do not comply with US auditing standards. The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board has long complained about its lack of access in China.

Didi Global denies media report it plans to go private after $4.4 billion New York IPO

The mayor of New York has announced a program that offers $100 to New Yorkers who get the COVID-19 vaccination.

Mayor Bill de Blasio reportedly announced that the city will offer the incentive to every adult citizen who gets their first dose of the coronavirus vaccine&nbsp;from a city-run vaccination site.

The&nbsp;development comes&nbsp;as people remain sceptical of vaccines, even as COVID-19 infections in the US spike as the more infectious Delta variant keeps spreading.

<iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/new-york-govt-gives-new-incentives-for-people-getting-vaccinated-against-coronavirus-401500/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe>

"I think when someone says, here's one hundred dollars for you, that's going to make a big impact," said de Blasio during a&nbsp;news conference.

In another development, as per reports, New York state employees must get vaccinated against COVID-19 or get tested, a mandate that goes into effect on Labor Day. The move was announced by Governor Andrew Cuomo on Wednesday.

Vaccination will be required for all healthcare workers working in state hospitals, Cuomo said, however, no testing option will be made available.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/biden-to-make-coronavirus-vaccine-compulsory-for-federal-workers-reports-401159">Biden to make coronavirus vaccine compulsory for federal workers: Reports</a>

"That is a point of contact that could be a serious spreading event, and we want to make sure that those healthcare workers are vaccinated, period," the governor said.

(With inputs from agencies)

The mayor of New York has announced a program that offers $100 to New Yorkers who get the COVID-19 vaccination. Mayor Bill de Blasio reportedly announced that the city will offer the incentive to every adult citizen who gets their first dose of the coronavirus vaccine from a city-run vaccination site.

The mayor of New York has announced a program that offers $100 to New Yorkers who get the COVID-19 vaccination. Mayor Bill de Blasio reportedly announced that the city will offer the incentive to every adult citizen who gets their first dose of the coronavirus vaccine from a city-run vaccination site. The development comes as people remain sceptical of vaccines, even as COVID-19 infections in the US spike as the more infectious Delta variant keeps spreading. "I think when someone says, here's one hundred dollars for you, that's going to make a big impact," said de Blasio during a news conference. In another development, as per reports, New York state employees must get vaccinated against COVID-19 or get tested, a mandate that goes into effect on Labor Day. The move was announced by Governor Andrew Cuomo on Wednesday. Vaccination will be required for all healthcare workers working in state hospitals, Cuomo said, however, no testing option will be made available. Also read | Biden to make coronavirus vaccine compulsory for federal workers: Reports "That is a point of contact that could be a serious spreading event, and we want to make sure that those healthcare workers are vaccinated, period," the governor said. (With inputs from agencies)

New York offers $100 to citizens who get vaccinated against COVID-19

As COVID cases surge in New York, the state govt is giving new incentives for people who are getting vaccinated against Coronavirus. Starting this Friday, anyone who goes to a city vaccination site for taking the first dose of COVID vaccination will receive 100 dollars.

New York govt gives new incentives for people getting vaccinated against Coronavirus

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