News Analysis India

Tag: New York

  • Another Indian Student Dies In Ohio; Probe Underway, Says Indian Consulate world news

    OHIO: Another Indian student has tragically passed away in the state of Ohio, United States, with the Indian Consulate in New York confirming the incident on Friday. Identified as Uma Satya Sai Gadde, the circumstances surrounding his death remain shrouded in mystery as police delve into the investigation. Expressing deep sorrow over the loss, the Indian Consulate in New York conveyed its condolences to the bereaved family, highlighting its efforts to provide comprehensive support during this difficult time. This includes facilitating the repatriation of Gadde’s mortal remains to India promptly.

    Deeply saddened by the unfortunate demise of Mr. Uma Satya Sai Gadde, an Indian student in Cleveland, Ohio.

    Police investigation is underway. @IndiainNewYork continues to remain in touch with the family in India.

    All possible assistance is being extended including to transport… — India in New York (@IndiainNewYork) April 5, 2024

    Police Investigation Underway

    Authorities are currently engaged in a thorough investigation to ascertain the cause of Gadde’s untimely demise. The Consulate assured continued coordination with the family in India and pledged unwavering assistance throughout the investigative process. This unfortunate incident unfolds against a backdrop of increasing concerns surrounding the welfare and safety of Indian students residing in the United States.

    Rising Concerns Over Safety

    In a distressing trend, incidents involving Indian students in the US have garnered attention in recent times, prompting calls for heightened vigilance and security measures. In March, the disappearance of 25-year-old Mohammed Abdul Arafat, a student from Hyderabad, sparked alarm among his family members. After receiving a ransom call following Arafat’s disappearance, his family sought urgent intervention from the External Affairs Ministry.

    Previous Incidents Highlight Vulnerability

    This recent tragedy follows a series of distressing events involving Indian students abroad. Earlier this year, Syed Mazahir Ali, a student from Hyderabad, fell victim to a brutal attack in Chicago, underscoring the vulnerability faced by students studying overseas.

    Similarly, the harrowing accounts of Neel Acharya and Vivek Saini serve as grim reminders of the dangers encountered by Indian students abroad. Acharya, a student at Purdue University, was found deceased after days of being reported missing, while Saini tragically succumbed to a violent assault in Georgia.

    As investigations into these incidents continue, concerns over the safety and security of Indian students studying abroad persist. The Indian government and diplomatic missions remain steadfast in their commitment to providing assistance and support to affected individuals and their families.

    Since the beginning of 2024, there have been at least 10 deaths involving Indian or Indian-origin students in the US.

  • New York Judge To Begin Donald Trump ‘Hush Money’ Case Trial From April 15 | world news

    New York: A New York judge has announced that the trial of former US President Donald Trump’s hush money case will commence on April 15, marking the initiation of his first criminal trial this spring. Despite Trump’s attempts to delay all four of his criminal cases beyond the election, Judge Juan Merchan rejected his requests during a recent hearing, ruling in favor of proceeding with the trial as planned.

    Trump sought to have his case dismissed or delayed further, citing newly turned-over documents and accusing Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg of misconduct. However, Merchan dismissed these requests, emphasizing the prosecution’s compliance with discovery obligations. The trial’s jury selection is set to begin on April 15, as per the judge’s ruling.

    The trial was originally slated to commence on Monday but faced a last-minute delay due to a disagreement over newly disclosed documents. The US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York provided over 100,000 pages of records in recent weeks, leading to disputes between the involved parties regarding the timing of their disclosure.

    During the hearing, Trump was accompanied by several lawyers, maintaining a composed demeanor while occasionally engaging in whispered discussions. Despite the delay, Trump reiterated his belief that the case was politically motivated, suggesting it was an attempt to hinder his involvement in the upcoming elections.

    Charges Against Trump

    Trump faces 34 counts of falsifying business records related to reimbursements to his former attorney, Michael Cohen, who paid adult film star Stormy Daniels $130,000 before the 2016 election to keep silent about an alleged affair with Trump. While Trump has admitted to the reimbursements, he denies the affair and has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

    In court, Trump’s defense team and prosecutors clashed over the significance of the newly disclosed documents. Trump’s attorney claimed there were “thousands and thousands” of relevant records, while prosecutors estimated around 300. The defense argued that the prosecution should have provided these documents earlier to allow for adequate preparation, a point contested by the judge.

    Judge Merchan expressed frustration with the defense’s accusations of prosecutorial misconduct, demanding evidence to support their claims. He emphasized the seriousness of such allegations and criticized the defense for lacking precedent to substantiate their position, highlighting the gravity of the accusations against the Manhattan DA’s office.

  • Pulitzer-winning Kashmiri photojournalist stopped from flying abroad again

    By Online Desk

    NEW DELHI: Kashmiri photojournalist and Pulitzer award winner Sanna Irshad Mattoo was stopped by immigration authorities from flying to New York.

    This is the second time in three months that Mattoo is being stopped by immigration officials at Delhi airport without giving a valid reason for stopping her from flying abroad. 

    “I was on my way to receive the Pulitzer award (@Pulitzerprizes) in New York but I was stopped at immigration at Delhi airport and barred from traveling internationally despite holding a valid US visa and ticket,” she tweeted on Tuesday. 

    I was on my way to receive the Pulitzer award ( @Pulitzerprizes) in New York but I was stopped at immigration at Delhi airport and barred from traveling internationally despite holding a valid US visa and ticket. pic.twitter.com/btGPiLlasK
    — Sanna Irshad Mattoo (@mattoosanna) October 18, 2022
    On July 2, Mattoo was stopped from flying to Paris. At the time, the photojournalist was on her way to attend a book launch and photography exhibition when she was told by officials at Delhi airport that she cannot fly abroad.

    In the last three years, Kashmiri journalist Gowhar Geelani, journalist-turned-academician Zahid Rafiq  and journalist Ruwa Shah were prevented from travelling abroad.  

    NEW DELHI: Kashmiri photojournalist and Pulitzer award winner Sanna Irshad Mattoo was stopped by immigration authorities from flying to New York.

    This is the second time in three months that Mattoo is being stopped by immigration officials at Delhi airport without giving a valid reason for stopping her from flying abroad. 

    “I was on my way to receive the Pulitzer award (@Pulitzerprizes) in New York but I was stopped at immigration at Delhi airport and barred from traveling internationally despite holding a valid US visa and ticket,” she tweeted on Tuesday. 

    I was on my way to receive the Pulitzer award ( @Pulitzerprizes) in New York but I was stopped at immigration at Delhi airport and barred from traveling internationally despite holding a valid US visa and ticket. pic.twitter.com/btGPiLlasK
    — Sanna Irshad Mattoo (@mattoosanna) October 18, 2022
    On July 2, Mattoo was stopped from flying to Paris. At the time, the photojournalist was on her way to attend a book launch and photography exhibition when she was told by officials at Delhi airport that she cannot fly abroad.

    In the last three years, Kashmiri journalist Gowhar Geelani, journalist-turned-academician Zahid Rafiq  and journalist Ruwa Shah were prevented from travelling abroad. 
     

  • Cardi B offers to pay funeral costs of Bronx fire Victims

    By Associated Press

    UNITED STATES: Cardi B has offered to pay the burial costs for all 17 people killed in a fire that ripped through a New York City high-rise.

    New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced Wednesday that the Grammy-winning rapper had offered financial relief for victims of the fire in the Bronx, where she grew up.

    Many of the victims had ties to Gambia, and the families of several of the victims planned to bury them in their West African homeland. Cardi B has committed to paying the repatriation expenses for the victims who will be buried in Gambia, the mayor’s office said.

    “I’m extremely proud to be from the Bronx and I have lots of family and friends who live and work there still. So, when I heard about the fire and all of the victims, I knew I needed to do something to help,” Cardi B in a statement.

    “I cannot begin to imagine the pain and anguish that the families of the victims are experiencing, but I hope that not having to worry about the costs associated with burying their loved ones will help as they move forward and heal. I send my prayers and condolences to everyone affected by this horrific tragedy.”

    The fire, which was New York City’s deadliest in three decades, was sparked by a faulty space heater, according to authorities.

  • PM Modi leaves for New York, set to address UNGA tomorrow

    By ANI

    WASHINGTON: After holding marathon meetings in the last two days, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday evening (local time) left for New York, where he is scheduled to address at the 76th session of UNGA.

    PM Modi arrived in Washington for a three-day visit to the country on Wednesday, his first beyond neighbourhood since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

    The Prime Minister held bilateral meetings with US President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris here. He also met his Australian counterpart Scott Morrison and Japanese PM Yoshihide Suga. PM Modi also participated in the first in-person Quad meeting after COVID-19.

    He also held meetings with five global CEOs for potential investment in India on Thursday.

    PM Modi’s US visit will conclude on September 25 with an address at the United Nations General Assembly focusing on the pressing global challenges including the COVID-19 pandemic, the need to combat terrorism, climate change and other important issues.

    The theme for this year’s General Debate is ‘Building Resilience through hope to recover from COVID-19, rebuild sustainably, respond to the needs of the planet, respect the rights of people, and revitalise the United Nations’.

  • Rapper Nicki Minaj’s dad killed in hit-and-run near New York

    By IANS
    LOS ANGELES: Robert Maraj, father of rapper Nicki Minaj, was killed in a hit-and-run case near New York. 

    According to police, Maraj, 64, was hit by a car on Friday when he was walking on a road in Mineola, Long Island, reports hollywoodreporter.com.

    He was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead on Saturday.

    While Minaj’s representative confirmed her father’s death, she has yet to comment on the incident.

    Previously, Minaj had opened up about how her father was abusive towards her mother, and recalled how he once set fire to their house while her mother was inside.

    “I remember when my mother would let my father be violent with her and she always brings up this story about when I was a little girl and I would stand in front of my mother (with my arms out to protect her),” Minaj said in a clip that features in her documentary that she posted on Instagram in 2018.

  • BlackBerry KEY2 to Launch at June 7

    BlackBerry KEY2, the successor to BlackBerry KEYone smartphone will launch next month. BlackBerry has not only made it clear that it is still around but is also ready to announce its next smartphone. The company had launched the BlackBerry KEYone, a premium Android handset with BlackBerry’s signature QWERTY keypad, last year. Now, the BlackBerry KEY2 appears ready to be its successor. The smartphone will be announced in New York on June 7.

    Announced on Twitter on Friday, BlackBerry will host a launch event on June 7 in NewYork at 10am ET(7:30pm IST) to officially announce the BlackBerry KEY2. As of now, there is no clarity on what BlackBerry will pack in the KEYone successor, but there is no doubt that it will have a physical keyboard, which was a massive part of the company’s success in its heydays.

    In January, BlackBerry Mobile President Alain Lejeune had confirmed that the company is working on at least two new smartphones for 2018. Last month, a mysterious BlackBerry handset, codenamed ‘Athena’, appeared in a Chinese certification site. The TENAA listing had revealed several specifications and other details of the alleged BlackBerry KEY2.

    The TENAA listing showcased a dual rear camera setup on the BlackBerry handset that carried model number BBF100-4. Also, a few leaked images provided a closure look at its design and highlight all the key differences between the BlackBerry KEYone and its successor. As per the images available on the TENAA site, the smartphone will have a complete rubberised, textured panel on the back. This is contrary to the back panel on the BlackBerry KEYone that didn’t have a textured design above the rear camera setup.

    The QWERTY keyboard on the BlackBerry KEY2 is likely to support gestures and a multitouch-supported display that is expected to come in 3:2 aspect ratio. On the top, the smartphone could have a 3.5mm audio jack, while its bottom might have a USB Type-C port. The TENAA listing also highlighted that the handset has a 4G LTE and includes dual-SIM support.

    Meanwhile, other leaked images had suggested that the KEY2 will have a plastic build. The keys on the full QWERTY keyboard of the handset also have a matte finish. Also, there are some rumours that the handset will debut with a Snapdragon 660 SoC, coupled with 6GB of RAM, and Android Oreo.