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Columbia University set a midnight deadline late on Tuesday for an encampment of student protesters to disband, after which New York City police could be sent in to clear the grounds and make arrests. After the deadline passed there was confusion inside the campus about whether it had been extended or whether the encampment would be cleared. In an email to the university two hours before midnight, Columbia’s president, Nemat Shafik, said university administrators were in talks with student organizers in an attempt to reach an agreement before the deadline, after which the school would consider “alternative options” for clearing the lawn. That touched off criticism from all sides about her handling of the campus protests. The encampment re-emerged larger than the initial one after it was cleared.

Persons: Nemat Shafik, Shafik Organizations: Columbia University, New Locations: New York City, Gaza

☆ Flaco, Escaped Central Park Zoo Owl and Defier of Doubts, Is Dead
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-23 | by ( Ed Shanahan | More About Ed Shanahan | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

Flaco, the Eurasian eagle-owl whose escape from the Central Park Zoo and subsequent life on the loose in Manhattan captured the public’s attention, died Friday night after apparently striking a building on the Upper West Side, officials said. The Wildlife Conservation Society, which operates the zoo, said in a statement that Flaco had been found on the ground after hitting a building on West 89th Street. Building residents contacted the Wild Bird Fund, a rescue organization, whose staff members responded quickly, retrieved him and declared him dead a short time later, the society said. Zoo employees took him to the Bronx Zoo, where a necropsy will be performed to determine the cause of death. He would have turned 14 next month.

Persons: Flaco Organizations: Central Park Zoo, Wildlife Conservation Society, Bird Fund, Zoo, Bronx Zoo Locations: Manhattan

☆ Japanese Crime Boss Trafficked Nuclear Material From Myanmar, U.S. Says
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-21 | by ( Ed Shanahan | More About Ed Shanahan | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

A man identified by federal prosecutors as a leader of Japan’s Yakuza organized crime syndicate was charged on Wednesday with trafficking uranium and plutonium from Myanmar with the expectation that Iran would use the material to make nuclear weapons. The man, Takeshi Ebisawa, is accused of conspiring with a network of associates to sell the weapons-grade material and illegal narcotics and to buy surface-to-air missiles on behalf of an ethnic insurgent group in Myanmar, the country formerly known as Burma. “It is impossible to overstate the seriousness of the conduct alleged in today’s indictment,” Damian Williams, the U.S. attorney in Manhattan, said in announcing the charges. Mr. Ebisawa, 60, is being held in a federal jail in Brooklyn after being charged, along with three co-defendants, with international drug and weapons trafficking crimes in 2022. A lawyer representing him in connection with that indictment did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Wednesday.

Persons: Japan’s, Takeshi Ebisawa, ” Damian Williams, Ebisawa Locations: Myanmar, Iran, Burma, U.S, Manhattan, Brooklyn

☆ 5 Takeaways From U.S. Charges of Failed Plot to Kill Sikh Activist
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Ed Shanahan | More About Ed Shanahan | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Federal prosecutors on Wednesday charged an Indian national in a murder-for-hire scheme targeting a Sikh separatist and activist in New York who is a U.S. citizen and has been outspoken in calling for a Sikh-majority homeland. The assassination plot was organized by an Indian government official and linked to the June killing of a Sikh separatist in Canada who was fatally shot by masked gunmen outside a Sikh temple, according to an indictment filed in federal court in New York. Here are five takeaways from the foiled plot, as described by prosecutors. The New York plot was focused on a prominent Sikh separatist. Mr. Pannun is a vocal proponent of independence for Punjab, a northern Indian state that is home to a large number of Sikhs.

Persons: Biden’s, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, Pannun Organizations: The, New, Punjab Locations: New York, U.S, Canada, United States, India, China, Russia, York, Indian

☆ Man Who Stormed Capitol as Princeton Student Gets 2-Month Prison Term
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( Ed Shanahan | More About Ed Shanahan | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

A 22-year-old New Jersey man was sentenced to two months in prison on Wednesday for taking part, as a Princeton University student, in the storming of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, by a mob loyal to former President Donald J. Trump. The man, Larry F. Giberson Jr., pleaded guilty in July to civil disorder, a felony, after federal prosecutors charged him with that crime and several misdemeanors, according to court records. The misdemeanors were dismissed as part of Mr. Giberson’s plea agreement, court records show. He was also sentenced to six months of supervised release under home detention. Image Larry Giberson Credit... via FBIBefore being sentenced, Mr. Giberson, of Manahawkin, N.J., expressed remorse in court for what he called his “careless and thoughtless actions,” The Associated Press reported.

Persons: Donald J, Trump, Larry F, Giberson Jr, Giberson, Giberson’s, Larry Giberson Organizations: Princeton University, U.S, Capitol, FBI, Associated Press Locations: New Jersey, Manahawkin, N.J

An Erie County, N.Y., judge on Wednesday set aside the convictions of two men who, despite their protests of innocence, were found guilty in the grisly 1993 murder of a young mother outside Buffalo. Justice Wojtaszek ordered that the two men, Brian Scott Lorenz and James Pugh, be granted new trials in the slaying of the young mother, Deborah Meindl, who was killed in her home in Tonawanda, N.Y. The judge rejected the men’s assertions of innocence. But he ruled that new trials were warranted because of new evidence, and because the original prosecutors had violated rules governing the sharing of evidence. The Erie County District Attorney’s Office said it would be appealing the judge’s decision.

Persons: Justice Paul B, Richard Matt, New York jailbreak, Justice Wojtaszek, Brian Scott Lorenz, James Pugh, Deborah Meindl Organizations: Court, Attorney’s Locations: Erie County, N.Y, Buffalo, New York, Tonawanda

Lailing Yu, who lives a block from the crime scene, said she had been horrified when she received a video on her phone of two officers clutching the bloodied children. “I was shocked,” Ms. Yu said, as she stood with others who had gathered outside the five-story brick building where Ms. Zhao, her children and Mr. Ye lived. Arriving at the apartment early in the afternoon, the man found Ms. Zhao and her children lying in pools of blood in the kitchen area and called 911, Ms. Chu said. Mr. Ye’s son was taken to a police precinct, where he remained with his mother, Ms. Chu said. Ms. Zhao’s husband had been sent to Ohio for work and had been trying desperately to return to New York all afternoon, Ms. Chu said.

Persons: Lailing Yu, “, ” Ms, Yu, Zhao, Ye, Chu, Ye’s, Zhao’s Locations: Ohio, New York

On the second day of his trip to Israel, Mayor Eric Adams of New York City will seek to strike a political balance by meeting with Benjamin Netanyahu, the prime minister, and with leaders of the country’s pro-democracy protest movement. On Tuesday morning, Mr. Adams met with protest leaders, although his office did not specify which leaders or where the meeting was being held, and reporters were barred from attending. Later, at around 5 p.m. local time, Mr. Adams planned to meet with Mr. Netanyahu — part of a routine itinerary for New York mayors who have long visited Israel to show solidarity with Jewish voters in the city. But the political implications of such a meeting may be more fraught than usual, following the move by Mr. Netanyahu and his far-right government to limit the powers of Israel’s judiciary. The rollback, part of a broader fight over the country’s future, has prompted widespread protests among those who fear that Israel is abandoning its democratic traditions.

Persons: Eric Adams, Benjamin Netanyahu, Adams, Netanyahu Organizations: New, Mr, New York, Jewish Locations: Israel, New York City, New

☆ Man Guilty in Attack on Black Lives Matter Protest With Claw and Car
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-21 | by ( Ed Shanahan | More About Ed Shanahan | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

A Queens man who menaced a peaceful group of Black Lives Matter protesters with a bladed glove and then drove his car at them faces a long prison term after being convicted on nine attempted murder counts and other charges, officials said on Monday. The man, Frank Cavalluzzi, was found guilty after a two-week jury trial, Melinda Katz, the Queens district attorney, said in a statement. He faces up to 25 years in prison on each of the attempted murder counts, officials said. “A dangerous man is going to jail,” Ms. Katz said. “It’s a good day for New York and the First Amendment.”

Persons: Frank Cavalluzzi, Melinda Katz, Cavalluzzi, ” Ms, Katz, “, ” Locations: Queens, Flushing, New York

☆ New York City Has ‘Tepid’ Plans for Fixing Rikers, Monitor Says
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-07 | by ( Ed Shanahan | More About Ed Shanahan | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

If New York City officials feel any urgency about fixing the persistent problems at the Rikers Island jail complex, they are not showing it, according to a report filed on Monday by the federal official appointed to monitor the lockup. The monitor, Steve J. Martin, writes in the report that the city Correction Department’s most recent efforts toward improving conditions at the Rikers complex have been “haphazard, tepid and insubstantial.”In describing the dysfunction that has come to define the jails, Mr. Martin detailed two episodes that occurred at Rikers in the past several months. One involved a correction officer who stood by as a group of detainees assaulted a man in their unit. The other involved detainees who were pepper sprayed for no reason during an unofficial “hostage drill.”The report’s findings are striking given the increasing possibility that the city could be forced to relinquish at least some control over its jails, which have been troubled for decades and plunged into their latest crisis in March 2020 with the Covid-19 pandemic. A hearing on the future stewardship of the jails is scheduled for Wednesday.

Persons: Steve J, Martin Organizations: New York Locations: New York City, Rikers

One of those in the crowd, Josh Ortiz, who lives in the Brownsville section of Brooklyn, said he was at the park to see the two YouTube personalities. “I just came out because I wanted to see them,” Mr. Ortiz, 18, said. “I think a lot of kids thought they could get a free PC or PlayStation and start making money, but I just wanted to see Kai. He’s the biggest Black creator in America right now.”He said things had initially been peaceful but that a few people had “started going crazy.”“It’s between bothersome and funny,” he said. “There was a big explosion just a second ago, but if you know, like I do, that it’s just kids with fireworks, then it gets kind of funny.”Mr. Ortiz said Mr. Cenat deserved some blame for the chaos.

Persons: Josh Ortiz, “, ” Mr, Ortiz, Kai, ”, Mr, Cenat, wasn’t Organizations: YouTube, Best Locations: Brownsville, Brooklyn, America

☆ Bishop Accused of Abuse Gets Married After Bid to Quit Church Is Denied
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-01 | by ( Ed Shanahan | More About Ed Shanahan | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

As the leader of a diocese with its headquarters in New York’s capital, Bishop Hubbard was a political as well as a religious figure. In 2004, he was accused of having sexual relationships with several men and a street hustler decades earlier. An outside investigation he requested subsequently cleared him of sexual misconduct. He was informed in March that the Vatican had denied his request, he wrote on Tuesday. “I was encouraged to wait patiently and prayerfully and to continue to abstain from public ministry until seven civil lawsuits against me alleging sexual misconduct had been adjudicated,” he said.

Persons: Bishop Hubbard, “, ”, Vatican Locations: New York’s

☆ New Yorkers Brace for a 2nd Straight Day of Dangerously High Heat
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-28 | by ( Ed Shanahan | More About Ed Shanahan | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

A heat advisory indicates potentially dangerous conditions for older and other vulnerable people; an excessive heat warning indicates anyone may be at risk. Although New Yorkers are no strangers to sweltering in summertime, the current hot spell is somewhat unusual: The Weather Service last issued an excessive heat warning for the area in August 2021, Mr. Ramunni said. The heat and humidity were expected to remain oppressive through Saturday evening, when thunderstorms are likely to move through. Central Park was a bit cooler, with the temperature peaking at 92 degrees and the heat index hitting 99. The city’s pools, which open at 11 a.m., will stay open for an extra hour, until 8 p.m., on Friday and Saturday.

Persons: Ramunni, Eric Adams Organizations: Weather Service Locations: New York, United States, New England, Newark , N.J

☆ Ponzi Schemer Freed From Prison by Trump Faces New Fraud Charges
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( Ed Shanahan | More About Ed Shanahan | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

A convicted Ponzi schemer, whose prison sentence President Donald J. Trump commuted in one of his last official White House acts, is facing new fraud federal charges of bilking investors in a series of phony deals. The man, Eliyahu Weinstein, a former used car salesman from Lakewood, N.J., was serving a 24-year sentence in connection with two schemes, when Mr. Trump freed him from prison in January 2021. One involved defrauding members of his tight-knit Orthodox Jewish community out of more than $200 million. On Wednesday, federal prosecutors in New Jersey charged Mr. Weinstein, 48, along with four other men, with defrauding at least 150 people out of $35 million. “These were brazen and sophisticated crimes that involved multiple conspirators and drew right from Weinstein’s playbook of fraud,” Philip R. Sellinger, the U.S. attorney for New Jersey, said at a news conference.

Persons: Donald J, Trump, Eliyahu Weinstein, Weinstein, Philip R Organizations: White Locations: Lakewood , N.J, New Jersey, Covid, Ukraine, U.S

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