Police investigating after device thrown at anti-Islam protest in New York City
New York (AP): A counterprotester demonstrating against a “Stop the Islamic Takeover of New York City” event on Saturday lit and threw a device containing nuts, bolts and screws at the protesting crowd after someone from that group used pepper spray on the counterprotest, police said.
Police are investigating the incident that started late Saturday morning when someone from the anti-Islam protest associated with conservative influencer Jake Lang shot pepper spray into a counterprotesting group near the mayoral residence, Gracie Mansion, Commissioner Jessica Tisch said.
Tensions continued to heighten, she said, when someone in the counterprotest lit and threw a device she described as smaller than a football into the protesting crowd of about 20 people.
The device struck a barrier and extinguished itself “a few feet from police officers,” she said. The same person then ran, and another person gave him a second device, which he then dropped. The devices, which Tisch said were smaller than a football, were wrapped in black tape with nuts, bolts, and screws, as well as a hobby fuse that could be lit. She said it was unclear if they were functioning devices or a hoax.
All three people have been arrested, and an investigation is underway, Tisch said.
Tisch didn't report any injuries during a news conference and said she believed Mayor Zohran Mamdani was not in the residence at the time.
Lang was previously charged with assaulting an officer with a baseball bat, civil disorder and other crimes before receiving clemency as part of President Donald Trump's sweeping act of clemency for Jan. 6 defendants last year. Lang recently announced that he is running for US Senate in Florida.
Lang has also protested in Minneapolis during the Trump administration's immigration crackdown.
Tisch said about 20 people showed up to the protest tied to him on Saturday, and the counterprotest had about 125 people at its peak.
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Karnataka govt fulfilled Rs 100/tonne aid promise to cane farmers: Minister
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Sugar Minister Shivanand Patil on Tuesday said the state government had taken multiple measures to support sugarcane farmers and fulfilled its promise of providing additional financial assistance, while asserting that most farmers were satisfied this year.
Replying to BJP MLC N Ravikumar during zero hour in the legislative council, Patil said the government had already acted on several farmer-centric demands and continued to explore further support measures for both farmers and sugar factories.
"In Karnataka's history, if any government has supported sugarcane farmers twice, it is the government of Siddaramaiah. This time as well, we had promised to provide Rs 50 per tonne from the government and Rs 50 per tonne from factory owners, and we have fulfilled that promise," the minister said.
He maintained that farmers are not in distress; in fact, most farmers are satisfied this year, adding that the government would continue efforts to ensure their well-being.
However, Patil questioned the nature of the issues raised by Ravikumar, stating, "Most of the issues you mentioned seem to favour factory owners. I am not sure whether you are speaking on behalf of farmers or factory owners."
He noted that the government had also taken steps to address concerns of sugar mill owners.
The minister said that the Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) with sugar factories for cogeneration had not been renewed in some cases, earlier, due to the availability of cheaper wind and solar energy.
"Some PPAs have been cancelled, while some continue...We are considering reviewing this and possibly entering into new PPAs next year," he said, adding that open access allowed factories to sell power in other states where tariffs were higher.
He further said the government was examining demands such as exemption of water usage tax and extending support to both cooperative and private sugar mills.
Highlighting issues requiring central intervention, Patil said the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for sugar had not been revised since 2019 despite repeated representations.
"We have suggested differential pricing, one for essential consumption and another for industrial use," he said, citing large-scale usage by beverage companies.
On ethanol, he said, while incentives like a six per cent interest subvention were provided, lack of regulation on production capacity had led to overcapacity.
"Only 10 to 13 per cent of production is being procured, making factories financially unviable," he noted.
The minister said that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had written to the Centre on November 6 and 8, 2025, and a delegation had also met Union Minister Prahlad Joshi to press for revision of sugar MSP and higher ethanol procurement or pricing.
Inviting cooperation, Patil said he was willing to lead a delegation, including opposition members, to take up the matter with the Centre.
The minister underlined that Karnataka was among the top three sugar-producing states and emphasised the sector's importance.
"If a single factory survives, it supports around 5,000 people... this is a vital industry, and with the support from both the state and central governments, it can thrive," he added.
