Latest news with #TedShaffrey
CTV News
05-07-2025
- Climate
- CTV News
Tropical Storm Chantal forms off the coast of the Carolinas
The Atlantic Ocean, beach and houses are at Duck, Outer Banks, North Carolina, on Thursday, August 24, 2023. (AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey) MIAMI — Tropical Storm Chantal has formed off the southeast U.S. coast. The U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miamia says tropical storm warnings have been issued for portions of the Carolinas. Tropical storm conditions are expected in the affected areas later Saturday. At 9 a.m. EDT, the storm's centre was located about 150 miles (240 kilometres) south-southeast of Charleston, South Carolina, and about 240 miles (385 kilometres) south-southwest of Wilmington, North Carolina. Chantal's maximum sustained winds were measured at 40 mph (65 km/h). It was moving north at two mph (four km/h). The centre of Chantal is expected to move across the coast of South Carolina on Sunday morning, the hurricane center said. Some additional strengthening is expected before Chantal reaches the coast. The Associated Press
Hindustan Times
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
‘Hacktivist' targets Columbia University, steals data of over 2 million students and employees
Columbia University has confirmed a massive cyberattack which compromised sensitive data of over two million students, applicants, and staff, per New York Post. Officials believe the incident, which knocked out key systems offline for hours, was the work of a politically motivated 'hacktivist.' FILE - Students sit on the front steps of Low Memorial Library on the Columbia University campus in New York City, Feb. 10, 2023. (AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey, File)(AP) The lone attacker exfiltrated a 1.6-gigabyte trove of personal records, including Social Security numbers, citizenship status, salaries, university IDs, and even admissions decisions, reported The attacker accessed 2.5 million admission applications, including financial aid information and sensitive demographic data spanning decades, the report added. The attacker, reportedly, contacted the publication directly and claimed the breach was part of an effort to expose the use of affirmative action in admissions: a practice struck down by the US Supreme Court in 2023. The breach happened on June 24, when Columbia's servers were taken offline for several hours, reported the news agency AP. Screens on campus displayed bizarre images, including one of President Donald Trump on a dormitory television, the report added. Columbia University begins investigation Officials of Columbia University, meanwhile, claimed that the hack was highly targeted and that they have begun a probe with cybersecurity experts. 'We immediately began an investigation with the assistance of leading cybersecurity experts and, after substantial analysis, determined that the outage was caused by an unauthorized party. While the investigation is ongoing, we have restored our operations,' the university said in a statement. It added, 'We now have initial indications that the unauthorized actor also unlawfully stole data from a limited portion of our network. We are investigating the scope of the apparent theft.' The university, in a statement, added that the hacker seemingly intended to acquire specific admissions documents to back their political cause, the report added. The hacker allegedly spent two months infiltrating the university's systems and eventually gained access to protected servers, reported Columbia University added that its Irving Medical Center remained unaffected and no further malicious activity was detected since the breach. 'We have not observed threat actor activity on our network since June 24 and will continue to monitor closely for further unlawful activity in our systems,' the varsity added. Columbia University to notify affected persons The university, in its statement, added that it will share its findings with the university community and persons whose personal information was compromised. Reportedly, in an email to their staff and students, they said the attack may raise concerns across the community, and the team was working toward answers. Reportedly, the cyberattack took place at a sensitive moment since tensions are high between the federal government and Columbia University. The Trump-led administration recently revoked over $400 million in grants, citing the school's handling of antisemitism on campus. FAQs: Q: What kind of data was stolen by the Columbia University hacker? A: Social Security numbers, citizenship status, university IDs, admissions decisions, employee salaries, and financial aid records. Q: Was the Irving medical center affected? A: Columbia University confirmed that Irving Medical Center was not impacted. Q: Who was behind the attack on Columbia University's servers? A: A self-proclaimed hacktivist, who remains anonymous, claimed responsibility. They said their motive was to find evidence of affirmative action practices at Columbia. Q: Will individuals be notified? A: Columbia University says it will inform affected individuals as the investigation continues.
Politico
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Politico
Supreme Court takes up two cases challenging transgender sports bans
The West Virginia lawsuit was on behalf of Becky Pepper-Jackson, a transgender middle schooler who was looking to try out for her school's girls cross-country team. The states that filed the petitions for the cases want the Supreme Court to decide whether West Virginia's and Idaho's laws restricting transgender student participation violate federal law. | Ted Shaffrey/AP By Bianca Quilantan 07/03/2025 10:22 AM EDT The Supreme Court on Thursday agreed to take up two cases in which transgender athletes have challenged state laws barring them from competing in women and girls sports. The states that filed the petitions for West Virginia v. B.P.J. and Little v. Hecox want the Supreme Court to decide whether West Virginia's and Idaho's laws restricting transgender student participation violate the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment and Title IX, the federal law that bars sex-based discrimination. The West Virginia lawsuit was filed in 2021 on behalf of Becky Pepper-Jackson, a transgender middle schooler who was looking to try out for her school's girls cross-country team and has played sports on teams that match her gender identity for several seasons.
CTV News
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Review: ‘Mario Kart World' a solid, safe offering for Switch 2's early adopters
People play Mario Kart World on the new Nintendo Switch 2 video gaming console at a media preview event in New York on April 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey) TORONTO — When the hybrid Nintendo Switch console hit the market in 2017, the bold new system had a bold new game to match. 'Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild' introduced an open world and non-linear structure to the hit franchise — radical departures from past 'Zelda' games — and the risk was rewarded with critical and commercial success. The Switch 2, released earlier this month, is not the game changer its predecessor was, instead making significant improvements to what already worked with the Switch. And that pragmatism over innovation is reflected in its major launch title, 'Mario Kart World.' The first brand new 'Mario Kart' game in over a decade features some new modes and improvements, but ultimately is a tried-and-true addition to the bestselling franchise. It's not going to dominate game-of-the-year chatter like 'Breath of the Wild' did eight years ago, but it's not hard to see why Nintendo tied the launch of the Switch 2 to the newest instalment of its smash-hit racing series. The previous game in the series, 'Mario Kart 8 Deluxe,' is by far the bestselling title for the Switch with more than 68 million units sold, and the ability to play online multiplayer lets Nintendo show off the Switch 2's 'GameChat' functionality that lets gamers start a chat session with friends with the push of a button. 'Mario, Luigi and their pals look great' 'Mario Kart' games have always been ridiculous, chaotic events featuring some of the company's biggest stars, and the latest game doubles down on the pandemonium. With the improved capabilities of the Switch 2, races now feature 24 competitors. That's twice as many as 'Mario Kart 8.' Twenty-two characters make their debut as playable racers, including some deep cuts. Cow, the smiling bovine that has been a staple of 'Mario Kart' games as an obstacle, finally gets the chance to tear up the track. And on a more graphically capable system, 'Mario Kart World' shines. Mario, Luigi and their pals look great, and the 30 tracks on offer pop with charm and colour. The courses, either completely new or reimaginings of classic racetracks from games past, are full of twists, turns and secret routes waiting to be discovered by adventurous racers. A frequent criticism of 'Mario Kart' games, however, is that the playing field can too easily be levelled by potent weapons provided to struggling racers to punish the front-runners. 'Mario Kart World' is no different, with returning power-ups such as the blue shell that homes in on the character in first place before stunning its target on impact. And with more racers now on the grid it is possible for leaders to be hit by several attacks in a row and see their skilful navigation of the track upended. New to 'Mario Kart World' is the excellent 'Knockout Tour' race mode. Rather than run three laps of the same track like a standard 'Mario Kart' race, 'Knockout Tour' events are elimination races that string together stretches from several different courses into a giant endurance race. The stakes are high the moment the starting flag waves, as checkpoints along the way knock out the bottom four players. Less exciting is the free-roam mode that presumably gives 'Mario Kart World' its name. The concept is great; players can drive at their leisure across the Mushroom Kingdom, including all the courses and the open areas that connect them. But some parts of the map feel empty, particularly after competing in a thrilling 'Knockout Tour' race. There are some driving challenges to find along the way, but other than unlocking stickers that can be used to customize vehicles, there is little incentive to complete them. While it is not an unwelcome addition, free roam feels somewhat flat. The mode's existence isn't even readily apparent on the game's menu screen, with the option to select it buried in the bottom-right corner. It might not have been an afterthought, but it does at times feel like one. 'Mario Kart World' comes with an eye-popping price tag of around $110, though that comes down to about $70 when purchased in a bundle with a Switch 2 system. Regardless of the price, 'Mario Kart World' will be a must-have for early adopters of the Switch 2. Part of that is because it's currently the only first-party game developed exclusively for the console. But much like the new system it supports, 'Mario Kart World' takes what already works to new level. 'Mario Kart World' has an ESRB rating of 'E,' meaning it's suitable for gamers of all ages. A digital copy of 'Mario Kart World' was provided for review. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 20, 2025. Curtis Withers, The Canadian Press
Japan Today
17-06-2025
- Automotive
- Japan Today
U.S. retail sales slide after a spring rush to beat tariffs
FILE - A Tariff Free sign to attract vehicle shoppers is at an automobile dealership in Totowa, N.J., on April 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey) By CHRISTOPHER RUGABER and ANNE D'INNOCENZIO Retail sales fell sharply in May as consumers pulled back from a spending surge early this year to get ahead of President Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs on nearly all imports. Sales at retail stores and restaurants dropped 0.9% in May, the Commerce Department said Tuesday, after a decline of 0.1% in April. Sales jumped 1.5% in March. The figure was pulled down by a steep drop in auto sales, after Americans ramped up their car-buying in March to get ahead of Trump's 25% duty on imported cars and car parts. Excluding autos, sales fell 0.3% in May. The sales drop is hitting after sharp declines in consumer confidence this year. Still, inflation has cooled steadily and unemployment remains low, which could fuel steady spending in the coming months, as the economy has remained mostly solid. A category of sales that excludes volatile sectors such as gas, cars, and restaurants rose last month by 0.4%, a sign that consumers are still spending on some discretionary items. Overall, the report suggests consumers have pulled back a bit but not dramatically so. The retail sales report covers about one-third of consumer spending, with the other two-thirds consisting of spending on services. Economists expect overall consumer spending to grow in the April-June quarter. 'Today's data suggests consumers are downshifting, but they haven't yet slammed the brakes,' Ellen Zentner, chief economic strategist for Morgan Stanley wealth management, said in an email. 'Like the economy as a whole, consumer spending has been resilient in the face of tariff uncertainty.' Yet many categories saw sharp declines. Car sales plunged 3.5%, while sales at home and garden centers dropped 2.7%. They fell 0.6% at electronics and appliance stores and 0.7% at grocery stores. There were some bright spots: Sales rose 0.9% at online retailers, 0.8% at clothing stores, and 1.2% at furniture stores. Gas station sales dropped sharply, by 2%, but that mostly reflects lower prices. The retail sales report isn't adjusted for inflation. Sales at restaurants and bars, a closely watched indicator of discretionary spending, fell 0.9% in May, though that followed a solid gain of 0.8% in April. Some consumer products companies say they are seeing the impact of tariffs on their own costs and sales. Paul Cosaro, CEO of Picnic Time, Inc., which makes picnic accessories like baskets, coolers, and folding chairs, said that orders from retailers are down as much as 40% this summer compared with a year ago. His company sells to a variety of stores like Target and Williams-Sonoma. Cosaro noted that some stores have been cautious because they're not sure how shoppers will react to higher prices. Some canceled orders because Cosaro couldn't tell them how much the new prices would be due to all the uncertainty. Roughly 80% of the company's goods are made in China, with the rest in India and Vietnam. The company, founded roughly 40 years ago and based in Moorpark, California, was forced to raise prices on average from 11% to 14% for this summer selling season, Cosaro said. A folding outdoor chair now costs $137 this month, up from $120 in late 2024, he added. The company's sales are still down this year, even though some shoppers accelerated their purchases out of concern that prices would rise. 'Shoppers are very price sensitive,' Cosaro said. The company has implemented a hiring freeze because of all the extra tariff costs, he added. So far this year the company, which employs from 70 to 100 people, has had to pay $1 million in tariffs. A year ago at this time, the bill was a third of that amount. Liza Gresko, a 42-year-old mother of three in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, said she has watched as prices for basics like toothpaste or shampoo begin to rise again, and has started to buy groceries in bulk to save money, as well as switching to generic brands. 'If I make these small changes, then we are sacrificing for the long term goal of saving more,' Gresko said. She has also begun shopping at thrift stores for children's clothes, rather than Macy's or H&M. 'Even with store sales and discounts, the rising costs make it unsustainable to continually purchase new clothing,' she said. The retail sales report comes as other evidence indicates shoppers have been pulling back more amid worries about higher prices from Trump's tariffs. Naveen Jaggi, president of retail advisory services in the Americas for real-estate firm JLL, said that he's hearing from malls that sales are slowing down heading into the official summer months. Retailers are pushing up back-to-school promotions to this month from July, he said. They want to get shoppers in early for fear consumers may not want to spend in the later months when prices will likely go up, he said. So far, Trump's tariffs haven't yet boosted inflation. Consumer prices rose just 2.4% in May compared with a year ago, the government said last week. Many stores and brands, including Walmart, Lululemon, and J.M. Smucker Co., have said they plan to or have raised prices in response to tariffs. Deckers Outdoor, which is behind such shoe labels as Hoka and Uggs, said late last month that it plans price increases, which will likely hurt sales. 'We expect to absorb a portion of the tariff impact,' Chief Financial Officer Steven Fasching told analysts. 'We also believe there is potential to see demand erosion associated with the combination of price increases and general softness in the consumer spending environment.' © Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
