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Toronto Sun
a day ago
- Toronto Sun
NYPD probing detectives who worked security at house in crypto torture case
Published May 30, 2025 • 2 minute read Photo by Yuki Iwamura / AP NEW YORK — New York City police are investigating two detectives who worked security at an upscale Manhattan townhouse where a man says he was kidnapped and tortured for weeks by two crypto investors who wanted to steal his Bitcoin, a city official said Thursday. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account One of the detectives serves on Mayor Eric Adams' security detail and is believed to have picked up the victim from a local airport and brought him to the townhouse, the official said. It's not immediately clear if the other detective, who is a narcotics officer, has any connection to the incident. The detectives have been placed on modified leave pending the outcome of the inquiry, according to the official, who was briefed on the case and spoke anonymously to The Associated Press because they are not authorized to discuss the internal investigation. It is not uncommon for members of the NYPD to do private security work outside of their city jobs but they need to receive prior approval. At this point, the official said, the department is looking into whether the officers received that approval. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Adams' office confirmed one of the detectives provides security detail for the Democrat, but said the mayor has no knowledge of what the officer does on his personal time. 'Every city employee is expected to follow the law, including our officers, both on and off duty,' the mayor's office said in an emailed statement. 'We are disturbed by these allegations.' In response to an emailed inquiry, an NYPD spokesperson confirmed two members were placed on modified duty Wednesday. A lawyer for the labor union representing NYPD detectives said there's 'absolutely no indication' either officer witnessed any of the alleged illegal activity. James Moschella described the officers as 'outstanding public servants with distinguished careers' who were working a legitimate job driving a private client in their off-duty hours. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'There is simply no way to have predicted the true activities of what by all objective accounts were legitimate businessmen,' he said in a statement emailed Friday. 'Had they actually witnessed any such activity, we are certain they would have been the first to take action to stop it. We therefore ask everyone to withhold their judgment of these members until all the facts are in.' Crypto investors John Woeltz and William Duplessie have been charged in the case. Their lawyers have declined to comment. Authorities allege that on May 6, the two men lured the victim, who they knew personally, to a posh townhouse in Manhattan's Soho neighbourhood by threatening to kill his family. The man, a 28-year-old Italian national who has not been named by officials, said he was then held captive for 17 days, as the two investors tormented him with electrical wires, forced him to smoke from a crack pipe and at one point dangled him from a staircase five stories high. He eventually agreed to hand over his computer password Friday morning, then managed to flee the home as his captors went to retrieve the device. The investigation into the officers began, incidentally, on the same day Adams headlined a crypto convention in Las Vegas, where he described New York as the Bitcoin capital of the country. Read More Crime World Sunshine Girls Olympics Toronto Raptors
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
What to Know After Trade Court Rules Against Trump's Tariffs
The U.S. Court of International Trade building in New York on April 24, 2025. Credit - Yuki Iwamura—Bloomberg/Getty Images Donald Trump's sweeping and volatile tariffs have left businesses in uncertainty, roiled global markets, upended U.S. relations with trading partners, and pushed up the prices of consumer goods. But on Wednesday, a federal court ruled that Trump didn't have the authority to impose them in the first place. A three-judge panel at the U.S. Court of International Trade (USCIT) in New York ruled that Trump overstepped his authority by implementing a tariff regime on dozens of countries in a bid to enliven domestic manufacturing and to slash budget deficits by generating revenue from import levies. The Administration has also used the tariffs as bargaining chips for trade deals more favorable to the U.S.—as well as in geopolitical negotiations. The Wednesday court ruling may provide temporary relief for affected consumers and businesses—halting a 30% tariff on China, 25% tariff on certain goods from Mexico and Canada, and 10% universal tariffs on most of the rest of the world—and it throws a wrench in the centerpiece of Trump's agenda, though the Trump Administration swiftly filed an appeal. Here's what to know about the ruling. The USCIT has jurisdiction over civil cases arising from U.S. customs and international trade laws. Its website states that 'the court may grant any relief appropriate to the particular case before it, including, but not limited to, money judgments, writs of mandamus, and preliminary or permanent injunctions.' The panel of judges that ruled on Trump's tariffs were all appointed by different Presidents: Judge Jane Restani was appointed by Ronald Reagan; Judge Gary Katzmann was appointed by Barack Obama, and Timothy Reif was appointed by Trump during his first term. The USCIT issued its opinion on two consolidated cases concerning Trump's tariffs. The first was filed by New York-based wine importer V.O.S. Selections along with four other small businesses, and the second was filed by 12 different states. In imposing tariffs, which Congress has the constitutional power to approve, Trump invoked his authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977 (IEEPA), which grants the President authority to regulate commerce in light of threats that can constitute a national emergency. It was the first time a President invoked the IEEPA in a tariff situation. These include the tariffs Trump imposed earlier this year on Canada, China, and Mexico, which were aimed at curbing the entry of fentanyl into the country, as well as his April 2 'Liberation Day' so-called 'reciprocal' tariffs, which were aimed at taxing dozens of nations due to their trade surpluses with the U.S. The plaintiffs argued that Trump did not have authority under IEEPA to impose such widespread tariffs. The court said that it 'does not read IEEPA to confer such unbounded authority and sets aside the challenged tariffs imposed thereunder.' The court said that the worldwide retaliatory duties 'exceed any authority granted to the President by IEEPA to regulate importation,' while the drug trafficking-related levies 'fail because they do not deal with the threats set forth in those orders.' 'A tax deals with a budget deficit by raising revenue. A dam deals with flooding by holding back a river. But there is no such association between the act of imposing a tariff and the 'unusual and extraordinary threat[s]' that the Trafficking Orders purport to combat,' the court wrote. In its conclusion, the court ruled in favor of a permanent injunction on the tariff orders nationwide. Trump has 10 days to put the injunction into effect, per the order accompanying the ruling. The court ordered that four of Trump's executive orders are invalid and must be repealed. Trump's 25% steel, aluminum, and auto tariffs, however, were left in place, pending a Commerce Department investigation. The ruling noted that the President has the power to impose certain tariffs when the Secretary of Commerce 'finds that an 'article is being imported into the United States in such quantities or under such circumstances as to threaten to impair the national security'' under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962. The ruling threatens to upend ongoing trade-deal negotiations, though Trump could still impose new 'restricted' tariffs, the ruling noted, so long as they are 'in response to 'fundamental international payment problems'' which include substantial trade deficits under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974. This authorizes the President to impose tariffs of as much as 15% for up to 150 days. There's also the chance that the Administration may simply ignore the ruling. A provision in the thousand-plus-page 'One Big Beautiful Bill,' which passed in the House last week and is now before the Senate, would effectively restrict judges' power to hold a litigant in contempt for defying court orders or injunctions. If the megabill becomes law, with the provision intact, critics say it could limit federal courts' ability to restrain some of Trump's moves. Analysts warn that Trump will likely take other avenues to impose tariffs. 'This ruling represents a setback for the administration's tariff plans and increases uncertainty but might not change the final outcome for most major U.S. trading partners,' chief U.S. political economist at Goldman Sachs Alec Phillips told Bloomberg. 'For now, we expect the Trump administration will find other ways to impose tariffs.' Timothy Moe, chief Asia Pacific equity strategist at Goldman Sachs, told Bloomberg TV, 'This might be considered a body blow, but it's not the final rendering.' Minutes after the ruling, the Trump Administration filed a notice of appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Washington, D.C. The case may also later be appealed to the Supreme Court. 'The judicial coup is out of control,' White House deputy chief of staff for policy and homeland security adviser Stephen Miller posted on X. 'It is not for unelected judges to decide how to properly address a national emergency,' said White House deputy press secretary Kush Desai in a statement. Desai said that trade deficits have led to a national emergency that has 'decimated American communities, left our workers behind, and weakened our defense industrial base—facts that the court did not dispute.' He added: 'President Trump pledged to put America First, and the Administration is committed to using every lever of executive power to address this crisis and restore American greatness.' 'This administration was already a joke in so many ways,' posted George Conway, attorney and a founder of the anti-Trump political action committee The Lincoln Project, on X. 'But the USCIT's decision striking down Trump's tariffs could not make him look more hapless.' The Independent Institute, a nonpartisan think tank that has previously criticized Trump's tariffs, posted a blog with the headline: 'Happy Liberation from Trump's Tariffs Day.' Gregory Meeks, the ranking Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee who co-led an amicus brief in support of the 12 plaintiff states in the case, said in a statement: 'I'm encouraged by the court's decision today to block President Trump's so-called 'liberation day' tariffs, confirming what we've long known: these tariffs are an illegal abuse of executive power. Trump's declaration of a bogus national emergency to justify his global trade war was an absurd and unlawful use of IEEPA.' 'The law is clear: no president has the power to single-handedly raise taxes whenever they like,' New York Attorney General Letitia James, one of the attorneys general who filed the lawsuit, said in a statement. 'These tariffs are a massive tax hike on working families and American businesses that would have led to more inflation, economic damage to businesses of all sizes, and job losses across the country if allowed to continue. This decision is a major victory for our efforts to uphold the law and protect New Yorkers from illegal policies that threaten American jobs and economy.' Around the world, economists and leaders—and by early indications, markets—have also embraced the ruling. Hong Kong Financial Secretary Paul Chan told reporters the ruling would 'at least bring President Trump to reason.' 'For economies that have more diversified export baskets, this is a reprieve,' Nick Marro, principal economist for Asia at the Economist Intelligence Unit, told the BBC, noting that Asian economies will largely embrace the ruling. 'But that's not everyone,' he added, pointing to economies like South Korea and Taiwan that could still be 'held hostage' to U.S. tariffs on auto and metals exports. Others reacted more cautiously. Australian Trade Minister Don Farrell told the Guardian that Australia will 'continue to engage and strongly advocate for the removal of tariffs.' He noted that there may be 'further legal processes through the courts,' adding that the Australian government 'has been consistent in the view that these tariffs on Australian imports into the U.S. are unjustified.' Contact us at letters@
Toronto Sun
3 days ago
- Business
- Toronto Sun
Victoria's Secret website down after 'security incident'
Published May 28, 2025 • 1 minute read A shopper with a Victoria's Secret bag. Photo by Yuki Iwamura / Bloomberg Victoria's Secret & Co.'s website was offline Wednesday, with some customers saying they've been unable to shop online with the lingerie maker since at least Monday. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account The company's website shows a black screen with the text: ' Valued customer, we identified and are taking steps to address a security incident. We have taken down our website and some in store services as a precaution. Our team is working around the clock to fully restore operations. We appreciate your patience during this process. In the meantime, our Victoria's Secret and PINK stores remain open and we look forward to serving you.' The Reynoldsburg, Ohio-based company did not respond to a request for comment. Its shares fell as much as 7.7% Wednesday, the most since April 10. Website outages lasting more than a day are uncommon for major apparel brands like Victoria's Secret. Digital sales, including from its website and mobile applications, accounted for a third of the lingerie maker's revenue in 2024, or $2 billion. The outage comes as activist firm BBRC International Pte Limited attempts a takeover of Victoria's Secret. In response, the retailer, which is due to report earnings next week, adopted a poison pill strategy to fend off the bid. Meanwhile, Victoria's Secret is in the midst of a turnaround effort, which includes revamping its stores and emphasizing inclusivity. Canada Music NHL Golf Tennis
Economic Times
4 days ago
- Science
- Economic Times
What is Manhattanhenge? Here's date, time and best way to watch rare solar event in 2025
Manhattanhenge will return to New York City on May 28 and May 29, 2025. The event occurs when the sun aligns perfectly with the city's street grid. Viewers can expect more appearances on July 11 and 12. The phenomenon offers a rare view of the sun between skyscrapers. FILE - The sun sets as seen between buildings along 42nd Street in New York, May 30, 2023. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura, file) Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads What is Manhattanhenge? Date and Time to Watch in 2025 Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Best Way to See Manhattanhenge FAQs A rare solar event called Manhattanhenge is set to return to New York City in 2025. It will take place on May 28 and 29. The event happens when the setting sun aligns with Manhattan's east-west street grid. Many people gather to watch and take pictures of this is when the sun sets directly in line with the city's street grid. The sunlight travels between the buildings. It makes the sun appear in the middle of the streets. People often take photos of this rare event. It happens only a few times each DeGrasse Tyson gave the name Manhattanhenge. He is a science communicator and the director of the Hayden Planetarium, media reports said. The name comes from a comparison to Stonehenge in England. Manhattanhenge happens due to the Earth's 23-degree tilt. The Earth's rotation changes the sun's position each day. Twice a year, the sun lines up with the city's grid. This creates the bright effect in the first event will happen on May 28. The half sun will appear along the street grid at 8:12 p.m. ET. On May 29, the full sun will be visible in perfect alignment at the same time. Another chance will come on July 11. The sun will align fully at 8:20 p.m. ET. The season ends on July 12 with a half sun view at 8:22 p.m. ET. These times were shared by Jackie Faherty, senior research scientist, American Museum of Natural History (AMNH).Those who want to watch should find a clear view down a wide east-west street. The best places are streets that offer an open view of the horizon. Many viewers arrive early to get a good spot. As the sun moves lower, it appears to pass slowly between the tall is when the sunset aligns with Manhattan's grid streets. It creates a visual of the sun centered between city best times are May 28 and 29, and July 11 and 12. The event happens around 8:12 to 8:22 p.m. ET.
Forbes
20-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Google Slashes Pixel 9a Price For First Time In New Deal
The Google Pixel 9a gets its first discount. Photographer: Yuki Iwamura/Bloomberg Google hasn't been shy about repeatedly discounting the Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro series, with the flagship phones receiving a major discount earlier this month. But the newer Pixel 9a has resolutely remained at full price since its April launch, until now. Google has knocked £50 ($66.78) off the Pixel 9a for shoppers in the U.K., which brings the price down to £449 ($599.70). The deal also comes with enhanced trade-in prices and three months of Google One, YouTube Premium and six months of Fitbit Premium. There's also 10% cashback (in store credit) for Google One subscribers who buy the phone. The Pixel 9a being the cheapest of Google's phones means the subscription freebies don't match up to the Pixel 9 or Pixel 9 Pro, which offer six months and 12 months of Google one respectively. This is also one of the few times that Amazon hasn't matched Google's new Pixel 9a price. The retailer has been one of the cheapest places to buy smartphones in the last year, either matching manufacturer sales or undercutting them. For example, a recent Galaxy Z Fold 6 Amazon deal matched Samsung's huge $350 discount if (which was only available if no device was traded-in to Samsung). The difference being that Amazon accepted a trade-in discount on top of the price cut, which beat Samsung's promotion price (even with Amazon's poor trade-in valuations). We're a long way from the huge price drops Google has applied to the Pixel 8a and 7a in the last year because the device is still so new. Google discounted the Pixel 8a by the same amount (£50) around this time last year and the company likes to follow similar pricing patterns with its smartphones. If you're looking for some hope that the Pixel 9a price will drop further, the Search company dropped the handset's price by £80 ($106.85) in July 2024 and then by £100 ($133.56) in September. Google's U.K. trade in pricing isn't the best. Photographer: Yuki Iwamura/Bloomberg U.K. and European trade-in pricing lags far behind the U.S. across almost all manufacturers. That is no different for this Google Store sale—even with the enhanced pricing—which Google says maxes out at £405 ($540.93). That top figure is reserved for unrealistic trade-ins like the Apple iPhone 15 and iPhone 16 range. But Google will pay a comically small amount for high-end phones with years of software support left, including its own Pixel devices. You will get far more for these phones on the secondary market for the next couple of years. That is particularly true for the Galaxy Z Fold 6—although I wouldn't recommend selling that to buy a Pixel 9a. For more realistic devices to trade-in, the prices are even worse, although they're closer to their eBay and Swappa auction price. The Galaxy S22, for example, will net you £112 ($149.59), while the Pixel 6 is priced at £98 ($130.89).
