Latest news with #Lidia
Daily Mail
09-08-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
The Women Are Not Fine by Hope Reese: The husband SLAYERS
The Women Are Not Fine by Hope Reese (Brazen £22, 224pp) In late December 1929 four Hungarian women went on trial for murdering their husbands. According to the prosecution, Rozalia, Lidia, Julianna and Maria had slipped arsenic into their cooking pots and then sat back and watched stonily as their menfolk writhed, gasped and choked to death in front of them. The trial was a global sensation, attracting reporters from around the world. A local journalist called the elderly women 'simply bad, confused, hypnotised and sick'. Another claimed that these were 'mass killings', the product of 'mass psychosis'. The verdict was a foregone conclusion: Guilty. Although the quartet were spared the death sentence, they all got life imprisonment. In this they were luckier than some of their friends who went on trial a few months later. On January 13, 1931, Maria Kardos, who had been found guilty of murdering both her husband and her son, was sentenced to death by 'short-drop hanging', a hideous, slow death by strangulation. Maria writhed for eight minutes, before the hangman took pity on her and yanked her body down to speed up the process. Seventy-five ticket-holding members of the public looked on impassively. All these women came from the remote hamlet of Nagyrev in central Hungary. They had manufactured the poison themselves by buying flypapers from the village store, boiling them in water, and then distilling the liquid into a toxic but tasteless brew that could be dripped surreptitiously into a meal seconds before serving. The arsenic didn't always take effect immediately but that, really, was an advantage. If there was a time lag of days or even weeks between administering the poison and the actual moment of death, it became harder to prove anything. From these small beginnings, the Nagyrev poisoning crisis extended to neighbouring areas. In total, 28 people, mostly women, were accused of killing 101 local people, mostly men. The real figure could be closer to 300. Hope Reese, an American journalist living in Budapest, sets about investigating why the womenfolk of central Hungary embarked on 'the deadliest poisoning epidemic in history'. She explains that many of the male victims had recently returned from fighting in the First World War, physically and emotionally shattered. Some were missing limbs, while others were suffering from what today would be diagnosed as PTSD. In a poor farming community like Nagyrev, a man's worth was measured by his ability to work. Losing that status meant losing his place in the household and the community. Add in the fact that many resorted to drowning their sorrows in alcohol and you had a recipe for an explosion in domestic violence. Chillingly, a popular local saying was 'A wife is good when beaten.' Against this backdrop, argues Reese, 'killing became a path to independence – a way for the women of Nagyrev to free themselves from all the other burdens they had been expected to carry, offering a new version of what life could be'. In the summer of 1916, Maria Varga had reached breaking point with her husband, Istvan, who had returned from war blind and violent. Maria's neighbour, the village midwife, Auntie Zsuzsi, kindly supplied some drops to 'calm down' Istvan and, five weeks later, he was dead. Maria Koteles, who was eventually hanged, had to deal with her husband pointing a gun at her and calling her a whore. Julianna Foldvari, meanwhile, endured her army veteran husband Karoly getting repeatedly drunk and beating her. Yet another Maria, Maria Papai, had to endure her husband hitting her with a chain. It wasn't only husbands who were made to disappear. In 1912 Zsuzsanna Papai was so sick of her father-in-law pestering her for sex that she turned to her neighbour, who brought round a pot of poisoned soup. Seven years later Maria Kardos, despairing of the criminal behaviour of her feckless son, finished him off at the age of 23, again with the help of Auntie Zsuzsi. Wouldn't divorce have been simpler and safer? Reese explains that, even though Nagyrev was a Protestant rather than a Catholic community, legal separation was unthinkable. Marriage was for life, and to leave your abusive husband would be earn yourself a reputation as a 'whore'. What's more, you would find yourself without any financial support. Far simpler, really, to do away with the problem altogether. Rural Hungary had a tradition of using murder to solve domestic crises. Both married and single women who found themselves with an unwanted pregnancy had no qualms about bringing on a miscarriage by inserting goose feathers, bicycle spokes and poisonous weeds into their uterus. If that didn't work, they asked Auntie Zsuzsi for a concoction that would do the trick. If that failed then the unwanted baby might be fed to the household pig, scalded with boiling water, or left out in the cold to die of exposure. Compared with this, slipping a few drops of homemade poison into your husband's soup was a walk in the park. It is extraordinary that the women were able to get away with murder for so long. But Reese points out that Nagyrev was very isolated and had no resident doctor or policeman. What's more, the national life expectancy was only 37, which meant that the deaths of middle-aged and elderly men were unlikely to attract suspicion. Still, by the late 1920s, rumours were spreading and the authorities started to exhume the bodies only to discover deadly levels of arsenic. Inevitably, there are no happy endings in this tragic story. Many of the women ended up with long prison sentences and three were hanged. Auntie Zsuzsi, who was one of the main players in the poison murders, was determined not to suffer this fate. On July 19, 1929, she heard the town crier calling her name. She knew exactly what it meant. Just as the police rounded the corner to arrest her, she swallowed a draft of her own poison.
Daily Record
09-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Netflix period drama 'better than Outlander' is available to stream now
The 'outstanding' period drama is given a perfect 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes. When trying to find a new and exciting period drama, it's often the same titles coming up time and time again. However, what if there was one hidden gem even better than the best-known series, sitting right under your nose? Inspired by the true story behind one of Italy's first female lawyers, The Law According to Lidia Poët follows the titular attorney, played by Matilda De Angelis, as she fights to practice law in late 19th-century Turin, Italy. After being disbarred from practising law simply because she is a woman and forced to be an assistant to her lawyer brother Enrico, portrayed by Pier Luigi Pasino, Lidia fights for gender equality at a time when it simply didn't exist. Despite the obstacles she faced, she continues to work hard being the scenes, using her intelligence, determination, and progressive views on justice to solve crimes. The six-part series aired on Netflix in 2023 with the second season coming a year later, the Express reports. For those that believe this sounds right up their street, it's good news because both of these seasons are available to watch on the streaming platform and better yet, another season is coming too! The third season of The Law According to Lidia Poët is expected to be released in late 2025 or early 2026. The Italian historical drama was praised after its release with critics applauding the mixture of courtroom drama, mystery-solving, and feminist themes. However, the series faced some criticism from Lidia Poët's grandnephew, who accused it of sexualising her character, ignoring her Waldensian heritage and lacking proper historical context. Despite the backlash, The Law According to Lidia Poët has a perfect rating on Rotten Tomatoes and has been met with constant praise from viewers. One gushed: "Love it! Actors are brilliant, script is developed and interesting; Costumes are Amazing!!! The details of jewellery and accessories for Lidia are Fabulous!!!!! "Love the insect brooches or fly/ spider earrings!!! And that's just 1 character!! Everything, the finest detail was designed and styled to perfection!!!" A second chimed in: "This is a great series based on the two seasons I have watched. Hint: You'll not want to miss the Season 2 finale and everything which leads up to it. Netflix deserves our thanks for this worthwhile show." Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. Someone else made the bold remark that it is "on par with Outlander, if not better". A fifth echoed: "This TV series is so so so well written and made its adventures entertaining. You must go watch this tv series!! So far both two seasons are phenomenal."
The Age
28-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Age
Designer Effie Kats had a ‘brave' fashion moment which she now regrets
This story is part of the June 29 edition of Sunday Life. See all 13 stories. Each week, we quiz a prominent person about their style and the inspiration behind it. Ahead, designer Effie Kats. How would you describe your style? There's a duality. During the day I keep it simple with clean silhouettes and some subtle structure; at night my look becomes softer and more intuitive with a hint of drama. I predominantly wear my own labels. Effie Kats is evening wear and Bayse Brand is more casual, so I'm covered. What's the oldest thing in your wardrobe? A Chanel belt – the classic gold chain with black leather woven through it and a gold medallion – from the 1980s. And the most recent addition? The 'Boat' bag from Korean label OSOI. I like supporting smaller independent brands, it feels more personal, less about trends and more about unique design. What would you wear … on a first date? My go-to is the classic 'jeans and a nice top' formula – maybe the Bayse Brand 'Amrita' bodysuit – with a pair of Paris Texas 'Lidia' mules. … on a plane? Loose jeans, an oversized tee, sports jacket, loafers and my The Row 'Margaux' suede bag. … on the red carpet? I like a timeless silhouette with sharp styling. Selena Gomez and Elsa Hosk do it best. What's your favourite fashion era? When Tom Ford was at Gucci (1994 – 2004). I love the simplicity, the confidence, the sex appeal; it defined the '90s in such a powerful way, and it still resonates today. It had a big impact on me as a designer. Who are your favourite designers? Tom Ford, always. More recently, Pierpaolo Piccioli at Valentino. There's something powerful in his pared back and elegant designs – the palettes were muted, the silhouettes minimal but the overall impact was so bold. I'm excited to see what he brings to Balenciaga.
Sydney Morning Herald
28-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
Designer Effie Kats had a ‘brave' fashion moment which she now regrets
This story is part of the June 29 edition of Sunday Life. See all 13 stories. Each week, we quiz a prominent person about their style and the inspiration behind it. Ahead, designer Effie Kats. How would you describe your style? There's a duality. During the day I keep it simple with clean silhouettes and some subtle structure; at night my look becomes softer and more intuitive with a hint of drama. I predominantly wear my own labels. Effie Kats is evening wear and Bayse Brand is more casual, so I'm covered. What's the oldest thing in your wardrobe? A Chanel belt – the classic gold chain with black leather woven through it and a gold medallion – from the 1980s. And the most recent addition? The 'Boat' bag from Korean label OSOI. I like supporting smaller independent brands, it feels more personal, less about trends and more about unique design. What would you wear … on a first date? My go-to is the classic 'jeans and a nice top' formula – maybe the Bayse Brand 'Amrita' bodysuit – with a pair of Paris Texas 'Lidia' mules. … on a plane? Loose jeans, an oversized tee, sports jacket, loafers and my The Row 'Margaux' suede bag. … on the red carpet? I like a timeless silhouette with sharp styling. Selena Gomez and Elsa Hosk do it best. What's your favourite fashion era? When Tom Ford was at Gucci (1994 – 2004). I love the simplicity, the confidence, the sex appeal; it defined the '90s in such a powerful way, and it still resonates today. It had a big impact on me as a designer. Who are your favourite designers? Tom Ford, always. More recently, Pierpaolo Piccioli at Valentino. There's something powerful in his pared back and elegant designs – the palettes were muted, the silhouettes minimal but the overall impact was so bold. I'm excited to see what he brings to Balenciaga.
CBS News
21-06-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Undocumented street vendors decide to stay at home amid ICE operations
Many undocumented street vendors have decided to stay home as fears of immigration raids grow in Los Angeles. "I don't go out, " street vendor Lidia said in Spanish. "I am scared." Lidia and her husband, who are both undocumented, are just two of the thousands of vendors staying home after hearing about the recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids, according to immigrant rights advocate Sergio Jimenez. "ICE has been showing up in Pico Rivera, Home Depots, street vending communities in South Central, Boyle Heights, downtown L.A.," Jimenez said. "You just don't know when you're going to get hit by ICE." Her 10-year-old son Gerardo, who is a citizen, said he and his sister don't go outside anymore. "It just feels like you're trapped in your home because if you go outside, you're risking getting taken away by ICE," Geraldo said. Instead of being a kid, Geraldo is left worrying if he'll wake up with his parents by his side. "They normally go to sell on the street, but now they don't. They just stay here," he said. "We don't really go out much — just if it's important or necessary." Fearing that ICE may come to their home, Lidia and her husband posted a sign on their window saying, "This house does not open for ICE." On the back of the sign is a list of the family's rights, which they said gives them some peace of mind. "We are not criminals," Lidia said. The decision to stay at home and give up their only source of income means the family does not have money for rent or food. To help the family, local nonprofits, including Community Power Collective, launched a fundraiser. "This is the third initiative where we fundraise funds for street vendors," Jimenez said. Jimenez said the donations will go towards the family's living expenses. "Everything they need, but we understand that is not going to be enough," Jimenez said. While Jimenez can help Lidia's family, he says she is one of thousands of vendors in the same situation. L.A. organizers said the work is far from done but every donation helps keep a family together. "There's fear all over the place," Jimenez said.
