Latest news with #TheCollective
HKFP
4 days ago
- Politics
- HKFP
Another 4 Hong Kong democrats freed after being jailed over unofficial primary election
Four more Hong Kong opposition figures have been released from prison after serving more than four years following their convictions in the city's largest national security case. Former district councillors Jimmy Sham, Kinda Li, Roy Tam, and Henry Wong left prison early Friday morning in seven-seater vehicles with curtains drawn and went directly to their residences, according to local media reports. Li and Wong were released from Stanley Prison, Sham from Shek Pik Prison, and Tam from Pik Uk Prison, according to local media citing unnamed sources. The four were the second batch of 45 democrats released from jail after being sentenced to four years and three months behind bars. Sham, a prominent LGBTQ activist before he was jailed, arrived at his home in Jordan at 6.26am carrying two big bags. He wore a black T-shirt featuring cartoon characters holding a rainbow flag and the words 'The Grand Parade.' Plainclothes and uniformed police officers deployed around Sham's home prevented reporters from entering the building where he lives. When asked by reporters whether he was banned from making a statement to the press, Sham smiled and said in Cantonese: 'I want to reserve some time for my family. See you in the afternoon.' He entered the building without elaborating on whether he planned to make a public appearance later. Another released democrat, Li, arrived at his home in Kwun Tong shortly before 6.15am. He was carrying one bag and wearing a face mask. After getting out of the vehicle, he nodded at reporters at the scene and said, 'Thank you for the hard work.' He did not respond to questions from the reporters. Some reporters went to the housing unit stated as Li's home on court documents and knocked to ask if the former district councillor wanted to speak. There was no response and the door, which was not fully closed, was shut shortly afterwards. Around a dozen reporters waited at Muk Min Ha Tsuen, a village in Tsuen Wan on Friday morning, which is listed as Tam's address in court documents. At around 6.55am, a man who identified himself as the village chief of Muk Min Ha Tsuen told reporters at the scene that he had not seen Tam's wife for more than a year, and that they may have moved out. Local media outlet The Collective reported on Friday that a private vehicle carrying Wong arrived at the car park of his residence in Yuen Long at 6.34am. Some plainclothes police officers entered the building lobby before his arrival, while a few journalists waited at the scene, the report said. The Friday release arrangement was similar to that given to four former lawmakers released last month – Claudia Mo, Gary Fan, Jeremy Tam, and Kwok Ka-ki – the first group of 45 democrats discharged from prison. The former lawmakers were sentenced to four years and two months in jail after pleading guilty to the charge of conspiracy to commit subversion. The 45 democrats were convicted of conspiracy to commit subversion over their roles in an unofficial primary election in July 2020 and sentenced in November last year. The unofficial primary election aimed to help the pro-democracy camp win a controlling majority in the legislature. Three judges ruled last year that the democrats had planned to use their constitutional powers to veto the government budget indiscriminately, ultimately forcing the resignation of the chief executive and a government shutdown. This, the judges ruled, would have resulted in a 'constitutional crisis.' With the four released on Friday, 37 democrats involved in the case are still serving prison time – including ex-law professor Benny Tai, who was sentenced to 10 years in jail. Beijing inserted national security legislation directly into Hong Kong's mini-constitution in June 2020 following a year of pro-democracy protests and unrest. It criminalised subversion, secession, collusion with foreign forces and terrorist acts – broadly defined to include disruption to transport and other infrastructure. The move gave police sweeping new powers and led to hundreds of arrests amid new legal precedents, while dozens of civil society groups disappeared. The authorities say it restored stability and peace to the city, rejecting criticism from trade partners, the UN and NGOs.
Business Mayor
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Mayor
New York Designers Launch The Collective Shopping Experience
From left: Lena Baranovsky of Hunting Season, Marina Larroudé, Batsheva Hay, Abrima Erwiah, Maxwell … More Osborne of anOnlyChild, Jonathan Cohen, Sarah Leff, Edvin Thompson, Christopher John Rogers, Presley Oldham, Gigi Burris and Ryan Lobo of Emote Photo Courtesy of The Collective When it comes to luxury retail in today's climate, the name of the game is experience. Shoppers seek excitement and connection beyond the typical client and sales professional interaction. For young brands and designers, exposure via their own stores is often cost-prohibitive, and wholesale accounts are crucial, but not always the best acting partners. (To wit, when Saks Global began the acquisition process of Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman, it halted vendor payments, seemingly indefinitely. Its recent announcement to drop 600 vendors is likely due to attrition from vendors who stopped shipping.) Recent excessive tariffs, thanks to outdated manufacturing ideas, have spurred shrinking consumer confidence amid fears of a global recession. This leaves smaller, independent American brands and designers already dealing with a luxury downturn in a tight spot. With the spirit of 'if you want something done right, do it yourself,' 15 New York labels—Alejandra Alonso Rojas, anOnlyChild, Batsheva, Christopher John Rogers, Emote, Gigi Burris, Hunting Season, Larroudé, Presley Oldham, Ronny Kobo, Rosie Assoulin, Selima Optique, Studio 189, Theophilio, led by Jonathan Cohen—have come together for a three day pop up at the Freeman's | Hindman gallery on East 67thStreet to sell their Spring Summer 2025 offerings in a close-knit, often one-on-one shopping session with the designers themselves. Underlying the effort is a deep sense of community and a 'together we're better' attitude. Shoppers perusing Christopher John Rogers styles at The Collective Photo Courtesy of The Collective Spearheaded by designer Jonathan Cohen and his business partner Sarah Leff, the initiative was built to foster change to the wholesale and retail system, allowing them to directly engage with customers, share their stories, and build a more connected, resilient future for American fashion. 'We didn't want to wait for a solution—we wanted to create one,' said Jonathan Cohen and Sarah Leff. 'The Collective is about taking control of our work, strengthening community, and turning an industry challenge into an opportunity to grow together.' The giving spirit was also in full force for the concept space, which the Freeman's | Hindman gallery donated. 'At Freeman's | Hindman, promoting art, design, fashion, and culture is at the heart of what we do. As America's oldest auction house and one of the only major auction firms with a full-time specialist team devoted to couture and the fashion arts in the secondary market, the opportunity to partner with the innovative designers represented by The Collective was an unmissable opportunity and offers a unique chance to engage with our shared audience of clients and creative community on the Upper East Side,' said Tanner C. Branson, Associate Vice President, Head of Department Luxury Handbags & Couture Helping to produce the three-day event were The Hinton Group, Ruffino, and Christina Neault, a veteran show and event producer based in New York, who donated services. Marina Larroudé helps a shopper with a shoe style selection at The Collective Photo Courtesy of The Collective Spanning two floors and four studios, designers grouped in roughly sets of four to a room, arranged with styles and brands that both complemented and contrasted one another. The brands also represent RTW and accessories, making it possible to create head-to-toe summer looks. With Memorial Day just around the corner, presumably summer month outfitting is in high gear. While many styles were aimed at women's customers, men's apparel was also for sale. On the first floor, one room housed Christopher John Rogers' colorful stripe offerings, including a popular wrap halter style and swimwear, Batsheva's feminine polka dots, gender-inclusive EMOTE and Studio 189, the Ghana-textile-inspired, artisan-created collection by Rosario Dawson and Abrima Erwiah. Across the hall, Cohen's colorful floral and denim dressing offerings sidled up to Larroudé shoes and sandals. (Its founder, Marina Larroudé, has collaborated with Cohen and the two are close friends.) On opposite walls, Rose Assoulin's crisp and colorful stripe cotton options juxtaposed with Edvin Thompson's Theophilio collection, inspired by his Caribbean roots, infused with a downtown vibe. Upstairs on the landing, guests encountered some of the host's offerings in the fine jewelry. On display and coming to a live auction on June 18th were 1980s Angela Cumming for Steuban crystal and 18K gold drop earrings, an exceptional Bulgari Spiga wrap bracelet, a Cartier Trinity bangle, and a Temple St. Clair crystal and 18K gold amulet pendant necklace. Each item would pair with a myriad of clothing styles for sale. To the right was a room that featured Alejandro Alonso Rojas' Spanish-infused slinky silk charmeuses and chiffon dresses with Ronny Kobo's accessible-luxury cotton and knit sundresses. Selima Optique's sunglass counter between them made the room a one-stop garden party outfit destination. Gigi Burris helps customers with hat selections at The Collective. Photo Courtesy of The Collective The gallery on the other side also hit the 'fit search. To pair with Maxwell Osbornes' anOnlyChild's self-blouson Tees and pleated khaki miniskirts, one needs look across the room to Presley Oldham's fresh take on pearl jewelry, Hunting Season's chic raffia bags, and Gigi Burris' straw hats, a de rigueur crowd pleaser in hot weather. Burris, the sole designer with a flagship store in Chinatown, surmised that an UES customer would respond well to her summer millinery collection. On opening day, the mood was buoyant, with most designers attending to their customers at the event, which also featured direct payments to the sellers. 'The spirit of the first day was genuinely energizing—there was a real sense of community among both the designers and the guests. The space felt intimate but elevated, and the energy was warm, welcoming, and refreshingly personal. Customers responded not only to the curation and craftsmanship of the work, but to the fact that they were engaging directly with the people behind the brands. It felt like a true breath of fresh air compared to traditional retail environments,' said Cohen. Many thought the concept could also travel across the country, especially to secondary and tertiary markets in mid-sized cities. 'As for the idea of a traveling group trunk show—we love that thought. We've definitely imagined it as a next step, even if still loosely at this stage. The response so far has made it clear that there's a real appetite for something like this, and the portability of the concept feels exciting,' Cohen added. The experience is continues May 19th from 11 AM to 6 PM and May 20th from 11 AM to 4 PM.
Gizmodo
11-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Gizmodo
Revenge of the Sith Game Writer Looks Back on Alternate Ending
Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith turns 20 years old later in May, and for many, the film will bring to mind its tie-in game. One reason it holds a special place in fans' hearts is its two endings: the canonical one where Obi-Wan defeats Anakin to begin the Original Trilogy, and an alternate one where Anakin kills his former master, then Palpatine, and becomes the new Emperor. Talking to Inverse, game writer Jeremy Barlow revealed the ending partially came from an idea pitched by LucasArts. When developer The Collective scaled back its ambitions for separate Anakin and Obi-Wan campaigns into a single one with alternating perspectives, it opted to stick with that different take, and Barlow got to handle the specifics. To him, Anakin killing Obi-Wan was a 'no-brainer,' since it'd prove he was the strongest Force user in the galaxy and give him the confidence to betray his childhood confidant. 'It totally fit in with the whole Sith ideal of the apprentice growing and killing the master, and we all went nuts for it,' said Barlow of the idea. The Revenge of the Sith game had a shaky development—The Collective replaced an entirely different studio and restarted development less than a year before its scheduled release—and Barlow said they had to 'get the point as fast and seamlessly as possible. We only had like a [90-second] cutscene.' Despite the brief ending, he called it 'rewarding [to see] it's still in people's minds and hearts. It's not a reflection on me, but a reflection on just how powerful that idea was and what Star Wars means to people.' If Barlow had his way, he'd explore the fallout of the Emperor Anakin ending. Under Anakin's rule, he thinks the galaxy would be much worse off, since Palpatine at least 'followed the rules in a weird way.' But the new paradigm shift would lead to some interesting family drama: how does Padme raise the twins while married to the most powerful man in the galaxy (who she's already admitted to being terrified of), and how do Luke and Leia survive 'being raised by these parents who have a public face together, but behind closed doors are obviously opposed?' Lucasfilm may not provide the answers, but that's what fanfiction's for.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Yahoo
‘People were running everywhere': 7 injured after shoot-out in Midtown
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — Seven people were shot Monday night in Midtown near The Collective, a popular food court. A woman who did not want to be identified said she left the area shortly before the shooting, feeling tensions rise. 'I could kind of tell there was something happening,' said the woman. 'There wasn't really anyone at the door manning the door to kind of regulate what was going on.' Two other people were hurt by flying glass when the front window shattered. ORIGINAL STORY: Multiple people shot during fight in NW OKC Nicholas Johnson was at a bar nearby when he heard the gunshots. 'People were running everywhere. It was, it was pretty loud,' said Johnson. 'I was behind the trash and between both of the bars, and that's where I could see the lady, laying there on the ground, and then the glass being shot out in front of the collective.' The food court's operators tried to help customers take cover. 'People were running into the collective, and the staff was getting them and making sure they were staying as safe as possible in there,' said Nathan Wiewel, The Collective spokesman. The business says they hired additional security Monday night due to the playoff game & Cinco de Mayo. The violence happened on the sidewalk and intersection outside their control. 'Who could plan for a situation like this? It was spur of the moment. Just the good folks that work here at the collective saying like, how can we help these people?' said Wiewel. Police said at least two people were firing shots, and they are still on the run. 'Hearing what transpired there after we left was really surprising,' said the woman. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Oklahoma City.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Yahoo
9 People Wounded in Mass Shooting at Popular Oklahoma City Food Court During Thunder Playoff Game
On May 5, gunfire erupted during a Cinco de Mayo event at The Collective, a popular food hall in Oklahoma City, injuring nine people Police believe two shooters were involved in an altercation that led to the violence, but the investigation is still ongoing The Collective wants to provide counseling for employees and set up a fund to help victims with medical expenses Seven people were shot and two others were injured by flying glass during a shooting at a popular Oklahoma City food hall. The shooting took place on May 5 at The Collective, a food hall and bar in Oklahoma City, police said, according to The Oklahoman, KOCO news and KFOR. Around 11 p.m., police responded to multiple reports of shots being fired at The Collective, according to the outlets. When officers arrived on scene, they found numerous gunshot victims. The Oklahoman reported that four of the shooting victims were in critical condition but were expected to survive. The Collective was reportedly hosting a Cinco de Mayo event that evening, with the Oklahoma City Thunder playoff game airing on televisions throughout the food hall, when police say an altercation broke out and shots were fired, according to The Oklahoman. Police believe two people were firing guns and no arrests have been made yet. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. Now, the foodhall is focusing on the cleanup, providing mental health and counseling services to its employees, Nathan Wiewel, a spokesperson for The Collective told The Oklahoman. He added the business is setting up a fund to help victims with medical bills. 'We love Oklahoma City here at The Collective, and our hearts go out to everyone who was affected by this situation,' Wiewel said to the outlet. 'It's really upsetting and it just breaks our heart, but we are praying and we're really routing for the recovery of Oklahoma City and Midtown from this situation.' The investigation into the shooting is still in the early stages, police told the outlets. Read the original article on People
