Latest news with #TheCut
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Mahmoud Khalil's Wife Still Hasn't Heard From Columbia
Noor Abdalla, a dentist based in New York City's Morningside Heights, says that no one from Columbia University's administration has contacted her since her husband, former Columbia graduate student Mahmoud Khalil, was detained earlier this year. While Columbia students have rallied around Khalil, the school's leaders haven't reached out, Abdalla told The Cut in a May interview. During Columbia's graduation ceremonies, acting President Claire Shipman drew boos while referencing free speech and Khalil's case. Columbia University declined to comment to HuffPost. Khalil and seven other graduate students sued Columbia earlier this year to prevent the school from releasing private disciplinary records to a House Republican committee. Khalil, who earned a master's from Columbia's School of International and Public Affairs, was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement over his involvement in pro-Palestinian campus protests this past March. His detention also comes as Columbia has opted to acquiesce to the Trump administration's demands over issues including campus security. Khalil has been one of the most high-profile examples of the White House targeting legal immigrants over their speech. Khalil is a lawful permanent U.S. resident and faces no criminal charges. For now, Abdalla said, she has no idea when she'll see her husband again. Although a federal judge ruled Wednesday that his detention was likely unconstitutional, he also determined that Khalil could remain in detention. In a second case, an immigration court is weighing the government's arguments for Khalil's deportation. 'We don't know if Mahmoud's going to be deported,' Abdalla told The Cut, adding that she's preparing a passport for their 1-month-old child just in case. 'We don't want to end up needing it and not having it,' she said. Read her full interview with The Cut here. Trump's Bid To Deport Columbia Activist Mahmoud Khalil Is Likely Unconstitutional, Judge Says Graduates Boo Columbia President At Commencement While Noting Mahmoud Khalil's Absence Agents Didn't Have Warrant To Arrest Activist Mahmoud Khalil, Documents Show
BBC News
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
'A hat that borders on performance art': How And Just Like That... gave us one of TV's most bizarre fashion moments ever
From Sex and the City to its sequel, heroine Carrie Bradshaw has always pushed the boat out with her fashion. But her latest choice of headwear has shocked viewers like never before. There was other news unfolding around the world on 20 May, 2024, but in one corner of the internet, there was only one topic of conversation: what was that on Sarah Jessica Parker's head? Parker had been snapped filming as Carrie Bradshaw for the third season of And Just Like That… in New York with an incredibly oversized floppy, brown and white gingham bonnet with two straps hanging down. "Is that a pillow case?" one person commented after Parker also posted a picture of her wearing the offending item on her Instagram account, which ended up on global news sites. "Wearing a diaper bag as a hat, clever!" posted another, while there were other less-than-favourable comparisons to Strawberry Shortcake dolls from the 1980s and Little Miss Muffett, sitting on her tuffet. "It's altogether unhinged," a journalist from The Cut wrote, summing up the entire outfit, in which the hat was paired with a striped coloured Ossie Clark dress from 1973 and Dr Scholl's sandals. Now a year later, the opening episode of the Sex and the City sequel series featuring the giant headwear has screened – and fans are even more bemused. "Carrie girl..." one viewer wrote on X. "What the hell is this hat." Another added: "I saw the Carrie hat. I am traumatized." "I can get behind the wildest of Carrie's fashion choices but this duvet cover of a hat is truly unhinged," commented another person, while others sprang to its defence: "Carrie's ENORMOUS hat in the first episode of And Just Like That season 3 is insane I love it lol." Finally seeing the scene in context, we now know that Carrie wasn't wearing the hat for a prank or as fancy dress, but perhaps the most the most shocking thing about it all is that the item goes by entirely unmentioned by Carrie's friend Seema Patel (Sarita Choudhury) – and other passers-by – as they eat their ice-cream on a stroll through Washington Square Park. There's not even a single drive-by diss from the famously vocal New York taxi drivers. "This girl is so sure, so confident," says Seema, in reference to Carrie, but she's talking about her relaxed, on-off relationship with Aidan Shaw (John Corbett), rather than her alarming sartorial selections. "Carrie Bradshaw has always pushed the envelope with hats," says Lauren Garroni of fashion/pop culture podcast and Instagram account, Every Outfit. "But this is by far, the most insane thing she's ever worn." Her Every Outfit partner Chelsea Fairless – both are self-titled "Sex and the City historians" – agrees: "To wear a hat of this magnitude on the streets of New York borders on performance art." "It's hard to imagine the thought process behind the costume design," explains Garroni, "apart from the fact that Carrie is an eccentric dresser. Perhaps they wanted to up the ante fashion-wise this season? But I don't think that they were going for a specific look, because no one dresses like this. It feels a little Strawberry Shortcake or Holly Hobbie-adjacent, but those are such abstract references." Some digging from detectives from the fashion world at the time revealed that the hat in question was a €450 (£379) piece called Head in the Clouds from the artist Maryam Keyhani, which she notes on her website is: "only for the brave and sensitive". Keyhani told The Guardian that she felt "pure pride and joy" in Carrie wearing the hat on screen, adding "she looks like she's completely disregarding what mainstream culture tells her – her inner world is much more important than that of the outside world". Perhaps as a response to The Cut's criticism, Keyhani added: "It's the freedom to look totally unhinged if you want to – and as women, at a certain age we truly don't care what people think of us – as long as we feel right about it!" The thinking behind the look So how did one of Carrie's most controversial looks come into fruition? The whole outfit is the creative vision of And Just Like That…'s costume designers Molly Rogers and Danny Santiago. And while it might look like the results of random rummage through a thrift store; the pair drew from Carrie's life and the planned events of series three to construct her wardrobe choices. "There is a major plot point that heavily influenced Carrie's style this season," Rogers tells the BBC, mindful of spoilers for the 12-part series. The first big news for Carrie is that she has decided to move from being a sex-memoir author into a historical romance novelist – "romantasy", her editor begs her to pivot to, to be on trend in the publishing world – so perhaps she's looking to Jane Austen or Brontë sister bonnets for inspiration in her new novel-writing era. The other shift in her life is that Carrie starts to spend time in Aidan's rural farmhouse in Virginia, as the couple navigate their complicated relationship status across two different locations with very different cultures. In a later episode she buys some old-fashioned local gowns in a look she dubs "Little House On The Carrie". Either consciously or unconsciously, Carrie appears to be playing around with a new identity through the medium that she knows best: fashion – and to see if the cap fits. As for the hat itself, Rogers says "I love the designer of that hat, Maryam Keyhani. Danny met her on Instagram,", explaining they sourced the Head in the Clouds piece together. It was a co-sign from Parker, she adds: "SJ loved quite a few pieces of Maryam's that we didn't have scenes for and we would keep trying to get them in. SJ is so collaborative and brings an incredible energy into her fittings." "I saw that hat, and I wanted it on my head immediately," Parker told Glamour. "My feeling is, when I see something like that, Who wouldn't want that on their head? And can't we find a reason for it? Sometimes you have to project a need where it doesn't exist... It didn't seem that it would intrude in any way on the scene or even in fact be a thing. You could have told me that hat was three by four. I would've felt the same." There has previously been hat-drama on the set of And Just Like That… when showrunner Michael Patrick King banned a hat that Rogers found in Paris's Clignancourt flea market – and which Parker also adored – from the finale of series one, citing that he was worried it would cover too much of the actor's face. This, according to the And Just Like That… The Documentary, earned him the title of "hat killer" by Rogers and Santiago. However, Rogers says that Patrick King had no issues with the big bonnet of season three: "I believe that MPK has lived down his past moniker as a hat killer with that one." Rogers adds that the hat also expresses a deeper meaning for her; fashion as resistance. "[Keyhani and I] have become close because she is a true artist and free spirit. She gives me hope that one day there will be a brighter day in this country because people like her exist and resist." More like this:• How And Just Like That... became the ultimate 'cringe watch'• The meaning behind Cannes' 'naked dress' ban• 10 of the best TV shows to watch this June Asked whether she was surprised by the reaction of the public to the look, Rogers says that one of the pitfalls about filming outside in one of the busiest cities in the country, is that the looks are exposed to the public before the show has even wrapped filming. "Any exterior scene gets way too much exposure," she says. When Garroni and Fairless posted the photo on their Instagram account at the time it first went viral, "the vibe in the comments was overwhelmingly negative," says Fairless. But, she adds: "That's to be expected. Avant-garde fashion isn't designed to appeal to the masses". "If anything," Garroni adds, "it's designed to repulse the masses." The OTT and often highly divisive fashion is of course why many viewers love to tune in to And Just Like That… just as they did Sex and the City before it, when costume designer Patricia Field concocted equally out-there outfits whose spirit Rogers and Danny Santiago have often followed. "Don't take yourself so seriously," Field told the BBC back in 2023, of the perpetual armchair critics of outrageous on-screen fashion. "Enjoy yourself! Enjoy life! Try a little originality!" And if some looks don't land, that's the price And Just Like That… has to pay for playing about with the more extreme end of high fashion, Fairless says: "And Just Like That… is purposely outlandish, although it varies from look to look. We may have seen some very eccentric outfits on the show, but we've also seen Carrie dress more conservatively than she ever has. "I think some fans want her to wear a tasteful, bias-cut dress with a pair of strappy sandals forever. They don't care about the looks that challenge traditional notions of 'good taste'. While other people, like Lauren and myself, live for the more controversial outfits." Items that might include Carrie's JW Anderson Pigeon purse from season two, or the Moncler duvet-ballgown she sported during a New York blizzard. "The fashion has always been hit or miss," Garroni adds. "But you don't get the hits without taking big risks, and that's what also leads to the misses. Carrie's look has always been about juxtaposing 'opposite' styles of clothing, and that's never without risk." As for whether large milkmaid bonnets will be en vogue for Summer 2025? "No disrespect to Carrie Bradshaw, but I don't think that most women want to wear massive gingham hats!" affirms Garroni. "If it becomes a trend, I'll eat my words." Or perhaps more fittingly, her hat. -- For more Culture stories from the BBC, follow us on Facebook, X and Instagram.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Before Brian Ketchum died in his 80s, he spent $45K chatting with ‘liars and thieves' online, his children say
Whether it's the loss of a spouse or a fresh start after divorce, the need for companionship doesn't fade with age — if anything, it deepens, especially as social isolation sets in. It can make emotionally vulnerable people financially vulnerable, too. That's what happened to 82-year-old Brian Ketcham, as his son Christopher relates in The Cut. Christopher's story about his father serves both as a heartbreaking family exposé and cautionary tale about older adults' vulnerability to online romance scams. Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 — and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 5 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast) Nervous about the stock market in 2025? Find out how you can access this $1B private real estate fund (with as little as $10) Brian Ketcham was in his 80s — a retired transportation engineer and urban planner once hailed by The New York Times as an 'influential environmentalist' — when he began spending his days chatting online on the Dream Singles website. His first connection was with 'Vasilisa,' a smoky-eyed Russian blonde. As he wrote: 'You are perfect. Only I am 82. In good health (you do know the 80's is the new 60's). As you report in your introduction if I got to know you for 5 minutes we would be in love. I already am.' Brian Ketcham's fantasy partners never materialized. What was real was the amount Dream Singles charged him for every online chat. Christopher and his sister Eve estimate that over the course of three years, their father spent at least $45,000 on the site. 'Only his death stopped the hemorrhaging of cash,' Christopher wrote. Romance scams aren't new, but the tools used to execute them have evolved into something far more sophisticated — and dangerous. Artificial intelligence can generate lifelike photos, clone voices and write convincing love letters, often tricking elderly victims. When Christopher and his sister suggested that the women on Dream Singles were all an illusion and the site was just a way to separate him from his money, Brian Ketcham wrote to 'Vasilisa' to confront her with his children's doubts. In response, he received this grammatically awkward but convincing response from his Russian dream girl: 'I'm here not that prove you something, if you don't trust me we can forget about each other.' Read more: This is how American car dealers use the '4-square method' to make big profits off you — and how you can ensure you pay a fair price for all your vehicle costs Afraid of losing the fantasy woman he believed cared for him, he doubled down and sent her his Brooklyn address and phone number in the hope she'd connect in person. In the wrong hands, these two deeply personal details could open the door to far more than heartbreak. He continued to spend money on the site, as Christopher relates: 'Our father, we agreed, seemed intent on handing his money to liars and thieves," Of course, Brian is only one among thousands of Americans who fall prey to such manipulation every year. Last year alone, Americans 60 and over lost at least $389 million to romance scams, according to the FBI's 2024 Elder Fraud Report. In 1963, AARP founder Ethel Percy Andrus warned Congress that fraudsters were preying on older Americans — selling fake arthritis cures, posing as government agents and draining savings through real estate scams that never existed. 'Nothing could be more invidious,' she said, 'than the pressures that plague older persons and place their health in jeopardy and further deplete their reduced incomes.' More than 60 years later, the tactics have changed — but the targets haven't. One in four Americans over 65 are socially isolated, according to the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, That means they are at high risk of financial exploitation. The natural process of aging means older adults are also vulnerable to scams due to cognitive decline — and it's not necessarily Alzheimer's disease or mild cognitive impairment. After she discovered her father was spending money on the Dream Singles site, Brian Ketcham's daughter Eve convinced him to visit a neuropsychologist to test his cognitive abilities. He went to prove her wrong. Unfortunately, the neuropsychologist determined that his working memory and executive function were compromised and his reasoning 'greatly diminished.' If you're worried someone close to you might be falling for a scam, there are a few subtle ways you can step in. First, keep the conversation flowing. Take an interest if they mention a new online friend or romantic interest. Ask questions like, 'How did you two meet?' or 'What kind of work do they do?' If they haven't met in person yet — especially after weeks or months of chatting — that's a major red flag. You can also ask for the person's name and photo, then do a quick reverse image search or background check to see if anything out of the ordinary pops up. Most importantly, talk to your loved ones about these scams before they happen. Let them know this kind of thing is real — and getting more common. Advise them to be cautious of anyone who asks for personal details like their address, banking info, or even their childhood pet's name (yes, scammers love security questions). At the end of the day, remind them that genuine relationships take time — and real partners never, ever ask for your credit card number. Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan 'works every single time' to kill debt, get rich in America — and that 'anyone' can do it Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market — here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead Robert Kiyosaki warns of a 'Greater Depression' coming to the US — with millions of Americans going poor. But he says these 2 'easy-money' assets will bring in 'great wealth'. How to get in now Here are 5 'must have' items that Americans (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you? This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
This 28-year-old from Miami started selling sweatshirts 2 years ago — and they've already achieved cult status
If you've noticed your daughter wearing an oversized sweatshirt with 'PARKE' stamped across the chest, you're not alone. Launched in 2022 by 28-year-old Chelsea Kramer, the brand has quickly become a Gen Z wardrobe staple. Kramer started out focusing on upcycled vintage denim, but it was the simple, cozy and limited-edition sweatshirts that created a viral following. In just under three years, the Miami-based entrepreneur (whose middle name is Parke) has amassed 150,000 followers on TikTok and 80,000 on Instagram. Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 — and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 5 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast) Nervous about the stock market in 2025? Find out how you can access this $1B private real estate fund (with as little as $10) Last year alone, the business net $16 million in revenue, as Kramer told The Cut. This past weekend, close to 1,000 shoppers lined up for a three-day pop-up in New York City's SoHo. One 27-year-old grad student drove in from New Jersey and waited nearly six hours to buy her eighth sweatshirt. Still, not everyone is walking away with the goods. 'Stuff should not be selling out in a minute,' one frustrated fan posted on TikTok. 'I get it gives you clout … but make your customers happy.' The real question is can Parke keep delivering or will the hype wear thin? 'We went through a shift where we were like, 'Okay, we shouldn't be so conservative,'' her sister-in-law and co-founder Kira Kramer said. 'It's so easy to get caught up in the success, and we've always been mindful about trying not to get ahead of ourselves.' Read more: This is how American car dealers use the '4-square method' to make big profits off you — and how you can ensure you pay a fair price for all your vehicle costs They're increasing inventory to keep up with demand, but reducing the number of Parke collections they release this year, a cautious move in an unpredictable economy. Like many U.S. brands that manufacture overseas, Parke got caught in the crossfire of President Trump's imposition of 145% tariffs on imports from China. While the Trump administration has since [paused] that penalty and reduced the tariff on Chinese imports to 30%, many small business owners say the damage is done. For one thing, as Beth Fynko Beniko, owner of Busy Baby observes, 30% is still a steep duty, and she started paying it in May. 'That sucks for any small business owner,' Beniko said on TikTok. 'It's still going to cost me $48,000 more than this shipment would've cost me two months ago.' As rising tariffs drive up production costs for companies like Busy Baby and Parke, small business owners are raising their prices, or considering doing so in the coming months. That means consumers are becoming more cautious. 'Recent events have people confused about how they can effectively budget because they do not know how the prices of things are going to change in the coming months,' Lawrence Sprung, a certified financial planner based in Long Island, New York told CNBC. Now's the time to be proactive with your finances. While you can't control what tariffs will do to prices, you can control how and where you spend your money. If you've been eyeing a purchase — like a viral sweater — it might be worth hitting pause. Prices could rise, and even if they don't, it's worth asking: Do you really need another sweater? Consider looking for alternatives with similar quality at a more affordable price. It's not just fashion. Things that have always been big-ticket items like refrigerators, dishwashers and car parts have even bigger price tags now. Even 'Made in America' products may rely on imported materials. Tariffs on steel and aluminum are expected to increase the cost of appliances by 20%. That could turn a $2,500 range into a $3,000 expense. Protect your wallet by prioritizing on your needs over wants. That doesn't mean cutting out every treat — just make sure essentials like rent, food and bills are covered before splurging on impulse buys. At the same time, build or replenish your emergency fund with regular savings. Experts recommend setting aside three to six months' worth of expenses, but even small, consistent contributions can go a long way. A solid cushion can help you manage unexpected costs without racking up credit-card debt or pulling from long-term savings. This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
Daily Mirror
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's town 'rocked by crime'
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle live in the A-list town of Montecito, California, which has been hit by a number of crimes including a dogging incident near their home After stepping back from Royal duties in 2020, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have made their home in the celebrity enclave of Montecito. This Californian town is one of the most affluent areas in the States, boasting residents like Oprah Winfre y, Ellen DeGeneres, and Orlando Bloom. Yet, even in upscale Montecito, crime rears its head, with a local news outlet reporting a salacious incident early in May. The Montecito Journal disclosed that a police officer caught someone on probation "engaged in sexual intercourse inside a parked vehicle" at about 11pm on Friday, May 2. Cocaine was also found in the suspect's wallet during a search by the authorities. This scandalous event occurred on Channel Drive, a mere stone's throw – under three miles – from Harry and Meghan's private abode on Rockbridge Road. In an earlier chat with The Cut, Meghan expressed how much the couple had wanted their home: "Because you walk in and go... Joy. And exhale. And calm. It's healing. You feel free.", reports the Express. The Sussexes forked out $14.65m (£10.9m) for their retreat, which is now believed to be worth twice that amount. Beyond the recent risqué rendezvous, the Montecito Journal has noted additional misdemeanours in the vicinity over the past month, including an assault on two individuals on the street around 7pm on Tuesday, April 29. A man reportedly stopped his vehicle in the middle of the road, shouting at the victims about trespassing before getting out and grabbing one of them by the collar. When the other victim attempted to step in, the suspect seized him by the collar and kicked him. The suspect fled the scene, prompting a police investigation. In a separate incident, a burglary was reported at a property on Olive Mill Road on Friday, 2 May. This location is less than two miles, or a five-minute drive, from the Sussexes' home. According to the report, a Glock pistol and high-end chairs were stolen from a locked storage container in the back garden. No arrests have been made in connection with the burglary. It was previously reported by the Express that the Montecito neighbourhood had been hit by a string of other crimes, including a vehicle break-in and a resident reporting a suspicious individual "knocking on windows and looking into properties". Detective Anthony Nunez of the Special Crime Division revealed that gangs, primarily from Chile and Venezuela, were responsible for the burglaries in the area, typically consisting of three or four men and women working together. He explained: "They conduct surveillance prior to the robbery to figure out your pattern of being at home and being away. [Then] they place cameras on the properties they are targeting. "They are highly skilled and are in and out in three minutes, targeting primary bedrooms' safe boxes and jewellery. They use signal jammers to stop your alarms, cell phones and home video surveillance [and] sell the stolen items back in their country of origin."
