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Business Standard
06-07-2025
- Politics
- Business Standard
Life for Indian students in Trump's America gets increasingly tougher
Indian students putting the American dream on hold premium Sanket Koul New Delhi Listen to This Article With a dream to study law in the United States (US), 23 year-old James (name changed) had taken the now-defunct Law School Admission Test (LSAT) in 2024. While he got 98.7 percentile in the exams, his wish to study in the US was put on hold due to the recent changes in student visa norms. 'I was advised by my friends in the US to not apply this year,' he said. There are two reasons why, he said. 'One is the association in terms of you being a foreigner and then there is the added fact that you are consistently
Newsweek
31-05-2025
- Health
- Newsweek
I Overmoisturized and Felt a Tiny Pimple—Then Came a Devastating Diagnosis
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Getting out of the shower one day, I had poured far too much lotion into my hands. I'd already rubbed my arms, legs, and entire body, and I didn't know where else to put it—I was completely covered. So, I applied the excess to my breasts. As I was massaging the cream in, I felt the tiniest little lump behind my right nipple. It felt like when you have a pimple developing under your face, right before it breaks the surface. I thank God that my hands were lubricated because I don't know if I would have felt that lump with dry skin. At first, I thought it might just be premenstrual—after all, we get cysts and bumps around that time. But I trusted my intuition and, for peace of mind, I went to a world-renowned cancer research and treatment center for a checkup. Unfortunately, I was already too familiar with the hospital: my mom had been through breast cancer at 34 and again at 37. I think that's why I was so wary. An image showing Nicole and her sister Monica cuddling their mom as she underwent Cancer treatment. An image showing Nicole and her sister Monica cuddling their mom as she underwent Cancer treatment. Nicole Mikhael/Nicole Mikhael The doctor examined the lump, and I asked, "What are the chances of this being cancer?" At 26, she told me I was young and healthy, so it was pretty much out of the question. I really didn't think it was anything serious, but I decided to have a lumpectomy anyway. The mass was right behind the nipple and close enough to the skin for me to feel it, and my logic was that I didn't want it to get any larger and leave a bigger indentation in my breast. The surgery was easy, and the recovery was quick. I was left with a tiny, paper-cut-sized mark beside my nipple. I went in on December 29, 2016, and I was ready to start the new year with the whole thing behind me. I was a graduate from the University of Southern California and was studying for the Law School Admission Test. I was on my way to becoming a lawyer. But then, on January 3—a date that will forever be engraved in my soul—I had a routine follow-up to check that the incision was healing. As soon as the doctor walked in, I felt the energy in the room shift. I just knew she was going to say something unpleasant. When I looked at her, I could tell she was fighting back tears. They'd received the pathology report on the lump. She told me I had Stage I breast cancer. I didn't cry. I didn't even react. I was in shock. I just asked, "What's the plan? Where do we go from here?" If you had told me I'd be in that situation, I would have assumed I'd break down in tears. But I felt nothing—those emotions came later. My sister Monica and my dad, Ben, were on the other side of the curtain, I could hear them sobbing. The crazy part is that, just months earlier, in July, my mom had done the most recent round of genetic testing. Everything came back negative. I didn't carry the BRCA gene, a mutation that increases the risk of breast and ovarian cancer. The hospital was stunned. People were confused—they didn't understand how this had happened. My mom and I had two completely different types of breast cancer and two different treatment plans. Once my doctor gave me the news, I didn't waste any time. From the day they told me to the day I had my double mastectomy, it was only two weeks. It's the strangest feeling to know there is something cancerous in your body. I just wanted it out. I wanted to move on with my life. I knew I had to have both breasts removed, and it was terrifying. I had naturally large breasts—I was a DD. People used to assume I'd had a boob job because I had such a petite frame. I was scared to lose that part of me, that part of how I looked. Questions rushed through my head: What are my clothes going to look like? What am I going to look like? A photo of Nicole before her double mastectomy. A photo of Nicole before her double mastectomy. Nicole Mikhael/Nicole Mikhael While my girlfriends were getting engaged and pregnant, I was over here deciding whether to keep or remove my nipple. I didn't even know you could remove your nipple. But I had to. The cancer was right behind it. If I'd done the double mastectomy and kept the right nipple, the cancer could have remained. I didn't want to return to the doctor every three months, living with uncertainty. I wanted peace of mind. I also opted to remove both breasts because I didn't want to live with the paranoia of waking up each day and wondering about every bump. Given my mom's history, I didn't want to risk it progressing to Stage III or IV and live with the regret of not having taken it all out when I had the chance. Nicole, Monica and their mom fundraising for a Cancer charity. Nicole, Monica and their mom fundraising for a Cancer charity. Nicole Mikhael/Nicole Mikhael On January 19, 2017, I went in for the double mastectomy. Honestly, I nearly walked out. I felt like I wasn't ready. Maybe I needed therapy—but no amount of therapy could have prepared me for that moment. Crying in the hospital bed, my dad wiped the tears from my face with a tissue. My nurse, Elizabeth—a fellow breast-cancer survivor who had also had a double mastectomy—turned to me and said: "We've all been through it. We've survived it. This will be another adventure in your life. And guess what? You have a life ahead of you. OK, we gotta do this. We gotta do this and get it over with and behind you." I recently shared her words from almost a decade ago on TikTok, and they resonated with so many women and nurses. The video reached more than 4 million people. The hospital had recommended support groups, but I couldn't relate to the women in them—they were mostly in their mid- to late-40s with life partners. It was hard to find someone in my shoes. I was in my 20s and single. I didn't know how I'd ever tell a future partner about the scarring. I woke up from surgery and had never felt pain like it. I realized how many simple things I used my chest muscles for—things I had taken for granted. Even pressing down on a soap dispenser hurt. They removed the lymph nodes, so I couldn't raise my arms or put on a shirt. A split image showing Nicole after her surgery and during her recovery. A split image showing Nicole after her surgery and during her recovery. Nicole Mikhael/Nicole Mikhael People would always say, "Oh, you're getting a free boob job," but that's such a misconception. Essentially, you're having your chest amputated from the inside—it's just not as visible. When you see someone who has lost an arm or a leg, it's obvious. With breast reconstruction, the lines get blurred. Of course, I signed the forms acknowledging the risk of postsurgery infection. But after everything I'd already been through, I didn't think it would happen to me. At a follow-up appointment, the doctor discovered a full-blown infection on the right side—even though I had no symptoms. I was rushed into emergency surgery. It was a huge setback for reconstruction. When I saw myself for the first time after that surgery, I had a "what the f***?" moment. I couldn't believe anyone's chest could look the way mine did. One implant was tiny and high up near my collarbone. The other was larger and had dropped. I was completely lopsided. I hid behind baggy clothes. I grew my hair even longer because I knew people would look at my chest first. My hair became a shield. Before, I was the girl with big DDs everyone thought were fake. Now, I had a double mastectomy and uneven implants. That was my breaking point. The pain didn't end there. Nurses came to my house every other day to administer meds through a PICC [peripherally inserted central catheter] line, a long catheter inserted into a vein for long-term medication. The meds were so strong that I could taste metal in my mouth, and I was constantly nauseous. At that point, I was nowhere near happy with my reconstruction. It looked like I'd had a double mastectomy—nothing more. I didn't know how I was going to wear my clothes again, or date. Eventually, I found a new plastic surgeon in Beverly Hills, Dr Charles Galanis. He changed my life. I even used his handwriting for my survivor tattoo. Nicole's survivor tattoo written in her surgeon's handwriting. Nicole's survivor tattoo written in her surgeon's handwriting. Nicole Mikhael/Nicole Mikhael Insurance didn't cover the surgeries because they were considered cosmetic. I had to pay out of my own pocket. Even after everything, people still assume I'm just another girl in LA with implants. There are so many stereotypes and stigmas about what a cancer patient looks like—bald, weak, sickly. But I had hair all the way down to my butt. People never thought I was the one who had breast cancer. Cancer doesn't discriminate. It doesn't care who you are, what you look like, or where you live. In any language, "cancer" is a terrifying word. One year later, my sister threw me a surprise one-year cancer-free party. My new neighbors came over to celebrate. They had a son named Mason, who knew about the girl next door who had beaten cancer. Our paths crossed over a year later at a July 4 barbecue. As soon as I saw him, I thought, "This guy cannot live next door to me. This is going to be a problem." I'm such a homebody, and I have a lot of animals. My girlfriends always teased me: "Nicole, you never leave the house. You think someone's just going to show up at your door?" The joke ended up being that he moved next door. He was a bit caught off guard because he only knew me as the "cancer girl." You couldn't tell I was sick just by looking at me. It worked out for me, though—I didn't have to have that conversation about having had cancer. But, when we got into a relationship, I thought: How am I going to tell him about the scars? When do I say that? For the longest time, I'd shower with the lights off. I couldn't look at myself. I always locked the door. Eventually, there was a moment when I had to tell him. I had to admit my insecurities to him, and I'm so grateful I did, because he couldn't care less about my scars, he reminded me of the strength behind them and relieved me of the shame I felt as feeling less than. And now, five years later, although we are not together anymore, any confidence cancer took away, Mason gave back to me and I'm forever thankful for role he playing in my healing. Now, people can't tell at all—they just assume I had an augmentation. During my recovery, everyone started bringing me crystals. Honestly, I didn't understand them at first. But then I began planting succulents inside crystals as a therapeutic little project that I would gift to my family and friends who woud come to see me. That small hobby ended up turning into a full-blown business: crystalz cacti. We were doing incredibly well, and for the first time in a while, I felt like I was taking back control of my life—financially, emotionally, and creatively. It was surreal when even the Kardashians had some of my crystals. Khloe coincidentally posted to me the night before my surgery, and ultimately ended up paying for the procedure given how much my sales skyrocketed afterwards. Unfortunately, in 2020, when the world shut down, I could no longer import crystals from Brazil, and I had to shut the business down. But I didn't stop there. Last year, I launched a new business, called Mikhael. The first product is a luxury, multifunctional pet bottle, with a crystal, inspired by my deep love for animals and the comfort they gave me through animal therapy during recovery. A photo of Nicole having pet therapy with a dog after her procedure. A photo of Nicole having pet therapy with a dog after her procedure. Nicole Mikhael/Nicole Mikhael Now, 35, I feel called to advocate for other women not to be afraid, but to check themselves. And if something feels off, trust your instinct. Don't wait. Don't brush it off. Early detection can literally save your life. If I had waited until I was 30 or 40 to get a mammogram, my cancer could have been Stage IV by then. And remember—life goes on. Your circumstances don't define your destiny. This is just a chapter in your story, not the whole book.
Time of India
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Civilian death toll due to Pak intensive shelling rises to 17
Srinagar: The civilian death toll due to shelling from across LoC has risen to 17 in Jammu & Kashmir. #Operation Sindoor Live Updates| From Sindoor to showdown? Track Indo-Pak conflict as it unfolds India hits Lahore's Air Defence Radars in proportionate response Pakistan tried to hit military targets in these 15 Indian cities, New Delhi thwarts strikes The J&K administration has announced that schools in Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Rajouri and Poonch of Jammu division, and Baramulla, Kupwara, Gurez, and those near Srinagar and Awantipora airports in Kashmir division will remain closed on May 9. The Law School Admission Test and J&K State Eligibility Test scheduled on May 11 have also been postponed. The Srinagar and Jammu airports continued to remain shut and the main highway connecting Kashmir with the rest of the country was shut due to landslides caused by heavy rainfall in Ramban district. Hospitals have started preparations to combat the crisis, if and when it may arise. Officials said the death toll of civilians has increased to 16 mainly in Poonch district of Jammu where heavy shelling was reported in the intervening night of May 6 and May 7. One Army man was also killed. "During the night of 7-8 May, 2025, Pakistan army posts resorted to unprovoked fire using small arms and artillery guns across the LoC in areas opposite Kupwara, Baramulla, Uri and Akhnoor areas of J&K. The Indian Army responded proportionately," said a defence spokesperson here. Live Events In Poonch, locals were either busy with the last rites of those killed or looking after the injured at medical facilities. Many were seen rummaging through the rubble of their homes destroyed in the shelling. Some of the forward areas were emptied following the killing as scores of border residents have been removed to safer locations. "It was unimaginable and horrific," said a local resident Imtiyaz Ahmad, a resident of Poonch. In northern Kashmir's Uri, locals revisited their homes destroyed in the shelling. "We have been told to go to safer places as some houses were completely destroyed in the Salamabad area," said Farooq Ahmad Sheikh of Uri. Officials said they would focus on ensuring a swift response to any emerging challenges. The review meeting was held against the backdrop of Pakistan's indiscriminate shelling of civilian areas.
Boston Globe
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
‘A safer move': Massachusetts law schools see record applications amid economic uncertainty
Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up 'Getting a JD or a professional degree now feels like such a safer move,' said Lily Power, a political science undergraduate student at the University of Massachusetts Amherst graduating in May. She has shifted her longtime plans of pursuing a PhD in political science to applying to law schools next year. Advertisement 'After seeing funding being cut, academia doesn't feel like a good field to go into right now,' Power said. 'Part of me wants to still pursue it, but I have to think about my own stability too.' Many of Power's professors are promoting law school, she said, to avoid the uncertainty around higher education while still pursuing a related career that can make a difference. After seeing Trump administration attacks on immigration, Advertisement The last peak in law school applications came in 2021, when the COVID pandemic and lockdowns were ravaging the economy. Since then, applications nationwide ticked down, before this year's spike. This year's rise in applications means law school hopefuls are facing even stiffer competition. At Boston College Law School, applications reached an all-time high this year with 7,668 people vying for roughly 215 spots, a spokesperson said. The applicant pool size is a 20 percent increase compared with last year's. Boston University School of Law had an even larger jump, one of the largest in the state, with approximately 30 percent more applicants in 2025 than in 2024, a spokesperson said. Harvard Law School, meanwhile, saw a similar increase of roughly 20 percent after receiving more than 8,700 applications this year, a 20-percent bump, said Kristi Jobson, assistant dean for admissions and chief admissions officer, compared with 7,235 last year. At UMass Law, applications increased nearly 22 percent this year compared with last, said Sam Panarella, the law school's dean. Three main forces are likely driving the spike, in Panarella's view: an increase in perceived importance of the law amid news coverage of Trump-related constitutional issues; heightened feelings of uncertainty about jobs and the economy; and the recent removal of the much-dreaded 'logic games' section from the Law School Admission Test. Amid economic instability, he said, graduating students and career-switchers see law school as a 'professional school that has a job at the end of it that feels certain to some degree.' Advertisement Indeed, law school has traditionally represented a solid path to relatively high-paying employment. By last spring, nearly 86 percent of the prior year's law school graduates had full-time legal jobs, according to However, even before Trump took office, legal industry observers were predicting employment numbers beginning with the class of 2024 were likely to look less positive. Nikia Gray, executive director of the National Association for Law Placement, said in a last year that pandemic-era hiring booms at law firms were slowing, and 'there are suggestions in the data that the market is starting to contract and that future classes may not fare as well.' Across New England, students are reconsidering their plans and seeing law school as a smart career move. Applications in the region jumped 22 percent this year compared with the previous cycle. University of Vermont senior Lucas Martineau has been passionate about work that focuses on the intersection of public service and culture for years. A recent job posting for a program manager in Boston's Office Arts and Culture would be a 'dream job' a few years down the road, he said, but as he prepares to cross the graduation stage, banking on opportunities like that one still existing in the future feels like a larger gamble than before. The University of Vermont in Burlington, Vt., in 2020. Charles Krupa/Associated Press 'In a way, it feels like this administration had hit me directly,' said Martineau, who will graduate this May with a bachelor's degree in political science, art history, and psychology. 'Law school feels like the closest thing that's still safe.' Advertisement Amid the uncertainty and federal a job where he can make an impact on people's lives while still having relative job security. 'Having a pathway to be able to make actionable change, after graduating first in a pandemic and second in a potential recession, is really top of mind for me,' Martineau said. The decision to pivot to law school in the hopes of a secure career that is also fulfilling is a well-founded one, said Andrew Perlman, dean of Suffolk Law, which saw a 20-percent jump this year. 'For economic and job stability, legal careers have long been a great path,' Perlman said. 'It's a good investment.' Maren Halpin can be reached at
Reuters
08-04-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
US News & World Report law school rankings show shakeup at the top
April 8 (Reuters) - Yale and Stanford universities' law schools remained tied at No. 1 in the latest U.S. News & World Report rankings on released Tuesday, but the new list brings a slew of other changes to the law schools that traditionally occupy the top 14 spots known as the T-14. Cornell Law School fell out of the T-14 with a four-spot decline to No. 18, while four schools tied at No. 14, meaning there are now 17 schools in the T-14, according to the closely watched list, opens new tab, released on Tuesday. Georgetown University Law Center held steady at No. 14 but was joined by T-14 newcomers the University of Texas School of Law, Vanderbilt University Law School and Washington University in St. Louis School of Law. Vanderbilt and Washington University have traditionally landed just outside the T-14, while Texas has slipped into the No. 14 spot several times before. Changes U.S. News made to its methodology three years ago in response to a boycott sparked by elite schools have resulted in greater rankings volatility, especially among the top schools, said Notre Dame law professor Derek Muller, who writes about the rankings on his blog Excess of Democracy. The boycotting schools said that the former rankings methodology hurt student diversity and affordability. U.S. News now relies heavily on data schools report annually to the American Bar Association. Small increases or decreases in bar passage and employment rates result in larger rankings shifts because top schools tend to have very similar outcomes in those areas. Harvard Law School and Duke University School of Law both fell two spots to No. 6, while Columbia Law School landed at No. 10 after also falling two positions. The University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School dropped one spot to No. 5; Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law fell one spot to No. 10; and the University of California, Berkeley School of Law also dropped one spot to No. 13. The University of Chicago Law School and the University of Virginia School of Law remained at Nos. 3 and 4. New York University School of Law and the University of Michigan Law School both moved up one spot to tie at No. 8, while the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law gained one spot, landing at No. 12. The U.S. News rankings have traditionally been viewed as the single-most influential measure of the law schools among prospective students, but that may be on the decline. In a new survey of law school admissions officers by test prep company Kaplan, 62% said they believe the rankings 'have lost some of their prestige over the last couple of years.' The law school rankings methodology remained largely the same this year, with much of a school's ranking based on its employment outcomes and bar passage rates and less weight on Law School Admission Test scores and undergraduate grade-point averages. Other factors include reputation scores from law school faculty, judges and practitioners. The University of Maine School of Law had the single largest rankings gain this year, jumping 32 spots to No. 88. The University of New Hampshire Franklin Pierce School of Law saw the biggest decline, falling 27 positions to No. 125.
