Connect with us

Published

on

Some of the world’s most famous names have arrived at the Met Gala in New York for what has become known as the biggest night in fashion.

Each year A-list celebrities provide plenty of talking points as they pose for the world’s press in outfits that are often as stylish as they are bizarre.

The annual event ushers in the spring exhibit for the Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, with this year’s theme of “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” celebrating the style, politics and history of the way black men dress.

Diana Ross, Lewis Hamilton, Sabrina Carpenter and Alicia Keys are among the celebrities in attendance.

Here are some of the best outfits from the Met Gala 2025 so far.

Damson Idris. Pic: Reuters
Image:
English actor Damson Idris arrived looking like a racing driver – complete with sparkling helmet. Pic: Reuters

English actor Damson Idris. Pic: Reuters
Image:
Idris, who is set to appear in upcoming movie “F1”, underwent a quick costume change with the help of two assistants. Pic: Reuters

US singer Sabrina Carpenter. Pic: AP
Image:
US singer Sabrina Carpenter. Pic: AP

US actress Sydney Sweeney. Pic: Reuters
Image:
US actress Sydney Sweeney. Pic: Reuters

American music royalty Diana Ross. Pic: AP
Image:
American music royalty Diana Ross. Pic: AP

White Lotus star Patrick Schwarzenegger. Pic: AP
Image:
White Lotus star Patrick Schwarzenegger. Pic: AP

Hollywood actress Demi Moore. Pic: Reuters
Image:
Hollywood actress Demi Moore. Pic: Reuters

White Lotus star Walton Goggins. Pic: AP
Image:
White Lotus star Walton Goggins. Pic: AP

US model and actor Alton Mason. Pic: Reuters
Image:
US model and actor Alton Mason. Pic: Reuters

US singer Alicia Keys, left, and rapper Swizz Beatz. Pic: AP
Image:
US singer Alicia Keys, left, and rapper Swizz Beatz. Pic: AP

US rapper and singer Lizzo. Pic: Reuters
Image:
US rapper and singer Lizzo. Pic: Reuters

English-Albanian pop star Dua Lipa. Pic: Reuters
Image:
English-Albanian pop star Dua Lipa. Pic: Reuters

Norwegian billionaire Gustav Magnar Witzoe. Pic: AP
Image:
Norwegian billionaire Gustav Magnar Witzoe. Pic: AP

British Formula 1 driver and Met Gala co-chair Lewis Hamilton. Pic: Reuters
Image:
British Formula 1 driver and Met Gala co-chair Lewis Hamilton. Pic: Reuters

US rapper Megan Thee Stallion. Pic: Reuters
Image:
US rapper Megan Thee Stallion. Pic: Reuters

US Olympic gymnast Simone Biles. Pic: Reuters
Image:
US Olympic gymnast Simone Biles. Pic: Reuters

US tennis legend Serena Williams. Pic: Reuters
Image:
US tennis legend Serena Williams. Pic: Reuters

Kim Kardashian poses during the Met Gala. Pic: Reuters
Image:
Kim Kardashian poses during the Met Gala. Pic: Reuters

US singer and actress Janelle Monae with American film costume designer Paul Tazewell. Pic: Reuters
Image:
US singer and actress Janelle Monae with American film costume designer Paul Tazewell. Pic: Reuters

Colombian singer Shakira at the Met Gala. Pic: Reuters
Image:
Colombian singer Shakira at the Met Gala. Pic: Reuters

US rapper Lauryn Hill. Pic: Reuters
Image:
US rapper Lauryn Hill. Pic: Reuters

Continue Reading

US

RFK Jr announces US is scrapping $500m of vaccine projects

Published

on

By

RFK Jr announces US is scrapping 0m of vaccine projects

America’s vaccine-sceptic health secretary has announced $500m (£375.8m) worth of cuts to their development in the country.

The US health department is cancelling contracts and pulling funding for jabs to fight viruses like COVID-19 and the flu, it was announced on Tuesday.

Robert F Kennedy Jr, known as RFK Jr, said 22 projects developing mRNA vaccines will be halted. It is the latest in a series of decisions to reduce US vaccine programmes.

Read more: Who is Donald Trump’s health chief?

The health secretary has fired the panel that makes vaccine recommendations, reduced recommendations for COVID-19 shots, and refused to endorse vaccines despite a worsening measles outbreak.

RFK Jr claims the US will now prioritise “safer, broader vaccine strategies, like whole-virus vaccines and novel platforms that don’t collapse when viruses mutate”.

Responding to the announcement of cuts, Mike Osterholm, a University of Minnesota expert on infectious diseases and pandemic preparations, said: “I don’t think I’ve seen a more dangerous decision in public health in my 50 years in the business.”

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Is US politics fuelling a deadly measles outbreak?

Dr Paul Offit, a vaccine expert at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, said RFK Jr’s move was short-sighted and that mRNA vaccines “certainly saved millions of lives”, including during the pandemic.

MRNA vaccines work by delivering a snippet of genetic code into the body that triggers an immune response, rather than introducing a real version of the virus.

According to the UK Health Security Agency, the “leading advantage of mRNA vaccines is that they can be designed and produced more quickly than traditional vaccines”.

Moderna, which was studying a combo mRNA shot that can tackle COVID and flu for the US health department, previously said it believed mRNA could speed up production of flu jabs compared with traditional vaccines.

Read more from Sky News:
Harry criticises report into charity

Reeves told to find ‘substantial’ tax rises

Default…

Add to lightbox
Coronavirus - Mon Jan 4, 2021
The Oxford/AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine in a syringe before being administered to a
Image:
A COVID-19 vaccine during the pandemic. File pic: PA

Scientists are also exploring how mRNA could be used in cancer immunotherapies and in other illnesses.

At the White House earlier this year, billionaire tech entrepreneur Larry Ellison praised mRNA for its potential to treat cancer.

RFK Jr touts ‘effective’ alternative

The health department said the abandoned mRNA projects signal a “shift in vaccine development priorities.”

“Let me be absolutely clear, HHS supports safe, effective vaccines for every American who wants them,” Mr Kennedy said in a statement.

Later, he said work is underway on an alternative – a “universal vaccine” that mimics “natural immunity”.

“It could be effective – we believe it’s going to be effective – against not only coronaviruses, but also flu,” he said.

Continue Reading

US

Bill and Hillary Clinton subpoenaed in Jeffrey Epstein probe

Published

on

By

Bill and Hillary Clinton subpoenaed in Jeffrey Epstein probe

The US House Oversight Committee has issued subpoenas for depositions with former president Bill Clinton and former secretary of state Hillary Clinton relating to the sex trafficking investigation into Jeffrey Epstein.

The Republican-controlled committee also subpoenaed the Justice Department for files relating to the paedophile financier, as well as eight former top law enforcement officials.

Donald Trump has denied prior knowledge of Epstein‘s crimes, claiming he ended their relationship a long time ago.

Trump and Epstein at a party together in 1992. Pic: NBC News
Image:
Mr Trump and Mr Epstein at a party together in 1992. Pic: NBC News

The US president has repeatedly tried to draw a line under the Justice Department’s decision not to release a full accounting of the investigation, but politicians from both major political parties, as well as many in Mr Trump’s political base, have refused to drop their interest in the Epstein files.

Epstein died in a New York jail cell in 2019 awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges, and since then, conspiracy theories have swirled about what information investigators gathered on him and who else may have been involved in his crimes.

Republicans on the House Oversight Committee initiated the subpoenas for the Clintons last month, as well as demanding all communications between former president Joe Biden’s Democrat administration and the Justice Department about Epstein.

The committee previously issued a subpoena for an interview with Epstein’s former girlfriend, Ghislaine Maxwell, who had been serving a prison sentence in Florida for luring teenage girls to be sexually abused by Epstein. She was recently transferred to another facility in Texas.

Mr Clinton was among those acquainted with Epstein before the criminal investigation against him in Florida became public two decades ago. He has never been accused of wrongdoing by any of the women who say Epstein abused them.

Mr Clinton previously said, through a spokesperson, that while he travelled on Epstein’s jet, he never visited his homes and had no knowledge of his crimes.

Read more:
All we know about Trump and Epstein’s ‘friendship’

This is a rare escalation

The subpoenaing of former president Bill Clinton is an escalation, both legally and politically.

Historically, it is rare for congressional oversight to demand deposition from former presidents of the United States.

Ghislaine Maxwell, Jeffrey Epstein’s former girlfriend and accomplice, had already been summonsed.

But the House Oversight Committee has now added Bill and Hillary Clinton, several former Attorneys General and former FBI directors to its list.

It signals bipartisan momentum – Democrats voting with Republicans for transparency.

The committee will now hear from several people with known ties to Epstein, his connection with Bill Clinton having been well-documented.

But the subpoenas set up a potential clash between Congress and the Department of Justice.

Donald Trump, the candidate, had vowed to release them. A government led by Mr Trump, the president, chose not to.

If Attorney General Pam Bondi still refuses to release the files, it will fuel claims of a constitutional crisis in the United States.

But another day of Epstein headlines demonstrates the enduring public interest in this case.

The subpoenas give the Justice Department until 19 August to hand over the requested records.

The committee is also asking the former officials to appear for depositions throughout August, September and October, concluding with Hillary Clinton on 9 October and Bill Clinton on 14 October.

Although several former presidents, including Mr Trump, have been issued congressional subpoenas, none has ever appeared before members under compulsion.

Last month, Mr Trump instructed Attorney General Pam Bondi to release information presented to the grand jury that indicted Maxwell for helping Epstein sexually abuse teenage girls.

Continue Reading

US

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs ‘seeks pardon from Trump’

Published

on

By

Sean 'Diddy' Combs 'seeks pardon from Trump'

Sean “Diddy” Combs has been in contact with Donald Trump about a pardon, a source close to the rapper’s legal team has told Sky News’ US partner network NBC News.

A White House spokesperson said it “will not comment on the existence or nonexistence of any clemency request”.

On Tuesday, the rapper was denied bail ahead of his sentencing in October, when he could face up to 20 years in prison after he was convicted of prostitution-related offences.

The sentence will likely be much shorter than that, however.

In July, he was found guilty of two counts of transportation for prostitution – but cleared of more serious charges of racketeering conspiracy and sex-trafficking, which carried potential life sentences.

During an interview with news channel Newsmax last Friday, Mr Trump said “they have talked to me about Sean” but did not announce any decision.

Read more:
How the trial unfolded
The rise and fall of Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs

Sean "Diddy" Combs reacts after verdicts are read of the five counts against him, during Combs' sex trafficking trial in New York City, New
Image:
Combs reacts after the verdicts are read out in court. File pic: Reuters

The president seemed to cast doubt that he would grant a pardon, however.

“You know, I was very friendly with him. I got along with him great. And seemed like a nice guy, I didn’t know him well,” Trump said. “But when I ran for office, he was very hostile.”

“I don’t know,” Trump said. “It makes it more – I’m being honest, it makes it more difficult to do.”

Trump was then asked, “more likely a ‘no’ for Combs?”

Trump responded: “I would say so.”

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

How the Diddy trial unfolded

Combs, who co-founded Bad Boy Records and launched the career of the late Notorious BIG, was for decades a huge figure in pop culture, as well as a Grammy-winning hip-hop artist and business entrepreneur, who presided over an empire ranging from fashion to reality TV.

Now, as well as the criminal conviction, he is also facing several civil lawsuits.

Continue Reading

Trending