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Donald Trump has chosen vaccine sceptic Robert F Kennedy Jr as his new health secretary.

The news was announced by Donald Trump Jr on X, before the president-elect confirmed the appointment just moments later.

Former Democrat RFK Jr, the nephew of former president John F Kennedy, had been running as an independent presidential candidate but dropped out of the race and endorsed Mr Trump in August.

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From August: Kennedy family criticises RFK Jr after Trump endorsement

In return for Mr Kennedy’s support during the election, President-elect Trump pledged to give him a “big role” – and RFK Jr’s preference for the health position was widely reported.

The health and human services (HHS) department includes the Food and Drug Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Medicare, Medicaid and the National Institutes of Health.

RFK Jr will “restore these Agencies to the traditions of Gold Standard Scientific Research, and beacons of Transparency, to end the Chronic Disease epidemic, and to Make America Great and Healthy Again,” the president-elect wrote on X.

Donald Trump and Robert F Kennedy Jr in October during the presidential campaign. Pic: Reuters
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Donald Trump and Robert F Kennedy Jr in October during the presidential campaign. Pic: Reuters

Mr Trump added: “For too long, Americans have been crushed by the industrial food complex and drug companies who have engaged in deception, misinformation, and disinformation when it comes to Public Health.

“The Safety and Health of all Americans is the most important role of any Administration.”

Mr Kennedy is a known vaccine sceptic who has repeated misinformation on multiple occasions, including the discredited theory that childhood immunisations cause autism.

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The RFK Jr-led health department will “play a big role in helping ensure that everybody will be protected from harmful chemicals, pollutants, pesticides, pharmaceutical products, and food additives that have contributed to the overwhelming Health Crisis in this Country,” the president-elect added.

Earlier, his son Donald Trump Jr was the first to confirm the appointment, writing on X: “Robert F Kennedy Jr will be The Secretary of Health and Human Services! Promises Made Promises Kept.”

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Who’s in and who’s out of Trump’s top team?
Who is Robert F Kennedy Jr?

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When Trump met Obama and Biden

RFK Jr’s position will need to be confirmed with a Senate vote – but even with the chamber under Republican control, his appointment may face opposition because of his views on health issues.

Before Mr Trump announced his choice, Mr Kennedy had already claimed the new president would push to remove fluoride from drinking water on his first day in office. The addition of the compound has been cited as helping to improve dental health.

The department RKF Jr is hoping to oversee has more than 80,000 employees across the United States.

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Hollywood is struggling, but some fear Trump’s foreign film tariffs might do more harm than good

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Hollywood is struggling, but some fear Trump's foreign film tariffs might do more harm than good

At Sony Production studios in Culver City, an area of Los Angeles steeped in the movie business, a steady stream of cars and lorries comes and goes through the security gate.

It occupies the MGM lot which dates back to 1924. Gone With the Wind, The Wizard of Oz and Citizen Kane were shot here and, more recently, Interstellar and The Dark Knight Rises. But this is no longer the beating heart of movie making.

In Tinsel Town the bright lights of the film industry have been fading for some time. Production in Hollywood has fallen by 40% in the last decade, sometimes moving to other states like New Mexico, New York and Georgia, but more often outside the US entirely.

A recent survey of film and TV executives indicates that Britain, Australia and Canada are now favoured locations over California when it comes to making movies.

San Andreas, a blockbuster film about a California earthquake, was shot in Australia. In America, a film about an Irish family settling in New York, was shot in Canada.

Although about a California disaster, San Andreas was actually shot in Australia. Pic: Jasin Boland/THA/Shutterstock
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Although about a California disaster, San Andreas was actually shot in Australia. Pic: Jasin Boland/THA/Shutterstock

Trump’s movie tariff could deal knock-out blow to UK film industry, union says

The exodus of the film industry from Hollywood is mostly owing to economic reasons, with other countries boasting lower labour costs and more expansive tax incentives. But as productions have moved overseas, studios across Los Angeles are frequently empty and those who work behind the scenes are often out of work.

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President Trump has approached this problem with a familiar reaction – sweeping tariffs, a 100% tariff on all foreign made films coming into the USA.

‘It’s a different kind of situation than producing cars overseas’

Justine Bateman is a filmmaker and sister of actor Jason Bateman. She is glad Trump is looking for solutions but does not understand how the tariffs will work. “I will say, I’m very glad to hear that President Trump is interested in helping the film business. But part of the problem is we just don’t have very much detail, do we?,” she says.

“He’s made this big announcement, but we don’t have the detail to really mull over. He doesn’t even say whether it’s going to be films that are shown in the cinema or streaming movies, for example.

“Tariffs can be a profitable situation for when we’re just talking about hard goods, but something like a film and, particularly if you’ve got an American film that takes place in the south of France, you want to be in a particular location.

“So it’s a different kind of situation than producing cars overseas and bringing them back here.”

At the Hand Prop Room in Los Angeles, they supply props for TV and film. The warehouse is brimful of virtually any prop you could imagine, from portraits of former presidents, to replica handguns to African artefacts and 18th century teapots. The walls are decorated with posters from some of the productions they’ve supplied, including Babylon, Oppenheimer and Ghostbusters.

Reynaldo Castillo believes the tariffs could be harmful to Hollywood unless properly thought through
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Reynaldo Castillo believes the tariffs could be harmful to Hollywood unless properly thought through

‘It needs to be thought through’

In the past five years, the prop shop has been impacted by the COVID pandemic, by both the writers’ and actors’ strikes and the globalisation of the film industry. Business is at an all time low.

“It’s not helping when so many productions are not just leaving the state, but also leaving the country,” says Reynaldo Castillo, the general manager of the Hand Prop Room. “It’s Hollywood, we have the infrastructure that nobody else has and I think maybe to a certain point we took it for granted.

“I think we can all agree that we want more filming to stay in the country to help promote jobs. But you also don’t want to do something to hurt it.

“How does it work? Are there exceptions for X, Y, and Z? What about independent movies that have small budgets that are shot somewhere else that would destroy their ability to make something? It needs to be thought through and make sure it’s implemented the right way.”

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Met Gala 2025: Diana Ross, Sabrina Carpenter and Lewis Hamilton among stars at biggest night in fashion

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Met Gala 2025: Diana Ross, Sabrina Carpenter and Lewis Hamilton among stars at biggest night in fashion

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

English actor Damson Idris. Pic: Reuters
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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
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US singer Sabrina Carpenter. Pic: AP

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Trump calls for reopening of Alcatraz to house ‘most ruthless and violent offenders’

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Trump calls for reopening of Alcatraz to house 'most ruthless and violent offenders'

US President Donald Trump has called for the reopening of notorious prison Alcatraz.

In a post on his social media site Truth Social, Mr Trump said America had been “plagued by vicious, violent, and repeat criminal offenders”.

He added that when the United States was “a more serious nation” it “did not hesitate to lock up the most dangerous criminals”.

“That is why, today, I am directing the Bureau of Prisons, together with the Department of Justice, FBI, and Homeland Security, to reopen a substantially enlarged and rebuilt Alcatraz, to house America’s most ruthless and violent offenders,” he wrote.

Mr Trump said the reopening of the San Francisco prison would “serve as a symbol of law, order, and justice”.

The US president’s latest policy announcement comes after he fired national security adviser Mike Waltz last week in the first major change to his administration.

US President Donald Trump. Pic: AP
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US President Donald Trump speaking to reporters on Sunday. Pic: AP

Alcatraz was infamously inescapable and in the 29 years it was open, 36 men attempted 14 separate escapes, according to the FBI.

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Nearly all of them were caught or did not survive the attempt at escaping.

The prison housed some of America’s most notorious criminals, including Al Capone and George Kelly.

It has also been the subject of a number of films, including The Rock, starring Sean Connery and Nicolas Cage.

Alcatraz Island. File pic: AP
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Alcatraz Island. File pic: AP

Alcatraz Island, which is surrounded by strong ocean currents and cold Pacific waters, is now a major tourist site, operated by the National Park Service.

The prison’s closure in 1963 was attributed to crumbling infrastructure and high repair costs.

A spokesperson for the Bureau of Prisons said it would “comply with all presidential orders”.

The Bureau of Prisons currently has 16 high-security prisons, including its maximum-security facility in Florence, Colorado, and a facility in Terre Haute, Indiana, which is home to the federal death chamber.

The United States’ federal law enforcement agency has been the subject of increased scrutiny in recent years after Jeffrey Epstein‘s suicide at a federal jail in New York City in 2019.

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