Catherine

Catherine, Princess of Wales makes tentative return to work

  • The issue of childrens' early development has been described as mother-of-three Catherine's life's work by aides.
  • Britain's Princess of Wales has taken a first step towards returning to her work on the early-years development of children, a week after announcing she had completed chemotherapy.
  • The issue of childrens' early development has been described as mother-of-three Catherine's life's work by aides.
Britain's Princess of Wales has taken a first step towards returning to her work on the early-years development of children, a week after announcing she had completed chemotherapy.
Catherine, 42, also known as Kate, held a meeting at Windsor Castle, west of London, with staff from the Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood, the organisation she established, on Tuesday.
The meeting was listed in the Court Circular, the official record of engagements carried out by members of the royal family, which was published in The Times newspaper on Wednesday.
The issue of childrens' early development has been described as mother-of-three Catherine's life's work by aides.
Catherine, a future queen who is married to heir to the throne Prince William, has appeared in public on only a few occasions since the start of the year, when it was announced that she was due to have abdominal surgery.
That announcement was followed in March with the shock revelation that she was undergoing a course of "preventative chemotherapy" for an undisclosed cancer.
She said last week she had finished the treatment and was "looking forward to being back at work and undertaking a few more public engagements in the coming months when I can".
The announcement in a highly emotional video came after her father-in-law, King Charles III, 75, was given the light to resume public duties in April after his own cancer treatment.
har/jwp/js

talent

Fashion's Game of Thrones as creative heads play musical chairs

BY ISABELLE SCIAMMA

  • Not a month has gone by this year without its share of shock announcements: Piccioli left Valentino in March after more than two decades, with the Roman luxury brand announcing within a week the arrival of former Gucci head Alessandro Michele, whose official debut comes in Paris later this month. 
  • Who will take over at Chanel and where will Pierpaolo Piccioli go now that he has left Valentino? 
  • Not a month has gone by this year without its share of shock announcements: Piccioli left Valentino in March after more than two decades, with the Roman luxury brand announcing within a week the arrival of former Gucci head Alessandro Michele, whose official debut comes in Paris later this month. 
Who will take over at Chanel and where will Pierpaolo Piccioli go now that he has left Valentino? 
The fashion world is awash with such questions at a time of turmoil as sales slump and artistic directors play musical chairs.
Resignations, new appointments -- the swirl of changes has begun to resemble a fashion version of "Game Of Thrones" as Milan Fashion Week begins. 
Not a month has gone by this year without its share of shock announcements: Piccioli left Valentino in March after more than two decades, with the Roman luxury brand announcing within a week the arrival of former Gucci head Alessandro Michele, whose official debut comes in Paris later this month. 
At Chanel, Virginie Viard, who took the reins after Karl Lagerfeld's death in 2019, bowed out in June, leaving vacant the top position at France's iconic privately run label.
Amid a flood of rumours as to who could take over the house of Coco Chanel, the name of Simon Porte Jacquemus, the young French designer with his namesake label, keeps being mentioned.  
Also in June, Dries Van Noten, the cult couturier from Antwerp, took his last bow, retiring after nearly 40 years at the top. 
Just last week, the suspense surrounding Givenchy -- which has been without an artistic head since the departure of American designer Matthew Williams in January -- finally ended.
British designer Sarah Burton, who spent more than two decades at Alexander McQueen, will take the helm of the French haute couture brand. 
In Milan this week, both Tom Ford and Blumarine are not showing on the catwalk, due to recent changes at the top.
Tom Ford announced two weeks ago that Haider Ackermann would be its new artistic director -- with his first collection for autumn 2025 in Paris -- while David Koma is to take the helm at Blumarine, following the sudden exit of Walter Chiapponi after just one season.

'Results in record time'

Dismissed artistic directors are often subject to non-compete agreements of one to two years with the risk of a heavy financial penalty, preventing them from taking over rivals right away. 
But nothing prevents new employers from covering this cost themselves in order to allow a candidate to start work immediately. 
In this context, rumours are rife. How much longer will Kim Jones remain at Fendi? What about John Galliano, whose contract at Maison Margiela is nearing an end and whom some predict will end up back at Dior or Fendi?
"Artistic directors must make the numbers in one season, two at the most, and if the results are not there, on to the next one," said Alessia Pellarini, founder of The AP Archive, which rents out thousands of iconic fashion pieces. 
The work of an artistic director at the top of an iconic brand "takes time", said Pellarini, with an ability to understand its history and heritage and to "offer something new but without turning everything upside down". 
"This short-term vision to meet market demands only lowers the cultural quality of the offer," she said. 
A former Fendi design director, Pellarini noted that, even amid the musical chairs seen in the industry, "the typical profile continues to be a white European man." 
Some designers are eschewing luxury and heading to bigger but more mainstream brands. 
Britain's Clare Waight Keller, the former Chloe and Givenchy designer who made Meghan Markle's wedding dress, this month became creative director of Uniqlo, the Japanese casual brand. 
Meanwhile, Spanish fast-fashion retailer Zara said it was doing a limited collection from Italy's Stefano Pilati, the former creative director at Yves Saint Laurent and Zegna. 
str/glr/ams/fg

Wurm

The absurd helps us 'see more' says Austrian artist Wurm

BY ANNE BEADE

  • If we look at "our world from another perspective, from the perspective of the absurd, we might see more", Wurm told AFP as a retrospective of his work opened in Vienna's Albertina Museum to mark his 70th birthday.
  • A fat Ferrari, pickles on pedestals and two sausages in an intimate embrace -- welcome to the weird world of Erwin Wurm, one of Austria's most famous contemporary artists, who wants us to embrace the absurd.
  • If we look at "our world from another perspective, from the perspective of the absurd, we might see more", Wurm told AFP as a retrospective of his work opened in Vienna's Albertina Museum to mark his 70th birthday.
A fat Ferrari, pickles on pedestals and two sausages in an intimate embrace -- welcome to the weird world of Erwin Wurm, one of Austria's most famous contemporary artists, who wants us to embrace the absurd.
If we look at "our world from another perspective, from the perspective of the absurd, we might see more", Wurm told AFP as a retrospective of his work opened in Vienna's Albertina Museum to mark his 70th birthday.
"Everything seems normal to us," he said, but if we took another look "we might see different things, and that might be interesting for us to understand things differently".
The show is a reflection on social norms, consumerist society and the diktats of appearance and even identity, with his quirky take on quintessentially Austrian staples such as sausages and pickled cucumbers alongside luxury bags on giant legs, miniature houses and stacks of clothing.
"He likes to take everyday things... and present them as abstract elements, to make artworks out of them," said curator Antonia Hoerschelmann.

Playful

Born in the central city of Bruck an der Mur, Wurm wanted to become a painter, but after a university entrance exam found himself in a sculpture class instead.
"It was a big shock... I was frustrated and sad, but then after some time I thought that maybe it's a challenge. And from then on I started to think about the notion of sculpture," Wurm recalled.
His walk-in rural school allows visitors to squeeze inside through a small entrance, recalling Wurm's 2010 work "Narrow House" based on his parental home.
Wurm said he was trying to recreate the "claustrophobic" and  "quite rigid" post-World War II Austria where he grew up.
But he also offers more playful approaches.
In his famous "One Minute Sculptures", the public is invited to lie down for a minute on tennis balls or slip into sweaters to "connect them much more to a piece".
There is a darker undercurrent to some of his most recent creations, such as a sculpture of what seems like someone wearing a shirt and pants but with no head.
"Instead of the people I have the clothes. It's like a shadow of something... We still can recognise something, a human being, but not a person. So the personality is cut out," he said, evoking a "dystopian future".
"I'm not happy with our world. How it's progressing and how we treat each other. It's just unbelievable, terrible," he said.
The idea of having a retrospective of his works did not appeal to him right away.
"I'm not interested in looking back but in looking forward," he said. "I like to work, it's the centre of my life and I would like to go on and develop new ideas and develop the old ones."
anb/jza/fg

TV

Farrell says resisted 'Sopranos' rewatch ahead of 'Penguin' mob role

  • "To be honest I didn't need references because the script was just -- you use your imagination -- we're given fantastic writing," he told AFP at the New York premiere Tuesday.
  • Colin Farrell resisted rewatching iconic mob drama "The Sopranos" while preparing for his turn as a gangster boss in "The Penguin," the Irish star of the new Batman universe series told AFP on Tuesday.
  • "To be honest I didn't need references because the script was just -- you use your imagination -- we're given fantastic writing," he told AFP at the New York premiere Tuesday.
Colin Farrell resisted rewatching iconic mob drama "The Sopranos" while preparing for his turn as a gangster boss in "The Penguin," the Irish star of the new Batman universe series told AFP on Tuesday.
"The Penguin" chronicles the gritty rise of a low-level player in the criminal underworld against a backdrop of societal dysfunction in grimy Gotham City, with New York City used for filming.
Farrell's anti-hero character, Oz Cobb who is dubbed the Penguin for his unsteady walk from a mishandled case of club foot, has drawn media comparisons to the larger-than-life mob boss Tony Soprano played by James Gandolfini.
Farrell, who spent hours a day being transformed into a grizzled, chunky villain, said he had drawn on "anything I ever read or seen about that world" for inspiration.
"To be honest I didn't need references because the script was just -- you use your imagination -- we're given fantastic writing," he told AFP at the New York premiere Tuesday.
"There's no doubt anything I've ever seen (inspired me)... from Untouchables to Sopranos -- I'm not comparing myself (to the Sopranos). It inhabits a similar world. No (I didn't rewatch it) -- that would mess with me, why would I do that? That would mess with me because I'm very susceptible to influence" he said.
"All those films that I have seen in my past are part of my Rolodex of what I now own as my imagination."
"The Penguin" is the latest of several productions set in the Batman universe, but without the presence of the eponymous hero.
This eight-episode DC Studios series follows Matt Reeves's film "The Batman," starring Robert Pattinson as the caped crusader.
"The Penguin" airs on HBO and streams on Max from Thursday.
gw/des

music

Once pop culture's party boy, Diddy sits behind bars pending trial

BY MAGGY DONALDSON

  • She put him in a class with the late Jeffrey Epstein, convicted sex cult leader Keith Raniere, and fellow musician R. Kelly, who received more than three decades in prison for racketeering, sex trafficking and child sex crimes.
  • For decades, Diddy and his myriad aliases loomed large in pop culture as an impeccably dressed rap magnate who reigned over lavish parties and media boardrooms with class and confidence.
  • She put him in a class with the late Jeffrey Epstein, convicted sex cult leader Keith Raniere, and fellow musician R. Kelly, who received more than three decades in prison for racketeering, sex trafficking and child sex crimes.
For decades, Diddy and his myriad aliases loomed large in pop culture as an impeccably dressed rap magnate who reigned over lavish parties and media boardrooms with class and confidence.
Tuesday threw his remarkable fall into stark relief: the artist born Sean Combs appeared on the 26th floor of Manhattan federal court in a t-shirt and sweatpants, looking underslept as he was denied bail on sex abuse and conspiracy charges that could send him to prison for life.
Prosecutors say the 54-year-old was the don of a criminal enterprise that ensnared women and forced them to commit sex acts under the threat of violence, financial insecurity and reputational ruin.
The highly publicized proceedings on Tuesday began with a swift "not guilty" plea from Combs, who sat solemnly between his lawyers as at least a half-dozen family members and other entourage members watched from the packed courtroom.
But the detention hearing that followed his arraignment lasted well over an hour and offered a glimpse into the case prosecutors aim to put him away with -- and the defense his team will pin his freedom on.
Calling Combs a "serial abuser and a serial obstructor," the government successfully argued that Combs should remain in custody pending trial. 
The rapper and producer is "an extreme danger to the community," attorney Emily Johnson said, with an "exhaustive history of obstruction of justice."
In arguing the lengths he would go to suppress evidence of his alleged crimes, the prosecutor described a disturbing video that surfaced earlier this year of Combs physically assaulting his then-girlfriend Cassandra Ventura.
She said in his bid to hide the 2016 footage, he attempted to bribe a security guard at the hotel where it took place, and contacted the hotel management to obtain it.
Ventura -- a recording artist who was signed to Combs's label as Cassie -- is not named in the indictment, but the sex trafficking charge discusses "Victim 1" and events that mirror allegations described in Ventura's lawsuit settled late last year.
Attorney Johnson said Combs had contacted potential witnesses or victims as recently as last week.
She also told the judge that police turned up "what appears to be narcotics" in the hotel room in which they arrested him.
Calling the situation "the heartland of detention cases," the prosecution said his was the latest major case in a series of high-profile sex crimes.
She put him in a class with the late Jeffrey Epstein, convicted sex cult leader Keith Raniere, and fellow musician R. Kelly, who received more than three decades in prison for racketeering, sex trafficking and child sex crimes.

'Trust'

Combs's lawyer countered by painting a portrait of a family man targeted for his fame and wealth, who was facing a "torrent" of lawsuits simply because "people were jumping on a bandwagon."
"Everyone lines up to collect their checks," Marc Agnifilo told the judge.
Agnifilo said Combs's relationship with "Victim 1" was not coersive but rather a loving, if flawed, relationship between consenting adults who were "mutual in their toxicity."
Combs has been holed up in a Manhattan hotel for more than a week, which his defense team says was a goodwill relocation attempt -- he had been living in Miami -- to cooperate in the case.
In a moment of brief levity, Agnifilo also detailed Combs's efforts to sell off his private plane, which has proven difficult, the lawyer said: "We've been trying to sell that plane for four or five months."
At one point, the defense attorney also wielded a stack of passports he said belonged to Combs and several family members, saying they'd turned over the documents to the defense voluntarily to show their intent to stay put.
"This isn't a show," he said, as Combs watched him intently, at times nodding in agreement. "We took this investigation absolutely seriously."
"This is what it means to build trust," Agnifilo said, pointing to his $50 million bond proposal secured by Combs's Miami property.
The judge disagreed.
As Combs inhaled deeply, Judge Robyn Tarnofsky pointed to the clandestine nature of the alleged crimes as well as the artist's history of drug abuse and anger issues.
"Your lawyer asked us to trust you," she told the rapper.
"I don't know that you can trust yourself."
mdo/jgc

entertainment

Sean 'Diddy' Combs charged with racketeering, sex trafficking

BY MAGGY DONALDSON

  • Along with racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking, Combs is charged with one count of transporting victims across state lines to engage in prostitution.
  • Superstar rap mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs pleaded not guilty Tuesday to racketeering and sex trafficking charges, and was ordered to remain in custody pending a trial.
  • Along with racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking, Combs is charged with one count of transporting victims across state lines to engage in prostitution.
Superstar rap mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs pleaded not guilty Tuesday to racketeering and sex trafficking charges, and was ordered to remain in custody pending a trial.
Combs, 54, was arrested by federal agents in New York on Monday evening and accused in a just-unsealed three-count criminal indictment alleging he sexually abused women and coerced them into drug-fueled sex parties using threats and violence.
Appearing in a Manhattan courtroom where many family members came to support him, the one-time music dignitary pleaded not guilty. His lawyer asked Magistrate Judge Robyn Tarnofsky to allow his release on bail.
After a lengthy bail hearing in which the prosecution voiced concerns including the potential for witness tampering and flight risk, Judge Tarnofsky denied bail, saying she was concerned about a "power imbalance" in the case that includes people she said are "subject to coercion."
She also cited concerns over his alleged propensity for anger, violence and substance abuse.
Combs, who was wearing black t-shirt, grey sweatpants and sneakers, did not noticeably react to the pre-trial detention ruling, which his attorney, Marc Agnifilo, said would be appealed.
Along with racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking, Combs is charged with one count of transporting victims across state lines to engage in prostitution.
Damian Williams, the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, said that although Combs is the only person indicted for now the investigation is ongoing.
The indictment alleges that for decades Combs "abused, threatened, and coerced women and others around him to fulfill his sexual desires, protect his reputation, and conceal his conduct."
It accused him of running a criminal enterprise that carried out "sex trafficking, forced labor, kidnapping, arson, bribery, and obstruction of justice."
Combs allegedly engaged in a "persistent and pervasive pattern" of verbal, emotional, physical, and sexual abuse of women, the indictment said.
"On numerous occasions from at least in or about 2009 and continuing for years, Combs assaulted women by, among other things, striking, punching, dragging, throwing objects at, and kicking them," it said.
Williams said female victims were forced to engage in extended sexual performances with male commercial sex workers in sessions called "Freak Offs," which were planned and controlled by Combs and often videotaped.
"The Freak Offs sometimes lasted days at a time... and often involved a variety of narcotics such as ketamine, ecstasy and GHB," he said. "The indictment alleges that Combs threatened and coerced victims to get them to participate in the Freak Offs."

Bombshell suit

The powerful music industry figure, who has gone by various monikers including Puff Daddy and P Diddy, was credited as key to hip hop's journey from the streets to luxury clubs.
Despite his efforts to cultivate the image of a smooth party kingpin and business magnate, a spate of lawsuits describe Combs as a violent man who used his celebrity to prey on women.
The floodgates opened last year after singer Cassie, whose real name is Casandra Ventura, alleged Combs subjected her to more than a decade of coercion by physical force and drugs as well as a 2018 rape.
The pair met when Ventura was 19 and Combs was 37, after which he signed her to his label and they began a relationship.
The bombshell suit was settled out of court, but a string of similarly lurid sexual assault claims followed -- including one in December by a woman who alleged Combs and others gang-raped her when she was 17.
The rapper's luxury homes in Miami and Los Angeles were raided by agents in March.
Disturbing surveillance video emerged in May showing Combs physically assaulting his then-girlfriend Ventura, corroborating allegations she made in the now-settled case.
The prosecution referenced the footage's content during the bail hearing, suggesting it is a key element of their case.

Global fame with dark shadow

Born Sean John Combs on November 4, 1969, in Harlem, the artist entered the industry as an intern in 1990 at Uptown Records, where he eventually became a talent director.
In 1991, he promoted a celebrity basketball game and concert at the City College of New York that left nine people dead after a stampede and resulted in a string of lawsuits.
He was fired from Uptown and founded his own label, Bad Boy Records.
That began a quick ascent to the top of East Coast hip hop, along with his late disciple, The Notorious B.I.G.
Combs boasted a number of major signed acts and production collaborations with the likes of Mary J Blige, Usher, Lil' Kim, TLC, Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men.
He was also a Grammy-winning rapper in his own right, debuting with the chart-topping single "Can't Nobody Hold Me Down" and his album "No Way Out."
mdo/cl/dw

Texas

Author John Grisham joins bid to save Texas death row inmate

  • They argued that the diagnosis of shaken baby syndrome, made at the hospital where the child died, was erroneous.
  • Lawmakers in Texas, medical experts and the best-selling novelist John Grisham are pushing to save an autistic death row inmate whose daughter died in 2002 in a tragedy blamed on shaken baby syndrome.
  • They argued that the diagnosis of shaken baby syndrome, made at the hospital where the child died, was erroneous.
Lawmakers in Texas, medical experts and the best-selling novelist John Grisham are pushing to save an autistic death row inmate whose daughter died in 2002 in a tragedy blamed on shaken baby syndrome.
Robert Roberson, 57, is scheduled to be executed on October 17 for the death of his two-year-old daughter Nikki in 2002.
Roberson took the girl to a hospital with severe head trauma and the child died the next day.
Lawyers for Roberson filed papers Tuesday with Texas Governor Greg Abbott and the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles seeking clemency, or failing that, a 180-day stay of execution.
They argued that the diagnosis of shaken baby syndrome, made at the hospital where the child died, was erroneous.
In a letter to Texas officials, 34 doctors argued that the cause of death was in fact severe pneumonia, aggravated by the little girl's being prescribed the wrong medication.
The appeal also argues that Roberson's autism, which was not officially diagnosed until 2018, was misconstrued at the time as showing indifference to the death of the toddler and that this perception weighed heavily in his conviction.
"What's amazing about Robert's case is that there was no crime," Grisham, author of best-selling thrillers such as "The Firm" and "A Time to Kill," told a news conference. Grisham is a former lawyer who has been active in fighting cases of wrongful conviction.
"When you get into wrongful convictions you realize how many innocent people are in prison and how we could stop it, if we had the political gumption to do so. These cases really keep me awake at night," he said.
Roberson's attorney, Gretchen Sween, said "the state of Texas is preparing, in essence, to execute Forrest Gump." She was alluding to the gentle, mildly disabled character played by Tom Hanks in the 1994 film of the same name.
Sween argued that during the medical crisis involving his daughter, Roberson "shut down, and his external lack of affect was judged as a lack of caring."
Former police officer Brian Wharton, who led the investigation at the time, said the diagnosis of shaken baby syndrome "led the investigation from that point forward to the exclusion of all other possibilities."
"Knowing everything that I know now, I am firmly convinced that Robert is an innocent man," said Wharton, who is now a Methodist minister.
Wharton said that for the rest of his life he will regret his role in Roberson's arrest and prosecution.
Eighty-four Texas lawmakers signed a letter in support of the request for clemency for Roberson, more than a third of them Republicans.
These legislators said they are acting out of "grave concern that Texas may put him to death for a crime that did not occur, as new evidence suggests."
sst/mdz/dw/st

celebrity

Fendi sees Roaring 20s at Milan Fashion Week in challenging times

  • Fashion Week stalwart Giorgio Armani, however, will not be showing his namesake line this season, having chosen New York for his women's collection on October 17, timed to coincide with the inauguration of a new building on Madison Avenue.
  • Milan transformed once again into the world's fashion capital Tuesday, with Fendi launching Spring-Summer 2025 women's shows with a flowing 1920s-inspired collection -- just enough to make one temporarily forget industry headwinds.
  • Fashion Week stalwart Giorgio Armani, however, will not be showing his namesake line this season, having chosen New York for his women's collection on October 17, timed to coincide with the inauguration of a new building on Madison Avenue.
Milan transformed once again into the world's fashion capital Tuesday, with Fendi launching Spring-Summer 2025 women's shows with a flowing 1920s-inspired collection -- just enough to make one temporarily forget industry headwinds.
In an elegant and understated start to Fashion Week, Fendi Artistic Director Kim Jones presented a collection to celebrate 100 years of the Italian luxury brand focused on "movement, lightness, excellence and ease".
Rife with dropped waists, elongated shapes, transparent organzas and shimmering beading, the looks were inspired by the seminal decade of the 1920s, with the show notes citing the 1925 Paris Art Deco exhibition and the publication of F. Scott Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby."
Bands of black or grey were slung low on the waist of transparent skirts, while long, while elaborate bead-work marked V-neck dresses in silk and organza -- all in never-boring neutrals of cream, black, pearl grey and rich beige.  
The Roaring Twenties may have been top of mind at Fendi, but the luxury industry is more at a whimper during the 2020s a century later, facing a challenging environment, fuelled by inflation, low consumer confidence and weakness in the key market of China.
Still, that won't stop the glamour of Fashion Week, which runs through Sunday and benefits this season from the addition of one more day -- the better to squeeze in 57 live catwalk shows attended by buyers, reporters and other industry professionals.
Highlights of the week include Italy's best-known luxury fashion labels, from Prada and Gucci to Bottega Veneta, Versace and Dolce & Gabbana. 
Fashion Week stalwart Giorgio Armani, however, will not be showing his namesake line this season, having chosen New York for his women's collection on October 17, timed to coincide with the inauguration of a new building on Madison Avenue.
His mid-level Emporio Armani line will get two shows in Milan, followed by a party Thursday in the futuristic theatre located at his fashion headquarters.
Moncler has also shunned Milan this season, opting for Shanghai for its show on October 19, with MSGM, Blumarine and Tom Ford also absent from the calendar.
Tom Ford announced two weeks ago that Haider Ackermann would be its new artistic director -- with his first collection for Fall 2025 in Paris -- while David Koma is to take the helm at Blumarine, following the sudden exit of Walter Chiapponi after just one season. 

Less rosy

In presenting Milan Fashion Week's lineup to the press, the general director of Agenzia ICE, a division of Italy's Trade Agency that promotes Italian companies abroad, highlighted the industry's 108 billion euros ($120 billion) in turnover and exports of 81.6 billion euros. 
A crucial sector that represents five percent of Italy's gross domestic product (GDP), the health of Italy's fashion industry is currently less rosy than the upcoming catwalk shows would suggest. 
So far this year, turnover is down 6.1 percent, according to figures from the National Chamber for Italian Fashion, with the trend expected to continue in the second half of the year. 
Forecasts suggest the industry's revenue this year will end up down 3.5 percent from 2023 levels, with recent results from top luxury groups confirming the findings, which are in sharp contrast to years of double-digit growth.
French luxury conglomerate LVMH, which owns the Italian brands Fendi and Loro Piana, saw its 2024 first-half revenue slip one percent to 41.7 billion euros ($46.4 billion).
Rival Kering -- owner of Gucci and Bottega Veneta -- saw an 11 percent drop in revenue to nine billion euros, with net profit falling by half.
Around 245,000 people, of which 56 percent are Italians, flood Milan during the two weeks of Milan women's fashion -- in February and again in September -- spending on average 1,638 euros per person per edition, according to a recent study.
str-ams/yad

entertainment

Sean 'Diddy' Combs: From rap mogul to New York arrest

BY MAGGY DONALDSON

  • The rapper is also facing a string of civil lawsuits that characterize him as a violent sexual predator who used alcohol and drugs to subdue his victims. 
  • Once hip hop's flashy impresario credited with commercializing the genre, Sean "Diddy" Combs has seen his star plunge as he faces a series of sex trafficking accusations and assault lawsuits.
  • The rapper is also facing a string of civil lawsuits that characterize him as a violent sexual predator who used alcohol and drugs to subdue his victims. 
Once hip hop's flashy impresario credited with commercializing the genre, Sean "Diddy" Combs has seen his star plunge as he faces a series of sex trafficking accusations and assault lawsuits.
The music mogul's arrest in New York on Monday follows a raid in March by armed federal agents on his luxury properties in Miami and Los Angeles that had suggested an investigation into him was underway. Details of the charges against Combs are expected to be revealed Tuesday.
The arrest and heavily publicized raid on his homes mark a rapid downfall for the powerful mogul who in recent years has vied to rebrand as "Brother Love."
The 54-year-old founded the Bad Boy record label in 1993, with proteges including the late Notorious B.I.G. and Mary J. Blige, and is credited with ushering hip hop into the mainstream.
Over the decades the artist, who's gone by various monikers including Puff Daddy and P Diddy, amassed vast wealth not least due to his ventures in the liquor industry.
But despite his efforts to cultivate an image of a smooth party kingpin and business magnate, multiple lawsuits describe Combs as a violent man who used his celebrity to prey on his victims.
He has no major convictions but has long been trailed by allegations of physical assault, dating back well into the 1990s.
Late last year the floodgates opened after singer Cassie, whose real name is Casandra Ventura, alleged Combs subjected her to more than a decade of coercion by physical force and drugs as well as a 2018 rape.
The pair met when Ventura was 19 and he was 37, after which he signed her to his label and they began a romantic relationship.
The bombshell suit was quickly settled out of court, but a string of similarly lurid sexual assault claims followed -- including one in December by a woman who alleged Combs and others gang-raped her when she was 17.
Disturbing hotel surveillance video then emerged in May showing Combs physically assaulting his then-girlfriend Ventura in 2016, corroborating allegations she made in the now-settled case.
Combs apologized after the video surfaced, calling his behavior "inexcusable" and saying he "sought out professional help" after the incident.
The rapper is also facing a string of civil lawsuits that characterize him as a violent sexual predator who used alcohol and drugs to subdue his victims. 
He has previously vehemently rejected the allegations, saying accusers were "looking for a quick payday."

Dark shadow over global fame

Born Sean John Combs on November 4, 1969, in Harlem, the artist entered the industry as an intern in 1990 at Uptown Records where he eventually became a talent director.
He gained a reputation as a party planner, which would be central to his brand as his fame rose.
In 1991 he promoted a celebrity basketball game and concert at the City College of New York that left nine people dead after a stampede.
The event was over capacity by the thousands and resulted in a string of lawsuits, with Combs blamed for hiring inadequate security.
He was fired from Uptown, and founded his own label, Bad Boy Records.
Thus began a quick ascent to the top of East Coast hip hop.
His disciple The Notorious B.I.G. became hip hop's king following the release of his landmark debut album "Ready to Die" in 1994, up until his shock murder in 1997.
Combs boasted a number of major signed acts and production collaborations with the likes of Blige, Usher, Lil' Kim, TLC, Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men.
He was also a Grammy-winning rapper in his own right, debuting with the chart-topping single "Can't Nobody Hold Me Down" and his album "No Way Out."
The single "I'll Be Missing You" was a tribute to Biggie and an instant hit, with other major tracks including "It's All About The Benjamins" and "Been Around the World."
He built an image as a brash hustler with unapologetic swagger, a major producer who also ventured into Hollywood, reality television and fashion and had high-profile romantic links with the likes of Jennifer Lopez.
For more than a decade beginning in 1998, his lavish White Parties were the toast of the pop culture party circuit.
In recent years he legally changed his middle name to Love, released "The Love Album: Off the Grid," endeavored further into philanthropy and did a media blitz casting himself as a wiser man in his "Love Era."
mdo/sms/mtp/ssy

comedy

Uganda's 'singing fools' use satire to attack government

BY GRACE MATSIKO

  • - 'We never gave up' - Bizonto's audience stretches across the generations.
  • A packed Kampala audience holds its breath as four self-styled "singing fools" in choir uniforms bound onto the stage for their latest daring satire of Ugandan politics.
  • - 'We never gave up' - Bizonto's audience stretches across the generations.
A packed Kampala audience holds its breath as four self-styled "singing fools" in choir uniforms bound onto the stage for their latest daring satire of Ugandan politics.
The Bizonto comedy troupe recount the misadventures in a fictional village, ruled by an ageing leader and suffering from a dire lack of basic services and sky-high taxes.
The parallels with real-life Uganda -- ruled for almost four decades by 80-year-old Yoweri Museveni -- are not hard to spot.
The troupe's name means "mentally unstable", which they chose when they formed in 2020 in the hope it would provide some protection from the authorities.
But it has not diluted the sharpness of their satire.
"Our message means people know we are actually not fools," said troupe member Maliseeri Mbambaali, 40.
The show "supports issues raised by the majority of the population," he told AFP.
Their buffoonish front has not always protected them.
In 2020, they released a video sarcastically calling on Ugandans to pray for their leaders, including Museveni, the police chief and the head of prisons, that quickly went viral.
All four members -- Mbambaali, Julius Sserwanja, 41, Tony Kyambadde, 21, and Joshua Ssekabembe, 19 -- ended up in jail, charged with "promoting sectarianism" and facing up to five years' imprisonment.
The government was on edge at the time ahead of 2021 elections, with singer-turned-politician Bobi Wine galvanising youthful opposition to Museveni's regime. 
With a comedian's exaggeration, Sserwanja describes how "50 men armed with 70 guns, helicopters and sub-machine guns" swarmed to arrest the quartet at a radio station.
But their time in jail was not so funny. 
"I thought a lot about whether we're ever going to leave the cells -- what's going to happen to us?" Mbambaali said.
They didn't know that outside, #FreeBizonto was trending on social media.
"We gained energy and followers... our fan base grew," Mbambaali said. 
The pressure helped ensure the charges were eventually dropped, but the episode still carried a dark warning.
"It gave a signal that whatever we do, the government will be monitoring us," said Mbambaali, who vowed to take a more "coded" approach to future satires.

'We never gave up'

Bizonto's audience stretches across the generations. In the crowd at a recent show were 72-year-old widow Miria Kawuma and her granddaughter Christine Nabaata Kamwesi, 29.
"The performers capture what Ugandans are going through like corruption, bad roads, drugs lacking in hospitals," Kawuma said. 
"We pay higher taxes but they are stolen by officials," she added.
Uganda ranks a lowly 141 out of 180 countries on Transparency International's Corruption index. 
Young people, infuriated by a string of scandals, took to the streets earlier this year, only to be met with a heavy-handed police response.
At the Bizonto show, cheers, shouts, and ululations make it clear that the comedians' message is striking home.
Their time in prison may have shaken them, but the troupe remains undeterred. 
"We never gave up. We never stepped back," Mbambaali said. "We knew we were on the right path."
gm-rbu/er/ach 

Entertainment

Sean 'Diddy' Combs arrested amid assault lawsuits

BY MAGGY DONALDSON

  • His legal team said Monday that Combs was being "cooperative with this investigation" and "looks forward to clearing his name in court."
  • Sean "Diddy" Combs -- the rap mogul whose star has plunged after a wave of sex trafficking accusations and assault lawsuits -- was arrested by federal agents in Manhattan late Monday, a US federal court said.
  • His legal team said Monday that Combs was being "cooperative with this investigation" and "looks forward to clearing his name in court."
Sean "Diddy" Combs -- the rap mogul whose star has plunged after a wave of sex trafficking accusations and assault lawsuits -- was arrested by federal agents in Manhattan late Monday, a US federal court said.
The attorney for the Southern District of New York, Damian Williams, said in a statement that the arrest stemmed from a sealed indictment filed by his office.
"We expect to move to unseal the indictment in the morning and will have more to say at that time," he said, without providing further details of the charges.
Diddy's lawyer Marc Agnifilo said in a statement provided to AFP that Combs had voluntarily relocated to New York anticipating the charges.
Combs's lawyer said their team is "disappointed with the decision to pursue what we believe is an unjust prosecution of Mr. Combs by the US Attorney's Office."
The rapper is the target of several civil lawsuits that characterize him as a violent sexual predator who used alcohol and drugs to subdue his victims.
His homes were raided in March by federal agents, in a heavily publicized bicoastal operation that indicated a federal investigation and potential criminal case was mounting against Combs.
Armed agents entered his sprawling luxury properties in Miami and Los Angeles, marking a rapid downfall for the powerful music industry figure who in recent years has vied to rebrand himself as "Brother Love."
His legal team said Monday that Combs was being "cooperative with this investigation" and "looks forward to clearing his name in court."

Bombshell suit

The artist, who's gone by various monikers including Puff Daddy and P Diddy, was widely credited as being key to hip hop's journey from the streets to the bottle-service club. 
Over the decades he's amassed vast wealth not least due to his ventures in the liquor industry.
But despite his efforts to cultivate an image of a smooth party kingpin and business magnate, a spate of lawsuits describe Combs as a violent man who used his celebrity to prey on women.
The artist has denied all accusations against him.
He has no major convictions but has long been trailed by allegations of physical assault, dating back well into the 1990s.
Late last year the floodgates opened after singer Cassie, whose real name is Casandra Ventura, alleged Combs subjected her to more than a decade of coercion by physical force and drugs as well as a 2018 rape.
The pair met when Ventura was 19 and he was 37, after which he signed her to his label and they began a romantic relationship.
The bombshell suit was quickly settled out of court, but a string of similarly lurid sexual assault claims followed -- including one in December by a woman who alleged Combs and others gang-raped her when she was 17.
Disturbing surveillance video then emerged in May showing Combs physically assaulting his then-girlfriend Ventura, corroborating allegations she made in the now-settled case.

Global fame with dark shadow

Born Sean John Combs on November 4, 1969 in Harlem, the artist entered the industry as an intern in 1990 at Uptown Records where he eventually became a talent director.
He gained a reputation as a party planner, which would be central to his brand as his fame rose.
In 1991 he promoted a celebrity basketball game and concert at the City College of New York that left nine people dead after a stampede.
The event was over capacity by the thousands and resulted in a string of lawsuits, with Combs blamed for hiring inadequate security.
He was fired from Uptown, and founded his own label, Bad Boy Records.
Thus began a quick ascent to the top of East Coast hip hop, along with his disciple, the late The Notorious B.I.G.
Combs boasted a number of major signed acts and production collaborations with the likes of Mary J Blige, Usher, Lil' Kim, TLC, Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men.
He was also a Grammy-winning rapper in his own right, debuting with the chart-topping single "Can't Nobody Hold Me Down" and his album "No Way Out."
He built an image as a brash hustler with unapologetic swagger, a major producer who also ventured into Hollywood, reality television and fashion and had high-profile romantic links with the likes of Jennifer Lopez.
But a dark history of violence and serious misconduct has long haunted his fame -- and now appears to be eclipsing it.
mdo/dw

television

Emmy ratings pick up with historic 'Shogun' wins

  • "The '76th Emmy Awards' telecast on ABC posted the award show's largest overall audience in 3 years, since the show's airing on CBS (in 2021), which enjoyed an NFL football game lead-in," said an ABC statement.
  • Television's Emmy Awards enjoyed a sizeable audience boost, with viewership rising by more than half from the previous edition's all-time low, network ABC said Monday.
  • "The '76th Emmy Awards' telecast on ABC posted the award show's largest overall audience in 3 years, since the show's airing on CBS (in 2021), which enjoyed an NFL football game lead-in," said an ABC statement.
Television's Emmy Awards enjoyed a sizeable audience boost, with viewership rising by more than half from the previous edition's all-time low, network ABC said Monday.
Some 6.87 million tuned in on Sunday night to watch Japan-set historical epic "Shogun" smash the record for most Emmy wins in a single season, picking up 18 awards at the small-screen version of the Oscars.
The show about warring rivals in feudal Japan also became the first non-English-language show to claim the highly coveted best drama series prize.
The audience jump is a welcome boost for a show that -- like many award ceremonies -- has struggled to retain viewers in recent years.
"The '76th Emmy Awards' telecast on ABC posted the award show's largest overall audience in 3 years, since the show's airing on CBS (in 2021), which enjoyed an NFL football game lead-in," said an ABC statement.
Father-and-son duo Eugene and Dan Levy were broadly praised for their co-hosting of Sunday night's event, which channeled nostalgia with multiple segments honoring television's past, including a "West Wing" cast reunion.
Still, the ratings are historically low. As recently as 2018, the Emmys telecast regularly topped 10 million. 
Since then the Emmys have had to contend with the Covid-19 pandemic, which required a socially distanced ceremony.
And last summer's Hollywood strikes meant pushing back the 2023 edition into the following January for a ceremony watched by only 4.46 million -- meaning this year enjoyed a 54 percent rise.
Awards shows generally have struggled to attract viewers over the past decade or so, as audiences fragment and younger demographics skip linear television in favor of streaming and social media.
But several shows including the Oscars have enjoyed a small uptick in their most recent editions.
In Sunday night's biggest surprise, "Hacks" was named best comedy, besting previous winner "The Bear." 
"Baby Reindeer" triumphed in the limited series section.
In addition to winning best drama, "Shogun" earned best actor and best actress awards for Hiroyuki Sanada and Anna Sawai.
amz/hg/bjt

celebrity

London Fashion Week: Burberry gives the trench coat a streetwear edge

BY CLARA LALANNE

  • But even "Burberry icons evolve", wrote Daniel Lee in his note of intent, as "trench elements are deconstructed and realised in fabrics that feel light: silk poplin and linen".
  • With a Spring/Summer 2025 collection reinventing the iconic trench coat with a streetwear edge, English designer Daniel Lee brought a breath of fresh air on Monday to fashion giant Burberry, hit by financial troubles.
  • But even "Burberry icons evolve", wrote Daniel Lee in his note of intent, as "trench elements are deconstructed and realised in fabrics that feel light: silk poplin and linen".
With a Spring/Summer 2025 collection reinventing the iconic trench coat with a streetwear edge, English designer Daniel Lee brought a breath of fresh air on Monday to fashion giant Burberry, hit by financial troubles.
The designer, who has been at the creative helm of Burberry for the past two years, departed from the tradition of setting the London Fashion Week show in a tent pitched in the heart of a park, opting for the concrete of the brutalist National Theatre building instead.
For the venue's scenography, the creative director called on British artist Gary Hume, who redecorated the building's foyer, inspired by one of his installations from the 1990s.
Lilac carpeting and large green sheets pierced with geometric patterns added colour between the grey concrete pillars.
Under the eyes of celebrities -- Vogue USA editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, actor Barry Keoghan, Blur singer Damon Albarn and recent Paris gold medallist Keely Hodgkinson -- the models entered from one of the building's massive staircases.
The classics that make up the British brand's DNA were still there: the trench coat with turned-up collar for men, tartan in shades of grey, beige or cream, and carefully structured outlines.
But even "Burberry icons evolve", wrote Daniel Lee in his note of intent, as "trench elements are deconstructed and realised in fabrics that feel light: silk poplin and linen".
For women, the designer remade the trench as a cropped jacket, a halter cape or a parka with shoulders covered in silk organza faux feather trims, layered over delicate dresses or skirts, blending elegance with a sportier, even military style.

Spring palette

For men, the influence of sportswear fashion is even stronger, with lightweight materials and functional cuts, giving rise to outfits of flowing pants and tartan zip-up jackets, paired with sneakers or loafers.
"There's a tension between looser, fluid fabrics versus leather and pieces inspired by traditional British uniforms," Lee explained.
The collection also gave a nod to the resurgence of y2k fashion, with low-rise trousers, cargos and capris that end below the knee.
Before the show, Daniel Lee said he admired artist Gary Hume's "extraordinary use of colour", and his palette of green, lilac and orange is reflected in the collection, which ends with glamorous gold-sequined dresses.
Since his arrival at Burberry in October 2022, Lee has been on a mission to modernise the cornerstone of British luxury, which is experiencing worsening financial difficulties.
For several months now, the British fashion house has suffered from a lack of global appetite for luxury goods and unfortunate strategic choices.
Next week, Burberry will exit London's FTSE 100 after 15 years at the top-tier index. It has been the FTSE 100's worst-performing company over the past year, its share price tumbling about 70 percent.
Briton Jonathan Akeroyd stepped down as CEO after a series of poor results in July after just over two years at the label, and was immediately replaced by American Joshua Schulman, former head of brands Michael Kors and Coach.
On its penultimate day Monday, London Fashion Week also featured catwalks by Labrum London, Irish designer Sinead O'Dwyer and, for the first time, Edeline Lee, a favourite of Victoria Starmer, wife of Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who was in the front row of the show for the occasion.
cla/aks/rlp

films

French YouTuber hits peak with Everest documentary

BY YASSINE KHIRI AND JOSEPH BOYLE

  • After obsessing over "Minecraft" and "Fortnite" for years, he said he wanted those experiences to be real.
  • The pitch is a classic: a young celebrity with no climbing experience spends a year in hard training and scales Mount Everest, succeeding against some (if not all) odds.
  • After obsessing over "Minecraft" and "Fortnite" for years, he said he wanted those experiences to be real.
The pitch is a classic: a young celebrity with no climbing experience spends a year in hard training and scales Mount Everest, succeeding against some (if not all) odds.
French YouTuber Ines Benazzouz, known everywhere as Inoxtag, brought the story to life with a two-hour-plus documentary about his year preparing for the ultimate challenge.
The film, titled "Kaizen", proved a smash hit on its release this weekend.
Young fans queued around the block to get into a preview screening in Paris, with Inoxtag's management saying on Monday the film had smashed the box office record for a special cinema event, selling 300,000 tickets over the weekend in France.
The film was seen more than 11 million times in its first 24 hours on YouTube, a spokesperson told AFP, adding it was "undoubtedly one of the biggest launches in the history" of the platform in France.
The 22-year-old content creator started posting video game footage in his mid-teens and his livewire energy has since catapulted him to superstardom among young French people.
He has more than eight million subscribers on YouTube and more than 10 million followers on other platforms.
"I've always liked to have adventures -- when I was younger, they were on video games," he told AFP in an interview before the release.
After obsessing over "Minecraft" and "Fortnite" for years, he said he wanted those experiences to be real.

'Crazy goals'

Inoxtag posts relentlessly upbeat content and challenge videos like "30 seconds to save a life" or "Five days to walk across Corsica" but also professes a serious concern for the environment.
His film has the moments of tension and personal drama online documentaries are expected to serve up, while mixing in serious issues like over-tourism and pollution.
Fans have been in raptures over the movie, but the French press has not exactly embraced it.
The newspaper Liberation accused the filmmakers of overlooking the work of the Sherpas, the Nepalese who help climbers with their ascents -- though some later joined Inoxtag on stage in Paris.
Mountaineer and photographer Pascal Tournaire told L'Equipe newspaper the movie was "very egotistical" and said the YouTube star had not achieved any real feat.
On the other side of the ledger, Mathis Dumas, the climber who helped Inoxtag prepare for the ascent, told local media the young star had a "real love" for the mountain.
And fans gathered outside the cinema in Paris would not hear a word of criticism.
"I know there are plenty of people who climb the mountain and don't film themselves," said 19-year-old student Lucie Bonin.
"But it's wild that a YouTuber is entertaining us like this, just by setting himself such crazy goals."

Japanese inspiration

 
If the pitch for "Kaizen" sounds like it comes from a movie, that's probably because it does -- at least partially.
Inoxtag said he was inspired by 2017 French comedy film "The Climb", based on a true story where a young man from the Paris suburbs sets out to conquer Everest to impress his prospective girlfriend.
The online star is aware that his motivations come as much from fantasy as they do from concerns over real-world issues.
He told AFP one of his great inspirations was legendary Japanese comic creator Eiichiro Oda whose "One Piece" series is the biggest-selling manga comic in history.
"If he comes across my documentary, I'd just like to say thank you for making me believe that dreams can come true," he said of Oda.
The social media star bade an ostentatious farewell to his fans at the beginning of April, swearing off all social media for the duration of his ascent.
With his absence came tension and speculation -- would he make it to the summit after all?
It is probably not too much of a spoiler to reveal that he did get to the summit.
And he was keen to play down the pre-release tension, telling AFP: "I don't want everyone to focus too much on whether I succeeded or failed.
"I want people to see a little bit of the journey I made to get there."
yk-jxb/rlp

crime

Ex-BBC anchor avoids jail over 'repugnant' images of children

BY JAMES PHEBY

  • The former anchor admitted receiving 41 indecent images of children over WhatsApp sent by a 25-year-old convicted paedophile, including seven of the most serious type.
  • Ex-BBC anchor Huw Edwards, once one of the most trusted and recognisable faces on British TV, on Monday avoided jail at his sentencing over indecent pictures of children, capping a stunning fall from grace.
  • The former anchor admitted receiving 41 indecent images of children over WhatsApp sent by a 25-year-old convicted paedophile, including seven of the most serious type.
Ex-BBC anchor Huw Edwards, once one of the most trusted and recognisable faces on British TV, on Monday avoided jail at his sentencing over indecent pictures of children, capping a stunning fall from grace.
The 63-year-old presenter was instead handed a six-month sentence, suspended for two years, meaning he will not serve any time in prison if he does not reoffend.  
Edwards guided Britons through some of their country's most seismic events over the past two decades, including the death of Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022. 
His calm delivery -- mixed with the public broadcaster's reputation for journalistic impartiality -- made him a reassuring presence for millions. 
But his reputation and career now lie in tatters after he pleaded guilty in July to three charges of making indecent images of children between December 2020 and August 2021. 
Prime Minister Keir Starmer -- a former chief state prosecutor -- said he was "shocked and appalled" by the case.
Chief magistrate Paul Goldspring said at the sentencing that, if jailed, Edwards would have been at risk of "considerable harm" from others, and of suicide, adding that he had also shown remorse.
Edwards showed little emotion as was sentenced at Westminster Magistrates' Court in central London, sitting in the dock with his hands clasped as if in prayer.
He left without speaking to the assembled media, which packed out the courtroom.
The former anchor admitted receiving 41 indecent images of children over WhatsApp sent by a 25-year-old convicted paedophile, including seven of the most serious type.
Most children were aged 13 to 15 and one was between seven and nine.
But the magistrate said that while the offences were extremely serious there was no need for an immediate custodial sentence.
He ordered that he also attend a sex offenders' treatment programme for 40 days as well as 25 days of rehabilitation. 
Defence lawyer Philip Evans told the court Edwards accepted the "repugnant nature of the images" and was "profoundly sorry" for having "betrayed so many people".
Edwards had faced a maximum prison sentence of 10 years.
He was first arrested in November last year and charged in June, but the case was only revealed publicly in late July, just days before his court appearance.
The Welsh presenter resigned from the BBC in April on "medical advice" after 40 years with the broadcaster.
The taxpayer-funded BBC, whose brand is built on public trust, has admitted being made aware by police of the arrest and has been criticised for continuing to pay Edwards a salary for six months afterwards.
"We are appalled by his crimes," a spokesperson said after the sentencing. "He has betrayed not just the BBC, but audiences who put their trust in him."

'Disrepute'

The BBC has been rocked in recent years by scandals that saw some big names revealed as serial sex offenders, amid reports of a culture of covering up. 
Most notoriously, presenter Jimmy Savile was found to have abused hundreds of young girls over decades, with his crimes only coming to light after his death in 2011.
Edwards was made anchor of the BBC's flagship 10:00 pm news bulletin in 2003.
As well as the funeral of the late queen, Edwards narrated the wedding of heir to the throne Prince William to Kate Middleton and helmed UK general election coverage.
But the father-of-five's professional life began to unravel in July 2023 when he was suspended by the BBC following allegations in a tabloid newspaper that he paid a young man for explicit images. 
Edwards did not comment on the allegations, but his wife released a statement saying her husband was "suffering from serious mental health issues" and receiving "in-patient hospital care". 
The police's criminal investigation into Edwards started after a phone seized by officers as part of an unrelated probe revealed his participation in a WhatsApp conversation. 
The BBC Board has said that Edwards brought the corporation into "disrepute" and that it has asked him to return his salary from the time he was arrested -- a sum of £200,000 (237,000 euros). 
pdh-jwp-har/phz/jm

Entertainment

Swifties raise $40k in wake of Trump post hating on star

  • , which the "Swifties for Kamala" organization capitalized on to raise money for his Democratic rival.
  • An organization of Taylor Swift fans said Monday they raised more than $40,000 for the Kamala Harris campaign following Donald Trump's post that he hates the pop megastar.
  • , which the "Swifties for Kamala" organization capitalized on to raise money for his Democratic rival.
An organization of Taylor Swift fans said Monday they raised more than $40,000 for the Kamala Harris campaign following Donald Trump's post that he hates the pop megastar.
The Republican hopeful fired a Sunday morning missive on Truth Social saying "I HATE TAYLOR SWIFT!", which the "Swifties for Kamala" organization capitalized on to raise money for his Democratic rival.
"As soon as we saw the post, we knew this was an opportunity. Our team was ready to go with lyric response ideas and ways to tie in our calls to donate and volunteer," said Carly Long, a member of the group's communications team, in a statement. 
"We use the memes to catch people's attention, and then tell them how to turn that emotion into action. Swifties know that haters gonna hate, but we also know we can do more than just shake, shake, shake."
The superfans stumping for Kamala Harris are not formally affiliated with the artist who unites them.
They say they've now raised more than $207,000 since kicking off their fundraising and outreach efforts less than two months ago.
A few weeks ago they held an inaugural fundraising call that was joined by 27,000 viewers, and featured appearances from stars like Carole King along with Senators Elizabeth Warren, Kirsten Gillibrand and Ed Markey.
Since then Swift herself has endorsed Harris and her running mate Tim Walz over Donald Trump, calling the Democrat and current vice president a "steady-handed, gifted leader."
"I'm voting for @kamalaharris because she fights for the rights and causes I believe need a warrior to champion them," Swift posted in the minutes following the Harris-Trump debate last week.
In addition to fundraising and phone banking, the Swifties For Kamala outfit says they are planning additional outreach efforts particularly in swing states and at remaining dates of the blockbuster Eras Tour, which is currently on break.
It's scheduled to pick back up in Miami on October 18.
Irene Kim, a Swifties For Kamala cofounder, said in a statement that the group is "proof of the power Swifties have."
"We're building off our existing fandom culture to make voting and politics accessible."
mdo/md

fashion

British politics and fashion collide at London Fashion Week

  • The prime minister insisted on Monday that "rules are being followed" after it was also reported that Labour's Waheed Alli gave Keir Starmer nearly £20,000 worth of clothes, which he had declared. aks/phz/gil
  • Canadian-British designer Edeline Lee presented her latest spring-summer 2025 collection at London Fashion Week (LFW) on Monday with a loyal customer in attendance -- Victoria Starmer, the wife of UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
  • The prime minister insisted on Monday that "rules are being followed" after it was also reported that Labour's Waheed Alli gave Keir Starmer nearly £20,000 worth of clothes, which he had declared. aks/phz/gil
Canadian-British designer Edeline Lee presented her latest spring-summer 2025 collection at London Fashion Week (LFW) on Monday with a loyal customer in attendance -- Victoria Starmer, the wife of UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
The label with the fitting tagline "Clothing for the Future Lady", has dressed some of Britain's most powerful women, including Catherine, Princess of Wales and Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner.
Last year, Victoria Starmer, who generally keeps a low profile and has been praised for her style, wore a red belted dress by the designer for the Labour party conference -- one of her few political appearances. 
Variations of the same outfit were on display in the new collection -- belted jacquard dresses with flutter sleeves in cornflower, yellow, coral pink and emerald green.
At the brand's first-ever LFW catwalk show, Lee presented tailored midi and maxi dresses, flowing pantsuits and sequinned gowns intended to make the wearer feel "polished, ready and powerful". 
Attending the show on the banks of the River Thames while her husband was in Rome meeting Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni, Victoria Starmer opted for a blue and white polka-dot jumpsuit with a tailored navy blue jacket.
However, she could not fully step away from politics.
Over the weekend The Times newspaper accused Keir Starmer of breaching parliamentary rules by failing to disclose that a Labour party donor had bought more than £5,000 ($6,600) worth of designer clothes for his wife.
The prime minister insisted on Monday that "rules are being followed" after it was also reported that Labour's Waheed Alli gave Keir Starmer nearly £20,000 worth of clothes, which he had declared.
aks/phz/gil

television

Japan celebrates historic Emmys triumph for 'Shogun'

BY ATISH PATEL IN OSAKA

  • "Shogun" smashed all-time records at the television awards in Los Angeles on Sunday, taking home an astounding 18 statuettes and becoming the first non-English-language winner of the highly coveted award for best drama series.
  • Japan celebrated on Monday the record-breaking Emmy Awards triumph of "Shogun", although many confessed not having watched the series about the country's warring dynasties in the feudal era.
  • "Shogun" smashed all-time records at the television awards in Los Angeles on Sunday, taking home an astounding 18 statuettes and becoming the first non-English-language winner of the highly coveted award for best drama series.
Japan celebrated on Monday the record-breaking Emmy Awards triumph of "Shogun", although many confessed not having watched the series about the country's warring dynasties in the feudal era.
"Shogun" smashed all-time records at the television awards in Los Angeles on Sunday, taking home an astounding 18 statuettes and becoming the first non-English-language winner of the highly coveted award for best drama series.
Lead Hiroyuki Sanada, who played Lord Toranaga, became the first Japanese actor to win an Emmy, while Anna Sawai achieved the same for her performance as Lady Mariko.
"As a Japanese, I'm happy Sanada won," Kiyoko Kanda, a 70-year-old pensioner, told AFP in Tokyo.
"He worked so hard since he moved to Los Angeles," she said.
"In 'Last Samurai', Tom Cruise was the lead, but it's exciting Sanada is the main character in 'Shogun'," Kanda added.
But she admitted that she only watched the trailer.
The series is available only on Disney's streaming platform, which is relatively new in Japan.
"I want to watch it. I'm curious to know how Japan is portrayed," Kanda said.
Otsuka, who declined to give her first name, said she, too, has not watched the show. 
"But I saw the news and I'm happy he won." Sanada, now 63, began his acting career at the age of five in Tokyo and moved to LA after appearing in "Last Samurai" in 2003. 
The words "historic achievements" and "Hiroyuki Sanada" were trending on X in Japanese, while Sanada's speech at the awards racked up tens of thousands of views.
Yusuke Takizawa, 41, also only watched a trailer but he said he was amazed by the quality of the show.
"I was impressed by the high-spirited acting, the attention to detail and the film technology," Takizawa told AFP outside Osaka Castle, a major historical location for the series.
"I think many young people will want to try their hand in Hollywood after watching Sanada," he said.
Tourists at the castle also welcomed the record Emmy win. 
"I think was the best TV show that I've seen this year," said Zara Ferjani, a visitor from London. 
"I thought it was amazing... The direction was beautiful, and I really enjoyed watching something that wasn't in English as well," the 33-year-old said.
She said she had planned to watch "Shogun" after returning home from Japan.
"But one of my friends strongly advised me to watch it beforehand, just to appreciate the culture more and definitely Osaka Castle more," she added.

Breaking from cliches

Many in the Japanese film industry were also jubilant. 
"He won after many years of trying hard in Hollywood. It's too cool," wrote Shinichiro Ueda, director of the hit low-budget film "One Cut of the Dead", on X.
Video game creator and movie fan Hideo Kojima, who has described the show as "Game of Thrones in 17th-century Japan", reposted a news story on the win.
The drama, adapted from a popular novel by James Clavell and filmed in Canada, tells the tale of Lord Toranaga, who fights for his life against his enemies alongside Mariko and British sailor John Blackthorne.
A previous TV adaptation made in 1980 was centred on Blackthorne's perspective.
But the new "Shogun" breaks away from decades of cliched and often bungled depictions of Japan in Western cinema, with Japanese spoken throughout most of the show.
Sanada, who also co-produced the drama, is credited with bringing a new level of cultural and historical authenticity to "Shogun".
An army of experts, including several wig technicians from Japan, worked behind the scenes to make the series realistic, poring over sets, costumes and the actors' movements.
nf-ap/stu/nf/dhw

television

Sho-what? Japan celebrates little heard-of Emmys winner

  • She said she had planned to watch "Shogun" after returning home from Japan.
  • Japan celebrated on Monday the record-breaking Emmy Awards triumph of "Shogun", although many confessed not having watched the series about the country's warring dynasties in the feudal era.
  • She said she had planned to watch "Shogun" after returning home from Japan.
Japan celebrated on Monday the record-breaking Emmy Awards triumph of "Shogun", although many confessed not having watched the series about the country's warring dynasties in the feudal era.
"Shogun" smashed all-time records at the television awards in Los Angeles on Sunday, taking home an astounding 18 statuettes and becoming the first non-English-language winner of the highly coveted award for best drama series.
Lead Hiroyuki Sanada, who played Lord Toranaga, became the first Japanese actor to win an Emmy, while Anna Sawai as Lady Mariko achieved the same feat with the best actress award.
"As a Japanese, I'm happy Sanada won," Kiyoko Kanda, a 70-year-old pensioner, told AFP in Tokyo.
"He worked so hard since he moved to Los Angeles," she said.
"In 'Last Samurai', Tom Cruise was the lead, but it's exciting Sanada is the main character in 'Shogun'," Kanda added.
But she admitted that she only watched the trailer.
The series is available only on the Disney platform, which is relatively new in Japan.
"I want to watch it. I'm curious to know how Japan is portrayed," Kanda said.
Otsuka, who declined to give her first name, said she, too, has not watched the show. 
"But I saw the news and I'm happy he won."
The words "historic achievements" and "Hiroyuki Sanada" were trending on X in Japanese, while Sanada's speech at the awards racked up tens of thousands of views.
Yusuke Takizawa, 41, also only watched a trailer but he said he was amazed by the quality of the show.
"I was impressed by the high-spirited acting, the attention to detail and the film technology," Takizawa told AFP outside Osaka Castle, a major historical location for the series.
"I think many young people will want to try their hand in Hollywood after watching Sanada," he said.
Tourists at the castle also welcomed the record Emmy win. 
"I think was the best TV show that I've seen this year," said Zara Ferjani, a visitor from London. 
"I thought it was amazing... The direction was beautiful, and I really enjoyed watching something that wasn't in English as well," the 33-year-old said.
She said she had planned to watch "Shogun" after returning home from Japan.
"But one of my friends strongly advised me to watch it beforehand, just to appreciate the culture more and definitely Osaka Castle more," she added.
nf-ap/stu/dhw

Jackson

Tito Jackson, member of the Jackson 5, dies at 70

  • Tito was an original member of the family group The Jackson 5, along with brothers Jackie, Jermaine, Marlon and Michael.
  • US guitarist and singer Tito Jackson, an original member of the legendary Jackson 5 group and older brother of pop superstars Michael and Janet, has died at the age of 70, his sons said late Sunday.
  • Tito was an original member of the family group The Jackson 5, along with brothers Jackie, Jermaine, Marlon and Michael.
US guitarist and singer Tito Jackson, an original member of the legendary Jackson 5 group and older brother of pop superstars Michael and Janet, has died at the age of 70, his sons said late Sunday.
"It"s with heavy hearts that we announce that our beloved father, Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Tito Jackson is no longer with us," his sons Taj, Taryll and TJ, who form the music group 3T, posted on Instagram alongside a photo of them with their father.
"We are shocked, saddened and heartbroken. Our father was an incredible man who cared about everyone and their well-being," they said.
"Please remember to do what our father always preached and that is 'Love One Another.' We love you Pops. Your boys, Taj, Taryll and TJ."
Family friend Steve Manning told Entertainment Tonight that Tito died of an apparent heart attack on Sunday while driving from New Mexico to his home in Oklahoma.
Tito had recently been performing in Germany, England and California with his brothers Marlon and Jackie as The Jacksons.
Tito was an original member of the family group The Jackson 5, along with brothers Jackie, Jermaine, Marlon and Michael.
After signing with Motown Records in 1969, they had a string of international hits in the late 1960s and early 70s including "I Want You Back," "ABC," and "I'll Be There."
Younger brother Michael, who went on to solo superstardom, died in 2009 at the age of 50.
Tito, along with his brothers in The Jackson 5, was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997 by fellow Motown legend Diana Ross.
According to his website, since 2003 Tito had been performing and touring with own big blues and funk band.
In 2016 he became the last of the Jackson siblings to have a solo Billboard hit, charting with the single "Get It Baby," followed by his debut solo album "Tito Time."
His second album -- and first blues one -- "Under Your Spell" was released in 2021 and featured special guests including George Benson, Bobby Rush and Stevie Wonder.
Tito is survived by his three sons. His former wife -- their mother Dolores -- died in 1994.
bur-mtp/fox