She suffered a rare mishap while holidaying in Capri, with her outfit being compared to the cartoon character Fred Flintstone – but Amal Clooney proved she was back in form as she attended the Venice Film Festival. 

Since arriving at the Venice Lido with her husband, George Clooney, the human rights lawyer, 48, cemented her status as one of the world’s most glamorous dressers with an array of dazzling looks. 

From a fringed mini dress that showed off her toned legs and a romantic Stella McCartney ensemble, to a custom Tom Ford gown paired with Cartier diamonds, Amal looked like a million bucks as she embraced la dolce vita. 

Her Venetian holiday wardrobe is a far cry from the fringed Mugler skirt and matching halterneck that sparked comparisons to the cartoon caveman, with fashion expert Lisa Talbot noting it felt more ‘costume-like than chic’. 

‘Amal Clooney has always had a strong sense of personal style, but I think we’re seeing a much more refined version of it now,’ Lisa said. 

‘Her more recent looks at the Venice Film Festival show a much better understanding of proportion, with one statement element doing the talking while the rest of the outfit feels considered.’  

While in Venice with husband George, Amal wore a romantic Stella McCartney raspberry-print maxi dress

Amal’s fringed Mugler skirt and matching halterneck that sparked comparisons to the cartoon caveman Fred Flinstone, with fashion expert Lisa Talbot noting it felt more ‘costume-like than chic’

All eyes were on Amal as she disembarked from a water taxi ahead of the event that commenced on September 2. 

As the couple travelled through Venice’s waterways, Amal displayed her sophisticated sense of style wearing Tom Ford from head to toe. 

For her first look, she paired micro shorts with a low scoop-neck satin tank top and a matching blazer from the brand’s spring/summer 2027 collection. 

The barrister accessorised the three-piece, olive-green suit with oversized sunglasses, also from Tom Ford, and styled her brown tresses in loose waves as she quietly reclaimed her status as one of the festival’s most fashion-forward attendees. 

Amal’s winning streak continued as she hit the red carpet with George for the premiere of Danny Boyle’s film Ink on the first night of the prestigious event. 

Opting for Tom Ford again, she looked like a movie star in her custom-made, ruched column dress with barely-there straps, and £277,000 worth of glittering diamond jewellery from Cartier. 

Amal pulled out all the stops as she supported George, 65, as he accepted the Golden Lion Lifetime Achievement award during the opening ceremony of the 83rd Venice Film Festival. 

In his acceptance speech, the Ocean’s Eleven actor gushed that he was at a ‘loss for words’ to describe how much he loved Amal, which left her visibly moved. 

Amal looked every inch like a movie star in her custom-made, ruched column dress with barely-there straps and diamond jewellery from Cartier

The human rights lawyer put on a leggy display in a snake print Elie Saab skirt, which she paired with a black vest top and brown belt, as the couple prepared to leave Venice on Saturday

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As the festival continued, Amal turned the Italian city’s famous waterways into her very own floating catwalk by opting for designs by Stella McCartney, Caroline’s Couture and Elie Saab. 

On the second evening of the two-week festival, Amal donned a show-stopping mini-dress from Caroline’s Couture, with heart motifs, sequins and fringe details. 

Amal finished her look with a pair of diamond chandelier earrings as she put her best fashion foot forward for a night on the town with George. 

On Friday, the acclaimed human rights lawyer donned a playful, raspberry-print maxi dress from Stella McCartney that retails for around £1,190 when she accompanied George to the The Future Of… Creativity event at Scuola Grande della Misericordia.

Stepping off a water taxi amid the star-studded event, Amal accessorised with nude Aquazzura heels and huge dark shades.

She put on a leggy display in a £1,695 snake print Elie Saab skirt, which she paired with a black vest top and brown belt, as the couple prepared to leave Venice on Saturday. Her look was accessorised with brown wedged sandals, a nude leather handbag and large stylish shades.

Linking arms with her smiling husband, the couple departed Venice after a successful few days at the festival, which saw George receive the Lifetime Achievement Award and Amal reclaim her crown as Venice Film Festival’s reigning queen of fashion. 

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Indonesia kept several airports closed and shifted schools to remote learning Monday though the volcanic eruption that has halted 2,300 flights and coated areas with ash was subsiding.

The continuous, 25-hour eruption of Anak Krakatau that produced a fountain of lava and a boom heard 700 kilometers (435 miles) away ended Sunday, the country’s Geological Agency said. But it remained active Monday with moderate, intermittent eruptions, dark ash emissions and small, localized earthquakes, the agency said in a statement. Weather was obscuring visual observations of the eruption.

AirNav Indonesia said tests showed volcanic ash present in the airspace around Jakarta and several other cities, prompting authorities to close seven airports until 6 p.m. Monday, while Atung Bungsu Airport in Pagar Alam, a city in South Sumatra province, resumed normal operations Monday morning.

The closure of four commercial airports managed by state-owned operator InJourney Airports: Jakarta’s international airports of Soekarno-Hatta and Halim Perdanakusuma, Husein Sastranegara in West Java’s Bandung city and Radin Inten in Lampung on the southern tip of Sumatra, has disrupted about 2,300 flights and affected 270,337 passengers, according to Indonesia’s Transportation Ministry.

The eruption’s impact extended beyond air travel. The government authorized schools in areas affected by volcanic ash, including in Jakarta, West Java, Banten and Lampung provinces, to temporarily move to online learning at home to reduce students’ exposure to ash.

“The probability of additional eruptions in the coming days remains high,” said Lana Saria, head of the Geology Agency. “The main hazards include volcanic bombs, heavy ashfall and possible lava flows if sustained eruptive activity resumes,” she said.

Anak Krakatau is a volcanic island in the Sunda Strait between Indonesia’s main Java and Sumatra islands. Its name means “child of Krakatau,” and the volcano is the offspring of the infamous Krakatau, whose monumental 1883 eruption triggered a period of global cooling.

An eruption of Anak Krakatau in 2018 caused a tsunami that killed at least 430 people in Sumatra and Java. Researchers believe volcanic activity triggered an underwater landslide and caused a large chunk of Anak Krakatau’s southwest slope to collapse and displace a large volume of water.

Indonesia has more than 120 active volcanoes and frequently experiences eruptions due to its location along the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” the ring of seismic faults around the Pacific Ocean where most global seismic activity occurs.

DARLINGTON, S.C. (AP) — Christopher Bell is finally second-to-none this season.

Bell’s crazy, frustrating season of seven second-place finishes without a victory at last came to an end with a win at the Southern 500 on Sunday night.

The Joe Gibbs Racing driver passed defending NASCAR champion Kyle Larson with 18 laps left at Darlington Raceway and held on to win the Chase-opening race and break a winless stretch of 33 races dating to Bristol last September.

“Darlington is the epitome of NASCAR,” Bell said. “This is better than a dream come true.”

It was his first win in 15 career Cup races at Darlington and pushed him into second in the Chase standings behind teammate Denny Hamlin.

“No off weeks. right back to work next week at Gateway,” he said. “I still feel I’m going to have win more races if I want to” win the championship.

Gibbs finished second and Tyler Reddick, a five-time winner this season, was third. Chase drivers accounted for nine of the top 10. Ryan Blaney was fourth, followed by Larson, Chase Briscoe, Josh Berry, Bubba Wallace, Joey Logano and Ryan Preece.

Berry was the only non-Chase driver in that group.

Crew chief Adam Stevens tried to keep Bell focused as the runner-up finishes — along with the driver’s frustration — grew. It was important for him to understand that him finishing second wasn’t because his team wasn’t doing everything it could to succeed. “You have to really come into each weekend with a clean slate, and he’s done a fantastic job with that,” Stevens said.

Larson gambled during the sixth and final caution, staying on the track while other competitors including Bell went into the pits for fresh tires.

And for a bit, Larson’s bet look like it might pay off as he opened a sizeable lead on the restart and forced Bell and the others to come get him. Bell eventually did, moving low on the track to put Larson in his rearview mirror.

Larson thought more racers would’ve stayed out of the pits on the final caution to give him some cover and distance before the fresh-tire drivers got going. “But Bell got to second so fast, I was straight into defense,” Larson said. “Not able to run the lines I ultimately wanted to to take care of my tires.”

Three-peat thwarted

Briscoe was looking to make a bit of history with his third straight Southern 500 — only Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon had ever won more with four in a row from 1995-98 — and he fought off a pit-road penalty for running out of fuel at the end of stage two that took from the lead to 20th.

But he could not keep pace with Bell at the end.

Hamlin’s troubles

Hamlin, the top seed in NASCAR’s Chase, had started the final stage in the top five when he got hit from behind on lap 237 by Michael McDowell and his car struck the wall in turn four.

Hamlin immediately told his crew, “The toe links are gone.” But the incident did not draw a caution and Hamlin had to keep racing, falling to 20th as he and his pit e was still in front by 12 points over teammate Bell.crew waited for the chance to fix the damaged Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota.

While the toe links were not damaged, there were extensive repairs and Hamlin was a lap down. Hamlin finished 18th.

“It was certainly not the finish we were hoping for,” Hamlin said. “We certainly made gains on it all day.”

Hamlin came into the race with a 25-point lead over second-seeded Ryan Blaney. The rules of NASCAR’s postseason changed this year, with all 16 drivers competing in all 10 playoff races without eliminations.

He’s still leading, 12 points in front of teammate Bell.

Other Chaser issues

Hamlin wasn’t the only one of the 16 Chase competitors to have problems. Hendrick Motorsports William Byron was in position for a top 10 finish when he spun out with what he believed was a flat tire. After a trip to the pits, smoke billowed out of Byron’s Chevrolet and he went back to the garage to end his day.

Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing had high hopes with two of its three drivers, Chris Buescher and Ryan Preece in the Chase. But Buescher could not gain any momentum at Darlington and rode in the back of the pack for most of way.

Preece, who won his way into the postseason with a victory at Daytona last week, pledged to continue to be aggressive because as the 16th seed, his team had nothing to lose. That strategy worked well as he rode in the top 10 for most of the first half of the race. He couldn’t sustain it, though, and ended 10th.

And while 23XI co-owner Michael Jordan watched from the pits, his two Chase drivers in Reddick and Wallace went from running 1-2 at the end of the first stage to falling out of the mix down the stretch.

Up next

The Chase continues with its second race at World Wide Technology Raceway outside of St. Louis in Madison, Illinois. Denny Hamlin won the playoff race there a year ago.

___

See AP’s full auto racing coverage here

The Israeli military has intensified its strikes in southern Lebanon in recent days.

They have happened in places near the strip of territory that is occupied by Israeli troops, and large numbers of residents have again been fleeing those areas.

The latest attacks targeted Kfar Roummane, in Nabatieh district, which is only a few hundred metres from what the Israeli military calls its “security zone”.

The first air strike destroyed a three-storey residential building near the town’s Shuyuiya roundabout shortly after midnight, Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported.

The Lebanese health ministry said that in addition to the eight people killed, 11 were injured, including four children, two women, and a paramedic from the Islamic Health Association, which is an emergency service linked to Hezbollah.

The second strike hit a vehicle carrying paramedics from the Islamic Risala Scout Association, killing one of them and injuring two others, according to the ministry. The Risala Scouts is an emergency service affiliated with the Amal movement, a Shia group allied to Hezbollah.

An initial report from the NNA said 11 people were killed in the two strikes.

The health ministry said the death toll “serves as further irrefutable evidence of the grave violations of international humanitarian law committed by the Israeli occupation, targeting medics and children”.

A resident of Kfar Roummane, Sara Moallaem, 35, told the BBC that she had been asleep with her five children in their rental home when she heard the explosions.

She immediately grabbed her children and moved them into the home’s “safe room” while they waited for the booms and the sirens to stop.

Some of those killed in the strikes were distant relatives of Sara’s husband. She insisted they were civilians with no affiliation to Hezbollah.

Sara said she was planning to move her family to the coastal city of Sidon for their safety.

“During the day, it is almost normal, [with] people going back and forth. But as it comes near the night, things escalate, and now my children are afraid and I am packing now for the sixth or seventh time. It is terrible,” she explained.

“Now that they are targeting civilians, I don’t want to weep for my children.”

Ronnie played a key role in his career, before moving to World Superbikes to build engines for Colin Edwards, who became a double World Superbike champion

Northern Ireland motorcycling great Phillip McCallen has paid tribute to his brother Ronnie after he passed away on Friday.

Armagh racing star McCallen is an 11-time Isle of Man TT winner and triumphed on five of his six starts at the North West 200 in 1992.

His brother Ronnie played a key role in his career, working together before Ronnie moved to World Superbikes to build engines for Colin Edwards, who became a double World Superbike champion.

In recent years, Ronnie established his own race team with his son Brett and they entered races this year for the first time.

Ronnie leaves behind two sons, Brett and Scott, after passing away following a long battle with illness.

“It is with a very heavy heart that I share the passing of my much-loved brother, Ronald (Ronnie) McCallen,” said Phillip McCallen on social media.

“Ronnie was not only my brother, but a huge part of my life and my racing journey. He supported me immensely throughout my racing career, and we shared so many memories through our love of motorcycles and racing, before he moved on into WSB with HRC, to become Colin Edward’s engine builder. What an achievement!

“Sadly, his health eventually prevented him from continuing in this role he loved, and he returned home. He then gave me his support once again, helping me to build my motorcycle business in Lurgan.

“Over the years Ronnie faced more than his fair share of challenges. His health continued to deteriorate and, for the past 15 years, he has been confined to a wheelchair.

“But anyone who knew Ronnie knew that giving up simply wasn’t in his nature. His determination, strength and love of racing never left him.

“In recent years, Ronnie, together with his son Brett, built their own race team, and this year achieved their first road race entries. I know just how much this meant to Ronnie and how incredibly proud he was to have a road race team with his son Brett.

“I will always admire my brother for the way he faced his illness. Despite everything, he kept going, kept planning and kept his passion for racing alive. I am so proud of all that he achieved.

“Ronnie passed away peacefully on Friday evening, surrounded by his family who meant so much to him.

“Ronnie, You fought your battles with incredible strength and determination. You will be missed by us all.

“Friends and family are warmly welcome to Ronnies home (40 Linvara , Tandragee) on Sunday between 3pm and 8pm.

“Ronnie’s funeral service will take place on Monday 7th September in Mullavilly Parish Church at 11am. Everyone Welcome.”

The death notice adds that ‘donations, if desired, are made to the MS Society, c/o Jackson Stoops & Sons, Funeral Directors, TDI House, 92 Market Street, Tandragee BT62 2BP or online at jstoops.co.uk’.

The Tandragee Races club paid tribute to Ronnie McCallen also, stating: “On behalf of the North Armagh Motorcycle and Car Club (Tarmac Section) Ltd, I wish to express our sincere condolences to Club members Brett Mccallen and Phillip McCallen on the passing of their father and brother Ronnie. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and the whole family circle.”

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The circuit hosted rounds 22, 23 and 24 of the championship across Saturday (September 5) and Sunday (September 6), as the 2026 season entered its crucial closing stages.

Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship 2026 at Croft Circuit (Image: ANDY FUTERS)

Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship 2026 at Croft Circuit (Image: ANDY FUTERS)

Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship 2026 at Croft Circuit (Image: ANDY FUTERS)

Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship 2026 at Croft Circuit (Image: ANDY FUTERS)

Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship 2026 at Croft Circuit (Image: ANDY FUTERS)

Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship 2026 at Croft Circuit (Image: ANDY FUTERS)

Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship 2026 at Croft Circuit (Image: ANDY FUTERS)

Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship 2026 at Croft Circuit (Image: ANDY FUTERS)

Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship 2026 at Croft Circuit (Image: ANDY FUTERS)

Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship 2026 at Croft Circuit (Image: ANDY FUTERS)

Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship 2026 at Croft Circuit (Image: ANDY FUTERS)

Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship 2026 at Croft Circuit (Image: ANDY FUTERS)

Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship 2026 at Croft Circuit (Image: ANDY FUTERS)

Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship 2026 at Croft Circuit (Image: ANDY FUTERS)

Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship 2026 at Croft Circuit (Image: ANDY FUTERS)

Crowds packed into the venue throughout the weekend to watch some of the country’s leading touring car drivers tackle one of the most demanding circuits on the BTCC calendar.

Croft’s 2.13-mile layout features 16 corners and is regarded as one of the championship’s toughest all-round tests, combining fast sections with a highly technical sequence of bends.

Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship 2026 at Croft Circuit (Image: ANDY FUTERS)

Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship 2026 at Croft Circuit (Image: ANDY FUTERS)

Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship 2026 at Croft Circuit (Image: ANDY FUTERS)

Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship 2026 at Croft Circuit (Image: ANDY FUTERS)

Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship 2026 at Croft Circuit (Image: ANDY FUTERS)

Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship 2026 at Croft Circuit (Image: ANDY FUTERS)

Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship 2026 at Croft Circuit (Image: ANDY FUTERS)

Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship 2026 at Croft Circuit (Image: ANDY FUTERS)

Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship 2026 at Croft Circuit (Image: ANDY FUTERS)

Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship 2026 at Croft Circuit (Image: ANDY FUTERS)

Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship 2026 at Croft Circuit (Image: ANDY FUTERS)

The North Yorkshire circuit has a long association with the British Touring Car Championship, having first hosted a BTCC race in 1968 before becoming a regular fixture again following its return to the calendar in the late 1990s.

This year’s visit came later in the season than Croft’s traditional pre-summer-break slot, with the meeting following the championship’s visit to Donington Park GP and helping to begin the run-in towards the season finale.

Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship 2026 at Croft Circuit (Image: ANDY FUTERS)

Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship 2026 at Croft Circuit (Image: ANDY FUTERS)

Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship 2026 at Croft Circuit (Image: ANDY FUTERS)

Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship 2026 at Croft Circuit (Image: ANDY FUTERS)

Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship 2026 at Croft Circuit (Image: ANDY FUTERS)

Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship 2026 at Croft Circuit (Image: ANDY FUTERS)

Saturday’s programme included BTCC free practice from 10.15am before qualifying got under way during the afternoon.

Fans were also treated to a BTCC qualifying race over 11 laps, alongside action from the Porsche Sprint Challenge Great Britain, MINI CHALLENGE Trophy, Wera Tools F4 British Championship and Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain.

Sunday brought the main race-day action, beginning with a pit lane walkabout and autograph session which gave spectators the chance to get closer to the teams and drivers.

Three 15-lap BTCC contests then took place at 12.10pm, 2.30pm and 5.15pm, forming rounds 22, 23 and 24 of the championship.

Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship 2026 at Croft Circuit (Image: ANDY FUTERS)

Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship 2026 at Croft Circuit (Image: ANDY FUTERS)

Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship 2026 at Croft Circuit (Image: ANDY FUTERS)

Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship 2026 at Croft Circuit (Image: ANDY FUTERS)

Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship 2026 at Croft Circuit (Image: ANDY FUTERS)

Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship 2026 at Croft Circuit (Image: ANDY FUTERS)

A packed support programme continued throughout the afternoon, with Formula 4, Porsche and MINI racing adding to the spectacle.

Croft is particularly popular with motorsport supporters across the North East and North Yorkshire because of its proximity to Darlington, Middlesbrough, Newcastle and York.

The circuit has also developed a reputation for producing close and unpredictable touring car racing, while traditionally being considered particularly well suited to rear-wheel-drive vehicles.

Tom Ingram holds both of Croft’s current BTCC benchmarks after setting the qualifying lap record of 1m 20.522s, at an average speed of 95.85mph, and the race lap record of 1m 21.374s during the 2025 meeting.

Armed police descended on Holdenby Drive in Marton at about 2.45am on Sunday (September 6) where the man had suffered injuries to his head and leg.

Paramedics treated him before taking him to hospital. The seriousness of his injuries is not known.

Detective Chief Inspector Dan Cook, from Middlesbrough CID, said: “At 2.45am on Sunday, September 6, police were called to reports of the stabbing of a man on Holdenby Drive in Middlesbrough.

“The man suffered injuries to his head and leg and was treated by paramedics before being taken to hospital.

“Enquiries are ongoing and anyone with information or footage is asked to contact Cleveland Police on 101 quoting reference number 178915.”

A second person was also taken to hospital.

A North East Ambulance Service spokesperson said: “We were called at 2.39am on Sunday 6 September to an incident at a private address on Holdenby Drive Middlesbrough.

“Three ambulance resources attended alongside police and took two patients to hospital.”

England have appointed former Ashes-winning batter Kevin Pietersen to their white-ball coaching team in the build-up to the 2027 ICC Cricket World Cup.

Pietersen, 46, joins as a specialist mentor and will start in the role for the upcoming T20 and one-day matches against Sri Lanka.

He will also be involved in this winter’s tours to Australia and South Africa, before joining up with the teams again for the home series against Pakistan and New Zealand next summer, as well as the 50-over World Cup which is being held in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia in the autumn.

“I’ve got immense respect for KP and what he’s achieved in the game,” said England’s white-ball head coach Brendon McCullum.

“He’s had an amazing impact on English cricket, so for someone with his experience, knowledge and stature to want to play a role with this team is a fantastic result.”

More to follow.

The A8 between Newbridge Roundabout and Edinburgh airport is closed due to a serious incident.

A serious crash has closed the A8 near Edinburgh Airport in both directions. A major emergency service response was scrambled to Glasgow Road, between Newbridge Roundabout and Gogar, near to Edinburgh Airport at around 9.25am on Monday, September 7.

Police, paramedics and fire crews are currently on scene.

Eyewitnesses have also said that an air ambulance was spotted in the area.

Multiple vehicles are understood to have been involved. Images taken at the scene show a lorry, which has stopped on a grass verge and a number of cars, some of which appear to be on their roof.

Police have urged motorists to avoid the area.

A spokesperson for Traffic Scotland said: “The A8 is currently closed in both directions between Newbridge Roundabout and Gogar due to a road traffic collision. Police are in attendance. Avoid the area where possible and use alternative routes currently.

“Traffic for the airport must use the M8 onto the Bypass and up to Gogar. Traffic is heavily congested as a result.”

Holidaymakers have also been warned to expect delays in getting to Edinburgh Airport.

A spokesperson for Edinburgh Airport said: “Please be aware of an accident on the A8 near the airport.

“Police are in attendance but delays getting to the airport are expected.

“Follow Traffic Scotland for updates.”

A spokesperson for Police Scotland said: “The A8 is closed at Newbridge following a report of a serious crash around 9.25am on Monday, September 7.

“Emergency services are in attendance and diversions are being put in place.

“Motorists are advised to use another route.”

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The outlook after that looks reasonably good for London. The Met Office’s long-range forecast predicts “a trend toward some longer dry interludes between systems as we head toward mid-September”, although a return of the dry, settled weather of the summer “looks unlikely”.