George Clooney looked more smitten than ever with his stunning wife Amal as they posed for pictures at the DVF Awards in Venice on Thursday evening.

Human rights lawyer Amal, 45, looked breathtaking as she arrived at the ceremony ahead of being honoured with the DVF Leadership Award along with four other women, at the Sala degli Arazzi of the Giorgio Cini Foundation.

The couple brought the star power to the 14th annual event, founded by designer Diane von Furstenberg which recognises extraordinary women who are dedicated to transforming the lives of other women.

During her arrival, Amal cut a glamorous figure in the blush lace dress, which featured a tulle overskirt and was teamed with a pair of strappy metallic sandals.

The mother of two wore her brunette locks in soft waves and applied a full face of make-up in a glowing pallet of pink tones at the ceremony, which was being hosted during the Venice International Film Festival.

Meanwhile, her hunky husband George looked typically dashing in a black suit, which he wore with a slightly unbuttoned navy shirt.

On the DVF website there is a bio for Amal, explaining why she is being honoured at the prestigious awards ceremony.

It reads: ‘Amal Clooney is an award-winning human rights lawyer who has spent the past two decades defending victims of injustice around the world. She represents clients before international courts, including the International Criminal Court, the International Court of Justice and the European Court of Human Rights. 

‘Amal has represented high-profile political prisoners and survivors of mass atrocities, such as the Yazidi women and girls enslaved by ISIS, civilians attacked by Sudanese militia and government forces in Darfur, and female activists imprisoned around the globe. 

‘Her track record in securing freedom for unjustly detained journalists around the world is unmatched. She is currently serving on the Task Force on Accountability for Crimes Committed in Ukraine, to support justice for victims of war crimes and other human rights abuses.’

Other women receiving awards include award-winning and multi-hyphenate actor, producer, writer, advocate and bestselling author Lilly Singh.

Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations Amina J. Mohammed and the founder of the Algorithmic Justice League, Dr. Joy Buolamwini, are also being honoured.

Finally, Helena Gualinga, an environmental and human rights defender who advocates for the protection of the Amazon Rainforest, will also receive an award.

The awards was founded by Diane von Furstenberg and her family foundation in 2010 to recognise women who have helped the lives of other women.

Each year, five awards are given to women who have ‘demonstrated leadership, strength, and courage’ in their commitment to women’s causes.

The foundation grants these women $100,000 for their non-profit organisation.

Also in attendance on the night was singer Rita Ora, who slipped into her fourth look of the day as she turned heads in a chic black gown.

Rita’s stunning frock featured sheer sleeves and hugged every inch of her figure as she made a stylish arrival at the swanky event.

The hitmaker added extra bling to the ensemble with a silver sequinned clutch and strutted her stuff in matching ballet flats.

She wore a glitzy grey smokey-eye and styled her hair in pretty ringlets. 

Movie stars and directors traditionally enjoy travelling to the lagoon city to launch their films. However, this year will offer a bit less sparkle than usual because a Hollywood actors’ strike will prevent many stars from promoting their work here.

The festival’s artistic director Alberto Barbera is putting a brave face on the expected disruption and has managed to attract one of the strongest line-ups in recent years, defying dire predictions of a mass no-show by big studio productions.

‘We know that some talent will not be able to attend … But some others will come because they are working in the independent films. So everything is good. It looks very positive.’

Away from Venice’s picture-perfect canals, a sense of crisis pervades the movie-making business, with strikes by both the main U.S. actors and writers’ unions bringing much of the entertainment industry to a standstill.

‘If the strikes last longer, it will have a huge, negative impact on the next (release) season and the awards season as well,’ Barbera said.

Nobody in Hollywood wants to be seen doing the wrong thing by the strikers and the whole film and TV industry has ground to a complete stop.

The writers union, the WGA, went on strike on May 2nd, and were followed by SAG-AFTRA, the actors union, on July 14th.

A lawyer has revealed the top beauty items she would never buy again due to the growing pile of lawsuits and recalls against them over health concerns.

Harvard graduate and mother-of-two Angela tracks cases and recalls regarding beauty products and shares what she finds to help others steer clear.

Big names like Neutrogena, L’Oreal and Batiste have issued voluntary recalls or had suits filed against them for issues with specific products.

The lawsuits and recalls claim goods like waterproof mascara and dry shampoo, may contain toxic forever chemicals, can cause cancer or may have been developed with hormone-disrupting ingredients.

A study from 2021 warned that more than half of popular cosmetics being sold in the US and Canada are likely to contain high levels of toxic chemicals called polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).

Researchers from Notre Dame University tested more than 200 products, including concealers, foundations, eye and eyebrow products and lip products, and found evidence of PFAS in around half (52 percent) of them.

Worryingly, previous research has linked certain PFAS to various health issues, including kidney cancer, testicular cancer, hypertension, thyroid disease, low birth weight and immunotoxicity in children. 

Waterproof mascara

The number one product Angela is turning her back on is waterproof mascara.

She said: ‘Turns out, in order to make mascara waterproof, companies often have to add PFAS — toxic forever chemicals linked to impaired immune function, diabetes, obesity, endocrine dysfunction and cancers.

Of 11 waterproof mascaras the Notre Dame University researchers tested, 82 percent had a high fluorine content.

Seeger Weiss LLP listed popular makeup brands that may contain PFAS, including L’Oreal.

A lawsuit filed in 2022 against L’Oreal by Rebecca Vega from Belleville, New Jersey claims the company ‘y fails to disclose to consumers that its popular waterproof mascara products contain Per and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances, or ‘PFAS,’ despite the fact that L’Oreal knew or should have known that this information is material to consumers.

However, the case was voluntarily dismissed by Vega that same year. 

Another complaint filed was filed against L’Oréal in the same year by Californian Sumner Davenport, on behalf of herself and all others similarly situated, which claims the same as Vega’s suit.

No updates have been shared regarding Davenport’s case, but shortly after she filed the complaint, Governor Gavin Newsom signed a law in October that prohibits the manufacture, distribution and sale of textiles and cosmetics containing PFAS beginning in 2025.

L’Oréal told R29 in February 2023 that phase-out and substitution plans are ‘well underway’ and that the company has already removed PFAS from the majority of its products. 

Dry shampoo

Research by Valisure, a laboratory in Connecticut, tested a random sample of 148 different products sold in CVS, Walgreens and by online retailers like Amazon across the country in November 2022.

Some 70 percent were positive for benzene, a known carcinogen that is strongly linked to leukemia and other blood disorders. Among those that contained the chemical were drug-store brand favorites Batiste and Not Your Mother’s — alongside premium brands Pureology and Kerastase.

Contamination may come from inactive petroleum-derived ingredients, a thickening agent, or isobutane, a spray propellant.

Manufacturers, including Church & Dwight — which makes Batiste — refuted the results, saying it had recently ‘confirmed’ with its suppliers that the dry shampoos don’t contain benzene.

Angela said: ‘I wish I never used dry shampoo. I used to use it every other day.’

She showed a list of brands she will steer clear of: DryBar, Redken, IGK, Batiste, Paul Mitchell and Not Your Mother’s.

Angela said: ‘I’ve used many on this list which has been determined to contain benzene in them, a known carcinogen where even low levels can be linked to increased risk of cancer.

‘We’ve seen many recalls and lawsuits brewing,’ she added.

‘Also horrifically, apparently, the benzene stays in the air after you’ve sprayed it, and I used to get ready in the bathroom with my toddlers by my side.

Last year, Unilever recalled over 1.5 million dry shampoo products because they may contain elevated levels of benzene, a human carcinogen strongly linked to leukemia and other blood disorders.

Unilever said it had not received any reports of ‘adverse events’ linked to benzene exposure in the products and insisted the recall was ‘out of an abundance of caution.’

An internal investigation concluded that benzene concentrations in the affected products would not be large enough to cause health issues. 

Chemical hair straightener

Angela said: ‘I would not chemically straighten my hair again. I used to do it, I love the sleek look.

‘But turns out women who chemically straighten their hair at least four times a year more than double their risk of uterine cancer and also ovarian and breast, likely because these things (parabens, bispehnol A, metals and formaldehyde) are absorbed directly into the scalp.’

An official study suggested chemical hair straightening products used by millions of Americans may double the risk of womb cancer.

National Institutes of Health (NIH) researched 33,000 women across the US for over a decade.

The rate of uterine cancer was 4.05 percent in women who used straightening products four or more times a year, compared to 1.64 percent in those who did not.

Spray sunscreen

Angela said she used to use this on her children.

‘As a tired mom, I’d spray these like five times per day on my small kids,’ she said.

‘They’d spray it on each other in their eyeballs, in their mouth.’

‘Major brands such as Neutrogena, Aveeno, Banana Boat, Coppertone, CVS Health and Elta MD, found benzene in their cans,’ she said, referring to recalls in 2022.

She added: ‘While it’s probably not a death sentence, it is a known carcinogen, and no one seems to know exactly how benzene got in there.’

Many companies issued voluntary recalls on their products found to have benzene. 

According to Consumer Reports in 2022, Aveeno and Neutrogena sunscreens had benzene levels ranging from 11.2 to 23.6 ppm, five to 12 times the level advised by the FDA.

On the other hand, Sunscreen lotions were found to not have any, Angela said.

Benzene is a known carcinogen and is strongly linked to leukemia and other blood disorders, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

On July 14, 2021, Johnson & Johnson issued a voluntary recall of five specific Aveeno and Neutrogena aerosol sunscreens because lab testing found low levels of the cancer-causing chemical benzene in the products. 

The five included:  Aveeno Protect + Refresh aerosol sunscreen; Neutrogena Invisible Daily defense aerosol sunscreen; Neutrogena Beach Defense aerosol sunscreen; Neutrogena Cool Dry Sport aerosol sunscreen; and Neutrogena Ultra Sheer aerosol sunscreen.

Long-lasting makeup

Makeup often claims to be sweatproof and last for upwards of 24 hours. But there is a reason the products do not melt off the face.

Similarly to waterproof mascara, Angela said: ‘Usually, it’s because companies have added PFAS… which I prefer not to be licking and eating all day on my lips.’

Makeup testers in stores

Angela said: ‘While the lawsuits linking them to bad health haven’t succeeded, they have shed light on a bunch of studies which have found all sorts of germs.’

As well as E. coli – which causes stomach cramps and diarrhea and, in severe cases, can be fatal – staphylococcus and streptococcus bacteria were found in studies, which can cause infections. 

One study found germs in 100 percent of the in-store makeup items tested.

‘Clean beauty’ products

Clean beauty describes non-toxic products free from harmful chemicals, such as parabens, phthalates, sulfates, and synthetic fragrances.

Angela said: ‘The next tidal wave in cosmetics litigation is that companies are slapping the label ‘clean’ on their product without actually meeting any reasonable consumer expectation of what clean is.’ 

Neon eyeshadow

Angela said: ‘Multiple companies have settled class actions in the last couple of years because neon color additives are not FDA-approved for use around the eyes.’

The Food & Drug Administration website reads: ‘There are eight fluorescent colors approved for cosmetics, and like other colors, there are limits on how they may be used. None of them are allowed for use near the eyes.’

Eyelash growth serum

Angela said she will not use eyelash growth serum without consulting a doctor. 

She said: ‘Latisse is the only one FDA approved and it has to be prescribed under a doctor’s care. 

‘Other companies started selling these ingredients in their own over-the-counter serum and people are suing.

‘There can be real scary side effects.’

Australian entrepreneur Kasey Giarratana launched her natural eyelash growth serum business in 2021.

She said: ‘Some toxic ingredients used in commercial pharmaceutical lash serums use known carcinogenic and hormone-disrupting ingredients such as Bitmaprost. 

‘This prostaglandin is a chemical compound with hormone-like effects.’

UV gel nails

Angela said: ‘Those gel dryers are literally tanning beds for your hands. You know they’re linked to skin cancer.’

Dermatologists have previously warned that gel manicures could cause lasting damage to the nails and even increase the risk of skin cancer.

A gel manicure uses three coats of a special type of polish from brands such as Shellac or OPI. 

Each coat is set using UV light – and experts say this could have dangerous side effects.

Dr Chris Adigun, from New York University School of Medicine, said the UV lamps damage the skin cells like sunbeds.

‘Women who frequently get gel manicures should consider their skin cancer risk,’ he said.

Writing in the American Academy of Dermatology, Dr Adigun is so concerned about the risk he advises women to slather suncream on their hands before having a gel manicure.

The added worry is that the machines aren’t regulated, meaning consumers don’t know how much exposure they are getting to the rays.

It follows a study in 2009 that found two middle-aged women developed tumors on their hands following exposure to UV nail lights.

Neither had a family history of skin cancer, and both worked indoors and had moderate exposure to sunlight, according to the research published in JAMA Dermatology.

Donald Trump‘s lawyer accused the United States of having a ‘two tier system of justice’, noting that Donald Trump has been indicted while Bill and Hillary Clinton and Hunter Biden have not.

Alina Habba told Fox News that the indictment against Trump on federal charges related to the mishandling of classified documents were a sign of ‘a sick world’.

She said it made her ‘ashamed’ to be a lawyer, called the indictment ‘persecution’, and said it was a ‘sad attempt at political interference.’

‘There is a two tier system of justice that we are seeing right now,’ she told Jesse Watters.

‘Hillary Clinton smashed a computer and got rid of emails.

‘We had recordings in sock drawers.

‘We have Biden and Obama who were hiding things – Biden still has things in Chinatown, in his home, with a son who is a drug addict.

‘And nothing happens to these people.’

Hillary Clinton’s aides admitted that they used a hammer to destroy two of her old phones.

Her staff also in 2015 deleted 30,000 emails on her server which were unrelated to government work, and were older than 60 days.

Her husband spoke to historian Taylor Branch while in office, with the pair of them recording their discussions for a book. Bill Clinton kept his tapes in a sock drawer. Conservatives have argued that they amount to presidential records and should be handed over.

Biden found classified material at the offices of his think tank, in Washington DC, and his Delaware home: they were handed over.

Obama’s office denied taking any classified documents.

Yet Habba said there was a distinct prejudice against her client, which she blamed on his political prowess.

‘When your name is Donald Trump, and you’re leading in the polls, you are going to get hit hard,’ she said.

‘You are going to get indicted, until you can’t take it any more.

‘But they picked the wrong guy.’

Habba said that Trump’s indictment – the first federal charges ever filed against a former president – was unfair, and ‘shows what a sick world we are living in.’

She continued: ‘I am petrified for the country at the moment, and sad for my client – although he is resilient and strong.

‘And it just shows me once again why we need him back in the White House.’

Habba said that the ‘establishment’ was terrified by Trump because he was independent.

‘Donald Trump is not owned by any lobbyist. He is not owned by any funder – anybody who would give him money in exchange for access,’ she said. ‘He does not need the money.

‘And that is the most frightening thing to the current political climate in America.

‘And because of that, he is the biggest threat to the corrupt political system we have; to the corrupt Justice Department we have.’

Habba said that they were looking forward to putting Trump’s version of events forward.

She attacked the special counsel, Jack Smith, and accused him of being a political hack intent on bringing Trump down.

‘All of these indictments, the American people need to remember, are a one-sided evidentiary hearing in a grand jury that is put on by far left Democrats,’ she said.

‘Jack Smith is effectively what you would call a Democrat, left wing operative.

‘All he does is hate Trump, hate the right wing.

‘He puts these people in a silo and gives them his evidence.’

She concluded: ‘Now we get the opportunity to present our evidence, and see it through.

‘If we get an impartial judge, an impartial jury, we will be vindicated on all fronts.’