Lauren Sánchez Bezos took her Met Gala preparation to an unexpected place: the New York Fire Department.

Days before stepping onto the red carpet May 4, the 56 year old journalist and philanthropist joined FDNY for a full training routine, complete with gear drills, smoke filled obstacle courses, and life saving techniques.

“It’s probably the most unique Met prep ever,” Sánchez told Vogue. “It was bananas, but I loved it. I probably lost about two pounds doing it.”

The honourary co chair of this year’s gala shared footage of the workout on Instagram, noting the session benefited the Leary Firefighters Foundation and FDNY Foundation.

“They do not mess around,” she wrote, adding that the experience gave her “a very small glimpse into the strength, discipline, and courage firefighters bring to their work.”

Her training coincided with International Firefighters’ Day on May 4, a detail Sánchez highlighted in her tribute: “Thank you to firefighters everywhere for your service.”

On the Met steps, Sánchez channeled John Singer Sargent’s 1883 painting Madame X in a midnight blue Schiaparelli gown by Daniel Roseberry.

The corseted look featured a jeweled strap draped over one shoulder, paired with Lorraine Schwartz earrings.

Inside the gala, she was joined by husband Jeff Bezos, who kept his look classic in a black tuxedo and bowtie.

• Victim abducted at gunpoint outside Islamabad residence.
• Main suspect, female accomplice arrested from Swat.
• Police recover the vehicle used in kidnapping incident.

ISLAMABAD: The body of a young man abducted from Islamabad’s F-6 area has been recovered from Mardan, police said on Tuesday, adding that the victim appeared to have been subjected to torture.

According to police, the body was shifted to Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), where a post-mortem examination is scheduled to be conducted.

The deceased was identified by his family as 30-year-old Farrukh Afzal. His family claimed that he was abducted in front of his father, adding that the kidnappers opened fire when they attempted to resist.

Speaking to Geo News, a relative of the victim said that when Afzal arrived home late at night at around 12:04am and was getting out of his car, right at that time, three people tried to kidnap him.

“A neighbour called [police], and his parents came out of their house after hearing his screams, but the armed kidnappers took him away,” he said, claiming that the boy could have been saved if the police had taken action at the time and placed blockades.

“However, no action was taken, which is why such an incident took place in the safe city of Islamabad, especially in a place like F-6/1, which is near the Red Zone,” he said, raising the question of how armed people can abduct a boy in Islamabad and kill him in Mardan.

Meanwhile, the police said, the abduction took place when the victim was returning home and opening the gate of his house in Islamabad’s F-6/1 area, where four armed men forcibly took him away in a vehicle after firing shots.

A first information report (FIR) was registered at Kohsar police station on the complaint of the victim’s father.

According to the FIR, the complainant rushed outside after hearing noise around midnight and saw four to five unidentified individuals abducting his son. When he and his neighbours tried to intervene, the suspects opened fire and fled with the victim.

Police said that the main suspect, along with a woman accomplice, was arrested in Swat, while the vehicle used in the kidnapping has also been recovered.

Authorities said investigations are ongoing from multiple angles, and efforts are underway to trace other suspects involved in the incident.

Anna Wintour made her entrance at the 2026 Met Gala in the kind of statement-making fashion that only she can pull off, a feathery turquoise jacket layered over a turquoise and black embroidered gown, both custom Chanel, bringing the evening’s Costume Art theme to life with characteristic authority.

The 76-year-old arrived among the first to step onto the white carpet at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, accessorising with her signature oversized sunglasses, a jewelled statement necklace, strappy black stilettos and, of course, her trademark bob and fringe. 

Some things never change.

Wintour remains the lead chairperson of the annual fundraiser despite having handed editorial control of American Vogue to her successor Chloe Malle, who was named head of editorial content in September.

Wintour has since taken on the role of chief content officer for Condé Nast, overseeing a portfolio that includes WIRED, Vanity Fair, GQ, Glamour and Bon Appétit, with Malle still reporting directly into her.

This year’s co-chairs joining Wintour are Beyoncé, making her first Met Gala appearance in a decade, Venus Williams and Nicole Kidman. 

The honorary chairs, Lauren Sánchez Bezos and Jeff Bezos, generated considerable discussion when their roles were announced, having secured the titles after committing to being the evening’s biggest donors.

Wintour has been steadfastly positive about the appointment. “We’re very grateful for her incredible generosity,” she told CNN in November. “So we’re thrilled she’s part of the night.”

This will be Lauren’s second Met Gala attendance and Jeff’s third.