McQueen transports us into a world mystique for its spring-summer 2025 campaign. The images are set against the haunting beauty of Llansteffan Castle in Wales. Photographed and directed by Glen Luchford, the campaign draws inspiration from the banshee.
McQueen Spring/Summer 2025 Campaign
A glittering gown stands out in McQueen’s spring 2025 campaign. Photo: Glen Luchford / McQueen
The folkloric figure is deeply tied to both the brand’s history and creative director Seán McGirr’s Irish heritage. The collection features ethereal yet sharp tailoring, merging delicate lace, silk crepon, and shredded silk organza with structured silhouettes. A palette of ivory, silver-grey, and black dominate the designs.
McGirr describes the banshee as a symbol of bold self-expression, something that resonates throughout the collection. The campaign’s styling by Sarah Richardson highlights dramatic outerwear, intricate embellishments, and sculptural accessories inspired by the legend.
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (Source: Wikimedia Commons, Ajay_Suresh)
Elon Musk’s DOGE team entered the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau headquarters on Friday – and staffers are pissed off!
“Elon Musk’s team on Friday entered the headquarters of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau on Friday, sources tell us,” Politico reported.
According to Politico, at least 3 of Elon Musk’s DOGE workers are now “senior advisors” in the staff directory at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
“Three Musk allies are listed as “senior advisers” in the staff directory at the CFPB now.” Politico reported.
“CFBP staff is “mad as hell.”” the reporter added.
Elon Musk’s team on Friday entered the headquarters of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau on Friday, sources tell us.
Three Musk allies are listed as “senior advisers” in the staff directory at the CFPB now.
Last week, President Trump fired Rohit Chopra, the Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
It’s been an honor serving as your @CFPB Director.
Every day, Americans from across the country shared their ideas and experiences with us. You helped us hold powerful companies & their executives accountable for breaking the law, and you made our work better.
Rohit Chopra was a toxic Biden holdover who previously threatened banks that refused to give credit lines and loans to illegal aliens.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and the DOJ warned banks and lending institutions in a joint statement in October 2023.
“The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and Justice Department today issued a joint statement that reminds financial institutions that all credit applicants are protected from discrimination on the basis of their national origin, race, and other characteristics covered by the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, regardless of their immigration status,” the CFPB said in a statement.
“The CFPB and Justice Department are issuing this statement because consumers have reported being rejected for credit cards as well as for auto, student, personal, and equipment loans because of their immigration status, even when they have strong credit histories and ties to the United States and are otherwise qualified to receive the loans.” they said.
“Fair access to credit is crucially important for building wealth and strengthening household financial stability,” said CFPB Director Rohit Chopra. “The CFPB will not allow companies to use immigration status as an excuse for illegal discrimination.”
The DOJ’s Civil Rights Division Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke warned banks that they may be violating federal law if they don’t give illegal aliens loans.
“Lenders should not deny people the opportunity to take out a loan to buy a home, build their businesses or otherwise pursue their financial goals because of unlawful bias and without regard to their actual ability to repay,” said Kristen Clarke. “This guidance reminds lenders that denying someone access to credit based solely on their actual or perceived immigrant status may violate federal law.”
Of all the elections happening in the EU this year, the vote in Germany is probably the one that is being watched most closely across the bloc. Europe’s largest economy is in trouble; the old model of cheap gas and easily accessible export markets is no longer working. Meanwhile, its political fragmentation makes it increasingly hard for Germany to re-define its role in Europe, whether that’s on defence spending, climate and energy policies or competitiveness. In this debate we explore what is stake for Europe, and how the outcome of the February 23 election could impact the conversation on defence, immigration and other key issues.
Hamas has released the names of three Israeli hostages it says it will release on Saturday in the fifth such swap of a fragile ceasefire in Gaza.
The hostages are Eli Sharabi, Ohad Ben Ami and Or Levy, Hamas armed wing spokesperson Abu Obeida said in a Telegram post.
An Israeli official confirmed Israel had received the three names from Hamas.
In return for the captives’ release, Hamas said it expects 183 Palestinian prisoners to be released.
Image: Jabalia, in northern Gaza, after months of Israeli attacks.
Pic: Reuters/Dawoud Abu Alkas
Both Mr Ami, 56, and Mr Sharabi, 52, were taken from Kibbutz Be’eri during the 7 October attack. The cross-border attack saw around 1,200 Israelis killed and around 250 people taken hostage.
Mr Levy, 34, was abducted from the Nova music festival.
Of the Palestinian prisoners being freed, 18 have been serving life sentences, 54 were serving long sentences and the vast majority, 111, were detained in the Gaza Strip during the war.
Eli Sharabi
Mr Sharabi’s wife Lianne Sharabi was born in Bristol.
She, along with their children, 16-year-old Noiya and 13-year-old Yahel, were killed in the 7 October attack.
His brother Yossi was also killed after being taken hostage.
In a statement after news he would be released was announced, Mr Sharabi’s lawyers said: “The Sharabi family has already lost too much,”.
It added: “It is long past time to bring Eli home.”
Or Levy
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2:40
Michael Levy speaks to Sky News about his brother
Mr Levy was captured by militants from a bomb shelter near the Nova music festival.
His wife Einav was killed during the October 7 attack. Their son Almog, a toddler, is staying with his grandparents.
Mr Levy is from the city of Rishon Lezion, where he worked as a computer programmer.
Some of Mr Levy’s family previously spoke about his kidnapping and the death of his wife.
Speaking around Hanukkah last year, his brother Michael Levy told Sky News’s Yousra Elbagir: “I have three little girls but it won’t be the same. Hanukkah is a happy holiday – you light candles, you sing and eat all sorts of things but for us it is not a real holiday without Or.”
Ohad Ben Ami
Mr Ben Ami, a father of three, was taken hostage with his wife Raz, who was released during the brief ceasefire period in November.
His daughter Ella Ben Ami previously spoke to Sky News about missing her dad Mr Ami, as she pleaded for his release.
“On the eve of Christmas, on the 24 December, it will be his birthday, and I don’t want to celebrate it without him,” she told Sky News in 2023.
Ms Ami was previously one of the first to tell the world what happened on 7 October, calling an Israeli TV channel while hiding.
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Ella Ben Ami: ‘I miss my Dad and I need my Dad with me’ this Christmas Eve
Row over aid access
Earlier on Friday, Hamas accused Israel of breaching the ceasefire accord and held off announcing the names of the Israeli hostages until the deadline had passed.
The militant group claimed Israel delayed the entry of hundreds of trucks carrying food and other humanitarian supplies agreed under the truce deal and held back all but a fraction of the tents and mobile homes needed to provide people shelter in the devastated enclave.
“This demonstrates clear manipulation of relief and shelter priorities,” Hamas said in a statement.
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17:34
Trump 100 Day 17: Can Trump take over the Gaza Strip?
COGAT, the Israeli military agency that is overseeing the aid deliveries into Gaza, denied the accusation.
It added Israel would “not tolerate violations by Hamas”.
The claims and counter-claims highlight the fragility and uncertainty of the ceasefire.
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1:09
Gaza ceasefire deal explained
This has been heightened by US President Donald Trump recently saying the US could take over Gaza and move the Palestinian population out.
Israel’s air and ground war in Gaza has killed more than 47,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health officials, and displaced the majority of the strip’s population.
Federal Election Commission member Ellen Weintraub testifies on Capitol Hill on Sept. 20, 2023.
Alex Wong/Getty Images
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A Democratic member of the Federal Election Commission says President Trump is trying to improperly remove her from the post.
Ellen Weintraub announced Thursday evening that she had received a letter from Trump, dated Jan. 31, “purporting to remove” her from her position.
“There’s a legal way to replace FEC commissioners-this isn’t it,” she wrote on social media. “I’ve been so fortunate to serve the American people and stir up some good trouble along the way. That’s not changing anytime soon.”
The FEC is an independent regulatory agency created to administer and enforce campaign finance laws. Commissioners are appointed by the president and are confirmed by the Senate to serve in staggered six-year terms. No political party is allowed to be represented by more than three of the six seats on the FEC.
Currently, there is a vacant seat on the commission and multiple members are serving expired terms — including Weintraub.
Trevor Potter, the Republican former chair of the FEC and president of Campaign Legal Center, said in a statement that Trump is allowed to appoint someone to Weintraub’s seat. However, he said, the way in which he is attempting to oust Weintraub violates the law.
“Trump is free to nominate multiple new commissioners and to allow Congress to perform its constitutional role of advice and consent,” he said. “It’s contrary to law that he has instead opted to claim to ‘fire’ a single Democratic commissioner who has been an outspoken critic of the president’s lawbreaking and of the FEC’s failure to hold him accountable.”
Daniel Weiner — director of the Elections and Government Program at the Brennan Center for Justice, which has been critical of the president’s attacks on the electoral process — said this attempted firing comes at a time when the FEC is expected to consider complaints against Trump’s 2024 campaign, as well as complaints filed by his campaign against the Harris campaign.
“The timing here is when the president and his top donor, Elon Musk — who spent almost $300 million to help get the president elected — are engaging in an enormous reorganization of the federal government, seemingly without any regard for Congress and the other various checks and balances that exist in our federal government,” he said. “So this act to go and try to fire a Democratic member of the FEC just adds to the overall concern about unchecked power and the idea that people are just ignoring all the restraints that are supposed to keep one party or the other from just abusing its temporary control of the federal government … and that is extremely, extremely concerning.”
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Weiner said no president has ever tried to fire a member of the commission from the opposing party without first consulting or working with congressional leaders from the opposing party.
He said it’s not clear what happens next, but there could be litigation because commissioners cannot be removed without cause. And since Trump did not cite any cause in his letter to Weintraub, there could be grounds for a lawsuit, Weiner said.
SAN FRANCISCO — In the latest national battle over immigration, San Francisco on Friday announced it was filing a federal lawsuit against the Trump administration’s recent directives to prosecute local officials who impede deportation efforts and withhold federal funding from so-called sanctuary cities.
“The Trump administration is asserting a right it does not have,” City Atty. David Chiu said during a news conference announcing the lawsuit. “This is the federal government coercing local officials to bend to their will or face defunding or prosecution, and that is illegal or authoritarian. And last I checked, we still live in a democracy under the rule of law, and the federal government needs to follow the law.”
The lawsuit, to be filed in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, will focus on two recent executive orders by the U.S. Department of Justice that pledge to withhold federal funding from sanctuary cities and threaten civil and criminal prosecution against state and local officials accused of impeding deportation actions.
A Jan. 21 memo Justice Department memo warns local jurisdictions that “federal law prohibits state and local actors from resisting, obstructing, and otherwise failing to comply with lawful immigration-related commands and requests,” and that sanctuary laws “threaten public safety and national security.” A more pointed memo on Feb. 5 calls for the end of federal funding to cities and states that “unlawfully interfere with federal law enforcement operations,” and includes a more detailed strategy to “investigate incidents involving any such misconduct and shall, where supported by the evidence, prosecute violations of federal laws.”
The memos followed an executive order Trump signed soon after taking office on Jan. 20 that threatened federal funding to sanctuary cities and called for prosecution of those that hinder enforcement, a move that immediately launched a new war over immigration since Trump left office in 2020.
The orders have infused panic and confusion in immigrant communities throughout California and nationwide as Trump promises widespread deportations, while sparking concern among local jurisdictions over whether their federal funding could soon be revoked if they do not comply with the immigration crackdowns.
San Francisco’s lawsuit aims to block the federal government from enforcing the directives, alleging they are unconstitutional and a violation of states’ rights, separation of power, Congress’ spending authority and due process.
San Francisco receives $3.1 billion in federal funding overall, according to the city attorney’s office, money that covers a huge swath of programs from Medicaid to health, education, transportation and infrastructure initiatives. The city receives at least $8.7 million from the U.S. Department of Justice for public safety programs. Chiu said the withdrawal of federal funding would be “catastrophic” to San Francisco’s ability to pay for much-needed services.
San Francisco is one of many cities across California that have guaranteed legal protections for immigrants without legal status by restriction collaboration between local law enforcement and Immigration and Customs Enforcement authorities. State lawmakers in 2017 passed a bill declaring California a sanctuary state by restricting whom state and local law enforcement officers can hold and question on immigration violations.
Chiu said the lawsuit was more urgent after the Trump administration on Thursday sued Chicago and the state of Illinois over allegations that sanctuary laws are illegally blocking federal immigration actions. The lawsuit signals that during his second term in office, Trump is more willing to use his executive authority and allies at his Justice Department to target jurisdictions he sees as obstacles to his anti-immigration plans.
“The conduct of officials in Chicago and Illinois minimally enforcing — and oftentimes affirmatively thwarting — federal immigration laws over a period of years has resulted in countless criminals being released into Chicago who should have been held for immigration removal from the United States,” the lawsuit states.
During his first term in office, San Francisco successfully sued Trump over a similar order to limit federal money flowing to cities that resisted immigration enforcement actions. Chiu said that Trump’s latest order is similar to the one he made during his first term, with the added threat of prosecution. He said the new lawsuit reinforces arguments made during the first legal battle that the federal government does not have legal authority to withhold federal funding or dismantle sanctuary laws. Chiu added that the federal government is still entitled to carry out immigration enforcement actions, and that it is within San Francisco’s, and other jurisdictions’, authority not to assist in deportations.
“No one is interfering with the federal government’s ability to do its job,” Chiu said. “But the Trump administration is certainly interfering with our ability to do our job. They’re trying to take away our autonomy and interfering with our ability to keep our residents safe.”
San Francisco is co-leading the lawsuit with Santa Clara County, and the coalition of local jurisdictions that have signed on to the legal filing also includes Portland, Ore., New Haven, Conn. and King County, Wash. Neither Los Angeles City or County have at this point signed on to the lawsuit.
“The federal government can’t commandeer our local government. They can’t commandeer our local resources, and they can’t commandeer our local law enforcement to help them carry out a vision of mass deportation,” Tony LoPresti, county counsel for Santa Clara County, said at the press conference.
Former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Middleweight champion Sean Strickland tried to exact revenge at UFC 312 tomorrow night (Sat., Feb. 8, 2025) when he takes on current Middleweight kingpin Dricus Du Plessis inside Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Training has been done, weight has been made, and all the two Middleweights have to do is throw down tomorrow, but recently retired former UFC fighter Matt Brown believes Strickland’s constant sparring will ultimately hurt him in the long run.
“The problem with the constant sparring, a lot of people talk about the brain damage and stuff like that. I don’t think that’s nearly as big of a deal as people make it out to be. But you don’t evolve quite as much. You’re not compartmentalizing little skills and building on them,” Brown told MMA Fighting. “The advantage is he gets his timing very well; he knows exactly what he’s looking for all the time, knows himself very well as a fighter, and doesn’t get as nervous. There’s a lot of advantages.”
“You don’t evolve doing that,” Brown added. “What happens, particularly when you’re going live a lot, is you only use your top five or 10 techniques because you’re constantly worried about getting hit, so you’re just using your best technique. If you’re going live wrestling, you’re just using your best shot all the time. That’s why you have to break them down and sometimes even go a little with the flow to get a little more creative. You have to break them down so you actually get better and build that confidence so that you can use that live.”
MIDDLEWEIGHT REMATCH! Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) continues its 2025 pay-per-view (PPV) schedule on Sat., Feb. 8, with a rematch between 185-pound kingpin, Dricus du Plessis, running it back against the man he lifted the belt off little more than one year ago, Sean Strickland,in the five-round main event. In UFC 312’s championship co-headliner from inside Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, women’s Strawweight roost-ruler, Zhang Weili, will defend her belt against undefeated (and oft-injured) 115-pound contender, Tatiana Suarez. UFC 312 will also feature a hard-hitting Heavyweight battle between Justin Tafa vs. Talisson Teixeira, alongside a Light Heavyweight showdown with Jimmy Crute facing Rodolfo Bellato,and so much more! UFC 312’s start time is scheduled for 6 p.m. ET (“Prelims” undercard) and 10 p.m. ET (PPV main card).
Remember that MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC 312 fight card right here, starting with the ESPN2/ESPN+ “Prelims” matches online, which are scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. ET, before the main card start time at 10 p.m. ET (also on ESPN+).
To check out the latest and greatest UFC 312: “du Plessis vs. Strickland 2” news and notes be sure to hit up our comprehensive event archive right here.
Looking forward to a romantic Valentine’s Day? The good news is that sex and kissing come with numerous health benefits, from improving sleep to managing stress and burning calories. However, the bad news is that some sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including gonorrhoea and syphilis, are spreading faster than ever before.
Here, experts explain how to keep safe – and what to do if you end up with an unexpected surprise on February 14.
Gonorrhoea
Gonorrhoea is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) spread by unprotected sex. In women, the symptoms include vaginal discharge, pain or burning while urinating, urinating more frequently, changes in periods/bleeding pattern, pain during intercourse, abdominal pain, sore throat and fever, while men may experience frequent urination, penile discharge, penile swelling/redness, swelling or pain in the testicles and/or a persistent sore throat.
“Protect yourself by using a condom and having regular tests for STIs,” advises consultant gynaecologist Dr Priyanka Patel. “You need to have an STI check whenever you have a new partner, especially if you’re not using condoms or think you were exposed to an STI.” If you’re worried, see your GP or your local sexual health clinic. Find yours here.
Syphilis
Syphilis is another serious STI, which is spread through direct contact with a syphilis sore. The disease progresses in a series of stages, each with distinct symptoms.
“In the primary stage, a painless sore appears at the infection site. The secondary stage presents with a rash, fever, and swollen lymph nodes,” explains consultant obstetrician gynaecologist Dr Shazia Malik (yourdaye.com/period-pain-clinic).
“If left untreated, syphilis can enter latent and tertiary stages, which could potentially cause severe damage to internal organs.
“Prevention strategies include consistent condom use, regular STI testing, and avoiding sexual contact with someone who has a visible sore. The good news is that syphilis is curable with antibiotics, typically administered through penicillin injections.”
Glandular fever
Dr Megha Pancholi, GP and clinical lead for sexual health at Boots Online Doctor, says: “Glandular fever is a viral infection primarily caused by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). It’s most common among teenagers and young adults, but it can affect people of any age.
“The virus is spread through saliva, which is why it’s commonly known as the ‘kissing disease’. However, the infection can be transmitted in other ways too, such as by sharing utensils, drinks or toothbrushes with someone who has the virus.
“Common symptoms include having a high temperature, sore throat, swollen glands (in the neck and potentially other areas, such as the armpits), fatigue and headaches.
“A person can be infectious for up to seven weeks before showing any symptoms and may be infectious for several months after being unwell. To help prevent the infection from spreading, wash your hands regularly and don’t share anything that may have your saliva on it, such as utensils.”
There’s no specific treatment. “It usually gets better on its own within two to four weeks, but make sure to get plenty of rest and stay hydrated with lots of fluids,” says Dr Pancholi. “You can consider using pain relief such as ibuprofen or paracetamol if swallowing is painful, but avoid giving aspirin to someone who is under 16.
“As glandular fever can cause the liver and spleen to swell, avoid alcohol and playing contact sports until fully recovered. These activities can increase the risk of complications.
“If you find it difficult to swallow or breathe, have severe abdominal pain or a persistent high fever, call 999 or go to your nearest A&E department urgently.”
Cold sores
“Cold sores are caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV), are very common and can affect anyone,” says Dr Pancholi. “In fact, most adults carry the HSV virus that causes them, even if they’ve never had symptoms.
“Cold sores are typically caused by type 1 (HSV-1) and it causes painful blisters and sores generally located on the lips or around the mouth.
“If you already carry the virus you should avoid potential triggers such as sunbeds or spending extended periods in the sun without SPF lip balm, which can help to reduce the risk of developing cold sores.
“Cold sores will usually clear up within two weeks, but they are very contagious so you should try to avoid spreading the infection to others by washing your hands after touching your sore, not sharing utensils, and not kissing or having oral sex until your symptoms have cleared.
“Over-the-counter antiviral creams can help to speed up the healing process if applied at the first sign of an outbreak. If a cold sore hasn’t healed after two weeks and you’re having frequent outbreaks, contact your GP.”
HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus)
“The HIV virus is primarily transmitted through unprotected sexual contact, sharing needles, or from mother to child during childbirth or breastfeeding.
“If both partners have open sores or bleeding gums, there is a very small risk of transmission through deep or open-mouth kissing, but the risk of getting HIV through kissing is extremely low,” says women’s health GP Dr Elise Dallas from thelondongeneralpractice.com.
“To avoid the virus, practise safe sex by using condoms consistently and correctly and engage in regular testing.”
Early symptoms of HIV may include flu-like symptoms such as fever, sore throat, fatigue, and swollen lymph nodes and it can be treated with antiretroviral therapy.
Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
Spread via skin-to-skin contact like kissing or sex, human papillomavirus (HPV) is very common but unlike other STIs, it can’t be prevented through condom use alone. “HPV can infect areas not covered by condoms, making prevention more challenging,” explains Dr Malik. “However, consistent condom use can still reduce the risk.”
The most effective prevention method is the HPV vaccination, which is recommended for both men and women. “Regular cervical screening is also crucial for the prevention of cervical cancer. Most HPV infections are asymptomatic and clear on their own. However, some strains can cause genital warts or lead to abnormal cervical cells, which can be detected through screening.
“Certain high-risk HPV strains can lead to cervical cancer if left undetected, emphasising the importance of regular check-ups. While there’s no cure for HPV, treatments are available for related conditions such as genital warts.”
Meningococcal diseases and strep throat
“Symptoms of meningococcal disease, may include high fever, stiff neck, headache and a characteristic rash, while for strep throat, symptoms typically include a sore throat, fever, and swollen lymph nodes. Both conditions can be dangerous if left untreated, leading to severe complications or hospitalisation,” says Dr Dallas.
Both diseases are spread through respiratory droplets, which are small and contain saliva and mucus.
“To reduce the risk of infection, individuals should avoid close contact with infected individuals, practise good hand hygiene, and consider vaccination for meningococcal disease, which is always highly effective.”
Pubic lice
Pubic lice, also known as crabs, are tiny insects that live on body hair, especially pubic hair. “The only way to avoid getting public lice is to avoid having sexual contact or sharing bedding or clothing with anyone you know who has pubic lice until they’ve been treated,” says Dr Patel.
Symptoms include feeling run-down, itching in the genital area, especially at night, white or yellow dots in the area, small bugs in the hair and spots on the skin. If you notice any of these, see your GP or sexual health clinic who will prescribe a medicated shampoo or cream for you.
Hepatitis B
Chronic hepatitis B can lead to serious complications if left untreated, such as liver cancer or liver cirrhosis. “Hepatitis B is transmitted through sex via blood and other bodily fluids,” says Dr Dallas. “To prevent infection, individuals should avoid unprotected sex, refrain from sharing needles, and ensure their vaccinations are up to date. The hepatitis B vaccine is highly effective and widely recommended.”
Symptoms include fatigue, jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes), abdominal pain, and loss of appetite. And although there is no cure for the disease, regular testing and treatment can minimise the damage. Antiviral medication can help manage chronic hepatitis B.
Chlamydia
Chlamydia is one of the most common bacterial STIs, but it can be difficult to diagnose as up to 70% of female patients will not have any symptoms. “This underscores the importance of regular testing,” says Dr Malik.
“When symptoms do occur, they may include unusual discharge, a burning sensation when urinating and pain during sex. If left untreated, chlamydia can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease and reduced fertility.”
Chlamydia is transmitted through unprotected sex, so avoid it by using condoms. Fortunately, it is easily treated with antibiotics such as azithromycin or doxycycline.
Buying Hilton Honors points during one of the frequent 100% bonus events can be a very effective way to instantly top up your account balance for a big redemption.
Hilton typically offers this bonus throughout the year, and this time, you’ll have until March 14, 2025 to buy points at the bonus rate.
Let’s have a look at how the promotion works, and under what circumstances you might wish to take advantage of it.
Buy Hilton Honors Points with a 100% Bonus
Hilton Honors normally allows you to purchase points at a rate of 1 cent per point (USD), which is much higher than a price at which I’d consider purchasing points.
Indeed, we generally value Hilton Honors points at 0.7 cents per point (CAD) or 0.5 cents per point (USD), so it would seldom make sense to buy points at the usual rate of 1 cent per point (USD).
During these 100% bonus events, you’ll get double the points, meaning that you’re effectively purchasing points at half price for 0.5 cents per point (USD). That’s much closer to a price at which buying points might make sense.
Keep in mind that not all members receive the same bonus offer during this promotion period. There may be multiple versions of the promotion, with some members receiving a 50% bonus rather than a 100% bonus—so be sure to check your own offer before making a purchase.
How many Hilton Honors points can you buy?
Hilton generally caps the number of points each member can buy at 80,000 base points per year, plus bonus points.
With this current promotion, that limit has been doubled or even tripled (depending on your offer), allowing you to purchase up to 240,000 points. When you add in the 100% bonus, this means that in total between base and bonus points, you could potentially add 480,000 points to your account balance.
Keep in mind that Hilton allows you to easily pool points among different individuals’ accounts, so it’s easy to bypass the limit by purchasing the maximum number of points under different family members’ accounts and then pooling them all together.
Which credit card should you use to buy Hilton Honors points?
You’ll want to use a US credit card to buy Hilton Honors points, if possible. That’s because Points.com is a Canadian business, and Canadian residents are subject to local taxes on points purchases, which can add a further 5–15% to your total.
Combined with the 2.5% foreign exchange fee on most Canadian credit cards, these avoidable costs can quickly eat into the value of your purchase.
Hilton Honors points purchases are processed by an external vendor, Points.com. They don’t count as a hotel purchase, so there’s no advantage to using one of the Amex US Hilton credit cards for your purchase.
I’d recommend simply using the US credit card of your choice with a high return on daily spending, or one on which you’re working on meeting the minimum spending requirement.
Who Should Buy Hilton Points with a 100% Bonus?
You’ll come out ahead as long as you can redeem the points at a value higher than 0.5 US cents per point – which you should definitely be aiming for whenever you’re considering a Hilton redemption anyway.
For example, if you maxed out the current promotion, you’d end up acquiring 480,000 Hilton Honors points for a price of $2,400 (USD). You’d then look to redeem for a hotel stay that retails for far more than that amount.
Because of the significant upfront expense involved, you should rarely buy points without a specific and immediate use in mind. Instead, I’d say that buying Hilton points only makes sense for one of the following purposes:
Hilton Honors doesn’t publish an award chart, but most of their top-tier properties go for at most 120,000 points per night for a standard room – with the exception of the Waldorf Astoria hotels in the Maldives or Los Cabos, which can go for up to 150,000 points per night.
Compared to the cash rates of $2,000+ (USD) per night (plus taxes) at these properties, redeeming points is obviously a great deal.
At places like this, you’d also likely want to squeeze maximum value out of your points by taking advantage of the Fifth Night Free benefit, which would bring the effective price down to 96,000 points per night for most of Hilton’s top hotels (or 120,000 points per night at the top-tier Waldorf Astorias).
And if you were to buy these points under the current 100% bonus promotion, that’d be equivalent to paying $480 (USD) per night at the Conrads (or $600 (USD) per night at the Waldorf), which is akin to getting 80% off the retail price.
The trickiest part may lie in finding the hotly contested standard room availability at these resorts, especially if you’re looking to take advantage of the Fifth Night Free benefit.
If a standard room isn’t available, then the Hilton Honors website will give you the option of redeeming a ridiculously high number of points for a premium room or suite, and those are usually never a great deal.
You’ll be hard-pressed to find even a single night at the Waldorf Astoria Maldives, let alone a block of five consecutive nights, with standard room availability over the coming year.
If you’re looking to use the Fifth Night Free benefit, your best bet is to keep a close eye on room availability at the very end of the schedule and aim to snag as many nights as possible at the base rate immediately when space opens up.
Meanwhile, it’s much easier to find a block of five consecutive nights at the standard rate of 120,000 points at the Conrad Maldives Rangali Island, in comparison.
If you’re buying points with the aim of staying at one of these aspirational hotels, I’d recommend first locating the available standard rooms on your desired dates, and then quickly completing the transaction and securing the rooms at the highly discounted rate.
Quickly Top Up for an Upcoming Redemption
If you’ve identified a good opportunity to redeem your Hilton Honors points for greater than our target valuation of 0.7 cents (CAD) / 0.5 cents (USD) per point, but are still missing some of the points required to complete the booking, then buying points with a 100% bonus to top up your account could be the most straightforward solution.
(This applies to the above-mentioned luxury properties as well. Many Canadians who’ve gotten one or two of the Amex US Hilton Honors cards will have points balances in the range of 200,000+ Hilton Honors points. Buying points to top up to the 300,000- or 400,000-point range will allow you to secure that memorable getaway at a high-end resort much faster than waiting a month or two to earn yet another credit card signup bonus.)
While Hilton’s luxury properties probably offer the most stellar value, there are occasionally pockets of value in redeeming points for lower-end hotels or nice hotels in less popular destinations as well, although they don’t appear all too often.
You’ve Exhausted All the Amex US Hilton Honors Signup Bonuses
After you’ve exhausted those opportunities (including any upgrade offers that might come around on the lower-end Hilton cards), then purchasing points outright from the program during one of these 100% bonus events will probably be the best way to rack up Hilton points quickly.
Looking at the rough numbers, the signup bonuses on the Amex US Hilton cards alone should be enough to get you one or two amazing getaways at one of the top-tier properties within the chain.
After that, if you’d still like to try out more Hilton, Conrad, and Waldorf properties at a fraction of the price, then buying points strategically will likely be your best bet.
If you’ve run out of other ways to get Hilton points, these promotional sales are the easiest way to reach your aspirations for more stays at high-end resorts.
If you aren’t in a rush to acquire Hilton Honors points but would like to build them up slowly towards a big redemption in the future, you’ll want to consider getting the Amex US Hilton credit cards for their attractive signup bonuses (and in the case of the Aspire Card, the incredibly lucrative benefits as well).
The Hilton Honors Card offers 80,000 Hilton Honors points upon spending $2,000 (USD) in the first six months.
This is a very attractive option for your first Amex US card, since it’s a no-fee card that you can keep forever to build your US credit history.
The Hilton Honors Surpass Card offers 130,000 Hilton Honors points upon spending $3,000 (USD) in the first six months.
If you prefer to keep up-front fees down, this card is a good choice, with a better cost-to-points ratio than the Aspire Card.
The Hilton Honors Aspire Card offers 150,000 Hilton Honors points upon spending $6,000 (USD) in the first six months.
The $600 (USD) in total credits on this card help to offset the $550 (USD) annual fee; on top of that, you also get an annual Free Night Reward and instant Hilton Diamond status, so this is very much an excellent card to apply for and keep forever.
The Hilton Honors Business Card offers 130,000 Hilton Honors pointsupon spending $6,000 (USD) in the first six months.
As a business credit card, this card doesn’t count against the Chase “5/24 Rule” as you plan your long-term US credit card strategy.
Besides credit card bonuses, another meaningful way to rack up Hilton Honors points is by maximizing promotions on paid stays, which are often more generous than the promotions put on by other hotel chains.
Overall, I think it’s wise to gear your Hilton strategy towards larger aspirational redemptions with a long-term outlook, such as a fancy Conrad or Waldorf Astoria resort stay, where the value is much more apparent compared to the cash price.
In pursuit of this goal, I’m happy to accumulate Hilton points gradually, via a mix of the Amex US signup bonuses, maximizing promotions on paid stays, and capitalizing on these bonus events on points purchases if I need to top up my account when the time comes to book.
As you decide whether this promotion is a good opportunity for you to meet your travel goals, here’s a look back at Hilton’s past bonuses on purchasing points:
Conclusion
Hilton Honors’s latest 100% bonus on buying points will last until March 14, 2025. Make sure to take advantage before then if you’d like to get closer to a hugely discounted stay at one of Hilton’s top properties, or if you need an instant top-up for an upcoming points redemption.
Meanwhile, if a high-end Hilton redemption is a more distant goal for you, then you can focus on the Amex US Hilton credit card bonuses to rack up the points without having to buy them.
Fortunately, these bonus events usually come around a few times every year, in case you have a need to buy points in the future.
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
There are over 34 million small businesses in the U.S., but according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 20% fail within their first year. That begs the question — what makes the difference between a successful business and one that doesn’t last?
There are many different answers to this question, but one factor that can’t be overlooked is the mindset of the business owner. Your mindset shapes how you handle problems, act on opportunities and the kind of company culture you build. Let’s look at the five mindsets all entrepreneurs need for a successful 2025.
Self-belief is a prerequisite to success because starting and running a business is full of uncertainty. You have to believe in your ability to face challenges and accomplish your goals. Your self-belief can inspire your team and help them become more willing to take risks and face challenges head-on. And investors will be more willing to take a chance on a founder who’s confident about their vision.
One way to cultivate self-belief is by focusing on your strengths instead of your weaknesses. Many people try to manage their weaknesses, but according to Gallup, you can’t create a strength by investing in a weakness. Identify your areas of expertise and focus on leveraging those strengths in your work. You can hire people to do the work that you’re not suited for, which will help you build a well-rounded team.
2. Build resilience
Resilience is what allows you to recover from setbacks and continue moving forward in the face of adversity. It also allows you to find ways to adapt and pivot when what you’re doing isn’t working. Resilience isn’t a trait that you have or don’t have — it’s a skill that can be developed over time.
You can build resilience by developing a growth mindset and viewing challenges as opportunities to grow. When you find yourself in a difficult situation, take some time to consider what you can and can’t control. From there, put your energy into the things you can control and let go of the rest.
It’s also important to build a strong support system of peers and mentors who can encourage you through the hard seasons. You can meet these individuals at networking events, by participating in online communities or by joining a mastermind.
The right goals will provide direction and purpose for your business. Without a goal, it’s impossible to know what you’re striving for and what success even looks like for your company. However, many people make the mistake of setting goals that are too vague or that don’t align with their mission.
Focus on setting SMART goals — goals that are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound. Create a timeline for when you hope to achieve your goals and track your progress to make sure you’re staying on track. That way, you can adjust your strategy if you notice your progress has stalled.
It’s also a good idea to set a combination of short-term and long-term goals. Involving your team in this process will help them become more invested in the company and provide you with accountability.
4. Focus on solving problems
Problem-solving is a process of identifying issues that could hurt your business and finding ways to mitigate or eliminate them entirely. To a certain extent, everyone understands how to problem solve, but it’s a skill you can get better at over time.
Problem-solving also enables you to think creatively and set up your business in a way that’s different from your competitors. It improves your decision-making and allows you to quickly adapt to changing market conditions.
To become a better problem solver, you need to find a process that allows you to evaluate your situation, brainstorm possible solutions, execute your new plan and measure the results. You also need to develop a mindset where you embrace problems as opportunities to grow.
5. Stay customer-focused
Without your customers, your business would cease to exist, which is why it’s so important to build a business that’s always trying to improve the customer experience. By building a customer-focused company, you’ll improve your bottom line and stand out from your competitors.
In order to do this, you have to start regularly asking for feedback from your customers. Fortunately, businesses have more ways to reach their customers than ever before. You can email your customers surveys, request customer reviews, conduct customer interviews and monitor social media feedback.
You can also build a customer-focused business by taking care of your employees. Richard Branson has been quoted saying, “If you take care of your employees, they will take care of the clients.” When you invest in your employees, you’re empowering them to deliver better results for your customers.
Setting your business up for success in 2025 requires the right mindset. The five mindsets outlined in this article will enable you to navigate uncertainty, take advantage of opportunities and build stronger relationships with your customers. It will also help you create a long-term vision for your business and continue to grow as a leader.
