Archive August 4, 2025

Katy Perry halts gig and asks audience to ‘pray’ after young fan’s collapse on stage

A concerned Katy Perry attended to the young fan when she collapsed moments after being picked out of the crowd to meet her idol on stage

Katy Perry performing on stage during her Lifetimes world tour that will come to the UK in October(Image: Getty Images)

Katy Perry halted a concert over the weekend after a young fan collapsed during one of her performances on her Lifetimes Tour. It happened during the singer’s nightly ritual of inviting fans up on stage.

She was about to sing The One That Got Away when the girl, reportedly named McKenna, appeared overcome with emotion after being chosen as one of the lucky few to get to meet their idol.

But moments after stepping onto the stage, the girl is said to have fainted and was immediately attended to by a concerned Katy, her crew and medical staff at the Little Caesars Arena in Detroit.

READ MORE: Orlando Bloom takes swipe at ex Katy Perry over new Justin Trudeau romanceREAD MORE: Orlando Bloom fans baffled by sweet family snaps with Katy Perry – just days after split

Katy asked the audience to 'pray' for the young fan, who she later reported was 'doing great' backstage
Katy asked the audience to ‘pray’ for the young fan, who she later reported was ‘doing great’ backstage(Image: Getty Images)

Billboard reported around 13,000 fans chanted McKenna’s name as she was taken away to seek medical attention. Katy then pulled three other young fans into a group hug and led a prayer, saying: ‘Dear God, we pray for McKenna, that she will come back fully and brighter and better than ever. Amen.’

Revealing she knows how it feels to feel overcome on stage herself, the 40-year-old Firework hitmaker turned to the audience and said: “It’s so much. Sometimes you’re so brave and you can get on stage, and it’s overwhelming. I understand that feeling”.

She went on to sing the track for the rest of her fans and while performing on a giant butterfly – which she almost fell from earlier on in her tour. Receiving news from backstage that the young girl was okay, Katy told the audience: “McKenna’s doing great by the way.”

Katy is set to play more tour dates in the US and Canada, before heading over to the UK in October to perform gigs in Belfast, Glasgow, Manchester, Sheffield, Birmingham and London.

She was already on her world tour when it was announced that she and partner Orlando Bloom had split after nine years. The pair were engaged and share a daughter, Daisy Dove, who turns five later this month.

After weeks of speculation, a joint statement from the former couple said: “Orlando and Katy have been shifting their relationship over the past many months to focus on co-parenting. They will continue to be seen together as a family, as their shared priority is – and always will be – raising their daughter with love, stability and mutual respect”.

According to US Weekly, a source close to the pair said the split was amicable but “a long time coming”. The source told the publication: “Katy and Orlando have split, but are amicable. It’s not contentious at the moment. Katy is of course upset but is relieved to not have to go through another divorce, as that was the worst time in her life.”

Since the split, Pirates of the Caribbean star Orlando, 48, has been spotted flying solo at Jeff Bezos’ wedding to Lauren Sanchez in Italy last month and linked to female celebs, including newly single Sydney Sweeney.

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While Katy reportedly enjoyed a ‘dinner date’ with former Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau recently. It comes after the 53-year-old ex-politician split with his wife Sophie back in 2023.

In response to the latest speculation, a fan posted an AI image of Orlando having dinner with another world leader – former German politician Angela Merkel. The caption quipped that the pair were “sipping wine and slurping oysters”. The fan also joked that he “couldn’t keep his hands off” the politician. Seeing the funny side, Orlando posted three hand clap emojis in response in the comments section.

READ MORE: ‘I lost 4 stone in a year but still eat takeaways by changing just two things’

‘We’re suffering’: People in Sudan’s el-Fasher eat animal fodder to survive

People&nbsp, in Sudan’s North Darfur region are forced to eat animal fodder to survive as the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) continues to lay siege to el-Fasher – the last urban centre in the region under army control.

“We are suffering, world. We need humanitarian aid – food and medicine – whether by airdrop or by opening ground routes. We cannot survive in this condition”, Othman Angaro, from a displacement camp in el-Fasher, told Al Jazeera.

Angaro described how he and his family&nbsp, rely on livestock fodder known as ambaz, a type of animal feed made out of peanut shells.

Another woman, veterinarian Zulfa Al-Nour, told Al Jazeera that her family relies daily on a charity kitchen called “Matbakh Al-Khair” for a single meal, amid a total lack of external aid.

She called for urgent international intervention, including airdrops of humanitarian supplies, warning that even the ambaz fodder is nearly depleted.

The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) last week warned about starvation in the el-Fasher region. Starvation has reached the most severe level on the United Nations-backed food security scale – ‘ IPC Phase 5’, indicating full-blown famine – it said on Friday.

The two-month siege of el-Fasher has complicated aid efforts.

The RSF has blocked food supplies, and aid convoys trying to reach the city have been attacked, locals said. Prices for the goods smuggled into the region cost more than five times the national average.

Outbreak of cholera

An outbreak of cholera in the North Darfur state, of which el-Fasher is the capital, has further added to the misery.

Deaths due to the water-borne disease have risen to 191 in the region, which has witnessed months of fighting between Sudan’s army and the RSF, according to a government official.

At least 62 people have died from the disease in Tawila in the North Darfur state, &nbsp, the spokesman for the General Coordination for Displaced Persons and Refugees in Darfur, Adam Rijal, said in a statement on Monday.

Nearly 100 people have also died in the Kalma and the Otash camps, Rijal added, both displacement camps located in the city of Nyala in South Darfur state.

Some 4, 000 cases of cholera have been reported in the region, according to the statement.

In recent months, more than half a million people have taken shelter in Tawila, some 60km (37 miles) west of el-Fasher, the state capital, which has been under two months of siege by the RSF rebels. Most of the Darfur region is under the rebel control except for el-Fasher.

‘ Too weak to survive ‘

Meanwhile, with Sudan in the throes of the rainy season, along with poor living conditions and inadequate sanitation, the outbreak of cholera is only worsening, warn aid groups.

Cholera was first identified in early June in Tawila and has since spread to numerous refugee camps, according to NGO Avaaz.

Nearly 40 people have died due to cholera in the Jebel Marra area, a district of West Darfur state.

Doctors Without Borders, or MSF, is operating two cholera treatment facilities in Tawila housing 146 beds – coordinating nearly the entire medical response to the outbreak.

Last month, it warned that “much more” needs to be done to improve “access to water, hygiene, and medical care to curb the spread of the outbreak in the midst of the rainy season”.

Samir, a former teacher displaced to el-Fasher with his family, told Avaaz last week that the situation was “catastrophic” and that the cholera outbreak was being exacerbated by widespread hunger.

“People are dying because they are too weak to survive”, he told the NGO.

“Their immune systems are compromised from severe malnutrition. People are starving in the displacement camps”.

Translation: “The city of el-Fasher in North Darfur state, western Sudan, is experiencing a deadly famine due to the siege imposed on it by the Rapid Support Forces backed by the Emirates. The famine has reached the fifth stage, meaning a full-scale famine and a catastrophic situation. Speak about them”.

Meanwhile, fighting continues.

“The RSF’s artillery and drones are shelling el-Fasher morning and night”, one resident told the Reuters news agency.

“The number of people dying has increased every day, and the cemeteries are expanding”, he said.

On Monday, Emergency Lawyers, a human rights group, said at least 14 people fleeing el-Fasher were killed and dozens were injured when they were attacked in a village along the route.

The UN called for a humanitarian pause to fighting in el-Fasher last month as the rainy season began, but the RSF rejected the call.

Fighting between the two groups first erupted in the capital Khartoum in April 2023. It has since spread to several regions of the country as the army chief and de facto head of state, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, jostles for power with RSF chief Mohamed Hamdan “Hemedti” Dagalo.

Tesco is offering this compact 4-in-1 airfryer worth £70 for £28 for university shoppers

This August is the time to get your household equipment sorted before your university move-in date arrives, and right now you can add a 4-in-1 airfryer to your new kitchen for over £40 less

Tesco is offering this 4-in-1 airfryer worth £70 for £28 for university shoppers(Image: Tesco)

With the start of term fast approaching, the tail end of summer is the time for university students, new and returning, to get into gear and start buying all of the equipment they’ll need for the coming academic year. Whether you’re starting off in halls or heading to your new shared accommodation, there are plenty of gadgets you may want to grab to make solo living that bit easier – and an air fryer is definitely a top contender on plenty of wishlists.

But if you’re worried an air fryer would break your budget or take up too much space in a shared kitchen, you’re in luck. This compact 4-in-1 airfryer is sure to be your new best friend for quick meals and lower energy bills, without costing a fortune or filling the whole counter.

READ MORE: Ryanair-approved cabin case to rival Antler gets slashed by 30% in summer sale

READ MORE: Shoppers can save £320 as rare deal slashes £400 Apple Watch to under £80

Power XL Vortex Air Fryer 2.8L
Tesco has axed this Power XL Vortex Air Fryer to £27.99 down from £69.99 (Image: Tesco)

Available for £79.99 at Currys and £30.99 on Amazon, this Power XL Vortex Air Fryer is currently available for the heavily reduced price of £27.99 at Tesco and B&amp, Q. However, it’s worth noting that there’s no telling how long this deal will last, so you may want to hurry to secure yours before it returns to full price.

Promising a healthier alternative to deep frying, this air fryer lets you whip up your favourite snacks and meals with little to no oil. This ensures your food is healthier while also delivering convenience, as food cooks faster than in your conventional oven. Plus, it’s a more energy-efficient way to cook the fried foods you love, helping to keep bills down.

Quicker, easier to use, and cheaper to run than conventional cooking appliances, this air fryer is a must-have for every kitchen. Touted as a 4-in-1 digital air fryer, this 2.8L cooker allows for four different cooking methods: Air Fry, Bake, Dehydrate and Reheat, all in one appliance, providing plenty of possibilities when it comes to meal prepping.

Boasting a cooking time that’s 70% faster than conventional cooking methods, without the hassle and expense of using the oven, this air fryer can go up to 204°C/400°F and utilises super-heated cyclonic air to fry food. It creates a non-greasy, golden brown, crispy coating and locks flavour and moisture inside without the need for extra oil.

With a power input of just 1, 350W, this Power XL Vortex Air Fryer uses 35% less energy than the average oven (2, 100W). And because it cooks up to 70% faster, you’ll save even more energy by running it for less time.

Article continues below

More than just its affordable price tag, this gem also boasts a large enough capacity to suit single users, couples, or small groups. It is a great addition to a shared kitchen, ensuring you get the most out of the appliance, which makes it great value for money.

Tesco is offering this compact 4-in-1 airfryer worth £70 for £28 for university shoppers

This August is the time to get your household equipment sorted before your university move-in date arrives, and right now you can add a 4-in-1 airfryer to your new kitchen for over £40 less

Tesco is offering this 4-in-1 airfryer worth £70 for £28 for university shoppers(Image: Tesco)

With the start of term fast approaching, the tail end of summer is the time for university students, new and returning, to get into gear and start buying all of the equipment they’ll need for the coming academic year. Whether you’re starting off in halls or heading to your new shared accommodation, there are plenty of gadgets you may want to grab to make solo living that bit easier – and an air fryer is definitely a top contender on plenty of wishlists.

But if you’re worried an air fryer would break your budget or take up too much space in a shared kitchen, you’re in luck. This compact 4-in-1 airfryer is sure to be your new best friend for quick meals and lower energy bills, without costing a fortune or filling the whole counter.

READ MORE: Ryanair-approved cabin case to rival Antler gets slashed by 30% in summer sale

READ MORE: Shoppers can save £320 as rare deal slashes £400 Apple Watch to under £80

Power XL Vortex Air Fryer 2.8L
Tesco has axed this Power XL Vortex Air Fryer to £27.99 down from £69.99 (Image: Tesco)

Available for £79.99 at Currys and £30.99 on Amazon, this Power XL Vortex Air Fryer is currently available for the heavily reduced price of £27.99 at Tesco and B&amp, Q. However, it’s worth noting that there’s no telling how long this deal will last, so you may want to hurry to secure yours before it returns to full price.

Promising a healthier alternative to deep frying, this air fryer lets you whip up your favourite snacks and meals with little to no oil. This ensures your food is healthier while also delivering convenience, as food cooks faster than in your conventional oven. Plus, it’s a more energy-efficient way to cook the fried foods you love, helping to keep bills down.

Quicker, easier to use, and cheaper to run than conventional cooking appliances, this air fryer is a must-have for every kitchen. Touted as a 4-in-1 digital air fryer, this 2.8L cooker allows for four different cooking methods: Air Fry, Bake, Dehydrate and Reheat, all in one appliance, providing plenty of possibilities when it comes to meal prepping.

Boasting a cooking time that’s 70% faster than conventional cooking methods, without the hassle and expense of using the oven, this air fryer can go up to 204°C/400°F and utilises super-heated cyclonic air to fry food. It creates a non-greasy, golden brown, crispy coating and locks flavour and moisture inside without the need for extra oil.

With a power input of just 1, 350W, this Power XL Vortex Air Fryer uses 35% less energy than the average oven (2, 100W). And because it cooks up to 70% faster, you’ll save even more energy by running it for less time.

Article continues below

More than just its affordable price tag, this gem also boasts a large enough capacity to suit single users, couples, or small groups. It is a great addition to a shared kitchen, ensuring you get the most out of the appliance, which makes it great value for money.

FG To Move Five Million Homes To Clean Cooking By 2030 — Minister

The Federal Government has stated that it is pursuing a reaffirmed goal of cleaning up about 5 million homes by 2030.

At the opening ceremony of the 48th Nigeria Annual International Conference & Exhibition (NAICE) 2025 on Monday, the Minister for State, Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, delivered the ministerial address and remarks.

Building a Sustainable Energy Future: Leveraging Technology, Supply Chain, Human Resources, and Policy is the theme of this year’s conference.

He argued that the achievement of the target only can be achieved by more money being invested in gas infrastructure for crucial projects like the OB3 and AKK pipelines, moving forward with national gas deliveries, and supporting modular and scalable gas projects, such as mini-LNG and CNG stations.

Read more: According to Ojulari, Africa Needs Bankable Energy Projects.

Through strategic public-private partnerships in the gas value chain’s logistics, retail, and logistics segments, the government is also making strides to improve last-mile access, promote local economic activity, and create jobs.

“His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, has put gas at the center of Nigeria’s energy strategy. His vision, which is best expressed in the phrase “From Gas to Prosperity,” is a reflection of our shared national desire to use our abundant natural gas resources to boost industrialization, create jobs, and expand access to clean, affordable energy for all Nigerians.

We have made significant progress in keeping with this vision over the past year. We have given gas availability priority to manufacturing hubs, power plants, and industrial corridors as we have expanded our gas supply for industrial use. I’ve been assured that every gas offtaker currently has the gas they need for their industrial processes, distributed cylinders across the six geopolitical zones, gave empowerment to women and youth, and promoted clean cooking.

We are also making significant advancements in the midstream and downstream sectors as part of the Decade of Gas Initiative.

Notably, we have supported the construction of virtual pipelines and gas processing facilities, ensuring gas reaches off-grid and underserved communities, supporting private sector investments in LPG and CNG infrastructure, including autogas stations, domestic cylinder manufacturing, and distribution networks, and improved coordination through the Decade of Gas Secretariat, promoting alignment and accountability across Ministries, Departments, and agencies, and advancing the Nigerian Gas Flare Commercialization Programme (NGFCP), which advances environmental goals, secured presidential approvals to

He added that the Midstream Downstream Gas Infrastructure Fund (MDGIF) provides much-needed financial support to project promoters.

All of these efforts are based on a single, unwavering conviction: Nigerians must use gas as a means of inclusive growth, national development, and energy security, not just as an export commodity.

The Minister noted that each of the four pillars, which are identified as the focus of the conference theme, has a significant impact on Nigeria’s energy future.

He argued that the use of automated tools, digital solutions, and data-driven tools throughout the gas value chain is essential.

Emerging technologies can increase efficiency, lower emissions, and improve delivery, from reservoir monitoring to distribution analytics. He stated that the Ministry works with industry players to promote digital innovation.

He argued that maintaining the gas industry requires a strong local supply chain.

We are promoting localization of equipment manufacturing, pipe production, and other crucial components in an effort to reduce import dependence and strengthen national resilience through the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB).

Our greatest asset is still our human resource. Through continuous training, strategic academic-industry partnerships, and deliberate youth and gender inclusion policies in the gas industry, we are committed to creating a technically sound, diverse, and future-ready workforce.

A solid regulatory and fiscal foundation has been provided by the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA). He noted that we are putting in place market-reflective gas pricing policies, encouraging deepwater gas development, and enforcing domestic supply obligations to boost investor confidence and sector growth, “so on the whole.”

According to Lopkobiri, collaboration is the key to achieving a sustainable energy future for Nigeria.

‘Excellent prospect’ Ngumoha stars for Liverpool – but who is he?

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Liverpool’s second youngest ever player Rio Ngumoha shone again in pre-season to get fans wondering if he could be part of the first team this year.

The England Under-17 forward, who turns 17 later this month, scored and assisted in their Anfield return against Athletic Bilbao.

The Reds were playing the Basque side in two pre-season friendlies – at 17: 00 and 20: 00 BST.

It was a mostly second string XI that started the first game, with Ngumoha on the left wing – and he caught the eye as he has done all summer.

He scored in just the second minute as he ran onto a loose ball in his own half before racing forward and curling a fine effort in from 20 yards out.

Just three minutes later he nodded a Ben Doak cross down for Darwin Nunez to convert from close range.

Liverpool fans were singing his name as Curtis Jones urged them to show their appreciation.

And he caused the La Liga side all kinds of problems with his dribbling and trickery in the 4-1 win.

Doak and Harvey Elliott scored the other goals.

The 16-year-old left to a standing ovation midway through the second half.

“He is such an excellent prospect”, said ex-Reds defender Gary Gillespie on LFC TV.

“The difficult is managing expectations but it’s hard to put a lid on it”.

Ngumoha’s performance came on the back of an assist against AC Milan and goal against Yokohama F. Marinos in Asian friendlies.

He looks a fine talent, if raw, and will be hoping more first-team competitive games are on the way.

In January, Ngumoha became the youngest player to start a match, and the second youngest to play, for Liverpool – aged 16 years and 135 days old – in the 4-0 win over Accrington in the FA Cup.

But that was his only first-team appearance and he never made the bench for a Premier League game.

That could well change this season, especially with so many changes in the Liverpool front line.

The sad death of centre forward Diogo Jota in a car crash has been the main focus of Liverpool’s pre-season. There were tributes to him before and during the game at Anfield.

Winger Luis Diaz was sold to Bayern Munich and Nunez is a target for Saudi Pro League clubs.

An exit for Nunez would mean the Reds ‘ only really strong frontline options would be Mohamed Salah, new signing Hugo Ekitike and Cody Gakpo – giving a chance for somebody like Ngumoha to break through.

That is unless they managed to sign Newcastle striker Alexander Isak. An initial bid of £110m has been rejected.

“I’m not trying to rush because I’m still only young”, said Ngumoha last week.

“But at the same time, I just want to show the manager what I can do and not get too complacent. I just want to do bigger and better things for me and the club”.

Ngumoha is not actually a Liverpool academy product, having only joined Liverpool from Chelsea’s youth set-up last summer.

At the time Blues legend John Terry wrote “this boy is and will be a top player”.

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