Archive October 3, 2025

Taylor Swift looks wildly different on The Graham Norton show as she shows off engagement ring

By in Entertainment News, News

Taylor Swift will reveal more details about fiancé Travis Kelce’s romantic proposal when she appears on tonight’s Graham Norton Show

Taylor Swift is set to appear on The Graham Norton Show later tonight – and will dish on fiancé Travis Kelce’s romantic proposal as she flashes her huge engagement ring.

The 35-year-old is on the BBC chat show to promote her new album The Life of a Showgirl, which is out today. But as well as talking about her new music – which heavily references her love for her husband-to-be – the Shake It off singer gave fans further details of how the American football star popped the question.

She shared: “He really crushed it in surprising me. While we were talking on his podcast, he had a complete garden built out the back of his house to propose in. He went all out – 10 out of 10.”

Asked when the wedding is happening, she said: “You’ll know,” adding: “I want to do the album stuff first, and the wedding is what happens after in terms of planning. I think it will be fun to plan.”

READ MORE: Taylor Swift’s most X-rated song yet – dedicated to Travis’ ‘manhood’

Showing off a different look to when she last appeared on Graham’s show in 2024 and 2019, Taylor also spoke of how exhausted she got on her last tour – and how making new music got her through.

Taylor’s style is vastly different to her last Graham Norton Show appearance, with her blonde locks looking much darker and styled into a sleek, long down hairstyle. While she sported a sophisticated black halter-neck dress, in contrast to her bright pink number previously sported on the chat show. However, one thing that remained a staple is her blushing red lipstick.

She said: “Last year on the tour I was physically exhausted – sick and worn down – so to spark me up I had the album as a secret passion project behind the scenes. It stopped me hitting a wall.”

Asked if all the songs are inspired by her life, which she is known for, Taylor revealed: “I am open about things, but in recent years I have a different perspective and like storytelling at a little bit of a distance, so it isn’t like doing a complete autopsy of myself.”

Taylor, who bought back the rights to her first six albums earlier this year after a long-running battle over the ownership of her music, also spoke of how owning her whole back catalogue was a “lifelong dream come true”.

The star, who is said to be the world’s richest female musician with a fortune of £1.1 billion, said: “I was able to buy my entire back catalogue. I don’t respond to stuff generally, but not owning it really p***ed me off.

“I didn’t think I should be given it – I was happy to pay and at a premium. I am glad I spoke publicly about it and my fans got behind it and championed it. I couldn’t believe it happened. Travis and I were in tears when it did. Every time it is mentioned, I get a wave of euphoria still.”

And as well as getting married, it seems Taylor and Travis are planning babies, too. Dropping her biggest hint yet that she wants to start a family, she sings in new song Wi$h List: “I just want you. Have a couple kids, got the whole block looking like you. We tell the world to leave us the f*** alone, and they do.” In a further nod to NFL star Travis, also 35, the song continues: “Got me dreaming about a driveway with a basketball hoop. Boss up, settle down, got a wish list (Wish list). I just want you.”

*Watch The Graham Norton Show on BBC One or iPlayer on Friday, October 3 at 10.40pm

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How 13-year-old Haikal survived Indonesia’s deadly boarding school collapse

By in News, World News

Sidoarjo, East Java – Dewi Ajeng was at home in Probolinggo – a city in Indonesia’s East Java – when she received a chilling message in the group chat of her son’s school in Sidoarjo, located some two hours away.

There had been “an incident”.

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The Al-Khoziny Islamic Boarding School had collapsed, trapping the young students, all boys, mostly aged between 12 and 18 years old, inside.

Dewi’s 13-year-old son, Selendra Haikal Rakaditya, was among those buried beneath the rubble.

“I just felt a range of mixed emotions. I was sad, frantic, crying. Then my husband messaged me to confirm the news,” she told Al Jazeera.

“I called my friend in Sidoarjo and told her to go to the school and find him, and that I was on my way.”

Dewi arrived at about 5.30pm, about two hours after the school collapsed during afternoon prayers.

Her son, Haikal, had not been found.

The names of children who were rescued and taken to different hospitals in the Sidoarjo area were pinned to large notice boards set up by search and rescue teams.

Medical teams collected DNA from relatives to help in the identification of victims of the school collapse [Aisyah Llewellyn/Al Jazeera]

“There were six ‘Haikals’ on the lists and I went to every hospital trying to find out if my son was there,” Dewi said.

“Then someone sent me a video from the scene and I could hear a voice shouting, ‘Mama, mama, mama,’ and I thought, ‘Thank God, that’s him, he’s calling for me’,” she said.

“From then on, I focused on the scene of the collapse. I just knew he was in there, and I told the search and rescue teams that he needed to be rescued.”

But a rescue would not be easy.

Young Haikal was trapped inside an air pocket under the fallen debris with five other pupils. He was the second closest to a jagged escape route through gaps in the rubble. But the way out was blocked by the body of one of Haikal’s friends, who died due to the force of the building collapse.

There was no way for Haikal to crawl out, or for the rescuers to squeeze in and reach him.

‘I was crying, screaming. I just kept praying’

The difficult rescue effort took three days – a terrifying time for Dewi as members of the search and rescue teams fought to reach her son. A brief moment of hope arrived when they were able to create a shaft through which they passed bread and water to the trapped students.

Almost exactly 72 hours after the boarding school collapsed, Haikal was brought out of the debris by rescuers and placed on a stretcher. Dewi told Al Jazeera that rescuers advised her not to look at her son, and instead go straight to the local hospital to see him.

“When I got there, I don’t even remember what happened, I was crying, screaming. I just kept praying. When I finally saw him, I just thanked God. He had withstood everything for 72 hours. He had made it,” she said.

Slowly, Dewi said, her son told her what had happened.

He had almost finished afternoon prayers on the second floor of the boarding school on Monday when chunks of the ceiling started to fall on the boys.

“Then he heard a cracking sound and the building caved in completely. He said he felt like he was being pulled in all different directions,” Dewi said.

What no one knew at the time, but which the authorities confirmed later, was that construction workers had been pouring concrete on an upper floor of the boarding school, the weight of which had caused the building to collapse.

112: Relatives of the students trapped in the school have been camping at the site for the past four days. Photo credit: Aisyah Llewellyn
Relatives of students trapped in the school have camped at the site since Monday [Aisyah Llewellyn/Al Jazeera]

Haikal told how hundreds of students ran in all directions. About 100 had made it out of the building, some with significant head injuries and broken bones. Five students died, and at least 60 were unaccounted for – including Haikal and his friends.

“I asked if he screamed when he found himself trapped in the darkness of the rubble, and he said that he didn’t,” Dewi said.

“He remembered his science classes at the school and how he had been taught to conserve his energy in an emergency situation, so he tried to stay calm and not panic. He couldn’t breathe at first, and he didn’t want to tire himself out. Only later did he call for me,” she said.

Haikal and his trapped friends talked to each other as they waited for help to arrive. Some fell asleep amid the dust, shattered concrete and twisted metal that had once been their classrooms.

Haikal’s leg was trapped by a falling piece of the roof, but he still prayed, sitting up at every prayer time and encouraging his friends to do the same, his mother said.

“It was extraordinary what they endured,” she said.

416: Dewi Ajeng stands in front of the intensive care unit at Sidoarjo Hospital where her son Haikal is receiving treatment.
Dewi Ajeng stands in front of the intensive care unit at Sidoarjo Hospital, where her son Haikal is receiving treatment [Al Jazeera]

Dewi credits her son’s ability to survive the disaster to his resourceful personality, telling how she had discouraged him from using a mobile phone or other digital gadgets and that he was always outside playing, and enjoyed searching for animals and insects in their garden.

“He’s a very creative child,” she said.

For now, Dewi is focused on Haikal’s physical and emotional wellbeing, after the trauma endured over three claustrophobic days and two dark nights trapped beneath the collapsed school.

He is still in intensive care, and doctors are working on restoring blood flow to his leg, which was affected by the cement slab falling on him.

When he is well again, Dewi said they will find a new school for her son to attend.

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs sentencing: What to know from likely sentence to grovelling letter

By in Entertainment News, News

After being found guilty of two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution earlier this year, Sean “P Diddy” Combs is scheduled to be sentenced today in New York.

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs is set to be sentenced today by a federal judge in New York following his conviction earlier this year on prostitution-related charges. The disgraced music producer was convicted following a trial earlier this year.

Before the judge hears his arguments, here are everything you might need to know about the prosecution’s most recent hearings, as well as information on whether he’ll be sentenced for how long.

What crimes did he commit?

In July, following a two month trial, a jury found Combs to be not guilty of of the most serious charge, racketeering conspiracy and the sex trafficking of Casandra ‘Cassie’ Ventura and ‘Jane’, an unnamed woman.

Combs was found guilty of transporting people to “Janes” and Ventura for prostitution. After 13 hours of discussion, the jury delivered the verdict. Combs was seen praying in front of his chair as the verdict was overturned. Then he clapped and turned to the gallery.

Later, the judge denied Combs’ requests for bail while awaiting sentencing and claimed he showed “disregard for the rule of law and a propensity for violence.” He has been incarcerated since September 2024 as a result. Additionally, a motion to overturn the convictions was rejected by the judge.

What time will the sentence be given?

The sentencing will take place in New York at 10:00 Eastern Time, or 15:00 UK time.

How long could he serve?

He has been found guilty of two counts, each of which carry a maximum sentence of ten years. If the judge chooses to use the maximum penalty and insists that Combs be served consecutively rather than concurrently, Combs can spend up to 20 years in prison.

Combs’ attorneys requested a sentence of no more than 14 months, including the 13-month sentence he has already served. The rapper would be released before the year’s end. He was “adequately punished,” according to the attorneys, who spent 13 months in dreadful conditions.

However, federal prosecutors requested a fine of at least $135,000. That would include an additional 11 years and 3 months. They claimed that Combs’ “unrepentant” past and characteristics “denote years of abuse and violence” were true.

In his letter to the judge, what did he say?

Combs wrote his own letter to the judge just before the sentencing hearing was scheduled to begin. He apologized for “all the pain and hurt” he caused and acknowledged “past wrongs” in it.

He wrote, “First and foremost, I want to apologize and express my sincere regret for all the pain and suffering that my actions have caused others.” I accept full responsibility and accountability for my past transgressions.

Combs continued, stating that Ventura has had to deal with his life’s challenges the “hardest” the past two years. He also acknowledged that he is held accountable for “my current reality and situation entirely by myself.”

Combs also addressed Ventura-associated CCTV footage from 2016 that showed him attacking the camera. Every day, I play over and over in my head the scene and images of me assaulting Cassie.

I figuratively “lost my mind.” I had to put my hands on the woman I loved, and I was totally wrong. I apologize and will always be. I will always be burdened by my domestic violence. The regret, the disappointment, the regret, and the shame.

He also mentioned “Janes,” another of his ex-girlfriends, in his remarks. I initially believed I was helping Jane with her child, but after hearing her testimony, I realized I had hurt her, he wrote. I apologize deeply for this. I had a hard time navigating the excess and the drugs.

He continued, “The old me died in jail and was” working devotedly to “becoming the” best version of himself. He requested mercy from the judge.

I humbly request that you have another chance: a second chance at being a better father, a second chance at raising a better son, a second chance at being a better leader in my community, and a third chance to lead a better life.

What was stated in Cassie Ventura’s impact statement?

Prior to sentencing, the prosecution presented the court with a number of victim impact statements. The defendant’s statement read, “I know that the jury did not seem to understand or believe that I engaged in freak-offs because of the force and coercion that the defendant used against me,” and his sentence should reflect both the reality of the evidence and my lived experience as a victim.

“I’m so afraid that if he walks free, he’ll immediately retaliate against me and others who have been accused of his abuse,” he said. Victims and survivors will never be safe, if there is one thing I can learn from this experience. I hope your decision takes into account the details that the jury was unable to see.

For confidential support, call the 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Freephone Helpline on 0808 2000 247 or visit womensaid.co.uk If you or your family have lost a friend or family member through fatal domestic abuse, AAFDA (Advocacy After Fatal Domestic Abuse) can offer specialist and expert support and advocacy. For more info visit www.aafda.org.uk

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If you’ve been the victim of sexual assault, you can access help and resources via www.rapecrisis.org.uk or calling the national telephone helpline on 0808 802 9999

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs sentencing: What to know from likely sentence to grovelling letter

By in Entertainment News, News

Sean ‘P Diddy’ Combs is set to be sentenced in New York today, after he was convicted of two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution earlier this year

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs is set to be sentenced today by a federal judge in New York following his conviction earlier this year on prostitution-related charges. The disgraced music producer was convicted following a trial earlier this year.

Before he faces the judge, here is everything you might need to know about the final part of his criminal case, from what time the sentencing is happening to how long he might be facing in prison.

What was he found guilty of?

In July, following a two month trial, a jury found Combs to be not guilty of of the most serious charge, racketeering conspiracy and the sex trafficking of Casandra ‘Cassie’ Ventura and ‘Jane’, an unnamed woman.

However, Combs was found guilty of transportation to engage in prostitution relating to Ventura and ‘Jane’. The verdict was delivered after 13 hours of deliberation by the jury. As the verdict came down, Combs was seen kneeling in front of his chair and praying. He then turned to the gallery and clapped.

Later, the judge denied his requests to be released on bail while awaiting sentencing and said Combs demonstrated a “disregard for the rule of law and a propensity for violence”. As such, he has been incarcerated since September 2024. The judge also rejected a motion to overturn the convictions.

When is the sentencing?

The sentencing will happen at 10:00 Eastern Time in New York, which is 15:00 UK time.

How much time could he serve?

The two counts he has been convicted of each carry a maximum sentence of 10 years. The maximum time Combs could be in prison is therefore 20 years, if the judge decides to use the maximum penalty and insisted they be served consecutively rather than concurrently.

Combs’ lawyers have asked for a sentence no longer than 14 months and with the time he has already served, which totals 13 months, to be included. This would see the rapper released before the end of the year. The lawyers said he has been “adequately punished by serving 13 months in the terrible conditions”.

Federal prosecutors, however, have requested at least 135 months, which is 11 years and 3 months, alongside a $500k (£370,000) fine. They said Combs was “unrepentant” and that “his history and characteristics demonstrate years of abuse and violence”.

What did he say in his letter to the judge?

Only hours before the sentencing is supposed to start, Combs sent his own letter to the judge. In it, he admitted to “past wrongs” and apologised for “all of the hurt and pain” he caused.

“First and foremost, I want to apologise and say how sincerely sorry I am for all of the hurt and pain that I have caused others by my conduct,” he wrote. “I take full responsibility and accountability for my past wrongs.”

Combs added that the past two years since Ventura first filed a civil lawsuit against him were the “hardest” of his life. He also admitted that he has “no one to blame for my current reality and situation but myself”.

Combs also addressed CCTV footage from 2016 that showed him attacking Ventura. “The scene and images of me assaulting Cassie play over and over in my head daily.

“I literally lost my mind. I was dead wrong for putting my hands on the woman that I loved. I’m sorry for that and always will be. My domestic violence will always be a heavy burden that I will have to forever carry. The remorse, the sorrow, the regret, the disappointment, the shame.”

He also spoke about ‘Jane’, who was another of his ex girlfriends. “I thought I was providing for Jane concerning her and her child, but after hearing her testimony, I realised that I hurt her,” he wrote. “For this I am deeply sorry. I lost my way … Lost in the drugs and the excess.”

He added that the “old me died in jail” and was “working diligently” to become the “best version” of himself. He asked the judge for mercy.

“Today, I humbly ask you for another chance – another chance to be a better father, another chance to be a better son, another chance to be a better leader in my community, and another chance to live a better life.”

What did Cassie Ventura’s impact statement say?

The prosecution submitted several victim impact statements to the court ahead of sentencing. Ventura’s statement said: “While the jury did not seem to understand or believe that I engaged in freak-offs because of the force and coercion the defendant used against me, I know that is the truth, and his sentence should reflect the reality of the evidence and my lived experience as a victim.

“I am so scared that if he walks free, his first actions will be swift retribution towards me and others who spoke up about his abuse, at trial. If there is one thing I have learned from this experience, it is that victims and survivors will never be safe. I hope that your decision considers the truths at hand that the jury failed to see.”

For confidential support, call the 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Freephone Helpline on 0808 2000 247 or visit womensaid.co.uk If you or your family have lost a friend or family member through fatal domestic abuse, AAFDA (Advocacy After Fatal Domestic Abuse) can offer specialist and expert support and advocacy. For more info visit www.aafda.org.uk

Article continues below

If you’ve been the victim of sexual assault, you can access help and resources via www.rapecrisis.org.uk or calling the national telephone helpline on 0808 802 9999

India, China to resume direct flights after 5 years as relations thaw

By in News, World News

By News Agencies

India and China plan to resume direct flights this month between some of their cities after a five-year suspension as relations between the two countries begin to thaw, Indian authorities have announced.

The closer ties come in the face of the United States President Donald Trump administration’s aggressive trade policies.

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Direct flights between the two countries were suspended during the COVID pandemic in 2020 and did not resume as Beijing and New Delhi engaged in prolonged border tensions.

On Thursday, India’s embassy to China said in a post on social media platform WeChat that flights between designated cities will resume by late October, subject to commercial carriers ‘ decisions.

The resumption is part of the Indian government’s “approach towards gradual normalization of relations between India and China”, the embassy added.

India’s largest carrier IndiGo announced on Thursday that it would resume flights from Kolkata, India, to Guangzhou, China, from October 26.

The resumption comes after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited China for the first time in seven years to attend last month’s meeting of regional security bloc, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.

There, Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed that India and China were development partners, not rivals, and discussed ways to strengthen trade ties amid global tariff uncertainty fuelled by Trump.

The US president raised the tariff rate on Indian imports to a stiff 50 percent last month, citing the nation’s continuing purchases of Russian oil. He also urged the European Union to slap 100 percent tariffs on China and India as part of his efforts to pressure Moscow to end its war in Ukraine.