Taylor Swift broke down in tears after meeting survivors and families of the victims of the Southport stabbing attack, backstage footage from her Eras tour reveals. The star met privately with some of those affected by the attack in July 2024, which took place at a Taylor Swift-themed dance workshop, and claimed the lives of three young girls. Afterwards, she sobbed in her dressing room, as her mother, Andrea, tried to comfort her. “I know it doesn’t seem like it, but I know you helped them,” she said. Swift, who was already in her stage costume, then had to pick…
Author: Oki Bin Oki
Global fashion brand Prada has announced a line of limited-edition footwear inspired by Indian-made Kolhapuri sandals, months after it faced backlash for allegedly appropriating the sandal’s design. The Italian luxury brand will make 2,000 pairs of sandals in India’s Maharashtra and Karnataka states, under a deal with two state-backed entities, Reuters news agency reports. “We’ll mix the original manufacturer’s standard capabilities with our manufacturing techniques”, Lorenzo Bertelli, Prada’s head of Corporate Social Responsibility, said. The collection is set to go on sale in February 2026, online and in 40 Prada stores across the world. A pair of sandals are reportedly…
Have you ever fallen in love with the delicate charm of anemones only to watch their petals fade too soon? These graceful blooms may look fragile, but with the right care, they can remain stunning for days. Their bold centers and soft layers make them a favorite in modern décor and floral gifts. However, keeping them fresh requires attention and patience. When properly cared for, Anemone bouquets can last up to a week or more, maintaining their elegance and vibrant hues. You buy them for a celebration or personal joy, knowing how to handle these blooms ensures they stay picture-perfect…
Launching a crypto exchange in Estonia in 2026 offers a clear regulatory pathway, EU-wide reach under MiCA, and one of the most advanced digital infrastructures in Europe. Estonia remains among the most attractive jurisdictions for building compliant virtual asset platforms thanks to its transparent FIU supervision, efficient licensing procedures, and predictable requirements. Regulatory landscape in 2026 All crypto exchanges in Estonia must operate as VASPs under the fully implemented MiCA framework. The Estonian FIU oversees compliance, focusing on governance quality, AML/CFT controls, capital sufficiency, IT security, and consumer protection. Before beginning the process, businesses should understand the regulators’ expectations, especially…
Austria passed a law banning headscarves in schools for girls under the age of 14. The conservative-led coalition of three centrist parties, the ÖVP, the SPÖ and the Neos, says the law is a “clear commitment to gender equality”, but critics say it will fuel anti-Muslim feeling in the country and could be unconstitutional. The measure will apply to girls in both public and private schools. In 2020, a similar headscarf ban for girls under 10 was struck down by the Constitutional Court, because it specifically targeted Muslims. The terms of the new law mean girls under 14 will be…
Disney agreed to invest $1bn (£740m) in OpenAI as part of a deal which will let people use many of its iconic characters in the chatbot ChatGPT and video-generation tool Sora. It is the first major studio to license parts of its catalogue to the tech giant, in a move which could have major implications for the studio’s future plans. It means fans will be able to generate and share pictures and videos of more than 200 characters from Disney’s franchises, including Pixar, Marvel and Star Wars. The move comes as OpenAI faces mounting questions about how its rapidly advancing…
Ethiopian police have arrested a sixth popular TikTok creator days after five other influencers were detained over allegations of wearing “indecent attire” at a public event in the culturally conservative country. Adonay Berhane, 25, is a lifestyle and motivational creator with close to four million followers, who was named “TikToker of the Year” at the TikTok Creative Award 2025 – the same ceremony now at the centre of the controversy. Police said on Wednesday evening that he was under investigation. The detentions have ignited widespread debate across Ethiopian social media. Supporters argue the arrests violate freedom of expression and stifle…
A federal judge in Maryland ordered the release of Kilmar Abrego Garcia from ICE custody “immediately,” according to a Thursday court filing, a significant development in the case concerning the El Salvadoran mistakenly deported this year before being returned to the United States. “Since Abrego Garcia’s return from wrongful detention in El Salvador, he has been re-detained, again without lawful authority,” district Judge Paula Xinis wrote. “For this reason, the Court will GRANT Abrego Garcia’s Petition for immediate release from ICE custody.” “Abrego Garcia’s case demands judicial intervention,” Xinis said. “Because Abrego Garcia has been held in ICE detention to…
President William Ruto conferred the rank of Senior Counsel on 54 advocates of the High Court of Kenya at State House, Nairobi, on Thursday. He told the newly conferred senior counsel that their elevation brings an even greater responsibility to safeguard democracy, strengthen institutions of justice, support necessary reforms, and widen access to justice. “The Senior Counsel Conferment Rules, particularly Rule 7, set an even higher bar for you: They require sustained excellence in active practice, distinguished advocacy before the superior courts, dedicated mentorship of younger advocates, faithful service to the Law Society of Kenya, meaningful scholarly contribution, and an…
The tax man announced new appointments aimed at enhancing their operations for revenue collection. A statement from the Kenya Revenue Authority said the appointments had been approved by the board as the institution organisational transtormation, technows modemizaton and evidence driven policy agenda. Brian Omooria Nyakeri was appointed as the Commissioner for Business Strategy, Technology and Enterprise Modernization Department, effective January 12, 2026. The statement said Nyakeri brings over 20 years of extensive experience from the private sector, with a distinguished career in digital transformation, enterprise architecture, clond technologies, and large-scale systems modernization. His most recent posting was at Agile Cloud…
Bolivia’s former president, Luis Arce, has been arrested in La Paz as part of an investigation into alleged graft, the government has said. The investigation relates to when Arce, 62, was economy minister under then-president Evo Morales, who was in office from 2006 to 2019. He is accused of authorising transfers from the public treasury to the personal accounts of political leaders. Arce, who left office last month, is yet to comment but his former colleague María Nela Prada said he was innocent and described the arrest as a “total abuse of power”. The Attorney General’s office requested Arce be…
Japanese police have suspended the car driving licences of nearly 900 cyclists after they were caught riding bicycles under the influence of alcohol, local media report. Authorities deemed that the offenders were “likely to pose a significant danger when driving a car”. The number of suspended car driving licenses from January to September rose sharply compared to last year, as Japan imposed new traffic laws that imposed stricter penalties on cyclists. Under the new rules introduced in November last year, those who cycle while under the influence of alcohol can face up to three years in jail or a maximum…
Pakistan’s former spy chief has been sentenced to 14 years in prison by a military court, on charges including violation of state secrets and interfering in politics. Faiz Hameed led Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency from 2019 to 2021, during the tenure of now-jailed former prime minister Imran Khan. He was known to be a staunch supporter of Khan, and took early retirement shortly after Khan was ousted in a no-confidence vote in 2022. It is the first time that an ISI chief in Pakistan has been court martialled. The ISI chief is seen as the second most powerful position…
Ghana has deported three Israeli nationals who arrived in the country on Wednesday in what appears to be a tit-for-tat move over the alleged mistreatment of Ghanaian nationals at Ben Gurion International Airport in Israel. Seven Ghanaians, including four members of an official delegation attending a cyber-security conference in Tel Aviv, were allegedly detained without explanation. They were released after five hours, while the three others were deported, according to Ghana, which condemned their “humiliating treatment”. Ghana’s foreign ministry says a senior diplomat from the Israeli embassy in Accra was summoned over the incident, and both countries have agreed to…
Every homeowner wants a fair property valuation. When the assessment seems higher than expected, it becomes important to understand the protest process clearly. Mistakes in this process can reduce the chances of getting a favorable decision, so preparation plays a key role. A Houston property tax protest allows homeowners to request a review of their appraised value. The process requires attention to detail, clear evidence, and timely action. Knowing what to avoid can make the process smoother and more effective for Houston residents. Ignore The Protest Deadline One of the biggest errors is missing the protest deadline. Houston property owners…