France returns skull of beheaded king to MadagascarWed, 27 Aug 2025 00:21:33 GMT

France on Tuesday returned three colonial-era skulls to Madagascar, including one believed to be that of a Malagasy king decapitated by French troops during a 19th-century massacre.The skull, believed to belong to King Toera, was handed over in the first restitution of human remains since France passed a law facilitating their return in 2023, along …

France returns skull of beheaded king to MadagascarWed, 27 Aug 2025 00:21:33 GMT Read More »

Israël: mobilisation pour les otages avant une réunion sur l’après-conflit à la Maison Blanche

Plusieurs dizaines de milliers de personnes se sont rassemblées à Tel-Aviv pour clore une journée de solidarité avec les otages à Gaza et demander la fin de la guerre, au sujet de laquelle Donald Trump va présider une réunion mercredi à la Maison Blanche.Après bientôt 23 mois d’offensive israélienne dans le territoire palestinien dévasté et en proie à la famine selon l’ONU, les opérations militaires israéliennes ont fait au moins 35 morts mardi selon la Défense civile, organisation de premiers secours dont l’AFP n’est pas en mesure de vérifier les informations compte tenu des restrictions imposées aux médias et des difficultés d’accès sur le terrain. A travers Israël toute la journée, des manifestants se sont réunis à des carrefours et devant des domiciles de ministres en Israël pour réclamer du gouvernement un accord de trêve à Gaza.”Ca suffit !”, a hurlé Silvia Cunio dans le micro au début d’un grand rassemblement à Tel-Aviv dans la soirée. Ses deux fils, Ariel et David, sont retenus captifs depuis 690 jours dans Gaza. Elle s’exprimait aux côtés des deux compagnes de ses fils, toutes deux ex-otages libérées durant des trêves.”Le plus important en ce moment, c’est que les otages reviennent le plus vite possible parce que chaque minute compte”, a déclaré Carmel Madmon, biologiste de 37 ans.Le coup d’envoi de la mobilisation, à l’appel du Forum des familles d’otages, a été donné au petit matin à Tel-Aviv, où environ 400 manifestants ont arrêté des voitures, brandissant drapeaux israéliens et photos d’otages, selon un photographe de l’AFP.Objectif de la journée : afficher un soutien maximal en faveur d’un accord de cessez-le-feu et de libération des otages à Gaza avant une réunion du cabinet de sécurité, cénacle ministériel restreint habilité à prendre des décisions stratégiques.- “Jour d’après” -Dans une vidéo diffusée à l’issue de la réunion, le Premier ministre Benjamin Netanyahu est resté vague sur les intentions du gouvernement alors que, selon plusieurs médias israéliens, la rencontre s’est achevée sans autre décision que celle de reprendre les débats d’ici à la fin de la semaine.”Je dirai une chose : cela a commencé à Gaza, et cela se terminera à Gaza. Nous ne laisserons pas ces monstres là-bas, nous libérerons tous nos otages, et nous veillerons à ce que Gaza ne représente plus jamais une menace pour Israël”, a-t-il dit.La guerre a été déclenchée le 7 octobre 2023 par une attaque sans précédent du mouvement islamiste palestinien Hamas sur le sud d’Israël. Sur les 251 personnes enlevées ce jour-là, 49 sont encore retenues dans Gaza dont au moins 27 ont été déclarées mortes par l’armée israélienne. Le Hamas détient aussi les restes d’un soldat israélien tombé au combat lors d’une précédente guerre de Gaza, en 2014.Si la guerre continue de faire rage, Donald Trump présidera mercredi une “grande réunion” à la Maison Blanche où sera discuté “un plan très complet sur le jour d’après”, selon son émissaire spécial Steve Witkoff.Le président américain avait lancé en février l’idée d’une prise de contrôle de la bande de Gaza par les Etats-Unis pour la reconstruire et en faire la “Riviera du Moyen-Orient”, une fois vidée de ses habitants. – “Guerre permanente” -La semaine dernière, M. Netanyahu a ordonné l’ouverture de négociations pour libérer tous les otages, sans donner plus de détails et sans faire référence à une proposition des médiateurs (Egypte, Etats-Unis, Qatar) acceptée par le Hamas.Selon des sources palestiniennes, cette proposition prévoit la libération de tous les otages en deux temps au cours d’une trêve de 60 jours, en échange de prisonniers palestiniens détenus par Israël.Mais M. Netanyahu a donné également son feu vert à une nouvelle offensive militaire pour prendre le contrôle de Gaza-ville, considéré comme l’un des derniers bastions du mouvement islamiste palestinien, ravivant l’inquiétude sur le sort des captifs et les pressions internationales sur une issue au conflit.Dans une lettre publiée mardi, le président français Emmanuel Macron l’a invité à “éviter à la jeunesse israélienne de se consumer dans une guerre permanente”.Lundi, cinq journalistes, dont trois travaillant pour des médias internationaux, ont été tués dans deux frappes israéliennes sur un bâtiment de l’hôpital Nasser à Khan Younès, dans le sud de la bande de Gaza.L’attaque du 7-Octobre a entraîné la mort de 1.219 personnes du côté israélien, en majorité des civils, selon un décompte de l’AFP basé sur des données officielles. La campagne de représailles israéliennes a fait au moins 62.819 morts à Gaza, en majorité des civils, selon le ministère de la Santé de Gaza, placé sous l’autorité du Hamas. Le ministère, dont les chiffres sont jugés fiables par l’ONU, ne précise pas le nombre de combattants tués.

Israël: mobilisation pour les otages avant une réunion sur l’après-conflit à la Maison Blanche

Plusieurs dizaines de milliers de personnes se sont rassemblées à Tel-Aviv pour clore une journée de solidarité avec les otages à Gaza et demander la fin de la guerre, au sujet de laquelle Donald Trump va présider une réunion mercredi à la Maison Blanche.Après bientôt 23 mois d’offensive israélienne dans le territoire palestinien dévasté et en proie à la famine selon l’ONU, les opérations militaires israéliennes ont fait au moins 35 morts mardi selon la Défense civile, organisation de premiers secours dont l’AFP n’est pas en mesure de vérifier les informations compte tenu des restrictions imposées aux médias et des difficultés d’accès sur le terrain. A travers Israël toute la journée, des manifestants se sont réunis à des carrefours et devant des domiciles de ministres en Israël pour réclamer du gouvernement un accord de trêve à Gaza.”Ca suffit !”, a hurlé Silvia Cunio dans le micro au début d’un grand rassemblement à Tel-Aviv dans la soirée. Ses deux fils, Ariel et David, sont retenus captifs depuis 690 jours dans Gaza. Elle s’exprimait aux côtés des deux compagnes de ses fils, toutes deux ex-otages libérées durant des trêves.”Le plus important en ce moment, c’est que les otages reviennent le plus vite possible parce que chaque minute compte”, a déclaré Carmel Madmon, biologiste de 37 ans.Le coup d’envoi de la mobilisation, à l’appel du Forum des familles d’otages, a été donné au petit matin à Tel-Aviv, où environ 400 manifestants ont arrêté des voitures, brandissant drapeaux israéliens et photos d’otages, selon un photographe de l’AFP.Objectif de la journée : afficher un soutien maximal en faveur d’un accord de cessez-le-feu et de libération des otages à Gaza avant une réunion du cabinet de sécurité, cénacle ministériel restreint habilité à prendre des décisions stratégiques.- “Jour d’après” -Dans une vidéo diffusée à l’issue de la réunion, le Premier ministre Benjamin Netanyahu est resté vague sur les intentions du gouvernement alors que, selon plusieurs médias israéliens, la rencontre s’est achevée sans autre décision que celle de reprendre les débats d’ici à la fin de la semaine.”Je dirai une chose : cela a commencé à Gaza, et cela se terminera à Gaza. Nous ne laisserons pas ces monstres là-bas, nous libérerons tous nos otages, et nous veillerons à ce que Gaza ne représente plus jamais une menace pour Israël”, a-t-il dit.La guerre a été déclenchée le 7 octobre 2023 par une attaque sans précédent du mouvement islamiste palestinien Hamas sur le sud d’Israël. Sur les 251 personnes enlevées ce jour-là, 49 sont encore retenues dans Gaza dont au moins 27 ont été déclarées mortes par l’armée israélienne. Le Hamas détient aussi les restes d’un soldat israélien tombé au combat lors d’une précédente guerre de Gaza, en 2014.Si la guerre continue de faire rage, Donald Trump présidera mercredi une “grande réunion” à la Maison Blanche où sera discuté “un plan très complet sur le jour d’après”, selon son émissaire spécial Steve Witkoff.Le président américain avait lancé en février l’idée d’une prise de contrôle de la bande de Gaza par les Etats-Unis pour la reconstruire et en faire la “Riviera du Moyen-Orient”, une fois vidée de ses habitants. – “Guerre permanente” -La semaine dernière, M. Netanyahu a ordonné l’ouverture de négociations pour libérer tous les otages, sans donner plus de détails et sans faire référence à une proposition des médiateurs (Egypte, Etats-Unis, Qatar) acceptée par le Hamas.Selon des sources palestiniennes, cette proposition prévoit la libération de tous les otages en deux temps au cours d’une trêve de 60 jours, en échange de prisonniers palestiniens détenus par Israël.Mais M. Netanyahu a donné également son feu vert à une nouvelle offensive militaire pour prendre le contrôle de Gaza-ville, considéré comme l’un des derniers bastions du mouvement islamiste palestinien, ravivant l’inquiétude sur le sort des captifs et les pressions internationales sur une issue au conflit.Dans une lettre publiée mardi, le président français Emmanuel Macron l’a invité à “éviter à la jeunesse israélienne de se consumer dans une guerre permanente”.Lundi, cinq journalistes, dont trois travaillant pour des médias internationaux, ont été tués dans deux frappes israéliennes sur un bâtiment de l’hôpital Nasser à Khan Younès, dans le sud de la bande de Gaza.L’attaque du 7-Octobre a entraîné la mort de 1.219 personnes du côté israélien, en majorité des civils, selon un décompte de l’AFP basé sur des données officielles. La campagne de représailles israéliennes a fait au moins 62.819 morts à Gaza, en majorité des civils, selon le ministère de la Santé de Gaza, placé sous l’autorité du Hamas. Le ministère, dont les chiffres sont jugés fiables par l’ONU, ne précise pas le nombre de combattants tués.

Israeli protesters demand hostage deal as cabinet meets

Thousands of demonstrators massed in Tel Aviv on Tuesday, seeking to push the government to end the war in Gaza and strike a deal to return hostages, as the security cabinet convened.The first protests began at daybreak as demonstrators blocked roads in the commercial hub, where they waved Israeli flags and held up pictures of the hostages, AFP journalists reported.Israeli media said others rallied near the US embassy branch in the city, as well as outside the houses of various ministers.Hours later as the sun set over Tel Aviv, thousands more gathered in “Hostage Square”, which has served as a focal point for the protest movement for months. People in the crowd sounded air horns, blew whistles and banged on drums as they chanted: “The government is failing us, we won’t give up until every hostage is home.””I’m here first and foremost to protest, and to call for the government to make a deal and bring all the hostages home and to end the war,” said demonstrator Yoav Vider, 29. Following the cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later spoke at an event Tuesday evening, remaining vague about the government’s intentions as Israeli media reported the meeting had been inconclusive. “We have just come from a cabinet meeting. I don’t think I can elaborate too much,” said Netanyahu.”But I will say one thing: It started in Gaza, and it will end in Gaza. We will not leave those monsters there.”Israel is under mounting international pressure to wrap up its Gaza campaign, with Donald Trump’s envoy saying the US president would host a meeting on post-war plans for the shattered enclave Wednesday.”We’ve got a large meeting in the White House tomorrow, chaired by the president, and it’s a very comprehensive plan we’re putting together on the next day,” Steve Witkoff said on Fox News Tuesday, without offering more details.- Cabinet meeting -The security cabinet approved a plan in early August for the military to take over Gaza City, triggering fresh fears for the safety of the hostages and a new wave of protests that has seen tens of thousands take to the streets.Netanyahu last week ordered immediate talks aimed at securing the release of all remaining captives in Gaza, while also doubling down on the plans for a new offensive to seize Gaza’s largest city.That came days after Hamas said it had accepted a new ceasefire proposal put forward by mediators that would see the staggered release of hostages over an initial 60-day period in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.In Doha on Tuesday, Qatari foreign ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari told a regular news conference that mediators were still “waiting for an answer” from Israel to the latest proposal. “The responsibility now lies on the Israeli side to respond to an offer that is on the table. Anything else is political posturing by the Israeli side.”Earlier in the day, the families of hostages in Tel Aviv lambasted the government for failing to prioritise a deal that could see those still held captive in Gaza released.”Prime Minister (Benjamin) Netanyahu prioritises the destruction of Hamas over releasing the hostages,” said Ruby Chen, whose son was abducted by militants in October 2023. “He believes it is OK and it is a valid alternative to sacrifice 50 hostages for political needs,” he said in a speech to one of Tuesday’s demonstrations.- Journalists killed -Pressure is building on Israel both at home and abroad to end its campaign in Gaza, where famine has been declared and much of the territory has been devastated.On Monday, Israeli strikes hit a Gaza hospital, killing at least 20 people, including five journalists working for Al Jazeera, the Associated Press and Reuters, among other outlets.Governments around the world, including staunch Israeli allies, expressed shock at the attack.The Israeli military on Tuesday said its forces were targeting a camera operated by Hamas in two strikes that killed the reporters. “Six of the individuals killed were terrorists,” it said, adding that the chief of staff instructed “to further examine several gaps”, including the “authorisation process prior to the strike”.Hamas later rejected the allegations, calling them baseless. The war in Gaza has been one of the deadliest for journalists, with around 200 media workers killed in the nearly two-year Israeli assault, according to press watchdogs.Later Tuesday, Gaza’s civil defence agency reported that at least 35 people were killed in attacks throughout the Palestinian territory.Media restrictions in Gaza and difficulties in accessing many areas mean AFP is unable to independently verify the tolls and details provided by the civil defence agency or the Israeli military.The war was sparked by Hamas’s October 2023 attack on Israel, which resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli figures.Out of 251 hostages seized during the attack, 49 are still held in Gaza, including 27 the Israeli military says are dead.Israel’s retaliatory offensive has killed at least 62,819 Palestinians, most of them civilians, according to figures from the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza that the United Nations considers reliable.

At Trump’s marathon cabinet meeting the show must go on… and on

US President Donald Trump is famed as a political showman — and during a record-breaking three hour and 16 minute cabinet meeting, the show went on, and on, and on.The extraordinary performance on Tuesday was the 79-year-old Republican’s longest ever televised press event, the White House and US media said.The former reality TV star freewheeled through his favorite topics during the marathon session, before his top officials seated around the huge wooden table took turns to praise the “greatest president” in history.”This has never been done before,” a beaming Trump said as the meeting finally wrapped up. “There’s something really nice about the openness of what we’re doing — it’s an open government, that’s what we are.” But while the White House likes to boast about Trump being the “most transparent” president in history, access doesn’t always equate to openness.And as Trump had taken part in three separate Oval Office events on Monday lasting nearly three hours, some wondered what more he could have to say a day later.The frenetic pace of Trump’s first months back in power has partly eased. Peace efforts in Ukraine and Gaza have largely stalled, key trade deals to avoid tariffs have been sealed, and breaking news has been in shorter supply.But Trump is rarely at a loss for words. – ‘Greatest president’ -After the press were admitted to the White House Cabinet Room at 12:11 pm local time (1611 GMT), he gave a 45-minute opening monologue, including a brief interlude when he asked a reporter to give her account of being mugged in Washington, where he has launched a crime crackdown.Many of Trump’s comments appeared designed to push the buttons of opponents who accuse him of authoritarianism and unpresidential behavior.He said he would ask for the death penalty in murder cases within the US capital and talked about Americans possibly wanting a “dictator” who could cut crime — but insisted he wasn’t one. When mentioning Attorney General Pam Bondi, Trump said: “I would never say she’s beautiful because that would be the end of my political career.”Trump in 2023 was ordered by a New York jury to pay $5 million for sexually abusing and defaming writer E. Jean Carroll.Other comments seemed likely to keep foreign diplomats busy figuring out the mercurial leader of the world’s top superpower.Asked about the Russian foreign minister questioning the legitimacy of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in peace talks, Trump declared that “everybody’s posturing. It’s all bullshit.”Yet in the same breath he said that Zelensky, whose country was invaded by Russia in 2022, was “not exactly innocent.” Then it was the turn of the assembled cabinet members to outdo themselves by flattering Trump. Everyone got a turn.”This is the greatest cabinet working for the greatest president,” said Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, seated to Trump’s left. “I’m having the time of my life working for you, Mr President.”Steve Witkoff, Trump’s special envoy for Ukraine and the Middle East, won a round of applause after he said his “only one wish” was for his boss to win the Nobel Peace Prize.- ‘Getting tired?’ -As the test of stamina neared the two-and-a-half-hour mark, Trump finally opened the meeting to questions — after briefly sympathizing with broadcast reporters who had spent the whole time holding long boom microphones over the table. “Are you getting tired?” Trump asked.It was then left to one reporter to break it to the headline-loving president that his mammoth press conference had been trumped by the announcement of Taylor Swift’s engagement to American football star Travis Kelce.”I wish them a lot of luck,” Trump replied, despite his earlier criticism of Swift over her support for his 2024 election rival Kamala Harris.Finally, at 3:27 pm (1927 GMT), Trump ushered out the press.NBC and the RollCall Factbase said it was Trump’s longest on-camera event, with the latter timing it at three hours, 16 minutes and 41 seconds. Factbase added that it was “longer than Titanic: both the movie (3 hrs, 15 min) and the sinking (2 hrs, 40 min).”

Brazil’s Bolsonaro placed under 24-hour watch ahead of coup trial verdict

A Brazilian judge on Tuesday declared far right ex-president Jair Bolsonaro, who is under house arrest while awaiting the verdict in his coup-plotting trial, a “flight risk” and placed him under round-the-clock watch. Bolsonaro faces 40 years in prison if convicted of plotting to cling onto power after losing 2022 elections to left-winger Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.The verdict in the case is expected early next month.Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who is presiding over the trial, asked the police to carry out “full-time surveillance” of former army captain Bolsonaro, according to a court document seen by AFP.Moraes was acting on a request from the Brazilian prosecutor’s office.The prosecutors pointed to recent revelations that Bolsonaro planned to seek asylum in Argentina last year as proof that the 70-year-old could seek to evade a possible lengthy jail term.In his draft asylum request, the man dubbed the “Trump of the Tropics” during his 2019-2022 presidency claimed he was the victim of political persecution.Bolsonaro is accused of leading a criminal organization that aimed to prevent Lula taking power after he narrowly defeated Bolsonaro in October 2022 elections.The trial has driven a deep wedge between Lula and US President Donald Trump, who has slammed the indictment of his ally Bolsonaro as a “witch hunt” and punished those responsible for putting him in the dock.Lula announced Tuesday that the United States had revoked the US visa of his justice minister, Ricardo Lewandowski, the latest official to be hit with a US visa ban or asset freeze over the case.The US State Department had yet to confirm the move.At a cabinet meeting Lula expressed solidarity with the minister and called the visa withdrawal an “irresponsible gesture.”- ‘Brazil belongs to Brazilians’ -The Trump administration has also imposed crippling 50-percent tariffs on dozens of Brazilian imports and sanctioned Moraes, a hate figure on the Brazilian and US right, among other Supreme Court justices.”These attitudes are unacceptable, not only against the minister but against all Supreme Court justices, against any Brazilian figure,” Lula told the cabinet meeting.In a sign of protest against what he sees as US meddling in Brazil’s affairs, he and several of his ministers wore caps inscribed “Brazil belongs to Brazilians.”The US sanctions followed intense lobbying of the Trump administration by Bolsonaro’s US-based son, Eduardo Bolsonaro.Lula called the younger Bolsonaro’s campaign of retribution “one of the worst betrayals the country has suffered.”Bolsonaro claims his trial is an attempt by the Brazilian judiciary, in league with Lula’s government, to prevent him making a comeback in 2026 elections.Before his trial he held out hopes of running, despite being barred from seeking re-election until 2030 for spreading misinformation about Brazil’s electoral system.

Taylor-Travis love story: 5 things to know

It’s official: America’s most famous couple are tying the knot.Stadium-filling pop megastar Taylor Swift and three-time NFL Super Bowl winner Travis Kelce announced their engagement on Instagram Tuesday.Here are five things to know about their love story:- Taylor’s Version -Swift’s journey to becoming the world’s biggest pop star has contained twists and turns — and not just the romantic missteps that fueled her hit songs until she met Kelce. A teenage country music sensation, she won her first Grammy at just 20 years old, before pivoting to pop.Wild success and scrutiny followed. Swift endured a high-profile feud with Kanye West, and re-recorded her early song catalog to reclaim ownership from a private equity firm.High-profile romances with Hollywood actors and pop stars came and went, with references to Jake Gyllenhaal, Tom Hiddleston, Joe Jonas, Calvin Harris and Harry Styles all rumored to be embedded in her song lyrics.Last year, she won a fourth Grammy for Album of the Year — the most by any artist — and wrapped up the highest-earning concert tour of all time.- NFL great -Kelce’s own road to American football greatness has had a few bumps of its own.While playing college football, he was suspended for marijuana use.His older brother Jason lobbied coaching staff to give Travis another chance, and again vouched for his younger sibling when Travis was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in 2013.As the Chiefs went from broken franchise to NFL dynasty, Travis Kelce has played a vital role, and is now considered one of the greatest tight ends in the sport’s history.He has won three Super Bowls — and lost two, including an agonizing loss to the Philadelphia Eagles this year that ended dreams of a historic Chiefs “three-peat.”- How it began -During Swift’s $2 billion-grossing “Eras” tour, handing out homemade “friendship bracelets” with beaded messages became a treasured ritual among fans.Kelce took it a step further, attempting to meet Swift backstage at a concert in Kansas City in 2023 and pass her a bracelet bearing his phone number.He was thwarted upon learning that Swift doesn’t do meet-and-greets — even for star NFL players — before or after her shows “because she has to save her voice,” he pined on his podcast shortly afterward.But Swift was charmed when she learned about the romantic ploy, and “we started hanging out right after that,” she told TIME magazine.- Controversy -Swift quickly became a fixture at Kelce’s Chiefs games.As television cameras cut to her reactions with increasing regularity, viewership and tickets sales for the already wildly popular sport went through the roof.With that came criticism from football die-hards that their sport was becoming a showbiz circus, and even right-wing conspiracy theories claimed that the entire relationship had been contrived as “Democrat propaganda.”As it turned out, the distractions did not seem to faze Kelce or the Chiefs, who went on to win that season’s Super Bowl.Although Swift did endorse Democratic candidate Kamala Harris in 2024, her Republican opponent Donald Trump won the US election — and even wished the couple “a lot of luck” when asked about their engagement.- Engagement -A joint post on their Instagram pages Tuesday showed pictures of Kelce proposing on one knee in a flower-laden garden, and Swift wearing an enormous diamond ring.No date or details about the wedding have been revealed.It comes at a busy time for both, with Kelce — having shrugged off talk of retirement — gearing up for the start of the NFL season next month, while Swift has a new album, “The Life of a Showgirl,” out in October.

Sports world congratulates Swift and Kelce on engagement

Pop singer Taylor Swift and NFL Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce announced their engagement on social media on Tuesday, prompting congratulations from across the sports world.The celebrity couple, who made their relationship public in 2023, were congratulated by the Chiefs, with whom Kelce has won three Super Bowl crowns, most recently last year.”Today is a fairytale,” the Chiefs posted on social media with emojis of a heart and an engagement ring. “Congrats to Travis and Taylor — we’re excited to have you as a permanent member of the Chiefs Kingdom family!”The NFL got into the act as well, posting on X, “Congratulations to Travis and Taylor,” with the photo of Kelce on his knees in front of Swift in a flower-filled garden.The league also ran a video clip of Swift with Kelce as Super Bowl victory confetti was falling behind them, the singer saying, “This is so crazy. I cannot believe this is really happening. I’m in shock,” with an NFL caption reading, “Same.”Chiefs defensive end Michael Danna, who was having a news conference at the time the engagement news went public, said: “I don’t know nothing.””Man, it’s incredible. I was caught off guard but you know, great for them,” Danna added. “That’s a blessing. Any time you find that type of joy, blessing, love — that’s a beautiful thing.”Brittany Mahomes, the wife of Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, posted on Instagram: “Two of the most genuine people meet & fall in love. Just so happy for these two.”The ATP Tour posted a video of Swift and Kelce at the US Open tennis tournament saying congratulations and adding: “This is the moment we knew they were meant to be.”Major League Baseball’s Cleveland Guardians had a joking take on the news, which came just after MLB had announced the 2026 season schedule.”Thanks a lot, Taylor Swift. Now no one cares that next year’s schedule is out,” the Guardians posted on X.The NBA’s Boston Celtics did a countdown of sorts regarding Swift, the debut of her next album and the upcoming season, posting on X: “Days since Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce got engaged: 0. Days until The Life of a Showgirl drops: 37. Days until Celtics basketball: 56.”Jarrett Payton, the son of legendary Chicago running back Walter Payton, posted a 2023 video of Swift walking with Kelce and sought a wedding invitation.”I captured the first vid of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce together back in 2023. This vid literally broke the internet,” Payton posted on X. “Congrats to them on their engagement. I think I deserve an invite to the wedding. Just saying.”The US Ryder Cup golf team, whose six captain’s picks for next month’s showdown against Europe are set to be announced on Wednesday, thanked Swift and Kelce for avoiding an announcement conflict.”Thank you, Taylor Swift & Travis Kelce for getting your little news pushed through today,” the team posted, claiming, “The BIG news is coming tomorrow.”