Taylor Swift

The nominations for the 2025 Brit Awards have been announced, with Charli XCX at the forefront with five nominations, including Album of the Year for *Brat*, Artist of the Year, and Song of the Year for *Guess* featuring Billie Eilish. Other notable nominees include Dua Lipa, The Last Dinner Party, Ezra Collective, and Myles Smith, each with four nominations. The Beatles make a historic return with a nomination for Song of the Year with *Now and Then*, their first since 1977. International artists like Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, and Billie Eilish are also among the top contenders. The awards ceremony is set for 1 March at London’s O2 Arena, hosted by Jack Whitehall and broadcast live on ITV1 and ITVX.

Axel Rudakubana, an 18-year-old from Lancashire, has been sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 52 years for the murders of three young girls at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport. The attack, which also left eight other children and two adults seriously injured, has been described as 'the most extreme, shocking and serious crime.' Rudakubana, who pleaded guilty to multiple charges including murder and possession of a knife and poison, had a history of violent behavior and had been referred to the government’s Prevent counter-terrorism programme multiple times. The case has prompted a public inquiry and calls for reforms to better protect children.