King Charles responded with humour rather than formality when informing senior aides of his cancer diagnosis, according to a royal expert

King Charles(Image: Anadolu via Getty Images)

King Charles made an “instinctive and decidedly unregal” remark after informing senior aides about his cancer diagnosis, a royal expert has claimed.

In February last year, King Charles received life-changing news: he had been diagnosed with cancer. The revelation, confirmed to close aides in a private meeting, marked the beginning of a challenging period for the monarch, but one that revealed his character in a way rarely seen by the public.

According to the Daily Mail’s Royal Editor, Rebecca English, Charles sat down with senior members of his team to share the troubling news. Understandably, the reaction was one of shock. “Oh, that’s a right bugger,” one aide reportedly blurted out, before panicking inwardly, fearing the informal comment might have caused offence.

Instead, Charles responded in a way that surprised everyone in the room. “His Majesty’s lips twitched before he broke into laughter. ‘Yes, it is a bit of a bugger, isn’t it,’ he chuckled,” English revealed.

King Charles III during a visit to Taff’s Well Transport Depot(Image: Getty Images)

She described the moment as “an instinctive and decidedly unregal reaction, but one that characterises Charles’s response to his diagnosis”.

The exchange showcased the King’s ability to confront adversity with humour, a trait that has shaped his approach to both public duty and personal challenge.

This private display of resilience reflects the same determination Charles showed publicly when, on December 12, he updated the nation on his health. In a video message for the Stand Up To Cancer campaign, broadcast on Channel 4, the King revealed that early diagnosis and “effective intervention” had made it possible to reduce his treatment.

King Charles(Image: PA)

“This milestone is both a personal blessing and a testimony to the remarkable advances that have been made in cancer care,” he said, using the moment not only to inform the public but to encourage others to prioritise their own health. Experts and former aides alike have praised the King for using his own experience to raise awareness while remaining candid about the seriousness of the situation.

Behind the scenes, however, his determination to continue working has posed a challenge for those closest to him. “I think when he first received his diagnosis and wasn’t clear which way this was going to go, it made him more determined than ever to keep going as fast as possible because there was so much more he wanted to achieve,” the source explained.

Charles was only persuaded to take a brief hiatus from front-line duties when doctors warned him of the heightened risk of secondary infection in the early days following surgery and treatment. Even now, with a clearer picture of his prognosis, his drive remains undiminished. “Even now that he realises it isn’t going to be a race against time, he still wants to change the world,” the source added.

King Charles III listens as he visits Chatfield Health Care (Image: WPA Pool, Getty Images)

The King’s cancer diagnosis was announced on February 6 last year and he postponed all public-facing engagements for almost three months.

The previous month, Charles spent three nights in hospital for a procedure on an enlarged prostate, during which time his cancer – not prostate cancer – was discovered.

His form of cancer has not been disclosed on the advice of experts so he can engage with all cancer patients, and it is not known how long he will require treatment.

Charles stepped up his workload at the start of the year following positive progress with his cancer care and that has continued, despite what a source described at the time as a “minor bump” of spending a short stay in hospital after experiencing temporary cancer treatment side effects in March.

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Fighting along the border between Thailand and Cambodia continues to rage – despite US President Donald Trump claiming to have secured a ceasefire agreement.

Around two dozen people have been killed in the past week, according to official reports, with hundreds of thousands of others displaced from their homes.

The latest clashes flared up following a skirmish last Sunday that derailed a previous ceasefire promoted by Mr Trump.

On Friday, Mr Trump said the two countries “have agreed to CEASE all shooting effective this evening, and go back to the original Peace Accord made with me” on his Truth Social platform.

Image:
Children fill containers with clean water at Chong Kal refugee camp in Cambodia. Pic: Reuters

But fighting has continued on Saturday, and Thai leader Anutin Charnvirakul said his nation would “continue to perform military actions until we feel no more harm and threats to our land and people”.

The Thai defence ministry said jets carried out airstrikes on Saturday morning.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet also did not mention a ceasefire in comments posted on Saturday, insisting his country “is ready to cooperate in any way that is needed”.

Why are Thai and Cambodian troops fighting?

The roots of the Thai-Cambodian border conflict lie in a history of enmity over competing territorial claims.

These claims largely stem from a 1907 map created while Cambodia was under French colonial rule, which Thailand argues is inaccurate.

Tensions were heightened by a 1962 International Court of Justice ruling that awarded sovereignty to Cambodia, which still angers many Thais.

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Tens of thousands flee Thailand-Cambodia conflict

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Simmering conflict between Cambodia and Thailand

What has happened to Trump’s peace ‘deals’?

A ceasefire in July was brokered by Malaysia and pushed through under pressure from Mr Trump, who threatened to withhold trade privileges unless the two sides agreed.

It was formalised in more detail in October at a regional meeting in Malaysia that the US president attended.

However, the agreement did not resolve the status of the disputed territory, instead ushering in a tenuous ceasefire that ultimately failed to hold.

Fighting resumed on Sunday in a skirmish that wounded two Thai soldiers.

Image:
Smoke rises from a building following an explosion near the border between Thailand and Cambodia. Pic: Royal Thai Navy

The apparent faltering or collapse of the ceasefire deal comes as a number of the peace agreements Mr Trump has touted in his quest for a Nobel Peace Prize have come under strain.

Fighting has surged in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, less than a week after the DRC and Rwanda signed a deal in Mr Trump’s presence.

Meanwhile, an internationally-endorsed plan to end the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza is still not finalised and remains in limbo, with sporadic fighting continuing.

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For more than a century, Warner Bros has been one of Hollywood’s biggest players, a legacy studio that helped define the Golden Age of cinema with iconic blockbuster movies. Now, it’s at the centre of a contentious, billion-dollar bidding war between Netflix, the world’s leading streaming platform, and Paramount Skydance, owned by the powerful Ellison family, which has close ties to President Trump.

Whichever way this goes, the outcome isn’t looking great.

Contributors:
Matt Craig – Reporter, Forbes
Daheli Hall – Writer and director
Lee Hepner – Antitrust lawyer
Dominic Patten – Executive editor, Deadline

On our radar

This week, Australia became the first country in the world to impose a social media ban for children less than the age of 16. The Australian government says it is taking on Big Tech and safeguarding children, but some young people were able to quickly bypass the new rules. Ryan Kohls reports.

The Imran Khan rumour mill

Despite being in jail for more than two years, Imran Khan continues to occupy airtime in Pakistan. After the army restricted access to Khan, rumours of his death ricocheted across social media.  Pressure from his supporters and family forced the military to lift the restrictions and grant Khan’s sisters access to speak to him. Meenakshi Ravi reports on the showdown between Imran Khan and powerful Field Marshal Asim Munir, and what it reveals about power, politics and narrative control in Pakistan.

Featuring: 
Amber Rahim Shamsi – Pakistan Editor, Nukta
Moeed Pirzada – Political YouTuber
Mohammed Hanif – Author and journalist

Published On 13 Dec 202513 Dec 2025

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Two men have been arrested in relation to a “disgusting act of mindless vandalism” after a Christmas tree which had stood in a village for more than 10 years was cut down.

On Wednesday, the tree in Shotton Colliery, County Durham, was felled sometime between 10pm and 11pm, just hours after the Christmas lights were switched on.

A 26-year-old man is being remanded into custody and is in the process of being charged with criminal damage, the Peterlee neighbourhood policing team said on Friday. The second man, 23, has been released under investigation.

Shotton Residents Association chair, Steve Maitland, told BBC Radio Tees on Friday that the tree had been put up to commemorate fallen soldiers from the first world war.

Steve Maitland: ‘These people who did this – I don’t think they understand the history and the feeling of these things.’ Photograph: Durham Police/PA

“The Christmas tree’s lights were turned on at about 5pm and 80 to 100 people turned up to watch. Hours later, this has happened,” he said. “Whoever has done it feels they can get away with it, but hopefully they will be caught.”

“These people who did this – I don’t think they understand the history and the feeling of these things,” he said, adding that some of the people involved in fundraising for the tree a decade ago had since died.

He called the attack “mindless vandalism” but said he could not “turn the clock back” and said members of the public were making a sleeve for the tree’s base, so they could bolt back up as quickly as possible, “just to tide us over for Christmas”.

Saint Saviour’s, a parish church in the village, posted on Facebook: “After all the people who gave their time and effort to raise funds to get a tree for the village. This morning a tree surgeon has looked at the damage and said it’s been done with a chainsaw. May the people who caused this be caught and punished by the authorities.”

PC David Allan, from Peterlee neighbourhood police team, said: “This was a disgusting act of mindless vandalism, which has caused huge upset throughout the village at a time when our community should be coming together.

“We are treating this incident extremely seriously, and we will deal with anyone responsible as robustly as the law allows. This behaviour has no place in our community.”

The pair were arrested after police asked the public for any witnesses to the incident, or anyone who may have CCTV or doorbell footage of anyone acting suspiciously in the area at the time, to contact the force.

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Belarus has freed 123 prisoners, including prominent opposition activist Maria Kolesnikova, after the US agreed to lift sanctions on the Eastern European country.

Nobel Peace Prize winner Ales Bialiatski is also among those who have been freed following talks in Minsk with US President Donald Trump’s special envoy for Belarus, John Coale.

The US has agreed to lift sanctions on potash, a key ingredient in fertiliser and an important export for the country whose president, Alexander Lukashenko, is a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Coale said: “As relations between the two countries normalise, more and more sanctions will be lifted.”

The EU has not recognised Lukashenko as president.

Kolesnikova has been in prison since 2020, much of the time in isolation.

Her sister, Tatiana, who campaigned tirelessly for her release was able to speak to her by video call soon after and confirmed the news to the BBC.

A group of those released are expected in Lithuania’s capital Vilnius shortly. A crowd is gathering outside the US embassy.

The deal is a major achievement for Lukashenko and the authoritarian leader will also welcome how the Americans have ended his international isolation.

As well as the EU, the US did not recognise Lukashenko as president following unfair elections five years ago which led to mass street protests that were brutally suppressed by police.

Hundreds of people were arrested then – including Kolesnikova – and the intense political repression has continued.

Western sanctions were tightened following Russia’s full scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, when troops entered via Belarus and missiles were launched from its territory.

Coale was quoted by Belarusian state media saying that the sanctions on potash would be lifted immediately,

The US envoy also said he spoke to Lukashenko about Ukraine and what help Minsk could offer in talks with Putin.

The attempt to engage with Minsk is part of a major shift in US policy, which leaves it very much at odds with Europe – where the approach is to sanction and isolate.

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Skip next section Berlin tourism falls short of 30 million stays

12/13/2025December 13, 2025

Berlin tourism falls short of 30 million stays

Fewer tourists have visited Berlin this year, leaving the city set to miss a key milestone in 2025, the head of its tourism agency has said.

Burkhard Kieker, chief executive of Visit Berlin, told the Tagesspiegel that overnight stays would end up just below 30 million.

Berlin recorded 30.6 million overnight stays in 2024.

By the end of October, the Berlin-Brandenburg Statistics Office had counted 24.8 million stays, down 4.1% from the same period last year.

Kieker said the slower recovery was mainly due to weak consumer sentiment in Germany and Europe and a lack of broader economic momentum.

He added that traffic at Berlin-Brandenburg Airport remained about 30% below pre-coronavirus levels, while tourism overall was still around 9% below 2019 levels.

https://p.dw.com/p/55I5L

Skip next section Germany plans troop role in securing Poland’s eastern border

12/13/2025December 13, 2025

Germany plans troop role in securing Poland’s eastern border

Germany has announced plans for its armed forces, the Bundeswehr, to help secure Poland’s eastern border with Belarus and Russia.

The Defense Ministry said on Saturday that several dozen German soldiers were set to join Poland’s Operation Eastern Shield from April 2026, with the mission initially running until the end of 2027.

A ministry spokesperson said the core task of the German troops in northern and eastern Poland would be engineering work.

This was described as building positions, digging trenches, laying barbed wire and constructing anti-tank obstacles. No further duties are planned.

The operation has been underway since May 2024 in border areas with Moscow ally Belarus and Russia’s Kaliningrad exclave.

The measures are aimed at strengthening defenses against a possible attack on NATO member Poland.

The deployment does not require parliamentary approval, the ministry said, because it is not considered an armed foreign mission under German law and is not expected to expose troops to direct military confrontation.

Germany stations troops in Lithuania

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https://p.dw.com/p/55I3r

Skip next section Welcome to our coverage12/13/2025December 13, 2025

Welcome to our coverage

Guten Tag from DW’s newsroom in Bonn.

Danke schön for joining us as Germany plans to send several dozen Bundeswehr soldiers to support Poland’s border defenses with Belarus and Russia.

The troops are set to join Poland’s Operation Eastern Shield from April 2026, carrying out engineering tasks such as digging trenches, laying barbed wire and building anti-tank obstacles.

The mission is planned to run until the end of 2027 and does not require parliamentary approval, as it is not classified as an armed foreign deployment.

Follow us here for this and the latest headlines throughout the day.

https://p.dw.com/p/55I1o

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Donald Trump’s claim to have ended eight wars appears to be unravelling as a result of peace deals that “press pause” on the fighting and fail to deal with the root causes of each conflict, experts have said.

The US president, who was awarded the widely-criticised Fifa Peace Prize last week, has persistently boasted about ending the conflicts during his two terms as president.

He listed peace agreements between Israel and Hamas, Israel and Iran, Pakistan and India, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, Thailand and Cambodia, Armenia and Azerbaijan, Egypt and Ethiopia, and Serbia and Kosovo.

But a deeper analysis of these disputes, as well as others that Trump has sought to halt, casts doubt over his claim to be the President of Peace.

Cambodia and Thailand have resumed clashes at the border, Kosovo and Serbia are struggling to implement peace deals and Israeli attacks continue in Lebanon and Gaza. Trump has also failed to stop the war in Ukraine – a conflict he once promised to end “in 24 hours”.

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Donald Trump has made achieving peace agreements around the world a central pillar of his second term (PA Wire)

Trump’s peace deals ‘lack a clear pathway’

Dr Melanie Garson, an associate professor of political science at University College London (UCL), says that while Trump should be credited for pushing for these agreements, the deals mediated by his administrations are “prone to failure”.

“Without the clear pathways, guarantees and oversight of the next steps, it leaves huge gaps in the system. Basically, what you’ve done is press the pause button, and not the stop button.”

The “low quality” of these deals owes to Trump’s reluctance to surround himself with “real experts” who would challenge his authority as the “master deal maker”, says Dr Jonathan Monten, a US foreign policy expert at UCL.

“He wants to be perceived as at the centre. He is this master deal maker, not some you know, career expert in the State Department,” he told The Independent.

“So the quality of the preparation, the quality of expertise, the quality of diplomatic negotiation are all extremely low.”

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Thai residents cover in a shelter in Buriram province, Thailand, amid ongoing violence with Cambodia (AP)

Cambodia and Thailand attack each other… again

Border clashes in Thailand resumed earlier this week, with hundreds of thousands of people displaced and at least 10 killed.

It comes just weeks after the Kuala Lumpur peace accord was signed in October, with the prime ministers of both countries vowing their “unwavering commitment” to peace after the centuries-old border dispute was reignited in July. Trump attended the signing ceremony in Malaysia.

Thailand’s defence ministry said the recent attacks were “a last option”, while Cambodia accused Thailand of “aggressive military attacks”.

Thai prime minister Anutin Charnvirakul confirmed on Friday that there was no ceasefire yet with Cambodia, and said he had spoken by telephone with Trump. Anutin said Trump told him he wanted the two countries to return to the July ceasefire.

Israel continues attacks in Lebanon and Gaza

The initial ceasefire deal between Israel and Lebanon was signed under the Biden administration – but Trump has since failed to prevent Benjamin Netanyahu’s government from regular strikes on its neighbour.

Israel launched a new wave of attacks on Lebanon last week, stating that it was targeting Hezbollah sites in the south, including several buildings and a rocket-launching site.

The Trump administration had been urging Israel and Lebanon to broaden their talks on establishing longer-term peace. Just days before the Israeli strikes, both sides had dispatched civilian envoys to a military committee tasked with overseeing the ceasefire, but the ceasefire now appears to be over.

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Israel has resumed strikes on southern Lebanon in the past week (AP)

Trump was, however, involved in brokering the deal between Israel and Hamas, which promised to end Israel’s military campaign in Gaza and the return of all the hostages.

All living hostages and all but one of the dead hostages have been returned. But authorities in Gaza say nearly 400 people, including children, have been killed by Israeli gunfire since the ceasefire was put in place.

Serbia-Kosovo agreements unfulfilled

Trump has repeatedly hailed an economic normalisation agreement reached between Serbia and Kosovo during his first term. Earlier this year, he also claimed to have prevented a war from breaking out between the pair.

The 2020 agreement planned to expand economic cooperation and integration, in an attempt to de-escalate political tensions by focusing on economic ties. But the agreements failed to address a critical and central element of the dispute: Serbia’s refusal to formally recognise Kosovo.

Implementation has been limited, with many of the specific economic provisions failing to materialise in practice in the years since.

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Donald Trump with Serbian president Aleksandar Vucic (left) and Kosovo PM Avdullah Hoti (right) in the Oval Office in September 2020 (Getty)

Progress on agreed projects, such as the envisaged “Peace Highway”, linking Belgrade and Pristina to facilitate trade and travel between the countries, has been very slow, with financing coming not from provisions of the agreements but from European investment.

Political tensions between Kosovo and Serbia remain unresolved, and the Trump administration is yet to make a significant push to get them round the table again.

War in Ukraine frustrates the White House

Attempts to bring an end to the war in Ukraine have been one of Trump’s primary frustrations during his second term, thus far failing in an objective which he said before the US election could be wrapped up in 24 hours.

In recent weeks, the US has ramped up efforts to push Moscow and Kyiv towards reaching an agreement, but the main sticking point, territory, remains a crucial problem.

Vladimir Putin appears to have little interest in signing a peace agreement unless Kyiv hands over the entirety of the Donbas.

Trump has directed most of his impatience at Volodymyr Zelensky, saying that he “isn’t ready” for peace and, according to reports, telling the Ukrainian president he wants Kyiv to accept a peace deal by Christmas.

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How big of a Taylor Swift fan are you?

Nearly two decades ago, Swift captured the hearts of millions with her songwriting, honest lyrics and irresistibly catchy tunes. From country sweetheart to a crossover success, Swift has taken home myriad awards throughout her career, including over a dozen Grammys and has released (and then re-released) 12 studio albums.

Swift has worked solo and has collaborated with a wide variety of musicians, in addition to cultivating some of the most famous friendships in the entertainment industry. Outside of her music, she has graced both the small and silver screens with a few acting roles over the years, and has even directed several record-breaking music videos and a short film.

Over the course of her nearly 20 year career, Swifties have spent countless hours decoding her lyric booklets, uncovering numerous Easter eggs, traveling across the world to see her arena and stadium tours, creating and exchanging friendship bracelets and supporting the singer in her various endeavors.

Are you ready to see how big of a Swiftie you are? Here are 75 Taylor Swift trivia questions to test your knowledge of the singer.

Taylor Swift’s Family and Personal Life

Andrea Swift and Taylor Swift at the 2010 American Music Awards on November 21, 2010 in Los Angeles, California ; Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift.

Mazur AMA 2010/WireImage ; Travis Kelce & Taylor Swift

1. When was Taylor Swift born? Dec. 13, 1989
2. What is Taylor Swift’s middle name? Alison
3. What musician is Taylor Swift named after? James Taylor
4. What are Taylor Swift’s parents’ names? Scott and Andrea Swift
5. What is Taylor Swift’s brother’s name? Austin Swift
6. Where was Taylor Swift born? West Reading, Penn.
7. What kind of farm did Taylor Swift grow up on? A Christmas tree farm
8. How many cats does Taylor Swift have? Three
9. What are Taylor Swift’s cats’ names? Meredith Grey, Olivia Benson and Benjamin Button
10. How old was Taylor Swift when she convinced her parents to move to Nashville? 14
11. What is Taylor Swift’s lucky number? 13
12. What is Taylor Swift’s best friend from high school’s name? (Hint: She sings about her in “Fifteen”) Abigail Anderson
13. What football team did Taylor Swift root for before she started dating Travis Kelce? Philadelphia Eagles
14. What is the name of the previous owner of Taylor Swift’s home in Watch Hill, R.I.? Rebekah Harkness
15. Which one of Taylor Swift’s ex-boyfriends was featured in the “I Can See You” music video? Taylor Lautner
16. What college did Taylor Swift get an honorary doctorate from in 2022? New York University
17. What type of bread is Taylor Swift well-known for making? Sourdough
18. What Instagram caption did she use to announce her engagement to Travis Kelce? “Your English teacher and your gym teacher are getting married 🧨”
19. What is Taylor Swift’s engagement ring? A vintage-style old mine brilliant cut diamond ring

Taylor Swift’s Career Highlights

Taylor Swift with her Grammy at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards on March 14, 2021 in Los Angeles, California.

Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times via Getty

1. Where was Taylor Swift discovered by Scott Borchetta? Bluebird Cafe in Nashville
2. How old was Taylor Swift when her self-titled debut album came out? 16
3. What year was Taylor Swift nominated for Best New Artist at the Grammys? 2008
4. What albums did Taylor Swift win Album of the Year at the Grammys for? Fearless in 2010, 1989 in 2016, Folklore in 2021, and Midnights in 2024 
5. How many Grammys in total does Taylor Swift have? 14
6. When and where did The Eras Tour begin? March 17, 2023, in Glendale, Arizona
7. When and where did The Eras Tour end? Dec 8, 2024, in Vancouver, Canada
8. How many countries did Taylor Swift travel to on The Eras Tour? 21
9. What was the name of Taylor Swift’s character during her guest appearance on New Girl? Elaine
10. What TV drama did Taylor Swift guest star on in 2009? CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
11. What are the names of the two documentaries Taylor Swift released on Netflix? Taylor Swift Reputation Stadium Tour and Miss Americana
12. What is the name of the documentary that Taylor Swift released on Disney+? Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour | The End of an Era
13. How old was Taylor Swift when she was the host and musical guest on Saturday Night Live? 19
14. How many times has Taylor Swift appeared (or made a cameo) on Saturday Night Live? Eight
15. What drugstore makeup brand was Taylor Swift the face for early in her career? CoverGirl
16. What are the names of Taylor Swift’s longtime bassist and guitar player? Amos Heller and Paul Sidoti
17. How many times did Taylor Swift attend the Met Gala? Six
18. What award show did Taylor Swift announce her album Midnights? The 2022 MTV Video Music Awards
19. What was the name of Taylor Swift’s canceled 2020 tour? Lover Fest
20. What was the name of Taylor Swift’s first fragrance? Wonderstruck
21. Which era did Taylor Swift not include on the Eras Tour? The self-titled era
22. On what podcast did Taylor Swift announce her album The Life of a Showgirl? New Heights with Jason & Travis Kelce

Taylor Swift’s Music

Taylor Swift performs during Z100’s Jingle Ball 2009 on December 11, 2009 in New York City ; Taylor Swift during Rock in Rio USA on May 15, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada ; Taylor Swift during The Eras Tour on May 06, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee.

Bryan Bedder/Getty ; Kevin Mazur/Getty ; John Shearer/TAS23/Getty

1. What was the name of the record company that signed Taylor Swift when she was 15? Big Machine Records
2. Which record company did Taylor Swift move to in November 2018? Republic Records
3. What country music legend was Taylor’s Swift debut single named after? Tim McGraw
4. What does Taylor Swift call her re-recorded albums? Taylor’s Version
5. What musician gave Taylor Swift the idea to re-record her albums? Kelly Clarkson
6. Which albums has Taylor Swift re-released? Fearless, Red, Speak Now and 1989
7. What item of clothing did Taylor Swift say she left at her ex-boyfriend’s sister’s house in “All Too Well?” Scarf
8. Which of her albums did Taylor Swift write entirely by herself? Speak Now
9. What are the names of all of Taylor Swift’s famed track fives? “Cold As You,” “White Horse,” “Dear John,” “All Too Well,” “All You Had To Do Was Stay,” “Delicate,” “The Archer,” “My Tears Ricochet,” “Tolerate It,” “You’re On Your Own Kid,” “So Long, London” and “Eldest Daughter”
10. What animal represented Taylor Swift’s Reputation era? Snake
11. What song does Taylor Swift name-drop Steve Nicks in? “Clara Bow”
12. What was Taylor Swift’s pen name for “This Is What You Came For?” Nils Sjöberg
13. What are the names of the two songs Taylor Swift wrote for The Hunger Games franchise? “Safe & Sound” and “Eyes Open”
14. What is the name of the bar Taylor Swift named a song after on The Tortured Poets Department? The Black Dog
15. What celebrity couple’s kids’ names were featured in Taylor Swift’s songs? (Bonus points for their names) Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds / Betty, James and Inez
16. What was the name of the song Taylor Swift wrote for the movie Valentine’s Day? “Today Was A Fairytale”
17. What did Taylor Swift’s shirt say in the “22” music video? “Not a lot going on at the moment”
18. Which song became Taylor Swift’s first No.1 song on Billboard’s Top 100? “We Are Never Getting Back Together”
19. What is the most-streamed song on Spotify from Folklore? “Cardigan”
20. Which one of Taylor Swift’s songs was featured in the series finale of The Summer I Turned Pretty? “Dress”
21. Which actress did Taylor Swift name a song after on The Life of a Showgirl? Elizabeth Taylor

Taylor Swift’s Musical Collaborations

Taylor Swift and Gracie Abrams perform during “Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour” on June 23, 2024 in London, England.

Gareth Cattermole/TAS24/Getty

1. What is the name of Taylor Swift’s frequent collaborator and producer? Jack Antonoff
2. What musical artist is featured on Taylor Swift’s song “Florida!!!”? Florence Welch, of Florence + The Machine
3. What are the names of Taylor Swift’s co-writer and co-producer Aaron Dessner’s bands? The National and Big Red Machine
4. Which country artists are featured on the vault tracks of Fearless (Taylor’s Version)? Keith Urban and Maren Morris
5. What song from Lover do The Chicks feature on? “Soon You’ll Get Better”
6. What rock band did Taylor Swift collaborate with in 2009? Boys Like Girls
7. Which of Taylor Swift’s songs featured Imogen Heap? “Clean”
8. What rapper was featured on Taylor Swift’s song “Bad Blood?” Kendrick Lamar
9. What is the name of the song from Evermore that featured the band Haim? “No Body No Crime”
10. What is the name of the Grammy-nominated Gracie Abrams song that featured Taylor Swift? “Us”
11. How many songs has Taylor Swift released featuring Ed Sheeran? Three (“Everything Has Changed,” “Run” and “End Game”)
12. Which artist is featured on the “Lover” remix? Shawn Mendes
13. Who is the only artist featured on her 12th studio album, The Life of a Showgirl? Sabrina Carpenter

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Winter Wonderland exploded into violence last night as a mass brawl broke out while revellers were trying to leave.

Visitors have claimed overcrowding led to the chaotic scenes at the event in London’s Hyde Park and accused security guards of doing little to break up the fights.

Footage shows group of people tussling against a fence as they swing punches at each other while a security guard watches on from behind a second barrier.

As one of the men steps away, a woman begins slapping the back of his head before he shoves her against the fence.

The same man then begins brawling with another man, who is being held by security, and shouts expletives at him. 

As the fight continues, a woman falls to the ground after apparently being punched unconscious. 

It is not the first time violence has broke out at London’s Winter Wonderland, with children left screaming after another fight three years ago. 

Meanwhile, a manhunt continues for a group of machete-wielding thugs who were seen fighting each other Winter Wonderland in Nottingham last month. 

Witnesses reported seeing four youths on two e-bikes confronting other youths who were on foot.  Officers were called to the Council House, in Old Market Square, at around 6.15pm on November 16.

A woman, who found herself caught in the crossfire, appeared to have been punched unconscious sending her falling to the ground

Ryan, who filmed the brawl, has alleged that although one member of Winter Wonderland security can be seen restraining one of the fighters, other members of staff did little to break up the brawl

Ryan, who was attending Winter Wonderland with friends, filmed the harrowing video at Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park. 

He claimed that the fight broke out after one man accused another of ‘touching his missus’.

Ryan told the Daily Mail: ‘So we were in the Bavarian beer garden beer hall and then it closed at 10, and everyone was asked to leave as normal. 

‘When we exited, they’d created a gated alleyway with a construction fence which created a huge bottleneck. 

‘It wasn’t even that busy but then all of a sudden, there’s about a couple thousand people in this one area, and just at a standstill. And then security had locked themselves outside of the gate, which is when the fight broke out.

‘Everyone was very drunk, you could tell something was going to happen.’ 

He continued: ‘It was really lawless and chaotic and there were families with children as well.  

‘I go every year, and I’ve never seen anything like that. Normally, you can just leave through any exit and it is quite cordial but this time everyone was forced down this man made alleyway.’

Ryan claimed that the fight broke out after one man accused another of ‘touching his missus’

He has alleged that although one member of Winter Wonderland security can be seen restraining one of the fighters, other members of staff did little to break up the brawl

As one of the men steps away, a woman begins slapping the back of his head before he violently shoves her against the fence 

Ryan has alleged that although one member of Winter Wonderland security can be seen restraining one of the fighters, other members of staff did little to break up the brawl.

‘[The security] would hold onto one of them and then let them go to grab another person,’ he said.

The Daily Mail have approached Winter Wonderland and the Metropolitan Police for a comment. 

Festive fights have broke out at Winter Wonderland in the past. In 2022 two men started fighting outside a Chicken stall at the event as shocked children watched on.

Then three years prior to that, another vicious brawl broke out. In footage shared on social media at the time, a man in a white t-shirt and a man in a red t-shirt fight with the encouragement of bystanders.

In the clip, the man in the red t-shirt has the other in a choke hold.

Visitors have claimed that overcrowding led to the chaotic scenes and that security guards did little to break up the fights

Ryan said: ‘It was really lawless and chaotic and there were families with children as well’

Ryan, who attends Winter Wonderland every year, has said he has not seen a similar exit system before and claimed that a huge area was left empty while guests were funnelled through the exit

A manhunt continues for a group of machete-wielding thugs who were seen fighting each other Winter Wonderland in Nottingham last month. Pictured is one of the suspects 

The man in the white t-shirt rapidly swings punches as someone shouts: ‘Don’t punch the head.’

A man watching the brawl next to a nearby stall appears to jump up and down and punch the air as the fight breaks out.

Terrified screams can be heard in the background before one onlooker appears to run away.

The footage then cuts to show an official in an orange vest forcing one man back.

He and two other guards then form a human chain to stop the fight continuing.

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Sex offender Julien Dorin assaulted a girl after saying ‘I’ve got money. If you help me, I’ll help you’. Now he’s had his teeth knocked out in prison

Adam Everett and Christopher Mallett

12:38, 13 Dec 2025

Julien Dorin has been attacked in prison(Image: Merseyside Police)

A sex offender who subjected a 14-year-old girl to a terrifying assault has had three of his teeth knocked out in prison.

Julien Dorin sexually assaulted the girl late at night in a Liverpool park. He told the teenager “I’ve got money, if you help me, I’ll help you” before kissing and groping her, forcing her to seek safety in a nearby pub, the Liverpool Echo reports.

Now he has been attacked in prison and had three of his front teeth knocked out, Liverpool Crown Court was told. Ken Heckle, defending, said Dorin is originally from Syria and came to he UK legally, fleeing the war in his home country.

He said: “The defendant has been assaulted whilst in custody recently. He is missing three of his front teeth as a result of an assault quite recently within the prison.”

The court heard how Dorin had only been freed from jail following a violent assault a matter of months before he subjected the 14-year-old to a harrowing hour-long ordeal.

At around 10pm the girl was sitting in Chavasse Park in Liverpool city centre when Dorin, of no fixed address, approached her and began talking to her, the court heard.

Derek Jones, prosecuting, described how a “rather lengthy interaction” followed between the two over the course of roughly an hour. However, during this time, the defendant, “repeatedly asked her if she wished to go for a drink” in spite of being aware of her young age.

Dorin also “said he could help her, said he had money several times and asked her to go back to his house”. The 39-year-old took hold of her hand and began to kiss it “while telling her she was attractive and pretty”.

The shocking incident happened in Chevasse Park in Liverpool

He then “touched her thigh on a couple of occasions” and “told her that she had a good heart” before “using that expression as an excuse to touch her chest or her breasts”. Having left this area, Dorin went on to put his arm around the girl and hug and kiss her before she was able to escape and hide in a nearby pub, before police were called.

Me Heckle said Dorin “bitterly regrets” what he did and “understands that it was wholly inappropriate”. Dorin, who was assisted by an interpreter during the hearing, admitted one count of sexual assault. Appearing in the dock wearing a blue Adidas tracksuit, he was jailed for 18 months.

Sentencing, Judge Garrett Byrne said: “Your behaviour was, to say the very least, sinister and wholly inappropriate. You approached [the girl], who told you she was 14, and she clearly was a young girl.” He added: “She told you to stop, but you did not. You persisted. She was clearly upset about all of this. She was a vulnerable person, and your behaviour was predatory.”

Dorin was also handed a 10-year sexual harm prevention order. He will be required to sign the sex offenders’ register for the next decade.

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