Taylor Swift closed her record-breaking Eras Tour with an emotional final show in Vancouver on Sunday, expressing gratitude to her fans for making it “the most exciting, powerful, electrifying, intense, most challenging” experience of her life.

Reflecting on her journey before performing All Too Well, Swift shared how her past 21 months on tour were unlike anything she’d experienced since beginning her career at 15. She singled out the unique tradition of fans exchanging handmade friendship bracelets, inspired by a lyric in You’re On Your Own Kid:

“I never thought that writing one line about friendship bracelets would have you guys all making them, making friends, and bringing joy to each other. That is the lasting legacy of this tour. I couldn’t be more proud of you.”

The bracelets became a symbol of camaraderie, traded by millions of fans and even exchanged with celebrities like Sir Paul McCartney during a London show.

Swift praised the sense of community her fans fostered, calling it a highlight of the tour:
“That is what I think about when I think about this tour.”

Fans reciprocated her sentiment by serenading her with Happy Birthday in advance of her 35th birthday next Friday, a moment celebrated by the tour’s official social media account:
“You guys even sang a happy early birthday to Taylor? We love you so much!”

Debbie Nelson, the mother of rap icon Eminem, has died at the age of 69, her death confirmed by the rapper’s representative, Dennis Dennehy. Nelson was known to have battled lung cancer, though the official cause of her death remains unconfirmed.

Nelson and Eminem shared a turbulent relationship that deeply influenced the artist’s early music. Songs like Cleanin’ Out My Closet brought their struggles to the public eye, with Eminem accusing her of neglect and substance abuse. Their strained bond led to a highly publicized defamation lawsuit in 1999, stemming from lyrics in My Name Is. Nelson later revealed it was her lawyer’s idea, and the case was settled for $25,000.

Despite years of discord, signs of reconciliation emerged over time. In his 2013 song Headlights, Eminem expressed regret for his harsh lyrics, apologizing to his mother. While they remained mostly estranged, Nelson publicly supported her son during key moments, including his 2022 induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

In 2008, Nelson published her memoir, My Son Marshall, My Son Eminem, sharing her perspective on their relationship and her heartbreak over his public accusations.

Eminem has yet to issue a statement regarding her passing, leaving fans reflecting on the complex bond between the two.

An oil painting by renowned New Zealand artist Charles Frederick Goldie has set a national record, selling for an unprecedented NZ$3.75 million ($2.2 million; £1.7 million) at auction. The piece, titled Thoughts of a Tohunga, portrays Wharekauri Tahuna, a Māori priest believed to be among the last of his generation to bear traditional facial moko tattoos.

This historic sale marks the highest price ever paid for a painting in New Zealand’s art market. It also solidifies Goldie’s standing as one of the nation’s most revered artists, particularly for his detailed portraits of Māori elders.

The painting, completed in 1938, depicts Tahuna adorned with a moko and wearing a traditional hei-tiki pendant. Art critics regard the piece as one of Goldie’s finest works. According to Richard Thomson, director at the International Art Centre, this was the first time in 33 years that the painting had been offered for sale.

This record-breaking sale comes amid heightened racial tensions in New Zealand. Recently, the government’s coalition partner, the Act Party, introduced a controversial bill to reinterpret the Treaty of Waitangi, the founding agreement between Māori and the Crown. Thousands marched in protest against the bill, highlighting ongoing challenges faced by the Māori community, including disparities in health, income, and education, as well as a seven-year gap in life expectancy compared to the general population.