Author: openjargon

• Ukraine has intensified attacks on Crimea in recent months and looks set to hit the Kerch Bridge later this year.
• The peninsula, and the bridge, are crucial for Russian military logistics.
• A Ukrainian success in Crimea could mark the end of the war, experts say.

If there is one place Ukraine is winning in the war against Russia, it's Crimea, experts say.

At the start of the year, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made it clear that the battle for Crimea and the Black Sea would play a central role in the coming months.

Ukrainian success in Crimea would be a major blow for Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"Russia's defeat in Crimea would be not just a defeat, but a humiliation," according to Olga Khvostunova, a fellow in the Eurasia Program at the Foreign Policy Research Institute.

In February 2014, unmarked Russian forces, dubbed "little green men," stormed Crimea, taking control of key buildings and raising Russian flags above them.

By the end of March of that year, Russia's Federal Assembly had formally ratified the peninsula's annexation. The war in the Donbas began just a month later.

Ukrainians have since referred to the Black Sea peninsula as "occupied Crimea," and Zelenskyy has continually stated that any peace agreement must see it returned to Ukraine.

In the last few weeks, Ukraine has launched a series of successful attacks on the region, taking out multiple Russian air defense batteries and striking Balbek Airfield near Sevastopol.

Ukrainian attacks on the peninsula "are proving successful due to thorough preparation and systemic work, better opportunities for defense forces, satellite and aerial intelligence provided to Ukraine by NATO allies," Elina Beketova, a democracy fellow at the Centre for European Policy Analysis, told Business Insider.

Meanwhile, Ukraine, which lost its traditional naval fleet during the annexation of Crimea, has targeted Russia's Black Sea fleet with great success using sea drones.

The attacks have allowed Ukraine to resume grain shipments through the Black Sea, which is vital for its economy, and forced Russia's Black Sea Fleet to move some operations away from its naval home base in Sevastopol on the Crimean peninsula.

Ukraine even claimed to have sunk the Black Sea Fleet's flagship, the Moskva.

Crimea "is the key to Russia's Black Sea access and operations," Maria Snegovaya, a senior fellow with the Center for Strategic and International Studies' Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program, said.

"Crimea allows for power projection over the rest of the Black Sea. Accordingly, deterring Russian naval positions in Crimea is critical for Ukraine," she continued.

Attacks on the peninsula and on the Black Sea Fleet are therefore aimed at depriving "Russian forces of the opportunity to use the peninsula for attacks on mainland Ukraine," as well as disrupting the support for Russian troops in the occupied territories in the south of Ukraine, Beketova added.

One of the most hated symbols of Russia's illegal annexation

The 12-mile-long Kerch Bridge links mainland Russia to the eastern coast of Crimea.

For Putin, the bridge is one of his greatest achievements, symbolizing what he believes is the "return" of Crimea to Russia.

Its destruction would, therefore, be both a strategic and symbolic victory for Ukraine and a major blow to Putin.

Ukraine has already struck the bridge twice since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion, but it has thusfar failed to destroy it.

Earlier this year, officials from Ukraine's Main Directorate of Intelligence told the Guardian that Ukraine would target the bridge for a third time before the year was up.

Its destruction is "inevitable," they said.

There are already signs that Russia, too, fears Ukraine may make another attack on the bridge.

Last week, the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) said in an update on the conflict that Russia had installed eight barges on the southern side of the bridge to reduce "the angles of approach for Ukrainian unmanned service vehicles."

Russia has also begun taking measures to reduce its dependence on the Kerch Bridge.

The MoD said in an update in March that Putin had announced the construction of a railway line from Rostov-on-Don in the south of Russia to Crimea.

The department said Putin had claimed the line would stretch as far as Sevastopol and would "provide redundancy" for the Kerch Bridge.

Some in Ukraine have taken this as a sign of Putin's recognition of Ukraine's threat to the bridge.

"The railway along the land corridor is recognition on the part of the Russian occupiers that the Crimean Bridge is doomed,Dmitry Pletenchuk, a spokesman for Ukraine's southern military command, told The Economist.

Crimea has a special place in Russian hearts

Former Russian Empress Catherine the Great annexed Crimea in 1783, and the territory has been militarily and symbolically important to Russia ever since.

It holds a special place in the nation's collective memory of the Soviet era, when it became a popular vacation destination for generations of workers due to its warm climate, Snegovaya said.

In 2022, massive explosions at the Saki Airbase, which Ukraine claimed to be behind, brought the war to vacationing Russians, who filmed the attack from beach huts.

Alexei Volkov, the president of the National Union of Hospitality Industries, told Reuters in 2023 that tourist numbers in Crimea were expected to be down 20-30% to between 6 and 6.5 million people.

Frederik Mertens, a Strategic Analyst at the Hague Centre for Strategic Studies, told BI that by targeting the peninsula, especially Russian ground-based air defense (GBAD) systems, Ukraine is "preparing the ground" for future air strikes once F-16 fighter jets arrive.

"Crimea is vulnerable," he said. "The Russians have relatively limited maneuver space on the peninsula."

"Putin has a lot to lose both politically and militarily. So if a limited number of fighters can have a real impact, it is here — and above the Black Sea that becomes fully accessible once the GBAD on Crimea is dealt with," he added.

Russia has relocated its most advanced S-500 air defense system to the peninsula, likely to protect the region from jets, Ukraine's spy chief Budanov has previously stated.

"Russia cannot afford to lose Crimea," Snegovaya said. "This offers Ukraine an opportunity to use threatening the status of Crimea as a bargaining chip in future negotiations."

If Ukraine can regain control of the Black Sea and take back the peninsula — or simply put enough pressure on these areas to threaten Putin — "it will mark the end of the war," Beketova added.

• Taylor Swift and Joe Alwyn quietly began dating in 2016. Their breakup was reported in early 2023.
• Despite being a couple for six years, Swift and Alwyn were famously mum about their relationship.
• Alwyn cowrote six of Swift's songs, which appear on "Folklore," "Evermore," and "Midnights."

To the public's knowledge, Taylor Swift's longest relationship to date was with Joe Alwyn, a British actor best known for roles in "The Favourite" and "Conversations With Friends."

Despite dating for more than six years, Swift and Alwyn were famously mum about their shared life and rarely spotted in public together. Their breakup made headlines in early 2023, in the midst of Swift's blockbuster Eras Tour.

Swift's latest album, "The Tortured Poets Department," seems to offer clues as to why they split.

Keep reading for a complete breakdown of their relationship.

Claudia Willen contributed to a previous version of this article.

May 2, 2016: Swift and Alwyn theoretically meet at the Met Gala.

Both Alwyn and Swift attended the 2016 Met Gala, which was themed "Manus X Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology."

At the time, Swift was in a relationship with Calvin Harris, who didn't attend the event. They broke up just one month later.

Fans have speculated that Alwyn caught Swift's eye at the famous gala, based on the lyrics in Swift's 2017 song "Dress."

"Flashback when you met me / Your buzzcut and my hair bleached," she sings. Alwyn showed up to the Met Gala with a shaved head, while Swift paired a platinum-blonde bob with her Louis Vuitton dress.

October 2016: Swift and Alwyn attend the same private Kings of Leon concert in New York City.

One month after breaking up with Tom Hiddleston, Swift and her friends attended a private Kings of Leon concert at The Bowery Hotel in New York.

A video shared by a fan website revealed that Alwyn was also in attendance, though it remains unclear if the pair interacted inside the closed-door event. 

January 3, 2017: Swift journals that she's been in a secret relationship for three months.

The singer included photocopied pages of her diary entries with physical copies of her 2019 album "Lover." One excerpt seemed to reference her relationship with Alwyn.

Dated January 3, 2017, Swift wrote, "I'm essentially based in London, hiding out trying to protect us from the nasty world that just wants to ruin things."

"We have been together and no one has found out for 3 months now," she added. "I want it to stay that way because I don't want anything about this to change."

May 2017: News breaks of their relationship.

The Sun broke the news that Swift and Alwyn had been secretly dating for months. 

A source told The Sun that the singer flew to see her British beau in London "via private jets and her security has made it a military-like mission to prevent her from being seen."

The outlet also reported, "She's been walking around with Joe in London using disguises, like scarves and hats, to keep her identity under wraps."

November 10, 2017: Swift releases "Reputation," an album apparently inspired by Alwyn.

Since news of their relationship broke, fans began scouring Swift's songs and music videos for Easter eggs that point to Alwyn.

These clues date back to 2017's "Reputation," which Swift described as "an album about finding love throughout all the noise."

For example, the numbers "89" and "91" appear alongside each other in the "…Ready For It?" music video, released as a single on September 17, 2017.

Swift was famously born in 1989. The second number likely stands for 1991, Alwyn's birth year. At one point in the video, Swift also types "21" into a keypad; Alwyn's birthday is February 21.

A similar detail was noticed in the music video for "Delicate," another single from "Reputation." Swift dances in front of a visible sign that reads "Joe's Deli."

Several songs on the album, including "Gorgeous" and "New Year's Day," seem to reference to Alwyn's British accent and "ocean-blue eyes."

October 2017: Swift's close friend Ed Sheeran says he approves of her new relationship.

The "Shape of You" singer described Alwyn as a "really, really friendly, really good dude" on Capital London's Breakfast Show.

"They are very much in love, they have quite a low-key relationship, which Taylor likes. It's normal, and no one really knows about it right now," he said.

One month later, Alwyn and Swift watched Sheeran perform at London's Jingle Ball. Fans captured videos of the couple slow-dancing to the song "Perfect."

April 2018: Swift performs a cover "September" by Earth, Wind & Fire, which may include a hint about their romance.

When Swift recorded a cover of "September" as a Spotify exclusive, she tweaked the first line ("Do you remember the 21st night of September?") to say "the 28th night of September."

For an Easter egg enthusiast like Swift, it's hard to imagine this noticeable switch wasn't meant to send a message. Fans have theorized that September 28 was the day Alwyn professed his love to Swift.

In fact, Swift liked a Tumblr post explaining the theory.

May 2018: Alwyn and Swift share solo shots in the same spot.

Although Swift and Alwyn have never shared any photos together, they posted near-identical solo shots on Instagram just one day apart.

Swift shared hers on May 7, 2018, writing in the caption: "Today I met a cactus."

The following day, Alwyn shared his photo with just a cactus emoji.

November 2018: Swift promotes Alwyn's movie "The Favourite."

Alwyn played the role of Baron Masham in the 2018 period drama "The Favourite." Swift hailed the film as "absolutely phenomenal" the day before its release.

She also supported Alwyn leading up to the premiere and accompanied him to the showing at the New York Film Festival in September 2018.

December 2018: Alwyn says it's "flattering" that Swift uses him as inspiration for her music.

Swift has built a reputation as a confessional songwriter, drawing lyrical inspiration from her personal life. Fans believe albums such as "Reputation" and "Lover" contain references to Alwyn — although Swift never explicitly confirms who inspires her songs.

In a 2018 interview with The Sunday Times, the actor was asked if being the subject of his girlfriend's songs bothered him.

"No, not at all. No. It's flattering," he replied.

Earlier that month, he defended their privacy in an interview with Esquire. When asked if he was aware of the challenges that come with dating a superstar, Alwyn said he "didn't seek out advice" before getting involved with Swift.

"I know what I feel about it," he explained. "I think there's a very clear line as to what somebody should share, or feel like they have to share, and what they don't want to and shouldn't have to."

August 23, 2019: Swift releases "Lover," her first album that seems to detail a long-term relationship.

In an interview with Vogue, Swift described her seventh album as "a love letter to love, in all of its maddening, passionate, exciting, enchanting, horrific, tragic, wonderful glory."

Although she didn't mention Alwyn by name, much of the album seems inspired by their long-term relationship: "I Think He Knows" describes her attraction to a man with "indigo eyes" and "London Boy" is an explicit declaration of love for a Brit. Both the title track and "Paper Rings" drop hints about wanting to get married.

The album closer "Daylight" is especially revealing. Originally planned as the title track, it reveals how Swift's vision of love had changed from passion and heat to comfort and warmth: "And I can still see it all in my head / Back and forth from New York, sneaking in your bed / I once believed love would be burning red / But it's golden."

February 10, 2019: Swift skips the Grammys to attend a BAFTA after-party with Alwyn instead.

Swift's "Reputation" was nominated for best pop vocal album at the 2019 Grammys, but she skipped the Los Angeles ceremony to attend the BAFTA Awards after-party in London. ("The Favourite" received seven awards that night.)

Swift congratulated the film's cast in an Instagram post, but Alwyn wasn't pictured.

August 2019: Swift refuses to talk about Alwyn because "our relationship isn't up for discussion."

Swift steered clear of her relationship with Alwyn during an August 2019 interview with The Guardian.

"I've learned that if I do, people think it's up for discussion, and our relationship isn't up for discussion," she said.

The singer continued, "If you and I were having a glass of wine right now, we'd be talking about it — but it's just that it goes out into the world. That's where the boundary is, and that's where my life has become manageable. I really want to keep it feeling manageable."

January 5, 2020: The couple make a rare public appearance at the Golden Globes.

The couple walked the red carpet separately but sat together at the 2020 Golden Globe Awards.

Swift presented the award for best animated feature film and was nominated for best original song for "Beautiful Ghosts," which was featured in the movie "Cats."

January 31, 2020: Swift's Netflix documentary premieres, featuring a brief scene with Alwyn.

The Netflix documentary "Taylor Swift: Miss Americana" doesn't focus on Swift's love life, but she does open up about the beginning of her relationship with Alwyn.

"I also was falling in love with someone who had a really wonderfully normal, balanced, grounded life and we decided together that we wanted our relationship to be private," she says. During this scene, a montage plays showing Swift in a series of home videos, but the person filming is never shown.

The camera crew only catches Alwyn in one brief scene, when Swift runs backstage to hug him after a concert on her Reputation Stadium Tour.

February 12, 2020: Swift kisses Alwyn at the NME Awards.

Swift and Alwyn didn't walk the 2020 NME Awards carpet, but they did sit next to each other at the show, which took place at the O2 Academy Brixton in London.

A fan seated above Swift and Alwyn recorded several videos of the couple kissing and hugging. When the pop star won the award for best solo act in the world, she embraced the actor and kissed him once again.

April 2020: Alwyn shares photos of Swift's cat in the early stages of the pandemic.

Alwyn provided a rare glimpse into his and Swift's private life by sharing photos of Benjamin Button, one of the pop star's three cats, on his Instagram story. 

Although Swift didn't appear, fans recognized Benjamin from her own social media and took it as confirmation the couple were isolating together.

July 24, 2020: Swift surprise-releases her album "Folklore," which credits Alwyn as a cowriter.

Swift shocked fans by announcing that she'd release her eighth studio album "Folklore" just one day in advance.

Swift began writing the album in April 2020 while she was quarantined with Alwyn. She told fans that she "poured all of my whims, dreams, fears, and musings" into the music, playing with characters and different perspectives to tell emotional stories.

The album is full of songs about heartbreak, fear, and betrayal, including "The 1," "Peace," and "Hoax."

Upon the album's release, fans grew concerned that Swift was drawing inspiration from her relationship with Alwyn to write these devastating tracks.

However, the 11th track is a sweet love song titled "Invisible String," which seems to specifically reference details about Alwyn's life, like his teenage job at a frozen yogurt shop. 

Two songs on the album, "Exile" and "Betty," were credited to a mysterious cowriter named William Bowery. Fans immediately began suspecting that it was a pseudonym for Alwyn, which Swift later confirmed.

"Joe plays piano beautifully, and he's always just playing and making things up and kind of creating things," she revealed in Disney+ film "Folklore: The Long Pond Studio Sessions." 

August 2020: Alwyn and Swift reportedly travel to Utah together.

Alwyn shared an Instagram photo of himself hiking in Utah in August 2020, and Swift immediately liked the post.

Although she wasn't in the photo, a source told E! News that Swift accompanied Alwyn on the trip. 

"Taylor has been based in Nashville, but she just went to Park City, Utah for a few days with Joe," the source said. "They're back in LA."

November 2020: Swift says her relationship with Alwyn allows her to "find bits of normalcy."

For her November 2020 cover story for Rolling Stone, Swift discussed her private relationship in a conversation with Paul McCartney.

"In knowing him and being in the relationship I am in now, I have definitely made decisions that have made my life feel more like a real life and less like just a storyline to be commented on in tabloids," she told McCartney.

Swift added: "Whether that's deciding where to live, who to hang out with, when to not take a picture — the idea of privacy feels so strange to try to explain, but it's really just trying to find bits of normalcy."

When the former Beatle asked if Alwyn sympathizes with the reality of Swift's fame, she replied, "Oh, absolutely."

She also confirmed that "Peace," the penultimate track on "Folklore," is "rooted" in her personal life and relationship with Alwyn. She said the song was inspired by "how scary" it can be to carve out a "human life within a public life," especially when the other person has a "grounded, normal way of living."

"I, oftentimes, in my anxieties, can control how I am as a person and how normal I act and rationalize things, but I cannot control if there are 20 photographers outside in the bushes and what they do and if they follow our car and if they interrupt our lives," she said. "I can't control if there's going to be a fake weird headline about us in the news tomorrow."

December 11, 2020: Swift releases "Evermore," featuring more songwriting collaborations with Alwyn.

When Swift announced her second surprise album of 2020, she told fans that many of the same collaborators from "Folklore" helped craft "Evermore" — one of them being Alwyn. 

The actor is credited (under the same pseudonym) on three "Evermore" tracks: "Champagne Problems," "Coney Island," and "Evermore."

He later said that writing songs with his girlfriend in quarantine was "as basic as some people made sourdough."

"It was completely off the cuff, an accident," Alwyn told Vulture. "She said, 'Can we try and sit down and get to the end together?' And so we did."

January 2021: The couple is spotted holding hands in London.

Swift and Alwyn made a rare public outing together in early January 2021, taking a stroll through North London Public Park with the actor's mother, Elizabeth Alwyn. 

The couple held hands, and all three individuals wore masks, as seen in a photograph published by E! News. 

An anonymous source told the outlet that Swift has been splitting her time between England and Nashville during the pandemic.

"She is back and forth between Nashville and England spending time with her family and with Joe's family. They take walks in the neighborhood and go on hikes to get fresh air," they said, adding that Alwyn often "comes along."

March 2021: Alwyn supports Swift when she calls out a sexist joke.

On the Netflix show "Ginny & Georgia," a teenager tells her mother that she goes "through men faster than Taylor Swift." 

After fans took notice of the line in March 2021, which many considered misogynistic, "RESPECT TAYLOR SWIFT" began trending on Twitter.

The musician responded directly, slamming the joke as "lazy" and "deeply sexist" on Twitter. 

"How about we stop degrading hard working women by defining this horse shit as FuNnY. Also, @netflix after Miss Americana this outfit doesn't look cute on you," she wrote, adding a broken-heart emoji. "Happy Women's History Month I guess."

Alwyn, who hadn't liked a tweet since November 2020, returned to the social media platform to cosign Swift's message.

March 14, 2021: Swift thanks Alwyn during her Grammys acceptance speech.

Swift thanked Alwyn in her acceptance speech after "Folklore" won album of the year at the 2021 Grammy Awards, making her the first woman to win the award three times.

"Joe, who is the first person that I play every single song that I write, and I had the best time writing songs with you in quarantine," she said onstage.

Summer 2021: Swift spends time with Alwyn on set in Ireland.

Alwyn's Hulu show "Conversations With Friends" was largely filmed in Dublin, but in July 2021, Alwyn was photographed with his costar Alison Oliver in Bray, a coastal town in the Irish county Wicklow.

Alwyn stars in the adaptation alongside Oliver, Jemima Kirke, and Sasha Lane. While the four actors filmed the 12-episode series, Swift visited the set and spent time with them, Kirke explained during an interview with iNews.

"We all became very close: Joe, me, Sasha, Alison and Taylor — we all became each other's pod," the former "Girls" star explained.

Swift seemed to confirm this in her 2022 song "Sweet Nothing," which was cowritten by Alwyn.

"I spy with my little tired eye / Tiny as a firefly / A pebble that we picked up last July," she sings in the first verse. "Down deep inside your pocket / We almost forgot it / Does it ever miss Wicklow sometimes?"

February 2022: Alwyn says he's "happy in a monogamous relationship."

In "Conversations With Friends," Hulu's adaptation of Sally Rooney's debut novel, Alwyn plays Nick, a married actor that has an affair with a college student.

Alwyn discussed the limited series during a media presentation at the Cable and Television Association for Marketing in February 2022. When asked to share his personal opinion on open relationships, the actor responded by saying that such an arrangement seems "exhausting" but also reasoned, "people can do what they want and makes them happy."

He added: "I'm obviously happy in a monogamous relationship."

April 2022: Once again, the actor defends the couple's privacy.

During an interview with Elle UK to promote "Conversations With Friends," Alwyn spoke about his decision to keep his relationship with Swift removed from the public sphere. 

Alwyn told the magazine that "it's not really" because he wants "to be guarded and private, it's more a response to something else."

"We live in a culture that is so increasingly intrusive," the actor continued. "The more you give — and frankly, even if you don't give it — something will be taken."

May 9, 2022: Alwyn declines to confirm rumors of their engagement.

During an interview with Vulture, Alwyn declined to confirm speculation that he and Swift were engaged or already married.

"The truth is, if I had a pound coin for every time someone told me I've been engaged or I'm getting engaged, I would have a lot of pound coins," he said. "If the answer was yes, I wouldn't say. If the answer is no, I wouldn't say."

May 15, 2022: Swift publicly supports Alwyn's career.

When "Conversations With Friends" premiered, Swift shared Time's review of the show on her Instagram and wrote that she "can confirm it's phenomenal."

October 7, 2022: Swift references her relationship with Alwyn while teasing her single "Lavender Haze."

Ahead of its release, Swift shared a video of herself explaining the inspiration behind her "Midnights" single "Lavender Haze." (It has since been deleted.)

According to the singer, "Lavender Haze" was a "common phrase" used in the '50s to describe being in love.

"That meant you were in that all-encompassing love glow," she said. "Theoretically, when you're in the lavender haze, you'll do anything to stay there."

"I think a lot of people have to deal with this now, not just 'public figures,' because we live in the era of social media," Swift added. "If the world finds out that you're in love with somebody, they're going to weigh in on it."

She added that during her six-year relationship, they've had to ignore "weird rumors, tabloid stuff" in order to "protect the real stuff."

In the song, Swift reveals that she was referring to speculation that she and Alwyn are engaged, secretly married, or planning to have children. ("No deal, that 1950s shit they want from me," she sings.)

The music video also seems to contain several nods to Alwyn, including a vinyl cover bearing the constellation for Pisces, his zodiac sign.

October 21, 2022: Swift releases "Midnights," which includes another song cowritten with Alwyn.

Swift said her 10th album contains real details about "sleepless nights scattered throughout my life," immediately distinguishing "Midnights" as more autobiographical than "Folklore" and "Evermore."

The 12th track, "Sweet Nothing," was cowritten by Swift and Alwyn, who is once again credited under the pen name William Bowery.

The lyrics seem to explore tender moments in their relationship, referencing their 2021 trip to Wicklow in the first verse and praising Alwyn's laid-back attitude in the chorus.

Swift uses the common phrase "sweet nothings" as a double entendre; it's typically used to describe the whisperings of a lover, but Swift also uses it to illustrate that her relationship is quiet and nondemanding ("You're in the kitchen humming / All that you ever wanted from me was sweet nothing").

April 8, 2023: Multiple outlets report Swift and Alwyn's breakup.

After six years together, Swift and Alwyn went their separate ways.

Entertainment Tonight broke the news while Swift was on the road for The Eras Tour. People and Page Six later confirmed the report.

According to ET, the couple split a few weeks prior. Its source described their breakup as amicable, adding, "It was not dramatic."

"The relationship had just run its course. It's why [Alwyn] hasn't been spotted at any shows," the source said.

Representatives for Swift and Alwyn didn't respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

May 2023: Swift releases the "Midnights" vault track "You're Losing Me," which fans believe was inspired by Alwyn.

Less than two months after the breakup made headlines, Swift announced she'd be releasing more music from the "Midnights" era, including a song that was cut from the original tracklist entitled "You're Losing Me."

The lyrics describe two lovers who are drifting apart and unable to communicate. Swift criticizes her muse for ignoring her sadness and neglecting her needs, which culminates in the song's unvarnished bridge: "I wouldn't marry me either / A pathological people pleaser / Who only wanted you to see her."

The song's producer, Jack Antonoff, later revealed that Swift wrote "You're Losing Me" in December 2021, when she was still publicly dating Alwyn.

In retrospect, fans wonder if "Midnights" hinted at cracks in their relationship.

The album includes songs like "Midnight Rain" and "Bejeweled," which depict Swift as an ambitious, untethered woman. In the latter's music video, Swift declines a wedding proposal and ends up alone in her castle.

The album's extended "3am Edition" also concludes with "Dear Reader," an intimate ballad about Swift's lonely experience with fame. She sings of returning to "a house, not a home, all alone 'cause nobody's there," adding, "No one sees when you lose when you're playing solitaire."

April 19, 2024: Swift releases "The Tortured Poets Department," which may contain clues about her split from Alwyn.

Swift's 11th studio album, "The Tortured Poets Department," contains some of her most uninhibited and forthright lyricism to date.

As usual, Swift has kept the identities of her muses private. But two songs, "So Long, London" and "Loml," appear to be most inspired by Swift's relationship with Alwyn.

"So Long, London" is likely intended as a sequel to "London Boy," an upbeat love song released in 2019 after Swift relocated to the English city.

Swift's new song explores how a familiar place, once so precious, can grow sinister over time. Likewise, a comfortable relationship can grow complacent and resentful. ("You swore that you loved me, but where were the clues? / I died on the altar waiting for the proof.")

"Loml" is similarly preoccupied with erosion. As Swift rehashes the relationship in question, the titular phrase "love of my life" gradually becomes "loss of my life."

June 15, 2024: Alwyn breaks his silence on the breakup in an interview.

The actor spoke about his relationship with and split from Swift in an interview with The Sunday Times over a year after their breakup.

"I would hope that anyone and everyone can empathize and understand the difficulties that come with the end of a long, loving, fully committed relationship of over six and a half years," he said.

He said that the end of their relationship was a "hard thing to navigate."

"What is unusual and abnormal in this situation is that, one week later, it's suddenly in the public domain and the outside world is able to weigh in," he added.

Alwyn told the Times that he had made his "peace" with misconceptions surrounding their split, especially after the couple had gone to great lengths to keep their relationship private.

"As everyone knows, we together — both of us, mutually — decided to keep the more private details of our relationship private. It was never something to commodify and I see no reason to change that now," he said. "And, look, this is also a little over a year ago now and I feel fortunate to be in a really great place in my life, professionally and personally. I feel really good."

• The 2024 Senate elections — which will run concurrent with the presidential race — are approaching.
• Democrats will have to defend several vulnerable incumbents in swing and GOP-heavy states.
• However, the party has held their own in the last three cycles in navigating tough Senate races.

In the 2022 midterm elections, Democrats defied political expectations by holding on to their Senate majority, with every incumbent securing reelection and then-Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. John Fetterman flipping the open seat being vacated by retiring Republican Sen. Pat Toomey.

The upper chamber in January 2023 then shifted from its previous 50-50 split — with Senate control in 2021 and 2022 resting on Vice President Kamala Harris' tiebreaking abilities — to a 51-49 majority led by Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York. And despite Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema switching from the Democratic Party to register as an Independent late in 2022, she continues to retain her committee assignments through her former party.

However, the class of senators who were elected and reelected in 2018 — a Democratic wave year that saw several vulnerable red-state members of the party win and lose — will face a challenging map in 2024.

Much of the party's performance will likely be tied to President Joe Biden, who is seeking reelection to a second term.

Former President Donald Trump, who will once again be the Republican presidential nominee this year, remains unpopular among moderates and suburban voters who often decide close Senate elections.

A major development that boosts the GOP: Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia in November 2023 announced that he wouldn't seek reelection in 2024, a major blow to Democrats as he was not only the lone statewide officeholder from the party but the only Democrat who could conceivably have run a competitive race given its conservative lean. The GOP is now in the driver's seat in the Mountain State, which backed Trump over Biden by 39 points in 2020.

In 2024, 34 seats will be up for grabs, including 20 currently held by Democrats, 11 held by Republicans, and three currently held by Independents.

Here are the key states that both parties are set to target:

Arizona

Sinema's decision to become an Independent gave Democrats jitters while they were still rejoicing Georgia Sen. Raphael Warnock's runoff victory in December 2022, but since then, her decision hasn't impaired the party's ability to move legislation and approve judicial nominations.

However, after more than a year of speculation, Sinema announced in March 2024 that she wouldn't seek reelection to a second term, ending fears from some Democrats that her candidacy might aid the GOP in a potential three-way race.

Rep. Ruben Gallego launched his campaign for the Democratic Senate nomination in January 2023 and remains the frontrunner to win the party's primary in July.

Democrats have made major inroads in Arizona in recent years, and the party is aiming to bolster their political ascent in the state by electing Gallego.

On the Republican side, former television journalist Kari Lake and Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb are the leading candidates.

Lake, the 2022 gubernatorial nominee who lost to now-Gov. Katie Hobbs, jumped into the Senate race in October 2023 with the endorsement of Trump. While Lake ran a hard-charging conservative campaign two years ago, she has recalibrated her strategy and has sought to expand the GOP tent this year in anticipation of a competitive general election race in the purple state.

Meanwhile, Lamb, a conservative who has pushed for stronger security measures at the US-Mexico border, was the first major Republican to enter the race.

Blake Masters, the 2022 Republican Senate nominee who lost to Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly, is running for the House seat being vacated by GOP Rep. Debbie Lesko after the 2024 elections.

Abe Hamadeh, who was narrowly defeated in the 2022 race for state attorney general, had been mentioned as a potential contender but in October 2023 threw his support behind Lake. He is also running to succeed Lesko in the House.

Maryland

Former Republican Gov. Larry Hogan will face off against Prince George's County Executive Angela Alsobrooks for the seat being vacated by veteran Democratic Sen. Ben Cardin.

Maryland is one of the most Democratic states in the country. The party has hefty majorities in the state legislature and dominates the state's congressional delegation. In the 2020 election, Biden won the state by 33 points. And Gov. Wes Moore easily won the state's open gubernatorial race in 2022.

Hogan's candidacy presents a unique challenge for Democrats. The former two-term governor, one of the most prominent Republican critics of Trump, left office with high marks from Maryland voters. During his two gubernatorial runs, he won over many moderate Democrats and Independents en route to his victories in a state where Republicans are vastly outnumbered.

And Republicans have the financial means to compete in Maryland as they seek to replicate the coalition that gave Hogan eight years in Annapolis.

But Alsobrooks, a former prosecutor, gained substantial name recognition as she campaigned across the state and won a tough Democratic primary against Rep. David Trone, who spent over $60 million of his own money in his unsuccessful bid to secure the party's nomination.

Alsobrooks also benefits from representing the state's second-most populous county and in the primary she performed strongly in Trone's suburban Washington backyard and in the Baltimore area.

If elected, Alsobrooks would be Maryland's first Black US senator.

In June 2024, Trump threw his support behind Hogan's candidacy in an attempt to bridge GOP divides ahead of a critical summer stretch.

But Hogan's campaign is maintaining its distance from Trump.

"Governor Hogan has been clear he is not supporting Donald Trump just as he didn't in 2016 and 2020," a Hogan campaign spokesperson said in a statement.

Alsobrooks is using Trump's show of support for Hogan to tie the Senate candidate to conservative efforts to curtail abortion rights.

But Hogan has said that he would not vote a national abortion ban. It's a stance that Democrats continue to question.

"Republicans see Hogan as a ticket to a national abortion ban," Alsobrooks said in Baltimore in May 2024. "They believe that road runs through Larry Hogan and runs through the state of Maryland."

Michigan

Democratic Sen. Debbie Stabenow, a popular lawmaker now in her fourth term, announced in January 2023 that she would not run for reelection in 2024.

Stabenow, the chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee, was most recently reelected in 2018 by 6.5% against now-GOP Rep. John James. (James, the Republican Senate nominee in both 2018 and 2020, is running for reelection to his House seat anchored in suburban Detroit this fall.)

Republicans would very much like to flip this seat, but Michigan Democrats had a banner year in November 2022 — sweeping the top statewide offices and retaking control of the full legislature. Michigan is a must-win state for Biden this year, but he continues to face significant intraparty pushback over the conflict in Gaza, an issue that will play heavily in the presidential race and the Senate contest given the state's sizable Arab-American population.

Rep. Elissa Slotkin, a moderate Democrat who represents a Lansing-area swing district that stretches to rural and suburban areas northwest of Detroit, announced in February 2023 that she would enter the Senate race.

Slotkin, a former CIA analyst and the acting assistant defense secretary for international security affairs in the administration of President Barack Obama, is the most prominent elected official to seek the Democratic nomination.

The congresswoman, who was first elected in 2018, said in her announcement video that she would focus on bolstering the middle class "in the state that invented the middle class" if voters send her to the Senate.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, Reps. Debbie Dingell and Haley Stevens, and state Sen. Mallory McMorrow all ruled out Senate campaigns.

The actor Hill Harper, best known for his roles on "CSI: NY" and "The Good Doctor," jumped into the Democratic primary in July 2023.

A number of Republicans are currently in the race, including former Rep. Mike Rogers, Sandy Pensler, a businessman, and Sherry O'Donnell, a physician and former congressional candidate.

Former Rep. Justin Amash, who voted to impeach Trump in 2019, is also running for the GOP nomination.

Rogers, a former chairman of the House Intelligence Committee who served in Congress for 14 years, offers Michigan Republicans their most formidable candidate to date. But his appeal in a Trump-dominated GOP is untested on a statewide level.

Former Rep. Peter Meijer, one of 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach Trump for his role on January 6, 2021, entered the race in November 2023 but withdrew in April 2024.

Meijer served for one term in Congress and was ousted in a 2022 GOP primary by Trump-backed challenger John Gibbs. Gibbs eventually lost the general election race to now-Democratic Rep. Hillary Scholten.

Montana

Democratic Sen. Jon Tester is a political survivor, having first won in conservative-leaning Montana in 2006 before winning tough reelection contests in 2012 and 2018.

And Tester hopes to keep the streak going, announcing in February 2023 that he'd seek a fourth Senate term in 2024.

Despite the GOP lean of Montana, Tester has built a solid political brand over the years and has been able to appeal to many of the state's Independents and Republicans in past elections. GOP leaders have long coveted this seat, though.

Former Navy SEAL Tim Sheehy, a favorite of Republican leaders in Washington, jumped into the GOP primary in June 2023 and has earned the endorsement of Trump.

Former Montana Secretary of State Brad Johnson is also a candidate in the GOP primary.

Rep. Matt Rosendale, a staunch conservative who lost to Tester in 2018, announced in February 2024 that he'd also run for the seat. The decision was poised to set up a competitive — and potentially bruising — primary with Sheehy. But less than a week after entering the race, Rosendale dropped his bid, citing the headwinds he'd likely face after Trump backed Sheehy.

After Rosendale pivoted to running for reelection to the House, he subsequently withdrew from that race as well.

Nevada

Democratic Sen. Jacky Rosen is running for a second term in office in one of the most competitive battleground states in the country. In 2018, Rosen, then a first-term congresswoman, ousted then-Republican Sen. Dean Heller by 5 points.

In 2024, Rosen will be running for reelection as Nevada — a perennial swing state — remains a top electoral target for both Biden and Trump.

Army veteran and businessman Sam Brown easily won the June 2024 GOP Senate primary against candidates that included Jeffrey Gunter, the former US ambassador to Iceland, as well as former state lawmaker Jim Marchant.

Ohio

Sherrod Brown, who was also elected to the Senate in 2006, is running for a fourth term. He has maintained a strong populist connection with his constituents despite the continued reddening of Ohio, which only 20 years ago was widely seen as the nation's premier swing state.

Republicans view the Ohio seat as one of their biggest targets, but Brown has proven to be an effective candidate adept at winning over Independents and even a slice of conservative-leaning voters.

In March 2024, businessman Bernie Moreno defeated state Sen. Matt Dolan and Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose in a hotly-contested GOP primary.

Moreno and Dolan previously ran for Senate in 2022 but fell short in that year's Republican primary to now-Sen. JD Vance.

The general election matchup between Brown and Moreno, which could very well determine the Senate majority, is now set to be one of the most expensive races in the country.

Pennsylvania

Democratic Sen. Bob Casey Jr., who was first elected to the upper chamber in 2006, is seeking a fourth term in 2024.

Casey — a former Pennsylvania auditor general and ex-state treasurer who has won all three of his prior Senate races with relative ease — will likely benefit from running in a presidential year when turnout in the Democratic strongholds of Philadelphia and Pittsburgh is poised to be very high.

However, Casey has also generally done well in many of the state's working-class towns and cities, and he could post an electoral performance similar to Fetterman, who dominated in the vote-rich Philadelphia suburbs in 2022.

David McCormick, a businessman who narrowly lost the 2022 Republican Senate primary to Dr. Mehmet Oz, will be the party's Senate nominee in the fall. McCormick, who grew up in the Pittsburgh area, is viewed as a candidate who can potentially bolster the GOP among Independents and suburban voters.

Texas

The Lone Star State has been firmly in the Republican column since the 1990s.

Democrats have sought to run more competitive Senate and gubernatorial races in recent years but have largely fallen short by sizable margins, with the notable exception being the close 2018 senatorial contest between then-Democratic Rep. Beto O'Rourke and Republican Sen. Ted Cruz. That year, O'Rourke lost to Cruz by 2.6 points, a result that gave Democrats hope that they could once again win the state in the near future.

Cruz has long been a major foil for Democrats; the conservative lawmaker also ran for president in 2016 before his defeat in the GOP primary to Trump.

In March 2024, Rep. Colin Allred, a former NFL player and civil rights attorney, easily won the Democratic primary over candidates that included state Sen. Roland Gutierrez, state Rep. Carl Sherman, and former Nueces County district attorney Mark Gonzalez.

Republicans point to the conservative tilt of the state in projecting confidence in the race, but they are also cognizant of Cruz's narrow 2018 victory.

Trump is favored to carry Texas in 2024, which would likely boost Cruz, but Allred was first elected to office by appealing to moderates and flipping a GOP-held district in the Dallas area. The congressman could potentially build on O'Rourke's success by making further inroads in suburbs across the state, especially if abortion remains as potent an issue in 2024 as it was in the 2022 and 2023 elections.

Wisconsin

Sen. Tammy Baldwin announced in April 2023 that she'd seek a third term in the upper chamber.

While Wisconsin in recent years has been one of the most politically polarized states in the country, Baldwin was able to win over many rural and exurban voters during her 2012 and 2018 campaigns — while also racking up large margins in the Democratic-heavy population centers of Milwaukee and Madison.

Several of the most prominent Republicans who were thought of as potential candidates — including former Gov. Scott Walker, Reps. Bryan Steil and Tom Tiffany, and former Rep. Mike Gallagher — declined to enter the race.

The GOP candidates currently in the race include Eric Hovde, a businessman, and Rejani Raveendran, the chair of the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point College Republicans.

• Joe Alwyn has set the record straight about his association with The Black Dog pub in London.
• The actor, who dated Taylor Swift for six years, said he has never visited the pub.
• Many fans believed that the song was about the London-raised actor.

Taylor Swift's ex, Joe Alwyn, has denied ever visiting "The Black Dog" pub in London.

In a new interview with The Sunday Times, the London-raised actor, 33, who dated Taylor Swift for six years before their split in April 2023, claimed that he had never been to Vauxhall, where the pub is located.

"I've never been to Vauxhall," he said, while "smiling a smile that hints that there is more to say," the report said.

Swift had namechecked the pub on a bonus track of her latest album, "The Tortured Poets Department," and many speculated that it had something to do with Alwyn.

The pub's social media manager, Lily Bottomley, also hinted that Alwyn was a regular at the venue in an interview with Sky News in April.

"I don't want to give too much away, but we have a certain blonde regular customer who frequents," Bottomley said.

Bottomley also told the BBC that Swift had once visited the pub.

Business Insider visited The Black Dog following the album's release to get a look at the many Swifties flocking to the pub.

As BI reported, the owners have capitalized off their new patrons with Swift-themed menu items, including a "Swiftburger" and "Taylor's version" cocktails. Since then, they have also released a line of merchandise.

Others believe the song refers to The 1975 singer Matty Healy, with whom Swift reportedly had a brief relationship.

The owners of another pub, The Black Dog, in Cork, Ireland, added a sign reading "Team Matty" to the building after it was rumored that Swift was referring to that pub in her song.

The break-up ballad sees Swift — who is now in a relationship with Travis Kelce, a tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs — sing about seeing her former partner out on the town via a location-sharing app.

"I am someone who until recent events you shared your secrets with / And your location, you forgot to turn it off," the song begins.

"And so I watch as you walk / Into some bar called The Black Dog / And pierce new holes in my heart / You forgot to turn it off / And it hits me," Swift sings.

• Dozens of Russian soldiers have surrendered in Vovchansk in recent weeks, Ukraine claims.
• A video released by Ukraine's 3rd Assault Brigade appeared to show Russian POWs.
• The Russians reported major losses, poor conditions, and lack of support from senior officers.

Russian soldiers have been surrendering to an elite Ukrainian combat brigade in the northern town of Vovchansk in the Kharkiv region, reports say.

A video released on Wednesday by Ukraine's 3rd Assault Brigade appears to show Russian troops emerging from a trench with their hands raised above their head or tied behind their backs.

The video appeared to confirm recent reports that dozens of Russian soldiers had been surrendering around Vovchansk, where heavy fighting has raged since Moscow launched a cross-border offensive towards Ukraine's second-largest city, Kharkiv, last month.

The POWs were later filmed and interviewed, sitting in what appeared to be a school classroom.

Business Insider could not independently verify the video.

Several of the captured soldiers said they had been forced into the Russian army due to financial or legal trouble. Some said they had received as little as one week of training before being sent to the front.

Food and water were limited, and often, they had to buy supplies with their own money.

Almost all the prisoners said their units had suffered severe losses during attacks against Ukrainian positions.

"We received an order to attack positions inside a chemical factory. I don't know, maybe there were 70 of us. We drove there at night," one POW said.

"The drones came out of nowhere and wiped almost everyone out. Most of us were hit. Only seven of us survived and we were wounded. Then we were taken prisoner," he said.

Another soldier said he had been taken prisoner after being the "only survivor" in his unit.

Many complained about the leadership of their officers, who, they said, did not participate in the costly assaults.

The video appeared to confirm major Russian losses and surrenders in the region, revealing that Russia's attempt to open a second front in Ukraine's north has stalled.

Last week, Nazar Voloshyn, the spokesperson for the Khortitsiya Regional Command, which is responsible for ground operations in the area, claimed that "close to 60 Russians" were captured in a single day of combat.

Vovchansk, three miles from the Russian border, was 70% under Ukrainian control, Voloshyn said.

An earlier video published on June 6 by Ukraine's 36th Marine Brigade, appeared to show two Russian soldiers, both wounded, being captured during a Ukrainian counterattack in Vovchansk.

In February, some 30,000 Russian troops began pouring over Ukraine's northern border into the Kharkiv region, opening up a new front for Ukraine's already-stretched defenses.

Yet four weeks later, Russian forces have stalled, and White House National Security Communications Adviser John Kirby declared the offensive "all but over."

The Institute for the Study of War said that Putin may have rushed the offensive in an attempt to get ahead of incoming Western aid — fielding "an understrength force" in the process.

RAND geopolitical strategist Ann Marie Dailey previously told BI that Putin likely never had the means to capture Kharkiv city but hoped to create a buffer zone to shield the border region of Belgorod from Ukrainian attacks.

Nonetheless, Dailey told BI: "I think that there's a broader offensive effort that you'll see from Russia later in this summer."

• "House of the Dragon" season 2 premieres Sunday on HBO.
• The show's first season was dense, fast-paced, and full of time skips. 
• Here's a recap of the important info you need to remember before season 2.

Warning: spoilers ahead — obviously — for all of "House of the Dragon" season one.

"House of the Dragon" season two is finally almost here — but it's been a few years since season one aired on HBO.

If you're anything like us, you probably need a bit of a refresher on everything that happened in the show's complex, time-hopping first season. Season one served as a kind of prequel to the true action of "House of the Dragon": the Targaryen civil war known as the Dance of the Dragons.

We've got a comprehensive summary of everything particularly important that happened in season one of "House of the Dragon," from King Viserys becoming the heir to the throne over his cousin Rhaenys to Aemond Targaryen and his dragon Vhagar killing Rhaenyra's son Lucerys and his dragon Arrax.

Here's everything you need to know before diving into "House of the Dragon" season two.

Aegon the Conqueror has a prophetic vision that's been passed down the Targaryen royal line.

Viserys tells his daughter Rhaenyra about a prophecy passed down the Targaryen line: "A Song of Ice and Fire," which should be a familiar name.

In Aegon's prophecy, a threat will descend on Westeros from the North — a long and dangerous winter. According to his vision, that threat can only be defeated by a realm united with a Targaryen on the Iron Throne.

The Grand Council names Viserys Targaryen the heir to the Iron Throne after King Jaehaerys, over Rhaenys Targaryen.

Near the end of the first century of Targaryen rule, a Grand Council convened to determine the path of succession following King Jaehaerys. Both of Jaehaerys' sons were dead, and the council decided that Viserys Targaryen would be his heir rather than Rhaenys Targaryen, his eldest descendant, a daughter.

Viserys assumed the throne after Jaehaerys, while Rhaenys came to be called the "Queen Who Never Was."

Viserys names his daughter Rhaenyra his heir over his brother Daemon before he has two sons with his second wife, Alicent Hightower.

The relationship between Viserys and his brother, Daemon, is strained following the death of Viserys' newborn son, Baelon. Daemon calls him "Prince for a day," which is the final straw in the two's strained relationship, following the City Watch's excessive use of violence under Daemon's orders.

As a result, Viserys names Rhaenyra as his sole heir, which Daemon takes very badly. But everyone else pledges to Rhaenyra as the future ruler.

Following his wife Aemma's traumatic death during childbirth, Viserys is pressured to marry Laena Velaryon, but instead, he chooses Alicent Hightower (Emily Carey), who also happens to be Rhaenyra's closest friend. This is the inciting moment that starts to divide the girls.

Over the years, Alicent gives birth to three Targaryen children: Aegon, Aemond, and Helaena.

Daemon Targaryen and Corlys Velaryon defeat the Triarchy in the Stepstones.

The Triarchy is an alliance between the cities of Lys, Myr, and Tyrosh that takes over the Stepstones to control the shipping lanes. Corlys Velaryon (Steve Toussaint) and Daemon work together to battle the Triarchy, but they struggle to wipe them out with Daemon's dragon, Caraxes, because they keep retreating into the caves.

Daemon surrenders himself to get the army's leader, Craghas Drahar — AKA the Crabfeeder (Daniel Scott-Smith) — out into the open. With a little help from Laenor Velaryon (John MacMillan) and his dragon, Seasmoke, Daemon wipes out a wave of Triarchy soldiers before butchering the Crabfeeder in a cave.

He emerges victorious by dragging out the Crabfeeder's bisected torso.

Rhaenyra marries Laenor Velaryon, Corlys Velaryon's son — but has a sexual encounter with Ser Criston Cole.

Under pressure from Viserys to marry, Rhaenyra entertains several potential suitors as a young woman, but none of them are to her fancy. She arrives at King's Landing at the same time as Daemon, who returns from the war in the Stepstones. She and Daemon venture into the city together in plain clothes, and they're spotted kissing at a pleasure house — unfortunately, word makes its way back to Otto Hightower.

When Rhaenyra returns to her room, she has sex with Ser Criston. Alicent confronts Rhaenyra after hearing the rumor that she had sex with Daemon, which Rhaenyra vehemently denies. After hearing the report from Otto, Viserys sends Daemon back to his wife in The Vale and tells Rhaenyra that she's to wed Laenor Velaryon, Lord Corlys' and Rhaenys' son. However, he also strips Otto of his position as the Hand of the King.

Rhaenyra and Laenor establish an understanding — their marriage will afford both of them the freedom to make their own sexual pursuits. But all's not well at their wedding: Alicent learns from Ser Criston that Rhaenyra was not a maiden when she was wed and arrives at the wedding dinner in green — for a Hightower, the color of war.

Laenor and Rhaenyra are wed, but not before Ser Criston brutally kills Laenor's paramour, Joffrey, at the celebration.

Rhaenyra and Laenor have three sons together — but they're actually Ser Harwin Strong's bastards.

Years later, Rhaenyra has given birth to three sons: Jacaerys, Lucerys, and Joffrey, all under her marriage with Laenor.

However, it's an open secret that none of those children look like Laenor — in fact, they rather resemble Ser Harwin Strong.

Rhaenyra's sons each bond to a dragon: Jacaerys to Vermax, Lucerys to Arrax, and Joffrey to Tyraxes.

Viserys expels Otto Hightower as his Hand, appointing Lyonel Strong — but later takes Otto back.

Otto Hightower, Alicent's father, became the Hand of the King under King Jaehaerys, Viserys' predecessor. He retains the position under Viserys until the King expels him in season one, episode four, wary of his self-serving political maneuvering.

Viserys appoints Lyonel Strong as the new Hand. Lyonel attempts to resign in episode six, saying that his son Harwin Strong has brought disgrace. Viserys doesn't let him do so but does grant him leave to escort Harwin to Harrenhal, the seat of House Strong. Unfortunately for both, Larys Strong has edged his way into Alicent Hightower's inner circle, and he orchestrates a fire to kill both Lyonel and Harwin.

After Lyonel's death, Otto reassumes the position of Hand, though Alicent cautions her son Aegon II to dismiss some of his council as he assumes the throne.

Daemon kills his first wife and marries Laena Velaryon, who dies after giving birth to two daughters.

Daemon murders his first wife, Lady Rhea of The Vale, with whom he never consummated their marriage. After Rhaenyra's wedding, he marries Laena Velaryon, Lord Corlys and Rhaenys' daughter. They have two daughters: Baela, who is bonded to the dragon Moondancer, and Rhaena, who is unbonded.

Laena goes into labor while giving birth to their third child while the family resides in Pentos, but the birth goes wrong. Laena chooses to face Vhagar, her dragon, and commands her to kill her by fire. With seemingly great reluctance, Vhagar does.

Alicent and Viserys' second son Aemond claims Vhagar, Laena Velaryon's dragon.

After Laena's death, the Targaryen and Velaryon families attend her memorial at Driftmark. While there, Aemond, Alicent, and Viserys' second son bonds with Vhagar, Laena's dragon.

Baela, Rhaena, Jacaerys, and Lucerys confront Aemond for having stolen Vhagar, when one of Laena's daughters should have been the one to bond with her. The conflict ends with Aemond hurling insults about Rhaenyra's sons' parentage and Lucerys cutting Aemond across the eye.

The adults judge the conflict, and Alicent demands one of Lucerys' eyes in return for Aemond's. That doesn't happen, but Alicent does wound Rhaenyra with a knife.

Many of the Targaryen and Velaryon children are betrothed to one another.

As the children grow older, there are a few betrothals at hand. Rhaenyra proposes that Jacaerys, her eldest son, and Helaena, Alicent and Viserys' daughter, be wed to help bring peace to their families. Alicent decides instead to betroth Helaena to Aegon II, her brother. They are eventually wed and have children together.

Jacaerys and Lucerys, meanwhile, are betrothed to Daemon and Laena's daughters, Baela and Rhaena, respectively. Aemond is a free agent, though Aegon appears to offer him as a marriage prospect for one of the Baratheon daughters to secure House Baratheon's support in the war.

Daemon and Rhaenyra help fake Laenor's death and marry.

Shortly after Laena Velaryon's funeral, Rhaenyra and Daemon conspire to fake Laenor Velaryon's death with the help of Ser Qarl, his paramour. Laenor's parents, Corlys and Rhaenys, discover a burned corpse in a Driftmark fireplace — and, crucially, suspect that Rhaenyra is somehow responsible. Qarl and Laenor presumably leave together to live somewhere across the Narrow Sea, never to be heard from again.

That opens the door for Rhaenyra and Daemon to marry at the end of episode seven. Rhaenyra eventually gives birth to two of Daemon's sons: Aegon III and Viserys II. In the season one finale, she prematurely gives birth to a stillborn child — her only daughter, Visenya.

Lord Corlys' ailing health causes a conflict over the Velaryon succession.

Lord Corlys was grievously wounded at sea six years after Laenor's death, making the matter of Velaryon succession an imminent concern. Vaemond, Corlys' brother, does not want Rhaenyra's son Lucerys — who Corlys previously recognized as his heir — to take the Driftmark throne because he believes that Lucerys is a bastard (not wrong!).

The matter makes its way to King's Landing, where Vaemond and Rhaenyra make their cases in front of an ailing Viserys. Rhaenyra asks Rhaenys to back her in exchange for betrothing her sons Jacaerys and Lucerys to Rhaenys' granddaughters, Baela and Rhaena.

Ultimately, Vaemond accuses Rhaenyra's sons of being bastards before the King, and Daemon chops off half his head. Lucerys is established as the heir to Driftmark.

Viserys' illness finally takes him, and Alicent installs her son Aegon II on the throne.

In episode eight, it's very clear that Viserys doesn't have long left after suffering from a degenerative disease. He has open wounds across his face, he's missing his right eye, his left arm, and several fingers.

During his final moments, he mistakes Alicent for Rhaenyra and starts talking about Aegon Targaryen's prophecy that has been handed down over hundreds of years through the line of succession to Viserys.

However, Alicent thinks he's referring to her son, Prince Aegon, and mistakenly believes that Viserys is telling her that Ageon is now the heir to the throne.

In episode nine, it's confirmed that the Small Council had actually been planning for Aegon to take the throne all along. But unlike Simba in "The Lion King," Aegon really, really does not want to be king, and he goes into hiding. However, he's eventually dragged back to the Red Keep to do as he's told, and a coronation is planned.

Mysaria, the White Worm, helps the royal family find Aegon.

"House of the Dragon" introduces Mysaria (Sonoya Mizuno) as a prostitute Daemon sees. In episode two, Daemon steals an egg and occupies Dragonstone, saying that he intends to take Mysaria as his second wife and that she carries his child. Mysaria, however, isn't too happy about being used as Daemon's political pawn — she came to him for liberation. She leaves him.

Years later, Daemon again encounters Mysaria in King's Landing after his night out with Rhaenyra. But her most significant role in "House of the Dragon" happens in episode nine, after Viserys' death. Mysaria, who now has a functioning information operation, hears from a source in the castle about the King's death and secures Aegon II. She then bargains with Otto Hightower: Aegon's location, in exchange for protection for the children in Flea Bottom.

Unfortunately, things don't turn out well for her, and she appears to get burned to death on Larys Strong's orders.

Rhaenys doesn't take the opportunity to kill Aegon while leaving King's Landing.

In one of the first season's most memorable moments, Rhaenys (Eve Best) breaks out of her quarters in the Red Keep with the help of Ser Erryk (Elliot Tittensor), at the same time as most of the civilians are ushered into the Dragonpit to watch Aegon's coronation.

Rhaenys uses this to her advantage by heading down into the caverns under the Dragonpit to reunite with her dragon, Meleys. She causes chaos when Meleys bursts through the floor of the arena, killing a number of people in the process. Although she has the opportunity to kill Alicent, Aegon, Otto, and the rest of the Greens, Rhaenys chooses to let them live.

Rhaenyra is reluctant to start the war — but Aemond kills her son Lucerys.

After Aegon II assumes the Iron Throne, Rhaenyra is reluctant to be the one to start the war, and knows that bringing dragons into the fray is an irreversible decision. Her council takes stock of their supporters and, most importantly, their dragons, which outnumber those under the Greens' possession.

Rhaenyra sends her eldest sons to secure support from a few key houses: Jacaerys to House Arryn and House Stark and Lucerys to House Baratheon. Both of them pledge to act only as messengers and not fight.

Unfortunately, when Lucerys arrives at Storm's End to speak with Lord Borros Baratheon, Aemond has beaten him to the punch and offered a betrothal to one of the Baratheon daughters in exchange for his support. Lord Borros rebuffs Lucerys, but doesn't allow them to fight. Lucerys flees on his dragon, Arrax, and Daemon pursues him on his much, much larger dragon Vhagar.

At first, it seems like Aemond only intends to toy with Lucerys. But Arrax attacks Vhagar of his own volition, and both Aemond and Lucerys lose control of their dragons. Vhagar tears Arrax — and Lucerys — to pieces with her teeth.

That's about where things end in season one, leaving plenty of aftermath for "House of the Dragon" to tackle in season two.

• CNN and The New York Times gave a glimpse at how Biden and Trump may face off in their first debate.
• According to CNN, no pre-written statements or props will be permitted onstage.
• The first debate is poised to be much more structured and less chaotic than in the past.

In 2020, the first presidential debate between then-President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden devolved into a political grudge match, filled with insults. Trump largely disregarded the intended format of the debate by constantly interrupting Biden.

During the debate, then-Fox News anchor Chris Wallace, a journalist with decades of experience, struggled to contain Trump's behavior toward Biden during the acrimonious interactions between the two candidates.

But the 2024 election debates between Biden and Trump are poised to be much more structured and less chaotic.

CNN, which will host the first debate on June 27 in Atlanta, reported on several key rules that the Biden and Trump campaigns agreed to ahead of the event: Staffers won't be allowed to consult with the candidates during two breaks set aside for the 90-minute debate. No pre-written statements or props will be permitted onstage. And microphones will be muted for both Biden and Trump when the opposing candidate is speaking.

The New York Times also reported that Biden and Trump will forgo opening statements, which are usually a hallmark of debates as candidates try to set the tone for their appearances. Flashing red lights will signal both men that there are five seconds remaining for them to speak during their respective responses.

According to The Times, CNN's debate rules laid out a blunt warning: "Moderators will use all tools at their disposal to enforce timing and ensure a civilized discussion."

The network's Jake Tapper and Dana Bash will co-host the debate.

Biden and Trump are locked in a highly competitive rematch. The election could come down to a handful of votes in swing states like Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, and Wisconsin.

The president nearly swept the 2020 battleground states — with the notable exception of North Carolina — but he faces much more challenging headwinds this year as voters continue to express concerns about the economy and the Israel-Hamas war.

For Biden, a strong debate performance can only bolster his case for reelection, especially among the young and minority voters who are noncommittal toward his candidacy and may be considering Trump or independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., among others.

While the 81-year-old Biden has worked to address and move beyond questions about his age, it is a concern for many voters — and Trump has sought to question Biden's overall fitness for the presidency.

The debate will also be held just a few weeks before Trump, 78, is due for his sentencing in Manhattan. A jury in May convicted the former president on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to conceal a 2016 hush-money payment to the adult film star Stormy Daniels.

• I've been to Las Vegas many times in 20+ years and I no longer go there for more than two nights. 
• The perfect Las Vegas trip is weekend-long and has a lot of good food, plus some chill days. 
• I maximize my trip by booking a hotel on the Strip and eating at good Vegas restaurants.

I've been going to Las Vegas regularly since the early 2000s and have adopted a firm policy to never stay more than two nights.

Why? Everything I adore about Vegas the moment I get there — the mesmerizing lights, the crowds of excited people, the nonstop party vibe, the around-the-clock sounds of slot machines and club music, and 24/7 access to food and drinks galore — begins to sour quickly after 48 hours.

When I stay longer, by the time I'm ready to leave, I'm usually a bit hungover, my feet and wallet hurt, I'm sick of lavish meals, and I desperately need alone time.

A well-planned weekend trip also makes it possible for travelers to use fewer PTO days — although almost half of US workers don't take all of their paid time off each year anyway.

So, I've learned how to maximize my weekends in Sin City.

I tend to group my activities together based on their vibe, which means one day of action, one day of relaxation to prepare for a big night out, and one last day of chill activities before flying home.

It's the perfect formula. Here's how my cousin and I spent a weekend in Vegas on my most recent trip.

We stay busy as soon as we arrive on Friday

After arriving around noon, we headed to The Palazzo at the Venetian Resort — it's my Las Vegas hotel of choice because it's roughly in the middle of the Strip for easy access to just about everything.

Plus, the Uber pickup area is a short walk from rooms here — other resorts can feel like a long maze of rooms and hallways.

If my room isn't ready yet, I typically unwind at Flight Club at Grand Canal Shoppes (attached to the property) with a few rounds of darts or a drink at the life-size carousel bar.

On this trip, once it was time for pre-dinner drinks, we headed to Cheri Rooftop at the Paris Hotel for fun, tasty cocktails and a DJ spinning tunes.

We sat under the hotel's iconic Eiffel Tower, overlooking the Bellagio Fountain. It was a great atmosphere to get our evening started.

Next up was dinner at The Bedford By Martha Stewart, which is also in the Paris Hotel.

The restaurant is inspired by Stewart's 1925 farmhouse in Bedford, New York, and has some of the best roast chicken. I'd come here just for the spectacular bread basket, which can come loaded with rolls, flatbreads, and focaccia.

Then, we strolled over to Horseshoe Lose Vega to see Dita Von Teese's current residency. We saw her famous martini-glass bath, entire dance crew, and sparkling costumes.

After a nightcap at Sala 118 at the Venetian Resort around 11 p.m., we headed back to our hotel.

Saturday is usually the chill day on the itinerary

We got a late start with a 10 a.m. brunch at COMO Poolside Café at Bellagio before popping over to the Cypress Pool a few steps away — this adults-only pool has comfy chairs with umbrellas.

Although I could happily lay here all day, we had spa treatments at the Waldorf Astoria calling our name. I love sitting in the spa's mosaic-tile lounges while overlooking the Strip.

Next, we headed to one of the highlights of any trip to Vegas: high tea at the Tea Lounge at the Waldorf. The room and its views are incredible, and the tea selection and assortment of sandwiches, scones, and sweets are absolute perfection.

For dinner, we headed to KYU at Fontainebleau Las Vegas for incredibly flavorful Asian-inspired and wood-fired dishes. I won't soon forget the stone-pot Thai rice with confit duck and pork-belly bao buns with pastrami crust.

Lastly, live jazz music at Nowhere at Fontainebleau is always a great time and the perfect warm-up for a serious night of dancing at Zouk Nightclub at Resorts World.

The night we were there, T-Pain performed to a packed room of what seemed like one bachelorette party after the next.

Our last day starts slow, but we still do plenty

Getting back to the hotel at 4 a.m. meant a rough start on Sunday —the only reasonable cure was breakfast at Bouchon at The Venetian, where I could stuff my face with chef Thomas Keller's French pastries and truffle fries.

We needed some physical activity, so we headed to the PLAY Playground at Luxor. It has lifesize, immersive games, such as its version of the board game Operation and a parkour course.

Another cool spot to walk around is the Paradox Museum, which has various rooms with illusions that are pure Instagram gold.

Since our flight home wasn't until 7 p.m., we got an early dinner at Brasserie B at Caesar's Palace, one of Bobby Flay's restaurants. I loved his twist on the blue-crab salad and the yellowtail crudo topped with caviar.

Finally, after an action-packed weekend, we headed back to the airport.

• I work as a private chef and love making quick and easy recipes in my air fryer.
• I use some of my own recipes, like crispy chickpeas and chicken tenders.
• But I mostly use my air fryer to make perfectly crispy frozen tots, samosas, and arepas. 

I know it's ironic, but as a private chef, I barely have time to cook for myself.

After a day in the kitchen, the last thing I want to do when I get home is stand at the stove. And when I'm in the middle of school pick-up or trying to meet an article deadline, I need something to tide me over until we get back from the playground.

This is where my air fryer has become my close friend and ally. It's no wonder why the countertop appliances keep raking in profits.

I make some fresh items in my air fryer. But mostly, I like to crisp up something delicious I've picked up from the frozen aisle or batch-made in advance.

Here are some of my top choices.

Crispy chickpeas are a great snack.

My family always polishes off my air-fried chickpeas the day I make them — sometimes, I have to make two cans.

After rinsing the beans, I toss them in olive oil, salt, and seasonings (my favorite combination is za'atar and smoked paprika) and air-fry them until they're crispy delights.

I haven't found a better way to cook frozen arepas.

I buy the frozen arepas from Trader Joe's, and they are dangerously good.

I enjoy that there's a balance of salty and sweet flavors. Plus, they're gluten-free and actually quite filling.

There are a few ways to heat them up, per the package, but they turn out perfectly in my air fryer.

Tots are better when they're crispy.

I am always shocked by how well tots turn out in the air fryer. The little potato nuggets maintain their crispy shells and fluffy interiors.

It's almost as if I deep-fried them.

I'm always throwing frozen samosas in.

As a Pakistani, I always have bags of frozen samosas of all sizes in my freezer stash.

I love the vegetarian ones that are big enough that I don't have to make too many to fill me up.

They're great served with a tamarind chutney.

My daughter can't get enough scallion pancakes.

My daughter loves scallion pancakes (so do I), so I keep a few in my freezer.

I air-fry them for her lunchbox or after-school snack, so they're crispy on the edges and a nice golden brown all around. My biggest tip is to flip halfway through cooking.

I like adding hot sauce and mayonnaise to mine or dipping them in soy sauce or a sesame dressing.

Plus, there are so many savory frozen pancakes on the market. After scallion, my next pick is kimchi.

If you haven't tried air-fried artichokes, this is your sign.

A coworker told me air-fried frozen artichokes were great, and I didn't believe her at first. But she was right.

In the air fryer, they get crispy edges with a savory, soft center.

I love these with a sprinkle of salt and a tangy aioli.

I eat taquitos as a snack or a meal.

Taquitos teeter the line between snack and meal, but I enjoy how they turn out in the air fryer.

Crispy on the outside with a steamy center, they're essentially a blank canvas for sauces and toppings.

And because I didn't deep-fry them, I don't feel heavy after enjoying a couple for my afternoon snack.

I make my own chicken tenders and heat them up in the air fryer.

I love chicken tenders. Some store-bought brands are good, but I like to batch-make my own.

To make, dredge organic chicken tenderloins in egg, then move them to seasoned flour (salt, pepper, garlic powder). Press them into panko breadcrumbs mixed with a little bit more salt and some sesame seeds before lightly frying.

When I prepare. batch, I cook them about 60% of the way in the oil, freeze them, and then pop them in the air fryer to finish them off whenever the craving hits.

• Oleksandr Mykhed is a Ukrainian author who became a soldier following the Russian invasion.
• Mykhed has written a book documenting his and others' experiences during the war.
• He told Business Insider his book is "a testament for rage, love, and memory."

"War changes everything," writes Oleksandr Mykhed in his new book, "The Language of War."

Before Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the Ukrainian author lived with his wife, Olena, and their dog, Lisa, in Hostomel, a town close to the Ukrainian capital Kyiv.

But on February 24, as Russian troops descended on Hostomel Airport, Mykhed and Olena fled to Chernivtsi in the southwest of Ukraine.

Within a week of the invasion, Mykhed, a renowned author who has published nine books, had enlisted in the Ukrainian Armed Forces, and his former home had been destroyed by a Russian attack.

As the life he knew collapsed around him, he says he felt compelled to document what was happening to his country.

"You can take my previous life, you can take everything, but still I will be a writer, and I will find a way how to tell this story," he told Business Insider.

He says he began to write down his feelings on the first morning of the invasion, and these notes eventually developed into "The Language of War," which he describes as a testament to "rage, love, and memory."

Meeting me in London to discuss the book, Mykhed appears a hardened and determined figure, shaped by a conflict already stretching into its third year.

In the book, he lays bare the horrors of the conflict in a series of vivid, fragmented paragraphs that seem to reflect the chaos of warfare.

Central to the work is his view that the war is not Putin's but a war carried out by all Russians.

"I blame all of them," Mykhed says. "I think that he is the mirror of what they wanted."

He notes that few opposed Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014 and that public opinion of the full-scale invasion only began to shift after Putin announced a partial mobilization in September 2022.

He also points to those involved in atrocities committed in Bucha and Mariupol and double-tap strikes where rescue workers are targeted.

"We are fighting against all of them. It's not Putin who is pulling the trigger in Bucha," he says, referencing the massacre that took place in 2022.

Mykhed's parents survived the occupation of Bucha, as he recounts in his book.

"In those weeks when day after day we were waiting for text messages from my parents in occupied Bucha. And then, one short word finally appeared: 'Alive,'" he wrote.

As he talks, Mykhed's anger is evident.

He does not feel hate, he clarifies, as "hate is aimless," but rage.

"This is my fuel," he says. "Rage is a strong feeling that gives you power and motivation to keep on going."

But the war has also allowed him to feel "huge love," as it produces "amazing people," he says, mentioning foreign journalists documenting life in Kyiv as an example.

Mykhed also touches on how the armed forces have united Ukrainians from all walks of life, blurring the boundaries of age, gender, and politics.

"The particularity of the armed forces of Ukraine is that this is the mirror of the whole society," he says. "You won't find a person whose relative is not in the armed forces."

But he also offers a reminder of the brutal realities of the war: "You won't find a person who hasn't lost a friend, a relative, or somebody loved due to the invasion."

In late February, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said 31,000 Ukrainian soldiers had been killed since Russia launched the invasion. In November 2023, the United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine said that at least 10,000 Ukrainian civilians had been killed as a result of the conflict.

Russian military casualties are estimated to be over 500,000.

The only challenge a writer has is to stay alive, he says

Mykhed's story is just one example of Ukrainian citizens' resilience in the face of the Russian invaders.

In spite of last summer's counteroffensive's failure, which was followed by severe ammunition and equipment shortages, Ukraine's resolve has seen Russia's recent advance around Kharkiv ground down and ensured that Russia failed to achieve its primary objectives for the invasion.

Nevertheless, the war in Ukraine rages on, and Mykhed offers me a stark reminder of that fact when talking about his book.

"In normal literature, you would speak about literary series, literary stylistics, you would experiment with words, you would be edgy, and you would like to be transgressive. In Ukraine, you'd better be just alive," he says.

"This is probably the only challenge a writer has."