English singer-songwriter facing tour fallout amid pro-Palestinian controversy and industry pushback
A large crowd has attended Glen Hansard’s funeral at St Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin after the 56-year-old musician died in a motorcycle crash on the outskirts of the city. Friends and fellow musicians including Bono and Eddie Vedder have paid tribute; a public wake at IMMA and queues to sign condolence books have honoured his life and charity work.
UK music charts have seen Sam Fender and Olivia Dean’s Rein Me In extend its lead as the longest-running No. 1 in UK history, spending 19 non-consecutive weeks at the top. Reports from The Guardian, Reuters, Independent and BBC Business confirm the track’s record and discuss cultural implications amid streaming-driven fragmentation.
A North Carolina lawmaker has announced he is withdrawing from re-election after the House Ethics Committee recommended censure for conduct with two young aides. He will complete his current term.
Glastonbury organiser Emily Eavis has confirmed headliners for 2027 and has ruled out Madonna, while speculation continues about Swift, Styles and Oasis headline talk. The festival returns in June 2027 after a fallow year.
Rep. Chuck Edwards has been censured by the House Ethics Committee for sexual harassment and creating a hostile work environment. The move follows Axios reporting that he singled out two young female staffers. Edwards, who has dropped his reelection bid, argues the conduct was not sexual harassment and defends gifts and interactions with staffers.
Glastonbury organisers have announced next year’s line-up progress, with three headliners confirmed and Madonna ruled out. Rumours point to Taylor Swift, Harry Styles and Oasis as contenders for 2027, with bookies’ odds reflecting growing certainty around major acts while other names circulate.
The House has censured a North Carolina congressman in a rare, bipartisan rebuke after a four‑month Ethics Committee probe found a pattern of unprofessional conduct toward two female staffers. The vote, 413–2, underscores ongoing concerns about safeguarding staff and workplace culture in Congress.
Ed Sheeran has returned to the stage in Philadelphia and has addressed the controversy after promoter Messina Touring Group removed Macklemore from remaining US dates following his onstage 'Free Palestine' remarks. Four supporting acts have withdrawn in solidarity, ticket sales have softened and some venues warned they would cancel shows if Macklemore remained on the bill.
Pink has addressed backlash over her reposting of a message criticizing Macklemore’s remarks at Ed Sheeran’s MetLife Stadium show, stating she does not speak for Israel or any government. She reiterates Hamas is a terrorist organization and Palestinians deserve a future with dignity, while she explains she would have chosen different words if she had written the post herself.
Macklemore has been removed from the remaining U.S. dates of Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour after venues objected to his onstage calls for Free Palestine. Messina Touring Group says the move follows discussions with stakeholders and could affect hundreds of thousands of fans. The tour will resume in Philadelphia on Sept. 19 with Sheeran continuing as the headlining act.
A six-storey building in Gaza City has collapsed, killing at least 12 people and injuring many more, with rescue teams racing to reach those trapped beneath the rubble as aid access remains constrained and winter risks loom.
Morocco’s 23 September legislative elections are underway, with 15.8 million voters registered. The vote shapes Parliament and government formation amid concerns over youth employment, economic pressures, and trust in political institutions. Campaigns emphasize domestic issues, campaign rules, and debates over party switching and leadership, as the political map evolves post-2021 defeat.
The billionaire owner of Gillette Stadium has confirmed he pressured Ed Sheeran over Macklemore’s participation in a US tour, citing a history of antisemitic rhetoric. Macklemore was removed from remaining dates, drawing scrutiny of the interplay between wealth, politics and culture.
Ed Sheeran has publicly condemned the Gaza crisis as catastrophic and unjustifiable while maintaining a stance that his shows are not political. The controversy surrounding Macklemore’s removal from the Loop Tour is shaping discussions about freedom of speech, venue decisions, and the balance between art and politics.
The Loop Tour has faced disruption as four supporting acts quit in solidarity with Macklemore, who was dropped over pro-Palestinian comments. Promoter and venues say decisions were final; Sheeran has publicly distanced himself while stressing he won’t discuss Gaza or political issues at shows.
Artists including Aaron Rowe, Beoga, Lukas Graham and Finneas withdraw from Ed Sheeran's US Loop tour after Macklemore is dropped for pro-Palestinian remarks. Ed Sheeran says the decision rests with promoters as tensions rise around Gaza conflict coverage.
Rapper Macklemore has been dropped from Ed Sheeran’s US Loop Tour after pro-Palestine remarks, prompting other acts to withdraw and drawing scrutiny of venue owners and promoters. Ed Sheeran says the decision was promoter-driven, not his, while fans and artists weigh in on free speech, sponsorship, and accountability. The tour resumes in Philadelphia with uncertainty over lineup and ticketing.
Netanyahu has a brief US visit to address the UN General Assembly. He is not spending the night in the US, cancelling a Texas stop, and flights are being redirected amid security concerns and protests. The ICC warrants and political tensions frame the trip, with protests anticipated in New York.
Rapper Macklemore has been dropped from Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour after venue owner Robert Kraft accused him of hate speech for pro-Palestinian remarks. Kraft has called for donations to humanitarian aid and said Sheeran asked him to match a $2 million pledge. Other opening acts have withdrawn in solidarity as the tour faces growing backlash.
Robert Kraft has been pressed to match Macklemore’s $1 million donation to six Palestinian aid organizations after Macklemore was dropped from Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour following pro-Palestinian remarks. Kraft’s response emphasizes support for “all lives” and a plan to mobilize other venue owners, while Macklemore doubles down on aiding Palestinians amid the controversy.
Pro-Palestinian backlash to Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour has led to Macklemore’s removal from the lineup and to radio stations in Ireland halting Sheeran’s music, with supporters planning protests and ticket resale prices dropping in some markets.
The US State Department has approved visas for a scaled-down Iranian delegation, including President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, to attend UN General Assembly High-Level Week in New York. Washington has placed travel curbs and bans on luxury purchases for the delegation while denying visas to Palestinian Authority leaders, prompting a separate General Assembly vote allowing Mahmoud Abbas to speak virtually.
A Bronx jury has convicted Jancys Santiago of first-degree rape in a 2001 case and has sentenced him to 25 years, to run consecutively with a 20-year sentence for a separate 2000 Manhattan home invasion rape. The case used investigative genetic genealogy to identify Santiago after decades-long cold cases were reopened. The judge has also issued a permanent protection order and sex offender registration.
The Turkish leader has signaled the possibility of an early election, potentially moving the vote to April 16, 2028, if enough lawmakers back the plan. Erdogan’s allies argue the move could circumvent a term-limit provision, while opponents warn of rising autocratic tendencies. The date and political maneuvers are under scrutiny as the opposition reorganizes its leadership.
The NFL has fined Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair more than $11,000 for wearing eye black bearing the name Hind Rajab, a Palestinian girl killed in Gaza. Al-Shaair has repeatedly worn messages to highlight Palestinian casualties, prompting public support and ongoing penalties from league officials.
Ed Sheeran has faced mounting backlash as Macklemore has been removed from the US leg of the Loop Tour after pro-Palestinian remarks. The move has sparked a wave of support from fellow artists and a backlash from fans, with Sheeran apologizing to fans as criticism of his apolitical stance grows.
Macklemore has pledged to donate the entirety of his net earnings from Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour to six Palestinian-focused organizations. The move follows his onstage call for Free Palestine and subsequent fallout with tour promoters. Several opening acts have quit in solidarity, and high-profile figures have offered matching donations.
Gaza’s war-damaged housing stock faces a harsh winter as 1.2 million displaced residents rely on fragile shelters. Civil Defence warns hundreds of buildings remain at risk of collapse, with reconstruction stalled by political deadlock and access restrictions.
Macklemore has been dropped from Ed Sheeran’s US tour after a pro-Palestine speech. The move has sparked a debate on politics in music, with backers and critics arguing over artist responsibility while venues and promoters face pressure. Sheeran has stated the decision came from promoters, not him, and aims to keep concerts as safe spaces.
Irish public opinion has grown increasingly opposed to Ireland’s Nations League games against Israel amid ongoing protests and political pressure. The government and football authorities have faced calls to boycott, with players weighing a collective stance as matches move to neutral venues.
The Ed Sheeran tour has been thrown into crisis after Macklemore was dropped for his pro-Palestinian remarks. Promoters say the move is to protect venues and the tour’s continuity. Sheeran has apologised and emphasised unity, while other acts have withdrawn in solidarity. The controversy has sparked protests and public comment from fans and fellow artists.
Macklemore has announced a Free Palestine tour set to run in London, Paris and Dublin, with US shows planned, after being dropped from Ed Sheeran’s US Loop Tour. Promoters say the decision to remove him came from venue owners and not from Sheeran. Macklemore says profits will go to Palestinian aid groups and that a political stand is needed amid ongoing Gaza-related tensions. Sheeran’s team and other acts have faced pressure; some have left the tour.
The Ed Sheeran Loop Tour at Gillette Stadium has been canceled due to severe weather warnings in Boston and New England. Promoter statements emphasize fan and staff safety, with refunds available. This follows controversy over Macklemore’s removal for pro-Palestinian comments, a move tied to venue owners’ stance. Several other events face disruption as a nor’easter bears down.
A powerful nor'easter has struck the US Northeast, bringing heavy rain, gale-force winds and major coastal flooding from Virginia to Maine. Governors have declared emergencies, thousands of flights have been canceled or delayed, tens of thousands of customers have lost power, and organisers have called off concerts and sports events as the storm continues through the weekend.