US star Macklemore was dropped as the opening act on Sheeran's Loop tour following pro-Palestine comments he made during a show in New Jersey. On Monday, Gillette Stadium owner Robert Kraft barred the rapper from performing in the Massachusetts venue, saying he would not "provide a platform for hate speech". Sheeran's reported $2m donation follows Macklemore's earlier pledge to donate his $1m (£750,000) net earnings from Sheeran's upcoming tour to organisations supporting Palestinian people. Macklemore, 43, whose real name is Benjamin Haggerty, had challenged Mr Kraft, who did not allow him to perform at his Gillette Stadium as part of The Loop tour, to match his donation. It is not clear whether Mr Kraft has agreed to give the $2m, or to which organisations or charities the money would go. Sheeran is also yet to publicly confirm his donation. Following the controversy over Macklemore's removal from the tour, Sheeran's other support acts, including Danish band Lukas Graham and Billie Eilish's brother and musical collaborator, Finneas, subsequently pulled out in protest. In a statement posted on social media on Wednesday, Macklemore wrote: "With everything that has happened over the last 48 hours, I want to bring the conversation back to where it belongs: to the Palestinian people who are still being killed, still living under military occupation, and still fighting for their freedom. "I will be donating the entire $1 million of my net earnings from Ed Sheeran's Loop Tour to six organizations working directly to support the Palestinian people. And I invite Robert Kraft to match my donation. Whatever we disagree about, perhaps we can agree on this: Palestinian lives are worth protecting. A Palestinian life is no less valuable than any other life on this earth." It was Macklemore's second big announcement of the week, after revealing on Monday that he had been dropped from Sheeran's tour. Kraft: 'I believe deeply that all lives are worth protecting' Billionaire Mr Kraft, who is also the owner of the New England Patriots, posted his statement on Gillette Stadium's official X account shortly after Macklemore's statement. The 85-year-old wrote: "I have dedicated much of my life to building bridges between all people. I believe deeply that all lives are worth protecting. "Earlier today, before Macklemore challenged me to match his donation, Ed called me and asked me to commit $2 million to match his donation to aid in the region to fight this humanitarian crisis." He went on: "Ed now plans to reach out to other venue owners and our goal is to continue to work together to build bridges." Sheeran: 'I am not complicit' Earlier this week, Sheeran said he was "appalled by the conflict between Israel and Palestine", and described the "suffering and pain caused on both sides" as a human tragedy in a lengthy Instagram statement. Read more from Sky News:Real Madrid defend Mbappe and Vinicius' shirt stanceAcclaimed playwright and novelist dies aged 77 "I am not complicit," he said. "I have my personal views on this devastating conflict. Just because I choose not to speak publicly, it doesn't mean I don't have them, and it doesn't mean I don't care." Sheeran, who performed his song Perfect for the first dance at Mr Kraft's 2022 wedding, also said that "Macklemore coming off tour was the promoter's decision, it was not mine", adding that the rapper's contract for the tour "was with the promoter, not me". In a statement provided to Sky News' US partner network NBC News, Mr Kraft had said the decision on his venues was reached following Macklemore's comments and "a broader history of antisemitic rhetoric and imagery that we believe has been deeply offensive and hurtful to the Jewish community". He said: "This decision is not about diminishing the suffering of innocent Palestinians or denying anyone the right to advocate on their behalf. Their pain and loss are real."

US star Macklemore was dropped as the opening act on Sheeran's Loop tour following pro-Palestine comments he made during a show in New Jersey. On Monday, Gillette Stadium owner Robert Kraft barred the rapper from performing in the Massachusetts venue, saying he would not "provide a platform for hate speech". Sheeran's reported $2m donation follows Macklemore's earlier pledge to donate his $1m (£750,000) net earnings from Sheeran's upcoming tour to organisations supporting Palestinian people. Macklemore, 43, whose real name is Benjamin Haggerty, had challenged Mr Kraft, who did not allow him to perform at his Gillette Stadium as part of The Loop tour, to match his donation. It is not clear whether Mr Kraft has agreed to give the $2m, or to which organisations or charities the money would go. Sheeran is also yet to publicly confirm his donation. Following the controversy over Macklemore's removal from the tour, Sheeran's other support acts, including Danish band Lukas Graham and Billie Eilish's brother and musical collaborator, Finneas, subsequently pulled out in protest. In a statement posted on social media on Wednesday, Macklemore wrote: "With everything that has happened over the last 48 hours, I want to bring the conversation back to where it belongs: to the Palestinian people who are still being killed, still living under military occupation, and still fighting for their freedom. "I will be donating the entire $1 million of my net earnings from Ed Sheeran's Loop Tour to six organizations working directly to support the Palestinian people. And I invite Robert Kraft to match my donation. Whatever we disagree about, perhaps we can agree on this: Palestinian lives are worth protecting. A Palestinian life is no less valuable than any other life on this earth." It was Macklemore's second big announcement of the week, after revealing on Monday that he had been dropped from Sheeran's tour. Kraft: 'I believe deeply that all lives are worth protecting' Billionaire Mr Kraft, who is also the owner of the New England Patriots, posted his statement on Gillette Stadium's official X account shortly after Macklemore's statement. The 85-year-old wrote: "I have dedicated much of my life to building bridges between all people. I believe deeply that all lives are worth protecting. "Earlier today, before Macklemore challenged me to match his donation, Ed called me and asked me to commit $2 million to match his donation to aid in the region to fight this humanitarian crisis." He went on: "Ed now plans to reach out to other venue owners and our goal is to continue to work together to build bridges." Sheeran: 'I am not complicit' Earlier this week, Sheeran said he was "appalled by the conflict between Israel and Palestine", and described the "suffering and pain caused on both sides" as a human tragedy in a lengthy Instagram statement. Read more from Sky News:Real Madrid defend Mbappe and Vinicius' shirt stanceAcclaimed playwright and novelist dies aged 77 "I am not complicit," he said. "I have my personal views on this devastating conflict. Just because I choose not to speak publicly, it doesn't mean I don't have them, and it doesn't mean I don't care." Sheeran, who performed his song Perfect for the first dance at Mr Kraft's 2022 wedding, also said that "Macklemore coming off tour was the promoter's decision, it was not mine", adding that the rapper's contract for the tour "was with the promoter, not me". In a statement provided to Sky News' US partner network NBC News, Mr Kraft had said the decision on his venues was reached following Macklemore's comments and "a broader history of antisemitic rhetoric and imagery that we believe has been deeply offensive and hurtful to the Jewish community". He said: "This decision is not about diminishing the suffering of innocent Palestinians or denying anyone the right to advocate on their behalf. Their pain and loss are real."

What happens when the keys to Number 10 are handed back? Anne reports from a gathering of former prime ministers - Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer - and reveals what life after power really looks like. Meanwhile, after some football diplomacy with Canadian PM Mark Carney, could it offer a chance for Andy Burnham to unlock closer ties with the EU, or has the reset hit another roadblock?

"We've gone out of the cup and the feeling around the place feels bigger than that," he said. "I'm happy enough to be honest about that. That's how it feels." It's a story that's been seen before. A dismal Carabao Cup experience at the first hurdle - this time throwing away a 2-0 lead to exit to Brighton - harks back to memories of Ruben Amorim's disappointing defeat at Grimsby last year, which helped signal the beginning of the end. Transfer Centre LIVE! | Man Utd news & transfers🔴Man Utd fixtures & scores | FREE Man Utd highlights▶️Got Sky? Watch Premier League games LIVE on your phone📱Not got Sky? Latest Sky Sports deals or stream PL games with no contract📺 A cup exit to the Seagulls was also reminiscent of the FA Cup defeat United suffered to Fabian Hurzeler's side at the start of the year. That was the last match before Carrick returned to the club and sparked a mini-revival. Now it seems like United are back to square one again. Even Pascal Gross scoring the equaliser at Old Trafford brought back memories of how he netted twice at United's home in August 2022 to put Erik ten Hag's tenure on the back foot, in the same way Carrick is facing an uphill battle now. Gross still doing the business four years later is a great testament to the German's longevity at 35 years old - but it's an even more damning reflection of United's lack of progression in that time. Since that match in 2022, which came 1,502 days ago, Gross has secured European football for Brighton, left the club for Borussia Dortmund, rejoined the Seagulls, got them back into Europe, watched on as United spent £365m on seven new central midfielders - and still he stood tall above the United midfield. Around £140m of that pot started for United against Brighton in Youri Tielemans, Mason Mount and Andrey Santos, while a further £70m in Carlos Baleba watched on from the stands as his old club beat his new one. What must he be thinking? Just like against Hull on the opening weekend of the season, United were outfought by Brighton. "They didn't look fit enough," said Jamie Redknapp. "I don't know if a lot of them do enough. I saw too many players not running back or not looking fit enough." Many can point towards the nine changes Carrick made, with many of United's players coming into the team after weeks on the Premier League bench. But Brighton also made six changes to their regular line-up, including first starts for the club to four summer signings. What was their excuse? Once again, the lack of investment in the defensive positions during the transfer market was very clear. The warnings about not addressing that position were there - and a big reason for Brighton turning the game on its head was the defensive displays of Leny Yoro and Ayden Heaven. "The inexperience of the two young centre-backs definitely showed," said Redknapp. "The pair of them were just inept in everything they did. If you look at Luka Vuskovic, who is 18 or 19, at this level he has aggression, winning challenges, recovery runs. "And you looked at the two who played at United who played like everything was easy, making bad decisions - there was a difference in Brighton's defending when it came to going about their business." The difference was seen in the second goal, as Vuskovic won a header ahead of Benjamin Sesko and the ball ran straight through the heart of the United defence for Gross to score easily. Heaven was caught on his heels and failed to come across. "He doesn't anticipate the danger. Sprint, get to the penalty spot. But he's jogging. "And Yoro, what kind of an effort is that to stop the shot? How easy was that? This isn't a five-a-side competition." And for the third goal, Yoro was caught jogging back again as Brighton broke to score - not only highlighting Redknapp's defensive concerns about United, but their fitness ones too. "You've got to sprint Leny," he said. "He's jogging. If he sprints, he gets back and makes that block." But while United are making familiar mistakes, they are still making unwanted history. Not only was this the first time in 50 years that an opposition team has won at Old Trafford having been 2-0 down in the game, but it was the first time United have lost at home after holding a half-time lead in 551 half-time leads. The time before the defeat to Brighton came in 1984, which pre-dated Sir Alex Ferguson's time at the club. Throw in a joint-worst start to a Premier League season after four games and the pressure is really growing on Carrick. United's only win so far this season has been a 5-2 win over Ipswich that saw United struggle for the best part of an hour. And while there have been some mitigating factors - worldies at Everton and a contentious Manchester derby winner - there have been too many of those to be one-offs already. It all sets up a massive Super Sunday game this weekend away at winless Fulham, facing their own early woes under Alvaro Arbeloa. What follows is a three-week international break which is prime time for an early managerial change. A win at Craven Cottage buys Carrick time. Defeat and it will be a long period of questions.

The discovery was made on Wednesday after he vanished a day earlier following a visit to a village playground in Brantham, Suffolk. Noah, autistic, non-verbal and partially deaf, became separated from a relative, and his disappearance sparked a major search operation involving the police, coastguard and around 1,300 volunteers. A fundraiser launched by Good Dads Club has so far raised more than £29,000 towards the family's expenses during this "heartbreaking time". In an update on Wednesday, Superintendent Tom Pearse from Suffolk police said that the body of a child had been found in a nearby pond, and that Noah's family had been informed. Formal identification has yet to take place, and the discovery is being treated as not suspicious but unexplained, he said. Volunteers who were gathered in a garden area at Brantham Leisure Centre were brought to tears after Mr Pearse broke the news. His own voice cracked as he praised those in attendance for helping in the search. Superintendent Pearse said police had been "overwhelmed by the outpouring public support", and the number of volunteers "putting on their boots and helping us search". "As a parent myself, I completely understand why people would want to help and such a response is one that typifies the strong sense of community and the heart-warming nature of Suffolk people that make the county such a special place," he said. "I am sure you appreciate the family now need time, space and privacy and I thank you for your understanding in this." Police released CCTV footage on Wednesday showing Noah's last known movements at the playground. It shows the toddler running and interacting with a piece of play equipment. The massive ground search, which saw helicopters, sniffer dogs and thermal imaging used, was made more difficult because Noah would not have responded to his name if called. Read more from Sky News:Drug for breast cancer patients available on NHSChelsea chairman leaves club after selling stake Brantham Parish Council said: "Our thoughts are with Noah's family, friends and everyone who knows and loves him at this incredibly difficult time." The leisure centre, which had become a hub for search efforts and the massive community response, will remain open on Thursday to offer support, the council said.

Irish musician Aaron Rowe, Danish band Lukas Graham and Billie Eilish's brother and musical collaborator, Finneas, announced late on Tuesday that they were pulling out of Sheeran's The Loop tour. The collective withdrawal came after Macklemore, whose real name is Benjamin Haggerty, claimed he had been taken off the British star's tour after he made pro-Palestinian comments during a show in New Jersey. Sheeran's backing band, Irish folk group Beoga, also announced they were pulling out. Lukas Graham and Rowe had been due to open for Sheeran at his next concert in Philadelphia on Saturday. Rowe said: "I cannot stand by and allow billionaires to use their position of power to silence the rightful voices of those who speak up against Israeli genocide and who highlight the savage murder of children. I would lose all respect for myself to carry on as normal." A statement on the Lukas Graham Instagram said: "Money doesn't give you the right to own the conversation. Nobody's bank balance should decide who gets to speak or which suffering we're allowed to acknowledge." Citing the "silencing of Macklemore", Beoga said: "We are a traditional Irish band who never saw ourselves playing in stadiums of that size and that opportunity is not lost on us." Finneas said: "Artists must not be silenced when they speak up for the oppressed". 'I am not complicit' Earlier on Tuesday, Sheeran said he was "appalled by the conflict between Israel and Palestine" and described the "suffering and pain caused on both sides" as a human tragedy in a lengthy Instagram statement. "I am not complicit," he said. "I have my personal views on this devastating conflict. Just because I choose not to speak publicly, it doesn't mean I don't have them, and it doesn't mean I don't care." Sheeran said his audiences often include children and young people "from all backgrounds", which is why he does not use the stage for politics. The statement also said the decision to remove Macklemore from the tour came from the promoter and was not his own. Sheeran said "venues for upcoming concert dates got in touch to say they would pull the gigs if Macklemore was still involved", adding he was told this stance was based "on how Macklemore conveyed part of his message... rather than on everything that was said". Macklemore told the crowd he wanted people in Gaza and the West Bank to know they had not been forgotten, which led to a petition demanding he be removed from the remaining dates. Pink criticised the Thrift Shop artist for standing in "front of a stadium full of music-loving families, with violent images from a war on the screens, dedicated a song to the movement of his choice, and then took the mic to tell all of the Jews in the stadium that it wasn't about them". She added: "You don't get to decide that for us." After posting a video of himself on stage during the concert, Macklemore said on social media that "wanting all humans to be treated equal should never be controversial". His announcement that he had been taken off Sheeran's tour received public support from artists including Kneecap, CMAT and Paloma Faith. 'I would never let down fans' Sheeran said he had spoken with the venues "all week to try and build a bridge" but the "venue's and promoter's decision was final". One of these people was Robert Kraft, whose Kraft Group owns Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts, where Sheeran is due to play later in September, the statement said. "I was also involved in direct talks with promoters along with activists on both sides to try and find a mutual resolution for all, but the venue's and promoter's decision was final," Sheeran said. "Macklemore coming off tour was the promoter's decision, it was not mine. Macklemore's contract for the tour was with the promoter, not me." The singer said he would "never let down the fans who had made plans, nor would I abandon the touring crew and the other support acts and musicians who rely on me for work and to make a living". He said he had always sought to "bring people from all backgrounds and cultures together and this won't ever change". Sheeran said: "There is a reason I do not use my professional platform for politics - my audience includes young people, often children, of all backgrounds. Those who come to my shows do not expect a political forum." He said he respected Macklemore's "strength of purpose to stand up and shout for what he believes" but that "there is room for multiple approaches to the same end: peace". In a statement provided to NBC News, Sky News' US partner network, Mr Kraft said the decision on his venues was reached following Macklemore's comments and "a broader history of antisemitic rhetoric and imagery that we believe has been deeply offensive and hurtful to the Jewish community". He said: "This decision is not about diminishing the suffering of innocent Palestinians or denying anyone the right to advocate on their behalf. Their pain and loss are real." Macklemore's advocacy "should not come at the expense of the Jewish community or obscure the responsibility of Hamas", Mr Kraft added.

Wandsworth Council is set to increase council tax for a Band D property by £958 - a 94% rise - from April 2027, in response to what it describes as the "financial pressure" of government reforms. The south London borough previously had one of the lowest council tax rates in Britain. However, following the publication of what it calls a "comprehensive" spending review, the Conservative administration says the government's Fair Funding reforms will reduce Wandsworth's funding by £84m a year. Check how much your council tax is set to rise The authority claims the reduction is equivalent to its combined total annual spend on parks, libraries, leisure centres, bin collection and street cleaning. It says that new spending reforms will place "significant additional pressure on essential local services and means the council must make tough choices". 'Savage cuts' Council leader Robert Morritt, who took over the role in July, admitted that increasing council tax was not a decision he "ever wanted us to have to make", but said the announcement was being made now to ensure "local people have the maximum amount of time to adjust". He blamed the increase on "savage cuts from central government" and "a dramatic reduction" in the council's level of reserves. Commenting on the outcomes of the spending review, Mr Morritt said the council was "setting out a clear plan to protect the services residents rely on while tackling the financial challenges facing the council". He said that "difficult decisions" had been taken in a bid to help ensure that services "remain sustainable into the future". Mr Morritt added: "There are difficult choices in this report, but there are also clear priorities: cleaner streets, safer communities, stronger housing services, support for vulnerable residents and action to put the council back on a sustainable financial footing." Read more from Sky News:Baby wards to get 'cot cams' after Letby inquirySupport artists pull out of Ed Sheeran tour Peter Graham, deputy leader of Wandsworth Council and cabinet member for finance, said: "We promised that we'd be honest with residents. "Council tax will need to rise unless government thinks again. And it must think again. "We do not want to do this, and we do not take this decision lightly, but the scale of the financial pressure facing Wandsworth means additional income is now needed to protect the services people rely on." Mr Graham insisted that the council was "fighting" for a "fairer deal", and that Wandsworth should not be "punished" for "running efficient services and keeping council tax low". He added: "Our message to residents is clear: we are on your side, we are making your case, and we will keep fighting for the funding Wandsworth deserves."

The deal paves the way for Clearlake to take full control of Chelsea, owning 86.5 per cent of the club, with Swiss billionaire Hansjorg Wyss owning 13.5 per cent. Boehly was the face of the consortium which bought Chelsea in 2022 but Clearlake co-founder Behdad Eghbali has become the most powerful figure at the club. Chelsea say there will be no changes to the day-to-day operations, leadership or strategy at the club following this transaction. Boehly and Walter are making a small profit on their investment. Jonathan Goldstein has also stepped down from the Chelsea board, along with Boehly and Walter. They no longer have any role in Chelsea's governance, management or decision making. There are no plans to appoint a new chairman but the executive sporting and commercial team are remaining in place. Roman Abramovich was forced to sell Chelsea by the UK government for £2.5bn plus the guarantee of £1.5bn being invested in the club. Boehly said: "It has been an honour to serve as chairman of Chelsea Football Club. I would like to thank the many who helped secure a bright future for the club, including the English Premier League, the coaches and players, the talented leadership and staff at Chelsea, and the legions of dedicated fans. "I have valued my partnership with Clearlake and the wider ownership group, and the collective decisions and investment we have made to support the immediate and long-term success of the club. "I am confident that Chelsea is well positioned for continued success under Clearlake's leadership." Eghbali and Jose Feliciano, co-founders of Clearlake Capital, said in a statement: "Todd has been an important partner throughout our ownership of Chelsea, and we thank him for his time and contribution as chairman. He will always be a part of the Chelsea story and family. "Clearlake has served as Chelsea's majority owner since 2022, and as we move to full control our focus is to continue investing in the club's infrastructure, sporting performance, player development and delivering long-term success for Chelsea and the club's supporters." In March 2025, Boehly said Chelsea's owners could go their separate ways if they could not agree on the future of Stamford Bridge. Chelsea bosses are considering whether to leave Stamford Bridge or to expand, with Earl's Court seen as a possible new location. All options are being evaluated, with the project said to be complicated by the limited space in London to build. In an interview with Bloomberg, Boehly said: "We have to think long term about what we're trying to accomplish. "We have a big stadium development opportunity that we have to flesh out. That's going to be where we're either aligned, or we ultimately decide to go different ways." There had been tensions too between Boehly and Clearlake in 2024. Sky Sports News reported in September 2024 that Boehly had been unhappy with the way the club is being run and that he did not want Mauricio Pochettino to lose his job as head coach in May of that year. Enzo Maresca replaced Pochettino and went on to win the Conference League and Club World Cup, but he left at the start of 2026, with Chelsea eventually finishing 10th and without European football. Xabi Alonso was appointed as the new manager this summer and has the full support of the ownership.