Chancellor Friedrich Merz under pressure ahead of German state elections

Ed Sheeran calls Israel's treatment of Gazans 'unjustifiable,' apologizes for Macklemore controversy

PHILADELPHIA — Pop star Ed Sheeran apologized on Saturday for his handling of a controversy that erupted this week when rapper Macklemore was removed as an opening act over comments on Palestine. Breaking his silence on the issue, the British singer decried Israel's treatment of residents in Gaza as "unjustifiable." "I've had to take and make difficult decisions and I am making mistakes and I'm so, so sorry," Sheeran told an audience in Philadelphia, where he performed for the first time since Macklemore was taken off the concert tour. At the start of the concert at Lincoln Financial Field, Sheeran called the October 2023 Hamas attack that killed 1,200 Israelis "horrific." But he called Israel's subsequent war, which has killed thousands in Gaza and displaced almost all of the population, "catastrophic and unjustifiable and disproportionate." Sheeran also decried "systemic injustice" in the West Bank, where Israel's right-wing coalition government has allowed a massive expansion of Jewish settlements. The pop star's opening statement on Saturday offered a stark change from his statement

‘It’s a form of therapy’: Quebec line dancing school sees boom in attendance

A country line dancing school in Saint-Lazare, Que., has recently experienced an exponential increase in attendance. As a result, it’s had to add more classes, reaching 10 different locations in the greater Montreal area.

186 Drones Downed Near Moscow As Ukraine Launches Massive Attack, Says Russia | Video

Emergency crews were also deployed to locations where fragments from intercepted drones had fallen.

North Korea launches ballistic missile off east coast, Japan says

The missile was reportedly launched into the sea off the east coast of the peninsula on Sunday

Manchester teenage girl missing for eight days reunited with family

US fears rapid escalation in Middle East after Houthis attack Riyadh

This is the first time since Yemen's civil war resumed that strikes have threatened Riyadh.

Is Celtic vs Rangers on TV? Channel, kick-off time and how to watch Old Firm clash

Everything you need to know ahead of the rivals’ second meeting of the season

Watch Ed Sheeran’s concert statement in full as singer admits ‘mistakes’ over Macklemore tour row

Ed Sheeran opened his concert in Philadelphia last night with an emotional statement to fans, admitting he had made ‘mistakes’ in the handling of the controversy over his tour.

‘They were caught by the Chinese': NSA Ajit Doval recounts moment he thought was end of his career

Speaking at the convocation ceremony of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee, NSA Ajit Doval told the students about the time when he thought it was the end of his career

North Korea fires unidentified projectile into East Sea: Seoul

The launch came eight days after North Korea fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles towards the East Sea - also called the Sea of Japan - as part of what it later described as a joint firepower drill.

10-year-old Seattle boy enters school first time after 11 months of rescue efforts from tent life

A 10-year-old Seattle boy who spent much of his childhood living in a tent entered school for the first time after an 11-month effort to help him and his mother. His mother was struggling with fentanyl addiction and entered treatment in January. After his first day in class, the boy told those helping him, “I want to go back.”