Rapper Macklemore has been dropped from Ed Sheeran’s US tour after making pro-Palestinian comments on stage earlier this month.

The artist – whose real name is Benjamin Haggerty – had been the opening act for Sheeran’s Loop tour, but was criticised by Jewish groups after saying “Free Palestine” at two concerts and making political speeches.

Macklemore stood by his comments on Monday, confirming that he had been cut from the tour and writing in a statement that the real victims are the Palestinian people in Gaza.

In his statement on Instagram, Macklemore said that after a week of “difficult conversations” with Sheeran, that ultimately ended “in a place of fundamental disagreement”, he was dropped from the lineup.

Ed Sheeran has not yet commented, and who will replace Macklemore for the rest of the tour is unknown.

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A police manhunt is underway after a series of knife attacks in Birmingham city centre last night in which one person was stabbed to death and seven others were wounded. West Midlands Police have released CCTV footage of a suspect and are appealing for anyone who might have information or evidence to come forward. Mishal Husain introduces this report from our Midlands correspondent Sian Lloyd:

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France and Britain are caught up in disagreements over who needs to do what to stop any more people dying on small boats crossing between the two countries.

27 people were killed in the English Channel on Wednesday, hoping to migrate to the UK.

Even after the tragedy, people continue to attempt the dangerous journey in unsafe dinghies.

Ros Atkins looks into this political and humanitarian issue.

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All support acts on Ed Sheeran’s US tour have quit after the rapper Macklemore was dropped from the line-up.

He had been opening on the tour, but was let go after saying “Free Palestine” at two concerts.

Sheeran said he wouldn’t be drawn into a public debate over Gaza.

In this video:

0:00 – 3:42 – What happened?
3:43 – 4:32 – Who launched the initial complaint?
4:33 – 5:06 – What did Pink say?
5:07 – 6:17 – What did Macklemore say?
6:18 – 7:54 – Who is Robert Kraft?
7:55 – 8:41 – What did Ed Sheeran say?
8:42 – 9:22 – Which support acts dropped out?
9:23 – 12:50 – What’s the reaction been?
12:51 – 14:33 – What happens now?

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#EdSheeran #Macklemore #Gaza #BBCNews

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Parts of Syria are cut off from aid by fighting. Starvation of food and medical supplies has become a brutal a weapon of war. Devastated that this could be allowed to happen, a team of volunteers in America are trying to develop drones to get to places that humans and airlifts can’t.
Reporter: Catrin Nye Director: Ben Lister

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