Rapper Macklemore said Wednesday that he will give $1 million—his full net earnings from his shortened participation in Ed Sheeran’s tour—to six organizations supporting Palestinians. He also challenged New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft to do the same.

MacklemoreEd SheeranPalestinianscharity

Ed Sheeran is reportedly donating $2 million in aid to “the region.” The move comes amid allegations that a billionaire stadium owner led efforts to remove Macklemore as Sheeran’s opening act after Macklemore made pro-Palestinian remarks onstage.

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Rapper Macklemore says he will donate the full $1m he earned from Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour to six organisations supporting Palestinians. He challenged pro-Israel billionaire Robert Kraft to match the donation after being removed from the tour over pro-Palestinian performances.

MacklemorePalestinianscharity donationEd Sheeran

Ed Sheeran’s North and South American tour has been thrown into turmoil after Macklemore was removed as an opening act over pro-Palestinian remarks made on stage. All of Sheeran’s other supporting acts have since withdrawn, including a group that performs with him for part of the show.

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Mbappé said why he, Vinícius Jr and Ibrahima Konaté hid some lettering on a pro-Ceuta shirt.

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India said on Thursday it remained firmly committed to securing energy supplies for its people and would continue buying from diverse sellers according to market conditions, hours after the United States took a new step to punish such buyers.

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India has told the United States about the potential consequences of Congress passing the Russia-Iran sanctions act and will take all necessary measures to protect its interests, the Foreign Ministry said. It reaffirmed its commitment to energy security for 1.4 billion people through diversified sourcing and said it would work with trade and industry bodies to address the fallout.

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European and Arab military chiefs are meeting in Paris on Thursday to discuss support for Lebanon’s struggling armed forces. The UN peacekeeping mission’s mandate expires at year-end, amid fears that Israel could renew military operations in southern Lebanon.

LebanonParis talksUN peacekeeping missionMiddle East

European and Arab military chiefs are due to meet in Paris on Thursday to assess the needs of Lebanon’s armed forces and consider plans as a United Nations peacekeeping mission nears its end. The talks come amid fears that Israel could resume military operations in southern Lebanon.

Paris talksLebanese Armed ForcesUN peacekeeping mission

Emmanuel Macron will host Jordan’s King Abdullah II and Lebanon’s President Aoun in Paris to discuss support for the Lebanese Armed Forces. Lebanon is seeking international backing to strengthen its military and prevent a security vacuum in the south.

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US lawmaker Gregory Meeks is challenging the Trump administration’s proposed sale of 40,000 heavy bombs to Israel, a deal valued at $2.8 billion.

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Gregory Meeks, the senior Democrat on the House foreign affairs committee, has put a hold on a proposed $2.8bn sale of 40,000 heavy bombs to Israel. He said the Trump administration had not given adequate assurances that the weapons would be used lawfully by the Netanyahu government and with protections for civilians.

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Rep. Gregory Meeks, the senior Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said Wednesday that he would oppose selling 2,000-pound bombs to Israel. He cited concerns that the munitions might not be used in accordance with international law.

US politicsIsraelarms sales

A 15-year-old boy was killed in a double-tap strike while trying to rescue a paramedic. As the human cost in Gaza continues, the United States is preparing a $2.8bn weapons package for Israel.

United StatesIsraelGazaarms package

The US federal government is reportedly preparing to approve a $2.8 billion arms package for Israel, including 40,000 one-ton bombs. The Washington Post said the taxpayer-funded deal contains some of the most destructive munitions in Western arsenals, including MK-84s, BLU-117s and I-2000 penetrator warheads.

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Donald Trump threatened “very serious tariffs” or an end to trade with Europe after the EU proposed making Canada its first associate member. Calling the idea “laughable” and potentially a “hostile act”, he said the response would depend on whether the move had good or bad intentions. Ursula von der Leyen said the partnership was intended to strengthen the EU, not target anyone.

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President Donald Trump said he could impose new tariffs on goods imported from the European Union, or even cut off some trade, if he judged efforts to make Canada a potential associate member of the bloc harmful to the US.

Donald TrumpEuropean UnionCanadatariffs

Roberta Metsola told Euronews that the proposed associate membership with Canada would deepen cooperation with like-minded countries and could encourage additional countries to pursue the same path, including Australia and New Zealand.

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European People’s Party MEP David McAllister described the EU’s relationship with Canada as “very unique”. He said Commission President Ursula von der Leyen appeared intent on taking it “to the next level” after proposing a tailor-made “associate membership” status for Ottawa.

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Donald Trump said the United States could impose very serious tariffs on many European goods or halt trade with Europe if he viewed Canada’s proposal for associate membership in the European Union as a hostile act.

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Brussels says Canada’s potential associate membership of the European Union is not directed against anyone, as Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney prepares to give a much-anticipated speech at the European Parliament.

CanadaEuropean Unionassociate membershipMark Carney

Russian strikes on the Ukrainian cities of Odesa and Sumy on 16 September caused fires and damaged homes and other buildings, with casualties reported by Ukrainian emergency services and local officials.

Ukraine warRussian attacksOdesaSumy

Russian missile and drone strikes hit locations across Ukraine overnight on September 17, according to Ukrainian officials. A drone struck a 16-story apartment building in Kyiv, injuring 16 people, including two children. In Odesa, a 19-story building was damaged and six people were injured. Russia’s Defense Ministry said the attacks targeted industrial, defense, energy, transport, and related military facilities.

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US lawmakers have approved sweeping new sanctions targeting Russia’s economy and Vladimir Putin’s inner circle. Donald Trump is expected to sign the bill, which also threatens steep tariffs on major buyers of Russian oil, including China and India.

US CongressRussia sanctionsChinaIndia

US lawmakers have approved sweeping new sanctions aimed at Russia’s economy and Vladimir Putin’s inner circle. The bill, which Trump is expected to sign, also threatens steep tariffs on major buyers of Russian oil, including China and India.

US CongressRussia sanctionsChinaIndia

The US House passed a bipartisan bill targeting Russia and sent it to President Donald Trump, after the Senate had approved it. The measure would allow tariffs of up to 100 percent on countries importing Russian energy and impose sanctions on Russian officials, banks and a shadow tanker fleet. It is Congress’s first Ukraine-support legislation in more than two years.

US CongressRussia sanctionsUkraineDonald Trump

The US House has passed a sweeping bill imposing sanctions on Russia after months of delay. Trump has said he will sign it, following the Senate’s 86-11 approval last month.

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The Republican-led US House passed a package of broad new sanctions on Russia over its war in Ukraine by 262-159. The measure, which cleared the Senate 86-11 last month, is described as the toughest US legislative effort against Moscow during Donald Trump’s second term and now awaits his signature, which he has said he will provide.

US CongressRussia sanctionsUkraine war

The U.S. House passed a broad sanctions package aimed at Russian officials and major parts of the country’s economy, then sent it to Trump. Lawmakers are seeking to deny President Vladimir Putin the financial resources they say are needed to wage the war against Ukraine.

U.S. HouseRussia sanctionsUkraine war

Treasury yields moved lower after the Federal Reserve raised interest rates for the first time since 2023, beginning a new hiking cycle.

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The Federal Reserve is raising interest rates again, with effects that could extend well beyond the United States and put pressure on economies elsewhere.

Federal Reserveinterest ratesglobal economy

Asian shares edged higher on Thursday as investors bet the Federal Reserve was finally moving ahead of inflation. Its first rate hike in more than three years helped calm a global bond selloff that had driven long-term yields sharply higher.

Federal Reserveinterest ratesUS dollarAsian shares

Hong Kong and mainland Chinese stocks fell on Thursday after the US Federal Reserve delivered its first interest-rate increase in three years and indicated that additional tightening remained possible. The Hang Seng Index was down 0.8 per cent at 24,537.30 by 9.30am, while the Hang Seng Tech Index fell 0.5 per cent and the CSI 300 dropped 0.2 per cent.

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Members of the Federal Open Market Committee unanimously voted to lift the Fed’s key overnight bank lending rate by a quarter point, seeking to bring inflation down. It was their first unanimous rate hike in more than three years.

Federal Reserveinterest ratesinflation

The Federal Reserve raised its policy rate by 25 basis points to 3.75%-4%, its first increase since July 2023, citing persistently elevated inflation. The decision passed unanimously, 12-0. Analysts viewed the hawkish move as leaving another hike possible before year-end, while Chair Kevin Warsh avoided committing to a prolonged tightening cycle and defended Fed independence amid Donald Trump's calls for cuts.

Federal Reserveinterest ratesinflationmonetary policy

Fiji has designated HIV a national crisis after new diagnoses rose 27% last year. The increase has heightened concern that an epidemic once largely concentrated among people who inject drugs is spreading more broadly across the Pacific island nation.

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Fiji has declared a national health emergency over a sharp rise in HIV infections. The government estimates that one in 60 adults is living with HIV, while increased methamphetamine use, unsafe injecting, stigma and limited testing and treatment have deepened the crisis.

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