Ed Sheeran‘s Philadelphia concert was bombarded by protestors on Saturday night as he prepared to take the stage.

The 35-year-old music act’s concert at Lincoln Financial Field is his first gig since Macklemore was axed from the remainder of his LOOP Tour on Monday.

A protestor yelled, ‘F*** your concert, f*** your fans. Palestine is our demand,’ in a video captured by FreedomNews, per TMZ.

According to the outlet, there were also dozens of activists who chanted, ‘Free Palestine,’ at a nearby subway stop.

One protestor wore a ‘Make America Great’-style red baseball cap with the phrase, ‘Make Palestine Free Again,’ emblazoned on the front. 

In anticipation of the show, groups Philly Palestine Coalition and Shut Down D&Z wrote online, ‘Billionaires, Zionists & Warmongers out of Philly.’

The Daily Mail has reached out to representatives for Sheeran for comment.

A protestor yelled, ‘F*** your concert, f*** your fans. Palestine is our demand,’ in a video captured by FreedomNews

Two signs held by a protestor called out Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, with the phrases ‘Netanyahu has blood on his hands’ and ‘Let Gaza live.’

Sheeran saw a mass exodus from opening acts after Macklemore was criticized for speaking on the Israel-Palestine conflict at a recent concert. 

Openers who dropped out of Sheeran’s tour have received support from actress Melissa Barrera.

Barrera, 36, was fired from the Scream franchise nearly three years ago for her pro-Palestinian stance, and she’s since reacted to the changing political climate.

The actress said it made her ’emotional’ to see entertainers bow out of the tour in support of Macklemore, who was ousted over ‘free Palestine’ remarks he made during his MetLife Stadium set in New Jersey on September 4 and 5.

‘It was so beautiful to see Finneas and the band and all the opening acts pulling out in support of Macklemore. It made me emotional,’ Barrera told the Associated Press this week.

She added, ‘You know, I didn’t get that when it happened to me. I didn’t have any of that happen. It was too soon. People were too scared. But it’s good to see that almost three years later, at least things have changed.’

Sheeran’s tour has suffered a blow at the box office, with the controversy surrounding Macklemore’s political comments taking a toll on ticket sales.

One protestor wore a ‘Make America Great’-style red baseball cap with the phrase, ‘Make Palestine Free Again,’ emblazoned on the front

The 35-year-old music act’s concert at Lincoln Financial Field is his first gig since Macklemore was axed from the remainder of his LOOP Tour on Monday; pictured in 2013

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Two signs held by a protestor called out Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, with the phrases ‘Netanyahu has blood on his hands’ and ‘Let Gaza live’

‘If this is your land, why do you destroy all life on it?’ asked one sign

In anticipation of the show, groups Philly Palestine Coalition and Shut Down D&Z wrote online, ‘Billionaires, Zionists & Warmongers out of Philly’

Demonstrators seen gathering outside stadium with video equipment and signs

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Hours before showtime, hundreds of tickets were still available for purchase from $51 to $234 in the main seating levels, according to StubHub.

Scores of tickets remained up for grabs in the pit, located directly in front of the stage, from $229 to $298.

Following his onstage speech at MetLife Stadium, Macklemore shared on Instagram that Sheeran later told him that Robert Kraft – who owns Gillette Stadium through his holding company, the Kraft Group – called him.

‘Ed told me that Kraft said I would not be allowed to perform in his stadium. Ed also told me that Kraft had rallied some of the other stadium owners and collectively they gave him an ultimatum: if Macklemore stays on the tour, you will not be allowed to play in our venues,’ he wrote.

Macklemore admitted that his friend ‘was in a f***** up position. He knew it.’

The Can’t Hold Us rapper added: ‘I hope this isn’t the end of my relationship with Ed. Thirteen years of friendship doesn’t disappear because of one painful disagreement.’

Openers who dropped out of Sheeran’s tour have received support from actress Melissa Barrera; seen in June 

Barrera, 36, was fired from the Scream franchise nearly three years ago for her pro-Palestinian stance

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Finneas, who is the brother of singer Billie Eilish, was the highest profile opener to quit Sheeran’s tour amid the backlash

Finneas issued an Instagram statement, where he vowed to ‘stand with Palestine an its people’ 

Sheeran has faced criticism from other singers and musicians including Pink Floyd co-founder Roger Waters, who bashed him on social media for not taking a strong stand against the decision.

Billie Eilish’s brother, Finneas, pulled out of his scheduled appearances in upcoming tour dates, stating that ‘artists must not be silenced when they speak up for the oppressed.’

Tour openers including Aaron Rowe and the band Lukas Graham, along with Sheeran’s long-time backing folk band Beoga, also withdrew from the endeavor.

On Tuesday, Sheeran released his own statement on Instagram, saying it wasn’t his decision to remove Macklemore from the tour, but rather the promoters’.

‘I 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,’ the British singer-songwriter added.

Northumbria Police said one lane on each carriageway at Blaydon Bridge, near Newcastle, will remain closed after a lorry crashed early on Saturday (September 19).

Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction until Monday, September 21, while National Highways assesses the damage.

A Northumbria Police spokesperson said: “Following a single-vehicle collision early this morning involving a lorry, a lane of both the northbound and southbound carriageways of the A1 at Blaydon Bridge is expected to be closed throughout the weekend and into Monday.

“This means that both directions will be reduced to a single lane of traffic until any damage caused can be assessed for safety by Highways.

“We are aware this is causing significant traffic congestion in the area, so please plan your journey this weekend accordingly.”

The crash closed part of the A1 on Saturday morning and caused lengthy delays for motorists travelling through Tyneside.

The incident happened at around 6.15am on Saturday, between junction 73 A694 Derwenthaugh Road (Blaydon / Consett Turn Off), and junction 74 (Newcastle City/Newburn Turn Off).

Drivers are now being urged to allow extra time for journeys and consider alternative routes where possible as engineers investigate the extent of any structural damage.

Northumbria Police will issue an update as soon as more information becomes available.

The powerhouse Southeastern Conference will have at least two top-10 teams lose in Week 3.

It could be three if No. 10 Alabama doesn’t beat pesky Florida State.

Kentucky stunned No. 9 Texas A&M on the road Saturday, winning 31-21 behind three transfers: quarterback Kenny Minchey, running back CJ Baxter and safety Jordan Castell.

Minchey, a Notre Dame transfer, completed 14 of 18 passes for 252 yards and two touchdowns. He connected on his final 11 throws. Baxter, a former Texas standout, ran for 87 yards and two scores. Castell, a three-year starter at Florida, finished with a team-high 13 tackles and an interception.

“I’m not shocked,” first-year coach Will Stein said on the field afterward. “This is how these guys practiced every single day. This is what Kentucky football is supposed to look like. So proud of our guys coming on the road, the eye of the storm. How freaking cool is this? Let’s go!”

Stein, 36, replaced longtime Kentucky coach Mark Stoops in December and became the third first-year Wildcats coach to beat a top-10 team — first since Joker Phillips in 2010.

“We knew it was going to be a bar fight, a fistfight, old school,” Stein said. “We were the tougher team tonight. That’s how we won the game.

“This is what we wanted, BBN. Let’s freaking go!”

No. 7 LSU and eighth-ranked Ole Miss will finish later Saturday and provide another top-10 loss.

Alabama led Florida State 26-21 at halftime, rallying after trailing 21-6 early in the second quarter. It was an eye-popping deficit for a Crimson Tide team that shockingly lost at home to the Seminoles to open last season.

LSU-Ole Miss game is the one to watch

Lane Kiffin was wildly booed long before he arrived at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on Saturday for the LSU-Ole Miss game.

Kiffin appeared remotely on ESPN’s “College GameDay,” and Mississippi fans still angry about how he left the Rebels for LSU late last season greeted him with a chorus of expletive-laced chants. It was a clear sign of what Kiffin and the Tigers should expect when they play at Ole Miss later Saturday.

“I really appreciate you guys gaslighting them with this,” Kiffin said from the team hotel.

It was the latest in a growing buildup for the first top-10 matchup between No. 7 LSU and eight-ranked Ole Miss since 1962.

It started when Kiffin left the Rebels to take the LSU job and a $91 million contract just as the team he had coached for six years was days away from its first appearance in the College Football Playoff. Kiffin wanted to stay through the playoff, but Ole Miss moved on to coach Pete Golding and advanced to the CFP semifinals. LSU finished 7-6, capped by a loss in the Texas Bowl.

The off-field storylines haven’t stopped since. Kiffin’s comments about whether Black players could be recruited to Ole Miss, lawsuits alleging Ole Miss transfers owe big money for reneging on their NIL deals and LSU’s now-abandoned defiance of rules against rostering former pro players have only brightened the spotlight for this one.

LSU threw another wrinkle into the mix by saying midweek that quarterback Sam Leavitt was “doubtful” to play, sparking immediate fan accusations of gamesmanship. He’s been upgraded since and is expected to start.

Kiffin himself acknowledged there could be “hatred” in the stands Saturday. Security has been dramatically increased as authorities expect 100,000 people in Oxford, a town whose school-year population of about 25,000 is virtually all students.

The winner improves to 3-0 on the season — and gets savory bragging rights.

The undercard

There is a good one in the ACC: No. 16 SMU at No. 23 Louisville, the league leaders in total offense featuring SMU’s Kevin Jennings (402.5 yard per game) and Louisville’s Lincoln Kienholz (375.0).

Both are eager to keep pace with No. 5 Miami, which beat Wake Forest 33-20 on Friday night as Darian Mensah completed 30 of 34 passes, including his first 24 attempts, for 220 yards and three touchdowns.

In the Big 12, two of the favorites opened league play with a terrific game Friday night in Lubbock, where No. 13 Texas Tech held on for a 28-26 win over No. 22 Houston. Cougars QB Conner Weigman came up just short of a 2-point conversion in the final minute, a play that went to the Big 12 replay review room — the broadcast audience was able to watch and listen to the analysis — before it was upheld.

Best of the rest

There also are several intriguing matchups pitting 2-0 teams that can be best viewed as measuring stick games, including Virginia Tech at Maryland, Mississippi State at South Carolina and these:

— Florida at Auburn. Gators QB Aaron Philo, who will make his first road start, has completed 76% of his passes with five touchdowns. Byrum Brown, who has been new Auburn coach Alex Golesh’s starting QB for all or part of four seasons, was a 1,000-yard rusher last year.

— No. 25 Virginia vs. West Virginia in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Mountaineers, 2-0 for the first time since 2018, are playing their border-state rival for the first time since 2002.

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Sign up for Top 25 poll alerts here, visit the Top 25 here and see AP’s full college football coverage here

The Business Secretary refused four times to rule out retirees paying tax on the state pension from next year.

Jonathan Reynolds declined to reassure pensioners that they would not pay income tax on the benefit for the first time, saying it was a question for the Chancellor.

The comments on Tuesday raised concern for millions of retired people expecting to see their state pension surpass £13,000 from April, forcing them to pay income tax.

However, pensions minister Torsten Bell later insisted Labour would not put up taxes on people who rely on the state pension.

It is still unclear how this will be implemented given the complexity of separating the tax arrangements of different groups of pensioners.

The rise under the triple lock guarantee would drag many pensioners into paying income tax for the first time because their state income would surpass the personal allowance of £12,570.

Rachel Reeves, the former chancellor, said last year that people solely reliant on the state pension would not have to pay the tax.

However, Mr Reynolds was repeatedly asked on BBC Breakfast whether Labour would honour this commitment after the next increase in the state pension in April. He declined to answer four times.

He said: “I’m sorry, that is for the Chancellor and for a Budget.

“The majority of pensioners in this country don’t just rely on the state pensions. Some do, I accept that, but the majority don’t.

“Sometimes when this is looked at, we’re focusing just on the state pension side of this. You’ve got to consider the full range of income retired people in the UK have.”

However Mr Bell, the pensions minister, walked back from Mr Reynolds comments.

He said: “In line with the commitment made at Budget 2025, pensioners who only just exceed the personal allowance will not have the administrative burden of paying small amounts of tax in this Parliament.

“The Chancellor will set out further details on how that commitment will be delivered at the Budget.”

Former pensions minister Sir Steve Webb said only one in 16 pensioners would benefit from this policy.

He said: “Those on the new state pension can expect to see an increase of nearly £500 per year next April.

“But the sting in the tail is that this will take the standard rate of the new state pension above the tax threshold.”

The comments came after official figures on Tuesday indicated the triple lock will rise by 3.9pc from April.

Under the triple lock, the state pension rises each April in line with inflation, average wages or 2.5pc, whichever is highest.

Total pay, including bonuses, rose by 3.9pc in the three months to July, down from 4.2pc in the three months to June.

Pensioners may yet receive a bigger increase if September’s inflation figure is higher than 3.9pc. That will be revealed next month but a higher figure is thought to be unlikely.

Read the latest updates below.

The black and tan dog was last seen near Pets at Home at Middlebrook at around 9.45am on Wednesday, August 19.

His owner Emily Cunliffe previously told The Bolton News that Stanley was “like our baby” and appealed for anyone who spotted him to get in touch.

There have been reports of Stanley being seen around Middlebrook and Horwich, but the family has still not had a confirmed sighting since the early stages of the search.

(Image: Emily Cunliffe)

Emily said via social media: “Stanley is still missing.

“Thanks for all the messages about all the missing dachshunds, just unfortunately Stanley hasn’t been found or returned.

“Please can people only call if you have found him or sighted him.”

The family does not know how far Stanley could have travelled after he ran towards Parklands.

They fear he could be hiding somewhere nearby, particularly as there are numerous fields, wooded areas, gardens and other places where a frightened dog could shelter.

Emily also previously raised the possibility that somebody may have found Stanley and taken him in without realising his family was searching for him.

(Image: Emily Cunliffe)

She previously said: “We don’t know if someone’s got him and taken him in and not returned him.”

Stanley has distinctive grey markings across his body which could help identify him.

Emily previously described him as a black and tan sausage dog with grey patches all over.

The family has received support from people online, while a lost dog service has also helped with the search.

Drones have been used to search areas where Stanley could be hiding, but they have so far failed to locate him.

(Image: Emily Cunliffe)

The family is now asking people in the area to check places including gardens, garages, sheds and outbuildings.

They have also asked people not to chase Stanley if they see him, as he may be frightened after being away from home for so long.

Emily said Stanley is normally playful, friendly and cheeky, but believes the experience could have changed his behaviour.

She previously added: “If you’ve got a sausage dog, you just know how stubborn they can be, and cheeky and so playful and funny, but he’s really, really friendly.

“But I think he’d be really anxious right now if he’s lost.”

Anyone with information about Stanley is asked to contact Emily on 07546 544150.

City of York Council has announced that Monkgate Yard will be shut between its junction with Monkgate to the south-western boundary of property No. 1.

The closure is necessary for water mains works and will start at 8am on Monday, September 21, and is expected to end at 5pm on Thursday, October 22.

The road will be closed to vehicles, with parking and waiting also prohibited.

Access for residents and emergency vehicles is not expected to be maintained during this period.

Alternative routes for diverted vehicles will not be signed.

The council has stated that traffic signs and barriers will indicate the extent of the closure.

The order does allow for emergency access and access to premises if it is not blocked by the works.

The road will reopen earlier if works are completed sooner.

The council’s register lists 60 licensed HMOs across the three towns.

There are 39 in Leigh, 12 in Tyldesley and nine in Atherton.

Taken together, the properties have a combined maximum permitted occupancy of 368 people, according to the figures in the council’s register.

The register shows that many of the properties are licensed for five or six people, although several larger HMOs can accommodate considerably more.

There are 60 licenced HMOs across Leigh, Atherton and Tyldesley (Image: Google Maps)

It is important to note that the maximum occupancy figures are licensing limits and do not mean the properties are necessarily occupied by that number of people.

Here is the full list:

Leigh – 39 licensed HMOs

• 117 Railway Road, WN7 4AJ – maximum six people
• 127 Railway Road, WN7 4AJ – maximum five people
• 155 Wigan Road, WN7 5DE – maximum five people
• 186 Chapel Street, WN7 2DW – maximum five people
• 19 Jaffrey Street, WN7 1XX – maximum five people
• 193 Chapel Street, WN7 2AN – maximum five people
• 2 Endsleigh Gardens, WN7 1LR – maximum six people
• 227 Chapel Street, WN7 2AP – maximum six people
• 231 Chapel Street, WN7 2AP – maximum six people
• 24 Railway Road, WN7 4AU – maximum five people
• 243 Twist Lane, WN7 4EH – maximum five people
• 28 Twist Lane, WN7 4DA – maximum five people
• 287 Twist Lane, WN7 4EH – maximum five people
• 30 Brewery Lane, WN7 2RJ – maximum five people
• 31 Findlay Street, WN7 4EQ – maximum six people
• 33 Church Street, WN7 1AY – maximum five people
• 34 Westleigh Lane, WN7 5JE – maximum five people
• 36 Butts Street, WN7 3AE – maximum five people
• 36 Railway Road, WN7 4AU – maximum eight people
• 45 Bond Street, WN7 1BT – maximum six people
• 46 Twist Lane, WN7 4DA – maximum five people
• 5 Charles Street, WN7 1DB – maximum eight people
• 52 Railway Road, WN7 4AT – maximum five people
• 52 Twist Lane, WN7 4DA – maximum five people
• 53 Church Street, WN7 1AY – maximum 12 people
• 54 Railway Road, WN7 4AT – maximum six people
• 58 Railway Road, WN7 4AT – maximum seven people
• 6 Wilkinson Street, WN7 4DQ – maximum five people
• 64 Railway Road, WN7 4AT – maximum eight people
• 66 Railway Road, WN7 4AT – maximum eight people
• 67 The Avenue, WN7 1EY – maximum nine people
• 79 King Street, WN7 4LJ – maximum 12 people
• 86 Railway Road, WN7 4AN – maximum seven people
• 88 Railway Road, WN7 4AN – maximum nine people
• 88 Wigan Road, WN7 5AY – maximum five people
• 89 Westleigh Lane, WN7 5JR – maximum five people
• 93 Church Street, WN7 1AZ – maximum six people
• Bank Chambers, 1st and 2nd Floor, 7-9 Market Street, WN7 1EE – maximum 12 people
• Liz’s Place, 55 Church Street, WN7 1AY – maximum nine people

Tyldesley – 12 licensed HMOs

• 126 Manchester Road, M29 8RN – maximum five people
• 139a Elliott Street, M29 8FL – maximum 10 people
• 159 Shuttle Street, M29 8BS – maximum six people
• 16 Darlington Street, M29 8DH – maximum five people
• 178 Mosley Common Road, M28 1AF – maximum seven people
• 22 Prospect Street, M29 8SU – maximum five people
• 248 Elliott Street, M29 8DS – maximum five people
• 49 Upper George Street, M29 8HQ – maximum six people
• 5 Johnson Street, M29 8BT – maximum five people
• 59 Johnson Street, M29 8HP – maximum five people
• 6 Upper George Street, M29 8HR – maximum six people
• 69 Johnson Street, M29 8HP – maximum five people

Atherton – nine licensed HMOs

• 112 Factory Road West, M46 0EF – maximum five people
• 141 Bolton Road, M46 9LD – maximum five people
• 15 Stanley Street, M46 0AB – maximum five people
• 167 Bolton Road, M46 9LD – maximum six people
• 24 Flapper Fold Lane, M46 0FA – maximum five people
• 32 Hamilton Street, M46 0AT – maximum five people
• 353 Leigh Road, M46 0PW – maximum five people
• 43 Flapper Fold Lane, M46 0FA – maximum five people
• 94 and 94a Mealhouse Lane, M46 0DF – maximum five people

Do you think there’s too many HMOs in your area? Let us know in the comments.

There is “fury” over plans for a suspect in the disappearance of Madeline McCann to write a tell-all book, according to the Sunday Mirror. Convicted rapist Christian Brueckner, who was released from prison in Germany last year after serving an unrelated sentence, “wants to cash in on the mystery with his side of the story”, the paper says.

A Met Police spokesman said: “Thank you to our officers on the ground, as well as partners at Millwall and West Ham football clubs, who worked to ensure the Dockers Derby took place without significant disruption across south east London – allowing attending fans to enjoy the match safely.”