By ASHLEIGH GRAY

Published: 02:08 BST, 20 September 2026 | Updated: 02:22 BST, 20 September 2026

Ed Sheeran has made his stance clear on the Israel-Palestine conflict after his Loop Tour fell apart amid Macklemore’s ‘Free Palestine‘ comments.

The 35-year-old singer-songwriter returned to the stage in Philadelphia on Saturday night for the first time since 43-year-old Macklemore, real name Benjamin Haggerty, was axed from the tour.

He made a solemn speech at Lincoln Financial Field, telling the audience that he plans to ‘continue my own tour’ despite each one of his opening acts dropping out in solidarity with Macklemore and Palestine. 

‘What happened in Israel at Nova music festival on October 7 was horrific and compounded centuries of Jewish pain. What is happening in Gaza is catastrophic and unjustifiable and disproportionate,’ he said in a video captured and shared online by a concertgoer. 

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‘My heart has been broken by the scale of devastation and loss of civilians’ lives, of children’s lives, and the systemic injustice we’re seeing unfold in the West Bank cannot be overlooked.’

It comes as the concert was swarmed by pro-Palestine protestors before he took the stage.

Ed Sheeran has made his stance clear on the Israel-Palestine conflict after his Loop Tour fell apart amid Macklemore’s ‘Free Palestine’ comments; pictured in October 2025

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It comes as the concert was swarmed by pro-Palestine protestors before he took the stage

 

The 35-year-old singer-songwriter returned to the stage in Philadelphia on Saturday night for the first time since 43-year-old Macklemore, real name Benjamin Haggerty, was axed from the tour; pictured in 2013

The late 80s and early 90s were a great time for ninja games, but as a reader points, they weren’t always the most authentic or plausible.

There was once a time when video games made sense. You had a plumber who ‘fixed’ pipes, hedgehogs ran fairly briskly, and spaceships that shot down aliens. Then, sometime in the 1980s somebody looked at the concept of a ninja and decided that this wasn’t nearly stupid enough.
And so began the age ‘ninja nonsense nunchuk-ery’.

Suddenly, every arcade game was full of these not-so-secret clans. One minute, games were about things like space invaders and rescuing princesses. Then suddenly, everything had ninjas.

And not just the occasional ninja. We’re talking industrial quantities. Entire cities full of them. Streets, factories, forests, sewers, even golf courses absolutely teaming with ninja. Yes, golf courses!

Bad Dudes Vs. DragonNinja

It’s the sort of video game that as an adult makes you realise how easily pleased you were as an adolescent.

In a time when you never stopped to ask, ‘Does this even make sense?’

You play as Blade or Striker, two extremely patriotic men with predestined names whose solution to the kidnapping of the [resident is to take the law into their own hands, by proceeding to walk across America punching the face of every human being they encounter.

The fact the [resident needs rescuing by two Michael Jackson fans who look like they were rejected from an ‘80s action movie is completely justified.

The gameplay is beautifully simple: walk right, punch ninjas, occasionally spinny kick something, and hopefully nobody notices those approximately three attacks are your whole portfolio of moves.
Every now and then you can pick up can of soda, kept at body temp for your liking and pre-shaken, ensuring the deceased enemy gets the last laugh.

The real star, however, is the premise.

‘Are you a bad enough dude to rescue the [resident?’ Obviously, you are. Ridiculous, repetitive, and gloriously stupid, Bad Dudes Vs. DragonNinja is gaming distilled to its purest form: punch first, ask questions never.

Shinobi

During the course of this feature, we will establish that stealth apparently means heading directly towards your opponent in plain sight, often given them the opportunity to strike first.

Shinobi’s protagonist is Joe Musashi, a highly trained ninja whose idea of subtle infiltration is to sprint at an army of heavily armed men and reward them by pinning stars to their chests simply for taking part.

Diplomacy as its finest.

Surprisingly, the plot involves kidnapped children and evil organisations. Joe’s mission is simple. Rescue the kids and destroy the criminals; first one to die, loses.

The Revenge Of Shinobi

This is what happens when someone decides that Shinobi isn’t quite ridiculous enough and adds magic, atomic seppuku, Godzilla, and enough shuriken to make the modern day RAM shortage look contrived.

You play as Joe Musashi, a man whose wife has been kidnapped by Neo Zeed, an evil organisation, because according to any media, ninja revenge stories are legally required to begin with somebody being kidnapped.

Naturally, Joe responds by brazenly walking through cities, forests, and military installations, murdering approximately 700 people on the way.

And what a journey it is. One minute you’re fighting ordinary soldiers, the next you’re battling mutant creatures, pickled brains on cargo planes and guardians that appear to have escaped from a fever dream.

And a lawsuit.

Subtlety clearly wasn’t invited.

The controls are kind of adequate, but Mr Musashi’s arsenal of shuriken makes you feel less like a stealthy assassin and more like a noisy draw of cutlery.

Alex Kidd In Shinobi World

Because Sega looked at Shinobi and thought, ‘Needs more small child.’

Alex Kidd In Shinobi World begins with Alex’s girlfriend being kidnapped by the evil ninja Hanzo. A perfectly reasonable set-up for a serious tale of revenge, honour, and ancient martial arts.

But instead of a grim ninja warrior you get a giant-headed child in a little outfit bouncing around, probably skiving with no regard for his attendance record nor the teachers that patrol town monitoring truancy.

The game is essentially Sega taking Shinobi, putting it through a washing machine mixing dark with bright colours, and hoping nobody notices. And somehow it works as well as it’s supposed to.

Ninjas are everywhere, swarming around you like you’ve walked into a very aggressive Shinobi cosplay convention.

The best part is the complete lack of concern from any type of law enforcement. A kidnapped girlfriend? Massive evil ninja organisation? Ancient mystical powers?

Who gives a shidoshi. Ridiculous, charming and wonderfully Sega, Alex KiddIin Shinobi World proves that revenge doesn’t have to be dark and serious.

Sometimes revenge has a massive head and eats burgers.

Shadow Dancer: The Secret Of Shinobi

Shadow-dancing seems a hilariously pacifistic concept for a ninja, when you consider another term like shadow-boxing.

Perhaps shadow-dancing is the secret of Shinobi. How embarrassing.

Staying alive in this game requires you to traverse a city in which the majority of levels take place in broad daylight, so there’s very little fear of night fever setting in; shadows weren’t even cast as extras and dancing is non-existent.

As we do have a wolf sidekick, perhaps a better suited title would’ve been The Secret Of Shinobi – Dances With Wolves, but that sounds boring as hell. When I was a kid I wanted to believe the dog’s name was Shadow, but even that didn’t make sense at the time because he’s bright white.

You play Hayate, a highly trained ninja assassin for once.

Step by step, he’ll dismantle a criminal organisation with his sword, shuriken, mystical powers, and the agility of a cat. And yet his most important instrument is the dog.

Hayate spends years mastering the ancient arts of ninjutsu, to keep his enemies in line, when all the dog has to do is bark rendering the enemy stunned with stage fright.

Your canine accomplice can pin enemies to the ground, allowing you to finish them off. So in an ironic twist, you’re not actually the main event here.

You’re just a bloke waltzing around the place while the dog does all the foot work.

Now, Hayate can throw shuriken, slash people use magic, and perform spectacular ninja manoeuvres, but let’s be honest. Nobody remembers any of that jazz, all they remember is the bloody dog.

But let’s not dance around the real issue, the bad guys should’ve brought their own pet.

Ninja Golf

Finally, a game brave enough to ask, ‘What if golf was considerably more violent?’ Ninja Golf is possibly the greatest example of a development meeting where absolutely nobody said, ‘We’re gonna do what now?’

The concept is radically simple. You’re a ninja playing golf.

But not all ninjas appreciate a second hobby and demand you stop enjoying yourself.

Instead of stealing your golf ball and being done with it, a ninja would rather steal your life.

You tee off and watch your ball disappear into the distance and proceed to leg it to the right as an onslaught of ninja, green with envy, club together with their pets to stand between you and your par.

Because apparently regular golf wasn’t stressful enough.

If you somehow survive this handicap there’s an enormous dragon waiting for you at the end. Why? I don’t know. Who cares. You are a ninja with a golf club… fore!

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Just contact us at gamecentral@metro.co.uk or use our Submit Stuff page and you won’t need to send an email.

MORE: Video games should be more like Blood Of Dawnwalker and less like Wolverine – Reader’s Feature

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MORE: I have huge respect for fans protesting the PS5 no disc policy on social media – Reader’s Feature

Earl Charles Spencer’s book triggered anger from Buckingham Palace.

Princess Diana’s brother is to take part in a new interview amid a row with King Charles.

Earl Charles Spencer’s book triggered anger from Buckingham Palace after allegations Charles told him Diana would be forgotten “soon enough” after her death. Earl Spencer accused the then Prince Charles of launching into a furious tirade during a phone call in the days after the princess was killed in a Paris car crash, alongside her lover Dodi Fayed, in 1997.

However, in a new interview set to air on Sunday in the US, the aristocrat insisted: “I’m absolutely not bitter. I can tell you. If I was bitter, this book would be… more bitter.”

Asked if he has any resentment towards the King or the royal family, including the late Queen, he added: “I’m not really in the business of resentment. I’m at the stage in my life where the past is the past, and some of it’s worth recording.

“But I don’t hold resentments, primarily because I don’t think it’s good for the person to do that themselves. I’ve let a lot go. I’m not a vengeful, resentful, person. I’m just an eyewitness to history.”

The Mirror reports that the Earl, 62, gave a sit-down interview to the US TV station CBS at his home at Althorp, Northamptonshire, ahead of the publication of his new book Swan Song: Diana, My Sister, on Tuesday. The publication of extracts this week led to Buckingham Palace issuing a strongly worded rebuke just over an hour after the Earl’s claims were made public.

The extraordinary royal statement denied the claim and said the King is “mindful that the pain of fraternal grief can cloud reason, affect judgement and colour memory in ways others do not recognise, even many years after such a loss”. In the new memoir, Earl Spencer also claims Charles had “sounded giddily elated” when he called him after Diana’s death. And he even alleges that he sounded like he had won the lottery.

The book also includes the Earl claiming he hung up the phone on the then future King after telling him how he strongly disagreed with the royals’ decision to have princes William and Harry – then aged just 15 and 12 – walk behind their mother’s coffin. He also claims in the tome that a lack of obvious care for Prince Harry at his mother’s funeral allowed him to “spin out of control” and that immediately after Diana’s funeral he was told Queen Elizabeth had offered to restore his sister’s Her Royal Highness title, which he rejected.

Asked by CBS Senior Foreign Correspondent Mark Phillips during the interview if he has any remaining relationship with King Charles, Earl Spencer said: “No, I don’t actually. Look, he came into my life as a brother-in-law and that relationship ended.

“And so, you know, he’s still my King. I respect the Crown, and that’s it, but there’s no personal relationship. He’s a former brother-in-law to me, really, and he’s my monarch and that’s it.” Earl Spencer added: “I always think people are amazed by how little I follow the royal family ’cause it’s just not me. I have so many interests, but I’m not being rude about them… I’m not interested in the royal family.”

Speaking about his claims in a separate interview with BBC TV presenter Laura Kuenssberg this week, Earl Spencer said: “I’m telling the truth.” He also alleged he had told friends and family “straight away” about an alleged outburst by the then Prince of Wales “because it was so monstrous”.

Meanwhile, veteran journalist David Dimbleby today spoke about the ongoing row and claimed Princess Diana is “still deeply resented” inside Buckingham Palace. Mr Dimbleby, who spent decades covering royal events, told BBC Radio 4: “Diana was the prime example of someone who didn’t act like the rest of the Royal Family – she was fresh, new and exciting to the public and they really adored her.

“And that was deeply resented in the palace. And still is. And this kind of tit for tat over who said what, and only two people know what was actually said just reignites all that.”

Mr Dimbleby went on to describe the Royal Family as “a bit of a soap opera”, but warned against the monarchy becoming “trapped in this cycle of gossip”. He added: “People are fascinated and I think whenever any tittle tattle reaches the public domain, people sort of think about it in terms of their own families.

“They all have problems and then suddenly… this family that is set up on a pedestal of being leaders of the country – they have problems too.”

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Corrie star Sally Dynevor has revealed meeting an original cast member of the ITV soap in Oldham

While she’s achieved her own Coronation Street legend status following more than 40 years on the famous cobbles, Sally Dynevor has recalled her interaction with an original icon of the long-running show that took place long before her own debut.

The Middleton-born actress is famed for playing Sally Metcalfe, with fans of the ITV soap, which is filmed in Salford, aware of the much-loved character’s comedy appeal and status as a street busybody.

Her arrival on the cobbles in 1986 sparked the first romance of her life in Weatherfield – with soon-to-be hubby Kevin Webster, played by Michael Le Vell.

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The couple went on to have two daughters, Rosie and Sophie, before their rocky marriage came to an end on Christmas Day 2009, when Kevin’s affair with Molly Dobbs was revealed. And it was a romance that would result in the birth of their son, Jack.

was diagnosed with breast cancer the following year after finding a lump, in a storyline that would take a personal twist for actor Sally, who discovered that she also had breast cancer whilst researching for the storyline.

She underwent treatment at The Christie in Withington and returned to the Corrie after a six-month break. Sally has since been dedicated to raising awareness and much-needed funds for breast cancer and is a patron of the charity, Prevent Breast Cancer.

As for her character, by 2013, Sally had entered into a new, unlikely relationship with ex-Kevin’s best friend, Tim Metcalfe, played by Joe Duttine. And the rest, as they say, is history.

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But long before her arrival in Weatherfield, Sally, now 63 came face-to-face with one of the original Corrie cast members, Pat Phoenix, and has now recalled their interaction.

Speaking to the Manchester Evening News and other press, Sally was asked if there was someone in the current cast she’d love to work more with, or someone from the past who she wishes she’d worked alongside, to which she said: “I mean, you know, one of my favourites, and he’s everybody’s, I think, on Corrie, is David Neilson (Roy Cropper). So I wish I had more. I do have scenes with David, but I think he’s such a wonderful actor, and I love Ben Price (Nick Tilsley). I’d love to work opposite Ben Price more.”

She continued: “In the old days, I joined in January, and Pat Phoenix (Elsie Tanner) left in November before I started, and I wish I had scenes with her because I ran up to her when I was 13 outside Oldham Town Hall and told her I wanted to be an actor. And just the thought of doing some scenes with her would have been amazing, and I missed her by a couple of months. It was such a shame.”

But things could have been very different for Sally, as she was originally only signed for two episodes. Asked whether she thought back then that she’d still be in Corrie more than four decades later, she shared: “Absolutely not. I really, genuinely was very, very happy with the two episodes I was given at the very beginning.

“And thought that that would definitely be it. If I’d known that 40 years later, I would still be here and enjoying it as much as I did on the very first day, I would never have believed it. I’m still loving it.”

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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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.