Ed Sheeran has apologised to fans for making "mistakes", as he opened a solo show in Philadelphia by addressing the controversy that has engulfed his tour.&nbsp;The star responded to the fallout over rapper Macklemore being dropped from the tour for making pro-Palestinian remarks on stage earlier in September.&nbsp;"I never wanted to be an activist musician, but this has put me in the middle of an important and passionate argument about free speech and the most complex political issue on the planet," he said at Saturday's show.&nbsp;He described the 7 October 2023 Hamas-led attacks as "horrific" and called the situation in Gaza "unjustifiable" in his first in-person remarks since the controversy began.&nbsp;Several artists left the tour, while the price of tickets dropped and sales declined for the remaining US leg of his Loop Tour due to the controversy.&nbsp;The singer has said the decision to drop Macklemore was made by his promoters, not him.&nbsp;Sheeran told the crowd that while he was used to facing criticism for his music, "this week, the criticism was about something much more important, and I've had to take and make difficult decisions - and I am making mistakes - and I'm so, so sorry".&nbsp;He said he wanted to "address the question of where I stand in the situation in Israel and Palestine, and whether my doing this concert here tonight implies where I stand".&nbsp;"I have tried in my career not to be a political commentator of any kind, because I want my music and shows to be about unity, not division", he continued. "But this is a humanitarian issue, and I cannot hide how I feel about it anymore."&nbsp;Sheeran said what happened in Israel on 7 October was "horrific and compounded centuries of Jewish pain", and what was happening in Gaza was "catastrophic and unjustifiable and disproportionate".&nbsp;"My heart has been broken by the scale of devastation and loss of civilian lives, of children's lives, and this systemic injustice we're seeing unfold in the West Bank cannot be overlooked."&nbsp;He said he was working out how to contribute in a way that would help "victims of these terrible times - and listening and learning, because I do not know enough".&nbsp;The British singer became emotional as he told the crowd his concert was "still a place where everyone is welcome, and everyone here can stand beside people that have opposing views".&nbsp;He said that he had not known "whether this tour would be carrying on" and "whether I even wanted to be an artist at all", but that he had returned to the stage because he was committed to his fans.&nbsp;Sheeran also said he was "deeply worried" by the idea that venues would "pre-approve" content or performers, which received applause from the audience.&nbsp;His remaining tour dates are scheduled with shows set throughout North and South America. While the mega-star's previous tour was among the highest-grossing of all time, some ticket prices for this show dropped to $32 (£24).&nbsp;Some fans reported being able to get ticket refunds, though Ticketmaster and concert promoter Messina Touring Group did not confirm they were being reimbursed.&nbsp;Some protesters waved flags outside the venue, but the concert proceeded largely unfettered.&nbsp;A protester who gave his name as Cooper said he had come out "to support the struggle for" the Palestinian people.&nbsp;"We need more people like Macklemore and other artists who have a voice, who have a public platform, to be able to speak on behalf of the Palestinian people and their struggle for liberation, especially in the United States," he said.&nbsp;Of the handful of ticket-holders who stopped to talk to the BBC prior to the show, there was a sentiment of determination to enjoy an evening of music while at the same time supporting freedom of speech.&nbsp;Reacting to Sheeran's remarks as they later left the venue, one fan said he had "covered both sides nicely, and I think everyone leaves happy", while another called his speech "very sincere, and I think that's what the people wanted to hear was sincerity".&nbsp;The controversy began in early September, when Macklemore performed a song dedicated to pro-Palestinian protesters and referred to the death toll in Gaza as a genocide, a claim Israel rejects. The rapper also said criticism of Israel was not intended as criticism of "my Jewish brothers and sisters".&nbsp;Messina Touring Group said Macklemore was dropped because some venues - such Gillette Stadium in Boston, Massachusetts - would refuse to let the concerts take place if he performed.&nbsp;Billionaire Robert Kraft who owns Gillette Stadium and the American football team the New England Patriots, confirmed he had banned Macklemore from performing during the British singer's forthcoming shows.&nbsp;Kraft, who is Jewish, accused the US rapper of hate speech and said he was "only sharing selective information and ignoring the actions of Hamas".&nbsp;Meanwhile, support acts including Irish singer-songwriter Aaron Rowe and Danish musician Lukas Graham and his backing band Beoga quit the tour in solidarity with Macklemore.&nbsp;The artists argued his removal represented a chilling effect on free speech.&nbsp;Source: BBC-Agencies&nbsp;&nbsp;

Ed Sheeran admits 'mistakes' as he addresses Macklemore controversy at Philadelphia show

World leaders gather in New York this week for the UN General Assembly, bracing for President Donald Trump's return to the rostrum for a second year running, with talks centering on the widening conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine and the risks of artificial intelligence.&nbsp;Nearly 130 heads of state meet with the post-World War Two order under strain and with the UN itself struggling to remain relevant and weathering attacks from Trump, who has slashed America's contributions and withdrawn from dozens of UN bodies. Chinese leader Xi Jinping, who last addressed the diplomatic jamboree via video in 2021, will skip New York in favor of one-on-one talks with Trump in Washington on Thursday, fueling debate about the UN's relevance in addressing global crises.&nbsp;Compounding the crisis of morale and finance are questions about the next leader of the 80-year-old organization: Secretary-General Antonio Guterres completes his term at the end of 2026, with no clear frontrunner in the race to replace him.&nbsp;The 15-member UN Security Council may hold high-level meetings on Ukraine, AI and the Middle East, including talks with Arab leaders, diplomats said. More than a year into Trump's second term, "we would no longer say that the UN is in freefall, but we would say that it's stuck in an open-ended crisis," said Richard Gowan of the International Crisis ⁠Group.&nbsp;"The UN may not be in emergency care like it was last year, but it seems to be trapped in a trauma center for the foreseeable future," Gowan said.&nbsp;The US avoided losing its vote at the assembly by paying $725 million in contributions to the regular budget this week, but it still owes the organization more than a billion dollars and makes ongoing demands for cuts and reforms.&nbsp;GROWING AI RISKS&nbsp;The assembly meets shortly after several artificial intelligence industry leaders called for a coordinated slowdown of the development of the technology, warning that it could soon improve on its own and escape human control.&nbsp;Guterres has said that AI will be a major topic, adding that countries pushing its frontiers should set up “common guardrails in order to avoid this race to the bottom that could lead one day to a gigantic disaster at the global level.”&nbsp;The secretary-general has long proposed global governance of AI. In 2023, the UN created an advisory body on the technology, with members including tech executives, government officials and academics.&nbsp;The warning has put Guterres at odds with Trump, who dismissed AI risks as a "hoax," saying there is a "sick conspiracy" against it and that China would benefit from the doubt being cast on its development.&nbsp;MIDDLE EAST ESCALATION&nbsp;The Middle East will again be a focus of discussions, as the US-Israeli war on Iran continues to drive global inflation and destabilize the region. Recent gains by Houthi militants threaten shipping in the vital ⁠Bab el-Mandeb Strait and could further spike energy prices.&nbsp;"It's very difficult to have a military solution for that problem, and the experience of fighting in Yemen demonstrated how complicated it is to have successful interventions," said Guterres, adding that the UN's envoy on Yemen was making a "huge effort" to advance talks.&nbsp;Peace talks remain stalled, however, as Iran and the US continue to exchange strikes and Trump threatens a major escalation of the war.Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian is scheduled to address the assembly on Wednesday.&nbsp;Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu – wanted by the International Criminal Court over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza that Israel denies – is to speak on Thursday.&nbsp;Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will for the second year running not be at the gathering in person. The US, ⁠a close Israeli ally, again denied him a visa. On Thursday, the General Assembly voted to allow Abbas to appear via video.&nbsp;There is likely to be a high-level meeting on the conflict in Sudan on the sidelines, diplomats said, although a diplomatic breakthrough is unlikely.&nbsp;UKRAINE, FOOD SECURITY&nbsp;Also on the agenda is Russia's more than four-year-old war in Ukraine.&nbsp;Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will address the General Assembly. Zelenskiy will likely seek to shore up Ukraine's position ahead of what is expected to be another ⁠tough winter, diplomats said.&nbsp;The Security Council has been unable to take action to end the conflict because permanent member Russia holds a veto.&nbsp;Trump has at times appeared frustrated that he has been unable to broker an end to the war, a goal he declared a priority when he began his second term in January last year. The US president spoke with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin earlier this month, but it was unclear whether he plans to meet Zelenskiy ⁠in New York.&nbsp;Guterres highlighted the impact the war was having on civilians but also on food security and energy prices.&nbsp;"The effective blockade existing in the Black Sea is creating enormous problems that add to the problems generated by the Middle East crisis, and I think it would be very important to find a way to allow Ukrainian exports and Russian exports of food, fertilizers and energy to take place in a safe way through the Black Sea," he said.&nbsp;Source: Reuters

World leaders return to UN amid wars in Middle East and Ukraine

Iran warned on Sunday against any big new attack by the United States and its allies, saying it had information such a move was being prepared, adding to the anxiety in a region already on edge after drone and missile strikes on Saudi Arabia.&nbsp;Iran's military central command said on state media that any new attack would trigger sustained retaliation against US bases and interests, and that Washington's regional allies would be considered parties to the conflict. It did not elaborate on the information it said it had about a coming US attack.&nbsp;The US State Department issued a security alert on Saturday saying there was potential for unforeseen escalation in the Middle East and Americans should exercise more vigilance and ⁠be aware of possible flight cancellations and airspace closures.&nbsp;Nearly seven months into the US-Iran war, neither side has looked ready to make major concessions needed to end the fighting and with global energy markets already stretched, the conflict continues to spill over into other crises around the region.&nbsp;On Saturday Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis, who made major advances along Yemen's Red Sea coast after the country's civil war reignited this month, said they had carried out strikes in the Saudi capital Riyadh and on a major oil facility in the kingdom's Red Sea port of Yanbu.&nbsp;Reuters video showed a massive plume of black smoke billowing from the area of Riyadh's main international airport after booms were heard in the Saudi capital overnight.&nbsp;Saudi Arabia did not comment on the incident or the Houthi claims, though a Saudi-led coalition fighting the Houthis said it had foiled other attacks on the kingdom. The US State ⁠Department alert cited Houthi hostilities against Saudi Arabia, including civilian airports.&nbsp;Recent escalation by the Houthis has forced Riyadh into a painful dilemma: continue airstrikes on the group to stop it seizing more Yemeni territory or step back in the hopes of averting drone strikes on critical infrastructure.&nbsp;STRIKES ON SAUDI ARABIA&nbsp;The Houthi gains along the coast mean the group's forces now sit on the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, giving them easier control over shipping travelling between the Red Sea and Asia and ⁠the ability to blockade the crucial waterway.&nbsp;With Iran already having blockaded most shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, the oil-rich Gulf's energy exports are now almost entirely cut off from global markets, adding to pressure on global oil prices.&nbsp;A US blockade of Iranian ports is meanwhile stopping Iran from selling its own oil, contributing to major ⁠problems in the Islamic Republic's economy.&nbsp;With the war inflicting painful damage on all sides, however, there is little sign of a return to the interim ceasefire agreement that was struck in June but that fell apart in July amid disputes over its terms.&nbsp;Iran reiterated on Sunday that it would ⁠not reopen the Strait of Hormuz until the terms of that June agreement, as it interpreted them, were met.&nbsp;Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said Iran would have to keep on fighting as well as negotiating, to push back its enemies and to consolidate any gains with diplomacy.&nbsp;Source: Reuters

Iran warns against new escalation by US and allies

The Ministry of Energy has directed Electricity Distribution Lanka (Pvt) Ltd to discontinue Net Metering and Net Accounting for new rooftop solar connections and extensions of existing agreements. Under the new directive, all new agreements and extensions will operate exclusively under the Net Plus scheme. Existing agreements will remain valid under their current terms until they expire. The directive applies to grid clearances granted after 11 September 2026, while agreements or clearances completed on or before that date will not be reopened. The Ministry has also confirmed that feed-in tariff rates set by the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka will remain unchanged.

Net Metering and Net Accounting scrapped for new rooftop solar connections

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake stated that the Government is considering providing a fuel subsidy in response to the fuel price revision expected in October. He made the remarks while addressing a public rally in Akuressa today (20). The proposed subsidy is being considered as the Government prepares to review domestic fuel prices.

Govt. considers fuel subsidy amid October fuel price revision

The Minister of Energy Anura Karunathilaka stated that a revision of fuel prices may be considered at the end of September due to the recent increase in global fuel prices. Speaking in Galle today (20), he noted that the Government is currently considering whether the public can bear a further increase, as domestic fuel prices are already at a relatively high level. The Government will take prevailing international fuel prices into account when reviewing domestic fuel prices at the end of the month.

Fuel price revision possible at end of September

Rainy weather is expected to continue in several parts of Sri Lanka tomorrow (21), with rainfall exceeding 100 mm possible in some areas, according to the Department of Meteorology. A low-pressure area has formed over the Bay of Bengal, northeast of Sri Lanka, near the Andaman region. Although it is not expected to directly affect Sri Lanka, its influence on wind patterns is expected to maintain rainy conditions, particularly in the southwest. Heavy rain is possible in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and North Western provinces, and Galle, Matara, Kandy and Nuwara Eliya.

Rainy conditions to continue in several areas as low-pressure system develops

The Department of Meteorology has issued an Amber warning for strong winds and rough seas in several sea areas around Sri Lanka, effective until 1.00 p.m. tomorrow (21). Sea areas from Matara to Pottuvil via Hambantota may experience strong gusty winds of up to 50–60 kmph. Wave heights of around 2.0–2.5 metres are also expected in sea areas from Puttalam to Pottuvil via Colombo, Galle and Matara. Fishing and naval communities in the affected areas have been urged to remain vigilant and take necessary precautions.

Amber warning issued for strong winds and rough seas

The National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) has issued Level 3 (Red) landslide warnings for selected areas of Kandy, Kegalle and Nuwara Eliya districts. The Red warning covers Pasbage Korale in Kandy; Dehiowita, Aranayake, Deraniyagala, Mawanella and Yatiyantota in Kegalle; and Kotmale West, Kotmale East, Ambagamuwa and Norwood in Nuwara Eliya. Level 2 (Amber) warnings remain in effect for selected areas of Colombo, Galle, Kalutara, Kandy, Kegalle, Matara, Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura districts. Residents in affected areas have been urged to remain vigilant for signs of landslides and follow instructions issued by local authorities.

Ed Sheeran admits 'mistakes' as he addresses Macklemore cont ...

World leaders return to UN amid wars in Middle East and Ukraine

World leaders return to UN ami ...

Iran warns against new escalation by US and allies

Iran warns against new escalat ...

Net Metering and Net Accounting scrapped for new rooftop solar connect ...

Net Metering and Net Accountin ...

Govt. considers fuel subsidy amid October fuel price revision

Govt. considers fuel subsidy a ...

Fuel price revision possible at end of September

Fuel price revision possible a ...

Rainy conditions to continue in several areas as low-pressure system d ...

Rainy conditions to continue i ...

Amber warning issued for strong winds and rough seas

Amber warning issued for stron ...

Red and Amber landslide warnings issued for several districts

Red and Amber landslide warnin ...

World leaders return to UN amid wars in Middle East and Ukraine

World leaders return to UN ami ...

Iran warns against new escalation by US and allies

Iran warns against new escalat ...

Net Metering and Net Accounting scrapped for new rooftop solar connect ...

Net Metering and Net Accountin ...

Govt. considers fuel subsidy amid October fuel price revision

Govt. considers fuel subsidy a ...

Fuel price revision possible at end of September

Fuel price revision possible a ...

Rainy conditions to continue in several areas as low-pressure system d ...

Rainy conditions to continue i ...

Amber warning issued for strong winds and rough seas

Amber warning issued for stron ...

Red and Amber landslide warnings issued for several districts

Red and Amber landslide warnin ...

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World leaders return to UN amid wars in Middle East and Ukraine

World leaders return to UN ami ...

Iran warns against new escalation by US and allies

Iran warns against new escalat ...

Bringing the news paper to your fingertips

Net Metering and Net Accounting scrapped for new rooftop solar connect ...

Net Metering and Net Accountin ...

Govt. considers fuel subsidy amid October fuel price revision

Govt. considers fuel subsidy a ...

Fuel price revision possible at end of September

Fuel price revision possible a ...

Rainy conditions to continue in several areas as low-pressure system d ...

Rainy conditions to continue i ...