Ed Sheeran played an intimate show in England Wednesday night and debuted two brand-new songs from his upcoming album, = [Equals].
At the Coventry gig in celebration of British music retailer HMV’s 100th anniversary, he delivered the first live performances of the tracks “First Times” and “Overpass Graffiti.”
In video captured of the “First Times” performance, Ed contrasts big moments in his career with special little moments in his personal life.
“I thought I’d feel different playing Wembley/80,000 singing with me/It’s what I’ve been chasing, ’cause this is the dream,” he sings.
“I will always love you for what it’s worth/We’ll never fade like graffiti on the overpass/I know time may change the way you think of us/But I remember the way we were/You were the first full-stop love that will never leave/ Baby you’ll never be lost on me,” Ed sings.
Also included in Ed’s 19-song set were his latest single “Bad Habits” and the song “Visiting Hours,” which he released last week, as well as previous hits “Shape of You,” “Thinking Out Loud” and “Castle on the Hill.”
Machine Gun Kelly and Mod Sun are teaming up to co-direct and co-write a new film called Good Mourning with a U, Deadline reports.
Both MGK and Mod will have roles in the movie, along with Megan Fox, comedian Whitney Cummings, The Descendants star Dove Cameron, Becky G of Power Rangers and Dave actor GaTa, among others. Additionally, Deadline reports that Saturday Night Live‘s Pete Davidson will be making a “special appearance.”
“We’re just happy to be bringing our vision to life,” Kelly and Mod say. “We’re humbled by the trust we have from our cast members and crew.”
Machine Gun Kelly and Mod Sun previously co-directed and co-wrote Downfalls High, a musical film based on Kelly’s 2020 album Tickets to My Downfall. Good Mourning with a U will mark their theatrical directorial debut.
(KABUL, Afghanistan) — Chaos has enveloped Kabul after Afghanistan’s government’s collapsed and the Taliban seized control, all but ending America’s 20-year campaign as it began: under Taliban rule.
Approximately 95,700 people have been evacuated since the effort began on Aug. 14, the White House said Thursday, while the Pentagon said the military will keep the evacuation mission going until the Aug. 31 withdrawal deadline.
President Joe Biden sat down with ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos for an exclusive one-on-one interview at the White House last week, the president’s first interview since the withdrawal from Afghanistan. Biden has also addressed the nation several times since.
Here are the latest developments. All times Eastern:
Aug 26, 11:46 am
Images show wounded, devastation after explosions near Kabul airport
Some of the first photos of the scene of the explosions in Kabul — one which occurred at or near the Baron Hotel and the other at the Abbey Gate outside Hamid Karzai International Airport — show bloody and wounded people evacuating the area.
Pentagon press secretary John Kirby confirmed there were “a number of US and Afghan civilian casualties.”
Kabul Emergency Hospital told ABC News in a statement, “Around 60 patients wounded in airport attack have arrived at our EMERGENCY NGO’s Kabul Surgical Centre so far.”
Smoke leftover from the blasts and gunfire was seen rising over the airport on Thursday.
Aug 26, 11:06 am
‘Complex attack,’ second explosion at hotel near airport: Pentagon
Pentagon press secretary John Kirby confirmed there was a second explosion at or near the Baron Hotel, a short distance from Abbey Gate, after earlier confirming an explosion outside the Abbey Gate at Hamid Karzai International Airport.
“We can confirm that the explosion at the Abbey Gate was the result of a complex attack that resulted in a number of US & civilian casualties. We can also confirm at least one other explosion at or near the Baron Hotel, a short distance from Abbey Gate. We will continue to update,” he said in a tweet.
The Turkish Defense Ministry, which has had forces helping to secure the airport, also tweeted that two explosions had occurred.
“There were two explosions outside of Kabul Airport. There is no damage or casualty in our unit,” it said, translated from Turkish.
Aug 26, 10:44 am
At least 3 US service members wounded in airport attack: Official
A U.S. official said that at least three U.S. military service members have been wounded in the explosion at the Abbey Gate outside Hamid Karzai International Airport. The official did not know the extent of the injuries. U.S. troops have been stationed near large crowds trying to get inside.
The development comes as the U.S. Embassy in Kabul sent another security alert to Americans, warning, “There has been a large explosion at the airport, and there are reports of gunfire.”
“U.S. citizens should avoid traveling to the airport and avoid airport gates at this time. U.S. citizens who are at the Abbey Gate, East Gate, or North Gate now should leave immediately,” it said.
The Pentagon has delayed a briefing that was scheduled for 10:30 a.m.
ABC News Chief Global Affairs Correspondent Martha Raddatz said the explosion at the airport coming days before U.S. forces are set to leave the country has made for, “truly, a nightmare scenario.”
Raddatz, who is in contact with Afghans on the ground, said the explosion “devastates” the evacuation process and described the tone in the country as people try to get out in the coming days as “absolute panic.”
“Now today, they’re facing, either a stampede, the Taliban or ISIS bombers — and that really is what it comes down to for all Afghans,” she said.
Aug 26, 10:15 am
Before explosion, acting US ambassador to Afghanistan spoke on GMA about ‘credible’ security threat
Speaking before the explosion outside the Kabul airport, acting U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan Ross Wilson, on the ground in Kabul, told ABC’s “Good Morning America” on Thursday that the threat that prompted the U.S. Embassy to warn citizens to leave the airport on Wednesday was “clearly regarded as credible, as imminent, as compelling.”
“Being part of these huge crowds that remain around the gates and entrances to the airport is dangerous,” he said, adding the U.S. is working on “other ways on an individualized basis to assist them in getting to the airport in a safe and secure manner.”
“We will do as much as we possibly can, to get as many out as we possibly can for as long as we possibly can, while there is sufficient security that’s provided for us, and no less important, for the travelers themselves, provided by U.S. military forces,” Wilson said.
While the U.S. works to get as many Afghan allies and third-country nationals out of Afghanistan ahead of next Tuesday’s deadline, Wilson acknowledged that the “primary focus” is to evacuate American citizens and said some hopeful evacuees would be left behind.
“There undoubtedly will be people in this country who would like to get out who will be unable to,” he said, adding that the U.S. is talking with the Taliban on how to continue safe evacuations when troops are gone.
Aug 26, 10:05 am
Biden briefed on explosion outside airport in Kabul
A U.S. official confirms the explosion was at Abbey Gate — one of the main entrances to the airport — and that they are assessing casualty numbers right now.
A White House official told ABC News that Biden has been briefed on the situation.
The explosion outside Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul follows the U.S. Embassy in Kabul warning Americans on Wednesday night to leave the airport gates immediately due to a credible security threat.
Aug 26, 9:50 am
Explosion outside airport in Kabul: Pentagon
“We can confirm an explosion outside Kabul airport. Casualties are unclear at this time. We will provide additional details when we can,” the tweet read.
U.S. officials had been warning of a credible security threat to the airport for several days.
Aug 26, 8:12 am
US, allies evacuate 13,400 people from Kabul in past 24 hours
The United States has evacuated and facilitated the evacuation of some 95,700 people from Kabul since Aug. 14 when the Taliban closed in on Afghanistan’s capital, according to a White House official.
In a 24-hour period from Wednesday to Thursday, 17 U.S. military flights carried approximately 5,100 evacuees out of Kabul. Another 8,300 people were evacuated via 74 coalition aircraft. Since the end of July, approximately 101,300 people have been relocated from Kabul via U.S. military and coalition flights, the White House official said.
Aug 26, 6:31 am
‘Very credible reporting of an imminent attack” at Kabul airport, UK minister warns
U.K. Armed Forces Minister James Heappey warned Thursday morning that there was “very, very credible reporting of an imminent attack” at the main international airport in Kabul, possibly within hours.
“There is now very, very credible reporting of an imminent attack and hence why the Foreign Office advice was changed last night,” Heappey said in interviews with BBC News. “The credibility of the reporting has now reached the stage where we believe that there is a very imminent, highly lethal attack possible within Kabul.”
As thousands race to evacuate Taliban-ruled Afghanistan before the Aug. 31 deadline for the United States to totally withdraw its troops, Heappey acknowledged that people are “desperate” and “there is an appetite by many in the queue to take their chances, but the reporting of this threat is very credible indeed and there is a real imminence to it.”
“There is every chance that as further reporting comes in, we may be able to change the advice again and process people anew but there’s no guarantee of that,” he added.
When asked in an interview with Sky News whether an attack could occur in the next few hours, Heappey replied: “Yes.”
The U.K. Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office released new guidance on Wednesday night telling people not to travel to the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul.
“There is an ongoing and high threat of terrorist attack,” the office said. “If you are in the area of the airport, move away to a safe location and await further advice.”
Also on Wednesday, the U.S. Embassy in Kabul issued a security alert warning of “security threats outside the gates of Kabul Airport” and advising Americans “to avoid traveling to the airport and to avoid airport gates,” unless they “receive individual instructions from a U.S. government representative to do so.”
“U.S. citizens who are at the Abbey Gate, East Gate, or North Gate now should leave immediately,” the embassy said.
Aug 25, 8:05 pm
US Embassy alert tells people to avoid airport, leave certain gates immediately
The U.S. embassy in Kabul issued another alert, but this one with an urgent warning.
“U.S. citizens who are at the Abbey Gate, East Gate, or North Gate now should leave immediately,” it said.
The alert says U.S. citizens should avoid traveling to the airport and avoid the airport gates “unless you receive individual instructions from a U.S. government representative to do so” — the same instructions they have given in recent days.
In a statement later Wednesday, a State Department spokesperson said, “As a general rule, we do not speak to intelligence, but this is a dynamic and volatile security situation on the ground. We take seriously the priority we attach to the safety and security of American citizens.”
New Limp Bizkit music is coming “very soon,” but you won’t be hearing any of it on the live stage this year.
In an Instagram Story, the “Break Stuff” rockers reveal that they’ve canceled their remaining 2021 tour dates, which included sets at the Aftershock and Rocklahoma festivals. The news comes after Fred Durst and company canceled their summer headlining tour “out of an abundance of caution and concern for the safety of the band, crew and most of all the fans.”
“Yes, we are all fine, thank you,” Bizkit writes in the post, alongside a heart emoji.
The band then adds, “New songs will begin to leak, one after the other in rapid succession, very soon. Soon thereafter our new album will be released.”
Limp Bizkit has been working on said new album, the follow-up to 2011’s Gold Cobra, for the better part of the last decade. They debuted a new song called “Dad Vibes” during their set at this year’s Lollapalooza.
Meanwhile, Faith No More is set replace Limp Bizkit at the Aftershock festival. Replacements for the other festivals have yet to be announced.
Tom Cruiserecently paid an unexpected visit to a British family when he landed his helicopter in a family’s field in Warwickshire, England. But James Cordenrevealed it’s not the first time the Top Gun star wanted to drop in, literally, for a hang out.
Corden explained on his Late Late Show Wednesday that his movie star pal wanted to get together while Cruise was in the U.K. where he’s working on the seventh Mission: Impossible film.
“He sent me a text saying, ‘Whereabouts are you staying?'” Corden recalled to his audience. “And I said, ‘I’m staying in St. Johns Wood,’ which is pretty central in London…”
“And he said, ‘Cool, can I land my helicopter there?’ And I just presumed he was joking.”
He wasn’t, Corden found out, holding his phone to the camera as proof. “[Tom texted], ‘Can I land my heli in your yard?’ I sent back four crying emojis because who can land a helicopter in a yard? And he put, ‘Does that mean no?'”
While Corden doubted he had the room for such a parking job, considering the small yard, he should have known not to doubt Maverick. “You’d be surprised where I can land,” Cruise responded.
As reported earlier this week, one of those who was surprised was Alison Webb, who had been informed that an “unnamed VIP” needed somewhere to land as Coventry Airport nearby airport was shut. She quickly learned it was Cruise, who not only greeted the gobsmacked family graciously, but gave rides to Webb’s kids and her partner’s children.
“It turned out to be an incredible day,” she told the BBC. “It was surreal, I still now can’t believe it happened.”
Mission: Impossible 7 is expected to open in theaters on May 27, 2022.
JMEnternational/JMEnternational for BRIT Awards/Getty Images
Taylor Swift‘s TikTok takeover continues with a hilarious new confession that she is, indeed, a certified cat lady.
Taylor is the proud cat mom of three kitties — Meredith, Olivia and Benjamin Button — whom she frequently features across her socials, holiday cards, music videos and on her merchandise. However, she revealed in a comical new video that she never intended to become a “cat lady.” In fact, she originally wasn’t a fan of the label and didn’t want that to become part of her identity.
The Grammy winner shared a throwback interview from 2014, which features a then 24-year-old Taylor opening up about the hesitation she had about getting a feline companion for her first cat, Meredith.
“[I talked with] friends about it… before I got the second cat — kinda canvassing everyone I knew, going, ‘Is cats… cat lady?’ Or, you know, two cats is cats and there’s more than one?,” she explained. “And they’re like, ‘No, three cats is a cat lady. Two cats is a party.”
The interview then abruptly cuts off and switches to present-day Taylor, who is sauntering across the room with Meredith bouncing on her hip. The “willow” singer then walks off screen to grab Benjamin and Olivia before offering a knowing glance at the camera.
Taylor captioned the video, “little did she know” and included the telling hashtag #meow.
In addition, she updated her TikTok bio line that now reads, “This is pretty much just a cat account.”
Benjamin is Tay’s newest kitty, whom she met while filming her 2019 music video, “Lover.” The singer even shared a sweet behind-the-scenes video of their fated first meeting, where he stole her heart — and turned her into a cat lady — by purring up a storm the moment she held him.
Mark Hoppus stressed the importance of paying attention to changes in one’s body and getting them checked out when offering his addition to the viral “How It Started vs. How It’s Going” challenge on social media.
Hoppus, who was diagnosed with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, is currently undergoing chemotherapy to treat the illness.
Taking to his Instagram story, the Blink-182 bassist shared how his cancer battle started by posting a screenshot of a text conversation he had with his doctor on April 20.
The text reads, “Hi Jill. For the past couple of days I’ve had this dull sore lump in my shoulder kind of right where it connects to my neck that could either be fatal lymphoma or a sore muscle.”
Hoppus, 49, also asked, “At what point should I be concerned and have it looked at?”
His doctor encouraged him to set up an appointment for that afternoon.
In the next story, Hoppus showed “How it’s going” by flashing the peace sign while undergoing chemotherapy.
The subsequent story linked to a post from former band mate Tom DeLonge, who announced that Hoppus is “is almost done with his treatment” and in the “last stretch.”
Late July, Hoppus assured fans that his cancer treatment is working and proved it by hopping on the live-streaming site Twitch to play the bass, something he said he hadn’t been able to do since he was diagnosed.
“I still have months of treatment ahead, but it’s the best possible news,” he said at the time.
Reese Witherspoon let fans know that she is doing more than fine now that summer vacation is over.
The Legally Blonde star shared a hilarious life update to her Instagram on Wednesday, where she is fully celebrating the start of the school year.
“When the kids go back to school and you have the house to yourself,” she wrote in the caption, adding in three cartwheeling emojis.
The video, set to Junior Senior‘s “Move Your Feet,” shows Reese dancing barefoot in her kitchen while wearing a mustard yellow sweat shirt and matching pants.
The actress also pours herself a cup of coffee and flashes a grin from different angles before shoving her bare hand inside a recently made funfetti cake. The video ends with her grinning widely as she shoves the huge hunk of cake into her mouth.
The video’s comment section was filled to the brim with crying laughing emojis, with several coming from famous friends like Diane Keaton, Uzo Aduba and fellow Morning Show co-star Karen Pittman.
In addition, fans also celebrated the official start of school by sharing with Reese how they rejoiced when their kids loaded up on the school bus.
The 45-year-old actress is the mom of three children, 21-year-old Ava Phillippe and 17-year-old Deacon Phillippe, as well as Tennessee James, who is eight.
Reese shares Ava and Deacon with ex Ryan Phillippe. She shares Tennessee with husband and producing partner Jim Toth.
Britney Spears is feeling thankful for her boyfriend, Sam Asghari. So much so, that the pop star took to social media to lovingly shout him out.
Sharing a snapshot of the two together on Instagram, Britney, 39, wrote, “Not only has this cute a****** been with me through the hardest years of my life but he happens to be an extremely good cook ! Fast & Furious franchise, don’t miss out on your next star.”
Sam, 27, cheekily responded, “Yes F that a–hole,” followed by the crying laughing emoji.
Britney and Sam began dating in 2016 after meeting on the set of her “Slumber Party” music video. He’s remained by her side since then, which means he’s been there as the pop star deals with her ongoing conservatorship woes.
Most recently, the “Toxic” singer has been under investigation for alleged battery stemming from an altercation with an employee August 16, according to Capt. Eric Buschow of the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office. The employee alleges Britney struck them, though they weren’t injured. Britney’s attorney, Matthew Rosengart, called the allegation “overblown sensational tabloid fodder.”
Sayed Khodaiberdi Sadat/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
(KABUL, Afghanistan) — Chaos has enveloped Kabul after Afghanistan’s government’s collapsed and the Taliban seized control, all but ending America’s 20-year campaign as it began: under Taliban rule.
Approximately 95,700 people have been evacuated since the effort began on Aug. 14, the White House said Wednesday, while the Pentagon said the military will keep the evacuation mission going until the Aug. 31 withdrawal deadline.
President Joe Biden sat down with ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos for an exclusive one-on-one interview at the White House last week, the president’s first interview since the withdrawal from Afghanistan. Biden has also addressed the nation several times since.
Here are the latest developments. All times Eastern:
Aug 26, 10:05 am
Biden briefed on explosion outside airport in Kabul
A U.S. official confirms the explosion was at Abbey Gate — one of the main entrances to the airport — and that they are assessing casualty numbers right now.
A White House official told ABC News that Biden has been briefed on the situation.
The explosion outside Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul follows the U.S. Embassy in Kabul warning Americans on Wednesday night to leave the airport gates immediately due to a credible security threat.
Aug 26, 9:50 am
Explosion outside airport in Kabul: Pentagon
“We can confirm an explosion outside Kabul airport. Casualties are unclear at this time. We will provide additional details when we can,” the tweet read.
U.S. officials had been warning of a credible security threat to the airport for several days.
Aug 26, 8:12 am
US, allies evacuate 13,400 people from Kabul in past 24 hours
The United States has evacuated and facilitated the evacuation of some 95,700 people from Kabul since Aug. 14 when the Taliban closed in on Afghanistan’s capital, according to a White House official.
In a 24-hour period from Wednesday to Thursday, 17 U.S. military flights carried approximately 5,100 evacuees out of Kabul. Another 8,300 people were evacuated via 74 coalition aircraft. Since the end of July, approximately 101,300 people have been relocated from Kabul via U.S. military and coalition flights, the White House official said.
Aug 26, 6:31 am
‘Very credible reporting of an imminent attack” at Kabul airport, UK minister warns
U.K. Armed Forces Minister James Heappey warned Thursday morning that there was “very, very credible reporting of an imminent attack” at the main international airport in Kabul, possibly within hours.
“There is now very, very credible reporting of an imminent attack and hence why the Foreign Office advice was changed last night,” Heappey said in interviews with BBC News. “The credibility of the reporting has now reached the stage where we believe that there is a very imminent, highly lethal attack possible within Kabul.”
As thousands race to evacuate Taliban-ruled Afghanistan before the Aug. 31 deadline for the United States to totally withdraw its troops, Heappey acknowledged that people are “desperate” and “there is an appetite by many in the queue to take their chances, but the reporting of this threat is very credible indeed and there is a real imminence to it.”
“There is every chance that as further reporting comes in, we may be able to change the advice again and process people anew but there’s no guarantee of that,” he added.
When asked in an interview with Sky News whether an attack could occur in the next few hours, Heappey replied: “Yes.”
The U.K. Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office released new guidance on Wednesday night telling people not to travel to the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul.
“There is an ongoing and high threat of terrorist attack,” the office said. “If you are in the area of the airport, move away to a safe location and await further advice.”
Also on Wednesday, the U.S. Embassy in Kabul issued a security alert warning of “security threats outside the gates of Kabul Airport” and advising Americans “to avoid traveling to the airport and to avoid airport gates,” unless they “receive individual instructions from a U.S. government representative to do so.”
“U.S. citizens who are at the Abbey Gate, East Gate, or North Gate now should leave immediately,” the embassy said.
Aug 25, 8:05 pm
US Embassy alert tells people to avoid airport, leave certain gates immediately
The U.S. embassy in Kabul issued another alert, but this one with an urgent warning.
“U.S. citizens who are at the Abbey Gate, East Gate, or North Gate now should leave immediately,” it said.
The alert says U.S. citizens should avoid traveling to the airport and avoid the airport gates “unless you receive individual instructions from a U.S. government representative to do so” — the same instructions they have given in recent days.
In a statement later Wednesday, a State Department spokesperson said, “As a general rule, we do not speak to intelligence, but this is a dynamic and volatile security situation on the ground. We take seriously the priority we attach to the safety and security of American citizens.”
