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Madonna has spoken of her heartbreak at the suffering in the Middle East as she kicked off her latest tour in London, which had been postponed following a life-threatening illness.

The US superstar urged fans at the O2 Arena on Saturday night to unite in “light and love” to help bring peace against the backdrop of the current Israel-Hamas war.

The conflict, which was sparked by the militant group launching a deadly assault from Gaza on Israel, has claimed thousands of lives on both sides.

Pausing her show, the 65-year-old singer told the audience: “We all come from love and it’s important to know that right now because there’s a lot of really crazy things happening in the world that are so painful to witness.

“All of us are suffering watching what’s happening in Israel and Palestine.

“It breaks my heart to see children suffering, teenagers suffering, elderly people suffering. All of it is heartbreaking.”

She added: “Even though our hearts are broken, our spirits cannot be broken…

“We are all together very powerful people. We can unite in the dark and evil or we can unite in a place of light and love.

“And if we all had that collective consciousness, we could change the world and we can bring peace – not only to the Middle East but all over the world.”

Madonna also praised her children for supporting her while she was ill earlier this year with a “serious bacterial infection” which saw her admitted to intensive care for several days and forced her to postpone the tour, which had been due to begin in Canada in July.

The singer said: “It was a crazy year for me as well and I didn’t think I was going to make it, neither did my doctors.

“I forgot five days of my life, or my death, I don’t really know where I was.

“But the angels were protecting me and my children were there, and my children always save me every time.”

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Madonna is the most successful female artist in UK chart history

She added that her secret to surviving was thinking “I’ve got to be there for my children” before she struck up the chords to I Will Survive by Gloria Gaynor.

During the show, the Queen of Pop treated the enthusiastic audience to an array of classic songs from her four-decade career, a host of extravagant outfits and a variety of theatrical stage set-ups.

She also ensured the first show of her new tour would be a family affair as a number of her six children took to the stage throughout the nearly two-and-a-half-hour performance.

Read more on Sky News:
Couple’s desperate messages before Hamas massacre
British parents ‘trapped’ at Gaza-Egypt border ‘like caged hens’

After opening with powerful renditions of Nothing Really Matters and Into The Groove, she asked the crowd: “Am I imagining this? Oh my God, it is so good to be back London.”

Madonna lived in London for several years while dating and married to film director Guy Ritchie.

She added: “I’m pretty damned surprised that I made it this far and I mean that on so many levels… How did I make it this far? Because of you. I’m going to take a bit of credit too.”

EUM20190616ESP10.JPG.CIUDAD DE M..XICO, Music/M..sica/Madonna.- Madonna, conocida como la "Reina del Pop", laza un nuevo material discogr..fico, el cual tiene como nombre "Madame X", con sonidos noventeros mezclados con una infinidad de ritmos, entre los que resaltan los latinos. Foto: Archivo Agencia EL UNIVERSAL/RDB.
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It is her first tour since her Madame X shows, which ended in 2020. Pic: AP

Madonna had to stop the performance briefly as she explained there was a problem with the sound and they had to “press the reset button”.

The singer apologised for the delay and admitted “this is exactly what you don’t want to happen on your opening night” but kept the crowd entertained by recalling anecdotes from her days in her first band when she was “broke and hungry and making zero cash”, confessing she would “date men who had showers and bathtubs” as she had no way to wash at the time.

After the sound issues were resolved, the singer made up for the wait by launching into lively versions of Open Your Heart and Holiday.

She also performed a rendition of Don’t Cry For Me Argentina draped in a Ukraine flag.

Madonna will perform three more sold-out dates in London before moving on to her European and North American legs.

It is her first tour since her Madame X shows, which ended in 2020.

Some of these performances were called off due to knee and hip injuries.

Madonna is the most successful female artist in UK chart history with 13 number-one hits.

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Criminal investigation launched into Glastonbury performances of Kneecap and Bob Vylan

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Criminal investigation launched into Glastonbury performances of Kneecap and Bob Vylan

A criminal investigation has been launched into the Glastonbury performances of Kneecap and Bob Vylan.

Police announced the decision on Monday afternoon after reviewing video footage and audio of both sets, which took place on Saturday.

It comes after the BBC said it regretted the decision not to pull the live stream for Bob Vylan’s Glastonbury performance, during which frontman Bobby Vylan shouted anti-IDF (Israel Defence Forces) chants.

The punk-rap duo have also had US visas revoked and been dropped by their US representative, United Talent Agency.

Later on Monday, as the story had made headlines throughout the day, drummer Bobbie Vylan released a video statement on Instagram, saying politicians who have spent time criticising the band should be “utterly ashamed” for giving “room” to this over other issues.

He also addressed what was said on stage, saying: “Regardless of how it was said, calling for an end to the slaughter of innocents is never wrong. To civilians of Israel, understand this anger is not directed at you, and don’t let your government persuade you that a call against an army is a call against the people.”

Moglai Bap and Mo Chara of Kneecap perform at Glastonbury. Pic: Reuters
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Moglai Bap and Mo Chara of Kneecap perform at Glastonbury. Pic: Reuters

In a statement, Avon and Somerset Police said that after reviewing footage of both performances, further enquiries are required and a criminal investigation is now being undertaken.

“A senior detective has been appointed to lead this investigation,” a spokesperson said. “This has been recorded as a public order incident at this time while our enquiries are at an early stage.”

The force said the investigation will be “evidence-led and will closely consider all appropriate legislation, including relating to hate crimes”.

“We have received a large amount of contact in relation to these events from people across the world and recognise the strength of public feeling,” it added. “There is absolutely no place in society for hate.”

What happened?

Bob Vylan performing on the West Holts Stage, during the Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm in Somerset. Yui Mok/PA Wire
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Bob Vylan performing on the West Holts Stage, during the Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm in Somerset. Yui Mok/PA Wire

During Bob Vylan’s set, the duo performed in front of a screen that showed several messages, including one that said Israel’s actions in Gaza amount to “genocide”.

Bobby Vylan also led chants of “death to the IDF”.

The set was live streamed by the BBC as part of its Glastonbury coverage, but has not been made available on demand.

Politicians including the prime minister have criticised the performance. Glastonbury organiser Emily Eavis said the chants “crossed a line” and that there was no place at the festival for “antisemitism, hate speech or incitement to violence”.

A BBC spokesperson said the broadcaster respected freedom of expression “but stands firmly against incitement to violence”.

They added: “The antisemitic sentiments expressed by Bob Vylan were utterly unacceptable and have no place on our airwaves…

“The team were dealing with a live situation, but with hindsight we should have pulled the stream during the performance. We regret this did not happen.”

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What’s the Glastonbury controversy?

Media watchdog Ofcom said it was in talks with the BBC and that the broadcaster “clearly has questions to answer” over the stream.

Irish-language rap trio Kneecap were on stage afterwards. Before their appearance at the festival, there had been calls for Glastonbury to remove them from the bill – as rapper Liam Og O hAnnaidh (who performs as Mo Chara) is facing a terror charge, accused of displaying a flag in support of the proscribed group Hezbollah at a gig in London last November.

Glastonbury organisers kept them on the line-up, but the BBC chose not to stream their set live. An edited version was later made available on demand.

On stage, the band led chants of “f*** Keir Starmer”.

O hAnnaidh’s bandmate Naoise O Caireallain (Moglai Bap) said they would “start a riot outside the courts” for O hAnnaidh’s next appearance, before clarifying: “No riots, just love and support, and support for Palestine.”

Hundreds of people turned out in protest for his first court appearance earlier this month.

After the police investigation was announced, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy criticised the “appalling and unacceptable” scenes at Glastonbury and said the government would not tolerate antisemitism.

She said she had called BBC director-general Tim Davie after the broadcast of Bob Vylan’s set to find out why it had aired, and why the feed had not been cut.

“I expect answers to these questions without delay,” she said.

Ms Nandy said she had spoken to members of the Jewish community, including attendees at Glastonbury, who said they were concerned by imagery and slogans and ended up creating their own “safe space”.

Christopher Landau, the US deputy secretary of state, said the band had been banned from the US ahead of a tour later this year due to their “hateful tirade” at the festival.

Bob Vylan were set to perform in Chicago, Brooklyn and Philadelphia in the autumn. They are due to perform at Radar Festival in Manchester on Saturday and Boardmasters, a surfing and music festival in Newquay, Cornwall, in August.

Sharing a statement on Instagram after the Glastonbury set, Bobby Vylan said: “Teaching our children to speak up for the change they want and need is the only way that we make this world a better place.

“As we grow older and our fire starts to possibly dim under the suffocation of adult life and all its responsibilities, it is incredibly important that we encourage and inspire future generations to pick up the torch that was passed to us.”

The war in Gaza, which has continued for more than 18 months, began after Hamas militants launched attacks in Israel on 7 October 2023, killing 1,200 people and taking roughly 250 hostages.

More than 860 Israeli soldiers have been killed since the war began, more than 400 of them during the fighting in Gaza.

Israel’s offensive in Gaza has devastated the enclave and killed around 56,500 people, according to the Hamas-run health ministry, which does not differentiate between civilians and combatants, but says more than half of the dead are women and children.

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RuPaul’s Drag Race star The Vivienne died by ‘misadventure’, inquest finds

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RuPaul's Drag Race star The Vivienne died by 'misadventure', inquest finds

An inquest has found drag queen The Vivienne did not intend to take their life when they died after taking ketamine.

Coroner Jacqueline Devonish concluded The Vivienne, whose real name is James Lee Williams, died by “misadventure” after suffering cardio respiratory arrest.

Williams, who won the first series of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK in 2019, was found dead at the age of 32 in the bath at their home in Cheshire on 5 January this year.

In March, the star’s family revealed the performer had died “from the effects of ketamine use causing a cardiac arrest”, saying they wanted to raise awareness about the dangers of the drug.

Cheshire Coroner’s Court heard five drug snap bags were found, including in a bedroom draw and a bin in the bathroom, in their home in Chorlton-by-Backford, near Chester.

Police attended and confirmed there were no suspicious circumstances.

The inquest heard friends and family had no worries about Williams’s mental health and the performer was looking forward to future roles on TV and in the theatre, although did “occasionally” take ketamine.

The star’s family told the hearing the performer should not be remembered for their use of the Class B drug and that drugs did not define the person they were.

Williams’s father Lee Williams described them as “an outgoing character who was full of life” and “just wanted to make people laugh”.

“He achieved his goals. He had future goals he wanted to achieve. Along the way he always wanted to try to help his community, which he did and try to help other drag queens,” he said.

“He was always available. He never turned anybody down. He never turned his back on anybody. He never said no.

“He loved the stage, that’s where he saw the rest of his career being, on the stage, in the theatre. That’s what he loved to do.”

Williams’s funeral in Bodelwyddan, Denbighshire, North Wales, was attended by RuPaul’s Drag Race UK contestants Tia Kofi and Baga Chipz, along with Steps singer Ian “H” Watkins, TV personality Kim Woodburn and Coronation Street actress Claire Sweeney.

The Vivienne poses for photographers upon arrival at the premiere of the film 'Wicked' on Monday, Nov. 18, 2024, in London. (Photo by Millie Turner/Invision/AP)
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The Vivienne at the premiere of the film ‘Wicked’ in November 2024. Pic: AP

During their time on the show, under their drag name, Williams admitted having been a drug addict for four years.

“It was party, drugs, but I couldn’t leave the drugs at the party, it was constant for me,” they said.

They added that their addiction was a “habit that caught on a bit too quick and a bit too hard”.

The TV personality, who grew up in Colwyn Bay, North Wales, before moving to Liverpool, came third in the 2023 edition of Dancing On Ice.

The star performed as the Wicked Witch of the West in a UK and Ireland tour of The Wizard Of Oz musical and reprised the role in the West End at the Gillian Lynne Theatre last year.

They were due back on stage in March as the Childcatcher in a tour of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, a role they first played last year.

The government is seeking expert advice after illegal use of ketamine surged to record levels.

In the year ending March 2023, an estimated 299,000 people aged 16 to 59 had reported use of the substance, which is controlled as class B, according to the Home Office.

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Was there a hate crime at Glastonbury?

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Was there a hate crime at Glastonbury?

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At their Glastonbury set on Saturday, punk-rap duo Bob Vylan’s singer led chants of “death, death to the IDF”.

The chants have been labelled antisemitic by the BBC and the organisation has since apologised for airing the performance.

But shadow home secretary Chris Philp has called for the broadcaster to be prosecuted, saying it “should not be transmitting hateful material designed to incite violence and conflict”.

Avon and Somerset Police has now launched a criminal investigation into the Glastonbury performances of Bob Vylan and Kneecap.

What should the BBC have done – and will the corporation face prosecution?

Host Sarah-Jane Mee speaks to Channel Four’s former head of news and current affairs, Dorothy Byrne, to understand what the BBC should have done differently. She also speaks to legal expert Joshua Rozenberg about whether Bob Vylan’s performance constitutes a hate crime and if the BBC may be prosecuted for broadcasting it.

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Producer: Natalie Ktena

Editors: Philly Beaumont and Paul Stanworth

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