Podcast: Ed Sheeran fallout and Canada's EU hopes

Several support acts - including Irish artists Aaron Rowe and Beoga - have left Ed Sheeran’s North American tour in solidarity with US rapper Macklemore.

During a show in New Jersey last week, Macklemore said he wanted people in Gaza and the West Bank to know they had not been forgotten, and he was subsequently removed from Sheeran’s tour.

Sheeran has said Macklemore's departure was the promoter's decision and not his.

RTÉ's Arts and Media Correspondent Evelyn O’Rourke told Behind the Story that Sheeran is facing the biggest controversy of his career.

Sheeran said that he had 'spent this week trying to build bridges, to find a solution and unfortunately was unable to do so.'

Oh Canada?

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has said ⁠the European Union is "opening the door" for Canada to become the first associate member.

During the annual State of the ⁠Union address in ‌Strasbourg, she said the bloc has to "reimagine" its partnerships.

Suzanne Lynch, Bloomberg’s Brussels bureau chief, said the announcement surprised some.

"I don’t think anyone expected Von der Leyen to come out as strongly as she did with this idea of 'associate membership’ of the EU – that was a bit of a curve ball."

Ms Lynch said the details still need to be clarified as the classification of associate member "doesn’t exist."

"This is going to be a long process – member states across the EU have to take stock of this, so you’re talking months (and) years, realistically.

"There’s no sense that this is going to be concluded anytime soon."

Ms Lynch said other elements of her speech, such as creating a European Security Council, may also see some pushback.

"There is some reluctance from most of the EU countries that are members of NATO, that it doesn’t want to do anything that undercuts NATO.

"So, I think she’s going to have an uphill battle to move this one forward."

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