Blast rocks church in Syria's Damascus, witnesses say
June 22 (Reuters) - A blast rocked the Mar Elias Church in the Dweila neighbourhood of Syria's capital Damascus on Sunday, according to witnesses.
One told Reuters a suicide bomber detonated himself inside the church. A spokesperson for Damascus security forces did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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The Sun
3 hours ago
- The Sun
Israel slams BBC for airing ‘death to IDF' chant during Bob Vylan's Glastonbury set – as calls grow to arrest singer
ISRAEL has blasted the BBC and Glastonbury for failing to cut off double-act Bob Vylan's "death to the IDF" chants during a live broadcast the festival. The singer from the pro-Palestine punk act, who keeps his identity secret, also shouted "from the river to the sea Palestine... will be free" - regarded by Jews as a call for Israel's elimination. 8 8 8 IDF stands for Israel Defence Forces, the national military of the State of Israel, which is currently involved with the war in the Palestinian territory the Gaza Strip. Bob Vylan - which consists of singer Bobby Vylan and guitarist Bobbie Vylan - then shared a post on X of the former eating an ice-cream with the caption: "While Zionists are crying on socials, I've just had a late night (vegan) ice cream." The BBC later took down the broadcast on the iPlayer but has been criticised for not cutting it off immediately after the anti-Semitic chanting, with the live feed continuing for another 40 minutes. Avon and Somerset Police last night said they were examining video evidence and investigating if any offence had been committed. Sharren Haskel, Israel's deputy foreign minister, was among those to slam the performance. She told The Mail on Sunday: "I condemn the BBC for continuing to live-stream anti-Israel hate speech from Glastonbury. "What do you think the BBC would have done had a performer been shouting anti-Muslim or far-Right hate speech? They would have pulled the feed. "But because the target is Israel – let's be honest, because it's Jews – it's tolerated, even broadcast. This is clearly incitement." May Golan, Israel's minister for social equality, said: "Perhaps someone should tell that anti-Semitic band what happened to the hundreds of innocent people at Israel's Nova music festival who were murdered, raped, butchered, and kidnapped by savage monsters." Lord Ian Austin, the Government's trade envoy to Israel, said: "The police should investigate as a matter of urgency and, if necessary, arrest the band members." Lead singer from the group Kneecap arriving at Westminster magistrates court in London The Bob Vylan set came immediately before controversial group Kneecap, which the Beeb had refused to show live. Singer Liam Og O hAnnaidh was charged under the Terrorism Act last month after allegedly displaying a flag in support of proscribed terrorist group Hezbollah while saying "up Hamas, up Hezbollah" during a gig in Kentish Town, north London, in November. The band's X account posted a photo of member JJ O Dochartaigh in a t-shirt with the words "We Are All Palestine Action" an hour before they took to the stage. The British government is considering making membership of the anti-Israel activist group illegal. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has the power to proscribe any such group under the Terrorism Act of 2000 if she believes it is "concerned in terrorism". Kneecap - whose set is still available to stream - also chanted about Palestine, as well as making derogatory statements about PM Sir Keir Starmer, who last week said they should not be allowed to perform at the festival. Commenting on the chants about the IDF, a BBC spokesperson says: 'Some of the comments made during Bob Vylan's set were deeply offensive. "During this live stream on iPlayer, which reflected what was happening on stage, a warning was issued on screen about the very strong and discriminatory language," the response continues. "We have no plans to make the performance available on demand.' Bob Vylan, who formed eight years ago in London, refuse to reveal their real names because of what they call the "surveillance state". Addressing the crowd of around 30,000, Bobby said he had to be "careful" because their performance was "live on the BBC". He then, however, led the "free, free Palestine" chant, then changing it to "death, death to the IDF". "Hell, yeah, from the river to the sea Palestine must, will be, Inshallah, it will be free," he added. The singer also backed Kneecap by describing music executives who called for the group to be banned as "Zionists". He went on to use the highly offensive c-word. Tory leader Kemi Badenoch branded the comments "grotesque", adding: "Glorifying violence against Jews isn't edgy. "The cultural establishment needs to wake up to the fact this isn't protest, it's incitement." Danny Cohen, former director of BBC Television, said: "That something like this might happen could easily have been foreseen by the BBC and measures could have been taken to prevent its broadcast. "This is a very serious failure, and further evidence that BBC management are blind to their responsibility to Britain's Jewish community." Kneecap member Naoise Ó Caireallain called on the crowd to "riot" outside Westminster magistrates in August when bandmate O hAnnaidh's case returns to court. Kneecap started their performance by chanting "f*** Keir Starmer". They also spoke out in support of Palestine Action. Glastonbury had said while all are welcome at the festival but added it "does not condone hate speech or incitement to violence of any kind from its performers". Avon and Somerset Police posted on X: "We are aware of the comments made by acts on the West Holts Stage at Glastonbury Festival this afternoon. "Video evidence will be assessed by officers to determine whether any offences may have been committed that would require a criminal investigation." 8 8 8 8 8
Reuters
5 hours ago
- Reuters
Iran says 71 killed in Israeli strike on Evin Prison
DUBAI, June 29 (Reuters) - Israel's attack on the Evin Prison in Iran's capital Tehran on June 23 killed 71 people, Iranian judiciary spokesperson Asghar Jahangir said on Sunday. At the end of an air war with Iran, Israel struck Tehran's most notorious jail for political prisoners, in a demonstration that it was expanding its targets beyond military and nuclear sites to aim at symbols of Iran's ruling system. 'In the attack on Evin prison, 71 people were martyred including administrative staff, youth doing their military service, detainees, family members of detainees who were visiting them and neighbours who lived in the prison's vicinity,' Jahangir said in remarks carried on the judiciary's news outlet Mizan. Jahangir had previously said that part of Evin prison's administrative building had been damaged in the attack and people were killed and injured. The judiciary added that remaining detainees had been transferred to other prisons in Tehran province. Evin prison holds a number of foreign nationals, including two French citizens detained for three years. "The strike targeting Evin prison in Tehran, put our citizens Cecile Kohler and Jacques Paris in danger. It is unacceptable," France's Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot had said on social media X after the attack.
Daily Mail
8 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Former NRL star Kevin Proctor suffers brutal knockout at controversial RUNIT event in Dubai
Ex-NRL forward Kevin Proctor was knocked out by social media influencer Jordan Simi during a controversial 'run it straight' event in the Middle East overnight. The run it straight trend involves people charging directly at each other to mimic a rugby-style collision. In sickening footage doing the rounds on social media, the former Kiwi international collides with his ball-carrying opponent at high speed. Proctor was flattened and left motionless on the ground, prompting immediate concern from organisers and spectators. The 36-year-old's arms and legs went stiff as medics rushed over to assist. 'What did I just watch!' posted one X user. 'Absolutely f**king disgusting,' replied another. 'Hope Proctor is okay after that knockout,' said a third. The trend has gained popularity on social media with official competitions popping up in Sydney and in New Zealand but has drawn criticism for its dangerous nature. The collision game turned deadly last month after New Zealand teenager Ryan Satterthwaite tragically lost his life attempting the challenge. RUNIT event organisers, who offer big cash prizes, say they have medical staff at events - but trauma clinicians are not buying it. Neuroscientist Dr Helen Murray called it an unacceptable risk. 'There is clearly a high risk of head injury in this event. There's no attempt to reduce head acceleration, so I do not support it,' she told the NZ Herald. Professor Patria Hume, an expert in sports science and injury prevention, said the sport is 'a step backwards'. New Zealand teenager Ryan Satterthwaite died after sustaining head injuries taking part in a run it straight style challenge with friends 'This is a reckless and dangerous spectacle,' she said. 'The science is clear – repeated head impacts increase risk of long-term brain damage.' Australian neurologist Dr Alan Pearce echoed that sentiment. 'It's insanity. You're removing the skill and strategy and replacing it with blunt force,' he said. Proctor, who notched up 283 NRL games for the Titans and Storm, was sacked in 2022 after the 'vape-gate' incident for posting a video of himself to social media vaping in the CommBank Stadium toilets during a game. Vaping isn't permitted in or around the stadium - and for people to vape or smoke, they are required to request a pass out and leave the stadium itself. The Titans labelled his actions 'dumb', fined him $15,000 and later sacked the veteran player. Aside from the vape-gate incident, Proctor has a history of indiscretions in rugby league. Proctor was fined $20,000 and banned for four games by the Titans in 2017 after allegedly purchasing and consuming cocaine with Jesse Bromwich. At the time Proctor said he couldn't remember most of the evening in question and was stood down as the club's co-captain. Proctor was also found guilty of biting Shaun Johnson during his 250th NRL appearance in 2020 for which he copped a four-match suspension. He denied biting his Kiwi teammate and tried to vigorously defend the charge, but a picture tells a thousand words - and the NRL match review committee was left with no choice.
