Archive June 30, 2025

Keir Starmer demands BBC explanation for broadcasting Bob Vylan’s ‘appalling’ chant

Bob Vylan, who was broadcast on BBC iPlayer until the company shut down the concert at Glastonbury, chanted on the stage to demand the deaths of Israeli soldiers.

Bobby Vylan, of Bob Vylan, performs on the West Holts stage at Glastonbury(Image: Getty Images)

Keir Starmer has demanded BBC bosses “explain” how a punk duo calling for the death of Israeli soldiers was broadcast from Glastonbury.

Pro-Palestine act Bob Vylan chanted “death, death to the IDF” in a sickening rant on stage at the festival. Bobby Vylan, singer and guitarist of the duo, has since posted a defiant message on Instagram, despite police confirming officers are looking into his tirade.

And the Prime Minister, who also said Glastonbury Festival organisers should not have let controversial rappers Kneecap appear on stage, has described Bob Bylan’s words as “appalling hate speech”. Mr Starmer, 62, said: “There is no excuse for this kind of appalling hate speech. I said that Kneecap should not be given a platform and that goes for any other performers making threats or inciting violence. The BBC needs to explain how these scenes came to be broadcast.”

The BBC, which did not stream Kneecap live, conceded comments made by Bob Vylan were “deeply offensive”. The duo’s performance is no longer available to watch on BBC iPlayer.

After the music double act chanted “death to the IDF” chants during their performance, event directors said they were “appalled.” Prior to this year’s festival, Glostonbury had previously stated that everyone is welcome, but that it “does not condone hate speech or incitement to violence of any kind from its performers.”

READ MORE: BBC issues statement on Kneecap performance after Bob Vylan decision

Keir Starmer
Keir Starmer has blasted the BBC in the wake of Bob Vylan’s act (Image: POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
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According to Bob Vylan, the festival’s organizers said on Sunday, “We are urgently reminding everyone involved in the production of the festival that there is no place at Glastonbury for antisemitism, hate speech, or incitement to violence.” “

Israeli politicians criticized Glastonbury and the BBC for skipping to play the live performance, including Sharren Haskel, the country’s deputy foreign minister.

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. IDF stands for Israel Defence Forces, the national military of the State of Israel, which is currently involved with the war in Gaza, one of two remaining Palestinian territories.

Avon and Somerset Police are now examining video evidence and investigating if any offence had been committed. However, Bobby Vylan has since said on Instagram: “I said what I said.” The dad shared a lengthy statement to follow up, in which he stated: “Tomorrow it is a change in foreign policy.”

Bobby Vylan performs on stage - to the backdrop of a Palestinian flag
Bobby Vylan performs on stage – to the backdrop of a Palestinian flag(Image: AFP via Getty Images)

As part of our online collection of more than 90 other sets, a BBC spokesperson stated: “We have made an on-demand version of Kneecap’s performance available on iPlayer.

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The content adheres to our editorial guidelines and is adapted to reflect the performance from Glastonbury’s West Holts stage.

This is marked with appropriate warnings, as with all content that contains strong language. The BBC doesn’t ban artists, and acts are booked by the festival, as we have already stated. Kneecap live streaming was not available.

Reed wins LIV Golf Dallas after four-way play-off

Reuters

Final leaderboard for LIV Golf Dallas

-5 H Varner III (US), T McKibbin (Eng), C Howell III (US), L Oosthuizen (SA), P Casey (Eng), -6 P Reed (US), J Kozuma (Jap), C Kozuma (Jap), C Howell III (US), and T Hatton (Eng)

Selected others: -4 DeChambeau (US), -3 J Rahm (Spa), -2 C Smith (Aus), D Johnson (US)

In a play-off, Patrick Reed won the LIV Tour’s first match against the Dallas team, beating three opponents.

The 34-year-old American finished with Paul Casey, Paul Oosthuizen, Louis Oosthuizen, and Jinichiro Kozuma, both from Japan, at six under.

On the opening play-off hole, Reed, who left the PGA Tour three years ago, put a testing putt for a birdie to win.

He was three over for his final round of 75, which gave him a three-shot lead going into Sunday.

Tyrrell Hatton, England’s top golfer, briefly held the lead on the back nine, but a double bogey on the 12th hole scuppered his chances, leaving him one shot back and five under.

Brooks Koepka, a five-time major champion, withdrew from the competition on Friday after punching a tee box into the crowd.

After a poor tee shot on the ninth hole, he hit his club into the ground before striking the left-hander to the left of the tee in the direction of a small crowd of fans.

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Harry Styles seen at Glastonbury sharing passionate kiss with a mystery woman

One Direction member Harry Styles was at Glastonbury when he was photographed dancing and snogging a mysterious woman in the VIP area of the legendary festival.

Harry Styles is pictured arriving at Glastonbury Festival(Image: ReachPLC)

Pop megastar Harry Styles was seen enjoying a passionate kiss with a mystery woman in the VIP area at Glastonbury.

Before the 12-second smooch, the pair danced in the festival’s early hours. According to a source, “Harry only saw this woman when they were together,” “Sparks were flying.”

The former One Direction star, 31, arrived separately from his secret squeeze and was reportedly spotted at around 1.45am on Sunday with pals, including music producer Kid Harpoon. The woman made her entrance shortly afterwards and was spotted kissing Harry after their dance.

The source continued, “Harry showed up with a few of his mates, but they were so close that they could almost be friends that she had already moved there.” They gave it an hour before they arrived, and they didn’t seem to care who was watching.

READ MORE: Glastonbury fans fume one act ‘on wrong stage’ as they urge Olivia Rodrigo to be replaced

The pop superstar
The pop superstar partied with pals at the festival(Image: Mirror)
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The pair “appeared to have known each other for a while,” the onlooker told The Sun. Harry, who since leaving One Direction has had two UK number ones as a solo artist, split with Canadian actress Taylor Russell in May. The reveller at Glastonbury is the first woman Harry has been linked to since the split.

Harry and Taylor called things off after a “make or break” trip to Japan. Speaking at the time, an insider said: “They went through a rough patch after their trip to Japan and are taking some time apart. He’s been in America and she’s been in London. They made a lovely couple and it was obvious Taylor made Harry happy. Things have become strained recently though and they’ve taken some time out.”

However, according to the Glasto sources, Harry and the woman’s body language on Sunday suggested that they had been dating for some time. They continued, “They both appeared to have known one another for a while because they were very well-known, and they both appeared to be having a wonderful time.”

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Photographs show the tender embrace, which happened in the VIP area at the music festival. Harry had arrived at Worthy Farm in Somerset on Friday and spent his first night there partying with mates until around 6am, The Sun understands.

It is believed the singer, who has never performed at Glastonbury, was present to enjoy some of the artists on Sunday, a lineup which included music legend Rod Stewart. It was some 23 years after his last appearance at the festival.

GB finish fifth at European Athletics Team Championships

Images courtesy of Getty

At the Madrid European Athletics Team Championships, Great Britain placed fifth overall.

Disculpin thrower Lawrence Okoye led the GB team, who finished with 381 points, 3 points behind the Netherlands in fourth place and three points ahead of Spain in sixth place.

With a second-placed finish in the women’s 3, 000-meter steeplechase, only three hundredths of a second behind Finland’s Ilona Mononen, Sarah Tait, who made her international debut, was one of the standout performers on the final day.

Revee Walcott-Nolan won the women’s 1500m race, and Toby Harries won the men’s 200m.

Scott Lincoln also placed fourth in the men’s shot put, while Bekah Walton, who had surgery on her throwing arm just five months ago, threw 58.63 meters.

With a sixth-placed finish in the women’s long jump, Jazmin Sawyers continued her recovery from an Achilles injury that had plagued her for 20 months.

The 4x400m mixed relay team finished third in the night’s final competition, finishing third behind second-placed Italy in three minutes, 9.6 seconds, making it their final 14 points.

Reardon, age 21, broke the 400-meter personal best time record with a personal best of 44.60 on Friday to win the championship.

The time places the double Olympic bronze medalist seventh overall among European under-23s.

Eugene Amo-Dadzie, dubbed the “world’s fastest accountant,” ran a 10.07 seconds lead in the men’s 100-meter race.

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Route to Club World Cup final opens up – find out who could play who

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Teams can begin plotting a way to the final after the first half of the Fifa Club World Cup quarter-final matches have been set.

On Saturday, July 5 (02:00 BST), one of England’s two representatives will face Palmeiras.

The Blues won the game in extra-time against Benfica, which caused the weather to cause the game to be delayed by two hours.

In a clash between two heavyweights later that day (17:00 BST), European champions Paris St-Germain take on Bayern Munich.

On Tuesday, July 1 (02:00 BST), Manchester City host Al-Hilal in one of the last four ties to be played.

The final 16 are completely drawn.

In the quarter-finals, who competes?

Chelsea already knows their Brazilian team, Palmeiras, whose teenage star Estevao Willian joins the Blues after the tournament. Philadelphia is where that game is taking place.

The Champions League matchup between PSG and Bayern Munich takes place again in 2020.

In Orlando, Manchester City would face either Inter Milan or Brazilian side Fluminense if they defeated Saudi side Al-Hilal.

Complete quarter-final draw:

In the semi-finals, who would meet?

If both teams advance that far, Manchester City and Chelsea would meet in the semi-finals.

Tuesday, July 8th, at 8:00 BST, for that game.

If Xabi Alonso’s side can survive the next two rounds, PSG or Bayern Munich could play Real Madrid in the other semi-final, which will take place 24 hours later.

The final is when?

The MetLife Stadium in New Jersey will host the final on Sunday, July 13 (1:00 BST).

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Eleven killed in Sudan gold mine collapse as civil war rages

The state mining company claims that 11 miners and seven others have been killed and injured as a result of the brutal civil conflict between Sudan’s armed forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

Both sides’ war chests have been largely funded by Sudan’s gold industry since the conflict started in April 2023.

The Sudanese Mineral Resources Company (SMRC) claimed that the collapse took place over the weekend in a “craftsman’s shaft in the Kirsh al-Fil mine” in the remote desert region of Howeid, which is located between the SAF-controlled cities of Atbara and Haiya in the country’s northeastern Red Sea state.

According to the SMRC, another seven workers suffered injuries and were taken to a hospital.

The company continued to work in the mine because it “presents a serious risk to life” and had previously suspended work there.

Nearly all of the gold trade is funnelled through the United Arab Emirates, which has been accused of arming the RSF, according to official and non-governmental sources. The UAE disputes this.

Sudan’s already fragile economy has been destroyed by the war. However, the army-backed government announced record gold production in 2024.

Although Africa’s third-largest nation is one of the top producers of gold, the majority of the gold is mined on small-scale and artisanal gold, or extracted.

These mines, in contrast to larger industrial ones, use dangerous chemicals that frequently lead to widespread illnesses in nearby areas and lack safety measures.

Additionally, mining collapses are frequent. Similar events have occurred in recent years, including a mine collapse in 2023 that claimed the lives of 14 miners and a second one that claimed 38 lives in 2021.

More than two million people worked in artisanal mining before the war, which has forced 25 million people into dire food insecurity, according to experts and sources in the mining sector.

According to those sources, a significant portion of the gold produced by both sides is currently smuggled into Chad, South Sudan, and Egypt before being transported to the UAE, the second-largest gold exporter in the world.

In Sudan, where there is the largest displacement crisis in history, more than 13 million people are currently displaced in the country.

More than 4 million people have emigrated from one country to another.