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British counter terrorism police Thursday launched an investigation into online videos of Irish rap group Kneecap after the band denied supporting Hamas and Hezbollah or inciting violence against UK politicians.The announcement came as nearly 40 other groups and artists, among them Pulp, Paul Weller and Primal Scream, rallied around the band in an escalating row about political messaging at its concerts.Other artists who have offered their support include The Pogues, Massive Attack, Dexys and Thin Lizzy.”As artists, we feel the need to register our opposition to any political repression of artistic freedom,” the group said in a joint statement.They added there had been a “clear, concerted attempt to censor and ultimately deplatform” the trio for their criticism of Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza, as well as of British colonialism in Ireland and beyond.Since the row erupted Kneecap has had several concerts cancelled, including one in southwest England and three in Germany.Festivals in the Czech Republic and The Netherlands were also monitoring the situation, according to the PA news agency.London’s Metropolitan Police said two videos had been “referred to the Counter Terrorism Internet Referral Unit for assessment by specialist officers, who have determined there are grounds for further investigation into potential offences linked to both videos”.The investigation was “now being carried out by officers from the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command and inquiries remain ongoing at this time”, it added.Kneecap on Monday apologised to the families of murdered British politicians and denied supporting Hamas and Hezbollah.- Call for ban -The row began after police on Sunday said they were examining video footage.One video appeared to show a band member shouting “up Hamas, up Hezbollah”.Those groups, in Gaza and in Lebanon, are banned as terror organisations in the UK and it is a crime to express support for them.Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin had urged the band to clarify whether they supported the groups or not.Video also emerged of the Belfast rap trio at a 2023 gig appearing to show one member saying: “The only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP.”The family of Conservative MP David Amess, who was fatally stabbed by an Islamic State group follower in 2021, called for an apology from Kneecap while the party leader Kemi Badenoch called for the band to be banned.Other politicians have urged organisers of the Glastonbury festival to drop them from this year’s line-up.In its denial issued late on Monday, Kneecap said video footage had been “deliberately taken out of context.”Let us be unequivocal: we do not, and have never, supported Hamas or Hezbollah,” it said, adding the band would never “seek to incite violence against any MP or individual. Ever”.”To the Amess and Cox families, we send our heartfelt apologies, we never intended to cause you hurt,” it said, also referring to Labour MP Jo Cox who was murdered in 2016 by a neo-Nazi sympathiser a week before the divisive Brexit referendum.Amess’s daughter Katie, however, welcomed the investigation by counter terrorism police.”Kneecap’s rhetoric is not only abhorrent but poses a direct threat to the safety and well-being of elected officials,” she said. The war in Gaza was caused by an attack in Israel by Hamas militants on October 7, 2023, which resulted in the deaths of 1,218 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures.Israel’s military response in Gaza has caused a humanitarian crisis and killed at least 52,243 people, mainly civilians, according to the Hamas-run Palestinian territory’s health ministry. 

Syrian Druze spiritual leader Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri on Thursday condemned what he described as a “genocidal campaign” against his community, following two days of deadly sectarian clashes that left 73 people dead.The unrest poses a serious challenge to the Islamist authorities who ousted longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad in December, and comes after a wave of massacres last month in Syria’s Alawite coastal stronghold.In a statement, Hijri denounced the violence in Jaramana and Sahnaya, near Damascus, as an “unjustifiable genocidal campaign” and called for immediate intervention by “international forces to maintain peace and prevent the continuation of these crimes.”His remarks follow fighting between Syrian security forces, allied fighters, and local Druze groups, according to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR).The Britain-based monitor, which relies on a network of sources in Syria, said that the death toll from Jaramana and Sahnaya includes 30 members of the security forces, 15 fighters from the Druze minority and one civilian. In the southern Suweyda province, 27 Druze gunmen were killed, 23 of them in an “ambush” on the Suweyda-Damascus road on Wednesday.The fighters were killed in an attack “carried out by forces affiliated with the ministries of interior and defence and gunmen associated with them”, the monitor told AFP.- ‘Protect all components’ -The violence was sparked by the circulation of an audio recording attributed to a Druze citizen and deemed blasphemous.AFP was unable to confirm the recording’s authenticity.A truce agreement was reached on Wednesday in Jaramana and Sahnaya following meetings between Druze representatives and government officials.Syrian authorities announced the deployment of their forces in Sahnaya to ensure security, accusing “outlaw groups” of instigating the clashes.However, Hijri said he no longer trusts “an entity pretending to be a government… because the government does not kill its people through its extremist militias… and then claim they were unruly elements after the massacres”.”The government (should) protect its people,” he added.In March, security forces and allied groups killed more than 1,700 civilians, mostly Alawites, according to the Observatory.It was the worst bloodshed since the December ouster of longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad, who is from the minority community.- External intervention -Syria’s new Islamist authorities, who have roots in the Al-Qaeda jihadist network, have vowed inclusive rule in the multi-confessional, multi-ethnic country, but must also contend with pressures from radical Islamists within their ranks.In a statement on Wednesday, Syria’s foreign ministry vowed to “protect all components” of society, including the Druze, and expressed its rejection of “foreign interference”.Foreign Minister Assaad al-Shaibani reiterated on Thursday his country’s rejection of any demands for international intervention, saying on social media platform X that “national unity is the solid foundation for any process of stability or revival”.”Any call for external intervention, under any pretext or slogan, only leads to further deterioration and division,” he added.Israel, which sees Syria’s new forces as jihadists carried out strikes on Syria on Wednesday, with its army saying troops were instructed to hit Syrian government targets “should the violence against Druze communities continue”.”A stern message was conveyed to the Syrian regime — Israel expects them to act to prevent harm to the Druze community,” said a statement from Netanyahu’s office.Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Saar on Thursday called on the international community to “fulfill its role in protecting the minorities in Syria — especially the Druze — from the regime and its gangs of terror”.Israel has launched hundreds of strikes on military sites in Syria since Assad’s downfall.It has also sent troops into the demilitarised buffer zone of the Israeli-annexed Syrian Golan Heights and voiced support for Syria’s Druze.Lebanese Druze leader Walid Jumblatt on Wednesday urged Syria’s Druze to “reject Israeli interference”.Syria’s top Muslim cleric Osama al-Rifai warned that “if strife ignites in our country… all of us will lose”.

Bushfires that erupted near Jerusalem were largely brought under control on Thursday, authorities said, with major roads reopened and firefighting teams still tackling lingering hotspots.The blaze, which ignited along the main Jerusalem–Tel Aviv highway on Wednesday, prompted widespread evacuations and road closures as firefighters battled through the night to contain what officials have called the largest fire in a decade.”The fire is under control,” said Shlomi Harush, a senior official with the firefighting service.”There are only hotspots left… all teams remain deployed across the affected areas,” he told AFP, warning that strong winds could still reignite the flames.In Latrun, approximately 25 kilometres (15.5 miles) from Jerusalem, smoke continued to rise near a monastery as firefighters sprayed water on smouldering embers, according to an AFP journalist on the scene.Civilians also came out to help douse the fire.”We used water hoses connected to homes and municipal taps installed along the streets,” Ahmad Ibrahim, a resident of Abu Ghosh village, told AFP.”We acted out of concern for the community, trying to stop the fire from spreading and endangering residents or their homes.”Earlier, the fire service reported that 163 ground crews and 12 aircraft had been mobilised to fight the blaze, which has scorched an estimated 13,000 hectares of forest, according to police.Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had warned late Wednesday that the flames could reach Jerusalem, declaring the situation a “national emergency”.Police confirmed on Thursday that all major routes, including the Jerusalem-Tel Aviv corridor, had been reopened.”All routes have been reopened to traffic,” they said in a statement, adding that residents of the evacuated Mavo Horon settlement had been allowed to return.Authorities were also instructed to expedite the return of other displaced residents.- Authorities ‘weren’t ready’ -While several Independence Day events scheduled for Wednesday evening were cancelled, celebrations resumed on Thursday despite the ongoing firefighting operations.National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir has hinted that arson may be behind the fires.The Times of Israel reported that Netanyahu told a function in Jerusalem on Thursday that authorities were “holding 18 people at the moment who are suspected of arson, one of whom was caught in the act”.While wildfires are not unheard of in Israel this time of year in the past, they are not considered a regular occurrence.Rescue agency Magen David Adom said it treated 23 people on Wednesday, mostly for smoke inhalation and burns.Seventeen firefighters were injured, according to public broadcaster Kan.The Israeli military said its personnel were helping in Jerusalem and other central districts.Engineering vehicles were deployed “to form lines to prevent the fire from spreading”, it said in a statement, with the air force also assisting and around 50 firetrucks dispatched.Fanned by strong winds, the fires spread rapidly through wooded areas on Wednesday, prompting evacuations from at least five communities, police said.”It’s just very sad because we knew the weather, we kind of knew that would happen, and still we feel like they weren’t ready enough with the big planes that can drop large amounts of water,” evacuee Yuval Aharoni, 40, told AFP on Wednesday.”A lot of police arrived, a lot of firefighters, but it didn’t really help. The fire had already completely taken over the whole area here,” student Yosef Aaron said from the side of a highway, flames visible in the distance.Late Wednesday, the foreign ministry said firefighting aircraft were expected to arrive from Croatia, France, Italy, Romania and Spain to join the operation.Cyprus and Serbia also announced they were sending firefighting helicopters to Israel.

Julen Lopetegui, sacked by Premier League side West Ham in January, was appointed the new head coach of Qatar on Thursday.”Ready for a new chapter. Welcome Lopetegui.”We’re excited to embark on this journey together,” the Qatar football federation wrote on social media.”I’m ready” the Spaniard said in a video accompanying the post on X.The 58-year-old former Real Madrid and Spain coach has signed a contract with the hosts of the 2022 World Cup until 2027 when Qatar will defend their Asian Cup title.Lopetegui, who succeeds his fellow countryman Luis Garcia, will be in the Qatari dug out for the first time at a home match against Iran on June 5.West Ham sacked Lopetegui in January after only 22 matches in charge.The former Real Madrid and Barcelona goalkeeper takes over Qatar as they try to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.He managed Spain for two years, winning 14 of his 20 matches before being abruptly dismissed in the run up to the 2018 World Cup after he had announced his imminent move to Real Madrid.

British counter-terrorism police Thursday launched an investigation into online videos of Irish rappers Kneecap after the band denied supporting Hamas and Hezbollah or inciting violence against UK politicians.The announcement came as nearly 40 other groups and artists, among them Pulp, Paul Weller and Primal Scream, rallied around the band amid an escalating row about political messaging at its concerts.Other artists offering their support are The Pogues, Massive Attack, Dexys and Thin Lizzy.”As artists, we feel the need to register our opposition to any political repression of artistic freedom,” the group said in a joint statement.They added there had been a “clear, concerted attempt to censor and ultimately deplatform”.Since the row erupted Kneecap has had several concerts cancelled, including one in southwest England and three in Germany.London’s Metropolitan Police said two videos had been “referred to the Counter Terrorism Internet Referral Unit for assessment by specialist officers, who have determined there are grounds for further investigation into potential offences linked to both videos”.The investigation was “now being carried out by officers from the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command and inquiries remain ongoing at this time,” it added.Kneecap on Monday apologised to the families of murdered British politicians and denied supporting Hamas and Hezbollah.- Denial -The damaging controversy began after police on Sunday said they were examining video footage.One video appeared to show a band member shouting “up Hamas, up Hezbollah”.Those groups, in Gaza and in Lebanon, are banned as terrorist organisations in the UK and it is a crime to express support for them.Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin had urged the band to clarify whether they supported the groups or not.Video also emerged of the Belfast rap trio at a 2023 gig appearing to show one member saying: “The only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP.”The family of Conservative MP David Amess, who was fatally stabbed by an Islamic State group follower in 2021, called for an apology from Kneecap. In its denial issued late on Monday, Kneecap said video footage had been “deliberately taken out of context.”Let us be unequivocal: we do not, and have never, supported Hamas or Hezbollah,” it said, adding the band would never “seek to incite violence against any MP or individual. Ever”.”To the Amess and Cox families, we send our heartfelt apologies, we never intended to cause you hurt,” it said, also referring to Labour MP Jo Cox who was murdered in 2016 by a neo-Nazi sympathiser a week before the divisive Brexit referendum.The war in Gaza followed an attack in Israel by Hamas militants on October 7, 2023, which resulted in the deaths of 1,218 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures.Israel’s military response in Gaza has caused a humanitarian crisis and killed at least 52,243 people, mainly civilians, according to the Hamas-run territory’s health ministry. 

The Bank of Japan revised down its growth forecasts and held interest rates steady on Thursday, warning that trade tariffs are fuelling global economic uncertainty.Kazuo Ueda, the central bank’s governor, said it was difficult to assess the impact of the sweeping levies imposed by US President Donald Trump and retaliatory measures by affected nations.”The level …

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