Australian captain Tim Paine said he would prefer all home Test series to begin at the Gabba after his side recorded a dominant win over Pakistan in the first Test on Sunday.
The Australians went one up in their two-Test series when they won the opening match at the Brisbane fortress by an innings and five runs late on the fourth day for their 29th consecutive Test victory at the venue dating back to 1988.
"We like playing here and we've done well here for a long time, so we'd like to start here against anyone," Paine said when asked whether India should open next year's Test tour in Brisbane, the traditional start to an Australian summer.
On India's last tour of Australia, the first Test was moved to Adelaide where the tourists won by 31 runs.
Pakistan were left chasing the match once they were bowled out for 240 in their first innings having won the toss and elected to bat.
Australia replied with 580 on the back of big centuries by man-of-the match Marnus Labuschagne and opener David Warner.
Australia's top three of Joe Burns (97), Warner (154) and Labuschagne (185) scored 436 runs, with Paine saying the team now had the benefit of stability at the top of the order.
"We've known Burnsie's a top-quality opening bat for a long time and it's great having him back in the side opening with Davey (Warner)," Paine said.
"It's been hard to have stability because we haven't been performing as we'd like ... but I think we've got a pretty good group at the moment and can still get a lot better as well."
After beginning their second innings 340 runs behind Australia and then losing three cheap wickets in the afternoon session on Saturday, the Pakistanis put up stern resistance Sunday before finally succumbing late in the final session.
- Azam century -
Babar Azam scored a magnificent century and Mohammad Rizwan fell five runs short of his first as Pakistan were dismissed for 335 late on the fourth day.
Leg-spinner Yasir Shah also made his highest Test score with a fighting 42 to allow the Pakistanis to head to the second Test in Adelaide with some momentum despite the loss.
But there was to be no denying an Australian attack on Sunday which probed and struck at vital moments, whenever Pakistan seemed to be getting the upper hand.
Josh Hazlewood was the pick of the Australian bowlers with 4-63, while Mitchell Starc took 3-73, Pat Cummins 2-69 and Nathan Lyon 1-74.
Pakistan captain Azhar Ali said his team had been on the back foot early and not been able to recover.
"When we won the toss, we wanted to score big in the first innings, but I think on the first day we won two sessions but we lost one very badly," he said.
"I think if you lose one session very badly in Test matches it is always very hard to come back from that, especially in Australia."
But he said he was proud of the way they had fought back.
"I'd have to say the way we batted in the second innings, particularly the way Babar and Rizwan batted, they really showed great fight," he said.
Earlier, Azam reached his second Test century -- and his first in Australia -- with an impressive knock.
The elegant right-hander had been in excellent form in the lead-up games, but was out to a disappointing shot in the first innings for just one.
He was a different player in the second innings, however, and never looked in trouble until he edged Nathan Lyon to wicketkeeper Tim Paine to fall for 104.
A deep love for writing from a young age meant it was almost inevitable that AA Chaudhuri would one day return to her first passion.
After excelling as a junior tennis player and forging a successful career in law, she reconnected with the magical worlds of storytelling by writing her own books. That creative drive has since taken her on a successful journey as a crime thriller author, with critically acclaimed novels packed with twists and turns.
With a Kolkata-born father, she is proud of her Indian heritage and includes it in her books wherever possible. She will follow up titles such as The Scribe, She’s Mine, The Loyal Friend and The Final Party with The School Gates, which will be published next Thursday (5). It centres on the mysterious murder of a single mother hiding dark secrets. As with her earlier work, nothing is quite as it seems in this twist-filled tale.
Eastern Eye caught up with the acclaimed British author to discuss her writing journey, her recent novel Under Her Roof, upcoming book The School Gates, sources of inspiration, and advice for aspiring writers.
Her book ' Under Her Root'Facebook/ AA Chaudhuri
What led you towards the crime genre?
I fell in love with the crime genre when I picked up my first John Grisham novel in my mid-teens. I love the intrigue, suspense, twists and turns that keep the reader guessing and turning the pages. It is a genre that challenges both reader and writer – one that reflects society at a given time, and human nature at its darkest. As fallible beings, we are all susceptible to that darker side, and I think this relatability is what makes it such a compelling genre.
How would you describe your journey as a writer so far?
Tough and rewarding. I started writing in 2010, but it took me five years to get my agent, Annette Crossland, and another three to land my first publisher. That was despite writing a book a year for eight years, refining them until I knew them by heart, and almost giving up hope they would ever see the light of day. I faced a lot of rejection, came close to offers from big publishers, and shed more than a few tears. But I kept going, always hopeful that I would get my break.
Tell us more about that inspiring journey.
My story is no different to thousands of others. Writing is a tough, competitive and highly subjective business. You need a thick skin to cope with rejection. When my Kramer and Carver legal thrillers were finally published in 2019, nine years after I started writing, it was a great feeling to know my work was out there.
Then in February 2021, I signed a deal for two psychological thrillers with Hera Books. The first of those – She’s Mine – was something of a breakthrough, even though it took three years to get picked up.
Her book 'The School Gates'Facebook/ AA Chaudhuri
Now you are firmly established.
Having struggled for so long, it feels surreal that my seventh book will be published in June, and that I have appeared at several major crime fiction festivals in the last couple of years, including on the main stage at Harrogate. That was something I could only dream of when I started.
Your last book, Under Her Roof, received great reviews. What inspired it?
One of the things that makes psychological thrillers so compelling is their focus on ordinary people in familiar situations that suddenly take a dark turn. The landlord-tenant dynamic is a classic example, but one that has not been explored much. It struck me as a relationship that could become particularly sinister, as each party often knows very little about the other’s background or intentions.
Tell us more about that.
I wanted to combine that with the idea of Big Brother watching us – the way we expose our lives on social media, often to complete strangers. That makes us vulnerable and potentially the target of stalkers, which terrifies me, and I’m sure many others.
I thought it would be intriguing to explore that theme through a landlord-tenant relationship, with all the claustrophobia, helplessness and fear that can come with it.
Tell us about your forthcoming book, The School Gates.
The School Gates centres on the murder of single mother Lola Martinez, whose body is found on a riverbank the morning after a school Christmas social.
Suspicion falls on her group of mum friends, but it soon becomes clear someone from Lola’s past may also have had motive. Meanwhile, a friend she confides in online may hold the key. The story unfolds through the eyes of the investigating officer and Lola herself, via flashbacks that trace events from when her son first joined the school up to her death.
Like all my books, it is dark and twisty, with plenty of shocks – including a big final twist.
Who do you hope will connect with this book?
Anyone familiar with the school gates setting – the cliques, gossip, pushy characters and rivalries between parents – will definitely relate.
What is your favourite part of the book?
I love the gossip and intrigue between the parents. And the concluding chapters – where everything comes together – are my favourite, especially the final twist.
How do you feel ahead of a book release?
Excited and nervous.
What inspires you as a writer?
Society and human nature, especially the circumstances that can drive people to do terrible things. Things are rarely black and white. What kind of books do you enjoy reading, and do you have a favourite? I enjoy dark psychological thrillers. Gone Girl is a favourite – it starts with such an ordinary premise (a marriage gone wrong), but takes it to such deliciously dark extremes.
What makes for a great crime novel, in your view?
A gripping plot, strong characterisation and punchy prose are essential. The reader should be kept guessing with enough twists, turns and red herrings.
What advice would you give to aspiring writers?
Write because it makes you happy. Rejection is inevitable, so you have to love the process and believe in yourself. Focus on your craft and write what feels natural – readers will see through anything too contrived. Read widely; you can learn so much from other writers. Be active on social media – it helps build connections in the writing community and gets your name out there.
Why do you love being a writer?
I love letting my imagination run wild and getting lost in the worlds and characters I create. Writing is cathartic – an escape from everyday stress – and there is no better feeling than entertaining readers and transporting them somewhere else.
Finally, why should readers pick up your new novel?
Because it is full of suspense, characters who you will love to hate, and twists that will blindside you.
The School Gates, in paperback, will be published next Thursday (5)
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The foundation will distribute the funds to various charities addressing food poverty and welfare issues
Celebrity chef Rosemary Shrager is set to open the Wimborne Folk Festival on Saturday, 7 June, with a live cooking demonstration at Wimborne Community Garden. The event aims to raise awareness of food poverty in southern England and support the Two Wheels for Meals fundraising initiative.
Shrager, known for her television appearances and culinary expertise, will showcase how to prepare affordable and nutritious meals using store-cupboard essentials. The demonstration is part of her involvement in the Two Wheels for Meals challenge, a 450-mile cycling journey from Land’s End in Cornwall to the White Cliffs of Dover in Kent, scheduled from 1 to 18 June. The initiative seeks to raise funds for food poverty and welfare charities across the south of England.
All profits from food, drink, and plant stalls at the event will be donated to the Hendy Foundation, the charitable arm of the Hendy Group car dealership. The foundation will distribute the funds to various charities addressing food poverty and welfare issues in the region.
The community garden will open at 2:00 PM, offering entertainment, refreshments, and a plant sale, with Shrager's cooking demonstration commencing at 4:00 PM. The event is open to all attendees.
Shrager aims to raise at least £100,000 through her cycling challenge. Donations can be made via the Hendy Foundation website.
In preparation for the challenge, Shrager has undergone a significant personal health transformation, losing over three stone through consistent exercise and training. She has described this journey as a "second chance at life" and the best birthday gift as she approaches 75.
ASDA has reported a slowdown in its sales decline as the supermarket chain's aggressive price-cutting strategy begins to show results.
The UK's third-largest grocer said like-for-like sales fell 3.1 per cent in the four months to the end of April, an improvement from the 4.2 per cent decline recorded in the previous quarter, reported the Financial Times.
Executive chairman Allan Leighton, who returned to lead the company last November, said he was seeing "green shoots" of improvement but warned there was still "a long way to go" before Asda fully recovers.
Asda is now under the majority control of private equity giant TDR Capital after billionaire Zuber Issa sold his shares last year. Funds managed by TDR Capital now hold a 67.5 per cent stake in the Leeds-headquartered company while Zuber's brother Mohsin retains his 22.5 per cent holding. A further 10 per cent is held by previous owner, Walmart.
The supermarket has been battling serious problems including poor product availability, dirty stores, and unhappy customers. To win shoppers back, Asda has slashed prices on around 10,000 products - more than a third of everything it sells.
Leighton revealed the company has created a price gap of three per cent to six per cent compared to traditional rivals, with plans to widen this to between seven per cent and 10 per cent over the next year.
"We like it. If we're putting prices down, when inflation is going up, this is good for us," he said about rising food costs.
The price-cutting strategy appears to be working. Asda recorded its best sales performance since May 2024, according to industry figures, and saw further improvements in May. The company's market share currently stands at 12.1 per cent, down from 13 per cent a year ago, but Leighton isn't worried.
"For me, market share is about tomorrow," he said. "We're not fixed on market share; we're fixed on rebuilding the business. I'm not bothered about it at all."
Beyond cheaper prices, Asda has also tackled its stock problems. Product availability has jumped from 90 per cent to 95 per cent since January, whilst customer satisfaction scores have also improved.
"People who've been in the industry a long time are amazed at the progress that we've made on availability in a relatively short period of time," Leighton told reporters.
The turnaround plan has spooked competitors. When Leighton announced in March that Asda would be five per cent to 10 per cent cheaper than rivals, it wiped more than £4 billion off the value of Tesco, Sainsbury's and Marks & Spencer shares as investors feared a new price war.
Both Tesco and Sainsbury's have warned that their profits will fall or stay flat this year as they fight to defend their positions in the highly competitive grocery market.
However, retail analyst Eleanor Simpson-Gould from GlobalData warned that Asda's first-quarter performance was "particularly alarming" given that the UK food market actually grew 1.4 per cent in early 2025. She added that "the finish line for Asda's recovery remains distant" despite the recent improvements.
TDR Capital brought Leighton back more than 20 years after he previously ran the company and sold it to Walmart.
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Yash in discussion with stunt director Guy Norris during Ramayana shoot
Yash, the actor best known for the K.G.F. series, has begun work on his most ambitious project yet, Ramayana. This time, he’s not just acting but also co-producing the film through his banner, Monster Mind Creations, along with Prime Focus Studios, headed by Namit Malhotra. And to make the action sequences truly stand out, Yash has brought in one of Hollywood’s top stunt directors, Guy Norris.
Norris is no stranger to intense, high-octane action. He’s the man behind the wild, explosive scenes in Mad Max: Fury Road, Furiosa, and The Suicide Squad. Now, he’s in India, working side by side with Yash to design the massive action scenes for Ramayana, aiming to raise the benchmark for an Indian cinematic spectacle.
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Directed by Nitesh Tiwari of Dangal fame, the film reimagines the ancient Indian epic in two parts. Ranbir Kapoor plays Lord Ram, Sai Pallavi is cast as Sita, and Sunny Deol takes on the role of Hanuman. Yash will be portraying Ravana and has committed to an intense 60–70-day shoot for the first part. Early photos from the set show Yash in peak physical form, working closely with Norris in what looks like serious preparation for large-scale battle scenes.
The first part of Ramayana is slated for release during Diwali 2026, with the second part expected the following year. The film’s visuals are being handled by DNEG, the VFX studio behind Dune and Tenet, both Oscar winners. A.R. Rahman is scoring the music, and Pankaj Kumar is on board as cinematographer.
Yash undergoes intense physical training to play Ravana in RamayanaInstagram/thenameisyash
Ramayana has been adapted many times before, but Yash and his team want this version to feel both visually grand and emotionally rooted. With Guy Norris on board, they’re clearly aiming to bring international-level action to a timeless Indian tale.
Besides this project, Yash is also working on Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups, set for release in March 2026. But for now, all eyes are on Ramayana, a film that could very well change how Indian mythological stories are told on the big screen.
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Kamal Haasan’s Thug Life faces possible ban in Karnataka after Kannada language row
Kamal Haasan’s new film Thug Life is caught in a storm in Karnataka, where protests and a formal ban have emerged following a controversial remark made by the actor at a recent event. At the audio launch of the film in Chennai on 24 May, Haasan stated that “Kannada is born out of Tamil”, a comment that triggered widespread outrage among Kannada groups and activists.
In response to the backlash, the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) announced that Thug Life would not be released in the state unless Haasan issued a public apology. Despite repeated demands, the actor has stood firm, saying he would apologise only if he believes he is wrong. “I’ve been threatened before. If I am wrong, I’ll say sorry. If not, I won’t,” he said during a media interaction in Thiruvananthapuram.
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Pro-Kannada activists from the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike filed a formal complaint against the actor, accusing him of offending Kannada speakers. The group, along with others, tore down film banners and staged protests near the INOX cinema hall in Belagavi.
The controversy drew political attention as well. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah condemned Haasan’s remarks, stating that the actor “may not be aware of the long-standing history of the language.” This official criticism intensified the debate, bringing up the importance of protecting the dignity of the Kannada language and culture.
Abhirami, Trisha Krishnan and Kamal Haasan attend the press conference for Thug Life Getty Images
Karnataka’s Minister for Kannada and Culture, Shivaraj Tangadagi, wrote to the KFCC urging them to maintain the ban on the film’s release if Haasan did not retract his statement. “No matter how big someone is, they cannot talk lightly about our language,” Tangadagi emphasised.
Kamal Haasan later clarified that his comment was made out of affection and based on what historians had taught him. “Politicians, including myself, aren’t the right people to talk about language roots. That should be left to scholars,” he said.
Despite the ongoing row and official ban in Karnataka, Thug Life, directed by Mani Ratnam and starring Kamal Haasan, Trisha, and Silambarasan, remains scheduled for a nationwide release on 5 June. However, the film’s fate in Karnataka remains uncertain amid the continuing controversy.
Russell Brand pleads not guilty to rape and sexual assault charges involving four women ahead of 2026 trial