BEN STOKES will captain an entirely new England squad featuring nine uncapped players for a one-day international series at home to Pakistan, after the existing group was forced to self-isolate because of a coronavirus outbreak within the hosts' camp.
England, the 50-over world champions, were all set to field an unchanged squad after beating Sri Lanka.
But those plans were ripped up after three of their players and four support staff, all as yet unnamed by the England and Wales Cricket Board, tested positive for Covid-19 in Bristol on Monday (5) following the washed-out third ODI against Sri Lanka on Sunday (4).
The rest of the group involved in a 2-0 series win - Sunday's match in Bristol was a no-result - were forced to self-isolate.
Nevertheless, the three-match series against Pakistan, starting in Cardiff on Thursday (8), will go ahead, with the fit-again Stokes taking over the England captaincy from Eoin Morgan.
'Knife edge'
Ashley Giles, the ECB's managing director of men's cricket, insisted on Tuesday (6) he was "very confident" there had been no breach of team protocols and put the outbreak down to a slight relaxation around travel and accommodation plans and the Delta variant.
Giles said keeping players in last year's "bio-secure" bubbles was now deemed too restrictive, hence a move to what he called a "safe environment".
"I'm very confident the players haven't breached any of those protocols. We can't say where it originated. The squad have been living under very tight restrictions," said Giles.
"I don't believe we've gambled at all. We are fully aware of the risks - that is the knife edge that we are working on all the time.
"As well as looking after our people and keeping them sane as much as anything, we're protecting the revenues of the whole game - and it's a really difficult balance to strike," he added.
With all of the England squad understood to have had at least one vaccination, Giles was confident, England's upcoming five-Test series at home to India and five-Test tour of Australia could go ahead as scheduled.
"We want to get cricket on, and we'll do everything possible," the former England spinner said.
"We've learned a lot through this process."
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), thanked by Giles for their "understanding", said in a statement they were "satisfied by the assurances and guarantees provided by the ECB on behalf of its medical panel".
Britain is experiencing a surge in the Delta variant of the coronavirus but mass vaccinations have stopped that translating into surge in hospital admissions or deaths.
Three Sri Lanka players were sent home before their recent white-ball matches in England for Covid-security breaches and the PCB stressed it had advised team management to exercise "extra caution" while in hotels or at match venues.
Test batsmen Zak Crawley and Dan Lawrence will now have a chance to make their 50-over debuts for England, with the ongoing round of County Championship matches beset by withdrawals.
The squad included several other white-ball newcomers in Durham's Brydon Carse and the Middlesex pair of Tom Helm and John Simpson.
But there was still no place for Alex Hales, one of the global game's leading white-ball batsmen, who has been in England exile since being dropped on the eve of the 2019 World Cup after a positive recreational drugs test.
No changes, however, are expected to crowd numbers during the Pakistan series, with 50 percent attendances expected at Cardiff and the July 13 finale at Edgbaston.
Lord's, due to stage the second ODI on Saturday (10), has been cleared to host the first full capacity cricket match in the UK since the pandemic.
Chart-topping singer Jay Sean has been announced as the headline performer for this year’s Middlesbrough Mela, and he’s set to bring the party after dark. In a historic first, the 2025 edition of the UK’s longest-running multicultural festival will introduce a Saturday evening concert headlined by the Down hitmaker, marking a major moment in the Mela’s 35-year legacy.
The festival, which takes place on 16 and 17 August at Middlesbrough’s Albert Park, expects over 50,000 visitors across the weekend. But all eyes will be on Saturday night, when the park transforms into a concert-style arena from 6pm onwards, with Jay Sean taking the stage in a ticketed evening slot curated by BBC Asian Network presenters.
Fans are expected to travel nationwide for Jay Sean’s UK exclusive performance
South Asian trailblazer returns to UK stage
Jay Sean, widely regarded as one of the most successful British Asian artists of all time, made history by becoming the first South Asian artist to top the US Billboard Hot 100. His chart dominance in both the UK and US in the late 2000s helped redefine South Asian representation in mainstream pop.
In 2024, he launched his own record label, 3AM Entertainment, under Virgin Music Group to champion emerging South Asian talent. Now, his return to UK stages for this exclusive Middlesbrough Mela performance has created major buzz, with organisers expecting fans to travel from all corners of the country.
The 35th edition of Middlesbrough Mela promises music food and cultural festivities
Festival Director Kash Patel called Jay Sean’s appearance “a game-changer” and said it reflects the energy and cultural pride that the Mela has come to represent. “Jay Sean’s legacy goes beyond music. He’s inspired generations of British Asians. Having him here is a proud moment for Middlesbrough,” he added.
The first wave of discounted tickets, priced at £15 (₹1,600) plus booking fee, is now live exclusively for Tees Valley residents, with general sales to follow. VIP Golden Circle packages, offering perks like fast-track entry, priority viewing, and complimentary food and fairground rides, are also available via the official Middlesbrough Mela website and Skiddle.
Jay Sean is confirmed as the headline act for Middlesbrough Mela 2025
The Mela’s free daytime programme remains packed with live music, dance, street food, shopping stalls, a funfair, and activities for all ages. Community members, performers, and local businesses are also invited to get involved through stalls, advertising, or volunteering.
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The tour will continue with stadium shows in Birmingham and Glasgow
US singer Chris Brown launched the UK leg of his Breezy Bowl XX tour in Manchester on Sunday, just days before he is due in court over a grievous bodily harm (GBH) charge. The 36-year-old artist performed at the Co-op Live arena, marking his 20th year in the music industry.
Brown was arrested in Greater Manchester last month in connection with an alleged assault during a previous visit to the UK in 2023. He is accused of attacking a music producer with a tequila bottle at a nightclub in London. The incident is said to have taken place during his last UK tour. Brown has been charged with GBH and is currently on bail.
‘Thank you to the jail’, singer jokes on stage
Addressing fans during Sunday’s performance, Brown joked about his recent time in custody. “Thank you for coming and supporting me,” he said, before adding, “And thank you to the jail. It was really nice.” The comment was met with cheers from the audience, who had earlier watched a montage of Brown’s career highlights — including footage from outside Manchester Crown Court during his arrest.
The video package, which showed both his achievements and controversies, appeared to be a deliberate acknowledgement of his legal troubles. The singer has previously faced legal issues in the United States, but continues to maintain a large fan base internationally.
Bail set at £5 million
Brown was released after agreeing to a £5 million security fee. He had been held in custody for nearly a week before the court granted bail. A security fee serves as a financial guarantee to ensure a defendant returns to court, and can be forfeited if bail conditions are breached.
As part of his bail terms, the judge permitted Brown to continue with his scheduled performances. He resumed his tour with a show in Amsterdam before heading to the UK.
Upcoming court appearance in London
Brown is due to appear at Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court in London on Friday, 21 June, alongside co-defendant Omololu Akinlolu, a 38-year-old US artist known as HoodyBaby. Both are facing charges in connection with the alleged nightclub assault.
So far, no plea has been entered by Brown or Akinlolu.
Tour continues across UK stadiums
Following his Manchester shows, Brown will perform in Cardiff at the Principality Stadium on Thursday. After his court hearing on Friday, he is scheduled to appear at London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday and Sunday.
The tour will continue with stadium shows in Birmingham and Glasgow, followed by two additional arena dates in Manchester. The Breezy Bowl XX tour celebrates two decades of Brown’s career, which began with his debut single Run It! at age 16. On Sunday, he opened the Manchester show with the hit and went on to perform several of his UK top 10 singles, including Turn Up The Music, With You, and Don’t Wake Me Up.
Brown recently won Best Male R&B/Pop Artist at the 2025 BET Awards, held in Los Angeles.
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The airline did not provide details on the departure time, number of passengers or crew on board, or how long the flight was in the air before returning. (Representational image: Getty Images)
A BRITISH AIRWAYS flight bound for Chennai returned to London mid-air on Sunday after reporting a technical issue.
The airline said the aircraft landed safely and passengers and crew disembarked normally. “The aircraft returned to Heathrow as a standard precaution after reports of a technical issue,” British Airways said in a statement.
The airline did not provide details on the departure time, number of passengers or crew on board, or how long the flight was in the air before returning.
Live flight tracking data from Flightradar24.com showed that British Airways flight BA35 was scheduled to depart at 12.40 pm and arrive in Chennai at 3.30 am. The Boeing 787-8 aircraft departed from London Heathrow at 1.16 pm, following a delay of more than 35 minutes.
According to the website, the flight remained airborne for nearly two hours before returning to London. It also flew in multiple holding patterns before landing at Heathrow.
“Our teams are working hard to get their journeys back on track as soon as possible,” British Airways added.
Meanwhile, a Lufthansa flight from Frankfurt to Hyderabad also turned back mid-air on Sunday, Flightradar24.com showed. The reason for the diversion was not known.
Flight LH752, operated by a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, departed from Frankfurt at 14.29 instead of its scheduled departure time of 13.05 pm. The flight was due to arrive in Hyderabad at 1.20 am, according to the website.
(With inputs from PTI)
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Fans express concern over Bieber’s intense Instagram updates
Bieber posted over a dozen updates in a matter of hours, many of them laced with frustration. One post read, “Happy daddy day to me u lil ho,” while another simply stated, “quit f–ing with me. I’m really not the one.” Accompanying the messages were moody selfies and a video of him silently shaking his head with the caption “how I feel about you.”
The timing raised even more eyebrows. Just days earlier, Justin had an angry confrontation with paparazzi outside Soho House in Malibu. When one photographer wished him a happy Father’s Day, Bieber snapped: “You don’t go to people you don’t know and say sh–t out of nowhere with a camera in their face.” He went on to say, “I’m a father. I’m a dad. You guys are on private property.”
The next day, he followed up with unseen photos of his baby boy, Jack Blues, and captioned it with a middle finger emoji and the phrase “ay bay bay.” His wife Hailey, who gave birth to their son in August 2024, liked the post, but fans remained unsettled.
Fans express concern over Bieber’s emotional health
Longtime followers have noted a pattern in Bieber’s recent behaviour. Last week, he lamented on Instagram about feeling drained by “transactional relationships.” In his story, he wrote, “If I have to do something to be loved, that’s not love.” In another post, he added, “I don’t think any of us can handle hearing ‘try harder and you’ll be like me.’”
Though some fans supported his right to speak openly, many expressed worry. Comments ranged from “I love you but I’m worried, king,” to “I just hope you find peace.”
While his representative previously dismissed drug rumours as “pitiful and exhausting,” Bieber’s emotional vulnerability and anger continue to fuel speculation. As of now, he hasn’t addressed the backlash or clarified the meaning behind his Father’s Day posts.
In the wake of the tragic plane crash in Ahmedabad on June 12, London came together in an emotional outpouring of grief and unity at the Siddhashram Shakti Centre in Harrow. Over two solemn days, the revered spiritual haven hosted a series of powerful ceremonies led by His Holiness Rajrajeshwar Guruji, drawing together faith leaders, public figures, and residents from across communities.
On the day of the tragedy, Guruji led a spiritually charged recitation of the Hanuman Chalisa 12 times, joined by a team of spiritual practitioners from India. The prayer created a deep atmosphere of collective mourning and healing.
“Prayer is our greatest strength in the face of such loss,” Guruji said. “We do not grieve as Hindus, Muslims, or Christians — we grieve as one humanity.”
The prayer service was attended by several distinguished figures, including Gareth Thomas MP, Minister for Services, Small Businesses and Exports.
Two days later, on June 14, Siddhashram partnered with the Harrow Interfaith Forum to host a candlelight vigil — a remarkable expression of unity, attended by representatives of Hindu, Sikh, Muslim, Jain, Jewish, and Zoroastrian communities. Children from the temple led the lighting of candles, setting the tone for an evening of shared sorrow, solidarity, and prayer.
Key dignitaries included:
Simon Ovens DL, Representative of His Majesty King Charles III, who read a message of royal condolence and described the gathering as a reflection of “true British compassion.”
Cllr Anjana Patel, Worshipful Mayor of Harrow, who spoke with visible emotion as a member of the grieving Gujarati community.
Bob Blackman CBE, MP for Harrow East, offered messages of comfort and pledged support for those affected.
Kareema Marikar, former Harrow Mayor, recited a heartfelt Muslim prayer.
Mahavir Foundation’s Nita Sheth and Mukesh Kapashi, who led Jain prayers.
Bobbi Reisel, Jewish representative from Bereavement Care Harrow, who offered messages of solace.
Dorab Mistry, representing the Zoroastrian community, and
Gopal Singh Bhachu, Chair of Harrow Interfaith Forum, who led Sikh prayers with fellow community leaders.
PC Elaine Jackson, Met Police Faith Officer, attended in support of the event’s interfaith spirit.
Attendees travelled from across the UK, including Leicester, to be present. Musicians lifted spirits through devotional melodies, and volunteers ensured all were cared for on a sweltering summer day.
The Siddhashram Shakti Centre, long a sanctuary for spiritual guidance and community healing, once again stood at the heart of London’s collective conscience. As Guruji reflected, “In our unity, we find peace, in prayer, we carry the light of those we lost.”