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Archive June 6, 2025

Beyoncé beats the empty seats allegations on dazzling London return with just one problem

Tottenham is not the same as Texas, this is Tottenham. Queen Bey performed in the rainy days of her Cowboy Carter tour in White Hart Lane and was in her element during the star-studded country era.

Queen Bey reigns supreme at the top of her game as she performs to fans in north London(Image: TRUTH SOCIAL)

Beyoncé silenced the haters claiming she had ‘hundreds of unsold seats’ at her Cowboy Carter tour as she wowed an (almost) sold out crowd at White Hart Lane. Queen Bey even perched on top of a flying neon horseshoe to closer inspect the adoring fans packed into the far corners of the Tottenham stadium and filling the floorspace.

“Thank you for all your beautiful outfits. Thank you for dressing up,” she tells them, surveying the sea of denim, stetson hats and sequins around her. It seems everyone got the Cowboy Carter memo and came dressed for a hoedown in north London. “I postponed my wedding to come to this rodeo,” one fan sign reads.

Before she performed on stage tonight, there were rumors that Beyonce’s most recent tour hadn’t sold well and that large numbers of seats were still available. Only a few limited view seats are going spare once the band begins their dancefloor-filling American Requiem ballad, which some fans seize the opportunity to move to in an effort to increase their seats.

And the entire stadium was dancing all night long to songs from Beyonce’s country-inspired 2024 album as well as well-worn songs from her extensive back catalogue. Beyonce even adds some Destiny’s Child hits to really prove how successful she has been.

She excels thanks to flawless vocals, choreography, a flawless blend of bold stunts and stunning visuals. The Texas native climbs on top of a gold-plated bucking mechanical bull in one section as she gyrates and is thrown side to side without missing a note.

But this isn’t Beyonce’s first rodeo, and it’s no gimmick. Born and raised in Houston, Bey is a bona fide country girl, riding horses from an early age as home footage dating back to 1993 reminds the crowd.

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BEYONCE COWBOY CARTER TOUR
Tottenham is the name of this place, not Texas.

The stunning video montage features Beyonce’s modest upbringing, as well as her obvious joy at performing alongside her idols Diana Ross and Tina Turner, as well as some of her career highlights, including singing at Barack Obama’s inauguration.

Beyonce’s last world tour Renaissance arrived in London just days after Tina’s death in May 2023, with the singer pausing her set to pay homage with a rendition of River Deep, Mountain High. Tonight, Beyonce focuses on her country roots as she belts out a revamped hit of another idol, Dolly Parton with female anthem Jolene.

The thrilling set features just one minor hiccup as perfectionist Bey transitions between “chapters” of hits. While performing some moves in the disco section, Beyonce’s gold-sequinned chaps suddenly loose and fall to her ankles, causing a backup dancer to frantically pull them back together at her hips. The crowd cheers with support until Beyonce can move once more as a temporarily frozen Beyonce laughs off the wardrobe malfunction.

Beyonce brings out daughters Blue Ivy and Rumi
Beyonce brings out daughters Blue Ivy and Rumi(Image: Instagram)

The night then takes a moving turn as Beyonce brings out both daughters Blue Ivy and Rumi to the stage as she sings ballad Protector, written as a lullaby to them. Blue, 12, joined Beyonce on her latest tour becoming one of her stand-out backing dancers. On her debut, seven-year-old Rumi is already showing signs of the family’s entertainer gene as she confidently waves and beams to fans while adorably singing along with her mum. No doubt rapper dad Jay Z was somewhere in the crowd too proudly looking on.

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BBC Radio’s Bryan Burnett announces break from show to have treatment for ‘rare’ cancer

Bryan Burnett will be taking a break from his evening show in Scotland next week to undergo cancer treatment, according to tonight’s BBC Radio news.

A radio host has announced that he will be taking some time off from his show as he undergoes treatment for cancer. Bryan Burnett shared the news with listeners live on BBC Radio earlier this evening ahead of surgery next week.

Bryan, 60, opened up about his health on his BBC Radio Scotland show Get It On tonight, which he said would be his last episode for a few months. He said that a tumour was discovered during appendix surgery earlier this year, with it announced that he will now have abdominal surgery and chemotherapy as treatment for appendiceal cancer.

He shared that his coworker Grant Stott, 58, will take care of him while he’s off work and that he is expected to make a “full recovery.” Bryan also expressed his gratitude to the radio station’s staff for their assistance with the most recent episode.

Bryan stated to the audience, “This is going to be my last show in a while, and I want to explain why that is.” He continued, “Unfortunately, I’m going to have to take some time off the show to get some cancer treatment.”

BBC Radio Scotland presenter Bryan Burnett announced tonight that a tumour was found during recent surgery on his appendix(Image: bryanb1965/Instagram)

He continued, “Application cancer is incredibly rare but treatable, but I do need some surprisingly large abdominal surgery next week. They removed my appendix recently, and they discovered a tumor.”

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You know how difficult it will be for me to find that, Bryan continued. “It’s going to mean I’m going to be off work for a couple of months.” I’m expected to recover fully, which is good news, and I’ll return to the show I adore later in the year.

He continued, “I also want to take this opportunity to say a huge thank you to my brilliant producers for all the hand holding and encouragement that they’ve given me since they found out my news,” referring to his team, who he said is “close.” And I’m confident that they will keep track of how I’m doing over the coming weeks.

After paying tribute to his colleague, he then gave his name to the radio show as Grant. Grant Stott will do most of the shows when I’m off, according to Bryan, so I can be sure that Get It On will be well-versed.

BBC Radio host Bryan Burnett in a blue shirt and dark jacket taking a selfie.
The radio host told listeners live on air that he will be taking a break from his show whilst he has treatment for cancer following the news(Image: bryanb1965/Instagram)

The BBC shared this evening that in a short statement Bryan explained that his treatment involves complex abdominal surgery and chemotherapy.

Bryan also said in a statement shared by the BBC: “I’ve experienced the most incredible care and kindness from the NHS staff who have been looking after me. My surgeon is a Get it On listener so I know I’m in good hands.

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Although our listeners have provided me with hundreds of great playlists, I will really miss the chat and music when I’m away, so that will keep me going for the next few months.

BBC Scotland director Hayley Valentine added: “Bryan is one of our most popular broadcasters on Radio Scotland and I know listeners will join us in wishing him well as he embarks on his treatment. We look forward to welcoming him back to the Get it On studio once he’s recovered.”

‘Genius’ Yamal & all-time classic – why Spain are World Cup favourites

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Spain and France played out a Nations League semi-final game for the ages with a scoreline that looks like it belongs in a penalty shootout.

The 5-4 win for Spain has everyone wondering if anyone can stop these attackers – although the less said about the defenders, the better.

Spain, who play Portugal in Sunday’s final, are looking for a third Uefa tournament success in a row having won the last Nations League and Euro 2024.

And they are favourites for the World Cup coming up next summer, with France second on the list.

Spain showed why they will be tough to stop after one of the most exciting international games in memory.

A total of 40 shots, 17 on target, nine goals. Spain led 4-0 and 5-1 – and threatened to blow France away – before their rivals rallied.

If only every match was like this.

“It was a crazy game,” said Spain goalscorer Mikel Merino. “Not the best game for the coaches – nobody wants to concede so many goals – but an amazing game for the fans.”

His boss Luis de la Fuente seemed to actually disagree with him.

“I’m happy. I enjoy suffering! I don’t understand sport without suffering,” he said.

“When two great teams face off like today, it’s normal every team makes the most of their moments.”

Lamine Yamal, who turns 18 later this summer, netted twice for Spain to cement his credentials as a Ballon d’Or contender.

He is up to six goals for his country now, to add to 25 for club side Barcelona.

Yamal impressed more than France’s PSG stars – Ousmane Dembele and Desire Doue – who were hyped up pre-game after phenomenal club seasons.

So what happened?

It would almost take too long to address everything that happened in the game. But here goes.

Mikel Oyarzabal picked out Nico Williams to net Spain’s opener, before also setting up Merino four minutes later.

It was almost 3-0 when Dean Huijsen had a goal disallowed for offside after a sensational free-kick routine.

“That belongs in a musuem,” said Prime Video summariser Karen Bardsley.

After the break Yamal was fouled and scored the resulting penalty, with Williams finding Pedri shortly after for their fourth.

Kylian Mbappe netted a penalty to pull one back, but Yamal bagged his second with a fine first touch and finish.

“It’s hard to argue with the genius that you see before you,” said Bardsley on seeing Yamal poke home his second.

That was 5-1 but then France came back.

Dembele hit the post, before debutant Cherki volleyed in from the edge of the box.

Dani Vivian turned a cross into his own net and then Randal Kolo Muani nodded in from Cherki’s good ball.

‘A typical Spain performance’

After 75 minutes it looked as if the story was going to be about Spain blowing France away to cement their place as favourites to win everything going.

They were the best side by some way at Euro 2024 and show no signs of slowing down.

Wingers Yamal, who seems to improve with every game – which is actually to be expected at the age of 17 – and Williams were electric.

Midfielders Merino and Pedri were on the scoresheet. Oyarzabal had two assists to his name.

Their oldest player was 28, and the team had an average age of 24.

But there will be question marks about a defence that let in four goals – and a team who almost blew a 5-1 lead.

Yamal said: “When two great teams like this play, you sometimes see a lot of goals. They will make you suffer until the end but we went to the final despite the mistakes we made.”

Unai Simon had to make six saves, so this was far from a story of an opponent who scored every shot.

“That was a typical Spain performance,” said Spanish journalist Guillem Balague.

“These players come out on the pitch with the feeling they can beat anyone.

“The interesting thing is they are doing it, winning and creating magic within a structure.

“Spain have been playing in a way that represents the predominant model of our times. Not only are these players intelligent, creative but they are committed as well. They work so hard to get the ball back.

“Even though at the end Spain relaxed, when you do that you believe you belong to the right path.

‘It’s not all negative’ for France

Kylian MbappeGetty Images

France’s attackers were pretty decent.

Even when they were getting whacked by Spain before the hour-mark, they were still having plenty of chances.

They had more shots than Spain did in both halves – and more efforts on target in total.

Mbappe, speaking to RTVE, said: “We had some bursts of play we haven’t had for a long time. But in just 10 minutes of the first-half, we conceded two goals – and the same thing happened in the second half.

“We weren’t consistent throughout the 90 minutes, but we did improve. It’s not all negative.”

PSG’s two-goal Champions League final scorer Doue went close, team-mate and Ballon d’Or contender Dembele hit the post – and Mbappe had chances before scoring his penalty.

But 21-year-old Lyon attacker Cherki had a big role after coming on. His sweet volley from the edge of the box was probably the best goal of the game – and his cross for Kolo Muani to make it 5-4 was inch-perfect.

Again though, like Spain, it was the defending which was the issue. Juventus full-back Pierre Kalulu, making his debut on his 25th birthday, struggled. Clement Lenglet, winning his first cap since 2021, was caused problems too.

“I’m not here to point fingers but I have a backline who are used to working together,” said boss Didier Deschamps.

What information do we collect from this quiz?

What did BBC Sport readers think about it?

Sulaimon Adelekan: This Spain side is so good and young, they could rule world football for the next six years with Yamal, Pedri, Gavi and Nico Williams still yet to peak. They are dismantling and destroying France.

Victor: With the way it’s going, this Spanish team will easily win the next World Cup. There is simply no need traveling to USA.

Robbie: Spain are the best team in the world at moment and it’s not even close.

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  • Spain
  • European Football
  • France
  • Football

McIlroy off pace after Canadian Open first round

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Rory McIlroy struggled to make it to the first round of the Canadian Open with a one-over-par 71.

In Ontario, the Northern Irishman shot three birdies but four bogeys, ten shots clear of Thorbjorn Olesen, who is now clubhouse leader.

An eagle, eight birdies, and a bogey were all part of Dane Olesen’s nine-under-par round of 61.

McIlroy won the Masters in April to complete his career grand slam, becoming the first major winner.

However, as he geared up for the US Open next week, he struggled to perform after his disappointing performance at the US PGA in May.

Irishman Shane Lowry carded a strong 64 to put the first round to six under, while England’s Danny Willett and defending champion Robert MacIntyre of Scotland and England’s Danny Willett were both a shot back.

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Trump administration sanctions International Criminal Court judges

President Donald Trump’s administration threatened to punish officials at the International Criminal Court (ICC), naming four judges as having committed “illegitimate and baseless conduct” against the United States and its allies.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio made the announcement on Thursday in a concise statement.

Rubio wrote that the ICC is “politized and falsely claims unfettered discretion to investigate, charge, and prosecute citizens of the United States and our allies.”

The United States and our allies, including Israel, are in violation of this dangerous assertion and abuse of power.

Solomy Balungi Bossa of Uganda, Luz del Carmen Ibanez Carranza of Peru, Reine Adelaide Sophie Alapini Gansou of Benin, and Slovenian Beti Hohler are the four sanctioned judges.

The judges will have their US-based property and assets blocked as a result of the sanctions. Additionally, it is against the law for US-based companies to conduct business with them, even through “provision of funds, goods, or services.”

The ICC responded with a quick statement, saying it “deplores” the Trump administration’s decision and stood by its judges.

The statement read, “These measures are a clear attempt to undermine the independence of an international judicial institution that operates under the authority of 125 States Parties from all corners of the globe,” the statement said.

“Targeting those who seek accountability is ineffective for helping civilians who are ensnared in conflict.” It only encourages those who think they can commit crimes with impunity.

The judges are who?

In a fact sheet, the State Department stated that during Trump’s first term as president, Bossa and Ibanez Carranza were fined for launching an investigation into US forces in Afghanistan in 2020.

Prior to this time, the ICC had blocked a request to investigate allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Afghanistan, which the US had been fighting steadily from 2001 to 2021.

The following year, it reversed course, granting a prosecutor’s request to look into US forces and Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) personnel for war crimes committed in “secret detention facilities” in Afghanistan and other locations.

The court made the point that Afghanistan was a member of the 125 nations that the ICC has jurisdiction over.

The ICC was described as a “political institution masquerading as a legal body” by the Trump administration at the time, though. The US, which is not a member of the Rome Statute, is argued for a while that the ICC is not competent.

Israel, which has used comparable arguments to reject the ICC’s authority over its actions in Palestine, is another non-member of the Rome Statute.

According to the US State Department, Alapini Gansou and Hohler, the second pair of judges named in Thursday’s sanctions were given criminal penalties for their conduct against Israeli leaders.

Israel’s oldest ally was the US, which recognized the nation in 1948. Since then, it has extended its strong support to Israel, including in the ongoing conflict in Gaza, which has so far claimed the lives of 54, 607 Palestinians.

As reports of alleged human rights violations continue to surface, experts at the UN and human rights organizations have compared Israel’s military campaign in Gaza to genocide.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant have both been accused of war crimes in Gaza, including intentional attacks on civilians, and the ICC issued arrest warrants for them in November 2024 as a result of those accusations.

Hohler and Alapini Gansou reportedly participated in those negotiations.

Has this ever occurred before?

Since Trump took office for a second term on January 20th, the US has placed restrictions on an ICC official for the first time.

Trump issued a broad executive order shortly after taking office that slapped anyone who participated in ICC investigations. Critics warned that broad language like that could obstruct the administration of justice, for instance by barring witnesses from presenting evidence.

Trump argued, however, that such measures were required by the recent arrest warrants for Gallant and Netanyahu.

He added that the ICC’s investigations threatened military members with “harassment, abuse, and possible arrest” and that the US and Israel were “thriving democracies” that “strictly adhere to the laws of war.”

The executive order stated that “this malign behavior in turn threatens to infringe on the United States’ sovereignty and undermines the United States Government’s and our allies’ critical efforts in foreign policy, including Israel.

Karim Khan, a prosecutor for the ICC, was sanctioned by the US in accordance with that order after petitioning the court for the arrest warrants for Gallant and Netanyahu. In response, the investigation into Israel’s actions in Gaza was slowed down, and Khan later resigned because of sexual misconduct allegations.

Trump has a history of opposing the ICC, which dates back to the beginning of his presidency. For instance, Trump announced that his administration would refuse or yank visas for ICC officials involved in the US military’s investigation of Afghan troops in 2019.

In response, he sanctioned Fatou Bensouda, the prosecutor of the ICC, and Phakiso Mochochoko, a court official, for their involvement in the investigation in 2020. Under President Joe Biden, those choices were later reversed.

However, critics warn that Trump’s actions could have long-term detrimental effects for the ICC, which relies on its members to carry out arrest warrants and other orders. The court has requested that the threats be removed.

Beyonce London concert fails to sell out as empty seats visible despite cut-price tickets

With a large number of empty seats visible of the singer, the opening night of Beyonce’s London leg of her tour failed to sell out, giving everyone a chance to see her.

Beyonce held a ceremony in London to launch the UK leg of her tour.

Beyonce’s London takeover hasn’t started as she’d have hoped with the songstress left to sing to patches of empty seats on the first night. Queen Bey kicked off her show in the UK tonight as her Cowboy Carter tour’s six dates in the capital get under way.

The Single Ladies star, however, failed to sell out the opening night due to the enormous interest the concerts at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium attracted. And that happens despite numerous offer-a-cheque offers in the run-up to the show.

The 62,000 capacity venue is set to host every date Beyonce has on her UK leg of the tour. She will then move on to Paris before heading back home to the states.

Empty seats were visible on Beyonce's opening night in London
Empty seats were visible on Beyonce’s opening night in London(Image: Daily Mirror)

However, Thursday’s crowd-watchers were shocked to see how many seats were left out for the icon’s first night. Large sections of empty seats were clearly visible in images taken from inside the stadium. The restricted view options are thought to be the main cause of the emptiness.

It was a far cry from her 2023 Renaissance world tour. Two years ago, the UK leg sold out within minutes of going on sale.

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But despite the inability to sell out, the former Destiny’s Child singer put on a memorable performance. One user on Twitter/X gushed: “London crowd took over Irreplaceable and Bey just stood there soaking it in smiling. Beyoncé didn’t even have to lift a mic. y’all gave her flowers with your voices. ICONIC.”

Another added, “Beyoncé is killing it tonight.” Wow. Even in the dreary weather. The best show so far is unquestionably coming to the UK.

Some people began lining up outside the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium at 4am on Wednesday because they were so excited to see their superstar.

Fans were adoring her performance as Blue Ivy and Rumi, Jay-Z’s daughters, took to the stage with her. As her mother sang to her adoring audience, Rumi, age 7, was seen waving to the crowd.

Rumi was seated next to her while Beyonce sang Protector. Before her mother wrapped her in a sweet embrace, she was spotted singing along to the song.

Following a string of dates in the United States where she had performed tracks from her eighth studio album, Beyoncé will now perform on June 7, 10, 12, 14, and 16. Following tonight’s successful show, Beyoncé will then follow.

Tottenham Hotspur Stadium Beyonce
The stadium holds 62,000 (Image: Daily Mirror)

Everyone who attends the final shows is reminded to adhere to strict rules. One hour before the stadium is finished, the bar will close at 10.30pm, which is the opening time for the stadium. Everyone should be aware of the bag policy, though.

Personal bags must not be larger than A4 in size (21 cm x 30 cm high). A clear carrier bag with a maximum length of 30 cm and height is available to those attending. However, you must not also pack any personal bags that don’t fit the requirements for those bags.

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