Sting cancels Kazakhstan concert

4 July 2011 Last updated at 09:12 GMT The show was part of Sting's Symphonicity world tour Sting has cancelled a concert in Kazakhstan's capital Astana over claims of human rights violations on oil workers in the Central Asian country.

In a statement on his website, the singer axed Monday's planned show after Amnesty International told him of "the repression and crackdown" against them.

The singer said the treatment was "unacceptable".

Several thousand oil workers went on strike on 26 May over claims their salaries have been cut.

Police detained strikers for taking part in an unsanctioned protest, and a spokesman for oil company UzenMunaiGas said some 250 employees had been dismissed for breaching their contract terms.

"Amnesty International feel [Sting's] presence in Astana will be interpreted as an endorsement of the presidents' administration and surely will go against everything he has stood for, while supporting Amnesty and the fight for human rights," the statement said.

Sting added: "Hunger strikes, imprisoned workers and tens of thousands on strike represents a virtual picket line which I have no intention of crossing.

"The Kazakh gas and oil workers and their families need our support and the spotlight of the international media on their situation in the hope of bringing about positive change."

Sting had been due to perform as part of city day celebrations as part of his Symphonicity world tour.

Kazakh organisers had initially said the concert had been cancelled for "organisational and technical reasons".

The singer was criticised in 2009 after performing a concert in Uzbekistan, widely regarded as one of the most repressive regimes to emerge from the former Soviet Union.

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Jessie J cancels summer festivals

Jessie J has promised to "make it up" to her fans for cancelling a string of appearances after she broke her foot in two places last month.

The star needed surgery on Thursday and was ordered to rest after having the operation.

Among the shows affected are T In The Park, Lovebox and the iTunes festival.

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I was so excited about the summer and I'm as upset as you all are. But unfortunately these things happen. I have to remain positive and I promise I will make it up later in the year

Jessie J

She said: "Sorry doesn't feel enough to say, I am devastated for my fans that I know have been waiting to see me and working hard for tickets."

Her injury didn't stop the singer performing at Glastonbury last weekend.

Jessie J ignored doctors' advice to skip the festival and performed through the pain as she appeared on a specially-made gold throne on The Other Stage.

T in the Park festival director Geoff Ellis said: 'I am gutted. She was someone I was really looking forward to seeing and I'm sure a lot of T in the Parkers were too.

"We wish her a speedy recovery and hope to welcome her next year."

'Remain positive'

The star found out she had a broken foot last Thursday, two weeks after falling off a stage platform while rehearsing for a London concert.

She was originally told that she had ripped a ligament.

"I was so excited about the summer and I'm as upset as you all are," she added.

"But unfortunately these things happen. I have to remain positive and I promise I will make it up later in the year."

In a tweet she added: "I'm still in hospital. I had major surgery not a in and out thing :( in alot of pain still."

Jessie J begins her own headline tour in October.

She's then supporting Katy Perry on her California Dreams US tour in November.

The singer went to number one earlier this year with her single Price Tag featuring American rapper B.o.B and also topped the BBC's Sound of 2011.

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Winehouse cancels two tour dates

19 June 2011 Last updated at 18:26 GMT Video of Amy Winehouse performing in Serbia.

Amy Winehouse is to cancel part of her European tour after the singer was booed for appearing to be too drunk to perform at a concert in Serbia's capital Belgrade.

She is pulling out of shows in Istanbul, Turkey, on Monday, and Athens, Greece, on Wednesday.

A spokesman said Ms Winehouse would like to apologise to fans, but "feels that this is the right thing to do".

The singer has struggled with addiction for some time.

Her spokesman added that Ms Winehouse will return home after agreeing with management that "she cannot perform to the best of her ability".

Her tour, which was originally scheduled to include 12 performances, is now due to resume in Bilbao, Spain, on 8 July.

'Strained notes'

The concert in Belgrade was the first of the tour, and for almost 90 minutes, Amy Winehouse mumbled her way through parts of songs, said the BBC's Mark Lowen.

He added: "She sang a few strained notes, before stumbling across the stage and at one point throwing her microphone to the floor.

"At times she left the stage altogether - her band attempting to fill in.

"She was frequently booed by the crowd. Many had paid up to €45 (?40) to see her in a country in which wages are some of the lowest in Europe, and their anger was clear."

The Grammy-award winning singer had been under strict instructions not to drink after recently finishing a course of alcohol rehabilitation in London.

Hotel staff on her European tour are said to be under orders to remove alcohol from her room.

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