Strictly: Josh Widdicombe nearly turned down chance to audition for presenter role

• The qualifiers for cricket at the 2026 Asian Games are scheduled to take place from May 26 to June 8. • The men's competition features eight teams divided into two groups: Group A includes China, Malaysia, Nepal, and Qatar, while Group B consists of Bahrain, Hong Kong China, Oman, and Singapore.

• Al Jazeera Media Network won 12 awards at the 2026 New York Festivals TV Film Awards, announced during a virtual ceremony. • Al Jazeera Arabic received two Gold and one Bronze award for its documentary coverage of developments in Syria.

• Olivia Dean, Zara Larsson, and Fatboy Slim headlined the Radio 1 Big Weekend music festival. • The event showcased a diverse lineup of artists and highlighted the unique character and culture of the host location.

• Bafta-winning actress Joanna Scanlan has publicly shared the story of her childhood friend Sarah's death for the first time, 50 years after the event. • Scanlan is one of 11 actors and poets, including Lemn Sissay and Ophelia Lovibond, participating in a series of poetry readings to honor lost loved ones.

• Former Liverpool teachers Jo and Kush have become local inspirations following their success on the reality series "Race Across the World." • Their former school, which once educated John Lennon, plans to invite the pair to present at this year's awards evening.

• The Suriya-starrer film *Karuppu* has earned Rs. 238 crore worldwide after its second weekend, with overseas collections surpassing USD 7 million. • While the Middle East market saw a significant 90% drop, the film maintained strong performance in Singapore and Malaysia, with the latter recording one of its best second weekends ever.

• India's TV broadcast industry is facing severe structural pressure in FY26 as viewers and advertisers migrate toward digital platforms. • Major broadcasters, including Zee Entertainment Enterprises and Sun TV Network, report declining advertising revenues, particularly from FMCG companies.

• Muhamad Nazri highlighted the Laos-Thailand-Malaysia-Singapore (LTMS) initiative as the first interconnection enabling commercial power transfer and enhancing regional supply security. • Five additional projects are currently in planning or feasibility stages to expand energy cooperation across Southeast Asia.

• Campaign Asia has opened nominations for the Agency of the Year Awards 2026 starting on 9 June. • The marketer-judged program recognizes excellence in leadership, brands, and agencies across 22 local markets in the Asia-Pacific region.

• Jon Favreau’s new film, *The Mandalorian and Grogu*, has set an unwanted franchise record by opening to the lowest box office numbers in *Star Wars* history. • Despite the poor commercial start, the film received critical praise from reviewers, including a four-star rating from *The Independent’s* Loughrey.

• ITV has cancelled its divisive police comedy sitcom after two seasons, confirming that there are currently no plans for a third series. • The decision follows a wave of complaints to the media regulator Ofcom, with some critics labeling the show as the "worst sitcom ever."