top news of the day

• Italy's financial police dismantled a sophisticated illegal streaming piracy network on Friday. • The operation caused approximately €300 million ($348 million) in damages to major rights holders, including Sky, DAZN, Netflix, Disney+, and Spotify.

• Italy's financial police dismantled a sophisticated streaming piracy network on Friday that caused an estimated €300 million ($348 million) in damages. • The illegal operation targeted major content providers and rights holders, including Netflix, Disney+, Spotify, Sky, and DAZN.

• Sam Fender, Rosalía, and Jacob Alon were named winners at the Ivor Novello Awards on Thursday, an event dedicated to celebrating the craft of songwriting. • The ceremony included a special tribute to Elton John, featuring a performance by Lola Young to honor his contributions to music.

• The 2026 Eurovision Song Contest will be available for viewers in the United States via specific TV channels and live streaming platforms. • The broadcast will cover both the competition's semifinals and the grand final, though specific dates and times have not yet been detailed.

• Molly Clifford and her father Andrew, a duo from Maghera, competed in "Race Across the World," traveling from Italy to Mongolia. • The pair successfully completed a challenging 7,500-mile (12,000km) journey across Europe and Asia.

• NBCUniversal Entertainment Japan won an award for animation storytelling at the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting+ Awards 2026. • The winning animation follows the journey of a rural swordsman, focusing on themes of discipline, experience, and late-stage mastery.

• The SBS romantic comedy "My Royal Nemesis" has become a global hit, driven by viral momentum on short-form video platforms. • The series saw domestic growth from a 5.4% viewership rating in its second episode to 6% by the fourth, according to Nielsen Korea.

• European cinema attendance declined by 5.5% in 2025, with the total number of cinemagoers dropping to 796 million. • Despite the fall in attendance, overall box-office revenues remained stable at €6.36 billion.

• Netflix has announced that the hit series "Emily in Paris" will conclude after its sixth and final season. • Production for the farewell season is currently underway, with filming taking place in Greece and Monaco.

• Liverpool-based contestants Jo and Kush were crowned the winners of series six of Race Across the World after racing from Palermo, Sicily, to Hatgal, Mongolia. • The duo navigated the ancient Silk Road to reach the finish line three hours ahead of their competitors, securing a shared cash prize of £20,000.

• TIN Media hosted the second edition of the Asian Tourism & Hospitality Awards (ATH Awards) 2025-26 during a gala night in Kuala Lumpur. • Key winners included FELDA Residence Hot Springs for Most Unique Nature Wellness Experience (Malaysia), Jatiluwih Village for Leading UNESCO Cultural Landscape Tourism Destination (Indonesia), and Wings of Time Fireworks Symphony for Leading Tourist Attraction of the Year (Singapore).