Confirmed

• NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum has provided a new update regarding the target launch timeline for the "NBA Europe" project. • The league is exploring the possibility of proceeding with the initiative independently, potentially without a partnership with the EuroLeague. • This strategic move aims to expand the NBA's global footprint and commercial presence within the European basketball market.

• England has been drawn into Group L for the 2026 World Cup, where they will face Croatia, Panama, and Ghana. • The Three Lions will open their campaign against Croatia, a matchup that revisits the 2018 semi-final where Croatia eliminated England. • This fixture is significant as it sets the stage for a high-stakes rivalry early in the tournament's group stage.

• England has been drawn into Group L for the 2026 World Cup, where they will face Croatia, Panama, and Ghana. • The Three Lions will open their campaign with a match against Croatia, a team that previously eliminated England in the 2018 World Cup semi-finals. • This fixture marks a high-profile rematch for England as they seek redemption against a historically challenging opponent.

• The Premier League season has concluded following a final day of action featuring 10 simultaneous matches. • Arsenal secured a historic league title, marking a significant achievement for the club and its management. • The final matchday results have officially confirmed the teams qualifying for European competitions and those facing relegation.

• National teams are beginning to announce their official squads for the 2026 World Cup, with Bosnia & Herzegovina and Scotland already releasing their lists. • Notable inclusions include 40-year-old Edin Dzeko for Bosnia & Herzegovina, while Sweden's squad under Graham Potter features several Premier League stars. • England manager Thomas Tuchel is expected to reveal his roster on May 22 before the team faces Croatia, Ghana, and Panama in Group L.

• The European Broadcasting Union has announced the launch of Eurovision Asia, a new branch of the iconic international song contest. • While the specific host country and presenters have been confirmed, the announcement aims to expand the competition's global reach beyond its traditional European roots. • This expansion marks a significant strategic shift for the brand, potentially introducing a new demographic of viewers and artists to the franchise.

• The BBC has confirmed the lineup of UK presenters and commentators for the Eurovision Song Contest 2026. • The guide details the specific hosts assigned to provide commentary throughout the semi-finals and the grand final. • This announcement ensures viewers have a designated guide for the competition, maintaining the BBC's tradition of comprehensive coverage for the event.

• The Eurovision 2026 final is scheduled to air in the UK, with the Radio Times providing a comprehensive guide on broadcast times and the list of confirmed finalists. • In a significant shift for the competition, five nations—Ireland, Spain, the Netherlands, Slovenia, and Iceland—have officially confirmed they will not participate in this year's event. • This mass withdrawal of established participants may impact the contest's global viewership and the competitive landscape of the final.

Party confirms that no other candidates have been shortlisted for election expected to take place on 18 JuneUK politics live – latest updatesAndy Burnham has been confirmed as the candidate for the Makerfield byelection as Labour’s national executive committee rubber-stamped the mayor of Greater Manchester.Labour confirmed no other candidates had been shortlisted in the seat vacated by Josh Simons – with the byelection now widely expected to take place on 18 June , once the date is confirmed by Commons authorities. Continue reading...

Humpback had been found deceased on Friday after rescue attempt criticised as ‘pure animal cruelty’Timmy the whale has been confirmed dead by Danish authorities two weeks after the beached humpback was transported to the North Sea in a rescue attempt criticised as “pure animal cruelty”.Denmark’s Environmental Protection Agency said a whale had been found dead on Friday near ​the small ⁠island of Anholt in the Kattegat, a broad strait between Denmark and Sweden, and confirmed it was Timmy on Saturday. Continue reading...

• An Andes hantavirus outbreak has been confirmed aboard an Atlantic cruise ship, with seven Americans who were passengers now returning to their homes in Arizona, Georgia, California, Texas, and Virginia. • The acting CDC director Jay Bhattacharya stated that US health agencies are equipped to handle the hantavirus response and have been coordinating closely with international partners to contain the outbreak. • New Jersey has joined a growing list of US states now monitoring for hantavirus cases related to the cruise ship incident, expanding surveillance across multiple regions.

• Maricopa County Department of Public Health confirmed one new measles case in a county resident, adding to the total number of confirmed cases. • Public health officials have identified specific public exposures linked to this new case. • This development underscores ongoing measles transmission risks in the region amid national outbreak concerns.

Actors Richard E Grant, Michael Sheen and Bella Ramsey among celebrities hoping for victory this year as BBC’s hit spin-off series returns to screensConsidering the Traitors is a game of murderous treachery played out in a castle, the Shakespearian actors in the cast of the new celebrity spin-off series should be well set.Oscar-winner Richard E Grant, acclaimed actor Michael Sheen and The Last of Us star Bella Ramsey are among the thespians vying for victory this year, all of who have the Bard on their CV. Continue reading...

• Public health officials confirmed two cases of measles in Sacramento County, California, amid ongoing monitoring for potential spread. • The cases highlight persistent risks despite national vaccination efforts, with officials urging unvaccinated residents to seek immunization. • Measles outbreaks underscore gaps in herd immunity, particularly in localized communities, prompting heightened surveillance statewide.

UK Health Security Agency says cases have been treated successfully and antibiotics are being given as a precautionThree cases of meningitis B have been confirmed in the south-west of England, according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), as young people in the area have been offered vaccinations against the disease.The cases, which have all been confirmed to have occurred between the 20 March and 15 April in Dorset, have been treated. Those affected are said to be recovering well, according to the UKHSA. Continue reading...

• California has recorded at least 40 measles cases so far in 2026, surpassing the 25 cases of all 2025 and the highest annual total since 73 in 2019. • San Francisco confirmed its first measles case in 7 years in an unvaccinated infant under 1 year old, infected during international travel and recovering at home. • Outbreaks linked to unvaccinated travelers from South Carolina's 1,000-case surge and other states, with exposures at Sacramento preschools, San Bernardino, San Diego ER, and Bay Area sites.

Paramount confirmed the actor will play flying ace Maverick again in one of first major films in new eraTom Cruise is heading to the skies once again with the confirmation of Top Gun 3.While a sequel had been reportedly in the works since 2024, this week saw an official announcement from Paramount during the annual CinemaCon presentation. The 63-year-old will headline the third film in the action drama series with no other returning cast members confirmed. Continue reading...

• A North Carolina media nonprofit auctioning the iconic WKRP call letters announces they are definitively heading to a Cincinnati station after 48 years. • Director D.P. McIntire confirmed to the Associated Press, 'WKRP, after 48 years, is coming to Cincinnati... Book it! It’s done!' without revealing timeline or buyer details due to contract. • The famed call sign from the 1970s-80s CBS sitcom WKRP in Cincinnati, known for its Thanksgiving turkey drop episode, revives nostalgia for radio fans.

Downing of fighter plane – the first shot down over Iran since start of war – prompts frantic US rescue effort A US F-15E fighter has been shot down over Iran, prompting a frantic US search and rescue effort for its two-strong crew, in the first such incident since the start of the war.Images of a tail fin and other debris were released by Iranian state media early on Friday accompanied by an initial claim that an advanced US F-35 and been hit by a new air defence system over central Iran and the pilot probably killed. Continue reading...

• Jerome Adams, former Surgeon General, discussed on CBS's Face the Nation a surge of more than 1,500 confirmed measles cases in the U.S. since January 2026, per CDC data. • A notable spike is occurring in Utah, contributing to the national increase in this highly contagious disease. • The outbreak highlights ongoing vaccination challenges and public health risks in under-immunized communities.

• Tuberculosis cases in the U.S. rose to over 10,600 in 2024, marking the third consecutive annual increase and the highest total since 2013, at about 3 per 100,000 people. • Health experts attribute the rebound to pandemic-related underdiagnosis, untreated latent infections, and increased international travel from high-prevalence areas. • Local public health TB programs remain understaffed, straining response capacity amid the uptick.

Three cases previously confirmed reclassified by UK Health Security Agency after further testingThe number of confirmed meningitis cases linked to the Kent outbreak has fallen from 23 to 20.The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said on Sunday that three cases previously thought confirmed had been downgraded after further testing. Continue reading...

• The NYC Health Department issued an advisory confirming the first severe mpox clade I case in a city resident, marking the initial detection of this more virulent strain in New York. • Mpox clade I is one of two main genetic groups of the virus, known for causing more severe illness compared to clade II. • This development raises concerns for public health monitoring and response in urban areas amid ongoing global mpox transmission risks.

Their species name is well known, but until recently we’ve understood very little for certain about Homo habilis. Columnist Michael Marshall reveals what new fossils are telling us about the hominins that have been considered the first humans