Premier League Darts final: Luke Littler beats Luke Humphries 11-10 in thriller to exact revenge
NEWS link
World champion Luke Littler was in tears after producing one of his finest displays to exact revenge on Luke Humphries and regain the Premier League in one of the competition's greatest finals.
In a repeat of the previous two finals, the sport's best players showcased an unbelievable level of quality in front of 16,000 at The O2 as Littler came out on top with an 11-10 victory.
The 19-year-old averaged 111 and landed 12 maximums, while world number two Humphries finished with an average of 105 and three 100+ checkouts.
"It's been a rollercoaster," an emotional Littler told Sky Sports on stage.
"The first four weeks at the bottom, on the fifth night won my first night. I had to pick myself up. I think I went to Brighton and had a 79 average.
"It was tough - I was down bad. I'm here with the trophy."
Luke Littler reveals he almost quit Premier League Darts because of crowd reaction to him
NEWS link
With the Premier League trophy high above his head once again on The O2 stage, Luke Littler broke down in tears.
The 19-year-old was in disbelief at regaining the crown in one of the all-time great finals with Luke Humphries because he came close to quitting the invitational event.
The two-time champion and world number one has endured a tumultuous third Premier League campaign with on-stage arguments and boos from the thousands in attendance.
Speaking after his 11-10 victory, he told Sky Sports: "After Brighton [in week 10], I think I came off stage and the incident in Manchester [argument with Gian van Veen], I was sat at home saying to Faith [his partner], 'I don't want to do it anymore, just the crowd every week'.
"I said to her, 'I'm down bad'."
Week nine in Manchester is where the atmosphere in the crowd started to turn against Littler.
After a missed match dart by Van Veen, the pair exchanged a frosty handshake and the Dutchman said Littler "was out of order" at what he perceived to be a celebration at the miss.
Littler also gestured that Van Veen was a "cry baby" and the pair did not speak for multiple weeks.
After Manchester came Brighton, where Littler was dumped out at the quarter-final stage by Stephen Bunting with a measly 84 average.
And then came Rotterdam - where fans were behind one of their own in Van Veen - before events in Liverpool and Leeds where Littler has been routinely booed because of his support of Manchester United.
The teenager called the Rotterdam reception the "worst I have experienced" and that his mindset was now to "just expect the worst".
On Wednesday, at the pre-finals night media event, Littler said the fans were "fickle" for mixing booing and cheering.
Just over 24 hours later, Littler was loudly cheered by the O2 crowd after breaking down twice during his on-stage TV interview.
Speaking later in a news conference, Littler, who won £410,000 in prize money, hoped his release of emotions would be a "turning point" in his relationship with the crowd.
He said: "I'm not asking for sympathy - I just told the world how I was feeling during the Premier League. The biggest outcome is next to me [the trophy].
"From the Brighton game, the Manchester game, I've proved everyone wrong once again and I can't believe it."
England vs India: Heather Knight's form leaves question mark for Charlotte Edwards
NEWS link
For so long, it has felt inconceivable to not have Heather Knight as the first name on the England team sheet.
Yet on the day she became the most-capped England women's cricketer, former captain Knight's T20 form continued to concern just three weeks before a World Cup on home soil.
England were outclassed with both bat and ball in the first game of their three-match T20 series against India, but Knight's 21 from 24 balls stalled England's progress in pursuit of 189 to win.
Amy Jones hit a 32-ball 50 but when 35-year-old Knight was dismissed in the 14th over after a tortuous knock which contained 11 dot balls, England had fallen so far behind the rate they needed more than 13 an over.
"Knight going at less than a run a ball added pressure on Amy Jones, so she's slowed down trying to wallop absolutely every ball to the boundary, and the lack of boundaries means England have fallen behind," said former England spinner Alex Hartley on Test Match Special.
"It is a little bit of a concern. If you think about where Heather was a year ago, she was striking the ball so cleanly."
Though openers Sophia Dunkley and Alice Capsey fell cheaply, they did not waste many balls - Dunkley made 16 from 10 and Capsey six from five.
Experienced opener Danni Wyatt-Hodge is available for the next T20 at Bristol on Saturday, having been on maternity leave, and she will likely replace Capsey at the top of the order.
Injured captain Nat Sciver-Brunt is expected to be fit for the start of the World Cup and England are longing for her presence in the middle order, so the question for Edwards is whether Capsey should move down a place - and if so, who makes way?
World Cup 2026: Lionel Messi to represent Argentina at sixth tournament
NEWS link
Lionel Messi will play in a sixth World Cup as he captains holders Argentina at the 2026 tournament.
The 38-year-old forward, who led his country to a third World Cup triumph in Qatar with a penalty shootout victory over France four years ago, was named in Lionel Scaloni's 26-man squad on Thursday.
With 26 appearances, Messi holds the current record for the most World Cup matches by any player - and will join Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo, 41, as the only male players to appear in a sixth edition of football's biggest event this summer.
Aston Villa's Emiliano Martinez, who was named the goalkeeper of the tournament in 2022, has been selected, as have defenders Lisandro Martinez and Cristian Romero from Manchester United and Tottenham respectively.
Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister and Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez are also among the five British-based players in the squad for the finals, which will be held in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Argentina are in Group J and begin their campaign in Kansas City against Algeria (Wednesday, 17 June, 02:00 BST), before they play two games in Dallas, against Austria (Monday, 22 June, 18:00 BST) and Jordan (Sunday, 28 June, 02:00 BST).
Messi had been substituted during Inter Miami's latest Major League Soccer match on Monday, but his club said he had not sustained an injury and was suffering from "muscle fatigue" in his left hamstring.
He has made 198 appearances for Argentina and will reach the 200-mark if he plays in both of his country's friendly matches - against Honduras in Texas (Sunday, 7 June, 01:00 BST) and then against Iceland in Alabama (Tuesday, 9 June).
Sturgeon says she was deceived, betrayed and lied to over Murrell embezzlement
NEWS link
"And it would be a tough thing to come to terms with for anyone who is dealing with this entirely privately, but I am not, I am having to deal with it in the full glare of publicity. So yes, it will be a process."
Opportunities shrinking for too many young people, says major report on 'lost generation'
NEWS link
"We weren't really seeing people in person, so we didn't get used to the social aspect of connecting with people. Maintaining eye contact, hand gestures and all sorts. We were just sitting behind screens. There were skills that people were struggling to develop," they said.
US and Iran reach tentative deal to extend ceasefire, US officials say
NEWS link
'Like a prisoner being released' - Relief for Iranians as internet shutdown ends
The government imposed the blackout after the start of the war with the US and Israel in February, cutting most Iranians off from the outside world.
Man jailed over plot to attack Taylor Swift concert in Vienna
NEWS link
But the US mega-star added on Instagram: "I was also so grateful to the authorities because thanks to them, we were grieving concerts and not lives."
Keir Starmer defends policy decisions as he hits back at Blair criticism
NEWS link
The government has blamed the tough financial inheritance it took over from the Conservatives for the many of the decisions it has made, as well as the difficult economic backdrop, with wars in Ukraine and later Iran pushing up the cost of living.
Portugal breaks hottest May day record as Europe swelters in heatwave
NEWS link
"It was a tough spot to be in," he commented afterwards, but added: "Really it was nothing against the heat, nothing against the weather. It was just me today, but it happens."
French Open 2026 results: Jannik Sinner 'couldn't find energy' but says heat was not to blame in shock loss
NEWS link
Jannik Sinner says he "could not find any energy" as he lost in the second round to Juan Manuel Cerundolo in one of the biggest French Open shocks in recent years - but the world number one did not believe the Paris heat was to blame.
Italy's Sinner was the heavy favourite for the title, having dominated the men's tour in recent months, and was on a 30-match winning streak going into Thursday's match.
After dropping just eight games in his Roland Garros opener against Clement Tabur, Sinner was in similarly commanding form against Cerundolo, leading 6-3 6-2 5-1 before suffering a dramatic physical downturn.
The Italian laboured around the court and lost three successive games before calling for the trainer, saying he felt "dizzy" and "wanted to vomit".
He took a mid-game medical timeout and left the court at the end of the third and fourth sets, but could not regain his fitness as he fell to world number 56 Cerundolo.
Although several players have attributed their on-court struggles to the unseasonably hot conditions in Paris, with temperatures peaking around 34C, Sinner downplayed the impact.
"I had no energy today. That can happen. Nobody is a robot," Sinner said.
"I woke up this morning, didn't feel very well and tried to keep points very short.
"In the beginning I was hitting very clean, very good, and then I just hit a wall.
"I started feeling dizzy. Very low on energy. I tried to serve it out but I didn't have a lot of energy."
Although he has previously struggled in extreme heat, most notably in his third-round win over Eliot Spizzirri at this year's Australian Open, Sinner said this was "a completely different scenario".
"It was warm, but not crazy warm. I feel like it was quite OK to play," the 24-year-old said.
"It was nothing against the heat, nothing against the weather. It was just me today, but it happens."
Learning from Ukraine, Hezbollah is now using fibre-optic drones to hit Israel
NEWS link
The fibre-optic drones used by Hezbollah – also known as First-Person View or FPVs – are much harder to detect than the rockets and mortars this town is used to. The drones are loaded with explosives and fly low, without a radio signal that can be jammed by Israel's military. They are connected to their operators by a thin optical wire, which allow them to see and chase targets on the ground. It's a tactic learned from the war in Ukraine.
Are US and Iran close to peace or sliding back to war?
NEWS link
It all sounds ominous, but this is still a far cry from the furious exchanges that characterised the first five-and-a-half weeks of this conflict. In that time, the US and Israel launched thousands of sorties against targets all across Iran, and Tehran responded with volleys of drones and ballistic missiles against US bases, Gulf countries and Israel.
Villas, cars and cash: Italy seizes dead Mafia mobster's millions
NEWS link
The funds, described as "huge amounts of capital" by the financial police in Palermo, are said to be proceeds from over four decades of drugs trafficking linked to the presumed former head of the Cosa Nostra group.
British LGBT Awards: Boy George wins lifetime achievement honour
NEWS link
"You need someone with an amazing voice, like a big European belting hit the sky voice […] and the song should be a ballad that's pretending to be disco, that's pretending to be Irish, but a bit gay. I mean, that's so Eurovision."
Trump officials preparing for $250 note featuring Trump's face
NEWS link
The $100 bill, featuring Benjamin Franklin, one of the US founding fathers, is the largest bill printed today. The US has previously issued larger notes including $500, $1000 and $10,000 notes but these were discontinued in 1969. They remain legal tender but not in circulation, as they are largely kept by private currency collectors.
Dublin: Hugs and cheers as FTD Brothers Jordan and Cian Adams complete marathon challenge
NEWS link
Man found with AI-generated child pornographic material fined €400
Stephen Buckley, whose case was heard at the district court in Tralee, County Kerry, is believed to be the first person in the Republic of Ireland to be convicted of possession of AI-generated child pornographic material.
Oil prices fall after report of breakthrough in US-Iran talks
NEWS link
Axios reported officials had made an agreement over an extended ceasefire on Thursday. It drove the price of a barrel of Brent crude down to a low of $93.36 from a earlier high of $98, before rebounding to about $94.
California Attorney General to sue 23andMe over 2023 data breach
NEWS link
"Our investigation found that the company failed to take basic steps to protect users' data," said Bonta, who added 23andMe "lied to consumers about the severity of its 2023 data breach."
Why Can’t Young People Get Jobs?
NEWS link
Available for over a year
Today, in his long awaited report, former minister Alan Milburn has said job and career opportunities for young people are ‘not growing, they’re shrinking’, with one in six set to be out of work, education or training in five years unless action is taken. He concluded that the education, health and welfare systems are no longer fit for purpose in preparing young people for adult life - with the risk of a ‘lost generation’ and young adults facing a ‘perfect storm’ of challenges. Adam is joined by Alex, Simon Jack and Sarah Montague to discuss. You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Newscast”. It works on most smart speakers. You can join our Newscast online community here: https://bbc.in/newscastdiscord Get in touch with Newscast by emailing [email protected] or send us a WhatsApp on +44 0330 123 9480. New episodes released every day. If you're in the UK, for more News and Current Affairs podcasts from the BBC, listen on BBC Sounds: https://bbc.in/4guXgXd Newscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC. The presenter was Adam Fleming. It was made by Jack MacLaren with Shiler Mahmoudhi . The social producer was Jem Westgate . The technical producer was Philip Bull. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.
Programme Website
French Open 2026: Jannik Sinner defeat opens Roland Garros draw - can Novak Djokovic, Alexander Zverev and others take advantage?
NEWS link
Not too long ago there were accusations that the men's singles at Grand Slams were becoming a predictable two-horse race.
Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz had swept the previous nine Grand Slams between them, going head-to-head in three of those finals.
When Alcaraz pulled out of the French Open with a wrist injury, it was expected to make for a tournament that lacked jeopardy, because who could stop Sinner?
It felt as though the sweltering conditions in Paris could be the Italian top seed's biggest obstacle - and the 24-year-old wilted in the heat on Thursday.
Sinner battled illness as Argentina's Juan Manuel Cerundolo - who deserves great credit for remaining calm - took advantage to win their second-round match 3-6 2-6 7-5 6-1 6-1.
Once again it showed nothing can ever be taken for granted in sport. And it has blown open a field in which a larger number of players will feel their chances of lifting the Coupe des Mousquetaires have increased.
Sinner's elimination feels like a gift to the rest of the field - but the sense of opportunity is not without its challenges.
England vs India: Jemimah Rodrigues and Yastika Bhatia star in 38-run win at Chelmsford
NEWS link
England suffered a chastening pre-T20 World Cup defeat as they were completely outplayed by India in a 38-run defeat in Chelmsford.
Chasing 189 to win, England stuttered to 150-8 as questions remain around their batting line-up before the tournament begins in June.
Openers Alice Capsey and Sophia Dunkley fell cheaply before Amy Jones made a fluent 67 from 48 balls, but the run-rate climbed out of control as they collapsed from 120-3.
The returns of Danni Wyatt-Hodge from maternity leave and Nat Sciver-Brunt from injury cannot come soon enough for England's stuttering top order.
Extras also proved a big difference, with England giving away 21 compared to India's three.
Lauren Bell gave England the perfect start with two wickets in the first over, including star batter Smriti Mandhana from the first ball of the innings before Shafali Verma fell for two.
But Jemimah Rodrigues and Yastika Bhatia remained unflustered, taking 27 from the second over bowled by Issy Wong to kickstart their counter-attacking third-wicket stand of 126.
England's standards in the field slipped again when they were under pressure, but stand-in skipper Charlie Dean led an encouraging fightback by removing both set batters in the 14th over.
Bhatia was run out for 54 and Rodrigues was caught and bowled for 69 as India slipped from 133-2 to 148-6, including debutant Tilly Corteen-Coleman's first T20 wicket as Richa Ghosh was superbly caught by Wong.
But Deepti Sharma, so often a thorn in England's side, struck four boundaries in her 22 from 13 balls at the death to ensure India's middle overs brilliance was not in vain as they finished on 188-7.
The three-match series continues at Bristol on Saturday, where Wyatt-Hodge is in contention to feature for the first time this summer.
Republic of Ireland v Israel: Jamie McGrath expects controversy to 'heat up' after Qatar game disrupted
NEWS link
Republic of Ireland midfielder Jamie McGrath says he expects the controversy surrounding the side's upcoming Israel fixtures to "heat up" after Thursday's friendly win over Qatar was disrupted.
The Aviva Stadium game - which the Republic of Ireland won 1-0 thanks to Nathan Collins' early header - was twice briefly interrupted in the first half when home fans threw tennis balls featuring the Palestine flag on to the pitch.
After the game, RTE reported that protesters were ejected from the ground, and McGrath expects more backlash before the Republic of Ireland face Israel in a neutral venue on 27 September and 4 October in Dublin in the Nations League.
Earlier this week, Republic of Ireland stalwart Seamus Coleman said the situation "should have been dealt with above us".
"I obviously listened to Seamus' interview and I think he was spot on," McGrath told BBC Sport NI.
"It's obviously a unique scenario. The people [protesters], we have to listen to them, they have the right to do what they do, as long as it's done in a peaceful way, that's all that matters.
"I'm sure it's going to heat up over the next few months. Like I said, we don't want to be put into a position. Hopefully the powers above us can work something out or use it for the greater good, I'm not sure what the process will be as it heats up.
"At the end of the day, we're footballers and we don't want to be caught in this, but sometimes we might have to."
BBC Football Awards: Winners for Premier League, Scottish Premiership, WSL & EFL in 2025-26 revealed
NEWS link
Roll up, roll up - it's time for BBC Sport's first end-of-season football awards.
Voted for by our expert pundits, dedicated team of journalists, and specialist football programme makers, these awards celebrate the players who starred in the Premier League, Women's Super League, Scottish Premiership and EFL in 2025-26.
Those voting include Chris Sutton, Danny Murphy, Dion Dublin, Glenn Murray, Pat Nevin, Nedum Onuoha, Shay Given, Theo Walcott, Ellen White and Fara Williams.
From the players who propelled their teams to glory, to those whose quality stood out in less successful surroundings, these are the men and women whose contributions on the pitch this season deserve to be recognised.
Josh Kroenke interview: 'Covid era gave Arteta space to revive sleeping giant Arsenal'
NEWS link
Giving a manager their first senior job in football is always a risk, but Kroenke says Arteta's character made it clear that he was the right candidate to succeed Unai Emery in December 2019.
"Anybody that gets a chance to be around Mikel, you can buy into what he's selling pretty easily," Kroenke said.
"So I don't want to give myself or my father [Stan Kroenke, founder and chairman of KSE and co-chair of Arsenal] any credit.
"I think Mikel and his staff and our players are the ones that earned those rights to have the patience in those moments by the amount of work and energy they were putting in behind the scenes."
Arteta won the 2020 FA Cup but finished eighth in a league affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, which meant games were played behind closed doors.
"I don't know if I would ever acknowledge it, or Mikel or anybody - there was something about Mikel having a little bit of what I would say 'space' during Covid when there weren't fans around." Kroenke said.
"There were some growing pains that went on during matches, different moments, and obviously we won the FA Cup, but to not have that extra pressure of fans being on top of you at different points in time when we were going through different growth phases was probably something I don't think any of us would acknowledge in the moment.
"But, looking back I think we can say 'maybe that was a little bit of a benefit'."
Man Utd transfers: Could a central midfielder be Michael Carrick's first signing?
NEWS link
It will be a neat coincidence if it turns out Manchester United's first signing since Michael Carrick was confirmed as their new permanent head coach turns out to be a central midfielder.
There are few clues coming out of Old Trafford about the club's efforts to sign Ederson from Atalanta, but it is anticipated the Brazilian's £35m transfer will be completed pretty soon.
That will take United's spending on central midfield players alone to almost £580m since Carrick himself joined the club from Tottenham Hotspur in 2006, with the likelihood of more to follow.
United have made strengthening their midfield a priority this summer.
Brazil international Casemiro, 34, has left the club as his contract is due to expire on 30 June.
Manuel Ugarte, a £42.5m signing from Paris St-Germain in August 2024, was an unused substitute in the final-day win at Brighton and has not played a minute since starting the disappointing home defeat by Leeds on 13 April. There are major doubts over whether the Uruguay international will still be at the club next season.
Kobbie Mainoo is the only other experienced central midfielder in Carrick's squad. Nineteen-year-old twins Jack and Tyler Fletcher made their debuts this season, while 18-year-old Jacob Devaney excelled on loan at Scottish Premiership outfit St Mirren over the second half of the season.
All three academy graduates are well regarded and likely to be involved in the start of United's pre-season campaign, which begins against Wrexham in Helsinki on 18 July. Conversations on their short-term futures will take place later in the summer, but realistically none of them are likely to be given a regular starting spot in the Premier League and Champions League next term.
That means United must look to the transfer market to bolster Carrick's squad.
England's Elliot Anderson is regarded their first choice, however, his most likely destination is Manchester City.
United know the 23-year-old's salary demands will be significant and they are reluctant to overpay. They are also unwilling to get involved in a bidding war and have already indicated an unwillingness to pay a fee in the region of £120m it has been rumoured Forest would want.
United have been linked with plenty of alternatives.
Portugal international Mateus Fernandes is regarded one of West Ham's most saleable assets. It is inevitable they will have to sell players this summer following their relegation to the Championship, which also weakens their negotiating position.
United made soundings around Brighton's Carlos Baleba last summer, but backed off when a fee in excess of £100m was mentioned. The 22-year-old's form dipped in the season just ended, which could see the fee drop, although Brighton owner Tony Bloom is noted for his hardline negotiating tactics.
The time it took Liverpool to wear down Newcastle over striker Alexander Isak's deal last summer is fresh in the mind. United don't want to get involved in a saga like that, which is why speculation around Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes has been muted.
Bournemouth pair Alex Scott and Tyler Adams have also been mentioned. England's Scott in particular enjoyed a superb season under Andoni Iraola and may be looking to join a bigger club after missing out on World Cup selection.
The futures of Real Madrid pair Aurelien Tchouameni and Federico Valverde is unclear following their training ground spat. The impending return of Jose Mourinho to the Bernabeu adds another layer of uncertainty to that dynamic. It is likely United would act if they were given any encouragement around Frenchman Tchouameni in particular.
Israel intensifies strikes on Lebanon during ceasefire, videos show
NEWS link
Israel has intensified its strikes on Lebanon, saying it has hit hundreds of Hezbollah targets in the last few days.
Verified videos show strikes on densely populated neighbourhoods in southern Lebanon along with the destruction caused.
The Lebanese health ministry has said more than 3,000 people have been killed since the start of the war. Merlyn Thomas reports.
Produced by Tom Joyner. Graphics by Mesut Ersoz. Verification by Emma Pengelly, Sarah Jalali and Sherie Ryder.
Man killed on train line after escaping custody van
NEWS link
David Elsdon, 82, who lives close to the station in the village of Digswell, said he had never seen so many police before and it "was all a bit of a shock".
US and Iran 'very close' to deal but 'not there yet', Vance says
NEWS link
Axios, which first reported a tentative agreement between the US and Iran on Thursday, said that Trump had been briefed on the proposal but did not immediately sign off on it and would take a couple of days to consider it.
狼亭新聞站