From The Sports Desk: World Cup qualifying drama

The final World Cup qualifiers took place yesterday and were, as expected,full of drama. OurAndrew Greifbreaks down all the results below. The headline: The final member of Team USA's group will be Turkey, not Kosovo, and Italy will miss the tournament entirely.

Also, ourRohan Nadkarnirecently had a wide-ranging interview withBam Adebayo, the Miami Heat center who scored 83 points in a single game last month. In today's newsletter: an excerpt from that conversation, on one of the greatest playoff moments in Heat history.

CheckNBC Newstomorrow for a full story on Adebayo, and keep coming back for continued coverage leading up to this summer's World Cup.

The Field is Set

You didn't have to be a soccer fan to appreciate the drama that played out yesterday across six matches — the final qualifying matches for the World Cup — stretching from Kosovo to Guadalajara, Mexico. There were penalty kicks, extra-time goals and a red card — and 12 hours after the day's qualifiers started, the field for thissummer's World Cupwas finally set.

That means that nearly four months after the 48-team field was drawn into four-team groups, the U.S. men at last know their third and final group stage opponent.

With a 1-0 win over Kosovo, Turkey qualified for Group D, where it will face the U.S. on June 25 in Inglewood, California. That will follow U.S. matches on June 12 against Paraguay, also in Inglewood, and June 19 against Australia in Seattle. One analysis of yesterday's result is that the group stage games just got harder for the U.S.: In FIFA's world rankings, Turkey is 22nd, while Kosovo, Team USA's other prospective opponent, is 78th.

This will be Turkey's first World Cup appearance since 2002, and it wasn't the only nation yesterday to end a long tournament drought. The Democratic Republic of Congo made itsfirst World Cup since 1974after its 100th-minute goal beat Jamaica in extra time.

In Prague, Denmark scored a game-tying goal in the 111th minute — only for Czechia to ultimately win on penalty kicks to book its first World Cup appearance since 2006. Sweden, which missed out on the 2022 tournament, snuck past Poland after a goal in the 88th minute.

Iraq grabbed the final qualifying spot to advance to its first World Cup since 1986 by beating Bolivia, 2-1, in the day's final game.

In perhaps the biggest shocker, Bosnia and Herzegovinaoutlasted Italy on penalty kicksto return to the World Cup for the first time since 2014. A proud soccer nation with four World Cup titles in its history, Italy will miss a third consecutive World Cup. Italy was down a player for the entire second half after earning a costly red card.

"We still don't believe it," the Italian defenderLeonardo Spinazzolasaid, according to The Associated Press.

Bam's Block

The Miami Heat take on the Boston Celtics tonight, the latest chapter in an ongoing Eastern Conference rivalry. We recently spoke with Heat centerBam Adebayoabout one of the great plays from the team's postseason battles: Adebayo's game-clinching block againstJayson Tatumin overtime of Game 1 of the 2020 Eastern Conference finals.

"I could have, for sure, been on the other end of the highlight," Adebayo told NBC News. "That moment happened so fast, but also like it was in slow motion at the same time."

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The Heat were leading 116-114 with 12 seconds left when Tatum received the ball at the top of the key. After eventually driving byJimmy Butler, Tatum went up for a dunk, only to be met with a denial by Adebayo above the rim. Miami won the game and eventually the series, advancing to the NBA Finals.

"I remember — it was so quiet in there, because it's the bubble — it sounded like the basketball popped. And I remember like, 'Damn. What just happened?' I remember my hands tingling. But also when it happened, I was just so worried about getting the ball that I didn't realize what happened. By the time I blocked it, I'm looking to grab the ball, and then I just see my teammates on the sideline going crazy, and I was like, 'Dang, I really blocked that at the rim.'"

Heat coachErik Spoelstrarecalled: "I said 'Oh, s---!' in the moment of it, and it was oh, s--- because Tatum had a wide-open angle to the rim, and that's unlike us. And then the double oh, s--- when Bam made the play."

For more on Adebayo's defensive greatness, be sure to come back toNBC News tomorrow.

What We're Reading

Iran "will be at the World Cup," FIFA PresidentGianni Infantinosaid.

Changes are coming to the NFL schedule for next year, includingdropping "Monday Night Football"doubleheaders.

Tiger Woodssayshe'll seek treatmentafter his DUI arrest.

NFL CommissionerRoger Goodellsays the league has noplans to ditch the Rooney Ruledespite pressure from the Florida attorney general.

Robin DeLorenzo, one of the first three female NFL officials,filed suit against the leagueover her treatment and firing.

LeBron JamespassedKareem Abdul-Jabbarformost wins in NBA historywith the Lakers' victory over his former team, the Cavaliers.

Mariners prospectColt Emersoninked a $95 million contract— before he's even played a game.

MLB umpireC.B. Bucknoris under more heat aftermissing a call at first baseand not even looking at the play when making the call.

What We're Watching

Barring another team's collapse,Bam Adebayoand the Miami Heat appear headed toward the NBA play-in tournament. They'll try to improve their standing tonight against the rival Boston Celtics.

Also,Victor Wembanyamaand the San Antonio Spurs continue their chase for the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference tonight against the Golden State Warriors.

All times are Eastern:

• 7:30 p.m.: Boston Celtics vs. Miami Heat, on ESPN

• 9 p.m.: Anaheim Ducks vs. San Jose Sharks, on HBO Max

• 10 p.m.: San Antonio Spurs vs. Golden State Warriors, on ESPN

That's it for now! We'll be back tomorrow.

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April 01, 2026

From The Sports Desk: World Cup qualifying drama

The final World Cup qualifiers took place yesterday and were, as expected,full of drama. OurAndrew Greifbreaks down all t...

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NBA Europe draws massive interest, proposals of up to $1 billion

A key deadline has come and gone for theNBA's venture into Europe, and the league office is buoyed with the result, all of which signals building momentum for the proposed upstart league.

The NBA had set a midnight deadline of Wednesday, April 1 for prospective investors to submit non-binding bids for consideration into the league's proposed NBA Europe expansion. According to a person with direct knowledge of the matter, north of 120 investment groups expressed interest in teams for the proposed league, with multiple bids even surpassing $1 billion. The league had set a loose threshold for entry at around $500 million; according to the person, many of the bid proposals fell within that $500 million to $1 billion range.

The proposed bids essentially act similarly to licensing fees that represent a buy-in into the league.

The non-binding bids came from wealthy individuals, investment firms and even existing teams in the EuroLeague, which is the legacy league that NBA Europe would be looking to compete against, if not replace altogether.

The person spoke under the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment publicly on the matter.

Oct. 26: The Brooklyn Nets' Michael Porter Jr. dunks in front of the San Antonio Spurs' Victor Wembanyama at Frost Bank Center.

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Dribble into this collection of dunk photos as NBA stars posterize opponents

"We have received significant interest from a range of prospective teams and investors for permanent franchise spots in a new league in Europe backed by the NBA and FIBA," NBA deputy commissioner Mark Tatum said Wednesday in a statement emailed to USA TODAY Sports. "The level of engagement and the scale of the bids reflect the marketplace's belief in our proposed model and the enormous, untapped potential for European basketball. We will now review the bids in more detail and shortlist the partners who share our vision and commitment to accelerating the growth of the game across the continent."

There are 12 cities across Europe that the NBA and FIBA, its partner in the venture, are targeting for the new league. The cities are among the biggest in Europe and include Rome, Paris, Barcelona, London and Athens.

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Now, the NBA will present the most attractive bids to the Board of Governors for approval.

The NBA held a Board of Governors session March 24 and 25, during which the expansion into Europe was discussed. Tatum, who also operates as the NBA's chief operating officer, updated ownership on the progress of NBA Europe, though no measures were put up for a vote.

The NBA and FIBA are planning to structure the new league with 14 to 16 teams, with 10 to 12 of those being permanent fixtures and the others being open slots based on performance in FIBA leagues.

One key hurdle will be the NBA's ongoing discussions with EuroLeague leadership over the stakes and control of the proposed NBA Europe league. At last week's Board of Governors meeting, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said he sensed that EuroLeague was willing to engage in discussions with the objective of getting a deal done.

"I think for the betterment of European basketball, the best outcome would be if we came together with the EuroLeague here and that we came up with a systematic approach to growing the game throughout Europe," Silver said Wednesday, March 25. "That means complementing the country leagues, working together with the EuroLeague and working together with our federation, FIBA."

Chus Bueno, who was recently appointed as the EuroLeague's CEO, has a friendly relationship with Silver from the time when Bueno worked in the NBA league office.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:NBA Europe deadline garners huge interest, proposals up to $1 billion

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April 01, 2026

NBA Europe draws massive interest, proposals of up to $1 billion

A key deadline has come and gone for theNBA's venture into Europe, and the league office is buoyed with the result, a...

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Tiger Woods Gets Judge Approval to Leave U.S. for Treatment Due to 'Privacy' Concerns

A Florida judge has granted Tiger Woods permission to leave the United States as he seeks treatment following his DUI charge

NEED TO KNOW

• Woods' lawyer requested the motion, citing "privacy" concerns for the pro golfer

• Woods will undergo inpatient treatment in an "intensive highly individualized and medically integrated program" outside of the U.S, according to the filing

Tiger Woodshas been granted permission to travel out of the country as he seeks treatment following hiscar crash and DUI charge.

A Florida judge granted Woods, 50, permission to leave the state to undergo treatment outside of the United States, according to court documents obtained and reviewed by PEOPLE on Wednesday, April 1.

Woods' treating physician recommended he seek treatment at a facility out of the country "based upon the Defendant's complex clinical presentation the urgent need for a level of care that cannot safely or effectively be done within the United States," per the documents.

The request to leave the country for treatment was also made due to concerns that the golfer's "privacy has been repeatedly compromised,"

"Ongoing medical scrutiny and public exposure create significant barriers to his care and would result in setbacks and an inability to fully engage in treatment," Woods' lawyer, Douglas Duncan, argued in the filing.

"Based upon Defendant's treating physician's opinions, inpatient treatment at the out of country treatment facility is medically necessary due to the Defendant's complexity, and need for an intensive highly individualized and medically integrated program," the documents said.

Woods will have no restrictions on travel as he faces the DUI charge and a charge for refusal to submit to a urine test, both of which he plead not guilty to on March 31, according to the documents.

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The out of country treatment facility will "provide continuous monitoring and the ability to rapidly adjust treatment interventions in a highly controlled environment" for Woods, his lawyer said in the filing.

The golferbroke his silence on the March 27 rollover car crashin a post on social media on March 31, in which he said he would be seeking treatment.

"I know and understand the seriousness of the situation I find myself in today," he said onX.

"I am stepping away for a period of time to seek treatment and focus on my health. This is necessary in order for me to prioritize my well-being and work toward lasting recovery," Woods continued. "I'm committed to taking the time needed to return in a healthier, stronger, and more focused place, both personally and professionally. I appreciate your understanding and support, and ask for privacy for my family, loved ones and myself at this time."

Sheriff John M. Budensiek alleged in a press conference after the accident that Woods appeared "lethargic" and had "signs of impairment" while speaking with officers after the crash. Woods blew "triple zeros" on a breathalyzer test, but he allegedly refused a urinalysis, and authorities believe he was "not impaired by alcohol but possibly by medication or another substance."

A probable cause affidavit, obtained by PEOPLE on March 31, also revealed that Woods wasin possession of two opioid pillsat the time of his arrest.

Read the original article onPeople

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April 01, 2026

Tiger Woods Gets Judge Approval to Leave U.S. for Treatment Due to 'Privacy' Concerns

A Florida judge has granted Tiger Woods permission to leave the United States as he seeks treatment following his DUI ...

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Dan Levy remembers his “Schitt's Creek” costar Catherine O'Hara 2 months after her death: 'A collective loss'

Dan Levyis opening up about the "collective loss" we're all experiencing following thedeath of hisSchitt's Creekcostar Catherine O'Hara.

Levy, who also co-created the hit Canadian sitcom, was onThe Tonight Showto promote hisSchitt's Creekfollow up, Netflix's upcomingBig Mistakes, but he took the time to reflect on the recent death of O'Hara.

"It's a collective loss,"he told Jimmy Fallon. "She was the greatest. She's irreplaceable. I think the great comfort for me has just been to see how loved she was. The outpouring, everyone felt like they kind of knew her."

O'Hara died on Jan. 30 at the age of 71 following a brief illness. Herdeath certificatecited the main cause as pulmonary embolism and rectal cancer as an underlying cause.

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Known for her roles inBeetlejuice,Home Alone,and the films of Christopher Guest, O'Hara found a career resurgence through playing Moira Rose onSchitt's Creek, reuniting her with her longtime comedic collaborator,Eugene Levy, who co-created the series with his son Dan. O'Hara won an Emmy for her hilarious portrayal of the Rose matriarch and her struggles to adjust to the family's new, modest lifestyle.

"What a gift to have gotten to dance in the warm glow of Catherine O'Hara's brilliance for all those years,"Levy saidat the time of her passing. "Having spent over fifty years collaborating with my Dad, Catherine was extended family before she ever played my family. It's hard to imagine a world without her in it. I will cherish every funny memory I was fortunate enough to make with her."

Shortly after her death,O'Hara posthumously wonthe Actor Award for Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series for her turn on Apple TV'sThe Studio.

In theirTonight Showconversation, Fallon called O'Hara "One of the funniest comedians I've ever seen." Levy then added, "One of the great, great, great queens."

Read the original article onEntertainment Weekly

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April 01, 2026

Dan Levy remembers his “Schitt's Creek” costar Catherine O'Hara 2 months after her death: 'A collective loss'

Dan Levyis opening up about the "collective loss" we're all experiencing following thedeath of hisSchitt...

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We’re Getting a Royal Wedding This Summer!

"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links."

Aroyal weddingis coming! Peter Phillips, the eldest grandson of the lateQueen Elizabeth IIandPrince Philip, is set to marry Harriet Sperling this summer, a spokesperson for the couple has confirmed.

Phillips is the son of Princess Anne and the Princess Royal's first husband, Captain Mark Phillips. Sperling, meanwhile, is a pediatric nurse and freelance writer.

The two began dating in 2024, making their public debut at the Badminton Horse Trials in Gloucestershire, U.K., in May of that year. In August 2025, they announced their engagement.

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Over the last couple of years, Sperling has accompanied Phillips to various public events, including Royal Ascot and Wimbledon. She has also attended royal gatherings—her most high-profile one being on December 28, 2025, when she joined the royals at the morning service at St. Mary Magdalene Church on the Sandringham Estate after Christmas.

Phillips and Sperling will wed in an intimate ceremony at All Saints Church, in Cirencester, England, on Saturday, June 6. And Phillips's senior royal relatives—including Prince William andPrincess Catherine—will likely attend.

"Both families have been informed jointly of the wedding date by invitation," the engaged couple's spokesperson said in a statement obtained byPeople. "Their Majesties The King and Queen, The Prince and Princess of Wales have also been informed of the announcement. Further details will be announced in due course."

This will be Phillips's second wedding. He was previously married to Autumn Kelly from 2008 to 2021, and they share two daughters, Savannah and Isla. (He is the first of his generation of the royal family to divorce.) Sperling is also a parent; she has a daughter named Georgia from a previous relationship.

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April 01, 2026

We’re Getting a Royal Wedding This Summer!

"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." Aroya...

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What Jesse Solomon knew about 'Summer House' romance drama

Jesse Solomon is making his role in the ongoing drama between hisSummer Housecostars very clear.

When fans began questioning how much Solomon knew before Amanda Batula and West Wilsonconfirmed their rumored romanceon social media Tuesday, he stepped into the conversation to say he knew as much as anyone else.

Commenting on an Instagram post that asked if Solomon was theTom Schwartz to Wilson's Tom Sandoval, he said "I heard the rumors but they were denied to me multiple times. The post referenced Schwartz's part in "Scandoval," the frenzy that erupted after his business partner andVanderpump Rulescostar Sandovalcheated on his then-girlfriend of nine years,Ariana Madix, with their friendRachel "Raquel" Leviss.

Wilson and Batula confirmed their relationship in a joint statement on Tuesday, weeks aftergossip blog DeuxMoi reportedthat they were allegedly hooking up. The statement came a little over two months after Batulaannounced her splitfrom husband andSummer Housecostar Kyle Cooke.

While severalSummer Housecast members have weighed in on the situation on social media, Solomon has refrained from picking a side. But as another another Bravo star tells it, he'd been dropping hints that a big reveal was coming.

Stopping bySiriusXM'sSmiths Sisters Liveon Tuesday,The Valley's Zack Wickham said he heard Solomon's version of the story through the grapevine.

"I will say that one of our friends' cousins was on a vacation and met Jesse Solomon, and he just told her everything and then she told me," Wickham said. "So, I'm like, if what he told her is real, then brace yourselves, America."

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Wickham then apologized for stirring the pot, adding, "Sorry Jesse, I didn't mean to throw you under the bus. I'm not saying anything publicly, but oh my God."

Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with ourEW Dispatch newsletter.

Cookerecently broke his silence about his ex's new relationship, saying that he was "more concerned" about his ex than his own feelings. The star claimed that Batula has been getting "cyber-bullied" by the show's viewers amid the drama of her and Wilson releasing their joint statement.

"I'm obviously frustrated, I mean we have a new show coming out and there's so much that gets unpacked there," Cooke told "street journalist" Adam Glyn. "I'm obviously disappointed in her... but just hearing her and hearing how unwell she is, and [her] dark thoughts, I just ask people to just, maybe, pull off the gas a little on the cyberbullying and hate."

Cooke said that he found out about the relationship "over the weekend" and got a heads-up before Batula and Wilson posted their statement. Cooke also shared that he's spoken to costar Ciara Miller — Wilson's ex — and that Wilson himself reached out with a "half-assed text message." He added that he doesn't "understand the timeline just yet" of when the pair got together.

Miller has not spoken out since Batula and Wilson confirmed their relationship, butshe no longer follows either costar on Instagram.

Read the original article onEntertainment Weekly

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April 01, 2026

What Jesse Solomon knew about 'Summer House' romance drama

Jesse Solomon is making his role in the ongoing drama between hisSummer Housecostars very clear. When fans beg...

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Israeli death penalty law targeting Palestinians sparks global outcry as far right celebrates

TEL AVIV — Far-right supporters of a controversial Israeli death penalty law were popping champagne corks as itcleared the Knesseton Monday night, but its passage has sparked a global chorus of condemnation from allies and international human rights groups.

The new law effectively makes death by hanging the default punishment for murderers who kill "with the intent to deny the existence of the State of Israel" — language that targets Palestinian militants but amounts to a de facto exclusion ofIsraelis who kill Palestinians.

Because the law would accelerate lethal punishments for Palestinians and is almost impossible to apply to Israeli murderers, human rights groups say it's likely to inspire far more outrage and violence than it prevents.

U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türksaid in a statementTuesday that the measure is a "particularly egregious violation of international law" and warned its application to residents of the occupied West Bank and theGaza Strip"would constitute a war crime."

Australia, Germany, France, Italy and the United Kingdom voiced concerns over its "de facto discriminatory character" in ajoint statement, while Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said in aposton X that it was "another step toward apartheid."

The Trump administration has so far avoided joining critics, with a State Department spokesperson saying it "respects Israel's sovereign right to determine its own laws," adding: "We trust that any such measures will be carried out with a fair trial and respect for all applicable fair trial guarantees and protections."

Advocates of the law within Israel have pointed toviolent attacksperpetrated by Palestinian militants over the years.

For Micah Avni, his support for the law is deeply personal, having watched the Palestinian militant who murdered his father, Richard Avni, a decade agowalk free from an Israeli prisonas part of an exchange for Israelis taken hostage by Hamas during the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks.

"I wish it had been in place earlier and I'm glad it's in place now," Avni, 56, said in a phone call Tuesday. "That terrorist who murdered my father showed absolutely no remorse. I'm quite certain, based on the statistics, that he's out there planning his next terror attack."

The law's critics say the new legislation is unlikely to dissuade Ghanem or anyone else from killing Israelis.

"This sends another message to Palestinians that there is no place for compromise," said Mustafa Barghouti, a Palestinian politician and leader of the Palestinian National Initiative party. "This will not deter Palestinians but it will enhance their struggle for freedom from this oppressive system."

Under the new law, the death penalty will be administered by military courts that almost exclusively try Palestinians and have a 96% conviction rate, according to B'Tselem, an Israeli human rights group.

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Capital sentences will now require only a simple majority of sitting judges rather than unanimous agreement, the group said. And the punishment must be carried out within 90 days of sentencing without any possibility for pardons or commutations.

"It's just going to be another tool in the Israeli toolkit to kill Palestinians," said Shai Parnes, B'Tselem's public outreach director.

The law would not apply to Palestinians already convicted of participating in theOct. 7 attacks. But those who haven't been convicted, including the estimated half of imprisoned Palestinians who have been jailed but not formally charged under Israel's so-called "administrative detention" for Palestinian offenders, could still be put to death.

Capital punishment is technically legal in Israel but only for crimes against humanity and treason.

The death penalty for murder was outlawed in 1954 and Israel has only executed two people in its 78-year history. Meir Tobianski was executed for treason in 1948 but was completely exonerated a year later. In 1962, Israel hanged Adolf Eichmann, the Nazi architect of the holocaust, after a widely watched trial in Jerusalem.

The punishment stipulated under the new law is death by hanging, after the Israeli Medical Association's ethics board said last year that its members would be prohibited from administering lethal injections, according toIsraeli media.

Supporters of the death penalty, particularly among the far-right politicians who championed it, describe the law as a much-needed correction to decades of lax punishments by progressive judges that only incentivized terror.

"The idea is to not allow them to continue to think that by taking hostages they're going to get a get-out-of-jail-free card because there's no death penalty," said Caroline Glick, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's international affairs adviser.

Among the more than 2,000 Palestinian prisoners released as part of exchanges for Israeli hostages in Gaza, hundreds of them were serving life sentences for lethal crimes against Israelis.

Yahya Sinwar, the slain former head of Hamas and one of the primary architects of the Oct. 7 attacks, was released from Israeli prison in a similar deal in 2011.

"It's important from a deterrent perspective because one of the things that we find is that we give people multiple life sentences and they don't take it seriously," Glick said.

But some of the law's backers in parliament betrayed a certain macabre zeal for its intent. Some right-wing lawmakers wore gold nooses to Monday's session. After the bill passed, Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir popped a bottle of Champagne as television cameras rolled.

"Soon we will count them one by one," he said of the executions to come as he poured Champagne into his colleagues' glasses. "From today, every terrorist will know, and the whole world will know, that whoever takes a life, the state of Israel will take their life."

byAdministrator

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April 01, 2026

Israeli death penalty law targeting Palestinians sparks global outcry as far right celebrates

TEL AVIV — Far-right supporters of a controversial Israeli death penalty law were popping champagne corks as itcleared th...

Read More