Entertainment
Four high court judges’ request for pension details triggers resignation rumours
- Four HC judges make verbal queries about post-retirement benefits.
- Seek details of when pensionary benefits will become due.
- Two of four judges to become eligible for pension next month in Dec.
ISLAMABAD: Following the controversial 27th Constitutional Amendment, empowering the Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) to transfer high court judges across provinces without their consent, fresh indications have emerged that as many as four high court judges may be contemplating resignation.
Well-placed sources told The News that these four judges have recently approached their respective high court’s accounts department to seek detailed information regarding their post-retirement entitlements.
Their queries, all made verbally, relate to pensionary benefits, the exact dates on which such benefits become due in two of the cases, the status of their accumulated leave balances, and the depreciated value of the official vehicles currently in their use if they opt to purchase them now.
According to sources, these inquiries have triggered strong speculation within judicial circles that the four judges — already understood to be on the government’s list for transfer after the passage of the 27th Amendment — are actively weighing the option of stepping down instead of being reassigned to new provinces or regions.
Two of the four judges will become eligible for pension sometime in next month- December 2025, leading to uncertainty over the timing of any decision. “If they choose to resign, it is still not clear whether the resignations will come immediately or after they qualify for pensionary benefits,” a source said, adding, “Even if they do resign, there is no clarity on whether they will proceed collectively or one by one”.
The development comes amid reported government plans for judicial reshuffling following the 27th Amendment, which government circles argue is necessary to address the conduct of certain judges who, in their view, have “brought disrepute” to the judiciary.
Others, however, believe that the 27th amendment has badly dented the independence of the judiciary and in such a situation, it is difficult for the “independent minded” judges to continue.
Although the Judicial Commission of Pakistan is constitutionally empowered to appoint and transfer judges, in the present constitution of the JCP government appears to be an advantage.
Originally published in The News
Entertainment
Bracket set, regionals begin May 29
The 64-team field for the 2026 NCAA Division I baseball championship was officially released on Monday, May 25.
This sets the stage for a three-week journey to the Men’s College World Series in Omaha.
UCLA has been awarded the No. 1 overall seed since it occupied the top spot throughout the season. Georgia Tech, Georgia, Auburn, North Carolina, Texas, Alabama, and Florida complete the list of the top eight national seeds.
Regional tournaments kick off on Friday, May 29, at sixteen locations across the country. The double elimination rounds of regional tournaments continue till Monday, June 1, and then move forward to the best-of-three super regional games from June 5 to 8.
The event is hosted by the SEC with seven schools welcoming regionals, including Georgia, Auburn, Texas, Texas A&M, Florida, Mississippi State, and Alabama.
Three regionals, i.e., UCLA, Oregon, and Nebraska, are hosted by the Big Ten, while the ACC also hosts three (Georgia Tech, North Carolina, and Florida State).
Notably, Kansas is hosting a regional for the first time in program history, and Southern Miss stands as the only non-power four host.
The LSU Tigers will take the field as the defending champions after sweeping the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers in the finals for 2025.
With this victory, LSU earned its eighth national championship, while Jay Johnson became the quickest coach to win two championships at one university in college baseball history.
The championship series starts on Saturday, June 20, on ESPN, with Game 2 scheduled for ABC on Sunday, 21.
Entertainment
Is American men’s tennis in trouble as French Open begins?
It’s been two decades now since an American has brought a major singles title back home.
The current list of players is still looking for the big win, with Frances Tiafoe being the one fans have been pinning hopes on.
He is ranked 21st in the world, yet he enjoyed his closing run at Roland Garros last year by finishing in the quarter-finals.
He is not the one who came close to the finishing line, several others have also been unable to end the twenty-year drought.
In a recent media appearance, just before the tournament kicked off, Tiafoe speaks his mind.
He said, “It’s been nice for a long time. I think we’ve been killing. It’s a matter of we just have some guys. It’s just top heavy, man.”
Tiafoe sounds off on American tennis, adding, “We’ you know, they’re gatekeeping hard. I mean, I think, you know, Fritz has been top ten for a bunch of years.
“Ben’s cracked in there. He’s kind of solidified himself being a top ten guy. I mean, I’ve been top 20 majority of years the last four years. Tommy as well. He’s been flirting in and out, so.”
Tiafoe explains, “We got Korda, I mean, you know, if he’s healthy, you know, he’s always, again, top 20.
“But it’s his manner of just putting these weeks together, and trying to do the ultimate goal, and one of us try to win, and this type of event.”
“You know, Ben won 1000, you know, Fritz won 1000, you know, I’ve been final of a 1000, so we’re all flirting with the top of the game. We just got to kind of get over the line,” Tiafoe concluded.
Andy Roddick remains the last man standing who won the US Open title back in 2003, almost two decades ago.
This time at French Open, only Shelton will be the top-seeded American who kicks off his campaign on the clay court.
Entertainment
American Music Awards airing tonight with performances from Billy Idol, Keith Urban, Teyana Taylor and more
The American Music Awards kick off the unofficial start of summer tonight, celebrating the best in music and featuring performances from such artists as Billy Idol, Keith Urban, Teyana Taylor and others.
The show airs on CBS television stations and streams on Paramount+ starting at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.
The AMAs boast of being the world’s largest fan-voted awards show. Voting for most of the categories closed earlier this month, but people can still vote online or on Instagram for social song of the year and tour of the year through the first half hour of the show.
Queen Latifah serves as host this year, returning to the AMAs stage after co-hosting in 1995 and performing over the years.
Taylor Swift leads the nominations with eight following last year’s release of “The Life of a Showgirl,” which is up for album of the year and best pop album. Two songs from the album also received nods: “The Fate of Ophelia” for song of the year, best music video and best pop song, and “Elizabeth Taylor” for song of the summer.
Swift has already won 40 times at the AMAs, which is more than any other artist. She’s also up for artist of the year and best female pop artist this year.
Morgan Wallen, Olivia Dean, Sabrina Carpenter and Sombr were right behind Swift with seven nominations each.
But the awards are only part of the show. Billy Idol, who’s known for such hits as “Dancing With Myself,” “Rebel Yell” and “White Wedding,” will receive a lifetime achievement award and perform a medley of some of his hits on the AMAs stage.
Scott Dudelson/Getty Images for Coachella
Keith Urban will perform a track from his upcoming yacht rock album “Flow State.” Teyana Taylor, who won a Golden Globe in January for her performance in “One Battle After Another” and is up for best female R&B artist at the AMAs, will perform a medley from her album, “Escape Room.”
There will also be performances by some groups that have amassed huge followings over the years, with Hootie and the Blowfish, New Kids on the Block and The Pussycat Dolls taking the stage.
K-pop superstars BTS will also make a special appearance. Following a nearly four-year hiatus for the members to fulfill their mandatory military service, the group began a world tour in March and will appear at their first awards show in four years at the AMAs. They are nominated for three awards as well.
Who’s performing at the 2026 American Music Awards?
Here’s a list of all the announced performers at the American Music Awards:
- Billy Idol
- Hootie and the Blowfish
- Karol G
- Katseye
- Keith Urban
- Maluma
- New Kids on the Block
- The Pussycat Dolls, with a guest appearance by Busta Rhymes
- Riley Green
- Sombr
- Teddy Swims
- Teyana Taylor
- Twenty One Pilots
How to watch the 2026 American Music Awards
- What: The 2026 American Music Awards show
- Date: Monday, May 25, 2026
- Time: 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT
- Location: MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas
- On TV: Live on CBS television stations. Find your local station here.
- Online stream: Live on Paramount+
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