Entertainment
IT minister reviews digital reforms, calls 2025 ‘year of foundations’
Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication, Shaza Fatima, said the year 2025 marked a decisive shift in Pakistan’s digital journey, anchored by the passage of the Digital Nation Pakistan Act 2025 and the creation of new national digital institutions.
In a year-end message, the minister highlighted governance reforms as a major achievement, noting that the e-Office system achieved 100% adoption in 38 of 39 federal divisions, cutting file processing time from 25 days to four and potentially saving Rs9.5 billion annually.
On service delivery, the minister cited the success of Islamabad’s ParkApp, which crossed 1.37 million users and generated Rs22.86 billion in revenue, and the National Job Portal, which registered over 510,000 CVs and advertised more than 33,000 federal jobs.
In healthcare, the “One Patient, One ID” initiative at PIMS expanded daily OPD capacity by 3,000 patients while reducing laboratory reporting times by several hours.
Connectivity and infrastructure development remained central to the digital agenda, she said, noting that Pakistan crossed 200 million telecom subscribers, mobile broadband penetration reached 60%, and over 31 million mobile phones were assembled locally.
Three new submarine cables landed during the year, while a fibre-optic backbone from Karachi to China and Central Asia positioned Pakistan as a regional data transit hub. The country also rose 14 places in the UN E-Government Development Index.
The minister said policy reforms, including right-of-way changes, 5G spectrum finalisation and expanded rural connectivity projects, laid the groundwork for the next decade.
Shaza added that Pakistan approved its first National AI Policy, launched a national semiconductor programme, expanded digital skills training for over 920,000 learners, and grew IT exports to $3.8 billion, while narrowing the gender gap in mobile internet access.
“2025 was the year of foundations,” she said, adding that 2026 would focus on scale and leadership.
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.
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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