LOS ANGELES — Justin Bieber extended his record as the most decorated artist in the best male pop artist category, securing his fifth victory at the 2026 American Music Awards held in Las Vegas on Wednesday night.

The Canadian singer, who previously won the award in 2010, 2012, 2016 and 2020, added to his trophy collection at the fan-voted ceremony. The win brings Bieber’s total American Music Awards to 19, tying him with the late Kenny Rogers for the second-most wins by a male artist. Michael Jackson holds the record with 24 trophies.

Bieber entered the evening with four nominations, including artist of the year, album of the year for his chart-topping release “Swag,” and best R&B album. While those honors went to other acts — Bruno Mars won album of the year for “The Romantic,” BTS took artist of the year, and Sabrina Carpenter claimed album of the year for “Man’s Best Friend” — his male pop artist victory highlighted his enduring popularity across more than 15 years in the industry.

A Career Milestone in Las Vegas

The 32-year-old performer first claimed the favorite pop/rock male artist award in 2010 under its previous name. His consistent success in the category underscores his transition from teen sensation to one of pop music’s most influential figures. Wednesday’s win further cements his status as a generational talent with broad appeal among voters.

Bieber’s recent resurgence has been notable. Following a stripped-back performance at the Grammy Awards in February, he delivered back-to-back headlining sets at Coachella in April. Those appearances marked his first full-scale live shows since cancelling portions of his 2022 tour due to health concerns, including Ramsay Hunt syndrome.

On streaming platforms, Bieber returned to No. 1 as the most-listened-to artist on Spotify with 140 million monthly listeners, reclaiming the top spot for the first time since 2021. Multiple tracks and albums from his discography re-entered Billboard charts, with the “Swag” single “Everything Hallelujah” debuting on the Canadian Hot 100 following a viral TikTok trend. The 2012 hit “Beauty and a Beat” featuring Nicki Minaj climbed back to No. 4 on the Canadian chart, its highest position in nearly 14 years.

Bieber’s Path to 19 AMAs

Bieber’s American Music Awards success reflects his commercial dominance and fan loyalty. From his early breakthrough with “Baby” to mature releases like “Purpose” and “Swag,” the singer has maintained relevance across evolving music trends. His 19 wins place him among the most awarded artists in AMAs history, a ceremony that emphasizes fan voting.

The 2026 ceremony also recognized other major acts. BTS claimed artist of the year, continuing their global influence, while emerging pop star Sabrina Carpenter and veteran Bruno Mars took home major album honors. Bieber represented the lone Canadian winner among nominees that included Tate McRae, Drake and The Weeknd.

Recent Momentum and Comeback Narrative

Bieber’s 2026 awards appearance arrives during a period of renewed momentum. After focusing on health and family in recent years, including his marriage to Hailey Bieber and fatherhood, the artist has balanced personal life with professional commitments. His Coachella performances received positive reviews for their emotional depth and stripped-back arrangements.

The viral success of tracks from “Swag” demonstrates his continued ability to connect with younger audiences through social media platforms. Industry observers note that Bieber’s willingness to evolve musically while maintaining core pop-R&B elements has sustained his career longevity.

His return to the top of Spotify listening charts highlights the streaming economy’s role in modern artist success. Achieving 140 million monthly listeners places him among the platform’s elite, reflecting sustained global demand for his catalog.

Impact on Canadian Music Scene

As the only Canadian winner at the 2026 AMAs, Bieber’s victory spotlighted the country’s contributions to global pop music. Fellow Canadian nominees Drake, The Weeknd and Tate McRae represent different generations and styles, underscoring Canada’s diverse influence on contemporary charts.

Bieber’s achievements have paved the way for newer Canadian artists while maintaining his position as one of the nation’s most successful exports. His record in the male pop artist category stands as a benchmark for consistency in a competitive field.

Looking Ahead for Bieber

With 19 AMAs and a revitalized presence, Bieber enters the next phase of his career with significant options. Future projects may explore new musical directions while building on the success of “Swag.” Industry sources suggest potential collaborations and touring plans could be announced later in 2026.

Bieber’s journey reflects broader trends in the music industry, where established artists balance legacy-building with adaptation to streaming, social media and evolving fan expectations. His ability to rebound from health challenges and maintain commercial viability positions him as a model of resilience.

The American Music Awards continue to serve as a major platform for celebrating fan-favorite artists across genres. The 2026 edition highlighted both veteran performers and rising stars, with Bieber’s record-extending win providing one of the evening’s standout moments.

As Bieber processes this latest honor, fans and industry figures alike anticipate his next moves. Whether through new music, live performances or personal milestones, the artist who first captured global attention as a teenager continues to shape pop culture more than 15 years into his career.

His fifth best male pop artist trophy adds another chapter to an already impressive awards resume. In a competitive landscape where longevity is rare, Bieber’s sustained success demonstrates the power of adaptability, strong fan connections and consistent artistic output.

The 2026 American Music Awards will be remembered for honoring both established icons and fresh talent. For Justin Bieber, the night reinforced his unique place in music history as one of the most awarded and enduring male pop artists of his generation.

U.S. semiconductor and memory stocks rallied on Tuesday, led by Micron, which soared 19% and traded above a $1 trillion market capitalization for the first time.

After its biggest daily gain since 2011, the tech stock passed Walmart and Eli Lilly to become the 10th-largest U.S. company by market value.

Micron stock, which closed at $895.88, is up a staggering 830% from a year ago, when it closed at $96.38.

The latest stage of the revival began Friday when shares of Qualcomm rose more than 12% on the company’s deal with global automaker Stellantis to support artificial-intelligence-powered vehicles. The momentum continued earlier Tuesday in Asia, with South Korea’s Kospi index rallying 2.6%, helped by gains in chip-making champions Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix.

Dixon Technologies (India) Ltd. witnessed retail buying of 0.08 crore shares during the March 2026 quarter. Retail holding increased to 0.76 crore shares from 0.68 crore shares. Estimated net buying stood at Rs 866 crore, while the stock declined 20.07%.

(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times)

Xtend was founded in Tel Aviv in Israel and now has sites around the world

A military drone company backed by Donald Trump’s son Eric has opened a factory in Swindon after securing a near-£2m deal to support UK defence activities.

Xtend was founded in Tel Aviv in Israel and is now headquartered in Florida, and specialises in software systems and artificial intelligence-powered robotics.

Its new Wiltshire facility – known as XFAB – is modelled on the company’s Tampa site, which supplies the US government’s Department of War.

It will serve as a gateway for supporting NATO and allied forces across Europe, the company said. It is understood XTEND is planning to invest up to £20m to expand its UK hub and operations.

“Modern warfare is shifting from manually operated systems to human-guided autonomy, where a single operator can control complex missions with precision and speed,” said Aviv Shapira, chief executive and co-founder of XTEND.

“The UK is undergoing a significant transformation in how it fields combat capabilities, and this expansion allows us to support that shift with systems designed to operate in the most complex and contested environments while keeping operators out of harm’s way.”

XTEND said its expansion builds on growing demand across multiple UK defence units and follows successful live operational trials with the 2nd Battalion Parachute Regiment (2 PARA) at Salisbury Plain, the UK’s largest military training area.

The trials included the first live-fire demonstration of an uncrewed aerial system by UK forces on British soil, Xtend said. The initial trials have already generated follow-on interest and engagement from other Armed Forces units.

The activity is part of a multi-phase engagement with 16 Air Assault Brigade, with upcoming phases expected to expand operational use cases and support joint training exercises.

“The UK is not just a market for us, it is a strategic hub for operational deployment, local capability, and NATO-aligned growth,” said Ofer Shahaf, managing director UK at XTEND. “As operational requirements evolve, UK forces need systems that can be deployed rapidly, operated with minimal training, and perform in the most complex environments.”

Will Stone, MP for Swindon, said the investment positioned the Wiltshire town “at the forefront” of advanced defence technologies and supported UK efforts to strengthen capabilities in autonomous and AI-powered systems.

“I am delighted that XTEND UK has chosen to set up in Swindon and I look forward to working with them to expand our growing defence sector in the town,” he said.

In February, Nasdaq-listed JFB Construction Holdings entered into a definitive agreement to combine with XTEND in an all-stock transaction.

The deal was supported by strategic investments from President Trump’s son, Eric Trump, along with Unusual Machines, American Ventures, LLC, Protego Ventures, and Aliya Capital.

Following the closing of the business combination, the joint company is expected to be renamed XTEND AI Robotics and be listed on a US national securities exchange under the XTND.

While investors continue to wait for the SpaceX IPO, several recently public companies are quietly flying under the radar and beginning to show compelling setups. Many of these newer names have avoided the speculative frenzy tied to high-profile IPOs, yet they demonstrate constructive technical patterns that deserve closer attention.

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The plans were revealed by the director of GCHQ at the spy agency’s inaugural annual lecture

GCHQ has developed plans for a new national AI cyber shield, thought to be the first of its kind in the world. The system, which is hoped to be running within five years, will use AI agents to detect and flag threats to critical national infrastructure, airlines, telecoms firms and other major companies.

It aims to make hacks such as the breach that targeted Jaguar Land Rover dramatically less likely.

The plans were revealed by the director of GCHQ at the spy agency’s inaugural annual lecture held at Bletchley Park, the wartime headquarters of GCHQ’s predecessor, on Wednesday.

During the speech, agency chief Anne Keast-Butler said that AI is an “unstoppable force” that the UK must harness for good as the technology gets increasingly autonomous.

She said: “In the past few months, GCHQ has developed the blueprint for a new national cyber defence capability that will hardwire cutting-edge agentic AI into machine-speed cyber defence.

“And as we draw on decades of expertise in machine learning to reimagine cyber security, we’re also embedding frontier AI deeper into our operations – responsibly and ethically – to enhance algorithms, translate foreign language, and find needles in haystacks quicker than ever before.

“AI is an unstoppable force with great opportunity. But it’s also a force with risks.

“As AI gains increased autonomy, we all have an intergenerational duty to harness and secure it for good; to protect our national security, our economy and our way of life.”

She urged the technology industry and those working in national security to “anticipate and drive advancements, together, at the speed of the frontier”, and called on the public to take action “from boardrooms to living rooms” to increase cyber security.

“The AI revolution is now fully upon us – with ever faster pace of model releases, increasingly sophisticated agents and greater system autonomy – transforming the world with both promise and peril.

“That’s equally true for intelligence and security, where the latest frontier AI is rapidly unearthing the fault lines in technologies that our society relies on every single day.

“The ground beneath our feet is shifting, and shifting fast. Which means cyber security has never been more important.

“That message may sound familiar – the National Cyber Security Centre is 10 years old, after all – but I’m now saying it with utmost urgency. Cyber security is a critical priority for all businesses.

“Our experts are producing unprecedented levels of advice and guidance, but we need businesses to take immediate action. Not just to protect livelihoods and customers, but for the front line defence of our nation and our economy.”

The director of GCHQ, which is now headquartered in Cheltenham, also warned that Russia was “relentlessly” targeting critical infrastructure, democratic processes, supply chains and public trust in the UK and Europe.

She set out how Russia is increasing its daily hybrid activity against countries including Britain, and urged the public and businesses to make cyber security “10 times more urgent”.

The agency is “disrupting Russia’s efforts to smuggle Western tech, fending off cyber attacks and countering reckless sabotage and assassination attempts”, and “as we remain steadfast in our support for Ukraine, (Russian President Vladimir) Putin is going backwards on the battlefield”, she said.

New intelligence shows that nearly 500,000 Russian soldiers have been killed in the conflict in Ukraine, the audience heard.

Russia is “relentlessly targeting critical infrastructure, democratic processes, supply chains and public trust” and the speed of advancements in technology means there is a “narrowing window for the UK and allies to stay ahead” she said.

“China is now a science and tech superpower, with sophisticated capabilities across their intelligence, cyber and military agencies”, the audience was told.

Earlier this year, Dr Richard Horne, head of the National Cyber Security Centre which is part of GCHQ, warned that most nationally significant cyber attacks on Britain were carried out by hostile states, including China, Iran and Russia.

He said the body dealt with around four of these attacks each week, and warned businesses to be prepared to protect themselves against cyber attacks without needing the option of paying ransoms, because the UK could be targeted “at scale” if it were to become involved in an international conflict.

Nairobi: Several girls were feared dead in a school fire in Kenya, local media said Thursday. The fire broke out at around 1:00 am local in Utumishi Girls Academy in Nakuru County, local media said, but was only reported at around 3:30 am, according to the Kenyan Red Cross.

Several local media reported that at least 10 girls had died, with Citizen TV saying 16 children had been killed and 74 hospitalised, but this was yet to be confirmed by police.

“First responders, ambulance crew and our support personnel are currently on the ground,” a spokesperson for the Kenyan Red Cross told AFP, declining to give a toll.

Frantic parents were being held outside the school buildings by authorities, according to local media.

There have been many devastating school fires in Kenya, where boarding schools are common.

A fire in 2024 killed 21 boys after flames engulfed a dormitory at the Hillside Endarasha Academy in Nyeri county.