• PM says expats send $38bn yearly, aiding economy.
• says Migrants’ real strength is in their skills and determination.
• Adds govt working through EU Talent Partnerships, bilateral pacts.

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday said more than 12 million overseas Pakistanis were a valuable national asset, being the ambassadors of our homeland’s potential and culture and serving as a strong bridge between Pakistan and other nations.

“Their remittances, exceeding $38 billion annually, provided key support to the national economy and were a source of livelihood for millions of families, adding, however, that the real strength of these migrants lies in their skills, hard work and determination,” the PM said in a message on the International Migrants Day, which is observed on December 18.

“The Government of Pakistan is focused on imparting skills and technical education to those going abroad, as success in today’s global economy requires not only technical expertise but also social skills and proficiency in various languages.”

He said that to meet such requirements, the government was aligning the technical and vocational training system with the international standards. In this context, the government was promoting social training, diverse skills and foreign language education so that its workforce could meet the demands of the modern age.

Today, the prime minister said Pakistan joined countries around the globe in paying tribute to the courage, resilience, sacrifices, and invaluable contributions of those individuals who left their homelands to make a living in other countries.

“This year, International Migrants Day is being observed under the theme ‘My Great Story: Cultures and Development.’ This theme highlights the reality that human mobility on a large scale proves to be a useful source of prosperity and benefits,” PM Office Media Wing in a press release, quoted the prime minister as saying.

The prime minister observed that the movement of people from diverse social backgrounds enriched societies culturally and promoted innovation and creativity within communities.

“When a multicultural society is based on the principles of cooperation, dignity and rights, it advances sustainable and long-term development,” he added.

He said through the European Union Talent Partnership, as well as memoranda of understanding concluded with various countries, Pakistan was establishing an organised system to ensure international recognition of the skills of overseas Pakistanis and the protection of their rights.

Furthermore, he highlighted that the drafts of the National Emigration and Welfare Policy and the National Reintegration Policy ensured that every individual going abroad experiences a safe, secure and dignified journey at all stages.

The prime minister stressed upon renewal of their commitment to play a role in empowering those who were forced by circumstances to seek job opportunities abroad, by equipping them with skills and ensuring safer, more dignified opportunities, so that the shared journey of development might bring dividends.

Jane’s Addiction has officially come to an end following a public apology from frontman Perry Farrell, issued amid an ongoing legal dispute with his longtime bandmates over a violent onstage incident last year.

On Wednesday, Dec. 17, Farrell addressed the situation directly in a statement shared on Instagram, apologising after guitarist Dave Navarro accused him of assault and battery. 

“I’ve reflected on it and know I didn’t handle myself the way I should have. I apologize to our patrons and my bandmates for losing my temper and for disrupting the show,” Farrell wrote in a collaborative post with the band, referring to the September 2024 concert in Boston that abruptly ended mid-performance.

Farrell went on to stress how deeply Jane’s Addiction has shaped his life, writing, “Jane’s Addiction has been at the center of my life for decades.”

He acknowledged the broader impact of the band, saying the group, its music and its fans have meant more to him “than any words [he] could ever possibly write down.” 

Reflecting on the night in question, he added, “My aim has always been to give our audience the best possible show, something real, honest and positive. In Boston, we fell short of that, and I’m truly sorry to everyone who was impacted.” 

He closed by thanking fans for their “continued love and support.”

Shortly after Farrell’s apology, Jane’s Addiction confirmed they are parting ways. 

In a separate Instagram post, the band said they “regret” making “inaccurate statements about Perry’s mental health” and acknowledged that they “unilaterally” canceled their reunion tour after the Boston incident. 

“Today we are here to announce that we have come together one last time to resolve our differences, so that the legacy of Jane’s Addiction will remain the work the four of us created together,” the statement read. 

“We now look forward to the future as we embark on our separate musical and creative endeavors.”

The split follows a $10 million lawsuit filed in July 2025 by Navarro, Eric Avery and Stephen Perkins, who alleged Farrell carried out a “brutal and unprovoked” attack during the show and continued the altercation backstage. 

Farrell denied “each and every allegation” in his September 2025 response and asked for the complaint to be dismissed.

The incident ultimately led to the cancellation of the band’s reunion tour, which had sold more than 100,000 tickets. 

As legal proceedings continue, the band’s final message emphasized gratitude to fans, calling them “our lifeblood” and expressing pride in the music they created together.

Georgina Rodriguez shared her thoughts following her engagement to Cristiano Ronaldo. 

The Portuguese footballer, 40, proposed the Argentine-Spanish model, 31, with a with a $3m (£2.2m) 30-carat engagement ring back in August following a nine-year courtship.

In an interview with ELLE Spain, Georgina joked that such a ring was the ‘least he could do’ after waiting so long to pop the question.

She said: ‘It’s gorgeous. It’s the least he could offer me after ten years of waiting (laughs). The truth is, when he proposed, it was the last thing on my mind.

‘It took me a long time to process the enormous stone he gave me. I was so shocked that I left it in my room and didn’t open it in the sunlight until the next day (laughs).’

The couple have been in a relationship since 2016 and have daughters Alana, seven, and two-year-old Bella together. Bella’s twin brother Ángel tragically died during childbirth.

Georgina is also the stepmother of Cristiano’s other three children, Cristiano Ronaldo Jr., 15, and twins Eva and Mateo, eight, who were born through a surrogate.

The couple have not ruled out having more children.