Entertainment
Pakistan advancing diplomatic engagement, realistic economic agenda: ambassador
- Thanks Trump for ending 88-hour standoff, calling it a ‘vital act.’
- Urges UN-backed Kashmir issue mediation for regional peace.
- Says only undocumented Afghan refugees being repatriated.
WASHINGTON, DC: Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States, Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, has reaffirmed Islamabad’s commitment to diplomacy, stability, and pragmatic economic policies, calling the Pakistan-US partnership “vital” to peace and progress.
“Between the two mega countries of today and tomorrow – from both a present and a futuristic perspective – good relations are not a matter of choice or preference; they are indispensable,” Ambassador Sheikh stated during a panel discussion on “The Future of the US-Pakistan Relationship” at the Future Security Forum 2025 in Washington, DC.
Highlighting the depth and continuity of the bilateral partnership, Ambassador Sheikh noted that Pakistan and the United States shared a longstanding and consequential relationship, marked by collaboration on critical global challenges, including counterterrorism and climate change.
The 11th Annual Future Security Forum was organised by Arizona State University and New America in collaboration with Security & Defence PLuS. The event brought together senior policymakers, defence experts, and thought leaders for discussions on emerging global security dynamics.
He thanked the US leadership, particularly President Trump, for facilitating the ceasefire that ended the 88-hour standoff, calling it “a vital act that prevented escalation in a nuclear neighbourhood of 1.7 billion people.”
Addressing a wide range of issues, including climate change, India-Pakistan relations, the situation in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), China-Pakistan relations, the Ukraine conflict, and regional tensions with Afghanistan, Ambassador Sheikh reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to diplomacy, stability, and pragmatic policymaking.
He spoke at length about Pakistan’s climate resilience and self-reliance. He said that climate change was not an abstract concept for Pakistan but an existential crisis.
The ambassador recounted the country’s repeated cycles of devastating floods, describing new phenomena such as cloudbursts and compounding, sequential climate disasters that have destroyed infrastructure, reversed economic gains, and disrupted development programmes.
Sheikh emphasised that Pakistan’s diplomacy today was deeply intertwined with climate policy and economic security, noting that “what we build every few years is washed away by floods, but we still must pay back what we borrowed to rebuild.”
Reiterating Pakistan’s principled stance on IIOJK, he called for international mediation to help the Kashmiri people realise their right to self-determination in line with UN Security Council (UNSC) resolutions, emphasising that peace in South Asia remains contingent upon the resolution of this longstanding dispute.
Rejecting “camp politics,” he said Pakistan’s foreign policy seeks balanced relations. He asserted that Pakistan’s ties with Beijing were rooted in historical continuity and economic cooperation.
“There is no binary choice for us. Our relationship with China didn’t start yesterday, and it is not ending tomorrow,” he remarked, adding that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) should be viewed through an economic lens, as a facilitator of regional connectivity and prosperity.
He recalled Pakistan’s pivotal role in fostering rapprochement between the United States and China decades ago and expressed readiness to play a similar role today as an economic bridge for global peace and progress.
Condemning cross-border terrorism from Afghanistan, Ambassador Sheikh stated that Pakistan has endured immense suffering from terrorism and will address it resolutely.
However, he reaffirmed that diplomacy remained Pakistan’s preferred approach to resolving bilateral issues with both Afghanistan and India.
“Diplomacy is our preference. Pakistan’s history shows we have always stood for diplomatic solutions,” reaffirmed the ambassador.
On the issue of Afghan refugees, Ambassador Sheikh clarified that only undocumented or illegal residents were being repatriated and that Pakistan wanted to ensure their return in a dignified manner.
Movement across the Pak-Afghan border ought to be visa-based as per the international practice, he continued.
Regarding the ongoing Ukraine conflict, he acknowledged and welcomed peace efforts led by the United States under President Trump’s leadership, expressing hope for their success.
Ambassador Sheikh concluded by thanking the organisers of the Forum and engaging with the audience in a constructive question-and-answer session, underscoring Pakistan’s enduring commitment to global peace, dialogue, and mutual respect in international relations.
Entertainment
Jimmy Kimmel roasts Donald, Melanie Trump even after warning
Jimmy Kimmel is pressing ahead with jokes about President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump, brushing off White House pressure and calls for him to be taken off air.
On his Monday, 4 May, show, Kimmel took aim at the president’s late-night posting activity on Truth Social, singling out a photo Trump shared of his wife.
“At 11:04, he posted this even more unbelievable picture of Melania smiling,” Kimmel said to laughter from the studio audience.
“I don’t know the last time we saw that.”
He also picked up on Trump’s weekend remarks at a Florida retirement community, where the president claimed Melania “hates” when he dances on stage to Y.M.C.A. by the Village People, which Trump called “the gay national anthem.”
“Melania hates when you do things? No way!” Kimmel quipped. “What a buzzkill.”
The jokes come as Kimmel finds himself in the middle of a serious escalation with the White House.
The dispute flared after a 23 April episode in which he described Melania as having “a glow like an expectant widow.”
Two days later, a gunman rushed security at the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner.
The suspected shooter, 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen, was subsequently charged with attempting to assassinate the president.
Melania, who had attended the dinner, made a rare public statement ahead of the court appearance, directly criticising Kimmel.
“People like Kimmel shouldn’t have the opportunity to enter our homes each evening to spread hate,” she wrote on X.
“Enough is enough. It is time for ABC to take a stand.”
White House communications director Steven Cheung called Kimmel a “s— human being” and said he should be fired “immediately.”
Kimmel defended the original remark, describing it as an “obvious” joke about the age gap between the president, 79, and the first lady, 56.
He also addressed Melania directly, expressing genuine sympathy about the scare at the dinner.
“I am sorry that you and the president and everyone in that room on Saturday went through that. I really am. Just ’cause no one got killed doesn’t mean it wasn’t traumatic and scary.”
Trump himself weighed in during a Newsmax appearance, calling Kimmel “a lowlife, whether he apologized or not” and saying he “shouldn’t be on television.”
The president had previously threatened to “test” ABC after the network briefly suspended Kimmel in September over remarks about the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
ABC and its parent company Disney are facing mounting pressure from the administration.
The Federal Communications Commission last week ordered a review of ABC’s station licences, citing a probe into possible violations of federal law and FCC rules at local ABC stations.
Entertainment
Longtime entertainment publicist was 82
Audrey Beth Davis, the veteran entertainment publicist who helped shape the public image of some of the most iconic shows in television history, has died at the age of 82.
She passed away from natural causes on 1 May in Pennsylvania, surrounded by her family, friends, and those who cared for her.
Having spent decades at the heart of the industry, Davis was a well-respected figure known for her work on legendary series like The Golden Girls and the Law & Order franchise.
Born in Brooklyn in 1943, Davis started her career in television production on the panel game show The Match Game before finding her true calling in public relations.
After joining Stone Associates in the late 1970s, she was later recruited by Dick Lippin to join his new venture, which eventually became The Lippin Group in 1986.
Throughout her long career, she handled the publicity for a massive range of hits, from the light-hearted charm of The Love Boat and Empty Nest to the high-stakes drama of the Law & Order spin-offs and the major CBS miniseries Scarlett.
Davis remained a fixture at The Lippin Group until her retirement in 2008, earning a reputation for her professionalism and deep understanding of the TV landscape.
She is survived by her sisters, Rhonda and Sharon, as well as a large extended family of nieces, nephews, and great-nieces and nephews.
Her loss is felt deeply by her former colleagues and the many friends she made throughout her years in Hollywood.
For those wishing to pay their respects, a memorial service has been scheduled for 12:00 pm on 14 May at the Edward J. Kuhn Funeral Home in West Reading, Pennsylvania.
The family has suggested that, in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the St. Francis Home to honour her memory.
Her passing marks the end of an era for the many television productions that benefited from her dedicated work behind the scenes.
Entertainment
AS-level Business Studies paper allegedly leaked online
KARACHI: The AS-level Business Studies paper of Cambridge International Education (CIE) was reportedly leaked online, raising concerns over the exam security.
The incident comes days after CIE admitted that an Advanced Subsidiary (AS) Mathematics Paper 1 was leaked, saying the question paper was “shared prematurely against our regulations.”
The Business Studies paper, scheduled to be held today, was reportedly leaked and circulated online last night.
One of three examination papers circulating on social media platforms last night was the Business Studies, code “9609 Paper 1”.
In a statement issued on April 30, the CIE said: “We can confirm that Cambridge International AS Level Mathematics Paper 12 (9709), taken in our Africa, Europe, Middle East, Pakistan and South Asia regions, was shared prematurely against our regulations.”
The examination board said it was promptly and thoroughly investigating the incident to understand the extent of the leak and determine next steps regarding the compromised paper.
The CIE had said its priority remained ensuring students were not disadvantaged by the incident while continuing all possible measures to protect examination integrity and maintain confidence in awarded grades.
-
Tech1 week agoA Brain Implant for Depression Is About to Be Tested in Humans
-
Tech1 week agoAlmost 90% of women leave tech industry within 10 years | Computer Weekly
-
Sports1 week agoPro wrestling star Steph De Lander reveals how colleague’s advice helped lead her to title triumph at ACW
-
Business1 week ago‘I had £20,000 stolen and had to fight a 13-month fraud reporting rule to get it back’
-
Entertainment1 week agoNorway joins Type 26 Frigate Programme to boost NATO naval power
-
Tech1 week agoAre tech leaders risking a cyber resourcing crisis? | Computer Weekly
-
Business6 days agoPSX plunges over 4,800 points | The Express Tribune
-
Entertainment1 week agoMelania Trump says ABC should ‘take a stand’ on late-night host Kimmel
