Entertainment
PM Shehbaz expected to attend first Trump‑launched ‘Board of Peace’ meeting
- Invitation extended by US President Donald Trump in January.
- Final decision on PM’s participation to be made in coming days.
- Initiative seeks reconstruction, stability, lasting UN-backed solution in Gaza.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is expected to attend the first leaders’ meeting of the US-initiated Gaza ‘Board of Peace’ in Washington on February 19, according to sources privy to the matter.
The development follows an invitation extended by US President Donald Trump to Pakistan to join the Board of Peace on Gaza, which the Foreign Office (FO) confirmed on January 18, 2026.
Sources, however, said a final decision on PM Shehbaz’s participation in the international moot, to be chaired by the US president at the Donald J Trump Institute for Peace, would be made in the coming days.
“Pakistan will be in attendance. The invitation was sent to the prime minister, and it is expected that he will attend. Consultations are continuing and, in a few days, the government will make an announcement. It is an important event,“ The News reported, quoting diplomatic sources.
Last month, FO spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said that Pakistan would continue to engage with international efforts aimed at peace and security in Gaza.
“Pakistan will remain engaged with international efforts for peace and security in Gaza, leading to a lasting solution to the Palestine issue in accordance with United Nations resolutions,” he said.
Pakistan has reiterated at international forums its readiness to play a “constructive role” in the US peace plan for Palestine.
In December 2026, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said that Pakistan’s civil and military leadership was fully aligned on not sending troops to Gaza to disarm Hamas.
The planned meeting was first reported by Axios, which said the gathering would also serve as a fundraising conference for the reconstruction of Gaza.
“We can confirm the Board of Peace meeting is scheduled on February 19th,” the official said in a statement to Reuters. Further questions were referred to the White House, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The meeting would be held at the U.S. Institute of Peace in Washington, DC, Axios reported.
At least one world leader has confirmed his participation. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, one of Trump’s closest allies in the European Union, said at a campaign event on Saturday in the western city of Szombathely that he would go to Washington in two weeks to attend the Board of Peace meeting.
In late January, Trump launched the board that he will chair and which he says will aim to resolve global conflicts, leading to some experts being concerned that such a board could undermine the United Nations.
Gaza ceasefire violations
Governments around the world have reacted cautiously to Trump’s invitation to join the initiative. While some of Washington’s Middle Eastern allies have joined, many of its traditional Western allies have thus far stayed away. Permanent membership on the board costs $1 billion.
A UN Security Council resolution, adopted in mid-November, authorised the board and countries working with it to establish an international stabilisation force in Gaza, where a fragile ceasefire began in October under a Trump plan on which Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas signed off.
Under Trump’s Gaza plan, revealed late last year, the board was meant to supervise Gaza’s temporary governance. Trump thereafter said it would be expanded to tackle global conflicts.
A spokesperson for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the planned Board of Peace meeting.
Many rights experts say that Trump overseeing a board to supervise a foreign territory’s affairs resembled a colonial structure and have criticised the board for not including a Palestinian.
The fragile ceasefire in Gaza has been repeatedly violated, with over 550 Palestinians and four Israeli soldiers reported killed since the truce began in October.
Prince Harry has been losing sleep over Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet’s future risks, particularly following his estranged brother Prince William’s recent powerful move.
The Prince of Wales’ bold decision regarding Andrew caused serious tension for the Duke of Sussex about his and little Sussex’s royal future.
Royal commentator Tom Bower, in his book Betrayal: Power, Deceit And The Fight For The Future Of The Royal Family, made several claims, and one is about Harry’s growing fears for Archie and Lilibet’s titles in William’s reign.
After witnessing the royal family, especially William’s stern actions against Andrew after he portrayed the monarchy in a negative light, Harry anticipates the future King’s wrath.
Tom penned, “The tremors of the unprecedented sanctions against Andrew must have shocked Harry. In public, he remained silent. In private, he realised that his own royal status was no longer invincible.”
The royal expert warned, “Clearly, William was taking no prisoners. Once he was crowned as king, his brother might well show no mercy to him and Meghan.”
Harry knows that the Prince and Princess of Wales still have grievances regarding the Sussexes’ bombshell move to air their family’s drama to the public.
Talking about Meghan, Tom said, “William would undoubtedly rail against her disloyalty. He might even strip Archie and Lilibet of their titles.”
Megan Thee Stallion is excited to collaborate with Cardi B again.
The Grammy-winning rapper has been on a career high this week, making her Broadway debut as the first female Zidler in Moulin Rouge, and a surprise new collaboration with Nickelback on the Cheetos Dill Pickle promo song, Pickle’s Back.
Speaking to Entertainment Tonight on Wednesday, March 25, Megan teased what’s next: a long-awaited collaboration with her “girl,” Cardi B.
“Don’t worry about that, don’t worry about that,” she said with a smirk when asked about a possible collaboration with the Bodack Yellow rapper. “This is going to happen again. This is definitely going to happen again. Now, when it’s going to happen, I’m not telling you,” she teased.
The hip-hop icons first collaborated on Cardi’s 2020 hit, WAP. Three years later, they came together for Bongos. More recently, they reunited on stage at Cardi’s ongoing Little Miss Drama tour during a stop in Megan’s hometown of Houston, Texas.
“It was great, I love performing with Cardi,” Megan told ET about the performance. “She’s amazing. Every time we link up, it’s like, we don’t have to see each other for a long time, but every time I see her it’s like, I just saw you yesterday. We just pick back up where we left off from. That’s my girl,” she gushed.
“We’re both authentic, and we both are ourselves. We just both like to laugh, so we don’t really take anything too seriously,” Megan added.
Cardi also gushed over Megan following the performance, sharing a picture of the duo backstage on her Instagram Stories and writing, “I love you so so so so so sooooooo much.”
John Mellencamp capped off a milestone night at the 2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards with both an honor and a heartfelt performance.
He received the Icon Award from his daughter, Teddi Mellencamp, before strumming through acoustic renditions of his most beloved hits.
The 74-year-old rocker was visibly moved as Teddi delivered an emotional tribute, calling her father her “best friend.”
John then handed the trophy back to her, acknowledging her ongoing battle with stage 4 melanoma.
He then turned to the crowd with a mix of humor and encouragement.
“I’ve been doing this 50 years and I’ve enjoyed most of it,” he quipped.
“…for all you young people who are starting out, there’s nothing closer to heaven than writing a song or hearing your songs on the radio, or having a show.”
Mellencamp’s acoustic set, featuring “Jack & Diane” and “Pink Houses”, was a reminder of the enduring power of his catalog.
Since his 1976 debut, he has sold more than 60 million albums worldwide.
He has earned induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and co founded Farm Aid with Willie Nelson and Neil Young, a benefit concert that has supported American farmers for over four decades.
iHeartRadio praised him as “the spirit of the American storyteller.”
It noted that his work has defined eras and influenced generations with its unmistakable voice and point of view.
Mellencamp will now take his greatest hits on the road this summer with the Dancing Words Tour – Greatest Hits, launching in July and spanning 19 dates through August.
The night also featured performances from Kehlani, Lainey Wilson, Ludacris, RAYE, TLC, Salt N Pepa, and En Vogue, while Miley Cyrus received the Innovator Award and Ludacris, who hosted the show, was honored with the Landmark Award.
Taylor Swift, Alysa Liu, Nicole Scherzinger, Nikki Glaser, Sombr, Weezer, Donnie Wahlberg, Jenny McCarthy, Shaboozey and Vin Diesel were among other attendees.
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