Entertainment
PM Shehbaz to meet Trump at White House today, US official confirms
- US-Pakistan ties have warmed under Trump.
- Trump has already hosted Field Marshal Asim Munir.
- US ties with India have been tested since Trump took office.
US President Donald Trump is expected to meet Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at the White House on Thursday, a Trump administration official told Reuters on Wednesday, with the meeting coming weeks after the two countries agreed to a trade deal.
The prime minister and the US president are expected to hold detailed talks on global and regional issues, with Field Marshal Asim Munir also likely to join the meeting.
US-Pakistan ties have warmed in recent months under Trump after Washington had for years viewed Pakistan’s rival India as a counter to China’s influence in Asia.
Washington’s relations with New Delhi have been tested under the Republican leader over issues such as visa hurdles for Indians, high tariff rates imposed by Trump on goods from India and Trump’s repeated claims that he brokered an India-Pakistan ceasefire in May after the South Asian neighbours engaged in their latest hostilities.
The United States and Pakistan announced a trade deal on July 31 with a 19% tariff rate imposed by Washington. Trump has yet to reach a trade deal with India.
Officials and analysts have noted that after tensions with Washington, New Delhi is recalibrating relations with China as a hedge.
Trump welcomed army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir earlier this year, the first time a US president hosted the head of Pakistan’s army – widely regarded as the most powerful figure in the country – at the White House, unaccompanied by senior Pakistani civilian officials.
“We’re working through a number of issues when it comes to counter-terrorism, when it comes to economic and trade ties,” a senior State Department official told reporters in a briefing on Tuesday when asked about Pakistan.
“And so the president remains focused on advancing US interests in the region, that includes through engaging with Pakistan and their government leaders,” the official said.
When asked about frictions with India, the official said Trump believed in being frank about frustrations in ties, but the relationship was strong. Washington viewed New Delhi as a good friend and partner and believed their relationship would define the 21st century, the official said.
They added that Washington had been working on planning for a summit of the Quad grouping of India, Australia, Japan and the United States that India had been expected to hold in November. That would happen, “if not this year, early next year,” the official said.
Pakistan has backed Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts in de-escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, although Islamabad has condemned US ally Israel’s bombardments in Gaza, Qatar and Iran.
Shehbaz was part of a meeting Trump had on Tuesday with leaders of many Muslim-majority countries, where the US president discussed Israel’s assault on Gaza.
Washington says the US shared peace proposals with leaders from those countries in the meeting held on the sidelines of the annual UN General Assembly.
Travis Kelce’s harmless sport unfortunately proved to be harmful for a fan who was watching the golf match.
The 36-year-old Kansas City Chiefs tight end reportedly struck a woman hard on the 18th hole, who was left shaken by the hit.
The staff around the golf course at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am rushed to help the injured woman and Kelce soon joined them to ask her if she was alright.
The fan, who has been identified as Edenne Flinn, from Salinas, California, ensured the NFL star that she was alright, and he then signed an autograph for her.
The accident quickly went viral on social media, with fans attacking the sportsman over his neglectful shot which hurt a bystander.
Social media sleuths also brought up similar incidents happened in the past where Kelce left people “bloodied” due to his accidental shots.
One X user wrote, “Wait Travis Kelce played in a golf tournament this weekend & he hit a girl with one of his golf balls?? & all she got out of it was an autograph? & even more egregious is that it’s the 2nd time it’s happened??! He did the same thing a few years ago?”
Another added, “he should go back to the football field already,” while a third joked, “bro is treating the golf court like NFL drills chill out.”
On the other hand, many also appreciated the star athlete for going to check on the hurt fan right away.
Indian left-handed opening batter Abhishek Sharma joined the list of unwanted batters after enduring a disappointing outing, falling for a four-ball duck during a high-voltage ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 clash against arch-rival Pakistan.
The top-ranked T20I batter, who bagged a duck in India’s campaign opener against the United States of America (USA) before missing their subsequent group-stage fixture against Namibia due to illness, was slotted back into the playing XI for the high-octane clash.
Sharma, however, had a forgetful return as he perished for a four-ball duck, falling victim to Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha in the first over.
Consequently, he joined an unwanted list of Indian openers who bagged a duck against traditional rivals Pakistan in T20 World Cups, led by his head coach Gautam Gambhir, who suffered the outcome twice in the 2007 and 2012 editions.
The list also features India’s World Cup-winning captain, Rohit Sharma, who was trapped lbw for a golden duck by left-arm pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi during the traditional rivals’ meeting at the 2021 T20 World Cup.
Indian openers to bag a duck against Pakistan in T20 World Cups
- Gautam Gambhir – zero (three) in 2007
- Gautam Gambhir – zero (two) in 2012
- Rohit Sharma – zero (one) in 2021
- Abhishek Sharma – zero (four) in 2026.
Meanwhile, Pakistan suffered a 61-run defeat after accumulating only 114 before getting bowled out in 18 overs.
Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha’s decision to field first did not prove beneficial for the Green Shirts as the Men in Blue accumulated 175/7 in their 20 overs.
King Charles and Queen Camilla took a moment away from palace life to celebrate two decades of craftsmanship at the 20th anniversary exhibition of Turquoise Mountain.
The event, held at The Garrison Chapel within Chelsea Barracks, highlighted artisans from Afghanistan, Jordan, Myanmar, Palestine and Saudi Arabia.
Among the demonstrations, Saudi palm weaver Fayza Al-Mansouri showcased her intricate technique to the King, who declared, “I’m so proud of you all,” and quizzed her on whether she had learned the craft from her mother.
The royal couple were later invited to participate themselves, applying the final touches of mother-of-pearl inlay to beautifully crafted Syrian jewellery boxes, each personalised with their ciphers.
Moataz Hammoush said seeing the King handle the delicate inlay was “a mix of pride and disbelief,” it had opened doors to markets and designers he could never have reached on his own.
At the exhibition, Mrs Stewart, representing the charity, paid tribute to the King’s vision: “This is the community, the monarch, that you have brought together. No one else who could have created this project.”
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