US President Donald Trump was rushed out of the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Saturday night after multiple gunshots were reported near the venue, triggering panic among attendees.

The US Secret Service later confirmed that the President, the First Lady, Vice President and all other protectees were safe. Officials said a suspected shooter has been apprehended, reports BBC.

Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos inside the ballroom at the Washington Hilton, where the annual event was being held. Journalists and guests ducked under tables as security personnel moved swiftly to secure the area. “We all crawled under our table for what felt like a long time,” a BBC journalist present at the event said.

According to reports, the disturbance began around 8:30 pm local time, when loud noises, initially mistaken for breaking glass, were heard. Within moments, Secret Service agents evacuated the main stage and began ushering attendees out, declaring the venue a “crime scene”.

The presidential motorcade was seen leaving shortly after, and a heavy security cordon was placed around the hotel.  In a post on Truth Social, Trump confirmed that all senior officials were “in perfect condition” and announced that the dinner would be postponed and rescheduled within 30 days. He is expected to address the media shortly from the White House. Authorities have not yet disclosed further details about the suspect or the motive behind the incident.

Pakistan–UAE ties are showing visible strain over Abu Dhabi’s strategic and economic engagement with New Delhi, Islamabad ‘s defence cooperation with Saudi Arabia and its overt support for Iran during the recent conflict. These important issues have further complicated the matters between the two countries

The relationship has deteriorated further on the economic front. The UAE’s decision not to extend the repayment deadline for a $3.5 billion loan—originally provided to help Pakistan navigate a severe financial crisis—has added to Islamabad’s woes and signalled a cooling of financial support. Together, these factors have contributed to a sharp downturn in bilateral ties, which were once marked by close strategic alignment and robust economic cooperation.

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has profoundly strengthened strategic ties with India, culminating in a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and a bilateral trade volume reaching US$ 100 billion in FY 2024-25. Through frequent high-level visits, including in January 2026, the leaders have deepened cooperation in defence, energy, technology, and economic sectors

Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed paid an official visit to India in January and held extensive talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and two leaders acknowledged bilateral defence and security cooperation as a core pillar of the Comprehensive Strategic

The bilateral relations between Pakistan and the UAE further deteriorate when the Emirates expressed displeasure over Pakistan’s neutral stance in regional conflicts involving Iran and Islamabad’s prioritization of Saudi Arabia and Iran over the UAE Pakistan also supported the Kingdom on the Yemen issue, The UAE was compelled to withdraw its troops from the troubled Yemen after Saudi Arabia gave it 24-hour ultimatum.

UAE leadership reportedly communicated to Pakistan’s Army Chief, Asim Munir, that they felt Pakistan did not show the same level of solidarity with the UAE as it did with other regional partners during the recent conflicts. The strained ties highlight deeper discomfort in Islamabad regarding the growing strategic and economic partnership between the UAE and India, particularly the I2U2 grouping.

Despite these strains, both countries officially continue to emphasize their long-standing partnership, with ongoing discussions to convert some debt into investment, though the immediate financial demands point to a significant, at least temporary, cooling in bilateral ties. Pakistan’s Iran tilt in the West Asian war seems to have further fractured the ties. The UAE came under missile attacks from Tehran during retaliatory strikes against the U S and Israel. “Pakistan’s mediation effort appeared to give too little weight to Emirati security exposure, despite the supposedly close relationship and broader security understandings between the two sides,” he said.

There are over 1.8 million Pakistani workers who live and work in the UAE, and these migrant workers could face uncertainty if the disagreements between Islamabad and Abu Dhabi worsen and the diplomatic tensions escalate. Kristian Coates, a Middle East fellow at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, warned that a new regional alignment of “Turkey and Pakistan drawing closer to the Saudi position, and Israel and the US remaining closely associated with the Emiratis” could yet return – and that UAE policymakers were “likely to continue pursuing their own vision of national and regional interests” once the war ended.

New Delhi, Apr 25: US President Donald Trump has cancelled the proposed visit of his envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Islamabad for talks on the US- Iran conflict, dealing a setback to already fragile diplomatic efforts, according to US media reports.

Speaking to Fox News, Trump said he had called off the trip at the last moment, asserting Washington’s strong negotiating position.

“We have all the cards. They can call us anytime they want, but you’re not going to be making any more 18-hour flights to sit around talking about nothing,” he said.

The cancellation comes amid growing indications that there is little convergence between the US and Iran on key issues, including sanctions and the blockade of Iranian ports.

The proposed US delegation was already seen as low-key, with Vice-President JD Vance only on standby and not scheduled to participate initially.

The scrapping of even this visit signals widening gaps between the two sides.

Meanwhile, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who had travelled to Islamabad as part of regional consultations yesterday has already left for Muscat in Oman, though Pakistani officials expect him to return in the coming days.

During his visit, Araghchi held talks with Pak Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Asim Munir.

Sharif described his interaction with the Iranian minister as “warm and cordial,” adding that both sides discussed regional developments and bilateral ties.

Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar said the meeting lasted around two hours and emphasised the need for dialogue and diplomacy to ensure regional peace and stability.

According to the BBC, Araghchi conveyed Tehran’s “views and considerations” on ending the conflict and expressed readiness to continue Pakistan’s mediation efforts.

However, Iran has maintained that no direct talks with US officials are planned, with spokesperson Esmail Baqaei reiterating that engagements in Islamabad were strictly bilateral.

Pakistan has emerged as a key intermediary, attempting to bridge the deep mistrust between Washington and Tehran.

While the US has claimed Iran is seeking face-to-face negotiations, Iranian officials have denied this, underlining the lack of even a basic agreement on the format of talks.

For now, Pakistan’s role appears limited to facilitating indirect communication, as both Washington and Tehran continue to hold firm on their core positions.

The diplomatic impasse persists despite a temporary two-week ceasefire, agreed upon to allow space for negotiations after earlier talks collapsed over the US blockade of Iranian ports.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt had earlier expressed hope for “positive developments,” but the latest move suggests momentum has stalled.

The situation is further complicated by the growing strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz, where tensions have escalated, with both sides accused of imposing restrictions.

Analysts say the emergence of this new flashpoint indicates that a long-term resolution remains distant.

Meanwhile, domestic pressures are mounting in Iran.

President Masoud Pezeshkian has urged citizens to conserve electricity amid continuing economic strain, saying external pressure was aimed at fuelling public discontent.