Entertainment
Govt to absorb potential hike in fuel prices, says petroleum minister
- Govt ensuring uninterrupted fuel supply: minister.
- Malik suggests Pakistan brace for a “Test match”.
- Says no clear end in sight to Middle East conflict.
Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik on Tuesday said that the government has decided to absorb any potential fluctuation in fuel prices, hinting at no immediate significant changes in the prices.
The federal government, on March 6, announced a sharp increase of Rs55 per litre in the price of petrol and diesel each, following global oil supply disruption from the ongoing war in the Middle East.
At the time, the petroleum minister said that the government would reduce prices promptly once the situation improved.
Speaking today on Geo News programme ‘Capital Talk’ today, Malik said that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif decided that he would make every effort to buffer any potential increase in petroleum prices.
“I think there will be no significant in this [prices] in reasonable time, as the government has decided to absorb them to prevent difficulties for the public,” he added.
While acknowledging the increased burden on the public due to the hike, the minister said the government was ensuring an uninterrupted supply of petroleum products across the country.
The minister suggested the country brace for a “Test match”, noting that the Middle East conflict had no clear end in sight.
“You will have to try to extend your reserves and maintain your supply line,” he said.
However, he indicated that prices were unlikely to shift drastically following remarks by US President Donald Trump on the Iran conflict and the G7’s discussions on potentially releasing some of their strategic oil reserves.
“While nothing can be said for certain, it appears at this time that we will not see significant price changes,” he added.
Malik’s remarks on the government absorbing fuel price fluctuations come just a day after PM Shehbaz Sharif unveiled an austerity and fuel-saving plan.
Addressing the nation on Monday, the prime minister said the measures were necessary to deal with the prevailing global fuel crisis triggered by the ongoing US-Israel-Iran conflict.
“The entire region is currently in a state of war,” the premier said, adding that Pakistan was making every effort through diplomatic channels to help resolve the situation.
PM Shehbaz then announced that both the federal and provincial governments would adopt austerity and simplicity to reduce expenditures and conserve energy during the challenging economic situation.
The measures included cutting government expenditures, reducing the working week to four days, and reducing non-essential movement.
PM Shehbaz also announced that members of the federal cabinet, advisers, and special assistants would not draw salaries for the next two months, while members of parliament would face a 25% salary cut during the same period.
Entertainment
King Charles and the Trumps unite at White House for a historic tea meeting
A ceremonial welcome finally happened at the White House as Donald Trump and Melania Trump greeted King Charles and Queen Camilla at the South Portico.
The royal tour coincides with celebrations of America’s 250th anniversary an occasion rooted in the nation’s independence from Britain.
Both the leaders and their spouses gathered for tea, seated together over a carefully arranged spread that included finger sandwiches, cakes, and honey.
The first lady was wese into a butter-yellow outfit designed by Adam Lippes, while the Queen opted for an elegant white chiffon dress adorned with black beaded embroidery by Anna Valentine.
Newly released images show the King and Queen in conversation with the Trump’s standing before a striking painting that portrays the president in the aftermath of the July 2024 assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania.
Entertainment
Norway joins Type 26 Frigate Programme to boost NATO naval power
Norway has joined the Type 26 frigates project with Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom in a bid to enhance its naval capabilities and build a formidable naval force for any future conflict.
The Global Combat Ship User Group Charter, overseeing the development, construction and operation of frigates formally welcomed the Royal Norwegian Navy into the team.
The group is building 34 world-class warships for the four states, including Type 26 frigates for Norway and the UK, the River-class frigates for Canada and the Hunter-class frigates for Australia.
The multi-billion-dollar project was initiated in the early 2010s; however, it saw real progress in 2017, gaining momentum after the UK began construction.
Norway was invited to sign the charter around a year ago and now the Kingdom has officially joined the partnership.
Norway wants to procure five Type 26 frigates to enhance its navy’s defensive capabilities in the Atlantic and Europe’s northern flank. The country already operates eight identical warships.
Commodore Stephen Roberts, the Senior Responsible Owner for the UK Type 26 frigate programme, welcomed Norway to the program and said, “Our strategic maritime security partnership with allies is further strengthened by Norway’s inclusion in the wider GCS enterprise alongside our Canadian and Australian partners.”
Captain Alexander Erichsen, Chief Fleet Programme for the Royal Norwegian Navy said that enhanced security cooperation and aligning the designs of frigates will strengthen interoperability and collective security measures across allied navies.
Entertainment
Trump calls for Jimmy Kimmel to be fired over jokes made before White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooting
President Trump on Mondaycalled for comedian Jimmy Kimmel to be fired Monday over jokes the late-night host made days before the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
The president’s call for Kimmel’s firing came after hours after first lady Melania Trump, in a rare statement, called the jokes “hateful and violent rhetoric.”
On his show on Thursday, Kimmel said he was taking “a page from the Kid Rock alternative half-time show” and created a mock correspondents’ dinner, which has featured comedians in the past but this year was set to feature mentalist Oz Pearlman. In the skit, Kimmel referred to Melania Trump as having a “glow like an expectant widow.”
Mr. Trump called the joke a “call to violence.”
“I appreciate that so many people are incensed by Kimmel’s despicable call to violence, and normally would not be responsive to anything that he said but, this is something far beyond the pale,” the president wrote on Truth Social on Monday. “Jimmy Kimmel should be immediately fired by Disney and ABC.”
The first lady had said that ABC should “take a stand” against Kimmel.
“Kimmel’s hateful and violent rhetoric is intended to divide our country. His monologue about my family isn’t comedy- his words are corrosive and deepens the political sickness within America,” Melania Trump posted on social media. “People like Kimmel shouldn’t have the opportunity to enter our homes each evening to spread hate. A coward, Kimmel hides behind ABC because he knows the network will keep running cover to protect him.”
Melania Trump was sitting next to Mr. Trump on Saturday at the correspondents’ dinner when gunshots rang out and they were evacuated from the ballroom. No one was injured and the suspected gunman, Cole Allen, was tackled and taken into custody. He is set to appear in federal court on Monday.
CBS News has reached out to ABC for comment.
Kimmel was pulled from the air for several nights in September after being criticized by conservatives, including Mr. Trump, for his remarks in the aftermath of the Charlie Kirk assassination. Kimmel had said that America “hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them, and doing everything they can to score political points from it.”
Kimmel did not issue a blanket apology for the remarks, but he did say he could see how they were offensive to some. When he returned to the air on Sept. 23, he said it was “not my intention to blame any specific group for the actions of what was obviously a deeply disturbed individual,” referring to the alleged gunman, who is in custody pending trial.
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