Italy: Small town mints own money to fight austerity
August 30, 2011 by Trend PK
Filed under World News
A small town in Italy, Filettino, set in rugged hill country around 100 km east of Rome, is rebelling against a proposal to merge the governments of towns with fewer than 1,000 inhabitants to save money.
Filettino has only around 550 people, but instead of merging with neighboring Trevi, Mayor Luca Sellari is trying to go it alone and set up a “principality” along the lines of the famous republic of San Marino to the north.
“We aim to achieve real autonomy from Italy and we have the financial resources to do it,” Sellari said. There was no immediate comment from the central government in Rome.
Mayors from all over Italy are up in arms about proposals to cut local government funding and merge small towns as part of a 45.5 billion euro ($65.3 billion) austerity plan to balance the country s budget by 2013.
Another petition filed against Shoaib
LAHORE: One more petition has been filed against Shoaib Malik and Sania Mirza here in the Lahore High Court on Monday.
Petition accused Malik of violating various government rules.
Hasan Sheraz, who filed a petition in the Lahore High Court, alleged that Shoaib violated the government”s ban on serving more than one dish at marriage functions, which was a rule that was introduced as part of the austerity drive.
He also said that Malik needs to be punished for letting his reception function go beyond 10 pm, which was in violation of a government”s order which enforces a 10 pm-curfew on such functions.
One more petition against Shoania in LHC
LAHORE: One more petition was cricketer Shoaib Malik and Sania Mirza has been filed here in the Lahore High Court on Monday.
While one petition accused Malik of violating various government rules, another is in connection with the alleged sale of invitation cards to the reception.
Hasan Sheraz, who filed a petition in the Lahore High Court, alleged that Shoaib violated the government”s ban on serving more than one dish at marriage functions, which was a rule that was introduced as part of the austerity drive.
He also said that Malik needs to be punished for letting his reception function go beyond 10 pm, which was in violation of a government”s order which enforces a 10 pm-curfew on such functions.
Both the petitions will come up for hearing on Tuesday, Apr 26, which is the same day Shoaib Malik will be holding yet another reception at Lahore.
PM Gilani Directs to Remove Flags From Vehicles of Ministers
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan News: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has directed to remove national flag from official vehicles of Federal Ministers, Ministers of State and persons having designation equal to Advisor.
PM Gilani has urged the cabinet division to remove national flag from vehicles of all those government officials who do not have the right under the rules. Prime Minister gave this direction in light of a decision made during the cabinet meeting to discuss recommendations of Austerity Committee.
PM Gilani Directs to Remove Flags From Vehicles of Ministers was first posted on December 17, 2009 at 10:18 pm.
Cabinet Mulling Over Two Weekly Offs
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan News: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani is currently chairing a session of the federal cabinet.
The Chief Ministers of Punjab and Sindh are in the meeting as well.
Federal Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin presented to the cabinet Austerity Committee’s report on curtailing government expenditures.
At the commencement of the session, the PM Gilani congratulated the House on the consensus constitution of National Finance Commission (NFC) Award, after which the House prayed for the eternal peace of the deceased in Dera Ghazi Khan blast, which claimed yesterday at least 32 lives.
According to sources, the Austerity Committee’s report contains suggestions including two weekly off days.
The session is also reviewing the matter relating import of bullet-proof vehicles.
Cabinet Mulling Over Two Weekly Offs was first posted on December 16, 2009 at 3:12 pm.
Five-day week to chop down energy usage in Pakistan
Lahore, Pakistan:- Committee proposes five-day week to chop down energy usage, The Austerity Committee has proposed to put into practice 2 weekly holidays in government offices to cut down the usage of electricity and gas in the country.
Meeting of the committee held under the chairmanship of Finance Minister Shaukat Tareen. The committee proposed to reduce government officials’ foreign visits by 70 percent. The committee suggested 50 percent decrease in vehicles of convoys of PM, CMs and ministers.
According to sources, the committee also recommended to refurbish 8 governmental trade institutes including PIA, Pakistan Railways, National Highway Authority and WAPDA. Finance Ministry sources told that the NWFP and Punjab governments have already accepted the proposal of two weekly holidays. The recommendations of the Austerity Committee would be presented in the Cabinet meeting tomorrow.
Five-day week to chop down energy usage in Pakistan was first posted on November 3, 2009 at 11:51 pm.
