BRUSSELS : The European Union (EU) on Monday announced broadened restrictive measures against Iran by banning crude-oil imports and a freeze on Iran's central bank assets as officials expressed 'deepening concerns' over the country's nuclear program. The Council of the European Union confirmed the decision to ban the import, purchase and transport of Iranian crude oil and petroleum products. The ban, which includes related finance and insurance, immediately entered into force although already concluded contracts can still be executed until July 1. In addition, the Council also banned imports of petrochemical products from Iran into the EU as well as the export of key equipment and technology for this sector to Iran. "New investment in petrochemical companies in Iran as well as joint ventures with such enterprises are also no more allowed," the Council said. As part of the toughest sanctions yet against Iran, the Council also froze the assets of the Iranian central bank within the EU. "Trade in gold, precious metals and diamonds with Iranian public bodies and the central bank will no more be permitted, nor will the delivery of Iranian-denominated banknotes and coinage ...
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Rome, Italian MPs earn an average salary of 16,000 euros (around USD 20,900 or Rs.11,12,000), making them the top earners among lawmakers in the European Union (EU), according to a government report. A government-sponsored commission was asked to survey the salaries of MPs across EU countries to put the pay of Italy's 950 lawmakers in line with that of their European counterparts. The report said Italian MPs made about 2,500 euros a month more than no.2 France, where politicians' monthly salary totals around 13,500 euros. The president of Italy's national statistics agency Istat headed the committee that prepared the report on members of parliament in Italy, Germany, France, Spain, the Netherlands, Belgium and Austria. Italy's new government headed by former EU competition commissioner Mario Monti has pushed through a series of emergency measures designed to balance the budget, trim the debt and stimulate growth for the third-richest country among 17 nations that use the euro currency. Monti in December formed the government after an economic crisis toppled the Silvio Berlusconi regime. Furious Italians, who will now have to pay more taxes and work longer, ...
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Jalandhar, February 2 (Doaba News Service)- Ignoring the guidelines of the Union Ministry of Rural Development, the Punjab Government has failed to appoint ombudsman under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) even after five months. The Union Government had asked the Punjab Government to appoint ombudsman for the redressal of grievances of the job card holders, engaged in different projects under the NREGA, in the state. In an order dated September 7, 2009, Amita Sharma, Joint Secretary (NREGA), had directed different states and Union Territories to appoint ombudsmen so that the grievances be redressed in a time-bound manner. The Union Government has also directed the states to set up offices of the ombudsmen within three months from the date of issuance of the order. The government has also said that expenditure incurred for this purpose would be met out of the provision for the administrative expenditure under the scheme. The union government had decided to appoint the ombudsmen after massive grievances arose with regard to the implementation of the scheme across the country. Talking to The Tribune, DR Karnus Raju, NREGA Commissioner, Punjab, claimed that ...
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Jalandhar, January 29 (DNS)- The DIG, Jalandhar Range, yesterday handed over the case of the detention of a minor rape victim and her mother to the Hoshiarpur police after withdrawing it from the local police. DIG Ishwar Singh also constituted a four-member committee headed by Pramod Ban, SSP, Hoshiarpur, for the investigation of the case. An IPS officer, Inderbir Singh of the Hoshiarpur police, will also probe the case. Ishwar Singh said the case was transferred to the Hoshiarpur police for transparent and impartial investigation as per the wishes of the victims’ family. The DIG had marked an inquiry to the local police on Wednesday but following objections from the family members of the victims and activists of the Pendu Mazdoor Union, he handed over the case to the Hoshiarpur police. Led by Tarsem Peter, president of the union, family members of the victims today met the DIG and alleged that the district police was mounting pressure on the aggrieved party to effect a compromise in the case. They also alleged that certain senior police officers were trying to hush up the ...
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Ludhiana, January 22 (Doaba News Service)- The ministers of the UPA government at the Centre are behaving as conduits of hoarders and black marketeers by making statements about the imminent price rise of several commodities. This was stated by Sewa Singh Sekhwan, Minister for Information and Public Relations, who was in the city today. Without naming Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, Sekhwan said it was sad that the minister was making announcements that the prices of commodities would increase within a day or so. “Whom is he trying to benefit? Everybody knows such statements prompt the hoarders to collect stocks of the commodity. What else is he doing if he is not helping the hoarders, who would later indulge in black marketing of the good by creating an artificial shortage? Is it fair for a minister of his stature to make such announcements?” asked Sekhwan, while hitting at the UPA government. Holding the Union Government responsible for the price rise, the minister said whenever the Congress was in power, people suffered due to inflation. But this time it was the worst case scenario when many were deprived of even two square ...
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