Beaches in the middle of the city
This summer Parisians have a chance to save on vacation. Why fly to distant Brazil when the banks of the Seine have turned into the famous Copacabana and Ipanema beaches? For a Brazilian holiday under the Parisian sky, the mayor's office of the French capital has purchased 1,500 tons of sea sand. This is quite enough for a beach stretching three and a half kilometers. The Paris authorities have proven (and beaches in the city center have been organized on the initiative of the mayor for the fifth year in a row) that not only bad but also good examples are contagious. The experience of the French capital inspired the city administrations and municipalities of Berlin, Rome, Amsterdam and Budapest to organize exotic recreation within walking distance.
By the end of 2007, Japan will introduce electronic passports
By the end of 2007, Japan plans to fully switch to electronic passports, RIA Novosti reports. As the newspaper Nihon Keizai writes, citing sources in the government, these passports can be used at any airport in the world, since they will include reading capabilities within the framework of all electronic personal data storage systems currently being introduced.
The development of electronic passports began in the United States after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Japan had not been in a hurry to introduce them, since there was no unified standard, and many countries were trying to create their own systems.
After the terrorist attacks in London on July 7, the need for a counterfeit-proof electronic passport became particularly urgent, and representatives of relevant agencies of leading countries, together with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), began to unify it. The special microchip will contain the following basic information about the owner: last name and first name, date of birth, registration number with their country's foreign ministry, and a color photograph.
Japan will become a pioneer in the introduction of electronic passports, which will begin to be issued from this year. The United States, where such an innovation was planned for the autumn of this year, has not yet finally decided on the timing. In Europe, Germany will start issuing them from this year, and the United Kingdom from next year. In Russia, China and Israel, corresponding developments are underway, but the time of their completion has not yet been reported, writes Nihon Keizai.
President of Italy called not to renounce the Schengen Agreements
Italian President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi called for not abandoning the Schengen Agreements in the fight against terrorism. While receiving a group of Beslan children vacationing in the Apennines at the Quirinal Palace in Rome, the head of the Italian state called for firm counteraction to terrorism. However, the protection of the EU's external borders should not harm the free movement of people, the president emphasized.
“Ensuring the common interests of citizens requires protecting the external borders of the European Union, but without harming the freedom of movement. This is a great achievement, the preservation of which is the responsibility of the member states. Security and freedoms must be combined. This is a great challenge for Europe and for all democratic societies,” Ciampi stated.
After the terrorist attacks in London, when France and the Netherlands suspended the Schengen Agreements, some political forces in Italy demanded to follow suit. Nevertheless, the country's leadership consistently emphasizes its loyalty to the principle of free movement of people within the EU.
Europe needs to open its doors wide to immigrants
To solve the problem of population decline, demographers advise European countries to “open their doors wide” to immigrants. Scientists came to this conclusion based on data presented at the international congress on demographic problems held in the French city of Tours. As RIA Novosti reports, the newspaper Le Soir writes about this.
According to the data, 18,000 people are born daily in European countries, while 23,000 die. According to UN estimates, to maintain the same population as in 1995, the four largest EU countries - Germany, Great Britain, France and Italy - will need to accept at least 667,000 immigrants.
According to statistics, between 1980 and 2004, the population growth in Europe amounted to 30.2 million people, of which 15.5 million were due to migrants (more thanks to immigrants than emigrants). Currently, there is an average of 1.48 children per European woman, whereas for natural population replacement this indicator should be at the level of 2.1 children. Overall, 365,000 people are born daily worldwide, and 155,000 die.
Prostitution will be legalized in the Czech Republic
The Government of the Czech Republic has approved a bill on the legalization of prostitution proposed by the Ministry of the Interior. The head of the Czech Interior Ministry, Frantisek Bublan, said that the introduction of this law in the country should lead to the fact that representatives of the oldest profession will not appear where society does not want to see them.
As RIA Novosti clarifies, the new bill provides for the issuance of licenses to persons of both sexes engaged in prostitution who have reached 18 years of age. They will pay income tax and undergo regular medical examinations. In addition, the bill, which will be submitted to parliament in the coming days, prohibits the placement of brothels near schools, hospitals, sports grounds, railway stations, parking lots and gas stations.
Today, about 25,000 “night butterflies” work in entertainment establishments in the Czech Republic, which are located mainly on the border with Austria and Germany. However, experts do not rule out that with the adoption of the new law on the legalization of paid love, their number may increase several times.
Almost 130,000 foreigners became citizens of Germany
In 2004, 127,153 foreigners received German citizenship. Compared with the previous year, this figure decreased by 9.6%. Thus it dropped to the lowest level since the adoption of the new law “On Citizenship” in 2000, when 186,688 immigrants received German passports.
As Deutsche Welle reports, the largest group among new German citizens in 2004 consisted of immigrants from Turkey (44,465 people). In second place was Poland (7,499 people). The number of new German citizens from Russia (4,381) and Iraq (3,564) increased significantly. These data were published by the Federal Statistical Office.
Adoption intermediaries to be licensed
The Prosecutor General's Office of Ukraine is initiating licensing of intermediary activities in child adoption. As UNIAN reports, Deputy Prosecutor General of Ukraine Tatyana Kornyakova reported this at a briefing.
“Intermediary activities should be licensed; this issue should be resolved at the legislative level,” said Kornyakova. She noted that today 300 intermediaries are officially registered in Ukraine, who charge foreigners from €4,000 to €9,000 for their services. According to Kornyakova, the Prosecutor General's Office is dealing with this problem. She noted that Ukraine is interested in having children adopted by Ukrainian families. According to her, several criminal cases are being considered regarding illegal intermediary activities.
The world's first law on camel racing has come into force in the UAE
The world's first law on camel racing has come into force in the UAE. The document, signed the day before by UAE President Sheikh Khalifa al-Nahyan, prohibits persons under 18 from participating in competitions.
As RIA Novosti reports, punishment is established for violation of the law: imprisonment for up to three years or a fine of 50,000 dirhams ($13.5 thousand). In case of repeat violation, the punishment is doubled. The Ministry of Labor and other government agencies will monitor compliance with the law.
Until recently, the best camel jockeys were boys under 12 years of age and weighing up to 25 kg, mainly from South Asian countries. However, under pressure from international human rights organizations, the Emirates and Qatar introduced age restrictions and a ban on the exploitation of children. These states have also developed prototype robot jockeys, which are undergoing tests.
Camel racing is an ancient Bedouin pastime popular in the Arabian countries and a number of Arab states. In the Emirates alone there are eight camel racing tracks, on which domestic and international competitions are held. The most prestigious are the races for the cup of the late UAE President Sheikh Zayed al-Nahyan with a prize fund of $2.7 million, held in March in the city of Al Ain.