Independence of Montenegro to be considered at a referendum
Deputies of the Montenegrin parliament by a majority of votes approved the composition of the republican commission for holding a referendum on independence of the state union of Serbia and Montenegro. The head of the commission is a European Union representative, Slovak diplomat Frantisek Lipka.
In addition, deputies elected members of regional referendum commissions, as well as members of committees for financing the referendum and its information support.
The election of commission members formally started the campaign for the referendum scheduled for May 21. Citizens of Montenegro will have to answer the question: "Do you want Montenegro to become an independent state, a subject of international law?" The names of 460,000 voters are included in the referendum electoral rolls.
Montenegro is one of the six former republics of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Since 2002 it has been part of the state union of Serbia and Montenegro.
EU agrees on list of unreliable airlines
In Brussels, experts from 25 EU member countries finally approved the so-called "black list" of airlines that will be fully or partially banned from flying within the air borders of this regional organization.
According to the European Commission's press service, the list itself, drawn up following a special inspection conducted at EU airports, will be published only after it is officially approved by the EU's highest executive body.
Work on the list lasted about nine months. It was decided to accelerate it in connection with the plane crashes in the summer of 2005 in Greece and Colombia, which killed about 300 people, including EU citizens. EU transport ministers agreed to compile a list of airlines and aircraft, the use of which may pose a threat to passenger safety, back in autumn 2004.
The European Commission expects that an independent expert analysis will make it possible to exclude the use by EU tour operators of aircraft for charter flights whose technical condition does not meet the requirements. Aviation services of EU states are required to conduct technical inspections of all aircraft for which complaints have been received from passengers and for which air traffic controllers have recorded deviations from norms during a flight. In addition, EU countries have committed to inform each other about all incidents and accidents related to a particular airliner or carrier.
According to the forecast of the International Airports Council, passenger air traffic volumes will increase by 4% annually and will reach 7 billion passengers by 2020.
In the US, a law on legalization of Mexicans is being lobbied
American businessmen are lobbying the US Senate for a law on legalization of 11 million Mexican immigrants living in the country. This was reported by Larry David Rubin, president of the Mexico - USA Chamber of Commerce (American Chamber), which unites more than two thousand American organizations with business ties to Mexico.
According to him, the US labor market is experiencing a growing shortage of workers, which could be covered by immigrants who are currently outside the law and therefore deprived of the opportunity for legal employment. "Such a solution to the crisis developing in the labor market today is in the interests of American businessmen, and we hope the Senate will heed our opinion," the chamber president said in a conversation with journalists.
According to the American Chamber, by 2010, 77 million Americans will retire, freeing 44 million jobs that no one but immigrants will be able to fill. "The US population is aging rapidly, and the market demands fresh and young labor. That is why we insist that the Senate, which is currently developing an integral migration reform, take into account this not-so-distant prospect. Already today, 92% of Mexican immigrants illegally residing in our territory make a significant contribution to the US economy. It remains only to legally formalize this reality and provide an opportunity not only for Mexicans but also for immigrants from other countries to legally work in the United States," Larry Rubin said.
Czech Republic to compile list of vacancies for Ukrainians
The Czech Republic plans to fully open its vacancy databases to Ukrainians this year. This was reported by the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the Czech Republic, Ivan Kuleba. "We have managed to ensure that the list of professions for which workers are needed will be available to anyone," UNIAN quotes him as saying.
Kuleba noted that at Czech consulates in Ukraine, it is planned to create an institution of special representatives from the Ministry of Social Policy and the Ministry of Interior of the Czech Republic, who will have access to vacancy databases and will offer them to all comers. According to the ambassador, the Czech Republic is interested in labor from Ukraine, particularly for agriculture and construction.
Ukrposhta introduces international currency transfers
The state postal enterprise "Ukrposhta" has been making international money transfers in foreign currency since March 15. According to the company's press service, transfers to Russia, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Moldova are accepted in US dollars, and to Armenia and Portugal in euros.
The maximum transfer amount to Russia, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Moldova is $600, and to Armenia and Portugal €450. Incoming transfers are paid out in hryvnias, except for transfers from Portugal, which are paid in euros.
Transfers outside Ukraine can be made by individuals, both residents and non-residents. Residents may transfer funds to individuals in amounts not exceeding $600 per month, or the equivalent of that amount in another foreign currency; for payment for goods purchased abroad for personal use, not more than $200 per month; for payment of expenses to notarial or other authorized bodies, not more than $200 per month.
Non-residents may transfer funds for the above purposes in an amount not exceeding $600 per working day, provided they have documents confirming the sources of the currency.
When transferring an amount equivalent to 500 hryvnias, the sender is charged 8% of the transfer; from 500 to 1,000 - 7%; more than 1,000 - 6%. The fee must not be less than the equivalent of $1.
Currently, receipt and payment of transfers in foreign currency is carried out in 29 postal communication offices.
Russia faces a serious demographic crisis
The population of Russia may decline to 120 million by 2030, said Tatyana Yakovleva, chairwoman of the State Duma Committee on Health Protection. "One of the challenges of the 21st century is the severe demographic crisis that has struck Russia. If the situation does not change, the country's population may fall to 120 million as early as 2030, and to about 80 million by 2075."
According to a preliminary estimate by the Federal State Statistics Service, the country's population as of January 1, 2006, was 142.7 million people. The State Duma is holding a "round table" on the issue of Russia's demographic development. According to the draft resolution prepared for the meeting, the population may decline to 138 million by 2012.
Smoking banned on streets in Calabasas
The small rural town of Calabasas in California, with a population of 21,000, has become the first city in the United States whose authorities have officially banned smoking on streets, at bus stops, and in all other public places where people may be exposed to the dangers of secondhand smoke, reports the Associated Press.
"People have the right to breathe clean air," said Mayor Barry Groveman at a press conference. The law was unanimously adopted in February of this year by the Calabasas City Council and will take effect within the next week.
The ban means an end to smoking in front of office entrances, in street restaurants, or on apartment balconies if they face common areas or premises, such as pools or laundry rooms located near the home. Smoking will be allowed only in specially designated areas.
The city authorities plan to inform residents of the new measure by distributing small cards with the text of the law. Willful violators of the ban face a fine of up to $500.
Youth in Barcelona held a "Big Drinking" event
In Barcelona, 68 people were injured during the youth "Big Drinking" event. According to Spanish media, the event took place on the night from Friday to Saturday in more than 20 Spanish cities, including Madrid, Barcelona, and Valencia.
Thousands of young people gathered in city streets and squares to drink alcohol together as a protest against regulations prohibiting such acts in public places. In Barcelona, where about 500 people took part in the event, clashes occurred between the youth and the police, resulting in 68 people receiving minor injuries and 54 being detained. Participants threw bottles and other objects at the police in response to attempts to disperse the rioters. To maintain order in the city, 350 police officers were deployed.
Laws that restrict or ban the consumption of alcoholic drinks in public places to varying degrees are in force in most autonomous communities and provinces of Spain. Spanish Health Minister Elena Salgado said the government is drafting legislation that will be common to all autonomous communities and provinces and will be introduced throughout Spain.
Based on reports from news agencies.