Tourists bring 'tuk-tuk' from Thailand
Two female tourists from the UK, having visited Thailand, liked the 'tut-tuk' - a three-wheeled motor scooter - so much that they decided to return home on it, covering more than 19,000 kilometers. The travelers drove the 'tut-tuk' through Thailand, Laos, China, Kazakhstan, Russia, Ukraine, Poland, the Czech Republic, Germany, France, and the UK. And this is not the first time tourists decided to take a 'tuk-tuk' with them: last year a pair of German tourists left Bangkok on one, and earlier a Dutch traveler reached the Netherlands from Thailand on this hybrid of a cart and a motorcycle.
Bulgaria and Romania to join the European Union a year earlier
The European Commission will recommend admitting Bulgaria and Romania to the EU in 2007, rather than 2008 as previously assumed. The European Commission will announce these recommendations on September 26, and EU member states are expected to approve them in October. Strict conditions for EU accession will be imposed on Bulgaria and Romania, but a number of points previously considered necessary may be excluded. Recall that the European Commission's recommendations on the EU accession of Bulgaria and Romania were already discussed on June 15 this year at the EU summit in Brussels and were approved. A month earlier, the European Commission announced that it had postponed until autumn 2006 the decision on the timing of the admission of Bulgaria and Romania to the European Union. 'The Commission believes that these two countries could be ready to join the EU on January 1, 2007, if they manage to resolve the remaining issues in the coming months,' said European Commission President José Manuel Durão Barroso. It was reported that Sofia, in particular, needs to demonstrate tangible results in the fight against corruption and organized crime. Bucharest was required to introduce stricter sanitary standards for food products. Barroso promised that the recommendations would be submitted no later than October. One of the recommendations Barroso promised was that in the first three years after Romania and Bulgaria join the EU, a special monitoring system should be in place, the purpose of which is to convince Europe that the fight against corruption and legal system reform are yielding the desired results.
US to shoot down planes seized by terrorists
The US Air Force is ready to shoot down planes if they are seized for terrorist attacks similar to those carried out in New York and Washington on September 11, 2001, said US Deputy Defense Secretary Paul McHale. 'We have taken measures to prevent a repeat of such attacks,' he said at a meeting with journalists. According to him, groups of fighter jets ready to take off within minutes are deployed across the US. 'If terrorists manage to pass airport security, board a plane, overpower the security agents on board, and break through the reinforced cockpit door, then in such emergency circumstances we are prepared to use fighters and, if necessary, shoot down the plane to save many lives,' he said. McHale clarified that the authority to make this decision has been given to a number of American leaders, whose identities and positions are classified. 'A number of very high-level leaders not only have the right to make such decisions, but also regularly conduct appropriate training,' he noted.
Italian tourism served by illegals
In July-August this year, the Italian Ministry of Labor conducted an extensive inspection of companies in the tourism business. The result was a shocking discovery: more than half (64.79%) of firms in this sector use illegal workers. The inspection covered 2,258 companies, of which 1,468 were found to have unregistered employees, reports AGI. Overall, 3,081 workers without proper documents were identified in the tourism sector, of which 2,183 (70%) were paid under the table, 119 turned out to be illegal immigrants, and another 308 were minors. The offending firms were fined a total of €1,359,425. In addition, they will have to pay another €1,354,131 in unpaid contributions and taxes.
Greece to tighten traffic rules
In the fall, a new draft traffic code will be submitted to the Greek parliament, tightening penalties for violators. According to its developers, this will lead to a reduction in the number of road accidents. The draft focuses most on violations that lead to severe accidents. Thus, drunk driving will be punishable by a fine of €200 to €1,200 (compared to €83-668 currently) with a six-month license suspension. Running a red light or a stop sign will cost €700. Unfastened seat belts for drivers and lack of helmets for motorcyclists will increase from €83 to €350 with a 10-day license suspension, and using a mobile phone while driving will be fined €100 with a 30-day license suspension. At the same time, speed lovers on Greek highways may be pleased with the increase in the upper speed limit by 10 km/h. After the parliament adopts the new code, a four-month pause is provided before it comes into force.
More hotels in Germany
Germany is experiencing a real hotel boom. The leader in hotel construction is Frankfurt am Main, where 2,400 hotel rooms have been added in the last two years in 10 hotels of various classes - from two-star discount chain Ibis to the luxury hotel Villa Kennedy. In the next four years, another 2,700 rooms are expected to be put into operation, primarily in hotels located near Frankfurt Airport.
This activity is due to two factors. First, the massive arrival of foreign investors, whose share of the market in the last two years ranges from 70% to 90%. In addition, experts link the successes of the hotel business in Germany to the failures of investors in other sectors of the real estate market. Many cities have an oversupply of office space, so investors are switching to the second most attractive investment object - hotel construction.
Another reason for the appearance of a large number of new hotels in Germany is the recent FIFA World Cup, which led to a sharp increase in demand for rental housing and hotels. For example, in traditionally inexpensive Berlin, due to a shortage of hotel space, the average cost of a one-room apartment soared from €150-200 to €400-500 per month.
Ramadan in the UAE will begin on September 24
The holy month of Ramadan will begin in the United Arab Emirates on September 24. This was announced by the Astronomical Society of the UAE. The onset of Ramadan is determined visually in each specific country or region where the population practices Islam.
Ramadan is called the month of fasting - 'saum' (in Turkic languages - uraza). Fasting for Muslims consists of a complete abstinence from food, drink, inhaling tobacco smoke, etc. during daylight hours. After dark, restrictions are lifted, but excesses are not recommended. During Ramadan, one should spend time in prayers, reading the Quran, and doing good deeds.
In the UAE, as in many Muslim countries, a shortened working day is introduced during Ramadan, and some public restrictions are also established. Tourists visiting Muslim countries during Ramadan should be prepared for the fact that a number of fasting rules apply to them as well. Thus, in some Islamic states, tourists are not recommended to eat or smoke in public places, so many travelers refrain from visiting such countries during Ramadan.