American green card to triple in price
The US administration is raising fees for processing documents for applicants for US citizenship or permanent residence by several times. The cost of inviting a fiancé or fiancée from another country will increase from $170 to $455, obtaining a green card will cost $930 instead of the current $325, and the "price" of citizenship will rise from $330 to $675.
The immigration service leadership justifies such a significant increase in the cost of its services by the need to increase staff to serve all applicants faster. "The explanation is very simple: we need money. We realize that many will be unhappy with this, but the situation is hopeless," commented the upcoming changes, immigration service head Emilio Gonzalez. He claims that 99% of the department's budget is formed from these fees.
The increase in fees for processing immigration documents has already sparked protests from public organizations and some members of Congress, who believe it will seriously complicate citizenship acquisition for low-income applicants.
Global Peace Index published
Ukraine took 80th place out of 121 in the new Global Peace Index ranking of the most peaceful countries, which was published ahead of the G8 summit in Germany. Countries were assessed on 24 criteria, including crime rates and military spending.
Research showed that the most peaceful countries are small states within regional blocs such as the European Union, three of whose representatives are in the top five. The top five most peaceful countries are: Norway, New Zealand, Denmark, Ireland, and Japan. At the opposite end of the ranking are Iraq, Sudan, Israel, Russia (118th place), and Nigeria. The least peaceful country in Western Europe was named the UK, taking 49th place. Notably, Iran and the US both took 96th place.
The ranking was prepared by specialists from the analytical company Economist Intelligence Unit, affiliated with the influential business publication The Economist. Among the other parameters by which participants were assessed were respect for human rights and relations with neighboring states. Some countries were excluded from the ranking. Some were too small for an objective assessment (San Marino or Monaco), while others (Afghanistan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo), according to researchers, were too difficult to assess due to ongoing hostilities and widespread chaos. In the future, similar studies are planned to be conducted annually.
Lowest salary in EU recorded in Latvia
The lowest average salary in the European Union member states is paid in Latvia - €5.1 thousand per year, and the highest in Luxembourg - €37.464 thousand. This is stated in a review by the European audit and consulting company Deloitte.
The survey was conducted at enterprises in 24 of the 27 EU states, where the number of employees is at least ten people. According to its results, along with Latvia, the top three "laggards" in terms of employee wages also include Slovakia and Poland, where the average salary reaches €9.216 thousand and €9.245 thousand per year, respectively.
Experts also note that Luxembourg has the lowest VAT in the EU at 15%. In Latvia it is 18%, and the highest rate is set in Denmark and Sweden at 25%.
Ukrainians are the most homesick immigrants in the UK
Ukrainian immigrants in the UK want to return home more than others. Such data are contained in a study by the British charity Joseph Rowntree Foundation. It studied the integration problems of new immigrants from European countries that are not EU members.
For the study, immigrants from Ukraine, Albania, Serbia, Montenegro, Russia and Bulgaria, as well as residents of British communities, were surveyed. Only a small portion noted feeling a sense of belonging to the local community. At the same time, the majority acknowledges closeness to the UK as a whole, as well as to the country they came from. Moreover, among immigrants from Ukraine, those planning to return home are more common (than among the six nations surveyed).
The main reason determining the stay of the new wave of Ukrainians in the UK is economic: the opportunity to earn good money keeps them abroad. Among Ukrainians, there are also the most people residing and working illegally in the country. The peak of their arrival in England was in 2003. They acknowledge that this was facilitated by the relative ease of obtaining a British visa.
Estonia's population continues to decline
The demographic situation in Estonia continues to worsen. According to data for the past year, the country's population decreased by 2.5 thousand people, reported the Estonian Statistical Department.
Estonia's population as of January 1 of the current year was 1.34 million people. Mortality continues to exceed birth rate, resulting in a decrease of 2.5 thousand residents in Estonia in 2006.
At the same time, compared to previous years, the rate of population decline slowed down due to a slight increase in birth rate. In 2006, 14.9 thousand people were born in Estonia, and 17.3 thousand died. The department also notes that the decrease in the ethnic Estonian population slowed down. So in 2006, 11.7 thousand children were born in Estonian families, while 11.5 thousand Estonians died.
Britons to be fined for discarded cigarette butt
In the UK, from July 1, 2007, anyone who throws a cigarette butt on the street will be fined 80 pounds sterling ($160). The fine for a discarded cigarette butt turned out to be even higher than the fine for smoking in unauthorized places, which is 50 pounds sterling. The proceeds will go towards the purchase of additional trash cans and an information campaign against smoking and littering, writes The Telegraph.
It is reported that revenues from the ban on smoking in public places and the fight against cigarette butts could amount to millions of pounds, given that currently 79% of public places are polluted by discarded cigarette filters.
Organizations fighting street litter welcome the new measure. However, smokers called it "unfair". In particular, Simon Clark from the "Organization for the Protection of the Free Right to Enjoy Smoking Tobacco" considers it wrong that smokers are seen as the main polluters of streets. "We do not justify those who litter. But this is a nationwide problem, it's not just about butts, but also about empty beer cans, fast food wrappers, and chewing gum," he added. "If we see that the ban will be applied mainly to smokers, we will protest."
Overall, the government hopes that thanks to the smoking ban in public places and accompanying measures, the Ministry of Health's spending on fighting smoking-related diseases will be reduced by 1.7 million pounds sterling.
"Blue Flags" quality for 428 Greek beaches
A record number of beaches for Greece received in 2007 the so-called "Blue Flags" of quality, which are awarded to the cleanest and best-equipped beaches and yacht marinas. This was reported by the Greek Nature Protection Company.
In total, 428 Greek beaches received Blue Flags, so Greece took second place among 49 countries participating in the program. Worldwide this year, 2,579 beaches and 629 yacht marinas were awarded. Among Greek beaches, more than 50 receive a Blue Flag for the first time, and only 21 beaches could not confirm last year's status.
In Greece, the most clean beaches are located on the Halkidiki peninsula in the north of the country and on the Dodecanese archipelago in the Aegean Sea. Among the islands, Crete, Kerkyra (Corfu), Lesbos, Rhodes, and Kefalonia stood out the most.
The Blue Flag has been awarded since 1987. Each candidate is strictly evaluated according to 30 criteria, which include: cleanliness, organization of recreation, provision of information to vacationers, safety of swimmers and visitors, as well as environmental protection, including the shore and coastal zone. Traditionally, the presence of a Blue Flag significantly increases the attractiveness of the facility for tour operators and tourists themselves.