Australia and Canada Have the Most Livable Cities in the World
The British magazine Economist has named Canada's Vancouver the most livable metropolis. The publication annually ranks 132 largest cities, assessing their quality of life. Vancouver has been in first place for five consecutive years.
Another large Canadian city, Toronto, came in fifth this year. The leaders also include Australia's Melbourne (2nd) and Perth (4th). Only one European city, Vienna, made it into the top five. The top ten includes two more Australian cities, Adelaide and Sydney, followed by Copenhagen, Geneva, and Zurich.
Cities around the world are evaluated on 40 criteria. These include crime rates, threat of terrorism, state of transport networks and communications, healthcare situation, cultural level, environmental conditions, and education. In compiling the quality-of-life scale, the authors of the study took exceptionally high quality as the zero point and 100 as unbearable or severely restricted living conditions. At the bottom of the list are Algiers, Dhaka (Bangladesh), and Nigeria's economic capital Lagos.
Czech Republic Postpones Its Entry into the Eurozone
The Czech Finance Ministry has removed the date of eurozone accession from the draft plan for adopting the euro. It was planned that the country would switch to the single European currency in 2012.
The reason for the refusal was pressure from the Czech Prime Minister and Central Bank, who oppose setting any date. The country's budget deficit is expected to be about 4% of GDP in 2007, despite the Czech economy growing by over 6%. This is a serious obstacle to joining the eurozone. Earlier, for the same reasons, the Czech Republic had to abandon the idea of joining the eurozone in 2010.
Reminder: currently, 13 countries are in the single European currency area, reports RBC. In 2007, Slovenia, which joined the EU in 2004, joined it. On January 1, 2008, Slovenia's 'peers' in the European Union, Cyprus and Malta, will follow suit. Next in line is Slovakia, which intends to adopt the euro in 2009.
Hungary and Poland still do not meet the European Commission's requirements for joining the eurozone, mainly because these countries, like the Czech Republic, have high budget deficits.
Israel Plans to Wall Itself Off from Egypt
Israel plans to build a wall along the border with Egypt to prevent the infiltration of terrorists, smugglers, and refugees, writes Ha'aretz.
According to the publication, Israeli Vice Premier Haim Ramon made the proposal to Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Suleiman several weeks ago. After that, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert intended to open official talks on erecting the fence, but Egyptian authorities have yet to give an official response.
However, Jerusalem authorities believe it is highly unlikely that Egypt will agree to the construction of the wall. Starting construction unilaterally could lead to complications in relations between the two countries. Moreover, it would cost Israel between 2.5 and 3 billion shekels ($600 million to over $700 million).
Dubai Among the Three Most Expensive Tourist Destinations in the World
According to a report by Consulting's Hospitality Research Group (HRG), Dubai has become the third most expensive tourist destination in the world after Moscow and New York. A year ago it was in seventh place. In that time it has overtaken Rome, London, Paris, and Milan in cost of stay. From January to June, the average room rate in Dubai reached 1,234 dirhams (about $335), compared to 1,151 dirhams (about $310) last year. According to HRG, despite extensive hotel construction, hotel accommodation prices in Dubai continue to rise. The same situation will persist in the foreseeable future. The market will only stabilize after large hotel complexes come online, which will take several more years.
HRG cites the following prices in Dubai: average room rate - 1,234 dirhams ($335), three-course lunch - 170 dirhams ($43), cup of coffee - 7.5 dirhams ($2), half-hour at an internet cafe - 4.5 dirhams ($1.2), one-liter bottle of water - 1.5 dirhams ($0.41).
Venezuela Decides to Change Its Time Zone
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, who has already changed the country's name, state flag, and coat of arms, is preparing another innovation. Now Chavez wants to turn back the clocks in Venezuela by 30 minutes to enjoy more sunlight.
Thus, from September, the Latin American country switched to time minus 4.5 hours GMT, the Minister of Science and Technology announced. According to him, this was done for a 'more equitable distribution of sunlight in Venezuela,' reports Reuters.
Recall that in 2006, an eighth star appeared on the country's red, yellow, and blue flag. According to Chavez, it symbolizes the easternmost region, Guayana, and the addition of the star was desired by Venezuela's independence leader Simon Bolivar. The coat of arms, depicted in the upper left corner of the flag, also changed. The white horse on it, which previously galloped to the right with its head turned left, now gallops to the left, apparently reflecting the political convictions of communist Chavez. According to the head of state, the idea to 'free' the horse by turning it around was suggested by his daughter Rosines. Additionally, tropical fruits and flowers, as well as a bow and machete, appeared on the coat of arms, intended to symbolize the indigenous peoples of Venezuela.
And in 1999, immediately after being elected president, Hugo Chavez changed the country's name to the 'Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela' in memory of the 'national hero' and as part of his proposed new constitution for Venezuela.
Airlines to Abandon Paper Tickets
The International Air Transport Association (IATA), which unites 240 airlines carrying out 94% of regular international flights, will completely abandon paper tickets and switch exclusively to electronic tickets from June 1, 2008, according to the association's website.
“After some time,” said IATA Director General Giovanni Bisignani, “a paper ticket will be needed only by collectors.” The switch to electronic tickets, when passengers order and pay for tickets online, will not only reduce airlines' costs by $9 per passenger, but also save 50,000 trees from being cut down annually.
Recall that a number of discount airlines, such as British Easyjet, German Germania Express, Russian Sky Express, have long been using the electronic ticket system, where a passenger, after paying for a ticket, receives confirmation by mail or fax, with which they come to the airport, where they are immediately given a boarding pass. For its part, IATA began switching to electronic tickets about three years ago. Currently, 84% of its passengers use electronic tickets. In August, it placed its final order for paper tickets.
The first country to fully switch to electronic tickets will likely be China, which will stop using paper tickets by the end of 2007.
Germany will teach neatness with high fines
Unkempt residents and guests of the German city of Braunschweig will have to pay hefty fines. Previously, the financial penalties were already substantial, but now they have seriously increased.
Thus, €35 instead of the former €20 will have to be paid for each stuck piece of chewing gum, €25 (instead of €20) for a cigarette butt thrown on the ground, €50 for uncollected dog feces, €40 for crossing the road on a red light, and €80 for dumping trash in unauthorized places.
In other German cities, fines are not as high, but the example of Braunschweig could be contagious. In just the last year, Braunschweig residents paid about €45 thousand in fines. This is an impressive amount given that the city's population is 250 thousand people. Those fined were predominantly messy smokers. According to city authorities, raising fines is the only measure capable of calling people to cleanliness and order.