LONDON: The UK plans to unveil tougher citizenship rules under which immigrants will have to "earn" their right to stay by integrating themselves fully to the British society, including acquiring a sound knowledge of English.Under the proposed changes to rules, immigrants will have to "earn" the right to a passport rather than simply achieving it through five years' residence. The measure will end the automatic right to stay and replace it with a new system of "earned citizenship" and temporary residence.The latest measure announced by the Home office proposes that immigrants making little effort to integrate into the British society will have to wait longer for citizenship. Immigrants convicted of serious criminal offences could be barred from citizenship and those found guilty of minor crimes may face delays in having their applications processed. Those seeking citizenship will have to demonstrate a good ability in English and a knowledge of life in Britain. Immigrants who do no voluntary work will qualify only after eight years and those who become unemployed will be asked to leave. The government proposes to levy a top-up fee on immigrants to create a fund expected to run to 20 million pounds. Cash from the fund will be districted to local authorities facing short-term pressure because of an influx of migrants.
Sunday, February 28, 2010 HAVANA: Hundreds of wealthy merchants and cigar aficionados from all parts of the world gathered in Havana this week to bid high stakes for humidors full of premium cigars. Cuba's annual Habanos festival ended on Friday night with an auction of ornate humidors of cedar and mahogany stacked with hand-rolled stogies that raised 800,000 euros ($1.09 million dollars). Habanos S.A. executives this month said cigar sales fell 8 percent to $360 million in 2009, so they have created the Julieta, a smaller, milder version of the Romeo y Julieta cigar, aimed specifically at female smokers. Women now make up only 5 to 10 percent of customers for Habanos. But even with the creation of the Julieta, Garcia said Habanos has only modest hopes for 2010 sales, due largely to a weak economy in Spain, the biggest market for Cuban cigars. The flavor of premium tobacco relies on the soil and climate in which it is grown. The western province of Pinar Del Rio, famous fo...
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