UK - White Britons could also become a minority in Birmingham by the end of the decade. Large numbers of Eastern European immigrants could be behind the transformation of Leicester, Luton and Slough, the University of Manchester study said. In Luton, white Britons comprise 45 per cent of the population, Pakistanis make up 14 per cent and Bangladeshis seven per cent. The 2011 census revealed that white Britons were outnumbered in London, accounting for 44.9 per cent of the population.
USA - Europeans, take note: The US government has granted itself authority to secretly snoop on you. That’s according to a new report produced for the European Parliament, which has warned that a US spy law renewed late last year authorizes “purely political surveillance on foreigners' data” if it is stored using US cloud services like those provided by Google, Microsoft and Facebook. The latest report uses words like “heavy-calibre mass surveillance fire-power aimed at the cloud” — the kind of language that can’t be brushed under the carpet for long.
INDIA - Paving the way for other nations to introduce similar legislation and inform consumers what they’re really putting into their mouths, the labelling of products containing genetically modified organisms (GMOs) within the nation of India is now mandated by law. The country’s Ministry of Consumer Affairs declared in a June 5, 2012 notice that all GMO-containing packaged foods must be labeled by January 1, 2013 or face legal repercussions. The move also comes after other countries like Poland already took moves to ban Monsanto’s genetically modified maize. Even states like New Mexico and Washington are now pushing forward with legislation that would make labelling mandatory.
UK - The world's climate could be hijacked by a rogue country or wealthy individual firing small particles into the stratosphere, claims a warning that comes not from a new Hollywood movie trailer but a sober report from the World Economic Forum (WEF).
BRUSSELS, EUROPE - In total the European Parliament, which sits in Brussels and Strasbourg, costs £1.3 billion a year to run, compared with £494 million for the Westminster Parliament. Treasury minister Lord Sassoon released the figures in a written answer in the House of Lords. Lord Stoddart said: “These are eye watering figures that make Westminster look like very good value for money.” The £1.79 million cost for each Euro MP includes their £80,000 salaries, pensions and travel expenses - plus the costs of running the EU Parliament. Shuttling MEPs and staff between two centres costs £200 million alone.
USA - President Obama’s affinity for Islam and the Muslim Brotherhood is apparent with six particular appointees in his administration who are associated with the Brotherhood.
UK - Dr Whitehouse notes that this is a sad betrayal of the Met Office’s traditional role: ‘When it comes to four or five-day weather forecasting, the Met Office is the best in the world,’ he says. ‘The tragedy is that, for the most part, the Met Office thinks weather forecasting is beneath it. Climate change is more glamorous — and brings in more money.’
USA/UK - The Obama administration has publicly expressed concern about the impact of a UK referendum on its future relationship with the EU. Philip Gordon, a senior official in the US State Department, said it was in America's interests to see a "strong British voice within the EU". "Referendums have often turned countries inwards," he added. "The more the EU reflects on its internal debate, the less it is able to be unified." The comments come as David Cameron prepares to make a major speech later this month on future European policy.
UK/EUROPE - David Cameron has been warned that there might be no chance for him to demand the return of powers from the European Union to Britain in the foreseeable future. Herman Van Rompuy said that the question would not arise until late 2014.
UK/EUROPE - The prospect of Britain leaving the European Union has replaced the threat of a Greek exit from the euro as a “big challenge” facing Europe this year, the Irish government has admitted. The question of Britain leaving the EU or entering into a looser economic relationship with it has moved to the top of the EU’s political agenda as the eurozone starts to look at treaty change that moves towards creating a European federal super-state.
TOKYO, JAPAN - Since the Great Tohoku Earthquake of March 2011, scientists have been anxiously watching the massive volcano known as Mount Fuji for signs of activity.
BERLIN, GERMANY - German government advisors in Berlin are urging utter restraint in acquiring drones for the German Bundeswehr and pleading that fully automatic weapons platforms be internationally outlawed.
RUSSIA - These days, there are few things to admire about the socialist, bankrupt and culturally degenerating USA, but at least so far, one thing remains: the right to bear arms and use deadly force to defend one's self and possessions.
USA - Vice President Joe Biden revealed that President Barack Obama might use an executive order to deal with guns. "The president is going to act," said [Mr] Biden, giving some comments to the press before a meeting with victims of gun violence. "There are executive orders, there's executive action that can be taken. We haven't decided what that is yet. But we're compiling it all with the help of the attorney general and the rest of the cabinet members as well as legislative action that we believe is required." [Mr] Biden said that this is a moral issue and that "it's critically important that we act."
GERMANY - The urgently needed bailout of the Cypriot banking industry is in danger of being vetoed by the German parliament. The opposition Social Democrats say they are leaning towards voting no, according to a media report. With Chancellor Merkel unable to rely on her own majority, that could be bad news for Cyprus and for the euro. "As things currently stand, I can't imagine German taxpayers bailing out Cypriot banks, whose business model depends on abetting tax fraud," SPD head Sigmar Gabriel told the Süddeutsche Zeitung in comments published Wednesday.