Britain to cut Global Warming

BRITAIN won’t reach its targets for helping to cut global warming experts warned last month, we will not slash our carbon dioxide emissions by 34 per cent by 2020 as planned.

   The Government will also miss the EU target of producing 15 per cent of energy by wind power, solar panels and other green sources.

   Analysts Cambridge Econometrics calls for “strong action soon”.

Plunging pound boost London

THE PLUNGING pound has propelled London into the Top Ten world’s best-value destination according to Lonely Planet. The guide introduces its Best in Travel 2010 by saying of London “Ever economic crisis has a silver lining.”

Obesity patients soar 60% in a year

THE NUMBER of people ending up in hospital because they are too fat has soared by 60 per cent in just one year, and in the past five years the numbers needing care because they are dangerously overweight has more than quadrupled

   There were 8,085 admissions for obesity in 2008/9 in England – up from 5,056 in 2007/8 (13 million) and a 20 per cent increase on 2007/8 ( 11.8 million)

   There were over five million emergency admissions, 5 per cent up on 2007/08 (4.8 million).

   Tam Fry of the National Obesity Forum said “The obesity problem is like a tsunami and we are going to see more and more people in hospital.”

Artificial nose will sniff out book’ condition

SCIENTISTS have devised an artificial nose that can assess the condition of ancient books by smell. They say that the non-destructive “sniff” test could help libraries and museum archives to preserve precious historical documents as they degrade with age. Matija Strlic, a Chemist at University College London who led the study said “Having seen conservators sniffing papers to tell them apart, we decided it was worth trying to devise an artificial version.” Usually scientific analysis of historical documents requires a small sample of paper to be removed or for the paper to be moistened. Neither of these are things you want to do to the edge of a Da Vinci drawing.” Dr. Strlic said, the new technique could be carried out without damaging or even touching the book. The British Library, which took part in the planning stage of the project, is hoping to use the device. The artificial nose, picks up the hundreds of odour molecules released from the book, volatile organic compounds using a silicone sampling strip.

Brits change their spending habits

MORE than half of all Brits have changed their spending habits for good thanks to the recession a poll revealed. Nearly 60 per cent have cut on-the-go snacks and 45 per cent buy fewer clothes than a year ago. Overall 52 per cent say shopping habits have changed long-term said accounting giant Deloitte.

Fighting Pneumonia killer

UNITED NATIONS officials said £23.7 billion is needed over six years to fight pneumonia, the “secret” major killer of children. Its toll linked to poverty and malnutrition, is higher than Aids, malaria and measles combined. Now the first World Pneumonia Day and a target was set to prevent more than five million deaths by 2015.

“Fear detector” to sniff out terrorists

A DEVICE which can smell human fear could be smelling out terrorists. The technology being worked on by British scientists relies on recognising the scent given off by people when tending to sweat when they are scared. Prof Tong Tun of City University London said “The challenge lies in identifying the chemical that gives away the signature of human fear, especially the fear in relation to criminal acts.” It is hoped the fear detection could be used at check points such as airports. Evidence that the smell of fear exists was uncovered by US scientist’s last year who studied the under-arm secretions of terrified novice skydivers.

A Black Mayor for London?

BRITAIN will experience the ‘Obama Effect’ in full when a back man or woman becomes Mayor in London according to one of the country’s leading playwright’s.

   Kwame Kwei-Armah believes the election of a black Mayor would be a “true symbol of progress”, as about 45 per cent of central Londoners will be from ethnic community by polling day in 2012.

EU plan to track your car

BRIT drivers could soon have to fit aircraft -style black boxes to help police sort out who in their cars are to blame for crashes.

The EU wants the boxes which record 20 types of data including brakes and indicator use to be compulsory on all cars. Expertss said they will stop bogus insurance claims as companies can check drivers accounts of accidents against what really happened.

Britons plan to cut back on Christmas

THERE was a blow to retailers last week when a survey revealed Britons plan to cut back Christmas spending. Research by Broker Execution shows that shoppers in the UK will spend an average of £358 on presents this year, 4% down on a year ago. Execution Analyst, Carolline Gulliver said, “With many still believing the spectre of unemployment hangs over them and half thinking their tax bill will rise, people are cutting back spending.”

 Londoners travelling to work

LONDONERS travelling to work now regularly take over £3,000 worth of technology with them. A study of more than 1,000 commuters found greater numbers are carrying laptops, music players and games machines together, the research by esure also found rising numbers carry two mobile phones.

Briton’s have five lives

THE AVERAGE Briton has five near death experiences during their life, a poll found. Forty per cent of us claim to have seen our life flash before our eyes during a car crash, A third claim to have survived a high-voltage electric shock and almost as many have lived through a serious natural disaster. Pete Markey of ‘More Than Life Insurance’ which commissioned the servey said “Life is precious and many Brits seem to have had a heck of a lot of lucky escapes.”

No seven year itch

FORGET the seven-year itch; spouses now have to worry about the 11-year split. That is the average length modern partnerships survive, according to the Office for National Statistics.

   Tory MP Iain Duncan Smith, who chairs the Centre for Social Justice said people should  have realistic expectations. “Marriage is on average not going to be for life but that doesn’t mean those 11 years would be better spent apart.” he said.

Are you flying on holiday?

AIR RAGE is on the increase – and alcohol is the main cause. There were 3,485 reported incidents of dangerous behaviour aboard UK aircraft in the year to March 2009, a rise on the previous year’s figure of 2,702 the Department for Transport said last month.

   The number of incidents classed as serious rose from 31 in 2007-8 to 44 in 2008-9. Passengers had to be restrained in 29 cases and 13 planes had to be diverted.

   There were 796 reports of passenger arguing with crew and 106 of violence towards crew. Alcohol was involved in 37 per cent of incidents and 30 per cent of these involved passengers drinking their own booze. In 10 per cent of cases offenders were thrown off planes before takeoff, only 18 per cent of incidents indicated offenders’ ages however the most common age group for go-on board disruption was the 30 to 39-year-olds.