Almost 700 Britons moved abroad every day last year, it was claimed last week. A record 250,000 emigrated in 2007 many because they wanted to escape the high level of crime and taxes.
The exodus is a fifth more than the 207,000 who left in 2006 and a jump of 70 percent on the 149,000 in 1997. It is the equivalent to 684 every day or one every two minutes, according to Government figures due to be released later this year. The population of England alone will go up by nearly 10 million in the next 75 years and people are realising we cannot absorb immigrants on that scale said Sir Andrew Green, chairman of Migration watch. Most of Britons who moved abroad went to Australia, New Zealand, France, Spain or the U.S. Now White Britons will become a minority in a dozen towns and cities within 30 years a study has revealed. Record levels of immigrants combined with higher birth rate among newcomers will create a string of "superdiverse" cities where no single group will form a majority. Leicester where whites will form less than 50 per cent of the population by 2020 will be followed by Birmingham in 2024, then Slough and Luton, the University of Sheffield survey found.
TAKING BRITISH NAMES
SOARING numbers of immigrants are changing their names to British ones like Barry Roberts. That is the name a refugee from Uzbekistan called Aviar Jon Akherov gave himself. The UK Deed Poll Servivce said that there was 20% surge in immigrants taking British names.
HEATHROW' 'IS SET TO REMAIN WORLD LEADER'
HEATHROW will remain undisputed number one international airport, according to the latest forecast by Airbus. The planemaker says the airline industry will order 24,300 planes worth $2.8 thrillion (£1.45 trillion) between now and 2026. Demand will be driven by the emergency of China,India and Russia, the continued rise of low-cost carriers, and the need to replace more than 9o% of the world's current 15.000 aircraft with more environmentally sound planes. Airbus predicts that up to 90 A380s a day will fly in and out of London by 2020.
TALKING ABOUT FLYING
Last year was one of the safest ever for flying, a watchdog said last month with the fewest crashes since 1963, There were 136 down from 164 in 2006 resulting in 965 deaths - a fall of 25 per cent on the previous year said the Aircraft Crashes Record Office in Geneva. The worst killed 199 when a jet hit a building in Sao Paolo, Brazil in July. Air travel rose by three per cent about 2.2.billion passengers.
READY MEALS TO GET SLIM
Ready meals designed to help you lose weight could soon be on supermarket shelves. UK scientists are developing natural food additives that curb hunger. They could be used in fast food as well as "moreish" products like cakes and biscuits within two years. The additives fatty molescules called lipids block the breakdown of fat in the gut. This triggers a message to the brain that the body has eaten enough. One snag will be in persuading manufacturers to use ingredients which will make people want to eat less. Dr. Peter Wilde, of the Institute of Food Research in Norwich , told a London meeting "It's going to be a tricky one to sell But it is hoped firms could be convinced by the marketing potential of satisfying snacks that help slimming.
More than one million prescriptions for weight loss pills are doled out a year Eight times as many as nine years ago. And the cost of the drugs to the NHS has rocketed to £47 million from £4.9 million in 1999. GP's in England issued 1.06 million prescriptions for orlistat, which blocks fat absorption and sibutramine, in 2006 - up from 127,000 in 1999. The Health and Social Care Information Centre report also shows 67 per cent of adults were obese or overweight in 2006 up from 59 per cent in 1993.
PARENTS IN OBESE ROW
PARENTS are to blame for Britain's obesity crisis, which costs the economy £45 billion a year. Three in four adults said mums and dads make their children fat, while 49% of those surveyed blamed food manufacturers. Only 38% believe lack of sporting facilities is behind the problem, according to Benenden Healthcare. A recent Government report predicted that obesity will cost the UK £45bn a year by 2050. A Benenden spokesperson said: "If people take their own advice and start to tackle the obesity issue, it will not only save money for the NHS but also lead to a healthier debate.." The cost of raising a child has soared by a third in the past five years to an average of more than £186.000 research revealed last month. Bringing up a child from birth to 21 costs the equivalent of £8,858 a year, £738 a month or £ 24,30 a day said friendly society Liverpool Victoria. And the society predicted costs would rocket by an amazing 42 per cent between now and 2012. Childcare remains the single biggest cost, with the average family facing a £50.538 bill. Overall Liverpool Victoria estimated that raising all the children born in the UK during 2006 will be £140Billion excluding inflation. Communication director Nigel Snell said.."Sacrifices have to be made in the early years.".
NO MINISKIRTS FOR ASCOT
ROYAL Ascot has banned bare midriffs and miniskirts in an attempt to halt increasingly casual dress. Instructions have been sent to the 80,000 Royal Enclosure badge-holders specifying what they cannot wear after complaints from racegoers last year. Shoulder straps no thinner than an inch, halterneck and off-the-shoulder dresses are banned and a hat for women is obligatory.
THE MID-LIFE MISERIES
MIDDLE age is the most miserable time of life, a study has found. Scientists discovered that on average age 44 was the unhappiest year. The cause is unknown but it affects all kinds of people globally. Only in their 50s do most feel better and by the age of 70 they are as happy as at 20. A million people took part in the survey. Professor Andrew Oswald of Warwick University said.."Maybe people in mid life quell unfeasible aspirations..and people learn to adapt with age- another is that cheerful folk live longer.
LAZY FRIDAY
WORKERS are most productive on Tuesday and laziest on Friday, according to a new research. The study found the average amount of time worked on the last day of the working week was 317 minutes compared with 360 minutes on a Tuesday. London's Centre for Economic Performance found workers were sluggish on Monday, perked up on Tuesday then became tired as the week went on. It advised bosses to concentrate employees' hours in the middle of the week, introduce flexible hours and shift bank holidays from Monday to Fridays. And one in ten workers who drive as part of their job has fallen asleep at the wheel in the past year a survey reveals. The shock figure is more than double that for normal motorists which is one in 25. An estimated six people die every week in the UK in crashes caused by tired drivers. One of the main causes is not enough sleep the night before, said road safety campaigner Brake. The charity is urging all firms who use professional drivers like cabbies, truckers or sales reps - to have policies to prevent tired driving.
NO FOREIGN POLICE AT OLYMPICS
FOREIGN police forces will not be allowed to bring armed officers to the London Olympics, a senior Met officer said. Assistant Commissioner Tarique Ghaffur told a London Assembly committee there were no plans to change the "absolutely clear" regulations which ban countries from bringing their own armed security. Mr, Ghaffur said "I don't want to change the look and feel of how we police these events in London. I don't want foreign armed police here. I want to police the Games with a lighter touch." He admitted he could offer no guarantee that participating countries would not end up bringing armed police. The Olympics are a terrorist target and the budget for policing and security is now £ 838 million. Talking about the Olympics... all 15,000 workers at the 2012 Olympics building site will have two security checks a day. Test will include face and hand-print recognition and eye scans. The move is designed to avoid sabotage when work begins on the site in East London in April. Nearly 50 firms will be involved, including roofers, bricklayers and electricians. However, building union Ucatt is warning of strikes because no uniform rate of pay has been decided.
BRITAIN HAS A GOOD STANDARD OF LIVING
BRITAIN is the third most expensive country in the world to have a good standard of living. Money would go further in every country apart from Norway and France, according to a poll for HSBC bank. It found that to maintain the same standard of living, a typical annual UK salary would run out after 11 months in Norway. But the money would last four years in Iran and 15 months on Spain's Costas. For the first time in more than 100 years, British living standards have risen above those of Americans, a report declared last month. Increasing incomes, longer holidays and "free" healthcare have all contributed to make Britons better off than our friends across the Atlantic, according to the respected Oxford Economics consultancy. But the average Briton does not actually feel more wealthy than his or her American counterpart. Goods and sevices are cheaper in the U.S. meaning that even if they are earning less they can afford to buy more.
NOT SAFE TO BE WALKING IN THE STREETS OF LONDON AT NIGHT
HOME Secretary Jaqui Smith admitted she would not feel safe walking in the streets of London at night -even in the poshest areas. More than one in five women has been stalked. The British Crime Survey reported that 22,3 per cent of women and 12.7 per cent of men - had experienced stalking at least once since the age of 16. Of the women, 12 per cent had received obscene or threatening phone calls and eight per cent had been sent similar letters.
COCAINE IS ON THE RISE AGAIN
COCAINE use among young people in Britain is on the rise after three years of decline. a survey showed last week. More than one fifth of 16 to 24 year-olds admitted using the drug once a month, with 14.2 per cent in 2004-2005 and 17.2 per cent in 2003 2004 according to the European Union's drugs agency. Meanwhile cannabis use in UK has fallen from 46.9 per in 2003 -'2004 to 41.2 per cent today.
PC GETS LIPPY
BRITISH boffins are developing a machine that can LIP-READ thugs -to help cops fight crime. The computer will "hear" what criminals caught on surveillance tapes are saying. It is being developed due to a shortage of human lip-readers. Teams at the universities of East Anglia and Surrey are using ALI G videos to analyse youth language for the project. Prof. Richard Harvey of East Anglia, said. "There is a real need for a system like this.."
WIND OF CHANGE
EVERY UK household could be powered by off-shore wind farms by 2020. Government plans could see up to 7,000 turbines installed to boost wind-produced energy 60-fold Business Secretary John Hutton admitted the move would change the UK coastline and lead to higher electricity bills. Britain is to be ordered by the European Union to increase the amount of energy produced by solar, wind and wave power. Brussels wants the amount of energy from"renewable" sources increased from two per cent to 13 and 14 per cent by 2020. Britain has the worst record among the major European countries for using renewables.
BAN EMAILS TO SLEEP
WANT a good night's sleep? Then ignore your mobile, laptop for at least an hour before lights out, experts say. Checking work emails before bed is like drinking a double espresso, claims Dr.Chris Idzikowski of the Edinburgh Sleep Centre. Light from an electronic screen stops the brain making the sleep hormone melatonin. The average Briton suffers an estimated 55 disturbed nights a year.
SUFFERING FROM DEPRESSION?
A MOOD-boosting hormone is being hailed as a breakthrough cure for depression. Scientists say the chemical, which is produced naturally by the kidneys, could offer hope to thousands who suffer mental health problems, A study by Oxford scientists has revealed the hormone, called Epo is fast acting and more effective than anti-depressant pills. It can also reverse the damaging effects of stress by helping to rebuild nerve cells.
KEEP THE ROYAL FAMILY
SEVEN out of 10 young adults want to keep the Royal family, a survey reveals most are against a republic despite more than half 18 to 24-year-olds saying the monarchy do not give value for money. Ex-BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond said of the Discovery Channel poll: The Queen should give herself a pat on the back for a job well done.." More than half of Brits. want Prince William crowned king ahead of Prince Charles. And his popularity comes mainly from the younger generation with 70% of 18-23-years olds wanted Williams to rule. And 51% believe his girlfriend Kate Middleton 25 would make a good royal.
BUILDERS HAVE A TEA BREAK
BUILDERS need about 9,500 cups of tea to build the average three-bedroom house, research claims. Britain's brickies get through more than three million cuppas every day, taking an average of four breaks. Three quarters say regular tea breaks make them more productive at work. Seven out of ten say the drink has relaxing and stress-relieving properties while 80 per cent say it helps them bond with fellow workers. Just eight per cent of builders choose coffee over tea, a poll of 100 building firms says.
NO MORE SMOKING
A BILLION fewer cigarettes have been sold as the smoking ban bites, figures showed last month Jubilant anti-smoking crusaders said the slump justified last July's ban on smoking in public. The cigarette ban has led to record numbers of shivering smokers coughing up for cold remedies.
Sales of cough medicines and tissues have risen by 137% compared to this time last year' Hordes of pavement puffers who have to nip outside offices, bars clubs and restaurants in icy weather are feeling the full force of the ban.
THE END OF THE PLASTIC CARRIER BAGS
PLASTIC carrier bags are to be banned from shops across the country within two years Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Environment Secretary Hilary Benn both back the plan, having ruled out plans for shoppers to pay a "carrier bag" More than 13 BILLION plastic bags are given away to shoppers each year, with eight billion ending up in rubbish tips. Supermarket carrier bags are used for an average of 20 minutes . Retailers have protested that a plastic bag ban might cut their profits, with people not buying something if they can't carry it home easily.
Gerd is a freelance writer living in England. Gerd is the author of “GOODBYE YESTERDAY”
