Politics

EU Elections Update
‘EU elections have turned out to be what most experts expected. There was a sharp shift to the right, with many far-right parties securing extraordinary parts of the vote, some even winning the elections. Meanwhile, the EPP, led by Jean-Claude Juncker, came out as the biggest party, thus prompting a call for their leader being the new president of the EU Commission. While he has been able to strike a deal with competitor Martin Schulz to have his support in the EU parliament, some European leaders, spearheaded by David Cameron, may still be able to hijack his claim in the Council of Ministers.’

Green

EPA Grows Its Climate Change Trends List
The U.S. environmental agency has added four new trends to its list: lyme disease, heating and cooling days, wildfires, and temperature and water levels in the Great Lakes. The EPA’s list of 30 trends indicates that climate change is happening right now. Lyme disease cases in the U.S have doubled since 1991 and they are continuing to rise. The cases aren’t completely attributed to climate change, but climate change is a contributing factor to the increase.
Read more on The Hill

Chevron Dims the Lights on Green Power
Chevron has a renewable power division and the division was actually profitable last year. The division has launched about six solar- and geothermal-power projects in its eight-year existence, but Chevron is cutting off funding to the group to invest in oil and gas projects instead. Former employees say leadership wasn’t all that committed to renewable energy, especially when there’s still a profitable oil and gas business.
Read more on Businessweek

Women

Virgin Accused of Hypocrisy Over Deportation Of Mum Whose Daughters Face FGM
Richard Branson and Virgin Airlines have been accused of hypocrisy after refusing to block the extradition of an asylum seeker and her two children, who allegedly face FGM (forced genital mutilation) in Nigeria. The airline and its founder have been bombarded with pleas to stop Afusat Saliu and her daughters Bassy and Rasidat being deported, because of claims her abusive husband will taking the girls to have their genitals mutilated.
Read more on Huffington Post

Human Rights

UN to Set Up New Seoul Office to Investigate Human Rights Abuses in North Korea
Earlier this year, the UN Commission of Inquiry into North Korea human rights proposed the establishment of such an office to focus on North Korean human rights issues exclusively. The idea for the new UN office is to improve the efficiency of investigations into human rights violations as well reduce the frequency and intensity of those violations.
Read more on the Guardian

Health

‘Resist Urge To Control E-Cigarettes’, WHO Told
A letter signed by more than 50 researchers and public health specialists is urging the World Health Organization (WHO) to “resist the urge to control and suppress e-cigarettes”. The letter says the devices – which deliver nicotine in a vapour – could be a “significant health innovation”. But the UK’s Faculty of Public Health says it is too early to know whether benefits outweigh potential risks. The WHO said it was still deciding what recommendations to make to governments.
Read more on BBC News