Latest news with #Grigg
Scoop
a day ago
- Business
- Scoop
Fifth Year In A Row Of Equal Gender Representation On Public Sector Boards
Minister for Women For the fifth consecutive year, women's representation on public sector boards and committees has reached 50 percent or above, with women now holding 52.1 percent of public sector board roles, Minister for Women Nicola Grigg says. Ms Grigg announced the results of the 2024 stocktake of gender and ethnic diversity on public sector boards and committees at an Institute of Directors event on Wednesday. 'I am delighted to see that women's representation in public sector governance remains strong, and that women also continue to be well-represented in Board chair positions – at 44.5 percent. 'We know that having more women in leadership not only brings about greater diversity but is better for business with a positive impact on financial performance and better decision making.' Ms Grigg says that Māori and ethnic diversity on public sector boards has also increased since collection of ethnicity data began in 2019. 'There are many great women leaders in New Zealand who have achieved amazing things. A big part of what we need to do now is inspire the next generation of leaders, and this includes identifying, supporting, and growing future generations of women in governance. 'This is a great achievement, but the work is not done. It's taken a deliberate and coordinated effort to achieve this result, and we continue to focus on ensuring we have gender-balanced boards appointed on merit that result in better governance practices, decision-making and financial performance and, ultimately, better outcomes for New Zealanders.'
Time of India
4 days ago
- Climate
- Time of India
Alerts issued as more than 200,000 people in these US states told to stay indoors amid heightened risks
US states issue air quality alert Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel Three US states Michigan, Minnesota and South Carolina have asked people to stay indoors as air quality alerts were in effect across them on Monday morning, reports NewsWeek. Health officials said that vulnerable populations—such as children, older adults and individuals with existing respiratory issues—face heightened risks during periods of poor air matter from wildfire smoke can worsen asthma, trigger heart problems, and lower lung function in developing children, reports said. In Michigan and Minnesota, smoke from Canadian wildfires remains a major cause of concern. The National Weather Service (NWS) said smoke from fires in Manitoba and Saskatchewan is spreading south due to a cold counties affected included Mackinac, Chippewa, Menominee, Keweenaw, Dickinson, Iron, Marquette, Baraga, Schoolcraft, Houghton, Delta, Ontonagon, Gogebic, Luce and Alger, NewsWeek report said."It is recommended that, when possible, you avoid strenuous outdoor activities, especially those with heart disease and respiratory diseases such as asthma," read the entirety of Minnesota was also under air quality alert. People are being advised to avoid outdoor activity, especially strenuous exercise, stay indoors with windows closed, use air purifiers if available and avoid outdoor burning and other pollution-causing activities."A cold front will continue to drag smoke from large wildfires in Manitoba and Saskatchewan southward into Minnesota. This will be a long duration event with multiple rounds of smoke expected," read the air quality alert for an air quality alert had been issued for Catawba and Upstate regions of South Carolina. The alert said that weather conditions were expected to cause high ozone pollution levels."This has been further compounded by higher than projected ozone readings from over the weekend and an influence from interactions with the Canadian wildfire smoke that has poured across the Plains and Southeast," it of pediatric respiratory and environmental medicine Jonathan Grigg, with Queen Mary University of London, previously told Newsweek: "There are vulnerable groups and classically they are children because they've got an extra issue to do with their lungs developing, whereas our lungs are not developing as adults."Their trajectory can be deviated so they don't actually achieve their maximum lung function."There are also "very clear links" between inhaling particles and earlier death from both respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, Grigg Grigg said conditions such as asthma are also exacerbated by exposure to air May, when Florida's air turned toxic, more than 50,000 residents were warned to hunker down indoors as dangerous pollution levels warned it could cause coughing, breathing problems and exacerbate any chronic heart or lung conditions in sensitive groups, with older adults at risk because their bodies are less able to compensate for environmental hazards. According to the EPA, the orange AQI level (101–150) marks the point at which outdoor air becomes a threat to anyone with asthma, heart conditions, or other respiratory illnesses. Symptoms like coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, and even chest pain can appear or intensify - and for some, may require emergency medical intervention.
Newsweek
4 days ago
- Climate
- Newsweek
More Than 200,000 People Told To Stay Indoors in 3 States
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Air quality alerts were in effect across three states on Monday morning, with residents of Michigan, Minnesota and South Carolina warned of potential health impacts. Why It Matters Health officials say that vulnerable populations—such as children, older adults and individuals with existing respiratory issues—face heightened risks during periods of poor air quality. What To Know In Michigan and Minnesota, alerts were issued due to smoke impacts from Canadian wildfires, a notice posted by the National Weather Service (NWS) said. Michigan counties affected included Mackinac, Chippewa, Menominee, Keweenaw, Dickinson, Iron, Marquette, Baraga, Schoolcraft, Houghton, Delta, Ontonagon, Gogebic, Luce and Alger. "It is recommended that, when possible, you avoid strenuous outdoor activities, especially those with heart disease and respiratory diseases such as asthma," read the alert. The entirety of Minnesota was also under air quality alert. "A cold front will continue to drag smoke from large wildfires in Manitoba and Saskatchewan southward into Minnesota. This will be a long duration event with multiple rounds of smoke expected," read the air quality alert for Minnesota. A round of smoke was expected to arrive on Monday, it said, adding that the alert could potentially be extended as additional smoke waves were possible. Sensitive groups were advised to limit prolonged or heavy exertion, with authorities also cautioning against activities that contribute to air pollution, such as outdoor burning. "Keep windows closed overnight to prevent smoke from getting indoors," the alert added. Meanwhile, an air quality alert had been issued for Catawba and Upstate regions of South Carolina. The alert said that weather conditions were expected to cause high ozone pollution levels. "This has been further compounded by higher than projected ozone readings from over the weekend and an influence from interactions with the Canadian wildfire smoke that has poured across the Plains and Southeast," it added. What People Are Saying Professor of pediatric respiratory and environmental medicine Jonathan Grigg, with Queen Mary University of London, previously told Newsweek: "There are vulnerable groups and classically they are children because they've got an extra issue to do with their lungs developing, whereas our lungs are not developing as adults. "Their trajectory can be deviated so they don't actually achieve their maximum lung function." There are also "very clear links" between inhaling particles and earlier death from both respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, Grigg said. Additionally, Grigg said conditions such as asthma are also exacerbated by exposure to air pollution. What Happens Next At the time of writing, Minnesota's air quality alerts were set to remain in effect until 6 p.m. on Monday, while in South Carolina, the alert is to last until 8 p.m.
Scoop
30-04-2025
- Health
- Scoop
New Tools To Help Women Navigate Online Harm
A new toolkit to support women and their employers address online harm has been launched by Minister for Women, Nicola Grigg, at the Local Government New Zealand conference today. 'The prevalence of online harm has become a serious issue, disproportionately impacting women who are in the public eye. The growing phenomenon of online abuse has the very real potential to deter women from stepping into leadership roles and engaging in public and political life,' Ms Grigg says. 'The Ministry for Women's new online harm prevention toolkit has been developed in collaboration with the online safety organisation Netsafe. It includes interactive educational modules, practical resources, and real-world case studies from women in leadership and public-facing roles. It offers insights and strategies for overcoming digital harm. 'Research shows the alarming impact abuse and harassment on social media is having on women, particularly those in the public eye, including self-censoring, avoiding digital platforms, and generally having less contact with the public. 'This toolkit aims to ensure women have the tools to engage safely and confidently online, while helping to foster a more supportive digital environment for everyone. I encourage all workplaces to check out the new toolkit so that collectively we can call out online harm when we see it, and support those experiencing it.' The online harm prevention toolkit is available on both the Ministry for Women and Netsafe websites.
Newsweek
29-04-2025
- Climate
- Newsweek
Children Advised Against Going Outside in Parts of North Carolina
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Children and other sensitive groups are being urged to limit outdoor activity Tuesday in Jones County, North Carolina, where the state's Department of Environmental and Natural Resources has issued a Code Orange Air Quality Action Day as a large wildfire burns in the area. Why It Matters Health officials have emphasized that sensitive groups—including children, older adults, and people with preexisting respiratory conditions—are particularly at risk during periods of poor air quality. What To Know The Air Quality Index (AQI), which measures pollution, was forecast to reach the "unhealthy for sensitive groups category" in Jones County on Tuesday, with a value of 140, which is at the higher range of a Code Orange—a value over 150 is a Code Red, air quality that is unhealthy for everyone. The AQI's Code Orange says "older adults, children, active people, and those with heart or lung disease may experience health effects" and advises those groups to "limit prolonged or heavy exertion outdoors." According to officials, smoke from the Black Swamp fire prompted the alert. Officials noted that the fire had burned more than 850 acres in the Croatan National Forest. Satellite imagery has detected a visible smoke plume, and an inversion is forecasted to trap smoke near the surface through Tuesday morning, worsening air quality conditions. A temperature inversion occurs when a layer of warmer air sits above a layer of cooler air near the ground, reversing the normal temperature pattern (where air usually gets colder with altitude). This "inverted" layer acts like a lid, trapping the cooler air—and whatever pollutants it contains—close to the surface. Elsewhere in the state, yellow pollution levels were forecast in areas like Charlotte, Fayetteville, and Raleigh, where moderate air quality issues may still affect residents. A Code Yellow air quality alert signifies that the Air Quality Index is in the range of 51 to 100, indicating "Moderate" air quality. This level is generally acceptable for the general population; however, individuals who are unusually sensitive to air pollution may experience mild health effects. What People Are Saying Professor of pediatric respiratory and environmental medicine Jonathan Grigg, with Queen Mary, University of London told Newsweek: "There are vulnerable groups and classically they are children because they've got an extra issue to do with their lungs developing, whereas our lungs are not developing as adults. "Their trajectory can be deviated so they don't actually achieve their maximum lung function." There are also "very clear links" between inhaling particles and earlier death from both respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, Grigg said. Additionally, Grigg said conditions such as asthma are also exacerbated by exposure to air pollution. What Happens Next At the time of writing, the Code Orange Air Quality Action Day was in effect until midnight.
