Latest news with #riskassessment
Irish Times
4 hours ago
- Business
- Irish Times
Communications, transport and health of older people at increased risk from global warming, says EPA
There are 43 significant and immediate climate risks to Ireland, according to the first national risk assessment of the consequences of global warming. They range across all major sectors of the economy, but risk is highest in energy , transport, communications, water security and food production. Climate impacts in one sector, especially linked to critical infrastructure, 'has the potential to cascade and impact on other systems', the assessment warns. It highlights recent storms, Éowyn and Darragh, where electricity, water supply and communications were disrupted simultaneously due to power outages that quickly escalated across regions. READ MORE Published by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Wednesday, the assessment also analyses broader societal risks to public health and the country's biodiversity and ecosystems. It identifies and ranks 115 risks arising from climate change that is already happening, stating what should be responded to first. The most significant risks, which require action within the next five years, involves damage to communications and energy distribution infrastructure. The damage is likely to be caused by extreme wind. Separately, there is heightened risk of disruption and damage to buildings and transport infrastructure 'due to extreme wind, coastal erosion and coastal flooding'. We know Ireland is being impacted by climate change already — Laura Burke Additional risks that should be prioritised for further investigation in the next five years include the built environment and human health from flooding and prolonged heat, with older people particularly vulnerable. The assessment is designed to provide the Government, businesses and communities with the best available evidence to inform climate adaptation. It was undertaken with Government departments, State agencies and other stakeholders to assess where, when and how climate risks are likely to materialise. The assessment will guide development of sectoral adaptation plans, where key actions are set out and further investigation of threats are carried out by key government departments. 'We know Ireland is being impacted by climate change already,' said EPA director general Laura Burke. 'This comprehensive assessment highlights the need for additional urgent action to ensure Ireland is sustainably resilient to risks that we currently face, and will increasingly experience, in coming decades. '[It] clearly shows how risks cascade across sectors. Recent events, such as Storms Darragh and Éowyn, demonstrated how damage to critical infrastructure such as energy, water supply, transport and communications networks in turn give rise to impacts on human health, biodiversity and the financial system.' Addressing these risks in an integrated and consistent way will be key to achieving 'climate resilience' for the entire country, Ms Burke said. Assessing climate risk is a key component of risk management and strategic planning, said Dr Eimear Cotter, director of the EPA Office of Evidence and Assessment. [ Scientists accuse Ireland of 'accounting trick' to justify livestock emissions Opens in new window ] [ We cannot continue with dirty, scarce and expensive energy to power our society Opens in new window ] 'The assessment underscores the need for immediate action in the next five years to enhance the resilience of Ireland's critical infrastructure to climate change. The risks with the most consequential and highest urgency ratings relate to extreme wind, coastal erosion and coastal flooding,' she said. Dr Cotter added that the findings must ensure adaptation planning in Ireland 'is appropriately integrated across sectors'. The assessment does not focus on environmental pressures, such as pollution, habitat destruction or population growth. However, 'these pressures will be increasingly compounded by climate impacts as time goes on'. The report is available on the EPA website and the Climate Ireland adaptation portal.
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- General
- Daily Mail
Test ALL women for breast cancer from age 30 - one in five are 'at higher risk', warns top expert
Millions of women in England could soon be offered breast cancer checks in their 30s on the NHS. Currently, all women aged between 50 and 70 are invited for screening every three years, with the first invitation between the age of 50 and 53. But every year, more than 10,000 British women who are too young to be offered a check are diagnosed with the disease, with 2,000 deaths among those below the age of 50. Now, a groundbreaking new trial has found almost one in five women tested in their thirties have an increased risk of developing breast cancer. Dr Sacha Howell, a consultant at the world-renowned Christie hospital in Manchester who led the study, said all women should now undergo a 'comprehensive risk assessment' from the age of 30. He was also Girls Aloud singer Sarah Harding's consultant when she was being treated at the Christie. She was 39 when she died from triple negative breast cancer in 2021, a little over a year after being diagnosed. One of her final wishes was to find new ways of spotting breast cancer early, when it is more treatable. Ms Harding's former bandmates said the findings were 'astounding' and that the singer, who died in 2021, would have been 'thrilled' that her legacy was making such a difference. The study, funded by the Sarah Harding Breast Cancer Appeal, began in May 2023 and has recruited 719 women from the Greater Manchester and Cheshire area aged 30 to 39. Women who take part are asked to complete a questionnaire, have a risk assessment mammogram and provide a saliva sample for genetic testing. So far, of the 548 cases analysed, 104 (19 per cent) were identified as higher-than-average risk. All are now being offered tailored health advice, including how to cut their risk of cancer through diet and exercise, with annual mammograms scheduled once they cross risk thresholds. The definition of 'higher risk' means a 3 per cent chance of developing breast cancer in the next 10 years. This is the average risk for a woman aged 50 and over, which is why mammograms are offered routinely then. The trial is also being expanded to other hospitals across the UK as senior NHS officials develop a national cancer plan, which will aim to improve diagnosis and treatment. Dr Howell said: 'About two thirds of women who develop breast cancer don't have a family history of it. 'What we want to do is to try and identify women at increased risk so that we can start screening early and reduce the chances of these women dying. 'I would like all women over 30 to have a breast-cancer risk assessment; that doesn't have to be a mammogram, probably the most powerful part of this is the DNA analysis.' On Saturday, he will chair a panel on prevention, risk reduction and genetics at the world's largest cancer conference, held by the American Society of Clinical Oncology in Chicago. In a statement, Girls Aloud—Cheryl Tweedy, Nadine Coyle, Nicola Roberts and Kimberley Walsh—also said: 'To hear that women who had no idea they could be at risk of breast cancer are being identified and able to take preventative measures is astounding. 'This study in Sarah's name has the potential to be lifesaving and we are hopeful the results will be rolled out across the UK allowing doctors to predict and prevent breast cancer for many women. 'Sarah was an amazing woman and we couldn't be more proud of the legacy she has left.' One in seven women in the UK are diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime around 56,000 a year—making it the most common cancer in the UK. The figure stands at roughly 300,000 annually in the US. Around 85 per cent of women diagnosed with breast cancer survive more than five years. Earlier this year, however, a shock NHS survey found women are avoiding mammograms because they are worried about being topless, think it will hurt, or haven't found a lump. The poll of 2,000 women found 16 per cent claimed they would not or were not sure they would attend a breast screening if invited. When asked why, 21 per cent said they would be embarrassed to be topless in front of someone else. Almost one in five also said they would not get a mammogram because they don't have potential breast cancer symptoms, like having found a lump. Figures show that currently a third of women asked for screening do not attend. That rises to almost half of women who are invited for the first time.
The Guardian
4 days ago
- Health
- The Guardian
NHS could start offering breast cancer checks to women in their thirties
Millions of women in their thirties could be offered breast cancer checks on the NHS after a world-first trial identified those with a higher risk of developing the disease. Currently, women are only eligible for breast screening from the age of 50. But about 10,000 women under 50 are diagnosed with breast cancer in the UK each year, including 2,400 in their thirties. Breast cancer is the leading cause of death in women aged 35 to 50. Now doctors leading a major study named in memory of the singer Sarah Harding say all women should undergo a comprehensive risk assessment when they turn 30. Harding, who was part of the pop group Girls Aloud, died from the disease aged 39 in 2021 and one of her final wishes was to find new ways of spotting breast cancer early, when it is more treatable. The Breast Cancer Risk Assessment in Young Women (Bcan-Ray) project, run by the Christie hospital in Manchester where Harding was treated, is the first of its kind in the world to identify which younger women are at increased risk of the disease. Early results from the study show that about one in five women aged between 30 and 39 years old have been identified at increased risk. They are being given information on steps they can take to reduce their odds of developing the disease. They will also be offered yearly check-ups until they reach the age when they are eligible for NHS breast cancer screening at the age of 50. In a statement, Girls Aloud – Cheryl Tweedy, Nadine Coyle, Nicola Roberts and Kimberley Walsh – said Harding would be 'thrilled' by the early results from the Bcan-Ray study. 'To hear that women who had no idea they could be at risk of breast cancer are being identified and able to take preventative measures is astounding. 'This study in Sarah's name has the potential to be lifesaving and we are hopeful the results will be rolled out across the UK allowing doctors to predict and prevent breast cancer for many women. Sarah was an amazing woman and we couldn't be more proud of the legacy she has left.' The study, funded by the Christie Charity's Sarah Harding Breast Cancer Appeal, began in May 2023 and has recruited 719 women from the Greater Manchester and Cheshire area aged 30 to 39. Women who take part are asked to complete a questionnaire, have a risk assessment mammogram and provide a saliva sample for genetic testing. Information from the mammogram and the genetic test are then combined with other factors such as when a woman's periods started, alcohol consumption and use of the contraceptive pill, to provide a personalised breast cancer risk score. To date, researchers have calculated a risk score for 548, with 104 found to be at 'increased risk'. Those at increased risk have consultations to discuss the implication of their increase in risk, including strategies to reduce risk through exercise, diet and medication advice. Early breast screening is offered when the risk hits a certain level, which is at different ages for each woman. The trial is being expanded to other hospitals across the UK as senior NHS officials develop a national cancer plan, which will aim to improve diagnosis and treatment. The study is being led by Dr Sacha Howell, who was Harding's consultant when she was being treated at the Christie. On Saturday, he will chair a panel on prevention, risk reduction and genetics at the world's largest cancer conference, the American Society of Clinical Oncology's annual meeting, in Chicago. Speaking before the discussion, Howell said all women should undergo 'comprehensive risk assessment' from the age of 30. This would mean DNA tests and health questionnaires as a minimum, with annual mammograms for some. 'Breast cancer is the most common cause of death in women aged 35 to 50 in this country and about two-thirds of women who develop breast cancer don't have a family history of it.' He added: 'What we want to do is to try and identify women at increased risk so that we can start screening early and reduce the chances of these women dying.' The definition of 'higher risk' means a 3% chance of developing breast cancer in the next 10 years. This is the average risk for a woman aged 50 and over, which is why mammograms are offered routinely then. The Christie project is one of the world's first research programmes to identify breast cancer risks in younger women without a family history of the disease – mirroring Harding's own experience. Howell said the singer had spoken to him many times about 'wanting to leave a legacy for future women'. Final results are expected o be published next year and fed into the UK national screening committee, after which trials may be rolled out more widely to determine whether all women in their thirties should be offered risk screening. 'I would like all women over 30 to have a breast cancer risk assessment,' Howell said. 'That doesn't have to be a mammogram, probably the most powerful part of this is the DNA analysis.' Prof Peter Johnson, the NHS national clinical director for cancer, said: 'We are working closely with government on a national cancer plan to ensure the NHS continues to deliver progress in diagnosing more cancers earlier and saving lives, and this research provides valuable information about the potential for more personalised approaches to screening. 'If women are worried about any symptoms, whatever their age, or if they notice a change in their bodies or something that's unusual for them, then I would encourage them to contact their GP.'
CBS News
09-05-2025
- CBS News
Judge in Menendez brothers case expected to consider removal of LA County DA, parole board's risk assessment
The judge in the Menendez brothers case is expected to make a decision on Friday on whether Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman should remain on the case and if a parole board's risk assessment should be allowed. On April 17, Judge Michael Jesic said the court needed to evaluate whether a comprehensive risk assessment report conducted by the parole board could be used during proceedings. Before the hearing, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman filed a motion to delay it after his office was sent a copy of the report. Ted Soqui/Sygma via Getty Images During the hearing, the Menendez brothers' attorney Mark Geragos said he had not seen the report and argued it shouldn't be used due to executive privilege and lack of finality. Geragos accused the district attorney's office of "showboating and crossing the line" several times throughout the case. Habib Balian, representing the DA's office, told the judge that when they received the risk assessment, they were unaware if it was bound by executive privilege and assumed that all parties in the case could access it. Balian said that the hearing is supposed to assess risk and assumed the court would want to do that comprehensively. The hearing was able to take place after Jesic ruled in favor of the Menendez brothers, declining Hochman's request to have former DA George Gascón's resentencing motion withdrawn. Hochman has made several claims that Gascón's motion did not thoroughly consider whether the brothers had taken full responsibility for their crimes. Erik and Lyle are currently serving life sentences in prison without the possibility of parole for the 1989 murders of their parents, Kitty and Jose Menendez. The brothers have admitted to the killings but allege they did it in self-defense after being victims of years of physical, emotional and sexual abuse. Attempts to remove DA Hochman from case Last month, Geragos filed a recusal motion attempting to get Hochman removed from the case. Court documents said the motion was being made "on the grounds that, absent recusal, a conflict of interest would render it likely that the defendants will receive neither a fair hearing nor fair treatment through all related proceedings." The Menendez brothers' attorneys believe Erik and Lyle would not receive a fair resentencing hearing if Hochman were leading the prosecution's case. The attorneys believe the DA has a conflict of interest that should lead to his disqualification. The DA's office filed opposition to the recusal motion. "In the opposition, the District Attorney's Office has argued that in a 'drastic and desperate step,' the defense has decided to 'sidestep the central issue of resentencing' and present an argument 'devoid of merit' to recuse the entire District Attorney's Office," said a statement from Hochman on Friday. "The entire defense argument over recusal boils down to the defense not being happy with the current District Attorney's position on resentencing. While this desperate argument may work in a press interview, it fails in a court of law based on an adversarial system of justice." California Attorney General Rob Bonta said Hochman should remain on the case Family members of the brothers have also claimed that Hochman has treated them with "aggression and disdain" since taking office, and in April, they blamed him for the hospitalization of one of the brothers' aunts, who was "retraumatized" by prosecutors showing graphic images of the crime scene. Parole board's risk assessment of Menendez brothers The parole board's risk assessment was done after Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered it. The brothers have attempted to gain freedom through clemency from the governor. Newsom said he would not make a decision until after the report was completed and that it would provide an understanding of their conduct while incarcerated and "what they've done since the offense as it relates to rehabilitation and treatment programs," as well as "whether they have contributed to their own rehabilitation." Menendez brothers fight for freedom The Menendez brothers' case gained renewed interest after two different Netflix specials were released. Ryan Murphy's drama series "Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story" and "The Menendez Brothers" docu-series resurfaced their stories. Around the same time, the specials came out, then DA Gascón announced his support for their bid for clemency. Attorneys for the brothers submitted a request for clemency to Gov. Gavin Newsom. Gascón also sent letters of support to the governor.
Entrepreneur
09-05-2025
- Business
- Entrepreneur
Climate change pushes homeowners insurance rates higher nationwide
Homeowners across the United States face a growing financial burden as insurance rates continue to climb. This upward trend affects households in multiple regions, with climate change emerging as a... This story originally appeared on Due Homeowners across the United States face a growing financial burden as insurance rates continue to climb. This upward trend affects households in multiple regions, with climate change emerging as a significant factor behind the increases. Insurance companies adjust their risk assessments in response to the' rising frequency and severity of natural disasters, leading to higher premiums for property owners. The impact is felt in coastal areas, wildfire-prone regions, and even low-risk locations. Climate Change Impact on Insurance Markets The insurance industry responds to changing weather patterns by reassessing its exposure to climate-related risks. More frequent hurricanes along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, intensifying wildfires in western states, and increased flooding nationwide have created new challenges for insurers calculating appropriate premium rates. Some insurance companies have taken drastic measures beyond rate increases. In particularly high-risk areas, insurers have begun: Withdrawing coverage completely from specific markets Implementing stricter underwriting standards Requiring higher deductibles for weather-related claims This retreat from high-risk areas has left some homeowners scrambling to find coverage through state-backed insurers of last resort, which typically offer less comprehensive protection at higher costs. Regional Variations in Rate Increases The impact of rising insurance rates varies significantly by location. Florida homeowners have experienced steep increases, with average premiums in some coastal counties more than doubling over the past five years. California residents in wildfire zones face similar challenges, with some seeing annual premiums jump from $2,000 to over $5,000. Even states not typically associated with extreme weather are seeing increases. Midwestern homeowners face higher rates due to more frequent, severe storms and flooding events that were once considered rare. 'We're seeing a fundamental shift in how risk is calculated across the entire country,' said an insurance industry analyst. 'Areas that were once considered safe bets for insurers are now being reevaluated in light of changing climate patterns.' Financial Strain on Homeowners The rising cost of homeowners' insurance adds another layer of financial pressure for many Americans already dealing with inflation and higher mortgage rates. For some, particularly those on fixed incomes, these increases may force difficult decisions about housing affordability. First-time homebuyers are also feeling the pinch. The combination of higher insurance premiums with elevated home prices and mortgage rates has made homeownership less attainable for many. Some buyers find that insurance costs can add hundreds of dollars to their monthly housing expenses, sometimes derailing purchases altogether when the total exceeds their budget. The insurance component of homeownership is becoming a major consideration in the buying process, sometimes even determining where people can afford to live,' noted a real estate professional familiar with the trend. Adaptation Strategies Some homeowners are taking proactive measures to mitigate rising insurance costs. Home hardening—making properties more resistant to natural disasters—has become increasingly common. This includes installing impact-resistant roofing, creating defensible space in wildfire zones, and elevating homes in flood-prone areas. Insurance companies encourage these adaptations by offering discounts to homeowners who implement protective measures. However, the upfront costs of such improvements can be substantial, creating another financial hurdle for homeowners. Policy experts suggest that addressing climate change through both mitigation and adaptation will be necessary to stabilize insurance markets in the long term. Without coordinated action, the trend of rising rates and reduced coverage options is likely to continue, potentially creating a crisis in housing affordability and availability in high-risk areas. As this situation develops, homeowners are advised to review their policies carefully, consider available discounts for home improvements, and explore all coverage options to find the best protection at the most reasonable cost in this changing insurance landscape. The post Climate change pushes homeowners insurance rates higher nationwide appeared first on Due.
