Public health warnings

Both smoking and vaping are now banned in most public spaces in Manawatū following the district council’s adoption of new rules. The Manawatū District Council has adopted its Smoke and Vape Free Policy 2022, aligning with the government’s aim to have fewer than 5% of New Zealanders smoking by 2025. Legislation banning smoking in workplaces, schools, restaurants and many public places, was extended to include vaping in 2020. The council’s own policy would extend the ban to most public spaces, council facilities and outdoor areas. READ MORE: Feedback sought on smoking and vaping ban in Marlborough public places Palmerston North proposes smokefree should mean vapefree Taupō District Council's vaping ban 'misguided' The move comes after a number of public health agencies made requests over several years for Manawatū council to introduce a smoke and vape free policy. Councillor Alison Short said her council was lagging behind in putting a policy in place. “The … [Read more...] about Manawatū district public spaces now smoke and vape free

Spending hours staring at screens is a more dangerous pastime than the perilous activities carried out by the children in Swallows and Amazons , academics have said. The author of the first ever full-length study of Arthur Ransome’s classic adventure novel claims too much time surfing the net is far more deadly than sailing at night without a life jacket, because it fails to teach children how to fend for themselves or take risks. Julian Lovelock, the former dean of arts and pro vice-chancellor of the University of Buckingham , where he lectured on Ransome, said children were spending increasing amounts of time using "gadgets and gizmos" and were not living in the real world. “Sailing at night without life-jackets, wrecking their dinghy through a foolhardy misjudgement, crossing the stormy North Sea in a small boat, confronting the urban Hullaballoos: today’s health and safety police would have had apoplexy," he said. "But it’s worth pondering whether the challenges … [Read more...] about Screen time more dangerous for children than activities in Swallows and Amazons, warn academics

Royal Family LIVE: 'Smear campaign' Reason Meghan bullying probe not public pinpointed (Image: Getty) SUBSCRIBE Invalid email We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info Meghan Markle and Harry: Koenig shares doubts over UK return While Camilla Tominey, writing for the Telegraph, said “no one expected” the report to be published in full, refusing to reveal the announced changes to the Firm’s HR department as a result of it represented “more than a missed opportunity”. When the allegations were first brought to light, a spokesperson for Harry and Meghan described it as a “calculated smear campaign”, adding the Duchess was “saddened by this latest attack on her character, particularly as someone who has been the target of bullying herself and is deeply … [Read more...] about Royal Family: ‘Smear campaign’ Reason Meghan bullying probe not public pinpointed

One of the nurses on duty the day 21-year-old Erica Hume sustained a fatal injury at Palmerston North Hospital’s mental health ward was worried about short staffing and safety on the ward. Coroner Matthew Bates is presiding at the inquest into Hume’s subsequent death in May 2014. The nurse said staff on Ward 21 on the day were stretched thin, with each nurse responsible for six patients in the open or voluntary wing, and she took care of two patients in addition to other duties. Hume’s mother Carey questioned the nurse, one of many witnesses who have interim orders preventing publication of their names, about what she had done to escalate her concerns to senior hospital managers. READ MORE: 'Chaotic': Mental health ward where two people died lacking staff, support and leadership Coronial inquest begins eight years after mental health patient's death Crowded mental health ward the lesser of two evils Carey Hume said there was a process she could have invoked to … [Read more...] about Details about an unsafe mental health ward keep coming at Hume inquest

Ukraine's state nuclear power company said on Sunday that a worker was wounded when Russian forces again shelled the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant on Saturday evening. Radiation monitoring sensors were also damaged, Energoatom said. Rocket attacks struck the site of the plant's dry storage facility, where 174 containers with spent nuclear fuel are stored in the open air, the company said on the Telegram messaging app. The Zaporizhzhia plant was captured by Russian forces in the opening stage of the war but is still run by Ukrainian technicians. The plant was also shelled on Friday, and Russia again blamed Ukraine for the fresh incident. The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) raised grave concerns on Saturday about shelling the previous day at Zaporizhzhia, the biggest nuclear power plant in Europe, and warned of potential "nuclear disaster". "I’m extremely concerned by the shelling yesterday at Europe’s largest nuclear power plant, which … [Read more...] about Zaporizhzhia: Worker wounded in new Russian shelling at nuclear plant, says Ukraine

IT’S Saturday night and you’re looking forward to the arrival of your Indian takeaway curry. Fast-forward a couple of hours and you’re feeling content, but bloated and potentially in agony from heartburn. Indian food is not necessarily unhealthy, but like any cuisine in a takeaway form, it’s indulgent. Dietician Helen Bond told The Sun: “Some takeaway portion sizes are double what you would typically serve at home and a fat -drenched pilau can easily push up the calorie content even further. “Curries like tikka masala cooked in creamy sauces are the highest in calories. “Masala is usually made with cream and ground almonds, so consuming large portions can ramp up your calorie intake. Read more on diet DIET DANGERS The top 5 worst foods that could SHORTEN your life expectancy BERRY BELIEVE IT Simple item added to diet could slash dementia risk, study suggests “Calorie content can vary huge amounts … [Read more...] about Minute by minute – here’s what an Indian takeaway curry does to your body in just one hour

The UK Supreme Court said Thursday it will hold hearings in October on whether Scotland can call an independence referendum without the consent of the British government. Scotland's pro-independence First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said she intends to hold a fresh vote on independence on 19 October 2023. But Prime Minister Boris Johnson's government in London says it won’t allow a vote to take place because Scots rejected independence in a 2014 referendum that was billed as a "once-in-a-generation" vote. A vote held without the approval of the London government would not be legally binding. Sturgeon’s Scottish government has asked the Supreme Court to rule on whether it has the power to legislate for a consultative referendum, even if the UK government does not give the go-ahead. The court said Thursday it would hear the arguments from both sides on 11 and 12 October. 'Now is the time': Nicola Sturgeon lays out her plans for new Scotland independence … [Read more...] about UK Supreme Court to hear Scottish independence case in October

GB News guests debate using electric cars This article contains affiliate links, we may receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more SUBSCRIBE Invalid email We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info The latest data from the Department for Transport found that more electric cars (64,000) were registered for the first time in the UK January and March 2022 than diesel cars (34,000). During the same period, sales of petrol cars fell by 11 percent and diesel cars by 52 percent, showing a clear move towards electric vehicles. Related articles August driving law changes: British motorists warned of new rules Drivers urged to use little-known button to slash fuel consumption However, a new report from … [Read more...] about Drivers ditch petrol and diesel as ‘two areas of concern’ remain for electric car uptake

By James McCarthy Published 18 December 2021 Share close Share page Copy link About sharing Related Topics Coronavirus pandemic Worried gym owners fear new Covid restrictions could mean they lose their homes. One said they thought they would already be homeless, had they not taken on full-time work as a hospital physiotherapist. Another said they feared losing everything next year if the situation did not improve. The Welsh government said the measures were designed to stop the spread of the virus and protect people's health. Gyms and other businesses will have to reintroduce social distancing, along with other measures including one-way systems from 27 December. Mark Drakeford 'storm' warning prompts nightclub closures Q&A: What are the new Covid rules for Wales? Welsh festive sport verdict on Monday The rules are part of measures … [Read more...] about Covid in Wales: Gym owners fear homelessness amid new restrictions

GAZA: Israel attacked the Palestinian Islamic Jihad group's positions in the Gaza Strip and continued for a third day Sunday, with 31 Palestinians reported dead and militants firing their first rockets at Jerusalem. Six children were among those killed in the latest "Israeli aggression" since Friday, and 265 people have been wounded, said health authorities in the enclave where several buildings were reduced to rubble. The fighting is the worst in Gaza since a war last year devastated the impoverished coastal territory, home to some 2.3 million Palestinians. Related Stories Six children among 24 dead in Gaza violence Israeli attack on Gaza strip condemned Pakistan blasts Israeli ‘barbarism’ after Gaza airstrikes Israel pressed on with its aerial and artillery bombardment of positions of Islamic Jihad as the group fired over rockets in return. The Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid vowed Sunday that "the operation will continue as long as necessary". In … [Read more...] about Israeli forces kill 31 Palestinians in Gaza