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After mysterious death, toy’s sale is halted

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:10:38 GMT

Amazon, Target and Walmart have voluntarily stopped selling water beads marketed for children after government officials, lawmakers and public health professionals called for a ban on the toys.Water beads are tiny balls made of extremely absorbent polymer material. When exposed to liquid, they can expand to 100 times their initial size and weight, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission.Because they can grow in the stomach or intestine — becoming golf-ball-size or larger —  these toys pose immense health risks to young children, say experts. They can also cause injury if inserted in an ear or nostril, and can even be inhaled into a lung.And, because they’re mostly made up of water, typical X-rays often do not pick them up. In a safety alert in September, the CPSC reported that these beads “can cause severe discomfort, vomiting, dehydration, intestinal blockages and life-threatening injuries” and may require surgery to remove.The reported emergencies following...

Tom Cruise seen making out with daughter of Putin ally and ex-wife of oligarch: report

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:10:38 GMT

Tom Cruise supposedly has a new love interest, but she sounds like she’d be a risky proposition for his “Mission: Impossible” alter ego, according to reports.Elsina Khayrova is a 36-year-old Russian socialite and former model whose father is an ally of Vladimir Putin and whose ex-husband is a U.K-based Russian oligarch on a Kremlin “wanted list,” according to news reports. Khayrova’s recent divorce from her diamond merchant husband made her infamous when a London judge scolded her for “dishonesty” because she hid assets, including her $1.2 million collection of handbags.The Daily Mail reported that the thrice-married, 61-year-old Cruise was seen “canoodling” with Khayrova at a posh party in London over the weekend.“They were inseparable — clearly a couple,” one guest at the almost entirely Russian event told the Daily Mail. “He seemed to be besotted with her.”This image released by Paramount Pictures shows Hayley Atwe...

Jack Hanson, longtime Bay Area broadcasting stalwart, dies at 91

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:10:38 GMT

(BCN) -- Longtime local television personality Jack Hanson has died following a long illness. He was 91.Hanson, a San Francisco native, started his broadcast career in the KPIX mailroom after graduating from San Francisco State University and serving in the U.S. Air Force.Throughout his more than 60-year career, Hanson worked at KRON, KPIX, KTVU, KGO-TV and the Cable Health Network.He also hosted Comcast Newsmakers, a news interview show on CNN Headline News, according to a statement posted on the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences SF chapter website when Hanson was inducted into the organization's Gold Circle."He made everyone he interviewed feel as though they were fascinating to him, because they were. He took joy in learning people's stories," said family friend Maria Goodavage."He interviewed untold numbers of major celebs and politicians, but also made the humblest guest feel heard because he truly cared," Goodavage said. California establishes official state b...

Live updates | 9 Israeli soldiers killed as ground offensive continues in Gaza, despite US criticism

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:10:38 GMT

At least nine Israeli soldiers were killed during an ambush, marking one of the deadliest single attacks that Palestinian militants have carried out since the ground invasion of Gaza began, the military said Wednesday. The attack in a dense urban neighborhood came after repeated recent claims by the Israeli military that it had broken Hamas’ command structure in northern Gaza. It also came a day after Israel drew international outrage and rare criticism from the United States over the killing of thousands of civilians. The United Nations General Assembly voted overwhelmingly Tuesday to demand a humanitarian cease-fire, General Assembly resolutions are not legally binding, but the assembly’s message in favor of ending the Israel-Hamas war serves as an important barometer of world opinion.Just hours before the vote, U.S. President Joe Biden warned that Israel was losing international support because of its “indiscriminate bombing” of Gaza.The Israel-Hamas war has resulted in the death...

In hypochondria paradox, Swedish study finds a higher death rate in those who fear serious illness

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:10:38 GMT

A large Swedish study has uncovered a paradox about people diagnosed with an excessive fear of serious illness: They tend to die earlier than people who aren’t hypervigilant about health concerns.Hypochondriasis, now called illness anxiety disorder, is a rare condition with symptoms that go beyond average health worries. People with the disorder are unable to shake their fears despite normal physical exams and lab tests. Some may change doctors repeatedly. Others may avoid medical care.“Many of us are mild hypochondriacs. But there are also people on the other extreme of the spectrum who live in a perpetual state of worry and suffering and rumination about having a serious illness,” said Dr. Jonathan E. Alpert of Montefiore Medical Center in New York. People with the disorder are suffering and “it’s important to take it seriously and to treat it,” said Alpert, who was not involved in the new study. Treatment can involve cognitive behavioral therapy, relaxation techniques...

More people are using CBD products. There’s still little research on the benefits and risks

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:10:38 GMT

CBD use increased 50% in the past four years, according to a new survey published Wednesday in the Journal of the American Medical Association. About 1 in 5 survey respondents said they used CBD in the past year. People who use cannabis are more likely to report using CBD, CBG and other hemp-derived compounds, the survey, done by NORC at the University of Chicago, showed. Also, people who live in a state where marijuana is illegal are more likely to use delta-8 THC, a mildly intoxicating sibling of delta-9 THC, which is the psychoactive compound in marijuana.“Although there are a lot of survey studies out that show this increased use, we don’t have a lot of good data on what effects any of these things have, either harmful or beneficial,” said Angela Bryan, a University of Colorado-Boulder professor who has studied the public health implications of cannabis legalization for more than a decade. She was not involved in the JAMA study.CBD and similar compounds have boomed i...

New proposed license plate would support preservation of historical spots

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:10:38 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — A historic preservation organization wants to create a new specialty group license plate that "highlights the importance of saving places."The Colorado Preservation, Inc. is a statewide nonprofit that promotes historic preservation by providing advocacy, education, outreach and preservation services, according to its website. The nonprofit wants to introduce a new specialty license plate that can be purchased to support historic landmarks across Colorado.“Colorado is fortunate to have many options for individuals to personalize their cars and show what is important to them.  While there are many options, there is not one yet that features the importance of place and the many historic landscapes, buildings, and cultures that make up communities across Colorado," said CPI Executive Director Jennifer Orrigo Charles. Starting soon, you can buy this dino-themed license plate for your car The design of the proposed license plate features the iconic white mountains w...

Biden considers new border and asylum restrictions as he tries to reach Senate deal for Ukraine aid

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:10:38 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Top Biden administration officials were laboring on Wednesday to try to reach a last-minute deal for wartime aid for Ukraine by agreeing to Senate Republican demands to bolster U.S.-Mexico border policies to cut crossings.Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas was expected to resume talks with Senate negotiators even as advocates for immigrants and members of President Joe Biden’s own Democratic Party fretted about the policies under discussion. Some were planning to protest at the Capitol, warning of a return to Trump-like restrictions.Congress is scheduled to leave Washington on Thursday, leaving little time to reach an agreement on Biden’s $110 billion request for Ukraine, Israel and other national security needs. But White House officials and key Senate negotiators appeared to be narrowing on a list of priorities to tighten the U.S.-Mexico border and remove some recent migrant arrivals already in the U.S., raising hopes that a framework could be w...

Who will be Wales’ next first minister? The runners and riders

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:10:38 GMT

LONDON — It’s a nation of 3 million people where Labour is riding a 101-year winning streak. Now the party is choosing a new leader in Wales — and Westminster will be watching closely.Whoever replaces Mark Drakeford, who confirmed he will step down by March after five years as first minister, faces a tricky in-tray at the helm of the U.K. devolved nation.Near the top is deciding how closely to follow U.K. Labour leader Keir Starmer — who polls predict will win a general election next year.Drakeford has tacked more to the left than Starmer. His policy of widespread 20-miles-per-hour road speed limits has unsettled some Labour MPs and opened up a fierce line of Conservative attack.With education and health policy devolved from Westminster to Wales — and their shaky performance scrutinized by Tory strategists — Wales is an early test of Labour’s relationship with the regions and nations to which it has promised more power.The new leader must also manage the delicate balance of power in...

One person taken to hospital for serious burns after house fire in Newton

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:10:38 GMT

A person suffered serious burn injuries after authorities say a house caught fire in Newton Wednesday morning.According to the Newton Fire Department, the victim was located by firefighters and pulled from the home on Allen Avenue as flames ripped through the house.“We had the report that there was a victim trapped in the inside, so the initial companies didn’t hesitate and went right in,” Newton Fire Chief Greg Gentile told reporters.Crews were able to extinguish the fire soon after arriving, with one firefighter reportedly suffering a minor injury during the response.Another person at the home, the victim’s brother, was able to get out unharmed.As of noon, the State Fire Marshal’s office was investigating the cause of the fire, which appeared to cause extensive damage throughout the structure.No additional details were released.