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China

Magnetic Balls Sold By Walmart Recalled As Feds Cite 7 Deaths Linked To Similar Products Magnetic Balls Sold By Walmart Recalled As Feds Cite 7 Deaths Linked To Similar Products
Magnetic Balls Sold By Walmart Recalled As Feds Cite 7 Deaths Linked To Similar Products Thousands of units of small magnetic balls sold by Walmart and used as stress relievers and building blocks are being recalled after reports of several deaths and numerous hospitalizations due to similar products. The Relax 5mm Science Kit, Large Hematite Magnets Magnetic Stones Building Blocks ball sets (shown in the images above) do not comply with the requirements of the mandatory federal magnet regulation because the sets contain one or more magnets that fit within the Consumer Product Safety Commission's small parts cylinder and the magnets are stronger than permitted. …
COVID-19: Cases Of Eris Subvariant EG.5 Jump; Here Are Symptoms COVID-19: Cases Of Eris Subvariant EG.5 Jump; Here Are Symptoms
Covid-19: Cases Of Eris Subvariant EG.5 Jump; Here Are Symptoms Cases of a COVID-19 strain known as Eris, whose official name is EG.5, have increased according to new data from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC).Already the most prevalent subvariant in the US, Eris now accounts for 29.4 percent of COVID cases in the US in the CDC's report released Saturday, Sept. 30. Two weeks ago, Eris accounted for 24.5 percent of US cases. Eris is an offshoot of the highly-contagious Omicron strain. In a Risk Evaluation statement on the EG.5 strain released late last week, the World Health Organization said cases of the subvariant have …
3K Foreign Contraband Cigarettes Seized, Destroyed By USPS In NY, Other States: Officials 3K Foreign Contraband Cigarettes Seized, Destroyed By USPS In NY, Other States: Officials
3K Foreign Contraband Cigarettes Seized, Destroyed By USPS In NY, Other States: Officials Around 3,000 packages of foreign contraband cigarettes bound for Connecticut, New York, and other states have been found and destroyed by the US Postal Service since the beginning of the year, officials said.  According to Connecticut Attorney General William Tong, the seizures were a result of a settlement between the USPS and several states in August 2022 that forced the Postal Service to destroy untaxed foreign cigarettes instead of returning the illegally-mailed packages back to the sender.  Of the 3,000 cigarette packages destroyed since the beginning of 2023, 44 had bee…
NY Engineer Sentenced For Stealing GE's Trade Secrets To Benefit China NY Engineer Sentenced For Stealing GE's Trade Secrets To Benefit China
NY Engineer Sentenced For Stealing GE's Trade Secrets To Benefit China A New York engineer is heading to federal prison for conspiring to steal General Electric’s trade secrets to benefit the Chinese government. Schenectady County resident Xiaoqing Zheng, age 59, of Niskayuna, was sentenced to two years behind bars in federal court in Albany on Tuesday, Jan. 3. It followed his March 2022 conviction on a charge of conspiracy to commit economic espionage. After a four-week trial, the jury either acquitted Zheng, or could not reach a unanimous verdict, on 11 other charges. According to the US Attorney’s Office in the Northern District, Zheng worked at GE Po…
Father-Daughter NY Duo Accused Of Acting As Illegal Agents For China Father-Daughter NY Duo Accused Of Acting As Illegal Agents For China
Father-Daughter NY Duo Accused Of Acting As Illegal Agents For China A father and daughter from New York are among several people accused of acting as illegal agents of the Chinese government who allegedly worked to force a US resident to return to China. Long Island residents Quanzhong An, age 55, and his daughter, Guangyang An, age 34, both of Roslyn, were named in an eight-count indictment unsealed in federal court in Brooklyn Thursday, Oct. 20. The indictment charges a total of seven Chinese nationals with taking part in an international forced repatriation effort known as “Operation Fox Hunt,” which prosecutors said involved surveilling, harassing, and …
Brand-New Northern Westchester Shop Offers Bubble Tea, Wide Variety Of Other Offerings Brand-New Northern Westchester Shop Offers Bubble Tea, Wide Variety Of Other Offerings
Brand-New Northern Westchester Shop Offers Bubble Tea, Wide Variety Of Other Offerings Need a new spot to get your bubble tea fix taken care of?  If so, a new shop in Northern Westchester County may be just the place. The shop, Pick Up Bubble Tea in Mount Kisco, located at 18 S Moger Ave., is complete with sparkling drinks of all colors, yummy smells, and even yummier glasses of bubble tea, according to local foodies and Yelpers. Don't know what bubble tea is? Here's a quick rundown: Bubble tea is an international drink that originates from Taiwan, most say it was developed in the 1980s, that is made from tea, milk, fruits, and sugar, plenty of sugar, tapioca, and…
Congressman Asks Biden For Help In Case Of NY Businessman Being Held In China Congressman Asks Biden For Help In Case Of NY Businessman Being Held In China
Congressman Asks Biden For Help In Case Of NY Businessman Being Held In China New York Congressman Tom Suozzi is urging President Biden to take action in the case of a Long Island businessman who the United Nations says is being wrongfully detained in China. Rep. Suozzi, a Democrat whose district includes most of the North Shore of Long Island, sent a letter to Biden on Wednesday, July 20, asking him to personally intervene on behalf of Kai Li. The 60-year-old Chinese American, who lives in Huntington and emigrated to the US from Shanghai in 1989, was sentenced to 10-years in prison in 2018 on charges of espionage and spying for the FBI. Li was convicted following…
Bumble Bee Recalls Smoked Clams Due To Detectable Levels Of Chemicals Bumble Bee Recalls Smoked Clams Due To Detectable Levels Of Chemicals
Bumble Bee Recalls Smoked Clams Due To Detectable Levels Of Chemicals Bumble Bee Foods has recalled a smoked clams product that was found to have detectable levels of long-lasting chemicals that have been linked to harmful health effects.  The company recalled certain cans of its Bumble Bee Smoked Clams after Food & Drug Administration testing found detectable levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in product samples, according to an announcement on the FDA's website on Wednesday, July 6. The recall applies to 3.75 cans with the UPC Label 8660075234 which came from a third-party manufacturer in China, the company said.  The p…
NY Duo Accused Of Scheming To Conspire With Chinese Government NY Duo Accused Of Scheming To Conspire With Chinese Government
NY Duo Accused Of Scheming To Conspire With Chinese Government Two New York residents are among five people who have been charged with various crimes related to a transnational repression scheme orchestrated on behalf of the Chinese government, federal authorities announced. Three of the defendants — Long Island residents Fan “Frank” Liu, age 62, of Jericho, and Matthew Ziburis, age 49, of Oyster Bay, and Qiang “Jason” Sun, age 40, of China — allegedly perpetrated in the scheme to target United States residents whose political views and actions are disfavored by the People's Republic of China government, such as advocating for democracy in the PRC, acco…
Hospitalized 4-Year-Old In China Diagnosed With First Human Case Of Bird Flu Hospitalized 4-Year-Old In China Diagnosed With First Human Case Of Bird Flu
Hospitalized 4-Year-Old In China Diagnosed With First Human Case Of Bird Flu The first human case of H3N8 bird flu has been reported in China, according to health officials. A 4-year-old boy from central Henan province has reportedly tested positive for bird flu, representing the first-known human case of the strain. The news was reported by China’s National Health Commission, which said the child tested positive after being hospitalized with a fever and other symptoms in early April. In a statement, the Commission said that the boy’s family raised chickens at their home and they lived in an area with wild ducks. “Experts’ preliminary assessment is that the H3N…
COVID-19: Stealth Omicron Now Labeled 'Subvariant Of Concern' COVID-19: Stealth Omicron Now Labeled 'Subvariant Of Concern'
Covid-19: Stealth Omicron Now Labeled 'Subvariant Of Concern' With the number of COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations ticking up across the country, some are cautioning that the new “stealth” subvariant of the virus could become a strain of concern. Health officials in the US are calling the BA.2 a “subvariant of concern" as countries overseas have seen the number of new cases spiking in China and parts of Europe. Earlier story - COVID-19: This Key Factor Could Indicate Whether Stealth Omicron Will Cause New Surge In US With the BA.2 variant beginning to spread in Europe and Asia, prompting another new rise in infections and new hospitalization…
COVID-19: US Infections Expected To Rise As Subvariant Cases Triple Every Two Weeks COVID-19: US Infections Expected To Rise As Subvariant Cases Triple Every Two Weeks
Covid-19: US Infections Expected To Rise As Subvariant Cases Triple Every Two Weeks Federal health experts are cautioning Americans about a new, highly-contagious COVID-19 Omicron variant that may lead to a sudden rise in new infections. The emerging variant, called BA.2, is believed to be upwards of 60 percent more transmissible than Omicron, according to infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci, though it is not more severe than the original strain. Earlier story - COVID-19: New Strain Of Virus Detected That Combines Two Omicron Sub-Variants According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), BA.2 has been tripling its presence in the US every two wee…
COVID-19: This Key Factor Could Indicate Whether Stealth Omicron Will Cause New Surge In US COVID-19: This Key Factor Could Indicate Whether Stealth Omicron Will Cause New Surge In US
Covid-19: This Key Factor Could Indicate Whether Stealth Omicron Will Cause New Surge In US With the new “stealth” COVID-19 sub-variant emerging from the shadows in the US and overseas, researchers are concerned that one subset of Americans could potentially lead to a possible new surge of infections. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Omicron, which is known as B.1.1.529, has three sub-variants: the original BA.1 that remains the dominant strain, the “stealth” BA.2, which is picking up steam, and the more elusive BA.3. The new “stealth” variant - named for its difficulty to identify due to a lack of certain genetic characteristics - has been becoming more of a co…
Public Health Alert Issued For Imported Meat, Poultry Products Public Health Alert Issued For Imported Meat, Poultry Products
Public Health Alert Issued For Imported Meat, Poultry Products Officials have announced a public health alert for an undetermined amount of imported meat and poultry products. The United States Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service said in an announcement on Wednesday, Dec. 29, that a recall hasn't been issued because officials have not been able to identify and contact the importers from China. Find the full list of products included in the health alert here. According to the announcement, the products didn't identify an eligible establishment number on their packaging, and they weren't presented to the Food Safety and I…
Former Harvard Department Chair Found Guilty Of Hiding Ties To China Former Harvard Department Chair Found Guilty Of Hiding Ties To China
Former Harvard Department Chair Found Guilty Of Hiding Ties To China A former Harvard University department chair has been found guilty of charges in connection with lying to federal authorities about his ties to China and failing to report income he received from a university in China. Charles Lieber, age 62, was found guilty on Tuesday, Dec. 21, of: Two counts of making false statements to federal authorities,  Two counts of making and subscribing a false income tax return, Two counts of failing to file reports of foreign bank and financial accounts with the Internal Revenue Service. Lieber is the former chair of Harvard's Chemistry and Che…
Former NYPD Officer From Westchester Admits To Trafficking Meth, Liquid Date Rape Drug Former NYPD Officer From Westchester Admits To Trafficking Meth, Liquid Date Rape Drug
Former Nypd Officer From Westchester Admits To Trafficking Meth, Liquid Date Rape Drug A former NYPD officer from the Hudson Valley admitted to his role in running a scheme to traffic large quantities of methamphetamine and liquid date rape drugs in New York, federal officials announced. Bronxville resident John Cicero, age 39, a former NYPD officer, pleaded guilty on Wednesday, Oct. 13 to distributing large quantities of methamphetamine and gamma-butyrolactone (known as “GBL”) in Westchester County and New York City. Beginning in 2017 through his arrest in February 2020, US. Attorney Damian Williasm said that Cicero and his co-conspirators stockpiled and sold liters of GBL a…
COVID-19: Highly Contagious New Virus Strain Could Evade Vaccines, Study Says COVID-19: Highly Contagious New Virus Strain Could Evade Vaccines, Study Says
Covid-19: Highly Contagious New Virus Strain Could Evade Vaccines, Study Says A new variant of COVID-19 might be more transmissible, and it may evade some protection from vaccines, according to a new study. Business Standard reported that researchers in South Africa said the variant was discovered in May.  Since then, the variant, C.1.2, has been reported in China, New Zealand, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and several other countries, the news outlet reported. The researchers reportedly found that the new variant has a mutation rate about twice as fast as that of other COVID-19 variants, and it could evade the antibodies people have developed…
Diver From NY Wins Medal At Olympics Diver From NY Wins Medal At Olympics
Diver From NY Wins Medal At Olympics A diving duo from Long Island and Massachusetts who met at the University of Indiana dove their way into the record books, joining the parade of Americans claiming medals at the Tokyo Olympics. Nassau County native Andrew Capobianco, who calls Mineola home, and his teammate, Hampshire County resident Michael Hixon, out of Amherst, Massachusetts, took home the silver medal for the US in the men’s synchronized 3-meter springboard event. The duo finished with a score of 444.36 to take the silver behind the Chinese pair of Wang Zongyuan and Xie Siyi. Germany’s Patrick Hausding and Lars Rudiger …
COVID-19: Delta Variant's Symptoms Different, More Dangerous Than Original Virus, Doctors Say COVID-19: Delta Variant's Symptoms Different, More Dangerous Than Original Virus, Doctors Say
Covid-19: Delta Variant's Symptoms Different, More Dangerous Than Original Virus, Doctors Say The Delta variant of COVID-19, by far the most contagious strain during the entire pandemic, has different and more dangerous symptoms than the original virus, doctors are now warning. The strain, first detected in India in December 2020, now makes up 90 percent of new cases in the United Kingdom and 10 percent of new cases in the United States. Doctors in China told state-run television that their patients who have the Delta strain, known as B.1.617.2, are becoming sicker and their conditions are worsening at a faster rate, according to The New York Times. Around 12 percent of Delta varia…
So-Called 'Silent Killer' Caused One in Five Deaths Worldwide, Study Says So-Called 'Silent Killer' Caused One in Five Deaths Worldwide, Study Says
So-Called 'Silent Killer' Caused One in Five Deaths Worldwide, Study Says There's something people come in contact with every day that's being called a "silent killer" responsible for about 20 percent of deaths worldwide in 2018. A new study by various top universities has found that air pollution killed 8.7 million people globally in 2018 - about one in five deaths. A major contributor to fatal air pollution was caused by burning fossil fuels such as coal and oil, said the study, “Global mortality from outdoor fine particle pollution generated by fossil fuel combustion: Results from GEOS-Chem.”  Exposure to high levels of air pollution can cause respirator…
COVID-19: Millions Of Phony N95 Face Masks Distributed In US COVID-19: Millions Of Phony N95 Face Masks Distributed In US
Covid-19: Millions Of Phony N95 Face Masks Distributed In US Millions of fake N95 face masks were purchased - and in some cases used - by hospitals, medical facilities, and government agencies in five states, according to The New York Times and various media outlets. Many of the masks were stamped with the 3M logos and shipped in boxes that said “Made in the USA” even though neither claim is true, said the NYT citing federal investigators with Homeland Security.  News of the investigation first broke in the Associated Press. 3M is a major American manufacturer of professional-grade face masks. The company has produced billions of masks since the…
Godiva Chocolate Closing All US Stores Godiva Chocolate Closing All US Stores
Godiva Chocolate Closing All US Stores Godiva Chocolate is closing all of its North American stores. The mass closure will affect 128 stores in the United States and Canada. Outposts in Europe, the Middle East, and China will remain open. Godiva will stay open through Valentine’s Day, but closures will be completed by March, according to CNN and other media sources. The news comes as a new Godiva CEO steps in, Nurtac Ziyal Afridi, who was appointed in mid-December 2020. Godiva said, in a press release, that its business has been shifting from in-store purchases to online orders through its own and partner websites. The near…
COVID-19: Trump’s ‘Responsible For Every COVID Death In New York,’ Cuomo Says COVID-19: Trump’s ‘Responsible For Every COVID Death In New York,’ Cuomo Says
Covid-19: Trump’s ‘Responsible For Every COVID Death In New York,’ Cuomo Says The war of words between Gov. Andrew Cuomo and President Donald Trump reached a new fevered pitch, with Cuomo placing the cause of every COVID-19 death in New York at the commander-in-chief’s feet. Calling Trump a “super spreader,” Cuomo said that Trump is to blame for each of New York’s 25,679 COVID-19 deaths since the pandemic first broke out in March. “I hold Donald Trump responsible for every death in New York State from COVID because Trump lied," Cuomo said this week. "And in combination with his lies, he was incompetent. It was his lie that said this was nothing to worry about, that t…
COVID-19: Layoffs Soar As Companies Brace For Years Of Disruption Due To Pandemic COVID-19: Layoffs Soar As Companies Brace For Years Of Disruption Due To Pandemic
Covid-19: Layoffs Soar As Companies Brace For Years Of Disruption Due To Pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic has forced tens of thousands out of work, some of whom will have no job to return to once the virus has run its course in this country. Numerous industries will be permanently changed by the virus after thousands were furloughed or laid off while companies made the necessary audibles to stay afloat during the pandemic. Some companies that vowed to return furloughed employees back to work have also announced that they will drastically be reducing their workforces in an effort to keep costs down to account for financial losses that were accrued due to the COVID-19 outbr…
COVID-19: Will You Get A Coronavirus Vaccine? Here's Percentage Who Said Yes In New Survey COVID-19: Will You Get A Coronavirus Vaccine? Here's Percentage Who Said Yes In New Survey
Covid-19: Will You Get A Coronavirus Vaccine? Here's Percentage Who Said Yes In New Survey Based on a survey of 20,000 worldwide conducted by the World Economic Forum, about three-quarters of people say they would get a COVID-19 vaccine if one was available.  Among that 74 percent, 37 percent "strongly agree" that they will get a vaccine, while 37 percent somewhat agree.  In the United States, 67 percent of those polled would get an inoculation against COVID-19 if one were available. The most common concern amongst those who had trepidations about a vaccine were possible side effects.  Except for the U.S., all of the countries most willing to take a vaccine are t…
Mysterious Seed Packets Arriving In Mail Could Be A Scam - Don't Plant Them Mysterious Seed Packets Arriving In Mail Could Be A Scam - Don't Plant Them
Mysterious Seed Packets Arriving In Mail Could Be A Scam - Don't Plant Them People who have received mysterious seed packages through the mail are being advised: Do not plant them. Agriculture departments in 30 states are warning people about unsolicited seed deliveries that appear to be coming from China. The USDA is aware that people have been receiving these odd seed packets and is working with Homeland Security’s Customs and Border Protection to investigate the situation. The USDA urges anyone who receives unsolicited seed packets to hold onto them, as well as their labels and packaging, and contact their state plant regulatory office: Connecticut: (203) 97…
COVID-19: US Travel Bans Came Too Late For NYC Metro Area, CDC Says, Echoing Cuomo Statements COVID-19: US Travel Bans Came Too Late For NYC Metro Area, CDC Says, Echoing Cuomo Statements
Covid-19: US Travel Bans Came Too Late For NYC Metro Area, CDC Says, Echoing Cuomo Statements After months of criticizing the federal government for issuing a travel ban for Chinese residents while COVID-19 cases were actually pouring into the New York metro area from Europe, Gov. Andrew Cuomo has been vindicated. Now, the government's main agency handling the crisis agrees with that assessment. A new analysis from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) determined that by the time the federal government placed travel restrictions on Europe, it was already too late, and the virus had taken a stranglehold in the region. The federal government restricted travel from Chin…
COVID-19: 'Where Was The National Strategy, Leadership? It Did Not Exist,' Cuomo Says COVID-19: 'Where Was The National Strategy, Leadership? It Did Not Exist,' Cuomo Says
Covid-19: 'Where Was The National Strategy, Leadership? It Did Not Exist,' Cuomo Says New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo is once again taking on the federal government over its handling of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. As many southern and western states see spikes in COVID-19 cases after reopening economies, New York, Connecticut and New Jersey continue to see cases of the virus dropping dramatically, and the three have imposed mandatory 14-day quarantines on visitors from states with the highest infection rates, including Florida, Texas and Arizona. According to Johns Hopkins University, New York currently has the lowest seven-day average infection rate in the country…
COVID-19: Cuomo Announces When Daily Briefings Will End, Blames Feds For Being Cause Of Crisis COVID-19: Cuomo Announces When Daily Briefings Will End, Blames Feds For Being Cause Of Crisis
Covid-19: Cuomo Announces When Daily Briefings Will End, Blames Feds For Being Cause Of Crisis The daily novel coronavirus (COVID-19) briefings that have made New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo a household name across the nation for more than three months will soon be coming to an end. With the state recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic better than any other in the country, Cuomo announced that he will cease hosting daily briefings on the virus at the end of the workweek. The briefings were held at the State Capitol in Albany and other sites throughout the state, and once in Washington, D.C., every day, including weekends, since early March. “These daily briefings, while fun, take a lot of …
COVID-19: Critics Call Out Cuomo For Not 'Blowing Bugle' Earlier, Nursing Home Outbreaks COVID-19: Critics Call Out Cuomo For Not 'Blowing Bugle' Earlier, Nursing Home Outbreaks
Covid-19: Critics Call Out Cuomo For Not 'Blowing Bugle' Earlier, Nursing Home Outbreaks While he has become one of the most recognizable faces in the worldwide fight against novel coronavirus (COVID-19), New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has drawn the ire of some critics for his handling of the virus, namely in nursing homes. Last month, Cuomo called out major news outlets and international health organizations for not “blowing the bugle” on the impact the virus could have on New York and the country as it quickly spread from China and Europe. “Everybody knew the virus was in China, and China says 'don’t worry,' but all you need is one person to get on a plane,” Cuomo previously sai…
'Murder Hornet' Sting Kills 54-Year-Old Man, Reports Say 'Murder Hornet' Sting Kills 54-Year-Old Man, Reports Say
'Murder Hornet' Sting Kills 54-Year-Old Man, Reports Say The purported “murder hornet” is earning its nickname. An Asian giant hornet killed a 54-year-old beekeeper in Spain after he was stung on the eyebrow while tending to hives near his home, according to multiple reports. The incident occurred in the northwest region of Santiago, Galicia. The hornets recently arrived in the United States (in Washington State) and Canada (in the Vancouver area), leading to national concerns. The giant hornet, Vespa mandarinia, has been known to kill dozens of people each year and could potentially devastate the country’s bee populations, which has already bee…