
'This is a life-changing event': Floridians start an arduous recovery as Idalia keeps thrashing North Carolina
Tropical Storm Idalia keeps pounding the Southeast's Atlantic coast, bringing strong winds and storm surge in North Carolina while parts of Florida's west coast grapple with "significant damage" from the most powerful hurricane to slam its Big Bend region in more than a century.
2023-09-01 03:56

Russian military hackers take aim at Ukrainian soldiers' battle plans, US and allies say
Russian military hackers have been targeting Ukrainian soldiers' mobile devices in a bid to steal sensitive battlefield information that could aid the Kremlin's war on Ukraine, the US and its allies warned Thursday.
2023-09-01 03:20

No charges will be filed in the shooting death of a South Carolina college student who tried to get into the wrong house, officials say
The fatal shooting of a University of South Carolina student who was trying to enter the wrong home on his own street has been deemed a justifiable homicide and no charges will be filed, police said.
2023-09-01 03:17

Capitol physician medically clears McConnell after health scares prompt new questions over his leadership position
Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell is medically cleared to continue his schedule, the US Capitol physician said Thursday, after he froze for the second time in as many months in public.
2023-09-01 02:55

Convicted murderer escapes prison outside Philadelphia
An inmate considered "extremely dangerous" escaped a prison in Chester County, Pennsylvania, Thursday morning, according to local officials.
2023-09-01 02:54

Hurricane Idalia's price tag could reach $20 billion, according to Moody's Analytics
Hurricane Idalia caused billions of dollars in damage, but the price tag won't be nearly as high as other major hurricanes, Moody's Analytics said Thursday.
2023-09-01 02:27

Ukrainian forces advance towards 'first line' of Russian defenses in southern Zaporizhzhia region
Ukrainian forces said they had penetrated the "first line" of Russian strongholds in the Zaporizhzhia region, in a sign that Kyiv is edging closer to Moscow's sprawling network of fortified trenches along the southern front.
2023-09-01 01:51

Prigozhin alludes to threats in new video release
The video appears to have been filmed shortly before the Wagner chief died in a plane crash near Moscow.
2023-09-01 01:17

General Brice Oligui Nguema: Who is Gabon's coup leader?
Who is General Brice Nguema, the man who overthrew the president he was supposed to protect?
2023-09-01 00:58

Tropical Storm Idalia drenches Carolinas as Florida counts cost
Up to 9in (23cm) of rain and life-threatening flash flooding could hit parts of eastern North Carolina.
2023-09-01 00:47

Marijuana users have higher levels of toxic metals in blood and urine, study finds
People who use marijuana were found to have higher levels of lead and cadmium in their blood and urine, in comparison to those who do not use weed, according to a new study. The team of researchers at Columbia University analysed data from blood and urine samples collected between 2005 and 2018 as part of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, a program conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics. They looked at samples of 7,254 people who said they had used marijuana in the last 30 days. Participants were examined for levels of heavy metals and 358 people were found to have 27 per cent higher blood lead levels than those who said they didn’t use either marijuana or tobacco. There were also 22 per cent higher levels of cadmium in those marijuana users according to the research, which was published Wednesday in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives. Researchers also found that the urine samples showed similar results. High levels of cadmium can cause stomach irritation, abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea, according to Better Health. Researchers found that although tobacco is the main source of cadmium exposure in the general population, the study showed similar exposure levels among cannabis users. “For both cadmium and lead, these metals are likely to stay in the body for years, long after exposure ends,” Tiffany Sanchez, an author of the study and an assistant professor of environmental health sciences at Columbia’s Mailman School of Public Health said to NBC News. As cannabis plants can absorb heavy metals from soil - the new findings demonstrate that heavy metals in cannabis plants can also wind up in the human body. “Previous studies have measured metals in marijuana plants, products, or marijuana smoke,” study authors have said. Lead exposure can be particularly harmful to children and pregnant women. In adults, chronic exposure to lead increases the risk of high blood pressure, heart problems and kidney damage. “Our study wasn’t able to tease apart whether or not self-reported cannabis users were using medical or recreational cannabis, so we can’t say definitively if medical cannabis users specifically had higher metal levels,” Sanchez said as reported by CNN. “This is something that should be evaluated in future studies.” Heavy metals bind to parts of your cells that prevent your organs from doing their job, according to the Cleveland Clinic and symptoms of heavy metal poisoning can be life-threatening and can cause irreversible damage. “Immunocompromised people, such as those going through chemotherapy, may be at greater risk from metal exposure or from other common cannabis contaminants like molds. However, this is very much an understudied area,” Sanchez added. On Wednesday, the Department of Health and Human Services recommended that the Drug Enforcement Administration ease restrictions on marijuana by moving it from Schedule I drug to Schedule III. HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra said on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, that the agency has responded to President Joe Biden’s request “to provide a scheduling recommendation for marijuana to the DEA.” “We’ve worked to ensure that a scientific evaluation be completed and shared expeditiously,” he added. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said in a statement that HHS had recommended that marijuana be moved from a Schedule I to a Schedule III controlled substance. “HHS has done the right thing,” Schumer said. “DEA should now follow through on this important step to greatly reduce the harm caused by draconian marijuana laws.” Rescheduling the drug would reduce or potentially eliminate criminal penalties for possession. Marijuana is currently classified as a Schedule I drug, alongside heroin and LSD. According to the DEA, Schedule I drugs "have no currently accepted medical use in the United States, a lack of accepted safety for use under medical supervision, and a high potential for abuse." Additional reporting from agencies Read More Biden health agency recommends classifying marijuana as lower-risk, opening potential for major policy changes Seth Rogen reveals why he smokes marijuana ‘all day, every single day’ Rugby star Ugo Monye: Boarding school shaped my career and my personality Queen Latifah calls for more ‘inclusive healthcare’ for people with obesity As Simon Cowell shares positive therapy experience, how can it help even if you aren’t in crisis?
2023-09-01 00:46

US senators push drugmakers for details on low-cost insulin programs
By Patrick Wingrove (Reuters) -Two U.S. senators are demanding that the nation's three largest insulin makers, Novo Nordisk, Eli Lilly,
2023-09-01 00:25