Latest news with #JADEGAO
Newsweek
3 days ago
- Business
- Newsweek
1.7 Million Air Conditioners Recalled Over Risk of Respiratory Issues
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. As summer temperatures climb and residents scramble to install their trusty window units—many taking cues from the curated New York Times' Wirecutter and New York Magazine's The Strategist annual best-of list—millions of the most recommended models are now under recall, linked to risks of respiratory problems. Newsweek has reached out to Midea's recall press team for comment via email on Thursday. Why It Matters Midea, one of the world's top-selling air conditioning brands, has consistently topped recommendation lists with its U-shaped units, praised for their sleek design, quiet performance, and improved window access compared to traditional models. The recall comes at a critical time, as summer heat intensifies, and many may be left without air conditioning just when they need it most. It also raises health concerns about mold, which can trigger a range of health problems in different individuals. What to Know The coveted Midea U-shaped air conditioners, which blew out of stock across several retailers, including Costco, are now being recalled. In a June 5 announcement, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) noted that nearly 1.7 million Midea U and U+ shaped window air conditioners have been recalled after "pooled water in the air conditioners can fail to drain quickly enough, which can lead to mold growth." An additional 45,900 units were sold in Canada. The CPSC says it is "aware of at least 152 reports of mold in the air conditioners, including 17 reports of consumers experiencing symptoms such as respiratory infections, allergic reactions, coughing, sneezing and/or sore throats from mold exposure." Employees working on an air-conditioner production line at a Midea factory in Guangzhou in China's southern Guangdong province, on July 16, 2022. Employees working on an air-conditioner production line at a Midea factory in Guangzhou in China's southern Guangdong province, on July 16, 2022. JADE GAO/AFP via Getty Images) Mold exposure can cause a range of health issues, including a stuffy nose, sore throat, coughing, wheezing, skin rashes and allergic reactions, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). People with weakened immune systems or chronic lung conditions may also be at risk of developing infections. "If mold is growing in your home, you need to clean up the model and fix the moisture problem," the CDC recommends. Many air conditioners are prone to mold buildup due to moisture. Midea's U-shaped design may make mold easier to spot due to its more open and accessible interior. #RECALL: Midea recalls about 1.7 Million U & U+ Window Air Conditioners due to risk of mold exposure. Pooled water in the air conditioners can fail to drain quickly enough, which can lead to mold growth. Get refund or repair. CONTACT: 888-345-0256 More: — US Consumer Product Safety Commission (@USCPSC) June 5, 2025 The recall affects dozens of model numbers of window air conditioning units, including those with cooling capacities of 8,000, 10,000, and 12,000 BTUs. The company says those who have any of the impacted models "should participate in the recall immediately." The company is offering customers either a repair or a refund, either full or prorated, based on the purchase date. If customers select a repair, Midea will "provide a technician to install a new drain plug or send consumers a repair kit that includes a new drain plug and bubble level, depending on the model," according to the company website. The New York Times' Wirecutter reported that delivery of the kit will take two to three weeks. The article also noted that having listed Midea's U Shape air conditioner at the top of its list for five years, it had been investigating "sporadic allegations of mold issues" since 2023. What Happens Next The refund and repair process related to the recall is expected to take several weeks.
Observer
24-02-2025
- Observer
Mongolians warm up on culture at new winter festival
A festival in a frigid park on the edge of the world's coldest capital in February might not sound like a crowd-puller -- but in Mongolia an inaugural celebration of nomadic culture was in fine fettle this week. The seven-day event is part of authorities' efforts to boost tourism during the country's bitter winters, when temperatures can drop to below minus 40 degrees Celsius (minus 40 Fahrenheit). Though it was far warmer this week, a persistent wind whipped around glittering, metres-high ice sculptures as visitors ducked in and out of the round ger tents set up to showcase Mongolia's various provinces. "There was no particular thing that surprised me very much, but... it was really nice to get an update and a refresher on our traditional culture," Ulaanbaatar resident Darkhan Altantsetseg told AFP. "It's a nice way of reminding us that our culture is so rich." A man in a traditional Mongolian costume shoots an arrow during the 'Mongols Nomadic Winter Festival' at National Park in Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia on February 20, 2025. (Photo by JADE GAO / AFP) Outside the gers, camels and reindeer shuffled around the vast grounds, while children delightedly launched themselves down ice slides or across a glacial track on fur-lined sleds. Archers and eagle hunters demonstrated their skills, and a small crowd gathered around a game of shagai ice shooting -- a sport where players bowl a puck to try to hit animal bones across a frozen surface. "Actually, today my husband participated in a competition for older people, and won gold! So I'm really happy," said Altantsetseg. - Music, feasting - The sounds of live music seeped gently from the gers despite their well-insulated walls. In one, a three-piece of ethnic Kazakhs from the westernmost province of Bayan Olgii played and sang as curious onlookers were plied with milk tea. "When Ulaanbaatar people enter (our ger), they are amazed by how luxurious it is and how different it is from most other Mongolian gers," said musician Badein Huatbyek, pointing out in particular the lack of central columns in the intricately decorated dwelling. He himself had a shock coming to the capital this time. "I was surprised to see how developed the city has become -- last time I visited was three or four years ago," he said. With the Lunar New Year coming up on March 1, many gers had set up a dining table as if for the festival, with most of a roast sheep and a multi-layered biscuit tower the centrepieces. Dressed in red hats and brightly patterned robes, two elderly ladies handed out airag -- fermented mare's milk -- before dancing a mischievous jig from Mongolia's west. A man holds an eagle during the 'Mongols Nomadic Winter Festival' at National Park in Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia on February 20, 2025. (Photo by JADE GAO / AFP) A percussionist used a string of sheep ankle bones to keep the beat as an ensemble, including a throat singer, performed an ode to nature. Many Ulaanbaatar residents were also in traditional garments, decked out in furs and silks as they strode across the park's slippery paths. A quarter of Mongolia's 3.4 million people lead nomadic lives, according to the World Bank, but hundreds of thousands have moved to the capital in the past two decades. Agroeconomist Byambasure, visiting with his two daughters, told AFP his job meant he was in the field a lot. But "my children were born and raised in Ulaanbaatar -- so they are not very familiar with our traditions and culture", the 50-year-old said. "It's a good way for them to learn, so I'm glad I brought them here." —AFP
