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For the first time since the pandemic began in late 2019, residents in Beijing’s largely shielded communities are coming face to face with COVID-19 or learning of acquaintances who have been infected. The loosening of once-stringent public health rules such as lockdowns and daily mass testing mean official case numbers are declining, but there’s little doubt that the virus is spreading in what is China’s first real nationwide wave....

The number of Chinese entrepreneurs worth 5 billion Chinese yuan ($710 million) or more on September 15 fell by 11 percent, or 160 people, to 1,305, compared to the same time in 2021, said Hurun Report, which is led by Rupert Hoogewerf. Their collective wealth dropped 18 percent to $3.5 trillion, while 293 people dropped off 2022’s China rich list altogether, said the report. Those in China’s real estate and healthcare industries suffered the biggest losses....

For many years, China has been funneling hundreds of billions of dollars annually into technology research, development and production. It has been underwriting technology theft on a grand scale. And it has been extorting technological knowhow and other assets from U.S. businesses, as the price of entry into the Chinese market. These practices have made a mockery of the rules-based international trading system and have subverted the proper functioning of markets....

While this footage is certainly disturbing, it sadly barely scratches the surface of what has been described by many as the worst human rights crisis in the world today. In November 2019, a New York Times report highlighted more than 400 pages of internal Chinese documents (dubbed the “Xinjiang Papers”) that provide a breakdown of how China created and organized re-education camps in Xinjiang in 2017. This was followed by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists publishing a collection of Chinese government documents (dubbed the “China Cables”) detailing the repressive inner workings of detention camps in Xinjiang....

In March 2019, Michael Maxwell, Sharon Hoysted, and their two children, Emily, 5, and Tom, 3, stopped by Bada Bing Café for breakfast. There, they purchased two brownies, which Sharon, Emily, and Tom ate. Upon returning home, Emily began screaming and told her parents that her “eyes weren’t right” and that “she felt like was in a TV,” according to The Brisbane Times. Her brother then began to behave strangely as well, the story said....

The former UFC heavyweight champion was released on a $1 million bond and GPS monitoring. He must also comply to terms that include counseling, search and seizure conditions, and a protective order to stay a minimum of 300 yards from Harry Goularte, Patricia Goularte, and Paul Bender. Harry Goularte was charged with molesting a relative of Velasquez. Velasquez would later claim in a civil suit that Goularte sexually assaulted his four-year-old son....

SurveyUSA News found that Cox had 9 percent support among registered voters when they were asked who should replace Democrat Gavin Newsom and serve out the rest of his term if he is recalled. Cox had the highest level of support of the nine conservative candidates the company polled as possible contenders. Trailing Cox were Caitlyn Jenner and Richard Grenell, both of whom garnered 5 percent support among respondents. Grenell, however, has not officially thrown his hat into the ring for governor, as Cox and Jenner have....

It’s the first memorabilia item of significance to go to auction since the 1976 Olympic decathlon gold medalist completed a transition from Bruce Jenner to Caitlyn Jenner this year. The torch had been expected to fetch at least $20,000. MORE: Jenner at the ESPYS | Jose Canseco to live as woman in show of solidarity The auction, hosted by Heritage Auctions on Thursday in Chicago, also featured a number of other big-ticket sports memorabilia items....

At one of the locations, a warehouse on Warm Spring Boulevard in Fremont, about 20 agents from the California Department of Justice reportedly collected about 50,000 face coverings, 1,000 of which were N95 protective masks, NBC Bay Area reported. The unidentified man, who claimed to be selling the masks to nonprofits, also told the news station that he hadn’t been stockpiling them to make a profit. It’s unclear if the man will face charges, but he was given a citation....

A series of powerful storms have battered the Golden State since late December, killing at least 19 people and causing floods, power outages and evacuations. Early Sunday, the National Weather Service (NWS) said another atmospheric river is expected to bring more heavy mountain snow and heavy rainfall to the state on Monday. The first storm system that brought heavy rain and flooding concerns across California on Saturday is expected to move through the Great Basin and the Rockies on Sunday, the NWS said....

The Kentucky Derby winner has had it his way ever since Victor Espinoza climbed aboard back in December when the streak began. Whether they do again in the 1 3/16-mile Preakness at Pimlico on Saturday depends on a good trip, the tactics used by the chestnut colt's nine rivals and a little luck. California Chrome is the even-money favorite against nine rivals. "When you run a 3-5 shot, you've got a lot more pressure on you knowing you're going to be the favorite, but I think we can handle it," trainer Art Sherman said....

Several fires are largely uncontained, including the Bobcat Fire in Los Angeles County, which has seen elevated fire activity in multiple directions, the department reported. “There is increased fire behavior in the north, east and west of the #BobcatFire. Strong winds on the western perimeter are pushing the fire [in] several directions, crews and equipment continue to work on picking up spots with assistance from aircraft as weather allows,” the Angeles National Forest posted on its official Twitter account Thursday....

A CDC map showed every other state in red, the color the agency used to identify locations where high levels of community transmission were occurring. The CDC identified “high” community transmission of the virus as locations that have a seven-day average of 100 new cases or more per 100,000 people. According to the CDC’s map, California has reported an average of 97.8 new cases per 100,000 people over the last seven days, allowing the state to fall in to the “substantial” level of community virus transmission....

Josue Moises Montuy, 28, was taken into custody after the incident in Crows Landing, south of Modesto, California, on Sunday evening, according to the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department. Deputies were called to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints after a fight broke out at around 6 p.m. during a holiday party, Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Sergeant Josh Clayton told The Modesto Bee. Clayton said Montuy’s father, who he did not name, had tried to break up a fight between his son and a missionary....

The strike, organized by Califonia Nurses Association/ National Nurses United (CNA/NNU), occurred at three KPC Global Hospitals– Anaheim Global, South Coast Global and Chapman Global– and Prime Hospital: West Anaheim Medical Center. The nurses claim the hospitals have neglected to provide enough staff to ensure safe patient care, according to a December 22 press release from the union. “We are getting slaughtered in the ER. We literally had to do a blood transfusion in the hallway,” said Rasha Tran, a registered nurse at West Anaheim Medical Center, in the release....

A 5.4 magnitude earthquake shook parts of Rio Dell in Humboldt County at 10.30 a.m on New Year’s Day, the U.S. Geological Survey said. Half of the residents living in the area did not have power, and some were left without water. There have been no reported injuries and officials have reassured residents that there are no subsequent risks linked to the earthquake, such as a tsunami. The most recent earthquake came just two weeks after a magnitude 6....

Aquatic wildlife living in two particular lakes in Bakersfield—one at River Walk Park and Truxtun Lakes, at Kern River Parkway—are being left without a home as water levels continue to recede, per KGET. “This is the driest it’s been in 1200 years,” Richard O’Neil, president of the Kern River Parkway Foundation, told the news outlet. “This is a three-year drought but it extends beyond that. It’s one drought upon the next drought....

Officers later found that two of those involved in the fight, including 32-year-old suspect Ziaoxin Wu, were husband and wife. The pair were finalizing their separation and the husband had brought along his sister to the bank for support. When all three were outside the bank, Wu allegedly took out a kitchen knife she had brought along in her purse and attempted to stab her husband’s sister. The husband tried to intervene, with Wu allegedly stabbing him too....

At least three Senate Democrats—Chris Coons (D-Del.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.)—along with several of their fellow Democrats in the House, have called for the GOP duo to immediately relinquish their posts in federal office for objecting to the certification of President-elect Joe Biden’s victory that Democrats say further stoked violence. Through their words and actions, Democrats have said, Cruz and Hawley acted as provocateurs for the deadly insurrection that unfolded at the Capitol on Wednesday when hundreds of pro-Trump rioters overwhelmed police and stormed the building....