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China

Virus Outbreak In China Sparking Concerns: Here's What To Know About HMPV Virus Outbreak In China Sparking Concerns: Here's What To Know About HMPV
Virus Outbreak In China Sparking Concerns: Here's What To Know About Hmpv A surge in cases of human metapneumovirus (HMPV) in China is sparking concerns five years after the COVID-19 pandemic began, drawing attention to another respiratory virus circulating in the population. HMPV, a known virus, usually causes cold-like symptoms, including coughing, wheezing, a runny nose, and a sore throat.  The new rise in cases, particularly among children under 14 in northern China, has officials urging caution as the Lunar New Year holiday approaches, a time when travel and gatherings often lead to spikes in illness. Data from China’s state news agency, Xinhua, shows …
Supreme Court Upholds TikTok Ban: How The App Could Survive In The U.S. Supreme Court Upholds TikTok Ban: How The App Could Survive In The U.S.
Supreme Court Upholds TikTok Ban: How The App Could Survive In The U.S. The Supreme Court has upheld a new law that could ban TikTok in the U.S. unless its Chinese parent company divests from the very popular video-sharing social media app. The justices said the "Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act" doesn't violate the First Amendment, according to the court's decision on Friday, Jan. 17. The ruling allows for TikTok to potentially be banned in the U.S. as early as Sunday, Jan. 19. TikTok, which has more than 170 million users in the U.S., has come under scrutiny over fears that ByteDance could allow the Chinese gov…
FDA Bans Red No. 3 Due To Cancer Concerns About Artificial Coloring In Many Foods FDA Bans Red No. 3 Due To Cancer Concerns About Artificial Coloring In Many Foods
FDA Bans Red No. 3 Due To Cancer Concerns About Artificial Coloring In Many Foods The Food and Drug Administration has officially banned Red No. 3, a synthetic dye that gives certain foods their vivid cherry-red hue, due to cancer concerns in lab animals. The FDA revoked the authorization for the coloring's use in food products, oral drugs, and dietary supplements, the agency said in a news release on Wednesday, Jan. 15. Manufacturers have until Friday, Jan. 15, 2027, to remove Red Dye 3 from food products and Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2028, for drugs. Products made before these deadlines may still appear on shelves if they were manufactured before …
Ex-Mass Officer Busted in $3M Fake Luxury Watch Conspiracy Gets 60 Days In Jail: Feds Ex-Mass Officer Busted in $3M Fake Luxury Watch Conspiracy Gets 60 Days In Jail: Feds
Ex-Mass Officer Busted in $3M Fake Luxury Watch Conspiracy Gets 60 Days In Jail: Feds If you bought a luxury watch from a Massachusetts police officer for a steal, you may have been duped. That’s what former cop Klevis Nako, 24, admitted to in a Connecticut federal court this week, according to federal authorities. Nako was convicted of conspiracy to sell counterfeit goods after he imported fake designer watches from China and sold them across the U.S. through Instagram and Facebook, the U.S. Attorney for Connecticut said. He has been sentenced to 60 days in federal prison, authorities said. His operation unraveled after federal agents intercepted dozens of shipments and con…
TikTok Ban: Fate Of Video App Unclear As Deadline For Chinese Parent Company To Divest Looms TikTok Ban: Fate Of Video App Unclear As Deadline For Chinese Parent Company To Divest Looms
TikTok Ban: Fate Of Video App Unclear As Deadline For Chinese Parent Company To Divest Looms The future of TikTok in the United States is facing a critical juncture as the Supreme Court deliberates on whether to delay a looming ban on the popular video-sharing app. On Friday morning, Jan. 10, the Court heard oral arguments regarding the Biden administration's law requiring TikTok's parent company, ByteDance to separate from TikTok, and whether or not it's in violation of the First Amendment. ByteDance, which is headquartered in China, has until Jan. 19 to separate from the video-sharing app under the law passed last year over national security concerns. Noel Francisco argued on be…
Meta Drops Fact-Checking Program Ahead Of Trump's White House Return, Company Says Meta Drops Fact-Checking Program Ahead Of Trump's White House Return, Company Says
Meta Drops Fact-Checking Program Ahead Of Trump's White House Return, Company Says Meta is dismantling its third-party fact-checking program in the U.S. and aims to bring back political content as President-elect Donald Trump prepares to return to the White House, the company said. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced the changes in a video statement on Tuesday, Jan. 7. The company that owns Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Threads, will replace its fact-checking program with a Community Notes system similar to the one implemented on X (formerly Twitter). Zuckerberg said the new system's goal is to reduce bias and restore free expression. "Fact-checkers have be…
Harris, Trump Come Out Swinging In Presidential Debate In Philadelphia Harris, Trump Come Out Swinging In Presidential Debate In Philadelphia
Harris, Trump Come Out Swinging In Presidential Debate In Philadelphia Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald J. Trump came out swinging at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia on Tuesday, Sept. 10 in their first and possibly only presidential debate before the Tuesday, Nov. 5 election. Harris made the first move by shaking Trump's hand on stage — in their first face-to-face encounter. Political observers noted how Harris "baited" the former president, prompting him to look increasingly angry. But Trump entered the "spin room" less than an hour after the debate, saying, "I think it was the best debate, personally, that I've ever …
Ex-Aide To 2 NY Governors Raked In Millions As Agent Of Chinese Government: Feds Ex-Aide To 2 NY Governors Raked In Millions As Agent Of Chinese Government: Feds
Ex-Aide To 2 NY Governors Raked In Millions As Agent Of Chinese Government: Feds This story has been updated. A former aide to New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and former Gov. Andrew Cuomo is accused of acting as an agent for the Chinese government. Long Island residents Linda Sun, age 41, and her husband Chris Hu, age 40, were arrested at their Manhasset home on Tuesday morning, Sept. 3, on charges of violating the Foreign Agents Registration Act, money laundering, and related charges. According to federal prosecutors, Sun – who served as Hochul’s deputy chief of staff before being fired in 2023 – engaged in numerous political activities at the behest of Chinese government …
'Moment = Met': New England Gymnast Helps US Men Claim First Olympic Medal In 16 Years 'Moment = Met': New England Gymnast Helps US Men Claim First Olympic Medal In 16 Years
'Moment = Met': New England Gymnast Helps US Men Claim First Olympic Medal In 16 Years Stephen Nedoroscik had only one event to make his mark on the 2024 Paris Olympics, and he did not disappoint.  Nedoroscik, a Worcester, Massachusetts, gymnast and Pennsylvania State University alum, nailed his pommel horse routine on Monday, July 29, to lift the team US men's gymnastic team to a bronze medal in the all-around competition. It's their first time on the podium in 16 years.  Frederick Richard, of Stoughton, Mass., who is also on the team, had standout performances in the floor exercise, parallel bars, and horizontal bars.  The team came to Monday's event in a cl…
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 …
Invasive Tick Found In Fairfield: Could Have 'Significant' Health Impact, Researchers Say Invasive Tick Found In Fairfield: Could Have 'Significant' Health Impact, Researchers Say
Invasive Tick Found In Fairfield: Could Have 'Significant' Health Impact, Researchers Say Following the third confirmed discovery of an Asian longhorned tick in Connecticut, researchers are warning of the potential health impacts that the invasive arachnids could bring to the state.  The Connecticut Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory identified one Asian longhorned tick in Fairfield County over the summer after it was submitted by someone in the town of Fairfield, University of Connecticut officials announced on Thursday, Sept. 7. The tick is the third case that the laboratory has seen in Connecticut since the species arrived in the US in 2017. The firs…
3K Foreign Contraband Cigarettes Seized, Destroyed By USPS In CT, Other States: Officials 3K Foreign Contraband Cigarettes Seized, Destroyed By USPS In CT, Other States: Officials
3K Foreign Contraband Cigarettes Seized, Destroyed By USPS In CT, 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…
ID Released For 17-Year-Old Accused Of Gunning Down Delivery Driver In Bridgeport ID Released For 17-Year-Old Accused Of Gunning Down Delivery Driver In Bridgeport
ID Released For 17-Year-Old Accused Of Gunning Down Delivery Driver In Bridgeport A 17-year-old teenager who allegedly gunned down a Chinese food delivery man has been identified after his case was moved to adult court. The case against Justin Castro, of Bridgeport, was transferred to adult court on Tuesday, March 7, for killing Jiabin Lin, age 36, of Flushing, Queens, Capt. Kevin Gilleran, of the Bridgeport Police. Lin was working as a food delivery driver for Yummy Yummy Chinese Restaurant in Bridgeport when he was shot and killed on Saturday, March 4 in a parking lot, said Gilleran. Gilleran said Lin had no known next of kin in the US, but his family in China ha…
Fairfield County Men Sentenced For Trafficking Counterfeit Oxycodone Pills Containing Fentanyl Fairfield County Men Sentenced For Trafficking Counterfeit Oxycodone Pills Containing Fentanyl
Fairfield County Men Sentenced For Trafficking Counterfeit Oxycodone Pills Containing Fentanyl Two Fairfield County men were sentenced for trafficking counterfeit oxycodone pills that contained fentanyl. Stamford residents Arber Isaku and Vincent Decaro, both age 32, were sentenced on Monday, Aug. 8, according to Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States attorney for the District of Connecticut. Isaku was sentenced to 51 months in prison and three years of supervised release, and Decaro was sentenced to 48 months in prison and three years of supervised release, Avery said.  Decaro pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl analogs on June 15, 2…
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…
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…
CT Pump Prices See Big Single-Week Change; Here's Breakdown By Region CT Pump Prices See Big Single-Week Change; Here's Breakdown By Region
CT Pump Prices See Big Single-Week Change; Here's Breakdown By Region Motorists in the Nutmeg State are seeing some financial relief at the pump with Connecticut’s “gas tax holiday" in full effect. Connecticut now has the 30th most expensive gas in the US, according to AAA, with prices dropping 11 cents in the past week, down to an average of $3.92 per gallon as of Monday, April 11. Nationally, the average price per gallon is sitting at $4.11 per gallon, down from $4.19 a week ago. AAA gas prices on Monday, April 11.AAA In Connecticut, prices on April 11 have dropped from $4.87 a month ago, but are up from $2.89 on April 11, 2021. The relief at the pu…
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…
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…
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…
Police Investigating 'Hate' Graffiti Painted At Fairfield County School, Store, Police Say Police Investigating 'Hate' Graffiti Painted At Fairfield County School, Store, Police Say
Police Investigating 'Hate' Graffiti Painted At Fairfield County School, Store, Police Say Police in Fairfield County are investigating a series of graffiti aimed at President-elect Joe Biden, and China at an elementary school and a store. The graffiti was discovered around 1:30 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 13, at McKinley Elementary School and later at T.J. Maxx in Fairfield, said Lieutenant Antonio Granata. According to Granata, a Fairfield Board of Education employee reported a sidewalk on the McKinley Elementary School property located at 60 Thompson Street had been vandalized with spray paint. Officers found the words “United States of China," spray-painted across 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…