Zeng Yixin, deputy head of China’s National Health Commission, made his comments in a press conference in Beijing on Thursday. He also announced that China wouldn’t be participating in the next stage of the World Health Organization’s COVID origins investigation, which highlights the possibility the virus could have come from a Chinese lab. Zeng said the plan “disregards common sense and defies science” and added that “no worker or researcher at the WIV got infected by coronavirus,” CNN reported....

The finding was reported on Friday last week by Our Space, a Chinese social media channel associated with the China National Space Administration, according to Space.com. In a blog post on WeChat, Our Space authors said the cube-shaped object, which they variously described as a “mysterious hut”, an “obtrusive cube” and a “mysterious house”, was stumbled upon by operators controlling the Yutu-2 rover while they were taking photos of the surrounding skyline....

At a press conference, Garland announced the government was pursuing three separate cases in which Chinese spies allegedly violated international norms and tried to disrupt the U.S. justice system. In one case, two intelligence officers allegedly tried to bribe a law enforcement officer $61,000 in exchange for confidential information about witnesses, evidence and possible charges in a criminal investigation into an unidentified Chinese telecommunications company, according to court filings....

In truth, Buies Creek doesn’t boast much in the way of sightseeing. That is, of course, unless you count Chris Clemons, the 5-9 point-scoring machine for Campbell University who is not-so-quietly making NCAA history. Clemons, the senior leader of the 12-9 Fighting Camels (5-2 in Big South play) has become one of the most exciting scorers to watch in college basketball this season. Not that that’s anything new. MORE: Ryan Fagan’s College Basketball Road Trip...

MORE: Simmons not appearing on any ESPN platforms | Where will Bill Simmons go? “We are thrilled to have a journalist of Chris’ caliber join us on an interim basis as we go forward and build on the smart, fun, adventurous, creative, unexpected and vital spirit of Grantland,” Marie Donoghue, ESPN’s executive vice president, global strategy and original content, said in a statement. “Chris has been an award-winning journalist and storyteller in sports, music and pop culture for over three decades, and as a longtime contributor at Grantland, he appreciates the incredible team we have assembled....

The 29-year-old cornerback and the Broncos agreed to an adjusted deal for 2019, the team announced Tuesday. Harris will get $12.05 million in salary and bonuses this season, which amounts to a 35.4 percent raise from the $8.9 million he was set to get in what would’ve been the final year of his five-year contract, 9News.com reported. “We have a lot of respect for Chris as a player and for everything he’s meant to our organization,” Broncos president John Elway said in a statement....

Chris Paul will be heading to Phoenix in a trade from the Thunder, according to multiple reports. Oklahoma City will receive a package headlined by Kelly Oubre and Ricky Rubio in return. Paul, 35, will form a de facto big three on the Suns with shooting guard Devin Booker and big man DeAndre Ayton. Phoenix will hope that trio and mostly inexperienced players around them will be enough to contend in a loaded Western Conference....

A program that won its last national championship 25 years ago and hasn’t been to the Rose Bowl since 2000 can announce its arrival as a Pac-12 and College Football Playoff contender under third-year coach Chris Petersen. We can even throw in a montage of Mark Brunell, Steve Emtman and all those big, bad Huskies from the early 1990s to back it up. Too bad third-year coach Chris Petersen doesn’t share that perception....

Smith stunned viewers when he walked on stage and slapped the comedian moments after he made a joke about the actor’s wife Jada Pinkett Smith. Smith slapped Rock over a joke about his wife’s shaved head, which was due to alopecia—a hair-loss condition. The subsequent controversy overshadowed Smith’s best actor win, the ceremony as a whole and brought intensified attention to him and Rock. Commentators and people online criticized both Rock and Smith over the joke and slap, respectively....

Maroon 5 frontman Levin, 43, became a trending topic across social media on Monday, after Instagram model Sumner Stroh alleged in a viral TikTok video that she had a year-long affair with the musician. The model and influencer, 23, also shared screenshots of messages that she claimed were from Levine, including one in which he asked if he could name his expected third child after her. Former The Voice coach Levine broke his silence on Tuesday, issuing a statement on an Instagram Story in which he denied an affair, though he admitted to having “crossed the line” in his communications....

Teigen has faced a backlash following allegations she wrote abusive tweets about model Courtney Stodden, including one in which Teigen told Stodden to kill themself. Author and political activist Candace Owens implied in a Tweet that the range had been axed due to the controversy. “I am pleased to announce that as of this evening, Macy’s has removed Chrissy Teigen’s cookware line from its website,” she wrote. “Thank you @Macys for doing the right thing....

Clinton’s admiration left Teigen scrambling for the delete button on some recent videos. “oh my god Hillary Clinton just tweeted my essay now I have to delete the stupid videos I just posted oh my god please dont look at them Hillary Clinton,” Teigen wrote on Wednesday afternoon. Which videos Teigen is referring to remain unclear, though the clips on Instagram of her and daughter Luna wearing glasses a la Groucho Marx could be them....

Christensen has been a regular in the first team for Chelsea this season, making eight appearances in all competitions, with manager Antonio Conte saying he will have no problem selecting the centre-back for Saturday’s Stamford Bridge showdown with the league leaders. De Bruyne 9/1 FGS with dabblebet He spent the previous two seasons at Gladbach and face City four times in the Champions League during his time in Germany, though the visitors will be without star man Sergio Aguero on this occasion after he was involved in a car crash....

The three-time African Champions will prepare for the global showpiece with five top profile tuneup encounters, including games against Poland and England - both placed sixth and 16th respectively in current world football ranking. Gernot Rohr’s men begin with a tie against the White and Reds at the Municipal Stadium, Wroclaw on Friday before facing Serbia at the Hive, London on March 27. The remaining ties are against DR Congo, the Three Lions and Czech Republic as the Super Eagles aim to navigate past their Group D foes; Argentina, Iceland and Croatia at the World Cup....

Laettner's white No. 32 Blue Devils jersey, the same one he wore when he hit a fadeaway buzzer-beater to upend Kentucky, 104-103, in a 1992 regional final, went up for auction in late December with an asking price of $100,000. MORE: Ranking the CBB states | New AP poll | Duke’s interior exposed again But Laettner, the man who sank the greatest shot in college hoops history, is not collecting the money....

McCaffrey picked up his first San Francisco touchdown on Sunday when he caught a lateral from quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo and aired out a 34-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Aiyuk to tie the matchup with the Rams at seven in the second quarter. McCaffrey said he was “fired up” that he had a chance to make the throw on Sunday. “I was fired up. Fired up,” McCaffrey said. “Brandon made a great play....

Had he started, Pulisic would have been the first U.S. men’s national team player to start in a UEFA Champions League final, considered the biggest stage in the world when it comes to club soccer. Pulisic made history by eventually coming on in the 66th minute for Timo Werner with Chelsea up 1-0 and he had a golden chance to ice the game, but he narrowly missed the target. He became the first American man to play and win a Champions League final....

Christine Marie Priola was photographed at Vice President Mike Pence’s desk during the riots that erupted in Washington, D.C. on January 6 and left at least five people dead, including a police officer. Holding a placard that read “THE CHILDREN CRY OUT FOR JUSTICE”, the 49-year-old was photographed standing next to a fellow protesters who sat on the Vice President’s seat in the Senate Chamber after the mob stormed the heart of U....

The territory is currently rolling out its booster shot programme and has reiterated it advises against any large informal social gatherings during this time. The Gibraltar Government issued new advice ahead of the Christmas festive period. The British-owned territory has called on residents to limit their indoor mixing and take into consideration guests’ vaccination status before hosting events. Government officials have said citizens should “exercise their own judgment” on holding Christmas events, however it has “strongly advised against” this....

By 1987, Kaiser had been to 212 different experts. Her eyesight was fading and she was having a dozen minor seizures every day. She often lacked the strength to stand up. Her concentration and memory had so deteriorated that she couldn’t get through a TV show. Her IQ was down by 22 points. Still, because she lacked a known disease, no one could quite accept that she was sick. Her weary family started pulling away, and doctors hinted that she might be better off in a mental institution....