Here are the stories shaping the day:

• The FBI has stepped up scrutiny over how it handled previously undisclosed documents containing claims about alleged Chinese interference in the 2020 elections.
• The so-called razor-throat COVID-19 variant that has driven a rise in cases in mainland China is now detected in more than a dozen U.S. states, according to data released by a private tracking firm.
• The National Weather Service forecasts that significant parts of the Midwest and East Coast will see high temperatures during a heat wave starting this weekend and lasting into early next week.
• 🍵 Health: Short-term fasting may boost immune defenses and make cancer treatments more effective.

—

☀️ Want this in your inbox? Get clarity and inspiration with The Epoch Times Morning Brief, our flagship newsletter written by U.S. national editor Ivan Pentchoukov. Sign up here.