The Washington-based think tank’s China Power Project polled several dozen subject-matter experts, who unanimously agreed that China’s designs on Taiwan, the democratically-ruled island Beijing claims as its own, account for the involvement of U.S. troops. The occasional glimpse into Chinese military planning suggests it expects some of America’s closest allies to defend Taiwan as well. Biden’s public pledge to defend Taipei in the event of “an unprecedented attack”—the fourth time he has made such remarks in the last 13 months—was seen in some quarters as breaking with four decades of “strategic ambiguity,” the longstanding U....

The Omicron-fueled increase in the country’s COVID case numbers is testing China’s zero-COVID policy, which aims to quickly squash any outbreak through strict safety measures and immediate lockdowns. China has pointed to the measures as a success in curbing the pandemic—as the government reported no COVID deaths from January 2021 until March 19 of this year. But the current surge in cases is putting strain on its economy, as the more mild and transmissible Omicron variant threatens widespread closures in some provinces....

Phase 4 of China’s program will carry out scientific examination of the Moon’s south pole with a view to constructing a research base there, state media reported. Wu Yanhua, vice administrator of the China National Space Administration, told CGTN they hoped to survey the area and build some facilities within a decade. “And in the 10 years or so after the first stage, we look to build a comparatively all-around science station, with engagement from different countries, organizations, including private-sector participation,” Wu said....

It’s how a sharp increase in IUU fishing by Chinese fishing boats over the past decade has come to threaten the world’s oceans, deprive seaside nations of their economic livelihoods, and undermine international laws and norms. A 2015 study found a 50 percent decline in ocean life over the last 50 years. According to United Nations data, approximately 90 percent of the world’s remaining fish stocks are now fully exploited, overexploited, or depleted....

According to the South China Morning Post, China Radio International reported on Tuesday night that the People’s Liberation Army Rocket Force recently held a nighttime rocket training exercise. The report added the purpose of the exercise was to increase the Rocket Force’s ability to transfer weapons and missiles quickly. The state-run Global Times also reported that the Rocket Force was training with DF-26 “carrier killer” ballistic missiles. According to the South China Morning Post, the DF-26 missiles can travel up to 2,485 miles and can be used as a nuclear strike or as a traditional ground strike....

His 10,000-word speech, given just five days after the Capitol Riots in the U.S., were published by the party’s bimonthly theoretical journal Qiushi last Friday. In his remarks titled “Seizing a New Development Stage, Implementing a New Development Philosophy and Constructing a New Development paradigm,” the Chinese leader said the world was experiencing “profound change not seen for a century.” China, Xi alluded, has the right leadership and government to capitalize on the “enormous and unprecedented” opportunities and challenges facing the country’s development....

Larry Elder, a conservative talk radio host, will be missing it to be at a Bakersfield fundraiser. His spokeswoman said he wants to debate with Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom and even warned him in a tweet that a “circular firing squad” among GOP candidates would only benefit the governor. The Republican candidates will have the option to team up on Governor Newsom or makes digs at each other in an attempt to come out on top....

As first reported Tuesday by SB Nation, Chicago’s attempted use of the Twitter hashtag #GoBears — a phrase trademarked by Cal — has fallen through. Typing in said hashtag in Twitter would have added the Chicago logo to any tweet. WEEK 3 PICKS: Straight up | Against the spread That is, until Cal found about the potential trademark infringement. The issue first arose on Wednesday, when the Bears announced their plans to use #GoBears throughout the season....

The fire is only 48 percent contained after it erupted on Aug. 14 as firefighters are using tactics such as bulldozing defense lines and air-dropping water on the fire to carve a perimeter around much of the blaze. A mandatory evacuation order for South Lake Tahoe’s 22,000 residents was lifted. “We’re also looking long term — what’s going to happen, four, five or six days down the road. We want to make sure we’re planning and having stuff ready and completed” before more people can return home, Cal Fire official John Davis said....

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) said the body of one-month-old Caleb Whisnand Jr. was found on Wednesday after he was first reported missing at around 10:45 p.m. on Monday. His parents, Caleb Whisnand Sr., 32, and Angela Nicole Gardner, 28, had pleaded for their son’s return during a press conference on Wednesday just hours before the baby’s remains were found. According to AL.com, Whisnand Sr. pleaded for the public to help and said: “I don’t remember a lot but I did remember I was breaking up, ya know, with the cops....

After Calgary dominated early and stifled the Jets’ offense, Josh Morrissey scored in the third on the power play and Bryan Little scored in OT to complete the comeback. The rally marked the 14th come-from-behind win in outdoor game history and the seventh that needed overtime. Elias Lindholm netted a power-play goal in the second period to give the Flames the lead. The game was a netminder’s dream as the snow fell and accumulated on the rink, slowing down the puck....

On Wednesday, California Governor Gavin Newsom said health officials reported 432 COVID-19 deaths on December 29, which state data shows is the highest number of virus-related deaths reported on a single day in the state since the start of the pandemic. Compared with the 70 deaths reported at the end of November, the number of virus-related deaths reported Wednesday represents an increase of more than 600 percent over the 70 deaths reported in a single day at the end of November, with more than 200 deaths per day reported on several days over the last month....

North Valley Baptist Church in Santa Clara County released a video message from its pastor earlier this week explaining how events escalated from the moment the church received a cease-and-desist letter from county officials on August 21 to the $10,000 in fines levied against the church for two in-person services held on Sunday. According to The Mercury News, the county issued the church a third $5,000 fine after it hosted another in-person service on Wednesday....

Hoping to combat voter apathy, the effort could benefit the sitting governor by increasing turnout. The campaign will appear on billboards, radio, and digital ads, television, and other tactics to educate voters about the recall and casting a ballot. California voters received ballots by mail, but according to polling by the UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies, a plague of disinterest and inertia has officials, especially state Democrats, alarmed. Some voters may not know about the race because of its unusual timing in the late summer of a non-election year....

More than 17,000 firefighters are combating 25 major fires and two “extended attack wildfires” in the state, including the Bobcat Fire in Los Angeles County, which has burned over 46,000 acres but remains only three percent contained, according to the latest report by the U.S. Forest Service (USFS). “A Fire Weather Watch is in effect over the eastern Sierra from Modoc County in the north to Inyo County in the south for gusty winds and low humidity, bringing critical fire weather conditions to the area…a warming trend is expected to return this weekend, bringing elevated fire danger,” Cal Fire warned....

“Yesterday was the deadliest day for this virus in the state. 115 human beings lost their lives – families torn apart,” Newsom said during his daily coronavirus press briefing. “We’re not out of the woods yet. I know there is deep desire, people making calls on an hourly basis saying it’s time to open back up – consider the deadliest day in the state of California the last 24 hours, an 8....

California, which leads the U.S. in terms of its total number of COVID-19 infections, reached a new milestone this week when it reported 3 million total cases since the start of the pandemic. Only four other U.S. states have exceeded 1 million total cases thus far, with Texas serving as the only other state that has surpassed 2 million total cases, according to data compiled by The New York Times....

At least two people died in the 11-mile-long earthquake, which hit off the far North Coast of California, with a dozen more injured. Power outages swept across the region and many houses were damaged. The region is extremely tectonically active, as it is located at the southern end of the Cascadia subduction fault—where the United States sits right over the ocean floor. The fault lies at the northern tip of the San Andreas fault, the border section between two massive tectonic plates under the Earth’s surface....