- Associated Press
China’s military holds drills around Taiwan, says it is punishment after new president took office
China's military held exercises surrounding Taiwan on Thursday in what it called punishment for separatist forces seeking independence on the self-governed island where a new president took office this week. Beijing claims the island is part of China’s national territory and the People’s Liberation Army sends navy ships and warplanes into the Taiwan Strait and other areas around the island almost daily to wear down Taiwan’s defenses and seek to intimidate its people, who firmly back their de facto independence.
- WMAR- Baltimore Scripps
Baltimore cuts parishes from 61 to 23
The Archdiocese of Baltimore released its final plan for Catholic churches in the Baltimore area. The existing 61 parishes will be cut down to 23 with 30 worship sites. These sites will be in Baltimore City and some in the immediate suburbs.
- Reuters
Chinese military practiced Taiwan invasion manoeuvres in 2023, says US general
Chinese military drills in the straits of Taiwan in 2023 practiced manoeuvres key to an invasion of the island, although an actual attack was not imminent or inevitable, a senior US general in the region said on Thursday. In the exercises, the People's Liberation Army simulated a maritime and air blockade of Taiwan, amphibious assaults and counter-intervention operations, Deputy Commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, Lieutenant General Stephen Sklenka, said in a speech in Canberra. Sklenka's comments come as Taiwan's military mobilised its forces on Thursday after China started two days of "punishment" drills around Taiwan in what it said was a response to "separatist acts".
