Chinese state media said that exercises to simulate an air and sea blockade around Taiwan had started Wednesday, but offered little solid evidence to back up the claim. Later Thursday, images showed military helicopters flying past Pingtan island, one of Taiwan's closest points to mainland China.

Duncan went now, impelled by humanish obstinacy, curious where Niun had gone with the figure; and his steps grew less quick, and finally ceased at the corridor that he had not seen in uncounted days: …

Fife-men and pipers braw, Merry deils, tak them a', Gown, lace, and livery — lickpot and ladle ; Jockey shall wear the hood, Jenny the sark of God — For codpiece and petticoat, dishclout and daidle.

for the Chinese virus to find its way into the ducks of the Red River delta or Mekong Delta or the central plains of Thailand, it helps a lot if, in between those places, you have lots of hugely susceptible chickens.