Details vague on

facility strike

PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — President Donald Trump has indicated that the U.S. has “hit” a dock facility along a shore as he wages a pressure campaign on Venezuela. But the U.S. offered few details. Trump initially seemed to confirm a strike in what appeared to be an impromptu radio interview Friday. When questioned Monday by reporters about “an explosion in Venezuela,” the president said the U.S. struck a facility where boats accused of carrying drugs “load up.”

Trump declined to say if the military or CIA was involved or where it occurred. He didn’t confirm it happened in Venezuela. The White House and Venezuela’s government did not immediately respond to a request for more details or comment

China stages

military drills

HONG KONG (AP) — The Chinese military says it dispatched air, navy and missile units to conduct joint live-fire drills around Taiwan to warn against what it calls separatist and “external interference” forces. Taiwan says it has placed its forces on alert.

Monday’s drills came after Beijing expressed anger at what could be the largest-ever U.S. arms sale to the self-ruled territory. It also expressed anger over a statement by Japan’s prime minister that its military could get involved. Taiwan’s aviation authority says more than 100,000 international air travelers will be affected by the drills that continue Tuesday.

U.S. President Trump said he was not informed of the military exercise in advance but also suggested he didn’t believe the Chinese leader would attack Taiwan.

Pilots knew

each other

(AP) — Authorities have identified two pilots who died after their helicopters collided midair in southern New Jersey. Sixty-five-year-old Kenneth Kirsch and 71-year-old Michael Greenberg were friends who both lived in New Jersey. The two men would often have breakfast together at a cafe near the crash site in Hammonton, about 35 miles southeast of Philadelphia.

The National Transportation Safety Board is examining the accident site and a debris field that stretches about 100 yards. Both helicopters are expected to be removed today and taken to another location for further review. A preliminary NTSB report is expected in about 30 days.