China has stepped up patrols near the outlying county of Kinmen in what Taiwan says is a campaign to change the status quo.

"My family and I are safe and I’m thankful that no one was hurt," Illinois state Sen. Meg Loughran Cappel said in a statement.

The latest "South Park" episode will be delayed another week, Comedy Central announced. "This one's on us," creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone said.

Protests over bus service operations to the world famous site have led to train tracks being blocked by local residents, stranding hundreds of tourists.

The Federal Reserve announced its first rate cut of the year, bringing its key interest rate down to a range of 4% to 4.25%.