Reuters

TAIPEI (Reuters) - Taiwan's defence ministry said on Friday that in the previous 24 hours it had detected 14 Chinese military aircraft crossing the Taiwan Strait's median line.

The median line used to serve as an unofficial border between the two sides, but Chinese military aircraft now regularly cross it. China says it does not recognise the line's existence.

(Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Jacqueline Wong)

By Yimou Lee and Angie Teo

TAIPEI (Reuters) - Earthquake warning smartphone apps have surged in popularity in Taiwan due to high demand from people eager to get a few extra seconds to take cover after more than 1,300 aftershocks rattled the island in the past month following a large temblor.

Taiwan's east coast was struck by a 7.2 magnitude quake on April 3, killing 17 people.

The frequent aftershocks since then - including... (continue reading...)

By Adrian Portugal and Peter Blaza

NUEVA ECIJA, Philippines (Reuters) - Ruins of a centuries-old town have emerged at a dam parched by drought in northern Philippines, giving residents a rare spectacle and an extra source of income in a region dependent on rice-growing.

Following a prolonged spell with little rain, the dried-up dam has revealed parts of a sunken church and foundations of old structures from the old town in Nueva Ecija... (continue reading...)

By Laila Kearney

(Reuters) - Oil prices edged up in early trade on Friday on the prospect of OPEC+ continuing output cuts, but the crude benchmarks were headed for weekly losses on U.S. economic uncertainty and limited crude supply disruptions caused by the Israel-Hamas war.

Brent crude futures for July rose 16 cents to $83.83 a barrel by 0008 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude for June was up 19 cents to $79.14 per barrel.

By Lizbeth Diaz

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexican authorities said on Thursday they were searching at sea and on land for two Australians and one American reported missing in Baja California, one of the country's most violent states.

Australian brothers Callum and Jake Robinson and American Jack Carter Rhoad were reported missing on April 29, according to Baja California's prosecutors' office, and were last seen on April 27.