Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said his government receives information about U.S.-led airstrikes against Islamic State militants in Syria, but he stressed there is no direct cooperation. Assad told the BBC in Damascus that there are exchanges of messages through third parties, such as Iraq, but the exchanges do not include tactical information. He said Syria […]
MANILA—The Philippine Navy is upgrading its capabilities at a time of continuing tensions with China over disputed territory in the South China Sea. In recent weeks, an Indonesian naval shipbuilder started work on two “strategic sealift vessels” that the Philippines is acquiring for more than $87 million and expects within two years, said Commander Lued […]
The death toll from the crash of a passenger plane in Taiwan rose to 31 Thursday, as search and rescue operations continued for 12 people still missing. Internet video showed the twin-engine TransAsia plane moments after takeoff from Taipei’s Songshan airport on Wednesday, bound for Taiwan’s outlying Kinmen islands. The plane’s left wing, perpendicular to […]
TAIPEI—Rescue workers in Taiwan have used a crane to lift part of the wreckage of a TransAsia passenger plane that crashed outside of Taipei, killing at least 25 people and leaving nearly 20 others missing in shallow water. Rescuers in boats surrounded the partially submerged, upside-down plane and pulled at least 15 of the passengers […]