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Wider war in Mideast would impact global economy — WB

PHOTO SHOWS a Palestinian looking at the site of an Israeli strike on a mosque, amid the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on Feb. 12, 2024. — REUTERS

WASHINGTON — World Bank (WB) President Ajay Banga on Tuesday warned that a significant widening of the Israel-Gaza war could lead to major impacts on the global economy, calling the steep loss of civilian lives in the region “unconscionable.”

Speaking in a Reuters NEXT Newsmaker interview, Mr. Banga said the war has had a relatively small impact on the global economy thus far, but a significant widening of the conflict would draw in other countries that are larger contributors to global growth, including commodity exporters.

“First of all, I think this unbelievable loss of life — women, children, others, civilians, is just unconscionable on all sides,” Mr. Banga said. “The economic impact of this war, on the other hand, depends a great deal on how much this spreads.”

“If it spreads regionally, then it becomes a completely different issue because now you start going into places that are far larger contributors to the world economy, both in terms of dollars, but also in terms of minerals and metals and oil and the like,” he said.

Some Western countries are pushing for a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, as well as in Gaza, though the United States, Israel’s strongest ally, has expressed its continued support and is sending it an anti-missile system and troops.

Israel launched the offensive against Hamas after the militant group’s Oct. 7 attack on Israel, in which 1,200 people were killed and around 250 taken hostage to Gaza, by Israeli tallies. More than 42,000 Palestinians have been killed in the offensive so far, according to Gaza’s health authorities.

Israeli strikes have also killed at least 2,350 people over the last year in Lebanon and left nearly 11,000 wounded, according to the Lebanese health ministry, and more than 1.2 million people have been displaced.

Mr. Banga said war damage from Israeli strikes on Gaza is now probably in the $14-20 billion range, and destruction from Israel’s bombing of southern Lebanon will add to that regional total.

Mr. Banga said the World Bank had provided $300 million, six times what was normally given, to the Palestinian Authority to help it manage the crisis on the ground, but that was small compared to the “large number” it would ultimately need.

He said the multilateral development bank had also assembled a group of experts from Jordan, Israel, Palestine, Europe, the US and Egypt to study what short- and longer-term actions it could take if a peace agreement could be reached.

“We’re going to have to figure out how to have that publicly discussed and debated and then find the resources for it,” he said, adding that the effort would require private and public resources. — Reuters

China won’t renounce use of force over Taiwan

Chinese President Xi Jinping speaks during the opening ceremony of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China Oct. 16, 2022. — REUTERS

BEIJING/TAIPEI — China will never commit to renouncing the use of force over Taiwan, the government in Beijing said on Wednesday after another bout of war games and a visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping to the scene of a famous defeat for Taiwanese forces.

China, which views democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory, staged a day of large-scale drills around the island on Monday that it said were a warning to “separatist acts” following last week’s national day speech by Taiwan President Lai Ching-te.

“We are willing to strive for the prospect of peaceful reunification with the utmost sincerity and endeavor,” Mr. Chen Binhua, spokesperson for China’s Taiwan Affairs Office, told a regular press briefing in Beijing.

“But we will never commit ourselves to renouncing the use of force,” he said.

That is, however, aimed at the interference of “external forces” and the very small number of Taiwan separatists, not the vast majority of Taiwan’s people, Chen said. Taiwan has close though unofficial relations with the United States, a major arms supplier, and its allies.

“No matter how many troops Taiwan has and how many weapons it acquires, and no matter whether external forces intervene or not, if it (Taiwan) dares to take risks, it will lead to its own destruction,” he added.

“Our actions to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity will not cease for a moment.”

Chinese state media reported on Wednesday that President Xi had arrived the previous day on Dongshan island in China’s Fujian province, which faces Taiwan and where in 1953 China beat off an invasion attempt by Taiwan-based military.

The defeated Republic of China government fled to Taiwan in 1949 after losing a civil war with Mao Zedong’s communists. No armistice or peace treaty has ever been signed.

Mr. Xi was on the island to learn about efforts to revitalize the countryside and the “passing on of red genes and strengthening the protection of cultural heritage”, the official People’s Daily said, referring to the color of the Communist Party.

The report made no mention of Taiwan.

‘NEGATIVE EFFECT’
Taiwan’s government rejects China’s sovereignty claims, saying only the island’s people can decide their future.

Speaking to reporters in Taipei earlier on Wednesday, Taiwan National Security Bureau Director-General Tsai Ming-yen said China’s drills had backfired given the international condemnation they generated, especially from Washington.

“The Chinese communists’ military exercise has created a negative effect in that it made the international community more supportive of Taiwan,” he said.

Mr. Lai, in his Oct. 10 speech, said China has no right to represent Taiwan, but the island was willing to work with the government in Beijing to combat challenges like climate change, striking both a firm and a conciliatory tone which Taiwan officials said was a show of goodwill.

Mr. Chen, the Chinese spokesperson, said Mr. Lai had stuck to his “stubborn separatist position.”

“There was no goodwill to speak of,” Mr. Chen said.

Lai has repeatedly offered talks with China but been rebuffed.

China’s military on Monday held open the possibility of more drills around Taiwan depending on the level of “provocation.”

Mr. Tsai said the government remained on alert for further military action.

“We cannot rule out any possibilities,” he said.

China has over the past five years sent warships and warplanes in the waters and skies around Taiwan on an almost daily basis.

On Wednesday morning, in its daily update of Chinese activities in the previous 24 hours, Taiwan’s defense ministry said it had detected 22 Chinese military aircraft and five navy ships around Taiwan. — Reuters

Under fire, Trump contends economic policies won’t boost federal debt

REPUBLICAN presidential candidate Donald Trump on Tuesday defended his protectionist trade policies and other fiscal proposals, dismissing suggestions that they could drive up the federal debt, antagonize allies and harm the US economy.

“We’re all about growth. We’re going to bring companies back to our country,” the former president said in a sometimes-tense interview at the Economic Club of Chicago.

The interviewer, John Micklethwait, editor-in-chief of Bloomberg News, cited projections by budget analysts that Mr. Trump’s plans would add $7.5 trillion to the federal debt through the year 2035, more than twice that of policies favored by Mr. Trump’s Democratic opponent in the Nov. 5 election, Vice-President Kamala Harris.

Mr. Trump maintained that his trade policies — which call for pricey tariffs on goods not only from rivals such as China but allies such as the European Union — would revitalize American manufacturing and yield enough revenue to ease concerns about ballooning the deficit.

Some trade experts have argued those tariffs could damage the US economy, jeopardize jobs and drive up consumer prices.

“All you have to do is build your plants in the United States, and you won’t have any tariffs,” Mr. Trump said. “I agree it’s going to have a massive effect, a positive effect, not a negative.”

Mr. Trump reiterated that he would levy a high tariff on vehicles assembled in and imported from Mexico — as high as 200%, he said. And he said he would impose duties on imported cars from countries such as Germany in order to force foreign companies to manufacture their products in the US.

When Mr. Trump was told that his efforts might annoy allies the US needs to compete against China, he responded by saying, “Our allies have taken advantage of us more than our enemies.” — Reuters

Australia’s planned social media ban raises teen isolation fears

A person using a smartphone is seen in front of displayed social media logos in this illustration taken on May 25, 2021. — REUTERS

SYDNEY — For Tereza Hussein, a 14-year-old refugee who lives in Darwin, Australia’s planned social media ban would mean losing a direct line to the most important person to her: a grandmother she has never physically met.

“It’s the only way I’ve ever connected to my grandma before, over socials,” said Ms. Hussein, who was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo but lived in a refugee camp in Malawi before settling in Australia when she was nine.

“It’s going to have a very big change in my life because it’s going to be hard for me to talk to the people that I’ve left behind,” she said.

While Ms. Hussein rarely posts on social media, she uses Meta’s Instagram and Snapchat primarily to view and discuss photos and videos from family and friends.

She represents what experts say is a blind spot in a plan by Australia’s government to put an age minimum on social media in response to concerns about bullying, predatory grooming and physical and mental health.

For teenagers from migrant, LGBTQIA+ and other minority backgrounds, an age block could cut off access to essential social support.

Some 97% of Australian teenagers use social media across an average of four platforms, surveys show, making them among the world’s most connected youth.

Nearly two-thirds of parents of Australian teenagers reported concerns about their children’s social media use, according to a 2024 survey by youth service ReachOut.

Now the government wants to curb social media addiction by cutting the cord.

While the ban is yet to be legislated and at present lacks key details — such as which ages and platforms it would affect — the government’s first step is to trial age verification.

Youth advocates, however, warn the ban will cut social connections for vulnerable youth and have instead called for tech platforms to better enforce safe interactions.

“The ban is pretty much the opposite of what we would recommend,” said Amelia Johns, an associate professor of digital media at University of Technology, Sydney, who studied migrant teens’ social media use during COVID-19 lockdowns.

“Everyone is living in social media. For a lot of young people it’s not an option to opt out, and I do wonder about the mental health consequences of a complete blanket ban.”

So far, no country has rolled out an age-based ban targeting internet platforms. France and Britain have tested age verification but are yet to go live with a ban, while some US states require age verification to access restricted content.

Australia plans to introduce legislation by the end of the year. While no lower age limit has been proposed, officials have suggested around 14 to 16.

“If I lost social media it would make me feel a lot more isolated,” said Ben Kioko, a 14-year-old from Sydney who self-described as autistic and part of the LGBTQIA+ community.

“Since I struggle with mental health issues like anxiety and depression, it would make those a lot worse than they already are and could really affect my life long-term,” he added.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is a key proponent of the ban.

“Parents want their kids off their phones and on the footy field, so do I,” he said in September.

A spokesperson for Albanese didn’t respond to Reuters’ request for comment

Justine Humphry, a media researcher at University of Sydney who has published an online safety program, said while social media companies should better protect teenagers, an outright ban was based on “nostalgia” for a childhood without screens that she described as “fiction.”

Meta, which also owns Facebook and WhatsApp, declined to comment. It has said it supports protecting young users from harmful content and interactions, but an age block should be the responsibility of smartphone makers.

The company upped privacy default settings for under-18 Instagram users this September and said those under 16 need parental approval to relax settings.

Alphabet, owner of YouTube, one of the most popular platforms for teenagers, declined to comment but said in a blog post it has features to give parents oversight of their children’s use.

‘WORKAROUNDS’
Elsewhere, no attempts to enforce age restrictions have succeeded partly due to access to virtual private networks (VPNs) that hide users’ locations and personal information, experts said.

A report by former judge Robert French, commissioned by South Australia state to support its own separate plan for a teen social media ban, noted “there will undoubtedly be workarounds by knowledgeable child users.”

A 2022 age verification trial in France, which wants social media restricted to 15 and above, found nearly half the country’s teenagers could use VPNs, said Olivier Blazy, a computer scientist at Paris’s Ecole Polytechnique who worked on the project.

Antonio Cesarano, product manager for Proton VPN, said customer numbers typically surged when restrictions were introduced.

In 2021, soon after YouTube started asking users for identification to view age-restricted content, a developer using the alias ZerodyOne posted software on open source website Github that helped users bypass the restrictions.

It has been downloaded about 2.5 million times, according to data shared by ZerodyOne, who gave only his first name, David.

Sydney high school student Enie Lam, 16, said she uses a VPN to bypass her school’s wifi restrictions for school-assigned research like reading news articles online.

“I understand that using social media a lot is not a good thing and I’m working on it,” she said. “But a ban is not going to work.” — Reuters

Indonesia to check grocery shelves as deadline for halal labels nears

JAKARTA — Indonesian authorities plan to inspect grocery store shelves to check compliance with a law requiring halal labels on food items from Friday, officials said, although some importers and restaurants face hurdles in complying.

The world’s biggest Muslim-majority country adopted a measure in 2014 requiring the labeling for restaurants and food products, setting an Oct. 17 deadline to ensure items are suitable for consumption under Islamic law.

While most businesses in the nation of 280 million have complied, along with some major global food producers, others say they need more time.

“They (some members) want to be part of Indonesia’s strong market for halal products, but are still encountering complex supply chains and lack of clear guidelines,” said Lydia Ruddy, managing director of the American Chamber of Commerce.

“These potentially can lead to trade disruptions and higher costs,” she told Reuters, adding that AmCham was in talks with the government on the matter.

She called for more foreign certifiers to speed inspection of products and raw materials abroad so as to help the affected AmCham members.

The law requires products or restaurants without the certification to declare they do not comply with Islamic law, a step that could hit sales.

Islamic law prohibits consumption of pork or intoxicants such as alcohol, while meat can only be eaten if the animals were slaughtered by prescribed methods.

The halal certifying body BPJPH has asked the government for a two-year waiver on some raw materials used in the food and beverages industry, as well as products of small businesses, but the president has yet to sign off, its head, Aqil Irham, said.

With Indonesia’s President-designate Prabowo Subianto set to take over from the incumbent Joko Widodo next weekend, it was not clear if such a dispensation could be issued in time.

The presidential office did not immediately respond to request for comment.

The Trade ministry deferred questions on the waiver to the BPJPH.

Authorities plan inspections on Friday to check compliance and issue a formal warning to producers of items that lack clear labels, said domestic trade official Moga Simatupang.

“We will take administrative action against noncompliance, so we urge importers to immediately register to get halal labels,” he added.

In the absence of compliance, such products will be removed from stores, he added, without setting a timeframe.

Most of the 400 members of the Indonesian Food and Beverage Industries Association have complied, but restaurants and hotels face difficulties because authorities need time to check menu offerings, said Adhi Lukman, the group’s chairman.

Conservative interpretations of Islam have gained ground in Indonesia in the past few years, ushering in major changes to the economy, across industries from entertainment to banking. — Reuters

Meningococcal group B vaccine receives Philippine FDA approval

The Philippine Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved on October 15 the Meningococcal Group B Vaccine of GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) Philippines, a global biopharma company. 

The vaccine is for the prevention of meningococcal disease caused by the Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B in individuals aged two months or older.  

Prior this FDA approval, there was no vaccine available for serogroup B. 

Meningococcal disease is an “uncommon infection associated with high case fatality rates, especially in some low resource countries,” according to a November 2021 paper published in Microbiology Australia. 

Serogroup B is predominant in the Philippines, causing 68% of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) cases in the country between 2017-2018, the paper said. 

IMD can lead to meningitis, an inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. It can also lead to meningococcal sepsis, where the bacteria enter the bloodstream, thus spreading the infection. Both conditions require urgent medical attention to prevent irreversible consequences such as permanent hearing loss, vision impairment, and cognitive difficulties. 

Infants and children are most vulnerable to the disease. 

“IMD can lead to severe illness, long-term complications, or even death, often affecting patients in ways that can alter their lives forever,” said Dr. Giovell P. Barangan, country medical director of GSK Philippines, in an October 15 press statement. 

“The availability of this vaccine in the Philippines represents a significant step in protecting families and their loved ones from the life-threatening outcomes of IMD,” he said. 

GSK’s Meningococcal Group B Vaccine has been licensed in over 40 countries, including in the member states of the European Union, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United States. – Patricia B. Mirasol

PHL strives for a sustainable aviation industry, reduction of carbon emission

Planes are seen at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Pasay City. — PHILIPPINE STAR/MIGUEL DE GUZMAN

The Philippines strives to be at par with other neighboring countries in the aviation industry through carbon emission reduction and strategic infrastructure development, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said on Monday. 

“Let’s see what are the practices that will allow us to contribute to the reduction of carbon emissions, along with the best practices in the industry,” Transportation Secretary Jaime J. Bautista said in Filipino at the 59th Conference of Directors General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) of the Asia and Pacific Regions. 

At the five-day DGCA event, more than 300 international delegates will discuss key issues in aviation, such as safety, security, and economic development of air transport. The conference is a platform for advancing civil aviation regulation and development. 

Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) Director General Capt. Manuel Antonio L. Tamayo added that nearly 15,000 trees were planted across the country to support global sustainability efforts and the long-term goal of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) for net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. 

Apart from tree planting, the inception of the Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) committee under the National Biofuels Board and the Department of Energy (DOE), launched the Philippine SAF Feasibility study on October 3. 

SAF, an alternative fuel made from non-petroleum feedstocks, will reduce 80% of carbon dioxide emissions, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA). 

With sustainable solutions, adaptation to unforeseen disruptions and maintaining the safety and efficiency of operations is possible, according to Mr. Tamayo. 

“For many years, the industry and the world at large did not fully prioritize or address the climate impact of air transport,” Mr. Tamayo said. “Today, we know better.” 

“Equally important is inclusivity, ensuring that no man, no woman, and no country is left behind,” he added.  

53 successful airport projects as of August 2024 were highlighted as well by Mr. Bautista, solidifying the department’s dedication to “building a resilient and modern aviation network that supports sustainable growth across the region.” – Almira Louise S. Martinez 

Indonesia’s Prabowo briefs potential ministers on economy, geopolitics

A view shows the Light Rail Transit (LRT) train in Jakarta, Indonesia, Aug. 23, 2023. -- REUTERS/Willy Kurniawan

JAKARTA – Indonesia’s incoming leader Prabowo Subianto was briefing his would-be ministers on Wednesday on economy and geopolitical issues ahead of his Sunday inauguration, his spokesperson said, as his cabinet assessments continue.

Mr. Prabowo this week summoned dozens of people who said they had been asked to join the next government, including current finance minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati. His cabinet has not been officially unveiled.

Dahnil Anzar Simanjuntak, Prabowo’s spokesperson, said on news channel Kompas TV that the briefing was intended for “the ministers to build a mutual understanding with Prabowo.”

Mr. Dahnil said the topics of the briefing revolved around anti-corruption measures and the economy.

Prabowo’s agenda includes accelerating economic growth to 8% from the current 5% while ending poverty and malnutrition in the nation of 275 million people. He is also pushing a multi-billion-dollar program giving free meals to 20 million students.

“Prabowo wants to ensure there is awareness from all ministers, from all his subordinates…to reach the 8% economic growth,” Mr. Dahnil said.

Mr. Dahnil also said the briefing would touch on geopolitical issues, without providing details.

Mr. Prabowo has said that he will keep his foreign policy non-aligned to any major power, be it China or the United States.

Local media reported several ministers arrived for the briefing at Prabowo’s residence in the south of the capital Jakarta, including Sri Mulyani and current chief economic minister Airlangga Hartarto.

Mr. Prabowo, an ex-general who won the presidential election in a landslide in February, will be sworn in on Sunday. His vice president is Gibran Rakabuming Raka, the eldest son of outgoing President Joko Widodo. – Reuters

‘Age of electricity’ to follow looming fossil fuel peak, IEA says

PCH.VECTOR-FREEPIK

LONDON – The world is on the brink of a new age of electricity with fossil fuel demand set to peak by the end of the decade, meaning surplus oil and gas supplies could drive investment into green energy, the International Energy Agency said on Wednesday.

But it also flagged a high level of uncertainty as conflicts embroil the oil and gas-producing Middle East and Russia and as countries representing half of global energy demand have elections in 2024.

“In the second half of this decade, the prospect of more ample – or even surplus – supplies of oil and natural gas, depending on how geopolitical tensions evolve, would move us into a very different energy world,” IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol said in a release alongside its annual report.

Surplus fossil fuel supplies would likely lead to lower prices and could enable countries to dedicate more resources to clean energy, moving the world into an “age of electricity,” Birol said.

In the nearer term, there is also the possibility of reduced supplies should the Middle East conflict disrupt oil flows.

The IEA said such conflicts highlighted the strain on the energy system and the need for investment to speed up the transition to “cleaner and more secure technologies”.

A record high level of clean energy came online globally last year, the IEA said, including more than 560 gigawatts (GW) of renewable power capacity. Around $2 trillion is expected to be invested in clean energy in 2024, almost double the amount invested in fossil fuels.

In its scenario based on current government policies, global oil demand peaks before 2030 at just less than 102 million barrels/day (mb/d), and then falls back to 2023 levels of 99 mb/d by 2035, largely because of lower demand from the transport sector as electric vehicle use increases.

The report also lays out the likely impact on future oil prices if stricter environmental policies are implemented globally to combat climate change.

In the IEA’s current policies scenario, oil prices LCOc1 decline to $75 per barrel in 2050 from $82 per barrel in 2023.

That compares to $25 per barrel in 2050 should government actions fall in line with the goal of cutting energy sector emissions to net zero by then.

Although the report forecasts an increase in demand for liquefied natural gas (LNG) of 145 billion cubic meters (bcm) between 2023 and 2030, it said this would be outpaced by an increase in export capacity of around 270 bcm over the same period.

“The overhang in LNG capacity looks set to create a very competitive market at least until this is worked off, with prices in key importing regions averaging $6.5-8 per million British thermal units (mmBtu) to 2035,” the report said.

Asian LNG prices, regarded as an international benchmark are currently around $13 mmBtu. – Reuters

Hong Kong leader focuses on livelihood issues, positioning HK as global hub

CITYSCAPE view of the Victoria Harbour region in Hong Kong. —MANSON YIM-UNSPLASH

HONG KONG – Hong Kong’s leader kicked off his annual policy address on Wednesday with pledges to reform shortcomings including reducing wait times for public housing as authorities focus on livelihood issues and introduced a string of measures to boost the economy.

John Lee, in his third policy address as leader, said officials will streamline procedures for companies seeking to list in Hong Kong and strive for more international company listings on its stock exchange.

The government said it will create a commodity trading ecosystem, establish a fuel bunkering center, seeking to tap opportunities in green shipping and aviation.

Hong Kong’s small and open economy has felt the ripple effects of a slowdown in the Chinese economy. It grew by 3.3% in the second quarter from a year earlier, and is forecast to grow 2.5%-3.5% for the year.

Although tourism numbers have rebounded since COVID, with 46 million visitors expected this year, consumption and retail spending remain sluggish, while stock listings have dried up and capital flight remains a challenge.

The duty on liquor will be cut to 10% from 100% above HK$200 ($26), Mr. Lee said. It will only be applicable to liquor with an alcoholic strength of more than 30%.

The move will help Hong Kong, which has some of the highest duties on liquor globally, “promote liquor trade and boost development of high value added industries including logistics and storage, tourism as well as high end food and beverage consumption,” he said.

It may aid the city into turning into a spirits trading hub in the way that it became an Asian wine trading hub after wine duties were abolished in 2008.

The move may also benefit local bars and restaurants that have struggled since COVID, with many local residents now opting to travel across the northern border to the Chinese city of Shenzhen to dine more cheaply.

Retail sales were down 7.7% for the first eight months of 2024 compared with the same period a year before.

New government committees will also be set up to explore the development of new tourism areas, a low altitude economy with services like delivery drones and businesses and services catered at the elderly, Mr. Lee said. – Reuters

North Korea says 1.4 million young people apply to join army

Military personnel take part in a parade to mark the 90th anniversary of the founding of the Korean People’s Revolutionary Army in Pyongyang, North Korea, in this undated photo released by North Korea’s Korean Central News Agency on April 26, 2022. — KCNA VIA REUTERS

SEOUL – North Korean state media said on Wednesday around 1.4 million young people had applied to join or return to the army this week, accusing Seoul of a provocative drone incursion that had brought the “tense situation to the brink of war”.

The young people, including students and youth league officials who had signed petitions to join the army, were determined to fight in a “sacred war of destroying the enemy with the arms of the revolution,” the KCNA report said.

Photographs published by KCNA showed what it said were young people signing petitions at an undisclosed location.

North Korea’s claim of having more than one million young people volunteering to enlist in the country’s Korean People’s Army in just two days comes at a time when tensions on the Korean peninsula are running high.

North Korea has made similar claims in the past when there have been heightened tensions in the region.

Last year, state media reported on 800,000 of its citizens volunteering to join the North’s military to fight against the United States.

In 2017, nearly 3.5 million workers, party members and soldiers volunteered to join or rejoin its army, the reclusive state’s state media said at that time.

It is very difficult to verify the North’s claims.

According to data from the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), North Korea has 1.28 million active soldiers and about 600,000 reservists.

The IISS also said it had 5.7 million Worker/Peasant Red Guard reservists with many units unarmed.

In the latest sign of the growing tensions, North Korea blew up sections of inter-Korean roads and rail lines on its side of the heavily fortified border between the two Koreas on Tuesday, prompting South Korea’s military to fire warning shots.

Pyongyang had said last week it would cut off the inter-Korean roads and railways entirely and further fortify the areas on its side of the border as part of its push for a “two-state” system, scrapping its longstanding goal of unification.

The two Koreas are still technically at war after their 1950-53 war ended in an armistice, not a peace treaty.

North Korea has also accused Seoul of sending drones over its capital and the two Koreas have clashed over balloons of trash floated since May from North Korea. Pyongyang has said the launches are a response to balloons sent by anti-regime activists in the South. South Korea’s government has declined to say whether its military or civilians had flown the alleged drones over Pyongyang.

“If a war breaks out, the ROK will be wiped off the map. As it wants a war, we are willing to put an end to its existence,” the KCNA report said, referring to the South’s official name the Republic of Korea.

South Korea’s defense ministry warned on Sunday “if North Korea inflicts harm on the safety of our people, that day will be the end of the North Korean regime,” Yonhap news agency reported. – Reuters

Xi says China willing to be a partner, friend with the US

REUTERS

BEIJING – Chinese President Xi Jinping said a successful partnership between China and the United States is an opportunity for the two countries to be enablers for each other’s development rather than an obstacle, according to state media on Wednesday.

“China is willing to be a partner and friend with the United States. This will benefit not only the two countries, but the world,” Xi said in remarks from a letter to the 2024 annual awards dinner of the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations, according to a CCTV news report.

Mr. Xi pointed out that China-U.S. relations are among the most important bilateral relations in the world, which have a bearing on the future and destiny of mankind, according to the letter.

The two countries have been at odds over national security concerns, ongoing trade spats as well as China’s actions in the South China Sea and intensified military drills around Taiwan.

Trade relations soured over the past year and have centered around issues including restrictions on electric vehicles and advanced semiconductors.

“China has always handled China-U.S. relations in accordance with the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation, and has always believed that the success of China and the United States is an opportunity for each other,” Mr. Xi said. – Reuters

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