IN BRIEF

Chinese FM begins

SE Asia 3-nation tour replacing him with Vice Marshal Ri Yong Gil, KCNA said without giving further details.

SINGAPORE—China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited Singapore Thursday at the start of a three-nation regional tour, Beijing’s embassy in the city-state said, as tensions flare with the Philippines in the South China Sea.

Pak, who was promoted to the post late last year, may have been dismissed “because he did not demonstrate sufficient competence in the field of military operations,” according to Cheong Seong-chang, a researcher at the Sejong Institute.

“Kim Jong Un has shown a tendency to quickly replace officials when they are judged to be lacking in the ability to control and perform their duties,” he said. Ri may have been the “most suitable person” to replace Pak, as he has previously held the position for a long time, Cheong added. AFP

Fast-moving wildfire kills at least 6

LOS Angeles, California—A wildfire that turned a historic Hawaiian town to ashes killed at least six people, officials said Thursday, with desperate residents jumping into the ocean to escape the fastmoving flames.

US Coast Guard officers plucked at least a dozen people from the water as emergency services were overwhelmed by a disaster that appeared to have erupted almost without warning.

“I’m sad to report that just before coming on this, it was confirmed we’ve had six fatalities,” Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen told a press conference.

“We are still in a search and rescue mode and so I don’t know what will happen to that number.”

At least 12 people have been treated in hospital for serious injuries, with two in critical condition. A number of those hurt have been transferred to other facilities for specialist care, the Maui Now website reported. AFP

His three-day trip, after returning to the post last month following the unexplained disappearance of predecessor Qin Gang, also includes Malaysia and Cambodia.

A spokesperson for the Chinese embassy confirmed to AFP on Thursday morning that Beijing’s top diplomat had arrived in the financial hub.

“China hopes to strengthen strategic communication with the three Southeast Asian countries through this visit,” China’s foreign ministry said when it announced the trip on Wednesday.

Wang will visit until Friday and hold separate meetings with his counterpart Vivian Balakrishnan and Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Singapore’s government said.

His visit comes after Beijing and Manila clashed at the weekend when the Philippines accused Chinese Coast Guard vessels of blocking and firing water cannon at its boats on a resupply mission to Filipino marines stationed on a WorldWar-II-era ship. AFP

Russia claims downing Ukrainian drones

2023)

MOSCOW—Russia downed 11 Ukrainian drones nearing Crimea and two headed for Moscow, officials said Thursday, the latest in a blitz of air strikes on Russianheld territory.

“Two UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) flying in the direction of the city of Moscow were destroyed,” the Russia’s defense ministry said in a statement on Telegram.

It said one drone was shot down over the Kaluga region southwest of Moscow, and another over the Odintsovsky district bordering the capital.

Those drones were shot down at around 4:00 am (0100 GMT), Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin said on Telegram.

Two other Ukrainian drones were shot down near the city of Sevastopol on the Crimean coast, the defense ministry said, and “another 9 were suppressed by means of electronic warfare and crashed in the Black Sea”.

It said there were no reports of damage or casualties in any of the affected areas.

The strikes come a day after Russia said two Ukrainian combat drones headed for Moscow were shot down, and constitute at least the fourth attack near the capital within a week.

Russia previously said it downed a drone over Kaluga on Monday, as well as seven drones in the region last Thursday.

Until a series of attacks in recent months, Moscow had not been targeted during the conflict in Ukraine, which began more than a year ago.

The Russia-annexed Crimean peninsula, however, has been disrupted by several strikes throughout the hostilities, and has seen more frequent attacks in recent weeks. AFP

Biden announces curbs on US investments in China

WASHINGTON, DC—US President Joe Biden on Wednesday (Thursday in Manila) issued an executive order aimed at restricting certain American investments in sensitive high-tech areas in China -- a move Beijing blasted as being “anti-globalization.”

The long-anticipated rules, expected to be implemented next year, target sectors like semiconductors and artificial intelligence, as Washington seeks to limit access to key technologies.

“The commitment of the United States to open investment is a cornerstone of our economic policy and provides the United States with substantial benefits,” Biden said in a letter to Congressional leaders announcing the executive order.

“However, certain United States investments may accelerate and increase the suc- cess of the development of sensitive technologies and products in countries that develop them to counter United States and allied capabilities.”

The program is set to prohibit new private equity, venture capital and joint venture investments in advanced semiconductors and some quantum information technologies in China, according to the Treasury Department.

“The outbound investment program will fill a critical gap in the United States’ national security toolkit,” a senior government official said on condition of anonymity.

“What we’re talking about is a narrow and thoughtful approach as we seek to prevent (China) from obtaining and using the most advanced technologies to promote military modernization and undermining US national security.” AFP