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AAP
Mining ready to ride boom with $2 trillion up for grabs

Story by Marion Rae • 5:27 pm - 26-5-2023

Afaster path to net-zero emissions and more security in the Indo-Pacific are expected to flow from a new pact with the United States, but the mining industry wants details.

Some $2 trillion has been unleashed for a low-carbon economy under United States laws, with Australia set to get preferential treatment as a trusted source of critical minerals and new energy sources such as hydrogen.

Canada is the only other country to get the special access that is in the works for Australian metals and minerals, future hydrogen and ammonia producers and defence technology companies.

"What's clear to me is that if Canada and the United States have been able to establish a good partnership, that bodes well for Australia," Minerals Council of Australia CEO Tania Constable told AAP.

But it's up to governments to work out the details quickly, she said.

With the right number of mines to meet demand and manufacturing occurring with a like-minded country, there will be a faster path to net-zero and more security in the region, she said.

"Hopefully the critical minerals strategy will set out a framework and pathway for those additional incentives that will really turbocharge this new industry," Ms Constable added.

Australia's updated list of critical minerals and strategy will be released soon and MCA wants nickel and copper added to unlock investment.

"The more we can get on the list the better, but nickel and copper should certainly be on the list," she said.

Used in everyday life in computers and mobile phones, they are also essential for electric cars and electronics for the electricity grid.

US Consul General Siriana Nair said on Wednesday the world's energy transition cannot happen without Australia's resources sector.

The freshly inked climate and energy partnership will increase investment in both countries, Ms Nair told the AFR Mining Summit in Perth.

"Australia is uniquely positioned to be a supplier of choice for us and global manufacturers," she said.

Demand for critical minerals will skyrocket in coming decades and for minerals such as lithium and graphite that are used in electric vehicle batteries, demand will increase by as much as 4000 per cent, she said.

An unprecedented $2 trillion has been allocated under various US laws to support investment in research and development, adopting clean energy and new vehicles, new infrastructure and supply chain security, she said.

Seeking to break China's stranglehold on the global supply of factory-ready minerals, the US laws define a critical mineral as a mineral essential to economic or national security and which has a supply chain vulnerable to disruption.

She said Australia, and particularly Western Australia, has the technological know-how and high environmental and labour standards needed to bring these minerals to market in a sustainable way.

"And America stands with you," Ms Nair said.

A new Australia-US task force will give local industry a seat at the table to secure vital supply chains for minerals and defence industries.

A global survey released by KPMG to coincide with the summit shows mining leaders are confident they can profit from the clean energy boom and hit net-zero goalposts.

Improving energy efficiency was the highest priority for tackling the environmental challenges from mining and metals processing.

The Jerusalem Post
Ukrainian 'sabotage group' crosses border into Russia's Belogorod

Story by By REUTERS • 10:04 pm - 22-5-2023

The governor of Russia's Belgorod region said on Monday that a Ukrainian army 'sabotage group' had entered Russian territory in the Graivoron district, which borders Ukraine.

In a statement on Telegram, Vyacheslav Gladkov said that the Russian army and security forces were taking measures to repel the incursion.

Earlier, the Telegram channel Baza, which is linked to Russia's security services, had published footage apparently showing a Ukrainian tank attacking a Russian border post.

Reuters was unable to immediately verify the reports.

Reuters
Chinese embassy in Britain asks London to stop slandering China to avoid damage

Story by Reuters • 22-5-2023

(Reuters) - The Chinese embassy in Britain in a statement on Sunday asked London to stop slandering and smearing China to avoid further damage to China-UK relations.

This comes after British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said China represents the world's greatest challenge to security and prosperity but that other leading economies should not decouple from it after a summit of the Group of Seven (G7) nations.

"The relevant remarks by the British side are simply parroting words from others and constitute malicious slanders in disregard of the facts. China firmly opposes and strongly condemns this," the embassy statement said.

(Reporting by Urvi Dugar in Bengaluru; Editing by Tom Hogue)

FILE PHOTO: A worker adjusts British and China national flags on display for a signing ceremony at the seventh UK-China Economic and Financial Dialogue "Roundtable on Public-Private Partnerships" in Beijing
© Thomson Reuters

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Reuters
In first, Kyiv says it shoots down volley of Russian hypersonic missiles

Story by By Gleb Garanich and Sergiy Karazy • 9:14 pm - 16-5-2023

By Gleb Garanich and Sergiy Karazy

Moscow mounted its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February last year and now claims to have annexed around a sixth of its neighbour's territory. Ukraine turned back Russian troops from the outskirts of Kyiv early in the war and recaptured territory in two counteroffensives in the second half of 2022, but has kept its forces on the defensive since November.

Russia says its invasion was necessary to counter a threat to its security posed by Kyiv's close ties to the West. Ukraine and its allies call it an unprovoked and unlawful war of conquest, and Kyiv says it will not stop fighting until all Russian troops leave its land.

European leaders meanwhile were meeting in Iceland on Tuesday for a two-day Council of Europe summit meant to show their support for Ukraine.

According to a draft of the final declaration seen by Reuters, the leaders will approve a new Register of Damages, a mechanism to record and document evidence and claims of damage, loss or injury incurred as a result of the Russian invasion.

European leaders such as Germany's Olaf Scholz, Britain's Rishi Sunak and French President Emmanuel Macron are attending the summit, which Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy will address via videolink.

(Additional reporting by Aleksandar Vasovic, Dan Peleschuk, Maria Starkova, Lidia Kelly; Writing by Peter Graff and Angus MacSwan; editing by Frank Jack Daniel)

A missile strike in Kyiv
© Thomson Reuters

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The Guardian
UK ministers urged to intervene if Australian bank takes 100% of gas business

Story by Alex Lawson • 10:45 pm - 14-5-2023

Ministers have been urged to intervene if Australian banking powerhouse Macquarie pushes the button on a mooted £3bn deal to take full control of a vital part of the UK’s gas grid.

A consortium comprised of Macquarie Asset Management and British Columbia Investment Management Corporation completed the acquisition of 60% of the equity in National Grid’s gas transmission and meter business in January, in a deal which valued the business at £7.5bn.

The Guardian understands a clause in that deal allows the consortium first refusal to snap up the remaining 40% from this summer.

The transmission business operates more than 4,000 miles of gas pipes in the UK.

If the consortium exercises the call option, it may prompt concerns over the future of a crucial piece of UK infrastructure as officials attempt to rebalance the nation’s energy system towards low-carbon technologies.

Macquarie owns a string of UK infrastructure assets including the gas network Cadent, Glasgow and Southampton airports, and several windfarm projects along the east and north-west coasts of England.

However, it has a chequered reputation in the UK over its ownership of first Thames Water, where it faced political scrutiny for extracting billions in dividends while its debt soared, and now Southern Water, the utility company criticised for repeatedly discharging sewage into the sea.

Gary Carter, GMB national officer, said: “Massive investment is going to be needed to reach net zero and secure the UK’s energy supply for future generations.

“Can Macquarie really be trusted with whole ownership of owning the nation’s gas transmission business?

“Macquarie’s reputation is one of maximising profits and stripping assets, often at the expense of investment as well as employees pay and pensions.

“This government must not sit idly by when energy security is at stake.”

The original 60% investment, agreed in March 2022, was scrutinised under the National Security and Investment Act, which is designed to examine whether any acquisition would put Britain at risk.

Any further deal could also be examined under the act, which was introduced in 2021.

The consortium’s initial investment was examined by the Competition and Markets Authority due to its ownership of Cadent. However, the watchdog did not find the deal would weaken competition. However, it may choose to scrutinise any further investment.

National Grid, the £42bn private company which runs Britain’s energy network, is in the process of rebalancing its assets away from fossil fuels.

During a recent interview with the Guardian, the National Grid chief executive, John Pettigrew, declined to comment on whether the consortium would exercise its option to buy the remaining equity.

Asked whether he’d had any qualms over the original sale given Macquarie’s reputation, he said: “There’s a process that the government goes through with any acquisition to ensure that the potential buyers are appropriate. That process was followed. Macquarie has bought gas [assets] in the past and have always been, as far as I can see, a very reputable operator of those assets.

“There’s a government process for the appropriateness of buyers which we followed.”

Earlier this month Macquarie recorded an annual net profit of A$5.18bn (£2.8bn), up 10% on the previous year.

Reuters
Canada wants more cooperation with AUKUS allies on advanced technologies

Story by Reuters • 11h ago - 9-5-2023

OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canada wants to work more closely with allies including Australia, United States and the UK in areas of advanced technologies, Defense Minister Anita Anand said on Monday, when asked if the country wanted to join the AUKUS defense alliance.

"Canada is highly interested in furthering cooperation on AI, quantum computing and other advanced technologies with a defense nexus with our closest allies," Anand told reporters in Ottawa, when asked about a newspaper report saying Ottawa was seeking to join the AUKUS alliance.

The Canadian government wants to take advantage of the information-sharing and advanced technologies development part of the alliance, including undersea defense capabilities, the Globe and Mail reported earlier on Monday, citing unnamed government sources.

The Globe said Ottawa was only seeking to join only the non-nuclear component of the security alliance between Australia, UK and the U.S., which was launched in 2021.

The security pact also aims to provide Australia with the technology and capability to deploy nuclear-powered submarines.

The pact has been denounced by countries including China and France, which lost its own submarine deal with Australia after the alliance was formed. Canada's exclusion from the alliance was also seen as a snub by some for a country already in the intelligence-sharing Five Eyes alliance with AUKUS members and New Zealand.

"Our ties with our Five Eyes allies are strong, and indeed we remain interested in furthering cooperation in AI and other innovation efforts with our allies," Anand said.

(Reporting by Ismail Shakil in Ottawa; editing by Steve Scherer and Jonathan Oatis)

U.S. Defense Secretary Austin meets Canada's Defense Minister Anand at the Pentagon in Arlington
© Thomson Reuters

AAP
US, Australian military aid for Ukraine on the table

Story by Dominic Giannini • 3h ago - 5-5-2023

Further assistance for Ukraine is on the cards ahead of the federal budget amid speculation Australia and the United States could announce a joint support package as soon as the end of the month.

The two nations are reportedly working together on an assistance package that could mirror Canberra's agreement with Paris to jointly supply ammunition to repel the Russian invasion.

The appetite for a joint military package, first reported by the Australian Financial Review and verified by AAP, comes ahead of President Joe Biden visiting Australia.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers said Australia would continue to support Ukraine.

"We are a big supporter of the Ukrainian efforts to repel the Russian invaders and that will be represented in the budget," he told reporters in Canberra on Friday.

"We salute the quite remarkable courage and commitment of the Ukrainian people."

The Quad summit brings together leaders from Australia, Japan, India and the US in Sydney in the coming weeks to focus on peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific.

Ukraine's ambassador to Australia Vasyl Myroshnychenko said he wouldn't speculate on any upcoming package but welcomed any assistance.

"It's too early to talk about it but it would be good if something like that came because that would help Ukraine a lot," he told AAP.

The NATO security summit in July, which Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will also attend, is another opportunity to unveil a joint aid package.

Kyiv has submitted a wish list of aid ahead of the federal budget on Tuesday, which includes Hawkei armoured vehicles, artillery and ammunition.

Hundreds of Ukrainian-Australians rallied around Australia on Saturday, calling for the government to provide Hawkeis to help defend their homeland.

Amid concerns about aid fatigue with the war entering its second year, Mr Myroshnychenko said it was important democratic nations continued to stand up to Russia and protect against rising authoritarianism.

"It is extremely important to protect democracy. We need to make sure we create the deterrence, and the deterrence we need is to make sure Ukraine wins," he said.

"We need to make sure we don't embolden other authoritarian leaders to do something similar in the region."

Ukrainian-Australians want Canberra to provide Hawkei armoured vehicles to defend their homeland.
© PR HANDOUT IMAGE PHOTO

Reuters
China's aircraft carriers play 'theatrical' role but pose little threat yet

Story by By Greg Torode, Eduardo Baptista and Tim Kelly • 3h ago - 5-5-2023

By Greg Torode, Eduardo Baptista and Tim Kelly

HOPES AND SHORTCOMINGS

Chinese military and government researchers appear aware of the challenges, according to a Reuters review of over 100 recent articles published in dozens of publicly available Chinese defence journals.

The official PLA Daily in October published an interview with an aircraft carrier aviation unit where the deputy chief of staff, Dai Xing, acknowledged "many shortcomings in preparing for war", and a gap between sailors' training level and combat requirements.

A September editorial published in a magazine run by a PLA weapons manufacturer, titled "Four great advantages the PLA has in attacking Taiwan", did not mention the role of Chinese carriers. Instead, it said, China's land-based ballistic missiles would be enough to overwhelm potential intervention from U.S. carriers.

Two earlier editorials in the same publication, Tank and Armoured Vehicle, noted that China's carriers would remain in their infancy for the foreseeable future and that other surface ships would be more useful in a conflict in the East China Sea.

Other articles in similar publications outline pilot recruitment and training problems, vulnerabilities to submarine attack and command issues - which some foreign analysts say is a problem for a navy that still sails with political commissars with executive authority.

When at sea, U.S. carriers fly almost constantly, routinely operating fighter, electronic-warfare and surveillance aircraft to create a protective screen around the battlegroup.

Beyond the expense and danger of such operations, one key element is mastering devolved command systems, particularly in a crisis such as a fire or crash onboard when planes are airborne and the flight deck is disabled.

The U.S. has spent decades perfecting such systems, having expanded carrier operations after their importance was highlighted in the Allied victory over Japan in the Pacific in World War Two.

"The continuous operation of its carriers sits at the very core of what makes the U.S. military absolutely preeminent," said Singapore-based defence analyst Alexander Neill, an adjunct fellow with Hawaii's Pacific Forum think tank.

In the medium term, China is likely to start sending battlegroups into the Indian Ocean, where China's presence is minimal beyond routine submarine operations, the attaches and defence analysts said.

Operating far from the security of land-based airfields would test China's capability, but preparations are underway.

The pier at China's first major offshore military base in Djibouti was recently extended, and could now fit a carrier, the Pentagon report noted.

(Reporting by Greg Torode in Hong Kong, Eduardo Baptista in Beijing and Tim Kelly in Tokyo; additional reporting by Idrees Ali and Phil Stewart in Washington; editing by David Crawshaw and Gerry Doyle)

Reuters
China's aircraft carriers play 'theatrical' role but pose little threat yet

Story by By Greg Torode, Eduardo Baptista and Tim Kelly • 3h ago - 5-5-2023

By Greg Torode, Eduardo Baptista and Tim Kelly

HONG KONG (Reuters) - When China sailed one of its two active aircraft carriers, the Shandong, east of Taiwan last month as part of military drills surrounding the island, it was showcasing a capability that it has yet to master and could take years to perfect.

As Beijing modernizes its military, its formidable missile forces and other naval vessels, such as cutting-edge cruisers, are posing a concern for the U.S. and its allies. But it could be more than a decade before China can mount a credible carrier threat far from its shores, according to four military attaches and six defence analysts familiar with regional naval deployments.

Instead, China's carriers are more of a propaganda showpiece, with doubts about their value in a possible conflict with the U.S. over Taiwan and about whether China could protect them on longer-range missions into the Pacific and Indian oceans, the attaches and analysts told Reuters.

China's Defence Ministry did not respond to questions about its carrier program, though dozens of articles in state-linked journals reviewed by Reuters reveal awareness among Chinese military analysts about shortcomings in the country's carrier capability.

While some regional press coverage, partially based on Chinese state media reports, portrayed recent drills around Taiwan as active patrols and a military challenge to the U.S. and its allies, the Chinese carriers are effectively still in training mode, eight of the experts said.

Landing of aircraft at night and in bad weather, for instance - crucial to regular offshore carrier operations - remain far from routine, several of the attaches and analysts said.

And in a conflict, China's carriers would be vulnerable to missile and submarine attacks, some of the experts said, noting the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) has not perfected protective screening operations, particularly anti-submarine warfare.

"Unlike other parts of their military modernisation, there is something politically theatrical about their carrier deployments so far," said Trevor Hollingsbee, a former British naval intelligence analyst.

"Carrier operations are a very complicated game, and China's got to figure this out all by itself. It still has a long, long way to go."

At times, China's carrier pilots have relied on land-based airfields for takeoffs or landings, as well as for extra air cover and surveillance, the attaches told Reuters on the condition of anonymity as they were not authorised to speak publicly.

And though China's Liaoning and Shandong carriers have each sailed into the western Pacific in recent months, approaching U.S. bases on Guam, they remained within range of coastal Chinese airfields, according to Rira Momma, professor of security studies at Takushoku University's Institute of World Studies, who reviewed Japanese defence ministry tracking data.

Both the Liaoning - a refitted ex-Soviet vessel - and the Chinese-built Shandong have jump ramps for take offs, which limit the number and range of aircraft on board.

Anti-submarine helicopters operate from both carriers and China's Type 055 cruisers but the carriers have yet to deploy an early warning aircraft, relying so far on land-based planes, the 10 experts said.

Rueters
China says South China Sea should not be 'hunting ground' for foreign forces

Story by Reuters • 5:59 pm - 4-5-2023

BEIJING (Reuters) - China firmly opposes any country citing bilateral treaties to interfere in the South China Sea and undermine China's territorial interests and rights, the foreign ministry said on Thursday.

"The South China Sea is home to all regional countries, and should not be a hunting ground for external forces," ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told a regular briefing when asked about a U.S. move to reaffirm its decades-old security alliance with the Philippines.

(Reporting by Beijing newsroom; Editing by Andrew Heavens)

Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning attends a news conference in Beijing
© Thomson Reuters

Daily Mail
Putin 'is preparing a contingency plan for defeat,' sources claim

11h ago - 4-5-2023

Ukraine is thought to be mustering up to 100,000 men into at least 12, but even as many as 18 combat brigades to take on the Russians in the upcoming attack. Their military has been given roughly 200 western tanks, 800 armored vehicles and 150 artillery guns – a total of up to 400 tanks, 1,600 vehicles and 300 guns are thought to be held. Russia's status is not as clear. Based on leaked casualty figures, Putin could have between 100,000 and 290,000 troops in Ukraine. The leaks suggest he only has around 500 tanks left on the battlefield, but may be able to rely on more from storage. The number of armored vehicles and artillery is unclear. Although Ukraine's plans are being kept very close, Mick Ryan, a general who recently retired from the Australian army, told Mail Online Kyiv has three options. 'First, they could go with a single big attack, using everything they've got; second, they could split that force between simultaneous attacks in the south and east; or third, they could decide on smaller-scale attacks in both the south and east, which are not coordinated.' Pictured: A view across the Kerch Strait shows a fuel depot on fire near the Crimean bridge in the village of Volna in Russia's Krasnodar region as seen from a coastline in Crimea, May 3, 2023.

General Stephen Twitty, retired from the U.S. military, believes Ukraine will go with option three, which is incremental, slower and more sustainable. 'Ukraine will go with what has worked for them in the past,' he said. 'What the Ukrainians have been successful at doing is small-scale maneuvers using infantry, armor and artillery, to attack Russian forces in small areas, and gain ground.' General Ryan himself believes it will be a mixture of options two and three. It comes as an oil storage depot today exploded close to a bridge linking Russia to its annexed Crimea, following a drone attack thought to be orchestrated by Ukraine. One tank containing the fuel burst into flames at 2am at a port near Volna village on the Black Sea. Over the past few days, saboteurs have also derailed two Russian freight trains and destroyed power cables. Today, Russia's FSB security service said it arrested members of a Ukrainian sabotage network planning attacks in Russian-occupied Crimea, according to Russian news agencies. 'The FSB has broken up the activities of an agent network of Ukrainian military intelligence planning to carry out major sabotage and terrorist attacks in Crimea,' it was quoted as saying. Read the full story: https://www.dailymail.co.u...

The Guardian
Nato planning to open Japan office to deepen Asia-Pacific ties – report

Story by Daniel Hurst • 9:40 pm - 3-5-2023

Nato is reportedly planning to open a liaison office in Japan to coordinate with close partners across the Indo-Pacific region including Australia, South Korea and New Zealand.

The plans are likely to attract criticism from the Chinese government, which has previously warned the western alliance against extending “its tentacles to the Asia-Pacific”.

Nikkei Asia reported on Wednesday that Nato and Japan plan to upgrade their cooperation on tackling cyber threats, disinformation and emerging and disruptive technologies.

Nato’s planned new liaison office in Tokyo – to open next year – will be the first of its kind in Asia and will allow the military alliance to conduct periodic consultations with Japan and key partners such as Australia, according to Nikkei Asia.

The publication said the plans were confirmed by Japanese and Nato officials.

A spokesperson for Nato, Oana Lungescu, declined to give details of the “ongoing deliberations” when contacted by the Guardian on Wednesday.

But Lungescu said liaison arrangements were regularly reviewed “to ensure that they best serve the needs of both Nato and our partners”.

“As the secretary general said in Tokyo in February, among Nato’s partners, none is closer or more capable than Japan”.

She added: “We share the same values, interests and concerns, including supporting Ukraine and addressing the security challenges posed by authoritarian regimes, and our partnership is getting stronger.”

In its “strategic concept”, unveiled last year, Nato argued that China posed “systemic challenges” to Euro-Atlantic security even though Russia remained “the most significant and direct threat to allies’ security”.

Nato vowed to “strengthen dialogue and cooperation with new and existing partners in the Indo-Pacific to tackle cross-regional challenges and shared security interests”.

Nato accused China of carrying out “malicious hybrid and cyber operations” and “remaining opaque about its strategy, intentions and military build-up”.

China responded to the Nato assessment by urging the alliance “stop provoking confrontation by drawing ideological lines”.

A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson, Zhao Lijian, said last year that Nato had “extended its tentacles to the Asia-Pacific and sought to export the cold war mentality and replicate bloc confrontation”.

Australian prime minister, Anthony Albanese, attended the Nato summit in Madrid last year. The leaders of the Asia Pacific Partners (AP4) grouping – Australia, Japan, South Korea and New Zealand – met on the sidelines.

Albanese has accepted an invitation to travel to the next Nato summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, in July.

“Australia shares with Nato members a commitment to supporting democracy, peace, and security and upholding the rule of law,” a spokesperson for Albanese said last month.

The Danish ambassador to Japan, Peter Taksoe-Jensen, told Nikkei Asia concerns about China’s impact on trans-European security meant it was “important for Nato to keep up relations with our partners in this region”.

He said the proposed new Nato liaison office “would be a very visible, real way to strengthen the relations between Japan and Nato”.

Japan’s prime minister, Fumio Kishida, who will host the G7 summit in Hiroshima this month, has said he views the security environment within east As

Reuters
U.S. military aid for Ukraine includes air-launched rockets

Story by Reuters • 2h ago - 4-5-2023

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States said Wednesday it would send a new military aid package for Ukraine worth $300 million, including for the first time the Hydra-70 short-range. air-launched rocket, taken from U.S. excess stocks.

The security assistance package would be the 37th approved by the United States for Ukraine since Russian invaded its neighbor in February 2022, for a total of $35.7 billion.

"The United States and our allies and partners will stand united with Ukraine, for as long as it takes," U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement announcing the aid package.

The rockets, munitions and 155mm howitzer cannons included in the package would help Ukraine weaken Russian ground positions for advancing Ukrainian ground forces as Kyiv plans a spring offensive.

The Hydra-70 is an air-launched, unguided rocket made by General Dynamics Corp. The rockets are typically launched from pods attached to aircraft to provide support for ground troops.

The package also includes AT-4 and Carl Gustaf anti-tank weapon systems, TOW anti-tank missiles, several sizes of mortars, and High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) munitions.

Demolition equipment and trucks are also part of the package as well as diagnostic equipment to maintain vehicles.

The package would be funded using Presidential Drawdown Authority, which authorizes the president to transfer articles and services from U.S. stocks without congressional approval during an emergency.

(Reporting by Mike Stone, Nandita Bose and Steve Holland; Editing by Chris Reese and Jonathan Oatis)

Reuters
E. Jean Carroll resumes testimony in Trump rape trial, as mistrial denied

Story by Reuters • 5h ago - 2-5-2023

By Jonathan Stempel and Jack Queen

NEW YORK (Reuters) -E. Jean Carroll returned to the witness stand on Monday where a lawyer for Donald Trump sought to disprove her claim the former U.S. president raped her, after the judge denied a defense request for a mistrial.

Trump's lawyer Joe Tacopina resumed cross-examination of Carroll about five hours after requesting a mistrial in her rape and defamation civil case, saying the judge made several "unfair and prejudicial" rulings.

In an 18-page letter filed early on Monday in Manhattan federal court, Tacopina accused U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan of bias against the former U.S. president, including in the jury's presence.

He said the effect of Kaplan's rulings "manifests a deeper leaning towards one party over another," including in comments where the judge "openly expresses favoritism."

The judge denied the motion for a mistrial before testimony resumed.

Requests for mistrials are often long shots, including when they are based on the judge's own statements. Such requests also often form a basis for eventual appeals.

Trump is leading the Republican field in the 2024 presidential race. Kaplan was appointed to the bench by Democratic President Bill Clinton.

A businessman-turned-politician, Trump has not been attending Carroll's trial, and on Monday was in Scotland for a short trip to visit his golf courses there, and eventually in Ireland.

Carroll, 79, has accused Trump, 76, of raping her in a Bergdorf Goodman department store dressing room in late 1995 or early 1996, and then undermining her credibility and career by lying about it online.

The former Elle magazine advice columnist's defamation claim concerns an October 2022 post on Trump's Truth Social platform, where Trump called Carroll's case a "complete con job" and "a Hoax and a lie."

Trump has consistently denied that the rape happened.

Because the case is civil, Carroll must establish her claims by a preponderance of the evidence, meaning more likely than not, and need not meet the tougher criminal standard of proof beyond a reasonable doubt.

Tacopina said Kaplan should have let him question Carroll about why she did not seek security camera footage of the alleged rape, and why she did not tell police.

He also challenged Kaplan's handling outside jurors' presence of a Twitter post by Trump's son Eric discussing how LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman was helping fund her case.

Tacopina called Eric Trump's tweet protected speech, and objected to Kaplan saying the tweet might leave Donald Trump "sailing in harm's way" and that "some relevant United States statutes" might be implicated.

Others who may testify for Carroll include two friends with whom she spoke shortly after the alleged rape, and two other women who have said Trump assaulted them.

Several women have accused Trump of sexual misconduct. He has denied their allegations.

(Reporting by Jack Queen and Jonathan Stempel in New York, Editing by Louise Heavens and Nick Zieminski)

The Guardian
Singapore backs Aukus and says Australia could play ‘bigger role’ in regional security

Story by Daniel Hurst Foreign affairs and defence correspondent • Yesterday 7:20 pm - 1-5-2023

Wong said while they may use a different form of words, both countries agreed on the need for guardrails to manage tensions between the US and China to lower the chance of miscalculation or escalation.

The deputy prime minister and defence minister, Richard Marles, said Australia and Singapore wanted to play their parts in creating “pathways for peace” at a time of “great strategic complexity and significant strategic threat”.

Marles also said the Albanese government regarded Singapore’s energy security “as profoundly important in terms of Australia’s national interest”.

“We made very clear to our Singaporean counterparts that Australia will continue to be a completely reliable partner in terms of the provision of energy into the Singaporean market and that includes the provision of gas,” Marles said.

Last week the Chinese foreign ministry responded to the defence review by urging countries not to “hype up the so-called China threat narrative”.

But the issue is not expected to disrupt further efforts to “stabilise” the diplomatic relationship between Australia and China, its biggest trading partner.

Photograph: Lukas Coch/EPA
© Provided by The Guardian

The Guardian
Singapore backs Aukus and says Australia could play ‘bigger role’ in regional security

Story by Daniel Hurst Foreign affairs and defence correspondent • Yesterday 7:20 pm - 1-5-2023

Singapore has strongly backed the Aukus defence pact, with ministers saying they trust Australia to play a bigger role in regional security and don’t want south-east Asia to become “an arena for proxy wars”.

After talks with Australian counterparts in Canberra on Monday, Singaporean ministers reaffirmed Australia’s nuclear-powered submarines would be welcome to visit once in service.

Singapore, in turn, received assurances from the Albanese government that Australia would remain a reliable supplier of gas.

Aukus has received a mixed response from members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, with Indonesia and Malaysia the most vocal in expressing concerns that the deal could add to a regional arms race.

Related: These are the 10 points of tension Australia wants to reconcile with its defence strategic review | John Blaxland

But Singapore is relatively comfortable with Australia’s multi-decade plans to acquire a fleet of eight nuclear-powered submarines with help from the US and the UK.

Singapore’s minister for foreign affairs, Vivian Balakrishnan, said he had “absolutely no reason to doubt Australia’s commitment” to fulfilling its obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

“When we say that we believe Australia is a constructive partner, it’s absolutely sincere,” he said.

“So even on Aukus … insofar as it contributes constructively to regional security we’re in support of it. We are comfortable with all the three partners within Aukus because with each of them we’ve had long-term relationships and that’s why I think we’re able to work together.”

Balakrishnan said Singapore wanted to ensure free access to the contested South China Sea as a right under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea “and not by permission or grace of any power”.

He said if relations between the US and China returned to “an even keel … that would give all of us much relief and a sense of stability”. South-east Asia must not become “an arena for proxy wars”, Balakrishnan added.

Monday’s meeting brought together Australia and Singapore’s foreign affairs, defence and trade ministers. It was held a week after the defence strategic review argued the Australian defence force must project military power further from its shores.

Singapore’s defence minister, Ng Eng Hen, told reporters after the meeting that he believed Australia could “play a bigger role in our region”.

He said Australia was “not just an Indo-Pacifc country, but an Asian country”.

“We would welcome Australia’s ships and planes to our bases and ultimately when your submarines are ready we would welcome them to call on our ports.”

The Australian foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, said both countries’ interests were “very aligned” on the importance of the multilateral system and rules.

AAP
Calls for Australia to help smooth tensions with China

Story by Dominic Giannini and Callum Godde • 53m ago - 1-5-2023

Senior Australian ministers will meet with their Singapore counterparts as the Asian nation's foreign minister warns of the potential for catastrophic conflict.

Singapore's Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan has warned that the United States and China created a "dysfunctional relationship", saying Asian nations did not want to be drawn into choosing sides.

"Countries in Southeast Asia feel this impact of dysfunctional relations between the two biggest superpowers," he said during a keynote address on Monday.

Mr Balakrishnan says Australia has a role to play in cooling tensions in the region by building "strategic trust".

"Trust is not something you can conjure. It takes time, it takes history. You need to have mutual respect," he said.

"Australia can play a role in stabilising our region. Australia has many unique strengths."

Mr Balakrishnan said the US and China were struggling to make progress and the economic benefits in the region were being overshadowed by security concerns.

He said Taiwan was the greatest flashpoint for conflict, with it being "the reddest of red lines" for China.

Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles, Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong and Trade and Tourism Minister Don Farrell will host their counterparts on Monday in Canberra for a bilateral meeting.

This year coincides with the 20th anniversary of Australia and the tiny Asian country striking a free trade agreement.

In a joint statement, the Australian ministers said the biennial committee meetings were an important platform to discuss co-operation across defence and security, strategic, trade and investment interests, the energy transition and food security.

"Australia and Singapore have a deep and abiding defence relationship. We are proud to count Singapore as one of our closest partners," Mr Marles said in a statement.

"I look forward to discussing ways we can continue to build on our great friendship, as part of our shared contribution to the collective security and prosperity of the region."

Australia's defence pact with the US and United Kingdom to supply it nuclear-powered submarines prompted China, Malaysia and Indonesia to voice concerns when signed by the previous coalition government in 2021.

Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong later welcomed Australia's assurance that the AUKUS deal was aimed at promoting a "stable and secure" Asia-Pacific.

A declassified review last week prompted the government to commit to "reshape" the armed forces to prepare Australia for any conflicts over the next three decades.

China's rapid military build-up, the decline of the US as a unipolar power in the Indo-Pacific, nuclear war, climate change, workforce issues and increasing cyber attacks were all identified as security threats.

The Singaporean prime minister also warned about the consequences of a decoupling between the US and China's economic relationship when he was in Canberra last year.

He expressed his concerns that nations being at loggerheads over national security could trigger further consequences that would result in less economic co-operation, less trust and less stability.

Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong wants to see a stable and secure Asia-Pacific region.
© Lukas Coch/AAP PHOTOS

Reuters
U.S. negotiator says Biden would be warmly welcomed in Pacific

Story by Reuters • 11h ago - 29-4-2023

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States needs to accelerate diplomatic "catch up" with the Pacific island region in the face of Chinese competition, a U.S. diplomat said on Friday, adding that he was sure President Joe Biden would be warmly welcomed there if he decided to visit.

Joseph Yun, a special presidential envoy who leads renegotiation of agreements with three Pacific island states, was asked at a U.S. think tank about what officials from Papua New Guinea say are plans by Biden to make a brief stop there on May 22.

"Obviously for the Pacific, I am sure they would welcome President Biden, if he were to go there," Yun told the Hudson Institute.

"I don't think that decision has been fully made," he said while adding: "It is a good thing whenever heads of state get engaged on new issues."

A spokesperson from the PNG prime minister's office told Reuters on Thursday that Biden will stop in the capital Port Moresby for three hours on the way from a G7 meeting in Japan to Australia to attend the a summit of the Quad countries - the United States, Japan, India and Australia.

A Pacific islands source told Reuters that Biden was also expected to meet with more than a dozen Pacific islands leaders, but the White House National Security Council has not responded to request for comment on the plans.

Yun said the level of Chinese coercion in the region that is crucial to U.S. national security, but that had been neglected by the United States, is concerning.

"So now we're playing ... a little bit of catch up, I would say, and but you know, we need to accelerate our catch up."

Yun has been leading talks to renew so-called Compact for Free Association (COFA) agreements with the Marshall Islands, Palau and the Federated States of Micronesia under which the United States retains responsibility for the islands' defense and gains exclusive access to huge strategic swaths of the Pacific. The deals are due expire this year and next.

Yun said the "topline" agreements in the negotiations with the nations would provide them with a total of about $6.5 billion over 20 years.

He said he was very optimistic the agreements would be finalized and that the U.S. Congress would approve them in a short time, but there is still some hard work ahead.

(Reporting by David Brunnstrom; writing by Jasper Ward; Editing by Alistair Bell)

FILE PHOTO: U.S. Special Representative for North Korea Policy Joseph Yun arrives at a meeting with the media in Bangkok, Thailand
© Thomson Reuters

Sky News Australia
Australia’s ‘most important’ security paper in decades: Defence Strategic Review

Story by Sky News Australia • 7h ago - 29-4-2023

The latest Defence Strategic Review is “arguably” Australia’s most important security document “in decades”, says Former Howard Government Minister Peter McGauran.

“It sets out – bravely I thought – China’s territorial expansion by name and in detail,” Mr McGauran told Sky News Australia.

“It sets out that the Americans can not by themselves check China’s expansion, declares the Indo-Pacific as the most important and conflicted region in the world because it brings China and America head-to-head.

“It allocates the right priorities which are over the horizon – defence capabilities as a deterrent by way of missiles and nuclear submarines.

“Very impressive document – which is why the government’s accepted its 62 recommendations unchanged.”