Australia delivers Abrams tanks to Ukraine for war with Russia
FILE PHOTO: General view of the delivery of the first company of U.S.-made Abrams M1A1 tanks to arrive in the country under a deal finalised in 2022, at the port in Szczecin, Poland, June 28, 2023. Cezary Aszkielowicz/ Agencja Wyborcza.pl via REUTERS/File Photo
SYDNEY - Australia's government said on Saturday it had delivered M1A1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine as part of a A$245 million ($160 million) package to help the country defend itself against Russia in their ongoing war.
Australia, one of the largest non-NATO contributors to Ukraine, has been supplying aid, ammunition and defence equipment since Moscow invaded its neighbour in February 2022.
Ukraine has taken possession of most of the 49 tanks given by Australia, and the rest will be delivered in coming months, said Defence Minister Richard Marles.
'The M1A1 Abrams tanks will make a significant contribution to Ukraine's ongoing fight against Russia's illegal and immoral invasion," Marles said in a statement.
The tanks formed part of the A$1.5 billion ($980 million) that Canberra has provided Ukraine in the conflict, the government said.
Australia has also banned exports of alumina and aluminium ores, including bauxite, to Russia, and has sanctioned about 1,000 Russian individuals and entities.
Australia's centre-left Labor government this year labelled Russia as the aggressor in the conflict and called for the war to be resolved on Kyiv's terms. REUTERS
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
6 minutes ago
- Straits Times
With regional interest in nuclear energy rising, S'pore must build capabilities too: Tan See Leng
Find out what's new on ST website and app. Minister-in-charge of Energy and Science & Technology Tan See Leng said that Singapore needs to acquire the technical expertise so the city-state can ensure its safety. SINGAPORE - Singapore has to build its capabilities in nuclear energy even though it has not made a decision on its use, as countries in the region have publicly signalled their intent to build such facilities. Dr Tan See Leng, Singapore's Minister-in-charge of Energy and Science & Technology, said in an interview on July 21 that the country needs to acquire technical expertise in this area to ensure its safety. 'Our neighbours, the Philippines, Indonesia, have publicly signalled that they intend to build nuclear plants. So regardless of whether we have made the decision, our neighbours have made the decision,' he said, in his first interview in the new portfolio. Dr Tan was previously overseeing energy issues as Second Minister for Trade and Industry. Five Asean countries – Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia and Thailand – have said they are either studying the feasibility of advanced nuclear technology to meet their growing energy needs, or already have plans to build new reactors in the coming decades. As Singapore continues to evaluate the viability of nuclear energy for the country, local talents have to be trained so they can determine whether advanced nuclear technologies are safe and suitable for the Republic when these come onto the market, Dr Tan said. On July 11, the Singapore Nuclear Research and Safety Institute was launched, with an aim to train 100 nuclear experts by 2030 – up from the 50 today. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Sewage shaft failure linked to sinkhole; PUB calling safety time-out on similar works islandwide Singapore Tanjong Katong Road sinkhole did not happen overnight: Experts Singapore Workers used nylon rope to rescue driver of car that fell into Tanjong Katong Road sinkhole Asia Singapore-only car washes will get business licences revoked, says Johor govt World Food airdropped into Gaza as Israel opens aid routes Sport Arsenal beat Newcastle in five-goal thriller to bring Singapore Festival of Football to a close Singapore Benchmark barrier: Six of her homeschooled kids had to retake the PSLE Asia S'porean trainee doctor in Melbourne arrested for allegedly filming colleagues in toilets since 2021 Singapore also renewed the Third Country Training Programme Memorandum of Understanding with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on July 25. Under the agreement, Singapore will develop training programmes with the UN nuclear watchdog to support developing IAEA member states with fellowships, scientific visits and training courses. Topics covered will include human health, industrial radiography, environmental radioactivity monitoring and analysis, and accelerator science. Singapore's approach to nuclear energy has changed over the years, as new technologies come online. In 2012, the Republic had initially considered atomic power nuclear technologies of that time unsuitable for deployment in the small city-state. Dr Tan noted that conventional nuclear plants are large, and require exclusive buffer zones. 'Categorically, let me tell you that they will not be suitable for us,' he said. But nuclear technologies have evolved since. Small modular reactors (SMRs) are thought to be more suitable for land-scarce, population-dense Singapore, as they have a lower power capacity, enhanced safety standards and require much smaller buffer zones, compared with conventional reactors. Dr Tan said: 'We have not excluded that... because there's a lot of promise for some of the advanced modular reactors – the physics, the engineering, the technical feasibility, all point to the fact that they are possible, but it's just that commercially, they are still not viable yet.' He also stressed that ensuring the safety of nuclear technologies is of 'paramount importance' to the Government. While Dr Tan acknowledged that Singaporeans may still have certain perceptions about nuclear energy, he said the country still needs to press ahead in this area given the interest from some of its neighbours. Singapore has bilateral agreements with the United States and France to pursue cooperation on nuclear energy, which could better help in the country's evaluation of the viability. In July 2024, the Republic inked the 123 Agreement on Nuclear Cooperation with the US , which will allow Singapore to learn more about nuclear technologies and scientific research from American organisations. For example, local research institutes could work with US national laboratories and technology companies to perform safety simulations and modelling of SMRs. In May, Singapore and France signed agreements on nuclear energy to facilitate cooperation on safety, workforce development, research, environmental protection, the protection of public health, and emergency preparedness and response, among others. More on this topic With regional interest in nuclear energy rising, S'pore must build capabilities too: Tan See Leng Dr Tan said that these partnerships will enable Singapore to learn more about the regulatory approvals, safety protocols, operations and engineering designs, among other things. The US tariffs are not likely to affect these agreements, he said. Dr Tan said that the learnings from the partnerships will help Singapore eventually make the assessment on whether to 'jump in, or just stay at the capacity- and capability-building level'. He added that Singapore is also open to exploring partnerships with other countries that have nuclear expertise, such as the United Arab Emirates, China and South Korea.
Straits Times
6 minutes ago
- Straits Times
First Singaporean appointed as a chief scientific adviser to European Commission
Life sciences professor Mangala Srinivas is head of the cell biology and immunology department at Wageningen University and Research in the Netherlands. SINGAPORE – Life sciences professor Mangala Srinivas, 44, is the first Singaporean among a team of top scientists advising European Union (EU) politicians on shaping new policies and laws based on science. Prof Srinivas, who is based in the Netherlands, is one of seven new chief scientific advisers to the European Commission – the EU's executive body – and the first non-EU citizen to take up this role, which was created in 2015. The advisers, who serve three-year terms, were chosen from around 400 nominees, including Nobel laureates. Appointed in May, Prof Srinivas – along with the other advisers – provides independent advice to the European Commission's political leaders on any science-related matter, including policy issues that the European Parliament and the European Council consider to be of major importance. Topics that previous advisers have weighed in include sustainable agriculture, cancer screening, clean energy and controversial methods to reduce global warming by reflecting sunlight back into space. Their opinions and reports are published on the commission's Scientific Advice Mechanism website. The 2022 opinion on cancer screening, for example, underpinned the new EU Cancer Screening Scheme, which aims to ensure that 90 per cent of eligible Europeans are offered breast, cervical and colorectal screening by 2025. 'I think it's really heartening, especially now, to see that politicians still take science seriously, at least in this part of the world,' said Prof Srinivas, who grew up in Tampines. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Sewage shaft failure linked to sinkhole; PUB calling safety time-out on similar works islandwide Singapore Tanjong Katong Road sinkhole did not happen overnight: Experts Singapore Workers used nylon rope to rescue driver of car that fell into Tanjong Katong Road sinkhole Asia Singapore-only car washes will get business licences revoked, says Johor govt World Food airdropped into Gaza as Israel opens aid routes Sport Arsenal beat Newcastle in five-goal thriller to bring Singapore Festival of Football to a close Singapore Benchmark barrier: Six of her homeschooled kids had to retake the PSLE Asia S'porean trainee doctor in Melbourne arrested for allegedly filming colleagues in toilets since 2021 She has lived in the Netherlands for the past 17 years after completing her PhD in the US. Since 2021, she has headed the department of cell biology and immunology at Wageningen University and Research. As an undergraduate at the National University of Singapore, she was torn between medicine and biology, but eventually chose biochemistry. She was 'drawn to understanding how cells function and how different biological systems connect'. After her doctorate, she worked at the Radboud University Medical Centre in the Netherlands, planning to stay for just two years. However, with further research funding and young children to care for, settling in Europe became the easier choice. She has a 14-year-old son and two girls aged 11 and eight. They visit Singapore every two years, with her last visit in February for a conference. Her current research focuses on improving how doctors see specific cells such as immune or therapeutic cells in the body. Current techniques like MRI often fall short in tracking such cells closely over time, she noted. This visibility is especially important when scientists are evaluating promising but often extremely costly cell therapies for diseases like cancer, she said. To address this, Prof Srinivas and her team have been developing novel nanoparticles, or tiny tools, that can be used to track immune cells in both humans and animals. Her team , together with international collaborators, are preparing to start a clinical trial using these nanoparticles to track the immune cells of patients with rectal cancer. But when wearing her scientific adviser hat, she has to take a step back when handling questions from politicians on life sciences to avoid bringing personal bias into the final opinion. 'The aim isn't to offer my own expert opinion but to help translate input from a wide range of specialists into something policymakers can use,' she said. On her decision to throw her hat into the ring, Prof Srinivas said: 'When I looked at the former members of this group, they are really established. One of them was the director of Cern (the European Organisation for Nuclear Research). It's that level of people, and I thought I probably have no chance of getting it. 'But on the other hand, if I don't apply, I really have no chance. So let's just give it a go.' The selection process for the new batch of top scientists took about a year. In early 2024, Prof Srinivas was nominated by the Young Academy of Europe – a coalition of young scientists who champion science policy – where she served as chair and board member. She was interviewed by former chief scientific advisers. The EU commissioner for start-ups, research and innovation hand-picked the final seven who were announced in late May. Onboarding for the new team took place in Brussels in early July. Prof Srinivas credited her selection to her contributions to science policy with the Young Academy, as well as her international background. She has industry experience, where she focused on strategy at multinational corporation GE Healthcare (now Cytiva) and co-founded a medical imaging start-up. 'I was really excited, but then you realise this is actually an important position, and it's a responsibility... I could have impact on a lot of people on real matters. And representing not only my university and the Netherlands but also Singapore,' she said. Soon after, the weight of her selection sank in: She is not just a prominent expert but also a representative of female scientists of colour and working mothers. When her children were between ages one and five, she raised them alone for a few years as a single mother. She is now remarried. 'My husband is very supportive. But in the few years when I was a single mother, it was really a challenge, especially during the (pandemic) lockdown and I had to homeschool them,' she said. 'A lot of people were sceptical that it's feasible to mix a position like being professor with having young children.' Beyond advising the European government, she hopes to continue representing minority women in science. 'I hope to champion evidence-based policymaking while highlighting diversity and inclusion – especially for women and scientists from under-represented backgrounds.'
Straits Times
6 minutes ago
- Straits Times
S'pore pressing ahead with R&D on emerging energy options, including hydrogen, geothermal
Find out what's new on ST website and app. Singapore is likely to continue to rely on natural gas, a fossil fuel, even as it looks for cleaner energy sources. SINGAPORE - Singapore is considering all possible options to reduce emissions from its carbon-intensive energy sector. But some technologies, such as those relating to hydrogen, geothermal and carbon capture, need more time to mature before they become viable for the country. In his first interview as Singapore's Minister-in-charge of Energy and Science & Technology, Dr Tan See Leng spoke at length on some of these areas, and how Singapore is pushing ahead with research and development on these fronts. 'It is hard to commit today to hydrogen, carbon capture, or for that matter, geothermal, because at this particular point in time, we don't have enough details yet,' he said. 'But we are relentless in our pursuit for research and development, so we have scholars all over to look at which is the cutting-edge technology... Even if we cannot be a first mover in some of it, we want to be the fastest adopter.' Dr Tan said Singapore will spare no effort in ensuring that the nation achieves its target of net-zero emissions by 2050 . 'At the same time, we want... all the different supply pathways to be resilient and affordable. I think that is the key and objective,' he said. On hydrogen Hydrogen can be considered a clean fuel as it does not produce any planet-warming carbon dioxide (CO2) when burned. It can be produced by passing an electrical current through water, separating it into hydrogen and oxygen. But in order to be considered green, the electricity must be generated by renewable energy, so the process does not emit any CO2. Dr Tan said that due to Singapore's limited renewable energy resources, it is unable to produce green hydrogen domestically . The Republic would have to instead import this fuel – which must be transported at extremely low temperatures of around minus 253 deg C. For context, some Covid-19 mRNA vaccines had to be transported at temperatures ranging from minus 90 deg C to minus 60 deg C, and required specialised cold-chain logistics management. Dr Tan said transporting green hydrogen over long distances is costly, and Singapore is investing in research in developing carrier systems that will allow the country to import it. For example, the Government has a Directed Hydrogen Programme, which has awarded about $43 million to six projects that can help make hydrogen technologies more viable and scalable. One way to transport hydrogen is by using ammonia as a carrier. Ammonia is relatively stable and can be stored and transported at ambient temperatures. Ammonia can either be combusted directly for electricity generation or 'cracked' to separate hydrogen from it, although this reaction would require very high operating temperatures. Singapore in October 2022 also launched the National Hydrogen Strategy, which will accelerate the development and deployment of hydrogen. Dr Tan also noted a $62.5 million Low- Carbon Technology Translational Testbed that will support companies in scaling up low-carbon solutions closer to commercial development. On geothermal energy Geothermal energy is another potential energy source that Singapore is exploring. A 2022 report commissioned by the Energy Market Authority (EMA) mentioned that emerging technology, including nuclear and geothermal, could potentially supply around 10 per cent of Singapore's energy needs by 2050. In July, The Straits Times reported that a second discovery of high temperatures underground in northern Singapore has shown the potential of using geothermal energy to generate electricity here. Geothermal energy refers to heat derived from the earth's core . However, Dr Tan noted that geothermal energy here is still at a 'very nascent' stage. For example , experts have said it remains to be seen if there is feasibility for sustained energy provision – referring to whether the underground heat reservoirs are able to provide sufficient energy to generate electricity in a stable way – to tell if the energy is economically feasible. EMA had told ST that the authority's current focus is to map out Singapore's underground heat resource . It has commissioned another study to investigate this and the results are expected to be completed in 2026. EMA is also studying other aspects of geothermal energy deployment, such as how deep geothermal systems would need to be regulated, and what their potential impact on the environment is. On carbon capture and storage Carbon capture and storage (CCS) solutions essentially refer to technology that can take planet-warming CO2 out of the atmosphere for storage underground. Singapore is likely to continue to rely on natural gas, a fossil fuel, even as it looks for cleaner energy sources. But one area being explored is whether emissions from the energy and chemical sectors in Singapore can be captured and stored, Dr Tan said. He noted that the Government is working with an industry consortium formed by ExxonMobil and Shell, known as S Hub, to study the feasibility of aggregating CO2 emissions in Singapore for storage in other countries. S Hub has plans to develop a CCS project that can permanently store 2.5 million tonnes of CO2 a year by 2030, either in rock formations deep underground or under the seabed. On July 14, three power generation companies were given the green light to conduct CCS feasibility studies to help Singapore transition to a low-carbon future. They will study two pathways of capturing carbon in the power sector to remove carbon emissions. The first method involves installing an on-site unit to capture CO2 from exhaust gas after natural gas has been burned. The waste gas typically contains CO2, water vapour, nitrogen and oxygen. The other technique involves capturing the CO2 generated when hydrogen is produced from natural gas. The hydrogen can be burned to generate electricity and does not produce any CO2 during the combustion. 'We are starting small. We only target those very hard-to-abate sectors,' said Dr Tan. These are emissions-intensive sectors that have limited alternatives for decarbonisation, and include the power, industry and chemical sectors found on Jurong Island. He said carbon capture is a 'well-proven' technology that has been in use in Norway. Other organisations – including the International Energy Agency and Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the UN's climate science body – consider carbon capture a credible pathway for countries to reach net-zero emissions, he added.
