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US should focus on economic ties to compete with China in Indo Pacific, says former Australia PM
US should focus on economic ties to compete with China in Indo Pacific, says former Australia PM

Straits Times

time6 days ago

  • Business
  • Straits Times

US should focus on economic ties to compete with China in Indo Pacific, says former Australia PM

Australian incumbent Prime Minister Scott Morrison speaks during the second leaders' debate of the 2022 federal election campaign at the Nine studio in Sydney, Australia May 8, 2022. Alex Ellinghausen/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo SYDNEY - Australia's former Prime Minister Scott Morrison, testifying at a U.S. Congress panel hearing about countering China, has urged the U.S. to "double down" on its economic engagement in the Indo Pacific where Beijing is asserting influence. Speaking on Wednesday, Morrison said economic security is the main security focus of many countries in Southeast Asia, and U.S. leadership on economic issues and Western investment gives the region choice. "When China is active in a particular country ... the response to that is not for the U.S. or other allied interests to not be there, the response is to double down and be there even more strongly to provide them with that choice," he said. Morrison was invited to speak to the Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party about his government's experience of China imposing $20 billion in unofficial trade sanctions after Australia called for an inquiry into the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. The sanctions were lifted by Beijing after Morrison lost a national election in 2022, and Anthony Albanese's Labor government sought to stabilise ties with Australia's largest trading partner. Morrison said the U.S. should work more with its Quad allies including Australia and Japan to build a supply chain for critical minerals and rare earths needed for defence equipment, including the nuclear-powered submarines Australia is buying from the United States under the AUKUS pact. "The processed rare earths, whether they go into nuclear submarines, F-35s or whatever it happens to be, that is essential for those things to be done," he said. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. World Trump was told he is in Epstein files, Wall Street Journal reports Opinion The US dollar is down, but it has a lot going for it Singapore Judge asks prosecution for more information on Kpods in first case involving etomidate-laced vapes Singapore Singapore Oceanarium will enhance tourism while supporting sustainability: Grace Fu Singapore 5 teens arrested for threatening boy with knife, 2 charged with causing hurt Singapore Over 1.15 million Singaporeans aged 21 to 59 have claimed SG60 vouchers Opinion Cinemas struggle in a world that cannot sit still Asia Japan PM Ishiba refutes reports of imminent resignation after surprise US trade deal Deals similar to that struck this month for the U.S. Department of Defense to back U.S.-based rare earth magnets producer MP Materials "should be extended to allies and partners", he said. China recently demonstrated its leverage by withholding exports of rare earth magnets, upending global markets, before reversing course. The Australian public awareness of the potential threat posed by China is "somewhat in jeopardy", Morrison said, pointing to a Lowy Institute poll showing more Australians see China as an economic partner than a security threat. REUTERS

Climate Change: ICJ Ruling Is A Landmark Win For Children
Climate Change: ICJ Ruling Is A Landmark Win For Children

Scoop

time6 days ago

  • Politics
  • Scoop

Climate Change: ICJ Ruling Is A Landmark Win For Children

The historic climate change ruling at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) today is a landmark win for child campaigners, acknowledging the adverse impacts of climate change on child rights, and offering children renewed hope, Save the Children said. The Advisory Opinion delivered by the world's highest court finds that states' legal obligations to address climate change extend beyond existing climate agreements. It also found that "states must take their obligations under international human rights law into account when implementing their obligations under the climate change treaties and other relevant environmental treaties." While not legally binding, leading environmental lawyers say the ruling "could become a guiding star for climate policies at all levels of governance", including how States are held accountable under multiple areas of international law. The Advisory Opinion originated from an extensive campaign led by a group of law students from the Pacific Islands, with strong support from the Republic of Vanuatu [1]. In December last year, Vepaiamele, 16, a child campaigner with Save the Children Vanuatu, travelled to The Hague with the Government of Vanuatu - the only child to attend as part of a government delegation - to speak about the impacts of climate change on the Pacific island nation and call for action. Vepaiamele said today: "This Advisory Opinion is everything I hoped for and I am so happy with this outcome as I know it will pave the way for a safer future for youth like myself and future generations, too." Speaking from The Hague last year, Vepaiamele said: "As a young Ni-Vanuatu girl, I feel the effects of climate change every day of every year. I've experienced many cyclones. It can be kind of terrifying sometimes, especially the really strong ones. Every cyclone, our classrooms are destroyed, our homes are flattened to the ground, and hospitals and communication towers are ripped apart. And then there's also the mental health impacts, and we don't really talk about it that much, but it can really cause anxiety in children and young people." Human-induced climate change is driving up global temperatures, with the past 10 years the warmest on record, according to the World Meteorological Organization. Children, particularly those affected by inequality and discrimination, bear the brunt of climate change impacts that are already forcing them from their homes, putting food out of reach, damaging schools and increasing risks like child marriage as they are forced out of education and into poverty. Limiting warming temperatures through the rapid phase-out of the use and subsidy of fossil fuels is critical for children's rights and lives, Save the Children said. Earlier this year, research released by the child rights organisation with the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) found that the difference between global temperature rise of 1.5°C and 2.7°C could see 38 million more children from the 2020 birth cohort face unprecedented lifetime exposure to extreme heatwaves. [2] Save the Children also called for increased climate finance targeted at helping children and their families, child-centred and locally led adaptation and an increase in the participation of children in shaping climate action. Save the Children New Zealand CEO Heather Campbell says, "The ICJ's opinion strengthens the argument that climate inaction is a form of intergenerational injustice, disproportionately borne by those least responsible and least equipped to adapt. "At home in Aotearoa New Zealand, children and their families are experiencing the devastating impacts of extensive flooding and other climate-related emergencies, including Cyclone Gabrielle. Communities across the Nelson Tasman region are still reeling from floods that have destroyed homes and farmland, displaced families and closed schools. "On a recent visit to Solomon Islands, children told us about the impact rising sea levels were having on their communities, including monthly flooding in homes and schools, saline infiltration into fresh water supplies, and crops being destroyed. In other parts of the Pacific, communities are having to constantly rebuild after multiple cyclones in the last few years alone. These are not future scenarios - they are current realities. "Save the Children welcomes the finding from the ICJ, and we also urge governments and development agencies to ensure that climate finance reaches those on the frontline of this crisis. "Currently, only 2.4% of climate finance from multilateral funding sources is child centred. Even without the Court's opinion, we know that states must do far more to protect children from the worst impacts of this crisis, including by significantly increasing climate finance to uphold children's rights and access to health, education and protection." In light of the ICJ's Advisory Opinion, Save the Children New Zealand is calling on the New Zealand Government to renew its commitment to provide climate finance to help communities recover from climate induced loss and damage as well as working to reduce the country's carbon emissions. As the world's leading independent child rights organisation, Save the Children works in about 110 countries, tackling climate change across everything we do. Save the Children supports children and their communities across the Pacific and globally in preventing, preparing for, adapting to, and recovering from both sudden climate disasters and slow onset climate change. We have set up floating schools, rebuilt destroyed homes and provided cash grants to families hit by disasters. We also work to influence governments and other key stakeholders in Aotearoa New Zealand and around the world on climate policies, including at the UNFCCC COP summits, giving children a platform for their voices to be heard. Notes: [1] The Advisory Opinion is in response to a Pacific-led resolution (A/RES/77/276) to the UN General Assembly adopted by consensus on 29 March 2023. This was the result of an extensive campaign by a group of law students from the University of the South Pacific ( Pacific Islands Students Fighting Climate Change ) with strong support from the Republic of Vanuatu. Save the Children has worked closely with the Pacific Islands Students Fighting Climate Change to ensure the voices of children and young people are incorporated into countries' written and oral submissions to the Court. As part of her campaigning work, Vepaiamele and other activists met with embassies of high emitting countriesin Vanuatu ahead of the hearing to try and influence their submissions. [2] The report found that, for children born in 2020, if global temperature rise is limited to 1.5°C rather than reaching 2.7°C above pre-industrial levels: - About 38 million would be spared from facing unprecedented lifetime exposure to heatwaves; - About 8 million would avoid unprecedented lifetime exposure to crop failures; - About 5 million would be spared from unprecedented lifetime exposure to river floods; - About 5 million would avoid unprecedented lifetime exposure to tropical cyclones; - About 2 million would avoid unprecedented lifetime exposure to droughts; - About 1.5 million children would be spared unprecedented lifetime exposure to wildfires.

Mind the gap
Mind the gap

Bangkok Post

time17-07-2025

  • Business
  • Bangkok Post

Mind the gap

Re: "Asia budding dividend zeal needs more support", (Opinion, July 14). When talking about dividend yields on stocks, it's always important to look at the so-called "yield gap". This is the difference between the average dividend yields of stocks and the yields of bank savings accounts in that country. For example, in the US, average stock dividend yields are barely 2-3% with US Bank saving account yields around 4-4.5%. While this is not mentioned in this article by Manishi Raychaudhuri, Thailand has many reputable companies yielding 5-7 or an even higher annual percentage, while Thai bank savings accounts yield only around 0.3%. This "yield gap" is at record levels at present and to my knowledge no country is close to this yield gap, anywhere. TDAC glee Re: "New online arrival cards target crime: Immigration touts system's convenience", (BP, April 27). I have used the online Thai Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) three times since it was introduced in May and I have found it easy to complete, with almost instantaneous delivery via email of a QR code for the TDAC. But curiously, not once have immigration police looked at my iPhone or opened the QR page; they simply proceeded to check my passport with my retirement visa and multiple re-entry permit, before putting in a re-entry stamp. A word of caution to people using the system for the first time. Make sure you use the government website to apply. If you Google TDAC, the first four or five entries that pop up are agencies wanting to charge you something like 2,000 baht, or even more if you want a rush job. This is a scam, because the TDAC is free and, as I said, delivery is almost instantaneous once you have completed and submitted the online form. David Brown Set in stone Re: "S112 fit for purpose", (PostBag, July 13). While I fully agree with everything that Burin Kantabutra writes, it perhaps glosses over the more serious problem. The Paul Chambers example, whilst apt, is really too easy, although apparently not easy enough to have stopped those who brought the charge under S112, yet again bringing Section 112 of the Criminal Code into global disrepute. On Jan 30, the United Nations' Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights noted the Thai lèse-majesté law is "both harsh and vague", while calling for it to be abolished. Contrary to Burin's concerns, the real problem is perhaps not the abuse of the law as written, but with the law itself exactly as it is written. Felix Qui Holiday hazards Re: "Not about safety", (PostBag, July 12) & "Safer tourism needed now", (Editorial, July 11). This July 11 editorial is correct. A recent study by the life insurance company Everly Life found that Thailand, unfortunately, makes the list of the top 10 dangerous countries in the world to visit. The study measured "dangerous" using such variables as crime and traffic fatality rates, sexual assaults, and human trafficking. It ranked Thailand as the 9th-most dangerous country in the world. This should give AM, the author of this PostBag letter, pause for thought the next time he dismisses Chinese visitors' concerns over safety in Thailand. There are many rich people in China, considering its population of over 1 billion, so his argument that the main reason why the Chinese are no longer coming here is that Thailand is too expensive is patently ridiculous! If anything, having visited China before, I find that it's China which is expensive, and not Thailand.

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