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November
Thai lawmakers reject bill aimed at weakening military's political role
Written by Nur Yasmin
Thailand's legislature shot down on Wednesday a draft bill aimed at strengthening democracy, in which its backers sought to scrap or overhaul of key institutions they said had been hijacked by the military elite.
A joint session of the lower house of parliament and the Senate voted 473-206 to reject the bill, with six abstentions, which called for a constitution passed under a military junta in 2017 to be changed to ensure a clear separation of powers.
Thailand's government is still led by the architects of a 2014 coup, who remained in power after a 2019 election that its rivals say was stacked in the military's favour.
Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, the coup leader, has denied that.
The draft was backed by 130,000 petitioners and sought to abolish the 250-seat, junta-appointed Senate, and restructure the Constitutional Court and key state agencies.
The government's critics, including a formidable student-led protest movement that emerged last year, say democracy has been subverted by the military and its royalists allies, who wield influence over independent institutions.
"The 2017 constitution protects and enables General Prayuth to extend his power by providing mechanisms of control through the Senate and independent agencies," one of the bill's proponents, Parit Wacharasindhu, told legislators.
Since 2019, 21 bills have been proposed to parliament seeking constitutional amendments, only one of which has passed, which sought changes to the balloting system.
Pro-government lawmakers defended the constitution, reiterating that it was endorsed in a referendum and that the coup was necessary to address a political crisis.
"To only fix the problem of coup and its consequences without addressing the political problems that came before that, will that lead to a perfect democracy?" lawmaker Wanchai Sornsiri said during the debate.
Thailand has seen 20 constitutions and 13 coups since the end of absolute monarchy in 1932.(Reuters)
November
Aboriginal groups criticise Australian state's heritage bill
Written by Nur Yasmin
Resource-rich Western Australia state on Wednesday unveiled a long-awaited bill aimed at protecting Indigenous heritage, but drew immediate fire from Aboriginal groups because a government minister will keep final say over development decisions.
Indigenous heritage protection has become a hot button issue since miner Rio Tinto (RIO.AX), (RIO.L) legally destroyed culturally significant rock shelters for an iron ore mine 18 months ago, sparking widespread public outrage.
"It's a devastating day for Aboriginal heritage," said Tyronne Garstone, chief executive of the Kimberley Land Council.
"Fundamentally, this bill will not protect Aboriginal cultural heritage and will continue a pattern of systematic structural racial discrimination against Aboriginal people."
Western Australia produces more than half of the world's traded iron ore, a key steel-making ingredient and Australia's most lucrative export, worth A$153 billion ($111 billion) in the year to end-June.
The new state legislation is at odds with the findings of a national inquiry into Rio's destruction last year of rock shelters at Juukan Gorge that showed evidence of continual human habitation stretching back 46,000 years into the last Ice Age.
The inquiry urged a new national protection framework and said Aboriginal traditional owners should be the top decision makers on development applications that could impact their heritage and have the power to withhold consent.
The bill, which has been under revision for three years, was introduced to state parliament on Wednesday.
The state premier's department said it will focus on reaching agreement with Aboriginal groups and on obtaining full, prior and informed consent for development.
Aboriginal groups, however, said they had not been adequately consulted and they did not gain a right of appeal to a ministerial decision, a cornerstone of modernising the laws. Miners and developers will also be unable to appeal any ministerial decision.
In the decade to July 2020, miners submitted more than 460 applications to impact Aboriginal heritage sites and all but one were approved.
"What we have been delivered is ... the Minister making unchallenged decisions on whether cultural heritage may be destroyed," Tony Bevan, acting chief executive of the Wintawari Guruma Aboriginal Corp, said in a statement.
The bill also put a lot of extra bureaucratic requirements on poorly resourced and financed Aboriginal groups that many would be unable to meet, he added.
The Chamber of Minerals and Energy, which represents miners including Rio, BHP Group (BHP.AX) and Fortescue Metals Group (FMG.AX) noted "extensive consultation" with government ministers, and said it could work with the new laws.
"We acknowledge that our industry hasn't always got things right, at times with deeply regrettable consequences," Chamber Chief Executive Paul Everingham said in a statement, adding that it remained committed to "respond to the priorities of local Indigenous people."
The rock shelters that Rio destroyed at Juukan Gorge had contained remnants of a 4,000 year old plaited hair belt that showed a genetic connection with the area's traditional owners.
Amid a public uproar, three senior executives including then chief executive Jean-Sébastien Jacques left the company and parliament launched a national enquiry into the incident. (Reuters)
November
Cambodia frees 26 opposition activists and political prisoners
Written by Nur Yasmin
Cambodia has released 26 political, environmental and youth activists facing charges of incitement against the government, which human rights groups said was a positive step but that many more remained incarcerated.
Prime Minister Hun Sen, who has ruled Cambodia for 36 years, is facing calls to improve his administration's human rights record ahead of an Asia Europe summit that it hosts this month.
A justice ministry spokesman, confirming the release of the jailed activists, denied any international pressure and said they were freed partly to reduce overcrowding in prisons.
"This is a normal court procedure, the court didn't pay attention to whether you are activists or not," Chin Malin told Reuters on Wednesday.
"This is a campaign to help solve cases that are stuck in courts and reduce the capacity in crowded prisons," he added.
Among those released between November 5 and 12, 2021 were members of the environment group Mother Nature Cambodia, opposition party activists and the union leader Rong Chhun, Human Rights Watch said. But charges against them have not been dropped.
"The release of 26 wrongfully detained political prisoners is good news, but there is nothing to stop the Cambodian authorities from rearresting them at any time,” said Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch.
Another 60 political prisoners remain in custody, the rights group said.
"We appeal to the government to release other youth and political activists unconditionally as they should never have been imprisoned for raising critical issues about the environment or rule of law in Cambodia in the public domain," said Naly Pilorge, director of local human rights group LICADHO.(Reuters)
November
Pavilion, Qatar, Chevron create emissions calculating standard for LNG
Written by Nur Yasmin
Singapore's Pavilion Energy Trading & Supply Pte Ltd said on Wednesday it has jointly developed with suppliers QatarEnergy and Chevron Corp (CVX.N) a method to calculate greenhouse gas emissions for liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargoes.
The calculation of emissions from wellhead-to-discharge terminal will be applied to sales and purchase agreements that Pavilion Energy has with the producers, the trading company said in a statement.
Pavilion's announcement follows a framework launched by the International Group of Liquefied Natural Gas Importers (GIIGNL) on Wednesday to establish rules to declare cargoes carbon neutral.
Environmental groups are sceptical about the use of carbon offsets and say the ability to pay for emission reductions elsewhere could prolong the use of fossil fuels.
Pavilion, QatarEnergy and Chevron said their methodology is expected to enhance transparency and improve the accuracy of emission calculations.
"The methodology sets a strong tone for increased accountability of emissions along the LNG value chain, paving the way for more decarbonisation strategies towards a lower carbon future," said Alan Heng, Pavilion Energy's interim group chief executive officer. (Reuters)
November
Australia toughens rules on foreign interference at universities
Written by Nur Yasmin
Australia says it has toughened foreign interference rules for universities to stop self-censorship on campuses and the covert transfer of sensitive technology, before hundreds of thousands of international students are expected to return as borders closed by the COVID-19 pandemic re-open.
International education is Australia's fourth-largest export industry, with China the biggest source of fee-paying students.
Home Affairs minister Karen Andrews said on Wednesday the foreign interference guidelines will protect universities and students from "hostile foreign actors and intelligence services; who have been known to target sensitive research, muzzle debate, and intimidate foreign students".
Australia is concerned its commercial advantage could be lost by unwanted technology transfer, and by researchers not declaring affiliations with militaries or governments in countries that don't rank highly on transparency or democracy indices, the guidelines said.
Universities will determine which staff will be required to undergo checks on their links to foreign governments or companies.
High numbers of Chinese students at Australian universities have created an environment of self-censorship with lecturers avoiding criticism of Beijing and Chinese students staying silent in fear of harassment, Human Rights Watch said in June.
The new guidelines don't name China, but feature case studies that parallel incidents involving China and the harassment of Hong Kong protesters on Australian campuses since 2019, as well as pressure on a university from a country's consulate to retract an academic paper on COVID-19 because it embarrassed the foreign government.
Australia, which passed its first foreign interference law in 2018, sparking a dispute with China, defines the term as activity that is coercive, clandestine or corrupting, and distinct from the normal lobbying activity of a foreign government.
The tougher rules come after ties worsened last year when Australia called for an independent probe into the origins of the novel coronavirus, sparking trade reprisals hitting Australian goods ranging from barley and coal to wine.
The European Commission has said it is also developing foreign interference rules for European universities.
The Chinese embassy in Canberra wrote to Australia's parliament to complain that Senator James Paterson, chair of its intelligence committee, last week gave a speech to the European Parliament outlining how Australia's foreign interference rules were a response to the threat from China.
The "so-called security threat of China's influence in Australia" was false information, a copy of the Chinese complaint reviewed by Reuters said.(Reuters)
November
Global need for copper, nickel will multiply over next 30 years -BHP
Written by Nur Yasmin
The global markets will need four times the nickel and double the copper in the next 30 years to facilitate a decarbonised world, a BHP Group (BHP.AX) executive said on Wednesday.
"Some of the modelling that we have done showed that in, let's say a decarbonised world ... the world will need almost double the copper in the next 30 years than in the past 30," said Vandita Pant, BHP's Chief Commercial Officer, at the FT Commodities Asia Summit.
"And for a commodity like nickel, that quadruples. So four times nickel needed for the next 30 years than the past 30 years and all to be done as sustainably as possible," Pant added.
Both nickel and copper are poised for strong consumption as a result of the transition away from fossil fuels. Nickel is used in electric vehicle (EV) batteries while copper is needed for wiring in the EVs, their charging stations and other renewable energy infrastructure. read more
On Tuesday, Trafigura's chief executive warned of possible significant deficits for copper, nickel and cobalt as global demand rises. read more
Traceability and sustainability will be some of the main requirements from clients from now on, BHP's Pant said, adding that the company has done a blockchain traceability programme with Tesla (TSLA.O) to track carbon emissions of its Western Australian nickel mine asset.
BHP also recently conducted its first carbon-neutral copper cargo, from Chile to the United States, she said, adding that is "the way to go." (Reuters)
November
U.S. commerce chief sees Indo-Pacific economic framework early next year
Written by Nur Yasmin
U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said on Wednesday that an Indo-Pacific economic framework could be launched at the start of next year, and her Asia visit was to lay the groundwork for potential partnerships.
"We are likely to launch a more formal process in the beginning of next year, which will culminate in a proper economic framework in the region," Raimondo said at the Bloomberg New Economy Forum in Singapore.
When asked whether that would mean an actual agreement, she said: "yeah, exactly."
President Joe Biden said last month that Washington would start talks with partners in the Indo-Pacific about developing a regional economic framework.
Raimondo said she was in Tokyo before her trip to Singapore and would be visiting Malaysia next.
Critics of U.S. strategy for the region point to its lack of an economic component after former President Donald Trump withdrew in 2017 from a U.S.-inspired trade deal, now known as the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership.
China said in September that it had filed an application to join the CPTPP trade pact, which was signed by 11 countries including Australia, Canada, Chile, Japan and New Zealand in 2018.
"This isn't about China. This is about developing robust commercial and economic relationships with our partners in the Indo Pacific where we have had a robust relationship for a long time, but for the past few years," Raimondo said. (Reuters)
November
Libya's eastern commander Haftar announces election bid
Written by Nur Yasmin
Khalifa Haftar, a major figure in the Libyan civil war who wields wide sway over the east of the country, announced on Tuesday he will run in a Dec. 24 presidential election that aims to help end a decade of conflict.
A divisive figure, his candidacy is one of many points of contention overshadowing the presidential and parliamentary votes which remain in doubt with just weeks to go, despite international pressure for them to happen on time. read more
Declaring his candidacy in a televised speech, Haftar said elections were the only way out of the crisis in Libya, which has suffered chaos and conflict since the NATO-backed uprising that ousted dictator Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.
Haftar, head of a force called the Libyan National Army, waged war on factions in the west after the country split in 2014, including a 14-month offensive to capture Tripoli which was repelled by the internationally recognised government.
Haftar, who is expected to formally register later on Tuesday at the election centre in Benghazi, pledged "to begin the path of reconciliation, peace and construction" in the event of his victory.
His decision to run will anger many in Tripoli and western regions who say no vote in areas he holds can be fair and who accuse him of war crimes during the assault, something he denies.
The election is meant as a milestone in the U.N.-backed political process to knit Libya back together.
However, with no clear agreement on the legal basis for the election, major factions may reject the vote. On Monday, interim Prime Minister Abdulhamid al-Dbeibah, who may also be a candidate for president, called for a new election law.
In September, Haftar paved the way for his presidential bid by saying he would step down from his military role for three months - as required by an election law that has been rejected by armed factions based in Tripoli.
Haftar's campaign to take Tripoli was backed by the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Russia. The internationally recognised government in Tripoli received military support from Turkey.
Gaddafi's son, Saif al-Islam, registered his candidacy on Sunday to run in the election.
Analysts say they do not expect Gaddafi to prove as strong a candidate as rivals who have been able to build constituencies through their control over financial or military resources during the past decade. (Reuters)
November
Swedish finance minister given more time to try to form new government
Written by Nur Yasmin
Swedish Finance Minister Magdalena Andersson has been given more time to try to form a new government, and is hopeful of striking a deal with the Left Party to become the country's first female prime minister.
Andersson is in negotiations with the Left Party to gain their support ahead of a potential vote. The speaker said in a statement that he had extended the deadline until Nov. 22, after a request from Andersson.
"The conversations were constructive so in the sense it is worth asking for more time. I think we can reach an agreement," Andersson told a news conference.
Andersson was elected by the Social Democrat party to replace former prime minister Stefan Lofven as its chairperson this month. Lofven handed in his resignation as prime minister last week.
Lofven led a shaky, minority government with the Greens from 2014.
It relied on support from parties on the left and right and Andersson will also need to find support from outside the current coalition to win a confirmation vote in parliament. read more
While she does not need a majority in the 349-seat house to back her as prime minister, she must avoid a majority voting against her.
She has secured the backing of the centre-right Centre Party but she will also need tacit support from the Left Party. (Reuters)
November
EU to aim for rapid deployment force without U.S. assets by 2025, document says
Written by Nur Yasmin
The European Union is considering a joint military force of up to 5,000 troops by 2025 to intervene in a range of crises and without relying on the United States, according to a draft plan.
The "EU Rapid Deployment Capacity" should be made up of land, sea and air components that could be swapped in and out of any standing force, depending on the crisis, according to the confidential 28-page document dated Nov. 9 and seen by Reuters.
EU foreign and defence ministers began debating the plan on Monday evening in Brussels and continued on Tuesday, aiming to settle on a final document by March next year.
EU presidency chair Slovenia told reporters that government reactions were positive, but noted the traditional divide between EU states focused on Russia and those worried about terror attacks and instability on the bloc's southern flank.
"First impressions are quite good. Of course we need some fine tuning," said Matej Tonin, Slovenia's defence minister.
Two decades after EU leaders first agreed to set up a 50,000-60,000-strong force but failed to make it operational, the draft strategy by the bloc's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell is the most concrete effort to create a standalone military force that does not rely on U.S. assets.
"We need more rapidity, robustness and flexibility to undertake the full range of military crisis management tasks," said the draft, called the "Strategic Compass".
"We need to be able to respond to imminent threats or quickly react to a crisis situation, for example a rescue and evacuation mission or a stabilisation operation in a hostile environment," the draft said.
JOINT MILITARY PROJECTS
Not all 27 EU states would need to take part, although approval of any deployment would require consensus.
The Strategic Compass is the closest thing the EU could have to a military doctrine and akin to U.S.-led NATO's "Strategic Concept" that sets out alliance goals. Crucially for the EU, Borrell wants EU states to commit to "providing associated assets and the necessary strategic enablers".
That means developing the logistics, long-range air transport and command and control capabilities of the United States that European allies in NATO have relied on.
Borrell told reporters there were now almost 60 joint EU military projects for weapons and other capabilities under development, after several more were approved on Tuesday.
The United States has urged Europeans to invest in deployable troops and U.S. President Joe Biden has said such moves would be complementary to NATO. The EU has maintained battlegroups of 1,500 troops since 2007 but they have never been used, despite efforts to deploy them in Chad and Libya.
Breaking up the battlegroups into smaller units could make them more flexible and more deployable.
"The use of modules will give us greater flexibility to tailor our force to the nature of the crisis ... This is key if we want to overcome the obstacles that we have faced in the past," the draft strategic plan said. (Reuters)