Page 10 - Australia

Australia to invest $16 mn in joint trade and investment fund with India

Australia boosts India trade ties with $16 million investment, aiming for growth in clean energy, education, agribusiness, and tourism while fostering deeper economic links

Airlines warned as Chinese navy to hold live-fire exercises off Australia

Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told reporters on Friday afternoon that the time period for the Chinese navy exercises had expired, and it was unclear if live fire had been used

Australia backs Virgin-Qatar Airways tie-up, cites improved air services

Virgin Australia is the biggest domestic rival to Qantas Airways, which has ties with Dubai-based Emirates and an arrangement with Finnair to operate flights between Sydney, Bangkok and Singapore

Australia to ban foreign investors from buying existing homes for two years

Under the government's plan, foreign investors - including temporary residents such as international students and foreign-owned companies - will not be allowed to purchase an established dwelling

Australia to put 2-year restrictions on foreigners purchasing homes

Dissatisfaction with housing in Australia reached an all-time high last year and it is an issue that is expected to dominate a general election due by May

Cyclone Zelia makes landfall on Australia's west coast, hits iron ore hub

Eye of the category five storm, the highest rating on the scale, crossed the coast east of Port Hedland just after 12 p.m. (0400 GMT), sparing the town's population centre

Adani Group signs $207 million private loan for Australia coal port unit

The ability for Adani to secure new debt demonstrates that it is recovering from a fallout after the US indicted Gautam Adani over a bribery plot in November

Australian PM Albanese gets Prez Trump to consider exemption on tariffs

Albanese, who must hold an election by May 17, has been under intense pressure from local lawmakers and executives to secure tariff exemptions for Australia's steel and aluminum exports to the US

Australia bans China's DeepSeek from government tech over security

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said in a statement that all DeepSeek products, applications and services would be removed from government systems on national security concerns

Australia's student visa surge defies clampdowns, sparks Oppn pushback

Australia's higher education accounts for the majority of student visas, with two-thirds or more going to university students

Australia immigration: Oppn eyes investor ban, 25% permanent migration cut

"Labour has opened the migration floodgates," said Australia's opposition parties

Jaishankar holds bilateral meetings with counterparts from Japan, Australia

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Sunday held meetings with his counterparts from Australia and Japan here during which they discussed bilateral issues and those pertaining to QUAD. An initiative of the Donald Trump administration in its first term, QUAD comprises Australia, India, Japan and the United States. The outgoing Joe Biden administration elevated it to the leadership level. A QUAD ministerial is expected to be the first order of business in terms of international meetings of Marco Rubio once he is confirmed by the US Congress and sworn in as the Secretary of State, which is reflective of the importance given to this grouping by the second term of the Trump administration. "Delighted to meet FM @SenatorWong, a Quad colleague, in Washington DC today. As always, enjoyed our discussion on the state of the world," Jaishankar posted on X after meeting Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong. "Good to meet with FM Takeshi Iwaya of Japan. Reviewed the progress in our ...

Albanese demands Russia explain what happened to Australian prisoner of war

Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Wednesday his government will take the "strongest action possible" if Russia has harmed an Australian who was taken prisoner while fighting for Ukraine. Video posted on social media in December showed Oscar Jenkins (32) dressed in military uniform with his hands bound being questioned and struck by a Russian interrogator. Australian authorities were seeking comment from Russia on reports that the Melbourne school teacher had been killed since he became a prisoner of war. Albanese said Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade officials were seeking "urgent clarification" of Jenkins' circumstances. "We call upon Russia to immediately confirm Oscar Jenkins' status. We remain gravely concerned," Albanese told reporters. "We will await the facts to come out. But if there has been any harm caused to Oscar Jenkins, that is absolutely reprehensible. And the Australian government will take the strongest action possible," Albane

Western Sydney University planning to open new campus in Greater Noida

Leading Australian University, Western Sydney University is set to open its campus in India, making it the third Australian university to have a campus in the country.In a post on X, Australian High Commissioner to India, Philip Green shared the announcement.He said, "Another Australian University is coming to India! Excited to see this announcement of @westernsydneyau planning to set up a campus in Greater Noida - this will be the third university campus in India & first in the state of #UttarPradesh."On its official website, Western Sydney University noted that it has been recognised as the world's best higher education institution in 2024 according to Times Higher Education Impact Rankings from 2,152 universities across 125 countries.Notably, the other two Australian universities in India are the University of Wollongong and Deakin which established campuses in the GIFT City, Gujarat.As per the official website of Deakin University, it was noted that it is the first ...

3 injured, 3 missing after seaplane crashes off Australian tourist island

Three people were seriously injured and another three were missing after a seaplane crashed off an Australian tourist island, officials said Wednesday. Only one of the seven people aboard the Cessna 208 Caravan was rescued without injury after the crash during takeoff from Rottnest Island on Tuesday afternoon, police said. The plane owned by Swan River Seaplanes was returning to its base in Perth, the Western Australia state capital 30 kilometres east of Rottnest Island, which is also known by its Indigenous name Wadjemup. Australian Transport Safety Bureau, the aviation crash investigator, said specialist investigators were being sent to the scene. As reported to the ATSB, during take-off the floatplane collided with the water, before coming to rest partially submerged, the bureau's chief commissioner Angus Mitchell said in a statement on Wednesday. Greg Quin, a tourist who was vacationing on Rottnest, said he saw the plane crash. We were watching the seaplane take off and just

Australia student visa: New rules tighten process for foreign applicants

From January 1 unless exempt, foreign student visa applicants must provide a CoE at the time of lodging their application

Quad members renew pledge towards working for free, stable Indo-Pacific

India and other Quad member nations on Tuesday renewed their firm commitment to work towards a free and open Indo-Pacific that is peaceful, stable and prosperous. The foreign ministers of the member nations of the grouping made the pledge in a joint statement commemorating the 20th anniversary of Quad cooperation. The foreign ministers said the Quad will work together in responding to the future needs of the Indo-Pacific, an assertion that came against the backdrop of China's increasing muscle-flexing in the region. India, the US, Australia and Japan came together 20 years ago to extend assistance in response to the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami. The coalition is now known as Quad. "As four partners, we share a vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific that is peaceful, stable and prosperous, underpinned by effective regional institutions," the joint statement said. The Quad foreign ministers also talked about the centrality of 10-nation grouping Association of Southeast

Australia student visa: Confirmation of Enrolment required from Jan 2025

The change ensures that both onshore and offshore applicants meet the same criteria for proof of intended study

India's exports to Australia up 64.4% in Nov: Commerce ministry data

India's exports to its trade agreement partner Australia rose 64.4 per cent year-on-year to USD 643.7 million in November on account of healthy growth in sectors such as textiles, chemicals and agricultural products, according to the commerce ministry data. However, the country's merchandise exports recorded a decline of 5.21 per cent year-on-year to USD 5.56 billion, the preliminary data showed. India and Australia implemented an interim trade pact -- Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA) -- on December 29, 2022 and are now in negotiations to widen the scope of the pact. On the completion of two years of ECTA, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said the agreement has brought with it increased market access for Indian exporters, expanded opportunities for MSMEs and farmers, and generated several employment avenues. It has also enabled growth in exports by 14 per cent in 2023-24; notable boost in IT/ITeS, business and travel services; and port-study work and work

Australia's new rules prioritise international student visa processing

The changes apply exclusively to offshore student visa applications for students currently outside Australia