Page 2 - India Australia

Australian FM raises allegations of targeting Sikhs with EAM Jaishankar

Australia's foreign minister said Tuesday she raised allegations with her Indian counterpart that India has targeted Sikh activists in Canada. Foreign Minister Penny Wong said she discussed the Canadian allegations with Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar while he was in the Australian capital, Canberra. India has denied Canada's allegation that Indian Home Minister Amit Shah ordered the targeting of Sikh activists inside Canada. Wong said her message to the Sikh community was that people have a right to be safe and respected in Australia, regardless of who they are. We've made clear our concerns about the allegations under investigation. We've said that we respect Canada's judicial process, Wong said at a news conference with Jaishankar. We convey our views to India as you would expect us to do and we have a principled position in relation to matters such as the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary and also, frankly, the sovereignty of all countries, she ...

Strategic partnership growing steadily with Australia: EAM Jaishankar

Ahead of 2025, which will mark the fifth year of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership of the two countries, the Foreign Ministers' Framework Dialogue served as an opportunity to take stock

Australia and India claim Quad to remain unaffected from US election result

China objects to the Quad grouping as an effort to contain it, while Australia, Japan, India and the US say they are like-minded democracies seeking to bolster stability in the Indo-Pacific region

Jaishankar opens new Indian consulate in Brisbane, pays homage to Gandhi

Jaishankar articulated the importance of these democracies and the significance of Quad

Govt keen to strengthen CECA services pact with Australia to boost exports

India is looking at further strengthening the pact on services with Australia in the proposed compressive economic cooperation trade agreement (CECA) to boost the sector's exports, an official said on Thursday. The two countries have already implemented an interim trade agreement in goods and services in December 2022 and are now under negotiations to expand its scope through CECA. The next round of talks is expected in December here. "One of the areas of interest for India is to strengthen our agreement on the services side because our services exports are doing good. So whatever we feel can be done more where India can actually improve our exports, we are looking at those areas and trying to see what else can be done," the official said. The estimated value of service exports during April-September 2024 is USD 180 billion as compared to USD 163.92 billion in April-September 2023. In 2023-24, it was over USD 340 billion. India is also interested in government procurement, but the

New Australian working holiday-visa has 40k Indian applicants for 1k spots

About 40,000 applications have been submitted in just two weeks for 1,000 spots under Australia's new Working Holiday Maker visa program, Australian Assistant Minister for Immigration Matt Thistlethwaite said on Monday. The visa, which allows Indians aged 18 to 30 to live, work, and study in Australia for up to 12 months, marks a key step in strengthening ties between the two nations, he said at the launch event of Australian Working Holiday Maker program. The visa ballot process opened on October 1 and will close by the end of the month. Afterward, successful candidates will be randomly selected, and those chosen can begin their stay in Australia early next year, he said. Thistlethwaite noted that the visa offers young Indians an opportunity to immerse themselves in Australian culture and gain work experience across various sectors. "The great thing about the Working Holiday Maker visa is that there are no restrictions on the jobs you can do. Till now, 40,000 applications have bee

PM Modi meets Kishida, Albanese; discusses ways to deepen bilateral ties

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held "very good" meetings with his Japanese and Australian counterparts on the sidelines of the Quad Summit here and exchanged views to deepen bilateral cooperation further for mutual benefits and the 'peace, stability, and prosperity' of the Indo-Pacific region. Modi met Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Wilmington on Saturday. The three leaders met at the sidelines of the Quad Leaders' Summit, hosted by US President Joe Biden. Modi and Albanese reaffirmed their commitment to "further deepen" bilateral ties, with the Indian leader saying that he "cherishes the time-tested friendship" with Australia. "Held extensive discussions with PM Albanese. We seek to add even more momentum in areas like trade, security, space and culture. India greatly cherishes the time-tested friendship with Australia," Modi said in a post on X. "Great to talk with Prime Minister @narendramodi today at the Quad Leaders Summi

Quad summit to take place in Delaware this month, India may host next year

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to join the leaders of the US, Japan and Australia at the Quad summit in the US later this month as the influential grouping is likely to deliberate on pressing global challenges including the situation in Ukraine. The summit is likely to take place on September 21 in US President Joe Biden's hometown of Wilmington in Delaware, people familiar with the matter said. There is no official announcement yet on the date and venue of the high-profile summit. It was India's turn to host the Quad summit this year. However, the leaders of the grouping decided to hold the summit at a venue convenient to all in view of constraints of a tight calendar. As per the new plan, India is expected to host the Quad summit next year. Modi, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida are among the world leaders who are travelling to the US to attend the UN's Summit of the Future in New York on September 22 and 23. The Quad su

Next round of India-Australia comprehensive trade pact talks in November

Senior officials of India and Australia are expected to hold their next round of talks for a compressive free trade agreement in November here, the commerce ministry said on Sunday. The two countries implemented an interim trade agreement in December 2022 and are now under negotiations to expand its scope. It said that the tenth round of India-Australia CECA (comprehensive economic cooperation agreement) negotiations was held from 19-22 August in Sydney in the areas of goods, services, digital trade, government procurement, rules of origin and agri-tech. Intense discussions were held on each of these tracks bringing in clarity and understanding for convergence in the remaining provisions, it added. "The next round of CECA negotiations is likely to be held in November," it said in a statement. The Indian delegation was led by Rajesh Agrawal, the Chief Negotiator and Additional Secretary, Department of Commerce and the Australian delegation was led by Ravi Kewalram, the Chief Negoti

India, Australia condemn terrorism, emphasise on international cooperation

During the meeting, the two sides exchanged views on the domestic, regional and global terrorism threat assessment

Officials from Quad countries review progress made since May 2023 summit

Senior officials from Quad member countries have reviewed the progress made by various Quad Working Groups in achieving the commitments made at the grouping's summit in May 2023, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Thursday. The officials, who met through video conference on Wednesday, also discussed new ideas to further the grouping's collaboration in delivering public good in the Indo-Pacific region in areas such as health security, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, climate resilience, and countering terrorism, the ministry said in a statement. Senior officials from the Ministry of External Affairs of India, Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade of Australia, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan and Department of State of the US met to review the progress made by various Quad Working Groups in achieving the commitments made at the May 2023 Quad Leaders' Summit, it said. "They also discussed new ideas to further the Quad's collaboration in delivering public .

Eyeing 2025 polls, Aus aims early completion of trade deal with India

Both nations had signed the interim trade deal, also known as India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA) that came into force on December 29, 2022

Aukus focus: The strategic pivot to France

Capability asymmetries between India and the US impede joint training

India seeks arbitration proceedings with Aus under WTO rules on services

India has sought arbitration proceedings under the WTO rules against Australia to resolve an issue with regard to services sector, as it could impact New Delhi's trade in services, an official said. The official said India has already communicated to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) regarding its request for arbitration on the issue. On November 17, 2023, Australia notified to the secretariat of the WTO about its intention to modify its schedule of specific commitments under the GATS (General Agreement on Trade in Services) to incorporate additional commitments relating to services domestic regulation. GATS is a WTO agreement that came into force in 1995. India is a member of the Geneva-based organisation since 1995. WTO is a global tarde watchdog and adjudicates trade disputes among member nations. As an "affected member", India has stated that Australia's intended modification of its specific commitments does not satisfy certain conditions, the official said. "Thereafter... In

India, Australia to speed up trade deal after Lok Sabha elections

India, Australia trade deal may include deeper market access and outcomes in digital trade & goods

Australian institutions eye India's vocational educational, training sector

Speaking at an event, Australian High Commissioner Philip Green on Monday said that Australia seeks to play a "bigger part" in India's journey to upskill its population

Raisina Dialogue: Jaishankar meets Australian Intelligence chief Shearer

Jaishankar also welcomed the Foreign Minister of Bhutan DN Dhungyel on his first visit to India after assuming office

India-Australia friendship 10 out of 10, PM Modi inspiring leader: Ex-Oz PM

Former Australian prime minister Malcolm Turnbull has rated the Australia-India friendship 10 out of 10 and called Prime Minister Narendra Modi an inspiring leader who is "making a huge difference". The bonhomie between the two leaders was visible in the many photos from Turnbull's first visit to India in 2017. He has retired since and is currently touring India with his wife. Turnbull, who is one of the speakers at the ongoing 17th edition of the Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF), recalled his "lovely visit" to India in 2017 and the time spent with PM Modi. "I had a lovely visit here. I have seen him (Modi) in Japan recently at the funeral of our old friend Shinzo Abe... I enjoyed Mr Modi's company enormously. I know he is controversial in his own country naturally. But from the outside, an inspiring leader and clearly making a huge difference," Turnbull told PTI. The 29th Australian prime minister said the two countries have got many things in common -- the love for cricket, rule

Indian community in Australia mourns victims of quadruple beach drowning

The Indian community in Australia is mourning the tragic death of four compatriots, including three women, who drowned at an unpatrolled beach in Phillip Island this week. Jagjeet Singh Anand, a 23-year-old male nurse, Suhani Anand and Kirti Bedi, 20-year-old nursing students, and Reema Sondhi, 43, died in the tragic incident on Wednesday. They were part of a group of about 10 people who were enjoying a day out at Phillip Island, near Melbourne in Victoria. A close relative, who was too devastated to speak at length, said Sondhi was visiting her family in Australia and had arrived there two weeks earlier, The Sydney Morning Herald reported. Sondhi was the daughter-in-law of industrialist Om Sondhi from Phagwara in India's Punjab state. Reema's husband Sanjeev too was part of the group but he survived. Jagjeet Singh Anand, a Melbourne-based nurse, was a permanent resident in Australia while Suhani Anand and Bedi were on student visas. The three younger victims were all residents of

Hundreds evacuated, 38 rescued from floods in Australia after heavy storms

Hundreds of people were ordered to evacuate their homes on Monday after flooding inundated parts of Victoria state, as wild weather continues to batter Australia's southeast. The issue was ordered for badly hit areas in the small towns of Seymour and Yea, about 70 miles north of Melbourne. Authorities told residents and tourists to leave immediately as floodwaters rose to dangerous levels. Multiple flood and thunderstorm warnings were in place across Victoria with the deluge filling streets with water. Authorities rescued 38 people from flooding and almost 1,000 calls were made for help, Victoria State of Emergency Services said. Rainfall in the northeast of Victoria was expected to reach more than 200 millimeters (7.88 inches). Authorities warned that flooding above the floor level of a single-story house was likely, and access to key roads would be difficult. The area is popular with vacationers. If you live in a flood-prone area, please make the necessary plans. Especially peop