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Australian PM ‘looking forward’ to Quad Summit in Sydney

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese(twitter)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to participate in the summit…reports Asian Lite News

Australia’s High Commissioner to India Barry O’Farrell on Monday said that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is looking forward to the forthcoming Quad Summit to be held in Sydney on May 23-24.

“Prime Minister Albanese is looking forward to the Quad Summit on 23-24 May and so am I, because it’s another great opportunity to showcase Sydney to the world. This is an interesting year for all four Quad partners. India is hosting G20, Japan to host the G7, Australia is hosting the Quad, and the US is hosting APEC,” he said.

“So, Quad partners are cooperating multilaterally to shape a better world for us all,” he added.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to participate in the summit.

O’Farrell further said that the Quad summit to be held in Sydney will ensure an agenda for a safe and secure Indo-Pacific region.

“We share a positive agenda for a secure, safe and sovereign Indo-Pacific that abides by the rules,” he added.

The Quad meeting at the Sydney Opera House will be Australia’s first opportunity of hosting the Quad Leaders’ Summit.

Apart from Modi and Albanese, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and US President Joe Biden will also participate in the summit.

The summit will discuss the global economic environment, which is under pressure due to inflationary pressures, Albanese had said last month.

Vandalism of Hindu temples

O’Farrell said that PM Albanese ensured that the security forces take action when the vandalism of Hindu temples occurred and also track those responsible and prosecute them.

In an interview with ANI, Farrell said, “Well, Prime Minister Albanese assured Prime Minister Modi when he visited India in March that in Australia, we believe people have a right to practice their religions without interference. And Prime Minister Albanese committed to ensuring that our security forces, including our police, state police forces, take every possible action when the vandalism occurred to track down those responsible and to prosecute them.” “And I’m confident that that will happen. The point I make on perhaps the broader issue is that, as my Foreign Minister said when she was here in March unofficial referendum has no legal standing in Australia and Australia continues to respect and stand by India’s sovereignty and its sovereign borders,” he added.

In the past few months, the attacks on the Hindu temple have increased. In March, Shree Laxmi Narayan Temple in Brisbane was attacked. Earlier, in January, Shri Shiva Vishnu Temple in Australia’s Carrum Downs was also vandalised with anti-Hindu graffiti.

A week before the above incident, On January 12, the BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir in Australia’s Mill Park was smeared with anti-India and anti-Hindu graffiti. (with inputs from IANS and ANI’s Ayushi Agarwal)

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Another Hindu temple vandalised in Australia ahead of Modi’s visit

Ahead of Modi's visit, yet another Hindu temple vandalised in Sydney.

Temple authorities also found a Khalistani flag hanging on the gate, and reported the matter to New South Wales police….reports Asian Lite News

A Hindu temple in Australia has been vandalised just weeks ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the country on May 23.

The front wall of the BAPS Swaminarayan temple in Rosehill suburb of western Sydney was spray-painted with the message “Declare Modi Terrorist” early on Friday morning, The Australia Today reported.

“When I came this morning for prayers I saw ugly vandalism on the front wall,” Sejal Patel, a daily visitor to the temple, said.

Temple authorities also found a Khalistani flag hanging on the gate, and reported the matter to New South Wales police.

According to the report, police officers visited the temple and have been provided with the CCTV footage of the attack.

This incident comes after a brief almost two months of Khalistan activities in Australia.

In March, the boundary wall of the Shree Laxmi Narayan Temple in Brisbane was vandalised.

In January alone, three Hindu temples in Melbourne were defaced with anti-India graffiti and pro-Bhindranwale slogans by Khalistani supporters, and later, temple priests received threatening calls to raise ‘Khalistan Zindabad’ slogans.

Following vandalisation of Hindu temples, Khalistani flags were found attached to the Indian consulate in Brisbane in February — just days after External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s visit to Australia.

India has time and again registered a strong protest with the Australian government asking it to take swift action and bring perpetraters to the book.

During his visit to India this year, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had assured Modi of strict action, saying that safety of the Indian community is a priority of his government.

Modi is scheduled to travel to Japan, Papua New Guinea and Australia in May with the power-packed visit concluding Down Under where he will attend the Quad summit from May 23-24 in Sydney.

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Australia’s oldest library welcoming Shakespeare fans

In a statement, NSW State Librarian John Vallance called the Shakespeare Room “one of Sydney’s true hidden gems”…reports Asian Lite News

As the oldest library in Australia, the State Library of New South Wales (NSW) on Monday started opening Shakespeare Room seven days a week to the public for the first time in its history.

Welcoming visitors in a social media post, the NSW State Library said that the Tudor-style room, opened in the early 1940s, was built to commemorate the 300th anniversary of English playwright William Shakespeare’s death, reports Xinhua news agency.

“Inside you’ll find thousands of books by and about Shakespeare, as well as stained-glass windows that depict the seven ages of man from his play ‘As You Like It’,” the state library noted.

In a statement, NSW State Librarian John Vallance called the Shakespeare Room “one of Sydney’s true hidden gems”.

“After being closed for three years due to Covid, we are pleased to be able to again welcome Shakespeare fans and visitors alike to this unique slice of Tudor England,” Vallance said.

According to the NSW State Library, as this year marks the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s First Folio, the library will also present a special exhibition from July 8 to February 25, 2024.

The display is expected to feature the library’s significant Shakespeare collection, including the only copy of the First Folio in Australia and a copy of each of the Second, Third, and Fourth Folios, all published in the 17th century after the death of the English playwright.

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Modi thanks Albanese for hosting QUAD summit in May

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Wednesday announced that it will host the Quad Leaders’ Summit on May 24 in Sydney…reports Asian Lite News

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday thanked his Australian counterpart, Antony Albanese for hosting the next Quad Summit in Sydney and said that it will further bolster the efforts of the grouping to ensure a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific.

Taking to his official Twitter handle, the Prime Minister said that he is looking forward to his visit and strengthening QUAD (Quadrilateral Security Dialogue). “Thank you @AlboMP for hosting the next Quad Summit in Sydney which will bolster our efforts to ensure a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific. I look forward to my visit and discussions on strengthening Quad collaboration across domains to advance our positive agenda,” PM Modi tweeted.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Wednesday announced that it will host the Quad Leaders’ Summit on May 24 in Sydney reiterating that it will be a chance to work in cooperation with US, Japan and India.

In a Twitter video post, he said, “Sydney will be the host of the Quad Leaders’ meeting in 2023. The hosting of this meeting at the Sydney Opera House will be a chance for us to work cooperatively with US, Japan and India, but also it will also be an opportunity to showcase this beautiful city and the country to the entire world.”

He said that hosting Quad partners in Sydney next month will be an opportunity for Australia to help shape the region “we all want to live in.”

The Quadrilateral Security Dialogue is the grouping of four democracies–India, Australia, the US, and Japan–that aims to ensure and support a “free, open and prosperous” Indo-Pacific region.

“I’m pleased to announce that Australia will be hosting the Quad Leaders’ Summit for the first time on May 24 in Sydney,’ Anthony Albanese tweeted.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be travelling to Australia in May to take part in the Quad leadership summit.

The announcement was made during the joint press conference hosted by Prime Minister Modi along with Australian counterpart in March when the latter was on a four-day visit to India.

“India and Australia are both members of the Quad. I thank PM Albanese for inviting me to Australia for the Quad Leaders’ Summit in May. I have invited him to India for the G20 summit in September,” PM Modi had said.

The leaders of the Quad group have met on four occasions earlier and their next meeting will be held in Australia. The group’s importance in the region has increased due to its keen interest in sustainable and inclusive economic growth and increasing people-to-people connections between Quad members and non-Quad members. (ANI)

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Australia’s defence review prioritises India, Japan ties

The Review stated that Australia must continue to expand its relationships and practical cooperation with key powers, including Japan and India…reports Asian Lite News

Australia on Monday released the public version of the Defence Strategic Review (DSR) that has proposed a strategy of greater self-sufficiency combined with stronger relationships with its allies and key powers in the region, including Japan and India.

The country plans to prioritise its long-range precision strike capability, domestic production of guided weapons, and diplomacy, in its biggest defence shake-up since World War II. The review said Australia is facing a “radically different” strategic environment, including a military build-up by China, which is “the largest and most ambitious of any country since the end of the (World War II).”

“We commissioned the Defence Strategic Review to make sure Australia is more secure. Today, we’ve released our response to the review. It shows how determined we are to keep Australians safe. Because national security is every government’s most solemn responsibility,” Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said in a tweet.

Commissioned in the first 100 days of Government, the Review sets the agenda for ambitious, but necessary, reform to Australia’s Defence posture and structure.

The review said the United States is no longer the “unipolar leader of the Indo-Pacific”, intense competition between the US and China is defining the region, and that this competition has “potential for conflict”.

The review called for the acquisition of nuclear-powered submarines through AUKUS (comprising of Australia, UK and US); develop the Australian Defence Force’s (ADF) ability to precisely strike targets at longer range and manufacture munitions in Australia; improve ADF’s ability to operate from Australia’s northern bases; improve the growth and retention of a highly skilled Defence workforce; lifting capacity to rapidly translate disruptive new technologies into ADF capability, in close partnership with Australian industry; and deepening of diplomatic and defence partnerships with key partners in the Indo-Pacific, read the press release of Australian Government, Defence.

“My Government commissioned the Defence Strategic Review to assess whether Australia had the necessary defence capability, posture and preparedness to best defend Australia and its interests in the strategic environment we now face,” said Albanese.

Australia would work more closely with the United States, including increased bilateral military planning, joint patrols and hosting more rotations of US forces, including submarines, said the review.

Australia must also strengthen defence cooperation with Pacific and Southeast Asian nations, the Review said.

Australia must continue to expand its relationships and practical cooperation with key powers, including Japan and India, the Review stated.

“We support the strategic direction and key findings set out in the Review, which will strengthen our national security and ensure our readiness for future challenges. The Government will continue to invest in our capabilities and invest in our relationships to help build a more secure Australia and a more stable and prosperous region,” said Albanese.

The Albanese Government apart from the public version of the Defence Strategic Review (the Review) also released the Government’s response to the Review, and the National Defence Statement 2023.

Australia must be able to defend its territories and the immediate region, deter any adversary’s attempt to project power through its northern approaches, and protect trade routes and communications, Defence Minister Richard Marles said in the government’s response to the review.

“The Defence Strategic Review, and the Government’s response, is about maintaining peace, security and prosperity in our region. There are a lot of tough decisions which need to be made, but in doing so, we are making them in the best interest of our Defence Force and our nation. Work to implement the Review starts today, ensuring our ADF and our Defence personnel has the capability they need to keep Australians safe,” he said. (ANI)

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Sydney bats for ‘Little India’ ahead of Modi’s visit

Harris Park is informally referred to as ‘Little India’ with 45 per cent of its 5,043 residents tracing their roots to India….reports Asian Lite News

Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Australia in May, the diaspora community in a western Sydney suburb is renewing calls to officially declare their area as ‘Little India’.

Home to many popular Indian eateries and retailers, Harris Park is informally referred to as ‘Little India’ with 45 per cent of its 5,043 residents tracing their roots to India.

According to ABC News, the Parramatta Council voted last week to support a scaled-back proposal, which will see Marion Street, Wigram Street, and Station Street East in Harris Park named as ‘Little India’.

The Council’s earlier attempts hit a roadblock after Australia’s Geographic Names Board (GNB) told Parramatta Council to stop using the term in marketing material because it “creates confusion”.

“We want to make it an international destination on the same lines as Little India in Singapore and other places around the world,” Parramatta councillor Paul Noack, who moved the motion, told ABC News.

While Parramatta Council said it is continuing discussions with the GNB, a board spokesperson said it was yet to receive a formal application regarding the matter.

“Once a formal application has been received, the GNB will review the submission,” the spokesperson told ABC News.

The Indian business owners had first proposed officially naming the area Little India in 2015, believing that the title would benefit them.

According to Little India Harris Park Business Association president Sanjay Deshwal, the name would give a sense of belonging to Indian students and workers who come to Australia.

“Harris Park is a very important step to provide those people a feeling of home. It’s not only food, it’s not only the businesses, it’s not only the dresses, it’s not only the colour, but it’s giving them a sense of belonging,” Deshwal told ABC News.

Modi last visited Australia in 2014, and addressed 20,000 people at the Sydney SuperDome at Olympic Park.

According to the report, the Parramatta Council has formally extended an invitation to Modi to visit Harris Park this time.

The Prime Minister is scheduled to travel to Japan, Papua New Guinea and Australia in May with the power-packed visit concluding Down Under where he will attend the Quad summit from May 23 to 24 in Sydney.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese who visited India this year, formally extended the invite to his Indian counterpart.

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Melbourne pips Sydney as Australia’s biggest city

Melbourne

This is not the first time Melbourne has held the title of Australia’s biggest city…reports Asian Lite News

Melbourne has overtaken Sydney as the biggest city of Australia, a title the latter had held on to for more than 100 years.

With populations rapidly growing on Melbourne’s fringe, the city limits have been expanded to include the area of Melton, the BBC reported on Monday.

The latest government figures, from June 2021, put Melbourne’s population at 4,875,400 — 18,700 more than Sydney.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) defines a city’s “significant urban area”, by including all connecting suburbs with more than 10,000 people.

“Until the 2021 census definition, the Sydney significant area had a higher population than Melbourne. However, with the amalgamation of Melton into Melbourne in the latest… classification, Melbourne has more people than Sydney — and has had since 2018, ” the ABS’s Andrew Howe told the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper on Monday, which described the redrawn boundary as “a technicality”.

Proud Sydneysiders will point to the ABS’s conclusion that when looking at the greater Sydney and Melbourne regions, Sydney remained bigger in June 2021.

Greater regions of a city take into account its “functional area”, the ABS says, and include populations who regularly socialise, shop or work within the city, but may live in small towns and rural areas surrounding it.

However the federal government predicts Greater Melbourne will overtake Greater Sydney in 2031-32.

This is not the first time Melbourne has held the title of Australia’s biggest city.

As a result of the gold rush in the late 19th century, which saw migrants flock to the state of the Victoria, Melbourne grew rapidly and outnumbered Sydney until 1905.

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‘Motivation for youth’: Modi hails Australian Sikh Games

Tokyo, Sep 27 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacts with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the State Funeral Ceremony of the former Japan Prime Minister Late Shinzo Abe, in Tokyo on Tuesday. (ANI Photo)

The 35th Australian Australian Sikh Games is being hosted in Australia from April 7-9….reports Asian Lite News

Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended best wishes to everyone associated with the 35th Australian Sikh Games organised by Australian National Sikh Sports and Cultural Council in Brisbane.

In his message, PM Modi said the games will help the Sikh community to showcase its sporting skills, competitive spirit and teamwork on a bigger platform.

“My best wishes for the 35th Australian Sikh Games. May the Games serve as an inspiration to motivate younger generations of Sikhs to excel in every sphere of life,” PM Modi said in his message.

Taking to its official Twitter handle, the High Commission of India in Canberra shared PM Modi’s message on the 35th Australian Sikh Games. Sharing PM Modi’s message on Twitter, the Indian High Commission in Canberra wrote, “Message from Hon. PM @narendramodi on the occasion of 35th Australian Sikh Games.”

The 35th Australian Australian Sikh Games is being hosted in Australia from April 7-9. In the message for the games, PM Modi stated, “It is a pleasure to learn about the 35th Australian Sikh Games organised by Australian National Sikh Sports and Cultural Council in Brisbane. Greetings and best wishes to everyone associated with the Games.”

PM Modi noted that the Sikh Gurus guided India and the world with many “eternal and timeless values.” He added, “If one looks closely at the lives and teachings of the holy Gurus, they emphasised the importance of physical health along with spiritual growth. Further, the holy Gurus also gave the message of bringing people of different sections of society together as a team to achieve progress.”

In his message, PM Modi stressed that these concepts are relevant in sports where people come together to participate on an equal platform regardless of their social background. He said that the Sikh community has been actively involved in sports, teamwork and fitness.

“It is in this context that the 35th Australian Sikh Games acquire a special importance. The organisation of these Games will help the Sikh community demonstrate its sporting skills, competitive spirit and teamwork on a bigger platform. The participation of players from different nations is also noteworthy,” PM Modi said in his message.

Highlighting the similarities between the two nations, PM Modi said, “India and Australia have several commonalities – a connected history, shared values, love for democracy, and respect for a rules-based international order. We are also strong partners in progress and prosperity.”

Recalling witnessing a cricket match between India and Australia with his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese in Gujarat in March, PM Modi said, “Sport is adding a new dimension to our vibrant relationship. These Games will also serve to bring the two countries closer.”

In his message, PM Modi said, “The Indian diaspora has carved out a niche for itself in the global landscape and these Games are yet another example of it. I am sure that this initiative will enhance the love and affection for our diaspora not just in Australia, but across the world.” (ANI)

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Indian Army chief meets Australian military chiefs

General Pande held talks with Australia’s military chiefs on ways to further enhance defence cooperation between the two nations….reports Asian Lite News

Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Manoj Pande on Thursday received a Guard of Honour at the Australian Defence Forces (ADF) headquarters. He met Australia’s Chief of the Defence Force Angus Campbell and Chief of the Australian Army Lt General Simon Stuart to discuss defence cooperation.

General Manoj Pande is on a four-day visit to Australia. Additional Directorate General of Public Information, IHQ of MoD (Army) tweeted, “General Manoj Pande #COAS received a Guard of Honour at the HQ Australian Defence Forces #ADF. #COAS interacted with Lt Gen Simon Stuart, @ChiefAusArmy and discussed aspects of defence cooperation.” Sharing details regarding the meeting, General Simon Stuart in a tweet wrote, “It was my pleasure to host my Indian counterpart General Manoj Pande this week. As our first in-person meeting since assuming our roles, it was an opportunity to discuss deepening our Army engagement and our bilateral activities, including our recent success with Ex Austrahind.”

In a tweet, the Additional Directorate General of Public Information, IHQ of MoD (Army) wrote, “COAS Manoj Pande interacted with Major General Richard Vagg, Head Land Capability and Lt Gen Greg Bilton, Chief of Jt Ops. He also visited the Australian War Memorial and laid a wreath at the Last Post ceremony.”

General Pande held talks with Australia’s Chief of the Defence Force Angus Campbell, Vice Chief of the Australian Defence Force David Johnston and Air Marshal Robert Chipman and discussed ways to further enhance defence cooperation between the two nations.

Additional Directorate General of Public Information, IHQ of MoD (Army) tweeted, “#COAS interacted with General Angus Campbell @CDF_Aust, VADM David Johnston @VCDF_Australia & Air Marshal Robert Chipman @CAF_Australia and discussed avenues to further enhance existing #DefenceCooperation between both the Armed Forces.”

The Ministry of Defence in the press release said, “Australia-India defence cooperation has been on an upward trajectory with a series of diverse engagements at different levels, in various domains. These include bilateral visits by senior officers, reciprocal courses of instructions and training exercises, among others.”

It further said, “The ever-expanding defence cooperation engagements encompassing a broad spectrum of activities have established a strong bonhomie between the two Armed Forces. The visit of the COAS to Australia will further strengthen the bonds of trust and understanding between the two armies.” (ANI)

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TikTok fined $16 mn in UK for misusing kids’ data

Children’s data may have been used to track and profile them, potentially presenting them with harmful or inappropriate content, he added…reports Asian Lite News

Britain’s data watchdog said on Tuesday it had fined TikTok 12.7 million pounds ($15.9 million) for breaching data protection law including by using the personal data of children aged under 13 without parental consent.

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) estimated that TikTok allowed as many as 1.4 million UK children under 13 to use its platform in 2020, even though it sets 13 as the minimum age to create an account.

The ICO said the data breaches occurred between May 2018 and July 2020, with the Chinese-owned video app not having done enough to check who was using the platform and remove the underage children who were.

“There are laws in place to make sure our children are as safe in the digital world as they are in the physical world. TikTok did not abide by those laws,” UK Information Commissioner John Edwards said.

Children’s data may have been used to track and profile them, potentially presenting them with harmful or inappropriate content, he added.

A TikTok spokesperson said the company disagreed with the ICO’s decision but was pleased the fine had been reduced from the possible 27 million pounds set out by the ICO last year.

“We invest heavily to help keep under 13s off the platform and our 40,000 strong safety team works around the clock to help keep the platform safe for our community,” the spokesperson said.

“We will continue to review the decision and are considering next steps.”

The ICO’s fine follows moves by Western governments and institutions in recent weeks, including Britain, to bar usage of TikTok on official devices over security concerns.

Australia to ban TikTok

Meanwhile, Australia’s federal government will ban video-sharing application TikTok on government devices over fears that the application’s security could be compromised and the platform could be used for foreign interference by China, ABC News reported.

Australia becomes the last nation in the “five eyes” intelligence alliance to block the app after similar decisions were taken by the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and New Zealand. Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus has announced that the ban will come into effect “as soon as practicable.” He further stated that exemptions will be made on a case-by-case basis, as per the ABC News report.

In a statement, Mark Dreyfus said, “After receiving advice from intelligence and security agencies, today I authorised the secretary of the Attorney-General’s Department to issue a mandatory direction under the Protective Security Policy Framework to prohibit the TikTok app on devices issued by Commonwealth departments and agencies.”

Earlier on Tuesday, the Victorian and ACT governments stated that they expected an imminent ban, as per the news report. A spokesperson for Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said they will follow the Commonwealth’s guidance with regard to cybersecurity and they will now work on implementing these changes “across the public service as soon as possible.”

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