Latest news with #Australia-India
Indian Express
14-07-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
Australia announces 2025 Maitri Grants, aimed at supporting connections and research across sectors
Australia and India are gearing up to strengthen partnerships across vital sectors of their growing bilateral relationship with the 2025 Maitri Grants, Fellowships and Scholarships, recipients of which were announced by Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, according to a press statement issued by Australia's High Commission in New Delhi on Sunday. Administered by the Centre for Australia-India Relations, the Maitri Grants encourage innovative projects and partnerships that reflect the dynamism of the Australia-India bilateral relationship, fostering long-term connections. According to the statement, the recipients of the 2025 Maitri Grants would support connections and research across a wide range of sectors including innovation, enterprise, education, and culture. Welcoming the announcement, Australia's High Commissioner to India, Philip Green, said, 'Australia's relationship with India is stronger, deeper and more consequential than ever – and its future holds even greater promise. At the heart of this relationship are the people-to-people connections that bind our two nations. The Maitri Grants program builds on these ties, helping unlock the full potential of our bilateral relationship.' One of the key initiatives in this year's Maitri Grants includes funding for the prestigious Lowy Institute to recruit a distinguished scholar as the inaugural India chair. The Lowy Institute is rated among Asia's leading think tanks, providing high-quality research and distinctive perspectives on international trends shaping Australia and the world. The appointment of an India chair will be a step change for Lowy's ability to produce world- class research on India's emerging role in the Indo-Pacific and dynamics in the Indian Ocean region. 'This is a rare opportunity to lead and shape a new program of work at the Lowy Institute – a top Asian think tank,' said High Commissioner Green, adding, 'India and Australia are building a closer partnership, and that makes it more important that we know each other better. An India Chair at the Lowy Institute will contribute to Australians' understanding of India at a deep level. We are very different societies, and research, scholarship and analysis will allow us to maximise the opportunity of our shared interests.' Lowy Institute's Director of Research, Hervé Lemahieu, said in the statement, 'In this era of global uncertainty, geography remains one of the few constants — and India is an anchor for strategic balance for Australia and the broader Indo-Pacific region. Understanding India, its trajectory, power, and diffuse interests, has never been more important to us.' 'Australia's public and policy debates are playing catch-up on the rapid evolution of the bilateral partnership. But think tanks also need to do a better job of situating India within a broader regional and international context. The country will be a central player through the chop and change we're experiencing in global politics,' he said. 'This world-class program of research at the Lowy Institute will do just that. It will elevate India in terms of our research agenda. It's an opportunity to bring in new talent, fresh perspectives, and deepen the bench on a vital piece of the puzzle in terms of how Australia looks at and engages the region,' he added. Other projects to be funded by the Maitri grants include a world-class exhibition featuring rare artworks by renowned Indian painter Raja Ravi Varma in Australia; a project to deliver annual leadership dialogues fostering next-generation of leaders committed to the Australia-India relationship; examining how Australia and India can enhance maritime security in the Western Indian Ocean; innovative research across fields such as clean energy solutions and biomanufacturing; and elevating the stories of Australians of Indian origin. 'I congratulate this year's recipients and look forward to seeing how their work helps foster deeper links between Australia and India,' added High Commissioner Green.
United News of India
13-07-2025
- Business
- United News of India
Australian FM Penny Wong announces 34 recipients of this year's Maitri Grants
Melbourne/New Delhi, July 13 (UNI) Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong today announced the 34 recipients of this year's Maitri Grants, Fellowships and Scholarships, aimed at promoting Australia-India ties. She said the Maitri (meaning friendship) Grants, administered by the Centre for Australia-India Relations, aims to support greater exchange and collaboration with India across technology, business, education and culture. Wong said: 'Each project will cultivate deeper connections between our two countries, including: •The Lowy Institute's first-ever India Chair, which will lift the quality of research and conversations around India's role as a major power in the Indo-Pacific region. •Best-practice playbooks by Asialink Business to support collaboration, capability training and the sharing of successful partnership models in cleantech and agtech. •A world-class exhibition featuring rare artworks by renowned Indian painter Raja Ravi Varma at Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art. •An incubator of untold narratives from Australia's South Asian diasporas that will showcase Australian-Indian experience to global screen audiences, led by Bodhi Studios. 'The 2024-2025 Maitri Grants also includes 13 Maitri scholarships supporting innovative research across fields such as quantum computing technologies and clean energy solutions and three Maitri fellowships dedicated to exploring opportunities between Australia and India in biomanufacturing, maritime cooperation and digital governance. 'Australia and India's relationship is closer and more important than ever. We are deepening cooperation across priority sectors that are vital to both nations' futures, including in defence, trade, education, and technology.' The full list of Maitri Grants recipients is available at: General: Scholars: Fellows: UNI RN
Indian Express
10-06-2025
- Sport
- Indian Express
‘You expect India to be here, but same could be said of South Africa too': Pat Cummins on WTC final
Australia captain Pat Cummins has said he expected India to be in the World Test Championship final while brushing aside any notion that South Africa had an easy way to the showpiece event set to begin at Lord's from Wednesday. Having already won the 50-over World Cup and a WTC final in succession, Cummins has the opportunity to make history by becoming the first captain to win successive WTC. Defending champions Australia start as firm favourites against South Africa and Cummins when asked if he was surprised about the opponent for the final said, 'In some ways you expect India to be around. England have been quite strong at home and New Zealand always seem to get to finals. But the same case could be made for South Africa in ICC events. We just don't see a lot of them in Test cricket but it's nice and different to an Australia-India final.' Soon after South Africa qualified for the final, former England captain Michael Vaughan ridiculed their road to Lord's saying they beat a team of nobodies pointing to the fact that they didn't play Australia and England in the current WTC cycle. But Cummins chose to keep aside all of it. 'You can only beat who you come up against. Our route to the final was pretty tough but I don't blame South Africa for having a different route,' Cummins said. Coming into the final, there is a bit of unknown about how these two teams which enjoy a storied rivalry would face-off at Lord's and Cummins said he expects nothing less from South Africa. 'It's hard to say because there are so many unknowns. We haven't played them much [with their last Test series ending in an easy Australian victory at home in 2022-23] but you've got to be really well balanced to make the final. Their bowling has always stood out and it's no different now. [Keshav] Maharaj is a really solid spinner and they've always got plenty of quick bowlers who pose a challenge.' A win at Lord's would also be a high point for Australia's attack which includes the famous four of Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon and Cummins. The upcoming Ashes could well turn out to be the last time all four could play and the Lord's final is certainly the first big match all the four will feature in. 'We've got quite a few players who are past their mid-30s and there seems to be a natural attrition rate into the late‑30s. If you'd asked me a year or two ago I would have said: 'It's going to be a huge change. There's a little bit to be worried about.' But we've seen Josh Inglis, Sam Konstas, [Nathan] McSweeney debut throughout [Australia's] summer. [Beau] Webster's come in plus a few others have debuted in white-ball cricket. I don't think the transition will be as jarring as we first thought,' Cummins added.
NDTV
10-06-2025
- Sport
- NDTV
Pat Cummins' Blunt 'India' Remark On WTC Final Against South Africa
Ahead of the much-awaited World Test Championship (WTC) 2025 final against South Africa, Australia skipper Pat Cummins is excited about playing an ICC summit clash against a team other than India. Both India and Australia are undoubtedly one of the best two teams in the world and are also cut-throat rivals. However, Pat Cummins and co spoiled India's dream of reaching the WTC 2025 final after they defeated them in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy earlier this year. However, South Africa came in a surprise package and secured the finale berth. The WTC 2025 final will begin from June 11 at Lord's, London and there's no doubt that Australia will be entering the ground as the favourites. However, Cummins is not ready to take the Proteas lightly. "In some ways you expect India to be around. England have been quite strong at home and New Zealand always seem to get to finals. But the same case could be made for South Africa in ICC events," Cummins told the Guardian. "We just don't see a lot of them in Test cricket but it's nice and different to an Australia-India final," he added. The Australia skipper credited South Africa and even mentioned spinner Keshav Maharaj, who can pose a big challenge in front of them. "It's hard to say because there are so many unknowns. We haven't played them much but you've got to be really well balanced to make the final," said Cummins. "Their bowling has always stood out and it's no different now. Keshav Maharaj is a really solid spinner and they've always got plenty of quick bowlers who pose a challenge," he added. Earlier, Keshav Maharaj stated that he is determined to follow in the famous footsteps of Graeme Smith and his world number one team of yesteryears at the World Test Championship final. "I remember watching that when they lifted the mace," he said. "We know that apart from doing it for us, we want to honour the legends of the past and hopefully we will one day be seen in the same calibre and light to win such a coveted title and hold the Test mace," he added.
India Today
10-06-2025
- Sport
- India Today
Pat Cummins missing India in the WTC final: You always expect them to be around
Australia captain Pat Cummins said that it's finally nice to see something other than an India vs Australia final ahead of the summit clash of the World Test Championship (WTC). Australia and South Africa are set to lock horns in the WTC final on June 11 at Lord' the first time, India won't be a part of the blockbuster clash as they failed to seal a berth in the final, finishing third on the points table, having earned 50% of the points. Recently, ahead of the final, Cummins said that India have regularly appeared in the finals in the past few years, but it was nice to see some other team apart from some ways you expect India to be around. England have been quite strong at home and New Zealand always seem to get to finals. But the same case could be made for South Africa in ICC events. We just don't see a lot of them in Test cricket but it's nice and different to an Australia-India final,' Cummins told the Guardian. Cummins led Australia to World Test Championship crown in 2023, beating India in the final by 209 runs. He also led Australia to 2023 ODI World Cup triumph, beating India in the final by six Australia skipper will have his eyes set on defending their crown in the upcoming WTC final to maintain his clean record in ICC tournament Cummins also shared his views on South Africa's criticism of having a seemingly easier route to the WTC final saying that they can only beat the teams they play can only beat who you come up against. Our route to the final was pretty tough but I don't blame South Africa for having a different route. Their bowling has always stood out and it's no different now. Keshav Maharaj is a really solid spinner and they've always got plenty of quick bowlers who pose a challenge,' he Africa faced India, New Zealand (away), West Indies (away), Bangladesh (away), Sri Lanka and Pakistan in the current WTC cycle and finished on top with a points percentage of 69.44%. On the other hand, Australia faced England (away), Pakistan, New Zealand(away), India and Sri Lanka (away) on their way to the final.
