Deputy Defence Minister Nguyen Chi Vinh (R) and Stephen Moore, Assistant Secretary Global Interests at the Australian Department of Defence (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – The 12th Vietnam – Australia defence cooperation consultation, which will cover a wide range of issues, is expected to boost ties between the two defence ministries, said Deputy Defence Minister Nguyen Chi Vinh. The Deputy Minister made his comment at a reception in Hanoi on August 14 for the Australian delegation to the consultation, led by Stephen Moore, Assistant Secretary Global Interests at the Australian Department of Defence. Vinh said the consultation will also help the two sides optimise the role of their consultation and dialogue mechanisms at different levels, first of all the diplomatic-defence strategic dialogue and defence policy dialogue to be held in October this year. The official noted that the Vietnam Ministry of Defence considers Australia a key partner, which has supported the … [Read more...] about Vietnam-Australia defence consultation expected to boost cooperation
Australia
Spotify For Free? Music Streaming Service Launches Free Ad-Skipping In Australia
Aug 14, 3:56 AM EDT Newsletter Signup BusinessTechnologyWorldNationalMedia & CultureOpinionSportsLuxury Technology By Alex Perry 08/13/18 AT 4:47 PM Music streaming service Spotify (SPOT) has long offered two basic tiers for its users. Anyone can download and listen to music for free on Spotify, but they have to hear frequent ads between songs. Paid users, on the other hand, get an ad-free experience with the added freedom to skip to the next song on a playlist with no limits.However, free Spotify users might get a previously unheard of new feature: The ability to skip ads altogether. The streaming service launched a new feature called “Active Media” that is currently exclusive to the Australian market. Australian Spotify users in the free tier can now skip audio and video ads to their hearts’ content, according to Spotify’s branding website.For users, this is obviously quite beneficial for the listening experience. A user enjoying some music will no … [Read more...] about Spotify For Free? Music Streaming Service Launches Free Ad-Skipping In Australia
Australia’s Smith, Warner set to make Sydney club return in September
(Reuters) - Banned Australian batsmen Steve Smith and David Warner are expected to return to Sydney first-grade cricket for their respective clubs' opening fixtures on Sept. 22. Smith plays for Sutherland, who host Mosman in their first Premier Cricket fixture, while Warner represents Randwick-Petersham, who will face St. George, according to a report on Cricket Australia's website (www.cricket.com.au). An enticing showdown between former Australia captain Smith and vice-captain Warner could take place on Nov. 10, when Sutherland and Randwick-Petersham face off in a one-day match at an undecided venue. The duo, along with opener Cameron Bancroft, were handed lengthy bans by Cricket Australia (CA) following a ball-tampering scandal during the South Africa test series in March. Following the ban, the trio have played in various domestic competitions, with Smith scoring 41 on his debut for the Barbados Tridents in the Twenty20 Caribbean Premier League (CPL) competition last Sunday. The … [Read more...] about Australia’s Smith, Warner set to make Sydney club return in September
Bazaar Indonesia promotes Indonesia-Australia relations
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The 2018 Bazaar Indonesia event, which has been held by the Indonesian Consulate General in Sydney, Australia, has promoted bilateral relationship between Indonesia and Australia, which is now in the process of being elevated from a strategic partnership to a comprehensive partnership. "Indonesia and Australia are currently in the process of enhancing relationship from Strategic Partners to Comprehensive Partners," the Consul General of the Republic of Indonesia in Sydney, Heru Subolo, said in a statement via a short message service received by Antara here on Monday. Subolo expressed his gratitude to the Consulate General in Sydney and all Indonesian community in Sydney and surrounding areas for the implementation of the 2018 Indonesian Bazaar in commemorating the 73rd Indonesian Independence Day, which falls on Aug 17. "As Indonesians living in Sydney, we should be able to contribute to this comprehensive partnership in accordance with our respective capacity by … [Read more...] about Bazaar Indonesia promotes Indonesia-Australia relations
Australia’s prime minister to face internal dissent as parliament resumes
By Colin Packham SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia's Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull will this week be forced to confront internal divisions as the government convenes for the first time since it suffered a series of electoral defeats that threatens its prospect for re-election. Turnbull will front a meeting of the centre-right coalition on Tuesday as parliament resumes after a six-week recess, a conference that comes amid renewed pressure on the prime minister. "The jitters will be creeping into the party room. There is the doubt that when polled, Australians don't really believe he is the man for the job," said Haydon Manning, a political science professor at Flinders University in the state of South Australia. Turnbull has been under sustained pressure amid a slump in opinion polls, stoking speculation of a leadership change in a country that has seen five different prime ministers since 2010. Australia's conservative government late last month failed to win any of the five by-elections … [Read more...] about Australia’s prime minister to face internal dissent as parliament resumes