Page 321 - Video Gallery

Modi, Sharif shake hands at SAARC retreat even as logjam over pact continues

Kathmandu, Nov 27 (ANI): In a brief meeting, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif shook hands and shared pleasantries during the retreat at the SAARC Summit. During the summit, Modi had two-way talks with most leaders except Nawaz Sharif. India has stated that no conversation would be held with the Pakistani leadership until Pakistan commits to a "meaningful dialogue". Meanwhile, the SAARC leaders are making the last effort at the retreat to push the Pakistani premier to ink the regional connectivity agreements. Pakistan stalled the inking of SAARC connectivity on Wednesday on the pretext that they have not completed the "internal process".

Cricket Australia's chief James Sutherland expresses grief on Phillip Hughes' death

Sydney, Nov 27 (ANI): Cricket Australia's chief executive James Sutherland on Thursday expressed grief on Australian cricketer Phillip Hughes' death. Hughes died in hospital on Thursday, two days after the batsman was struck on the head by a bouncer during a domestic match.

PM will bolster ties and move ahead with south Asian nations: MEA

Kathmandu, Nov 27 (ANI): MEA Spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said that India would enhance its bond with South Asian nations and move together with its neighbours in a bid to boost trade while integrating energy grids and easy access via road and railway links. He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has emphasized that India will move with those who are ready. He added that Prime Minister also held talks with his Bangladesh's counterpart Sheikh Hasina on tackling militancy in the region.

PM Modi meets Presidents of Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and Maldives in Kathmandu

Kathmandu, Nov 26 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday met the President of Afghanistan Ashraf Ghani in Nepal's capital Kathmandu where SAARC summit is going on. During his meeting with Ghani, Modi said India was committed to strengthening relations with the war-torn country. Modi also met the President of Sri Lanka Mahinda Rajapaksa in Kathmandu. According to MEA tweets, Modi thanked Rajapaksa for pardoning and sending back the five Indian fishermen earlier this month who were sentenced to death by a Court in Sri Lanka. Later, Prime Minister Modi also met the President of Maldives, Abdulla Yameen in Kathmandu. Bilateral talks were held between Modi and SAARC leaders on the sidelines of the ongoing 18th SAARC summit.

Militancy a regional and international challenge: Sri Lankan President

Kathmandu, Nov 26 (ANI): Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa said on Wednesday that he is looking forward to a continued engagement of the SAARC nations as militancy still poses a threat, both regional and internationally. Rajapaksa was delivering a speech at the two-day South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) summit in Nepal's capital Kathmandu. He added the south Asian region should work collectively to ensure sanitation, clean water, and human development. The Sri Lankan President also said this year's SAARC summit should discuss global climate change and how to generate alternative methods of energy production. Rajapaksa also called for close coordination of the SAARC countries in electricity sector and empowering youth. He added that south Asian countries are known for its intellectual and cultural heritage. Rajapaksa said he feels inspired to come to Nepal where the birthplace of Lord Buddha is situated. Buddha was born in Shakya, kingdom of Kapilvastu at arou

PM Modi meets PM of Bhutan, Bangladesh in Kathmandu

Kathmandu, Nov 26 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday met the Prime Minister of Bhutan Tshering Tobgay in Nepal's capital Kathmandu. Tobgay and Modi held bilateral talks on the sidelines of the ongoing SAARC summit. Modi also met Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on the sidelines of the ongoing 18th SAARC summit in Nepal. Hasina earlier, while addressing the summit, drew the attention of leaders to fight against the existing abject poverty, food insecurity and drinking water in the region. Prime Minister Modi arrived in Nepal to attend the 18th SAARC summit which involves 8 South-asian nations.

Won't permit anybody to conduct proxy wars on our soil: Afghanistan President at SAARC Summit

Kathmandu, Nov 26 (ANI): Afghanistan' newly elected President Ashraf Ghani on Wednesday said that his country will not permit anybody to conduct proxy wars on their soil. He was addressing the 18th SAARC Summit in Kathmandu, Nepal.

No plan for structured meeting between India and Pak PM at SAARC summit: MEA

Kathmandu, Nov 26 (ANI): MEA Spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said on Wednesday that there is no plan for a structured meeting between the PM Narendra Modi and Prime Minister of Pakistan as no request has been received in the matter. Talking about the issue raised about 26/11 by Modi at SAARC, Akbaruddin said that it was natural for Modi to raise the issue as no one can ever forget what happened and the matter was high on the government's agenda.

Will emerge as developed nation by 2041, says Bangladesh PM at SAARC Summit

Kathmandu, Nov 26 (ANI): Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina while giving speech at the 18th South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) summit in Nepal said with agricultural growth her nation has dealt successfully with hunger and poverty. She also called for better cooperation from SAARC nations.

Pakistan committed to dispute-free Asia, says Sharif at SAARC summit in Nepal

Kathmandu, Nov 26 (ANI): Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday stated that Pakistan is committed to dispute-free Asia, while addressing the SAARC Summit. The SAARC summit started on Wednesday bringing together leaders from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Power integration is high on the agenda for the eight countries. In his address at the 18th SAARC Summit, Sharif began his speech by congratulating the Nepali government for its successful summit. Sharif said the gap between the promise of SAARC and its accomplishments need to be built for the greater good of the people.

Blast kills one, injures five in Pakistan's Karachi

Karachi, Nov 26 (ANI): A motorcycle bomb, apparently targeting police, killed at least one person and injured five others including three women in Pakistan's Karachi city late on Tuesday. Local media, quoting senior police officials, said that a Rapid Response Force truck with fifteen personnel on board was targeted via a remote controlled bomb when it passed by a motorcycle near Korangi Crossing area in the eastern part of the city. Police said that explosive material was planted on the motorcycle. An auto rickshaw was totally gutted after it caught fire following the blast that also smashed glasses of nearby buildings, eye witnesses said. Police immediately moved the rickshaw to police station for investigation. The dead and injured were transported to hospital. No one immediately claimed responsibility for Tuesday's blast.

PM Modi highlights India's relations with SAARC nations

Kathmandu, Nov 26 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the SAARC summit in Nepal's capital Kathmandu on wednesday. Modi highlighted relations between India and other SAARC nations. He said that India and Bangladesh have deepened relations through rail, road and air and similarly with other countries like Maldives, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal. Modi further said that SAARC nations should help each other in fields of health and education. He also said that unity is extremely important among all countries and the strength of unity is tremendous.

PM Modi emphasizes on ease of trade, good neighbourhood among SAARC nations

Kathmandu, Nov 26 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the SAARC summit in Nepal's capital Kathmandu on wednesday. Modi emphasized on the need to ease of trade and maintaining good neighbourhood relations among the SAARC nations. He said that all countries should do their part in giving easy access to business establishments and traders in all cooperative countries to maintain harmonious relations. He also announced business visas to all SAARC members for 3-5 years in India. Modi also announced that SAARC satellite shall be launched on SAARC day in 2016.

More than a thousand march in the US capital to protest Ferguson's grand jury decision

Washington, Nov 26 (ANI): More than a thousand demonstrators marched in the U.S. capital to protest the decision by a grand jury in Ferguson, Missouri not to indict the white police officer who shot and killed an unarmed black teenager. Protesters held signs saying "No justice, no peace" and chanted "Hands up, don't shoot" as they walked several blocks in the cold temperatures through downtown Washington D.C on Tuesday. Terrance Laney, from the Black Youth Project 100 said the African American community must assume responsibility for this recurring problem. The killing in Ferguson, a predominantly black city with a white-dominated power structure, underscores the occasionally tense nature of U.S. race relations and sometimes strained ties between African-American communities and the police.

MEA says India's emphasis will be on meaningful dialogue with Pakistan

Kathmandu, Nov 26 (ANI): India's Foreign Ministry has said that New Delhi's emphasis would be on conducting a meaningful dialogue with Islamabad at the 18th SAARC Summit in Nepal. Addressing a news conference, India's Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, Syed Akbaruddin replying to a query on dialogue between India and Pakistan said that New Delhi had always welcomed a meaningful dialogue with the nuclear-armed neighbour.

Islamabad continues to deprive people of Gilgit Baltistan

Gilgit Baltistan, November 25, 2014: Increased exploitation and corruption are fuelling a sense of denial and deprivation among the residents of Gilgit Baltistan. In the absence of basic rights, people here are up against the oppressive Pakistani regime...

Japan helps to accelerate economic activity in ASEAN

Myanmar/ Malaysia, Nov 25 (ANI): Myanmar has become a new investment destination. The rapid economic growth and rise in per capita income in the country has generated a demand for payments through credit cards. In order to construct a cashless electronic retail payment environment, Myanmar Payment Union (MPU) was established by the Central Bank of Myanmar with 17 local banks to promote the acceptance and issuance of payment cards in the country. MPU started the first ATM card payment system interconnecting through the local banks, with issuing the MPU Debit card in 2012. JCB, a major global payment brand based in Japan, has partnered with MPU and promotes the development of payment infrastructure at a rapid pace. However, the challenges still remain in social infrastructures such as stable electricity and tele-communication.

PM Modi flags off Kathmandu-Delhi bus service in Nepal, Gadkari in Delhi

Kathmandu/ New Delhi, Nov 25 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is on SAARC Summit visit to Nepal, flagged off bus service between New Delhi and Kathmandu in Nepal's capital Kathmandu on Tuesday. Modi, accompanied by Nepalese Prime Minister Sushil Koirala, also took a round inside the decorated bus and interacted with the passengers. Meanwhile, Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari also flagged off the DTC Delhi-Kathmandu bus service at Ambedkar stadium bus terminal in New Delhi and congratulated the people on its inauguration. The Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) will run a luxury Volvo bus on the Delhi-Kathmandu bus route and the bus will complete its journey via Agra, Lucknow and Gorakhpur in 30 hours. Meanwhile, enhancing the defence ties between India and Nepal, PM Modi also handed over a 14-seater ALH Dhruv Mark 3 chopper to Nepal Army earlier in the day. The Indian Army and the Nepal Army have been enjoying very friendly relations for long.

PM Narendra Modi inaugurates trauma centre in Kathmandu

Kathmandu, Nov 25 (ANI): Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday inaugurated a trauma centre in Kathmandu. Modi said that India would fully cooperate with Nepal so that it could operate the centre with full expertise. Modi arrived in Nepal to attend the 18th SAARC summit.

Residents of Nepal enthusiastic about Indian PM Narendra Modi's visit to the country

Kathmandu, Nov 25 (ANI): Residents of Nepal are enthusiastic about Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the country for 18th South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) summit as Modi is scheduled to arrive in capital Kathmandu later in the day on Tuesday. Leaders from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, the Maldives, Sri Lanka, Nepal, India and Pakistan meet in Kathmandu for two days for the plenary session from November 26 for the SAARC summit. The last minute preparations for the summit are in full swing in Nepal as the authorities have heightened the security for the two-day event where leaders from eight nations will meet and discuss the core issues of importance. Meanwhile, the youth of Nepal is also hoping for stronger ties between the two nations and is busy with cultural activities for the grand welcome.