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Celebrations begin before PM Modi's arrival at Allphones Arena

Sydney, Nov 17 (ANI): Celebrations begin at Allphones Arena in Sydney on Monday prior to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address to the Indian diaspora. Dancing and singing was going on outside the stadium and excitement filled the air. Modi arrived in Sydney earlier in the day and was given a warm welcome by artists with a traditional dance performance. Meanwhile, thousands of Indian diaspora members arrived in the city to hear Modi's speech at the Allphones Arena, in a retake of the Madison Square Garden event in New York. A cancer stricken cartoonist, Ramesh Chandra, who longed to meet Modi showed some cartoons he made for him and praised his leadership. Expat Indians expressed their excitement to meet PM Modi. A flash mob also took place outside Allphones Arena in which dancers held Indian flags and danced on patriotic Indian music.

Wealth issue was reworked after PM spoke at G20: MEA

Sydney, Nov 17 (ANI): MEA Spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said on Monday that the G20 communique was reworked and unaccounted wealth issues were incorporated after Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke about it at the G20 summit. Akbaruddin said that PM's international engagements are a part of his multi-layered diplomacy.

Good governance is the starting point to change: PM Modi

Brisbane, Nov 17 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday met businessmen during breakfast hosted by Queensland Premier Campbell Newman in Brisbane. Modi asserted that good governance is the starting point of change and added that reforms launched by his government are aimed at boosting economic growth and improve quality of life.

Sydney awaits Modi's speech at 'Allphones Arena' with full excitement and vigour

Sydney, Nov 17 (ANI): An excited Sydney awaits Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speech at 'Allphones Arena' on Monday after he arrived in the city on the second leg of his four-city tour in Australia. Expat Indians said that Modi has brought a lot of enthusiasm in the youth and has changed how youth looks at politics. An Indian selling 'custom Modi merchandise' said that there is immense excitement among people. He said that he has already sold 700 t-shirts and the first lot of the custom dupattas are sold out and the next lot coming is expected to get sold out soon. Modi arrived in Sydney and later was welcomed by Australian artists who performed a traditional Aboriginal dance in his welcome.

PM Modi meets business leaders at breakfast hosted by Queensland Premier

Brisbane, Nov 17 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday met businessmen during breakfast hosted by Queensland Premier Campbell Newman in Brisbane. While addressing the gathering he thanked the Australian government for playing a good host for the G-20 summit. He highlighted the steps taken to achieve good governance and said the government had eliminated unnecessary laws and regulations, making processes easier and shorter, ensuring that our government is more transparent.

Expat Indians excited to listen to 'Rockstar PM Modi' as they leave for Sydney from Brisbane

Brisbane, Nov 17 (ANI): Expat Indians on Monday expressed excitement as they reached Brisbane airport to leave for Sydney to hear Prime Minister Narendra Modi there. The 'Modi fans' also said that the excitement of meeting the prime minister is hard to fade away anytime soon. They also said that they are going to carry the Indian national flag all along in the plane and dubbed the flight as 'Modi Airlines' for the day. Excited Indians living in Australia reached the airport to board flight to Sydney and said that they can't wait more to listen and to meet their 'Rockstar PM'. Modi will reach Sydney on the second leg of his four-city tour of this country. He will be on a six-hour visit to Sydney before proceeding to Canberra tonight and later to Melbourne. More than 16,000 members of the Indian diaspora will pack Allphones Arena at Olympic Park to salute Modi at a community reception. About 5,000 more are expected to be watching the evening event on big screens outside. Meanwhile, more

German envoy hopes for decision in interest of students in language row

New Delhi, Nov 17 (ANI): German envoy to India, Michael Steiner, hoped for a decision in the interest of students as the Chancellor, Angela Merkel, raised the language row issue in schools with Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, in Brisbane. The Human Resource Development ministry decided to drop the German language in favour of Sanskrit for over 70,000 students across 500 Kendriya Vidyalayas from classes VI to VIII. The issue prompted German chancellor Angela Merkel to raise it with Modi who assured her of looking into it within the confines of the Indian education system.

Australia to help create smart cities in India

Brisbane, Nov 17 (ANI): The Mayor of Brisbane, Lord Graham Quirk, offered to help Modi in the creation of his vision of smart cities in India, with smart water supply, sewage system and other aspects of important living standards. Quirk was speaking after a civic reception hosted by him and the Premier of Queensland, Campbell Newman, in honour of the Prime Minister of India. Quirk also said that the people of Brisbane rest hopes on Modi as he carries great responsibility. Expat Indians say they look forward to tie-ups between India and Australia. Prime Minister is on a three-country visit - Myanmar, Australia and Fiji - to participate in various summits and bilateral meetings.

PM Modi departs for Sydney

Brisbane, Nov 17 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday departed from Brisbane for Sydney. Modi is the first Indian prime minister to visit Australia in 28 years after Rajiv Gandhi. He is expected to draw 16,000 people to his rally later in the day, while 270 people have booked on the "Modi Express" train for fans, which will run from Melbourne to Sydney. Modi is also expected to meet 200 prominent Indian businessmen and entrepreneurs and students in Sydney.

Non violence was an article of faith for Mahatma Gandhi: Modi

Brisbane, Nov 16 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi before unveiling the statue of Mahatma Gandhi at Roma Street Parkland in Brisbane on Sunday said that non violence was an article of faith for Gandhi. Speaking at the function, he said Mahatma Gandhi's teachings relevant in addressing the challenges of global warming and terrorism.

Mahatma Gandhi is as relevant today as he was in his lifetime: Modi

Brisbane, Nov 16 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi before unveiling the statue of Mahatma Gandhi at Roma Street Parkland in Brisbane on Sunday said that Gandhi is as relevant today as he was in his lifetime. Speaking at the function, he said that On October 2 (1869), a person was not born in Porbandar but an era was born. He added that Mahatma Gandhi's teachings relevant in addressing the challenges of global warming and terrorism.

PM Modi unveils Mahatma Gandhi statue in Brisbane

Brisbane, Nov 16 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday unveiled the statue of iconic freedon fighter Mahatma Gandhi in Brisbane Australia. Modi unveiled the statue even as supporters cheered him and shouted slogans at the Brisbane's Roma Street Parkland. Modi also offered flowers and paid his respect to Gandhi. Former honorary Indian consul in Brisbane Parsram Punj also participated in unveiling of the Gandhi statue with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the city. PM Modi is in the Australian city for the 9th G20 summit. The Prime Minister has planned extra events in Brisbane during his four-day visit including the unveiling of the statue, talks with Australian Prime Minister, Tony Abbott, among other events. PM Modi's visit to Australia will hopefully strengthen ties with the near 300,000-strong Indian diaspora in the country, with a friendly tax regime for non-residents and options for dual citizenship on the wish list.

PM most sought after leader of G20: Suresh Prabhu

Brisbane, Nov 16 (ANI): Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu on Sunday while addressing a press conference said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the most sought after leader at the G-20 summit. He added that employment was the central issue of discussion at the summit. He further stated that PM Modi strongly pitched for Black Money at the summit and even indicated a need for Global Centre for renewable energy. MEA Spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said that Brazil and South Africa spoke in favor of PM Modi on the Black Money issue.

PM Modi raises black money issue in G-20 Summit, draws reactions

Brisbane, Nov 16 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi has raised the issue of India's black money abroad. After this, CEO of Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), Ashish Kumar Chauhan said that Modi set a perfect pitch by talking openly about black money with G-20 leaders. Meanwhile, Businessman Zafar Sareshwala said that PM Modi's concern about black money is genuine and he did a perfect thing to raise the issue at G-20 summit.

PM takes people along abroad to increase crowd: Khurshid

Farrukhabad, Nov 16 (ANI): Congress leader Salman Khurshid said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi takes people along with him to increase the crowd. While commenting on PM Modi's public meetings during foreign trips, he said that he had visited Nay Pyi Taw and the streets of Nay Pyi Taw were empty. He added that PM Modi had taken along with him the crowd that was cheering for PM Modi in Nay Pyi Taw.

PM Modi meets Saudi Arabia Crown Prince

Brisbane, Nov 16 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday met the Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud on the sidelines of the G-20 Summit in Brisbane. Raising the issue of black money during the G-20 Summit meeting, PM Modi stated that India supports all initiatives which facilitate automatic exchange of information among nations that ultimately helps in tracing unaccounted money and its eventual repatriation. After attending the Summit in Brisbane, Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to travel to Sydney, where he will attend a community reception and address the Indian Diaspora.

Proud Indians in Australia look forward to Modi's visit

Brisbane, Nov 16 (ANI): The nearly 300,000-strong Indian diaspora in Australia is clearly excited about the visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Modi is on a three-country visit - Myanmar, Australia and Fiji - to participate in various summits and bilateral meetings. Owner of an Indian grocery store in Brisbane, Dinesh Mehta, said that Modi visiting Brisbane was a very proud moment for him (Mehta). Mukhtar Ali, owner of a local Indian restaurant, Grand Taj, expressed happiness at Modi's arrival in the city and said that he would love to meet Modi. Such is the excitement about Modi's visit that a restaurant in Brisbane has been named 'Namo's Indian Food Court' in his honour.

Trial against war criminals will continue, says Bangladesh PM

Dhaka, Nov 16 (ANI): Prime minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, said that in spite of local and international pressure on her, trial against war criminals would continue and the victims would get justice. The Bangladesh Prime Minister said in spite of local and international pressure on her, trials against the war criminals would continue. Hasina blamed the leader of Bangladesh Nationalists Party, Begum Khaleda Zia, for supporting the Jamat-e-Islami and the war criminals.

Modi to unveil Mahatma Gandhi statue in Brisbane

Brisbane, Nov 15 (ANI): Former honorary Indian consul in Brisbane, Parsram Punj said he is honoured to be participating in unveiling of a Mahatma Gandhi statue with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the city. Modi who is in Brisbane for the ninth G20 Summit is expected to unveil a statue of the Mahatma Gandhi in Brisbane's Roma Street Parkland. Punj said Modi had expressed his desire to commemorate Gandhi in the city during his visit to the honorary consul in 2001. He added that the family was the main donor for the statue; his son had even supplied the granite.

Sareshwala lauds PM Modi for raising black money issue ahead of G-20 Summit

Brisbane, Nov 15 (ANI): Indian Businessman in Australia, Zafar Sareshwala on Saturday praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for raising the black money issue at an informal meeting of leaders of the five-nation BRICS bloc. Sareshwala said Prime Minister Modi has a strong power of convincing people and added that the latter sets his own agendas. Sareshwala, who is said to be a strong supporter of Prime Minister Modi, further said the Indian Prime Minister does not lose sight of three things wherever he goes, that is, diplomacy, his set agendas and bringing Indian community together.