News brief: Big stories of the day

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced doubling of India's contribution to the Commonwealth fund for technical cooperation and stressed the need to focus on providing developmental assistance to small island states, the External Affairs Ministry said today.

Time magazine on Thursday, April 19, revealed it’s annual “100 Most Influential People” list for 2018 celebrating leaders in entertainment, politics, sports, technology, activism and more.

Iran warned the United States on Thursday of "unpleasant" consequences if Washington pulls out of a multinational nuclear deal, Iranian state TV reported.

Cuba's new president, Miguel Diaz-Canel, began his term on Thursday with a promise to defend the socialist revolution led by the Castro brothers since 1959, giving a sober speech that also emphasized the need to modernize the island's economy.

South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa has cut short his visit to Britain by a day to return home to deal with protests in the country's North West province, his office said on Thursday.