Prime Minister Narendra Modi&nbsp;announced doubling of <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/pm-modi-not-to-meet-pak-pm-abbasi-at-chogm-external-affairs-ministry-131492">India's contribution to the Commonwealth </a>fund for technical cooperation and stressed the need to focus on providing developmental assistance to small island states, the External Affairs Ministry said today.

The prime minister, during his interventions at the executive session of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) here, also highlighted the need for capacity building of small states and small island developing states that are part of the Commonwealth.

India is going to help these small island states and coastal states in capacity building through training programmes at the National Institute Of Oceanography in Goa, Ruchi Ghanashyam, Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs, told reporters during a briefing here.

The main issues discussed at today's session were strengthening democracy and the rule of law, the state of the international trading system, achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and climate action, and security issues faced by the Commonwealth countries.

In his interventions, the prime minister highlighted a number of important issues, including the need for working together for achieving SDGs and cooperation on climate action, Ghanashyam said.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/photos/pics:-modi-meets-neighbours,-friends-at-chogm--131480#photo-131477">In Pics: PM Modi meets a friendly&nbsp;</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/photos/pics:-modi-meets-neighbours,-friends-at-chogm--131480#photo-131477">neighbour</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/photos/pics:-modi-meets-neighbours,-friends-at-chogm--131480#photo-131477">, friends at CHOGM</a>

The main announcements made by the prime minister at the summit included doubling India's contribution to the Commonwealth fund for technical cooperation, she said without giving any figures of India's current contribution.

The Prime Minister also said India would also take part in small projects for assisting Commonwealth countries through its permanent mission in New York.

"We are also doubling our contribution to the Commonwealth offices of small states in New York and Geneva which would help them enhance their capacity in dealing with multilateral issues," Ghanashyam said.

The prime minister also announced that with the help of the BCCI, India would organise cricket training for 30 young boys and 30 young girls under the age of 16.

"The cross-cutting issues within the Commonwealth are around youth and gender. In that context, cricket being a unique game much played within the Commonwealth, with the help of BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) we offered 30 boys and 30 girls the chance to come to India, train in our world-class facilities and help lay the network for the future generation of the Commonwealth," the MEA said.

The thrust of the prime minister's interventions was on providing tailor-made assistance to small states and small island developing states, said Rudrendra Tandon, Joint Secretary, MEA.

"The overall objective of the Prime Minister's participation at this CHOGM in 2018 signals our stepped up engagement with the Commonwealth. It conveys India's desire to see the Commonwealth increase its focus on developing country priorities," the MEA said.

The main issues discussed at today's session were strengthening democracy and the rule of law

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. The prime minister, during his interventions at the executive session of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) here, also highlighted the need for capacity building of small states and small island developing states that are part of the Commonwealth. India is going to help these small island states and coastal states in capacity building through training programmes at the National Institute Of Oceanography in Goa, Ruchi Ghanashyam, Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs, told reporters during a briefing here. The main issues discussed at today's session were strengthening democracy and the rule of law, the state of the international trading system, achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and climate action, and security issues faced by the Commonwealth countries. In his interventions, the prime minister highlighted a number of important issues, including the need for working together for achieving SDGs and cooperation on climate action, Ghanashyam said. In Pics: PM Modi meets a friendly neighbour, friends at CHOGM The main announcements made by the prime minister at the summit included doubling India's contribution to the Commonwealth fund for technical cooperation, she said without giving any figures of India's current contribution. The Prime Minister also said India would also take part in small projects for assisting Commonwealth countries through its permanent mission in New York. "We are also doubling our contribution to the Commonwealth offices of small states in New York and Geneva which would help them enhance their capacity in dealing with multilateral issues," Ghanashyam said. The prime minister also announced that with the help of the BCCI, India would organise cricket training for 30 young boys and 30 young girls under the age of 16. "The cross-cutting issues within the Commonwealth are around youth and gender. In that context, cricket being a unique game much played within the Commonwealth, with the help of BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) we offered 30 boys and 30 girls the chance to come to India, train in our world-class facilities and help lay the network for the future generation of the Commonwealth," the MEA said. The thrust of the prime minister's interventions was on providing tailor-made assistance to small states and small island developing states, said Rudrendra Tandon, Joint Secretary, MEA. "The overall objective of the Prime Minister's participation at this CHOGM in 2018 signals our stepped up engagement with the Commonwealth. It conveys India's desire to see the Commonwealth increase its focus on developing country priorities," the MEA said.

PM Narendra Modi at Commonwealth bats for developmental assistance to small states

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the 2018 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting on Thursday at the Buckingham Palace.

Prime Minister Modi will begin his day by visiting the International Media Centre at Marlborough House.

The Commonwealth Summit will be formally opened by Queen Elizabeth at 10 am&nbsp;(local time) followed by an official welcome of the leaders of 53 Commonwealth nations by United Kingdom Prime Minister Theresa May and Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland.

The first one-hour Executive Session will be held at the Lancaster House at 12:15 pm&nbsp;(Local time) followed by the second executive session at 2:30 pm&nbsp;(local time).

On the sidelines of the Executive sessions, various bilateral meetings will also be held among the Commonwealth leaders.

Solomon Islands Prime Minister Rick Houenipwela, The prime minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Gaston Browne, and Saint Lucia Prime Minister Honourable Allen Chastanet are scheduled to hold a meeting.

Further President of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa and President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda will conduct a bilateral meeting.

Later President Adama Barrow of the Gambia, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull of Australia, Prime Minister Keith Rowley of Trinidad and Tobago, Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth of Mauritius, Prime Minister Danny Faure of Seychelles and Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will have a meeting in the evening.

Further, in the evening Queen Elizabeth will host a dinner reception for all the Commonwealth leaders.

 
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The Commonwealth Summit will be formally opened by Queen Elizabeth at 10 am (local time)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the 2018 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting on Thursday at the Buckingham Palace. Prime Minister Modi will begin his day by visiting the International Media Centre at Marlborough House. The Commonwealth Summit will be formally opened by Queen Elizabeth at 10 am (local time) followed by an official welcome of the leaders of 53 Commonwealth nations by United Kingdom Prime Minister Theresa May and Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland. The first one-hour Executive Session will be held at the Lancaster House at 12:15 pm (Local time) followed by the second executive session at 2:30 pm (local time). On the sidelines of the Executive sessions, various bilateral meetings will also be held among the Commonwealth leaders. Solomon Islands Prime Minister Rick Houenipwela, The prime minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Gaston Browne, and Saint Lucia Prime Minister Honourable Allen Chastanet are scheduled to hold a meeting. Further President of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa and President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda will conduct a bilateral meeting. Later President Adama Barrow of the Gambia, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull of Australia, Prime Minister Keith Rowley of Trinidad and Tobago, Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth of Mauritius, Prime Minister Danny Faure of Seychelles and Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will have a meeting in the evening. Further, in the evening Queen Elizabeth will host a dinner reception for all the Commonwealth leaders.

PM Modi to attend 2018 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in London today

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/rape-is-rape-shameful-to-politicise-such-issues-pm-modi-at-london-event-131286">Rape is rape, don't politicise such issues: PM Narendra Modi at London event</a>

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said that it is shameful to play politics over the issues related to rapes and sexual assaults in the country.

Prime Minister Modi's remarks come in the backdrop of a nationwide outrage over the rape cases in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua and Uttar Pradesh's Unnao.

Addressing a gathering at the event 'Bharat Ki Baat, Sabke Saath' in London, Prime Minister Modi said, "A rape is a rape. How can we tolerate this exploitation of our daughters?"

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/judge-loya-death-case-sc-likely-to-decide-today-on-independent-probe-131298">Judge Loya death case: SC likely to decide today on </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/judge-loya-death-case-sc-likely-to-decide-today-on-independent-probe-131298">independent</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/judge-loya-death-case-sc-likely-to-decide-today-on-independent-probe-131298"> probe</a>

The Supreme Court is likely to pronounce its verdict on Thursday on a batch of pleas seeking an independent probe into the alleged mysterious death of special CBI judge BH Loya, who was hearing the high-profile Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case.

Loya had allegedly died of cardiac arrest in Nagpur on December 1, 2014 when he had gone to attend the wedding of a colleague's daughter.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud had on March 16 reserved the judgment on the pleas.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-hopes-for-successful-north-korea-summit-but-warns-he-could-walk-away-131290">Trump hopes for successful North Korea summit but warns he could walk away</a>

US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he hoped an unprecedented summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un would be successful after a recent visit to Pyongyang by CIA Director Mike Pompeo, but warned he would call it off if he did not think it would produce results.

Trump told a joint news conference with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe that his campaign of "maximum pressure" on North Korea would continue until Pyongyang gave up its nuclear weapons.

He also said Washington was negotiating for the release of three Americans held by North Korea and there was "a good chance of doing it." He did not answer a reporter's question as to whether that would be a condition for going ahead with the summit.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-tv-channel-returning-to-air-after-negotiations-with-military-sources-131301">Pakistan's Geo TV returning to </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-tv-channel-returning-to-air-after-negotiations-with-military-sources-131301">air</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-tv-channel-returning-to-air-after-negotiations-with-military-sources-131301"> after negotiations with </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-tv-channel-returning-to-air-after-negotiations-with-military-sources-131301">military</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-tv-channel-returning-to-air-after-negotiations-with-military-sources-131301">: Sources</a>

Pakistan's largest TV station has been allowed back on the air at some major cable operators after talks with the military on demands it make changes in political coverage, two officials who work for the channel's media group told Reuters on Wednesday.

After Geo TV, Pakistan's most popular station, was taken off the air across much of the country at the end of March, military representatives pressed the channel to cease favourable coverage of ousted Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and stop any criticism of the Supreme Court and the "establishment", according to the two people, who had knowledge of the negotiations.

The "establishment" is a commonly used euphemism for the military in Pakistan.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/i-want-this-government-to-be-criticised-quotable-quotes-from-pm-modi-in-london--131297">I want this government to be criticised: Quotable quotes from PM Modi in London</a>

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday addressed the 'Bharat ki Baat, Sabke Saath' town hall in London, where he is on a state-visit to attend the meeting amongst all the heads of Commonwealth Nations.&nbsp;

During the event, PM Modi recalled his journey from being a tea-seller on the railway tracks to heading the world's largest democracy.&nbsp;

*I have never indulged in counting the number of rape incidents in this government and that government. Rape is rape, be it now or earlier. It is extremely sad. Don't politicise rape incidents.

*We always ask our daughters about what they are doing, where they are going. We must ask our sons too. The person who is committing these crimes is also someone's son. He has a mother too in his house.

&nbsp;

 
&nbsp;

Rape is rape, don't politicise such issues: PM Narendra Modi at London event Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said that it is shameful to play politics over the issues related to rapes and sexual assaults in the country. Prime Minister Modi's remarks come in the backdrop of a nationwide outrage over the rape cases in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua and Uttar Pradesh's Unnao. Addressing a gathering at the event 'Bharat Ki Baat, Sabke Saath' in London, Prime Minister Modi said, "A rape is a rape. How can we tolerate this exploitation of our daughters?" Judge Loya death case: SC likely to decide today on independent probe The Supreme Court is likely to pronounce its verdict on Thursday on a batch of pleas seeking an independent probe into the alleged mysterious death of special CBI judge BH Loya, who was hearing the high-profile Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case. Loya had allegedly died of cardiac arrest in Nagpur on December 1, 2014 when he had gone to attend the wedding of a colleague's daughter. A bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud had on March 16 reserved the judgment on the pleas. Trump hopes for successful North Korea summit but warns he could walk away US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he hoped an unprecedented summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un would be successful after a recent visit to Pyongyang by CIA Director Mike Pompeo, but warned he would call it off if he did not think it would produce results. Trump told a joint news conference with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe that his campaign of "maximum pressure" on North Korea would continue until Pyongyang gave up its nuclear weapons. He also said Washington was negotiating for the release of three Americans held by North Korea and there was "a good chance of doing it." He did not answer a reporter's question as to whether that would be a condition for going ahead with the summit. Pakistan's Geo TV returning to air after negotiations with military: Sources Pakistan's largest TV station has been allowed back on the air at some major cable operators after talks with the military on demands it make changes in political coverage, two officials who work for the channel's media group told Reuters on Wednesday. After Geo TV, Pakistan's most popular station, was taken off the air across much of the country at the end of March, military representatives pressed the channel to cease favourable coverage of ousted Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and stop any criticism of the Supreme Court and the "establishment", according to the two people, who had knowledge of the negotiations. The "establishment" is a commonly used euphemism for the military in Pakistan. I want this government to be criticised: Quotable quotes from PM Modi in London Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday addressed the 'Bharat ki Baat, Sabke Saath' town hall in London, where he is on a state-visit to attend the meeting amongst all the heads of Commonwealth Nations. During the event, PM Modi recalled his journey from being a tea-seller on the railway tracks to heading the world's largest democracy. *I have never indulged in counting the number of rape incidents in this government and that government. Rape is rape, be it now or earlier. It is extremely sad. Don't politicise rape incidents. *We always ask our daughters about what they are doing, where they are going. We must ask our sons too. The person who is committing these crimes is also someone's son. He has a mother too in his house.

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PM Narendra Modi at Commonwealth bats for developmental assistance to small states

PM Modi to attend 2018 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in London today

News brief: Big stories of the day