Narendra Modi next week will become the first Indian prime minister in almost a decade to attend a meeting of the heads of Commonwealth nations. This is the first appearance by an Indian prime minister at a CHOGM in almost a decade and Modi could announce an increased assistance package to help small developing countries within the grouping meet the challenges like climate change and sustainable development, two people familiar with the development said. The international chemical weapons watchdog Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons last week backed the UK’s findings on the identity of the chemical. This is expected to strengthen the UK’s push for a strongly worded reference on Russia in the Commonwealth communiqué—something India would like moderated or preferably deleted. This is due to India’s traditional ties with Russia as well as concerns of a closer friendship between Moscow and New Delhi’s strategic rival Beijing.

Source: Mint April 15, 2018 16:52 UTC