Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared a light-hearted moment with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni during his visit to Rome by gifting her a packet of Parle’s popular Melody toffee. Meloni posted a video of the exchange on social media, where she smiled while showing the candy and called it a “very, very good toffee”. Modi then jokingly replied, “Melody”, triggering laughter and instantly reviving the viral “Melodi” meme online. The hashtag has long been used by internet users to describe the warm and friendly chemistry between the two leaders, and the latest moment quickly drew reactions across social media.

India will host the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi on September 12 and 13, with Russian President Vladimir Putin confirmed to attend and Chinese President Xi Jinping likely to participate. Xi’s visit, if confirmed, will be his first trip to India since 2019 following years of strained ties after the Galwan Valley clashes and border tensions. India, which assumed the BRICS presidency in January 2026, will host leaders from the expanded 11-member bloc under the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability”. The summit is expected to focus on economic cooperation, global governance reforms and trade. (PC: India Today)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump may meet during the G7 Summit in France next month, with a possible pull-aside interaction expected to attract global attention amid ongoing India-US trade tensions. French President Emmanuel Macron has invited Modi to attend the June 15-17 summit in Evian-les-Bains as a special invitee. The potential meeting would mark the first in-person interaction between Modi and Trump since their White House talks in February 2025, where both leaders pledged to expand bilateral trade to $500 billion by 2030. Observers are expected to closely watch any discussions on trade, strategic cooperation and geopolitical developments. (PC: India Today)

Norwegian newspaper Aftenposten faced widespread criticism after publishing a cartoon depicting Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a snake charmer during his Norway visit. The illustration, accompanying an opinion article, showed Modi holding a snake-like fuel pipe and triggered accusations of racism, xenophobia and colonial stereotyping online. Critics argued the imagery revived outdated portrayals of India associated with “snake charmers” and undermined the country’s global image. The controversy emerged alongside another diplomatic row involving Norwegian journalist Helle Lyng and Indian diplomat Sibi George during media interactions in Norway. The debate has further intensified discussions surrounding media portrayal, cultural sensitivity and India-Norway relations.

Norwegian journalist Helle Lyng said her Instagram and Facebook accounts were suspended following the controversy surrounding her viral interaction during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Norway visit. Lyng described the suspension as a “small price to pay for press freedom” while sharing screenshots and tagging Meta for assistance. The controversy began after Lyng questioned Modi during a joint media appearance with Norway’s prime minister and later challenged Indian officials over human rights and press freedom at an MEA briefing. The episode triggered intense online debate, with supporters defending her journalism and critics accusing her of targeting India. Her social media following reportedly surged dramatically after the incident.  

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni warmly welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Rome during the final leg of his five-nation tour, sharing a candid selfie from the iconic Colosseum on social media. The image quickly went viral, drawing significant online engagement. During his Italy visit, Modi is scheduled to meet Italian President Sergio Mattarella and Meloni to discuss strengthening bilateral cooperation, including the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) and the Joint Strategic Action Plan 2025-2029. Modi will also visit the headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization, highlighting India’s commitment to multilateralism and global food security initiatives.

Naren Dhar, an Assistant Protocol Officer at the Indian mission in Chattogram, was found dead inside the mission premises early Tuesday morning, according to local police. Dhar, reportedly from Chandigarh, Punjab, was discovered near a bathroom door on the second floor of the old visa centre building. Police initially suspect cardiac arrest, though officials stated that a post-mortem examination would determine the exact cause of death. Authorities have launched an unnatural death case and sent the body for autopsy at Chattogram Medical College Hospital. The Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian High Commission in Dhaka had not officially commented on the incident at the time of reporting. (PC: X)

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin are likely to attend the BRICS summit scheduled in New Delhi on September 12-13, according to sources. Xi’s participation would mark his first visit to India since the 2019 Mamallapuram summit, held months before the India-China border standoff along the Line of Actual Control. Russian officials have reportedly confirmed Putin’s attendance. The summit comes amid gradual stabilisation in India-China relations, including resumed visas, direct flights and Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage arrangements, although troop deployments along the LAC remain high. India is also reportedly seeking broader consensus among BRICS nations regarding ongoing geopolitical divisions over the West Asia conflict. (PC: Getty Images)

India and the Nordic countries launched a Green Technology and Innovation Strategic Partnership at the India-Nordic Summit 2026 in Oslo. Prime Minister Narendra Modi met leaders of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden. The countries agreed to work together on 6G, climate action, digital technology and Arctic research. They also decided to allow up to 100% foreign direct investment by Nordic defence companies in India’s defence corridors. (PC: Reuters)

A cartoon in Norwegian newspaper Aftenposten has sparked controversy during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Norway. The illustration showed Modi as a "snake charmer" with a fuel hose shaped like a snake. Many social media users called the image racist and said it repeated an old stereotype about India. The cartoon surfaced after a separate debate over press freedom, triggered by journalist Helle Lyng asking Modi why he does not take questions from the media.