Prime Minister Narendra Modi showcased India’s rich cultural heritage, traditional wellness knowledge and regional excellence during the 52nd G7 Summit in Evian, France, by presenting carefully curated gifts to global leaders. The selection included Nagauri Ashwagandha from Rajasthan, Ramban Honey from Jammu and Kashmir, Lakadong Turmeric from Meghalaya and a Banarasi Silk Stole from Varanasi. Each gift highlighted India’s biodiversity, sustainable farming practices, Geographical Indication (GI)-tagged products and centuries-old craftsmanship. The offerings reflected India’s commitment to preserving traditional knowledge while promoting rural livelihoods and global wellness. During the summit, Modi also advocated ethical, human-centric artificial intelligence and stressed stronger cooperation with the Global South to advance inclusive growth, innovation and shared global prosperity. (PC: X)

External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar’s reaction during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s interaction with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni at the G7 Summit has gone viral on social media, drawing widespread attention online. A brief moment captured on camera showed Jaishankar smiling as Modi and Meloni exchanged greetings and engaged in conversation on the sidelines of the summit. The clip quickly gained traction across social media platforms, with users sharing memes, humorous interpretations and comments about the minister’s expression. While the interaction itself was part of routine diplomatic engagements at the G7 gathering, the viral video became a talking point online, highlighting how even small moments between global leaders can capture public attention and spark widespread discussion.

Indian construction worker Vipin Kumar has been awarded honorary Romanian citizenship after rescuing a five-year-old girl who fell through ice at Nicolae Romanescu Park in Craiova in January. Kumar, who had moved from India for construction work, was walking with a friend when he saw the child plunge into a frozen lake after the ice cracked beneath her. Without waiting for emergency services, he jumped into the freezing water and kept the girl afloat for nearly 30 minutes until rescue teams arrived. Doctors said his swift action prevented a fatal outcome. The rescue drew nationwide admiration, with Romanian officials praising Kumar’s courage, selflessness and humanity beyond borders.

Two Indian airports have been featured in a global list of the world’s most beautiful airports, highlighting India’s growing excellence in aviation infrastructure and design. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport and Kempegowda International Airport earned recognition for their modern architecture, passenger-friendly facilities, and integration of cultural and natural design elements. The Mumbai airport is praised for its artistic interiors and heritage-inspired aesthetics, while the Bengaluru airport stands out for its green design, spacious terminals, and sustainability-focused construction. The recognition reflects India’s rapid transformation in airport infrastructure, improved global standards, and increasing focus on combining functionality with visual appeal. It also highlights the country’s rising presence in global aviation rankings and passenger experience quality. (PC: X)

French President Emmanuel Macron bid farewell to Prime Minister Narendra Modi using a Hindi greeting, “Priye Mitr” (dear friend), during Modi’s visit to France, highlighting the warmth in India–France relations. The gesture came at the end of high-level talks focused on defence cooperation, trade expansion, climate action, and global security challenges. Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening strategic partnerships and increasing collaboration in technology and space sectors. The use of Hindi by Macron was widely seen as a diplomatic gesture symbolizing personal rapport and deepening cultural ties between the two nations amid evolving global geopolitics.

Reports about Elon Musk’s alleged $60 billion acquisition of AI coding platform Cursor have gone viral, with attention focused on its founders, including Aman with Indian roots and Asif from Pakistan. According to unverified claims circulating online, the deal could make each founder eligible for nearly $27 billion in payouts, depending on equity structure and final terms. The development has sparked widespread discussion across tech and startup communities about AI valuation bubbles and massive wealth creation in the sector. However, official confirmation of the acquisition details and payout structure remains limited, and experts urge caution until verified statements are released. (PC: India Today)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump have instructed officials from both countries to fast-track negotiations for a balanced and commercially meaningful bilateral trade agreement. The decision came during their meeting on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in France, where both leaders reviewed progress on an interim trade pact and reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership. The talks also covered cooperation in defence, technology, energy and trade. US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer is expected to visit India next week to push negotiations forward. (PC: HT)

India is poised to become the next major driver of global steel demand, according to Lakshmi Mittal. Speaking ahead of the 20th anniversary of ArcelorMittal, Mittal said large-scale infrastructure expansion, rapid urbanisation and energy-transition investments could position India in a role similar to China’s over the past two decades. Reflecting on the 2006 merger of Mittal Steel and Arcelor, he said greater scale and diversification helped the company withstand major disruptions, including the global financial crisis and the Covid pandemic. Despite regulatory, environmental and market challenges, Mittal remains optimistic about steel’s future, citing strong long-term demand fundamentals worldwide. (PC: X)

US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian have digitally signed a 14-point memorandum of understanding aimed at ending hostilities, reopening the Strait of Hormuz and launching broader negotiations on sanctions and Iran’s nuclear programme. The agreement took effect immediately and includes a ceasefire framework, phased sanctions relief, release of frozen Iranian assets, renewed oil exports and a 60-day timeline for negotiating a comprehensive settlement. Iran reaffirmed that it would not develop nuclear weapons, while discussions on enriched uranium stockpiles will continue under international supervision. The deal also includes economic assistance and measures to ensure maritime security in the strategic waterway.

India has delivered five tonnes of essential medicines to Afghanistan as part of its ongoing humanitarian assistance programme, reaffirming its commitment to the welfare of the Afghan people. The aid was sent to Kabul and includes critical medical supplies intended to support the country’s healthcare sector. The Ministry of External Affairs stated that India remains focused on strengthening Afghanistan’s health infrastructure through medicines, medical equipment and specialised healthcare support. Earlier, India also provided diagnostic and treatment equipment, including neonatal and pediatric care devices, ventilators, patient monitors and specialised medical kits. The assistance aligns with India’s broader efforts to promote peace, stability, development and capacity-building initiatives in Afghanistan.