Will talk on Global South priorities at G7, take up key issues with leaders: PM Modi
PM Modi and Canadian PM Mark Carney
Prime Minister Narendra Modi kicked off his engagement in Canada with participation in the welcome session of the G7 Outreach Session on Tuesday. Soon after landing in Calgary, he said he would be meeting various leaders at the summit and sharing his thoughts on important global issues.
According to Indian govt sources, he was scheduled to have bilateral meetings with the leaders of Canada, Germany, Ukraine and Italy. "Will also be emphasising the priorities of the Global South,'' said Modi. Modi had a pull aside with Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo in the morning, as the G7 Family Photo event was delayed because of the group's meeting with Nato and Ukraine.
MEA said Modi will be participating in G7 discussions on the future of energy security, including diversification, technology, infrastructure and investment, to ensure access and affordability in a changing world.
On the sidelines, Modi was expected to meet his Canadian counterpart Mark Carney in the evening. The meeting will be closely followed as both leaders explore pathways to end the strife in ties over the Khalistan issue. The engagement with Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky is also significant as this will be their first meeting this year. Modi is expected to urge direct talks between Ukraine and Russia to end the war.
PM Modi also met his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese on the sidelines of the
G7 summit
, and later tweeted, "Good to meet my friend."
From its initial focus on economic issues, G7 has gradually become a forum for consultation to find common ground on major global challenges. Since 2003, non-member countries like India (mostly developing countries of Asia and Africa) have been invited to Outreach Sessions.
Earlier on Monday night, US President Donald Trump abruptly left the G7 summit in Calgary and returned to Washington DC, scuppering among other engagements a bilateral with PM Modi, who arrived for the meeting even as Trump was winding down.
Trump's departure only heightened the drama of a world on the verge of several firestorms - and of a submit now without its most-watched leader. Things were getting awkward even before Trump left. After the famous photo from the G7 in 2018 featured Trump and then-German Chancellor Angela Merkel displaying less-than-friendly body language, this year's edition included a dramatic eye-roll by Italian PM Giorgia Meloni as French Prez Macron whispered something in her ear during a Monday roundtable.
Members of Trump's trade team remained in Canada, including treasury secretary Scott Bessent, US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Kevin Hassett director of the National Economic Council. Bessent sat the table as other world leaders met Tuesday with Zelensky, representing the US at the gathering.
With talks on ending the war in Ukraine at an impasse, Britain, Canada and other G7 members were slapping new tariffs on Russia in a bid to get it to the ceasefire negotiating table. Trump declined to join in the sanctions on Russia, saying he would wait until Europe did so first.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
17 minutes ago
- Time of India
Curfew lifted in LA as Trump battles for control of California troops
Curfew lifted in LA as Trump battles for control of California troops (Image: AP) LOS ANGELES: Calm appeared to be returning to protest-hit Los Angeles on Tuesday as the mayor lifted a night time curfew, while President Donald Trump battled to keep control of California troops he deployed to the city. A fraction of the sprawling US city had been off-limits from 8pm to 6am to most people for a week after instances of looting and vandalism during demonstrations against Trump's immigration raids. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said the curfew had been "largely successful in protecting stores, restaurants, businesses and residential communities from bad actors who do not care about the immigrant community." However, she added that, "as we continue quickly adapting to chaos coming from Washington," she was prepared to reissue a curfew if needed. Bass and other California officials have accused Trump of inflaming tensions by sending 4,000 of the state's National Guard troops -- as well as 700 Marines -- to the second-largest US city. In a show of political muscle, Trump ignored the objections of Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom, who would usually oversee the Guard. A judge said Thursday that the Republican president's actions were "illegal" and ordered that he return control of the force to Newsom. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với mức chênh lệch giá thấp nhất IC Markets Đăng ký Undo But a higher court paused that ruling after the Trump administration lodged an appeal and slammed the judge's order as an "extraordinary intrusion on the President's constitutional authority as Commander in Chief." Extreme measure At an appeals hearing Tuesday, the Justice Department argued that Trump needed to keep control of California's troops to ensure federal immigration officers could carry out arrests without threats from the public. "Unfortunately, local authorities are either unable or unwilling to protect federal personnel and property from the mob violence ongoing in Los Angeles today," said Brett Shumate, representing the Trump administration. California officials have rejected that charge, insisting that Trump's use of the military has escalated demonstrations that Los Angeles that law enforcement could have handled. Samuel Harbourt, representing Newsom and California, pointed out that local authorities in Los Angeles have made around 1,000 arrests during the disorder. "Are we in a world that's so different from normal conditions as to justify an extreme measure like militarizing the situation and bringing in the National Guard?" he said. Harbourt urged the San Francisco court to lift the pause on the original order, meaning Trump would have to concede control of the Guard. "Every day that this order remains in effect it is causing harm for our nation's broader democratic tradition of separation of the military from civilian affairs," he said. That, he added, "sets a precedent for this president, and future presidents, to take similar actions going forward." 'Totally lost control' The fatigue-wearing guardsmen have been tasked with protecting federal property in Los Angeles, stationed outside buildings with helmets and large shields. US law restricts them from arresting citizens, though some guardsmen have fired tear gas and non-lethal rounds towards protesters, according to local media. It is the first time since 1965 that a US president has deployed the National Guard without the express wishes of a state's governor. Trump has been unrepentant, taking credit for making Los Angeles "safe" and declaring that Newsom -- a contender for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2028 -- had "totally lost control." The dispute mirrors multiple other tussles over Trump's attempts to expand the limits of presidential power, but is the first to involve troops. Like other cases, it could go all the way to the Supreme Court, where conservative judges hold a 6-3 majority. Many in Los Angeles are angry about immigration raids carried out as part of Trump's ambition to deport vast numbers of undocumented migrants around the country. Outrage at the use of masked, armed immigration agents has also sparked protests in other cities, including San Francisco, New York, Chicago and San Antonio, Texas.
The Hindu
17 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Maharashtra makes Hindi ‘general' third language in schools
The Maharashtra government has issued a fresh order stating that Hindi will be taught as a third language to students in Marathi and English medium schools in the State from Classes 1 to 5. An amended government order issued on Tuesday (June 17, 2025) said Hindi will "generally" be the third language, instead of being mandatory, but gave an option to opt out if 20 students per grade in a school express the desire to study any Indian language other than Hindi. While some Marathi language advocates accused the government of reintroducing the policy through the "backdoor" after initially backtracking, the opposition Congress accused Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis of "stabbing" the Marathi people in the chest. The Maharashtra School Education Department issued the government resolution (GR) on Tuesday as part of the implementation of the 'State Curriculum Framework for School Education 2024', aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. How move to include Hindi from Class 1 has injected language politics into Maharashtra | EXPLAINED According to the GR, Hindi will "generally" be the third language for students from Classes 1 to 5 in Marathi and English medium schools. "Those who wish to learn any other language as an option to Hindi, should meet the expectation of 20 students from each standard in a school. In such a situation, a teacher for that particular language will be made available or the language will be taught online," the order stated. Marathi will be a compulsory language in all medium schools, the GR said. Contradictory move, say critics Critics claimed the government's latest move contradicts earlier statements of School Education Minister Dada Bhuse that Hindi would not be mandatory for the primary classes. Though the government order provides a conditional option for students to opt for another Indian language instead of Hindi, it stipulates that a minimum of 20 students per school must opt for the alternative. If a such demand arises, either a teacher will be appointed or the language will be taught online, the order added. The directive also mandates that in schools following other mediums of instruction, the three-language formula must include the medium language, Marathi and English. Three-language policy 'on hold' Earlier this year, the State government faced widespread backlash for its proposal to introduce Hindi from Class 1. On April 22, Mr. Bhuse said Hindi would no longer be compulsory in Classes 1 to 5. Last month, the Minister at an event in Pune said, "The decision to introduce Hindi from Class 1 as a third language was taken earlier. However, many parents have suggested it be introduced from Class 3 instead. We will consider these suggestions before taking any further decision." He also said at the time that the three-language formula was "on hold" and schools would continue with the existing two-language system for now. Fresh opposition But the latest order appears to contradict that assurance, prompting a fresh wave of opposition. "This is nothing but the backdoor imposition of Hindi," claimed Deepak Pawar of the Mumbai-based Marathi Bhasha Abhyas Kendra, working to preserve the Marathi language. "The government has betrayed the Marathi people. If we remain silent now, it will pave the way for dismantling the federal structure and the legacy of the Samyukta Maharashtra movement," he charged in a social media post, urging people to protest. Vasant Kalpande, former chairman of the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education, said it is unlikely to find 20 students in a class opting for a non-Hindi language. "The provision to make teacher available online is also an attempt to discourage opting for any other language than Hindi. Although, Marathi and Hindi have similar scripts, it will be too much for students of such young age to learn the nuances and differences between the scripts," he claimed. Hindi as a third language is not mandatory in (BJP-ruled) Gujarat and Assam, Mr. Kalpande pointed out. 'Imposing' Hindi: Congress Maharashtra Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal said the fresh government order on the three-language formula was a planned plot to impose Hindi, and accused Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis of "stabbing" Marathi people in the chest. The public was "deceived" by saying that the compulsion of Hindi as a third language has been abolished. But what does the GR say, he mentioned in a post on X. EDITORIAL | Opposing imposition: On teaching Hindi in Maharashtra "Hindi will be the compulsory third language. If any other language is to be learned, the requirement is for at least 20 students. It's a show of giving an alternative and the planned plot to impose Hindi. This is BJP's anti-Maharashtra agenda and a conspiracy to eliminate the Marathi language, Marathi identity and Marathi people," Mr. Sapkal alleged. This makes it clear that the loyalty of Fadnavis and Deputy CMs Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar is not with Maharashtra or the Marathi people, but with the people of Delhi, he charged. The Shinde (Shiv Sena) group, which repeatedly mentions (party founder) Balasaheb Thackeray's name, holds the education ministry and has taken the initiative to "kill Marathi in the same way that they stabbed Shiv Sena in the back," the Congress leader alleged. "Ajit Pawar is so desperate for power that he has nothing to do with Maharashtra, Marathi language, or whether Marathi people live or die. Ajit Pawar's policy is only to get the finance portfolio," he claimed. "We will not rest till the agenda of 'One Nation, One Language, One Culture' of the RSS and BJP is rejected," Mr. Sapkal added.
Time of India
22 minutes ago
- Time of India
'For 37 days, PM didn't say anything': Congress questions PM Modi's silence on Trump's mediation claim; demands all-party meeting
Congress MP Jairam Ramesh and PM Modi (R) NEW DELHI: Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP Jairam Ramesh on Wednesday asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to call an all-party meeting to brief opposition leaders about India's stand on US President Donald Trump's repeated claims of mediation between India and Pakistan. Jairam Ramesh raised questions over PM Modi's silence for over a month after his phone call with President Trump during the G7 Summit in Canada. "Now, for 37 days, the Prime Minister did not say anything. Now, today, we are told that he had a 35-minute call with President Trump, and there is a readout of what the Prime Minister is supposed to have said to Mr Trump. President Trump has also put out a statement from the White House; there is a difference between the two statements. Normally, these statements are different because they appeal to different audiences," Ramesh said. He added, "For 37 days, the Prime Minister has kept quiet. And today, we are being asked to believe that this is what he told President Trump. All I'm saying is..... Why can't the Prime Minister call an all-party meeting tomorrow or the day after tomorrow? Take the opposition party leaders into confidence and say the same thing which has been put out today by the foreign secretary." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo Ramesh also criticised Trump for inviting Pakistan army chief Asim Munir to a one-on-one lunch at the White House. He said, "He should have made the US President aware of the direct link between Asim Munir's inflammatory, incendiary, provocative, absolutely unacceptable remarks that he made, which gave oxygen to the Pahalgam terrorists. Pahalgam terrorist attack was a reflection of those remarks of General Asim Munir and the same person is now being invited for a one-on-one lunch with President Trump. .. In my view, this is an absolute insult to India." Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut also raised doubts over PM Modi's statement. "Modi's people are saying this, but President Trump should tweet about it and say that he takes back his words. Who will believe what PM Modi will say now?" Raut said. Their remarks came after foreign secretary Vikram Misri said that PM Modi spoke to US President Trump on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Canada. The conversation lasted about 35 minutes and focused mainly on India's recent counterterror operation in Pakistan, called Operation Sindoor . According to Misri, "Prime Minister Modi made it clear to President Trump that during this entire episode, at no time, at any level, were issues such as the India-US trade deal or mediation by the US between India and Pakistan discussed. The halt to military action was discussed directly between India and Pakistan, through existing channels of the two armies, and was at the request of Pakistan." He also said, "Prime Minister Modi stressed that India has never accepted mediation, does not accept it, and will never accept it. There is complete political unanimity in India on this issue." President Trump has claimed several times in the past that he helped stop hostilities between India and Pakistan by using trade talks. However, Misri said that Trump listened carefully and expressed his support for India's fight against terrorism.
