The French city of Evian remains the epicentre of global diplomacy today as the G7 Summit enters its crucial phase. With India participating as a Partner Country, all eyes are firmly set on a highly anticipated bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump, scheduled for later today on the sidelines of the summit. This marks the first face-to-face meeting between the two leaders since they last met in Washington, D.C., in February 2025. During today’s engagement, they are expected to hold wide-ranging discussions to deepen bilateral cooperation across multiple sectors, while also deliberating on pressing regional and global issues of mutual interest. This meeting also holds significance as India has emerged as a major global power, with the international community increasingly looking towards New Delhi for solutions to complex global challenges. India’s growing role in shaping discussions on global issues reflects its expanding diplomatic outreach and active engagement with world leaders across forums. During an outreach session at the summit yesterday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi underscored the importance of ‘trust’ in building international partnerships, especially in an increasingly interconnected world. He also highlighted that India has always followed a humanity-first approach. He said this is reflected in India-led initiatives such as the International Solar Alliance, the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, the Global Biofuel Alliance, Mission LiFe, and the Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam campaign. He further said that India’s vision of international partnership is rooted in the timeless philosophy of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ – the world is one family. Besides his meeting with the US President, Prime Minister Modi is also scheduled today to participate in the G7 working session on “Reviving balanced, inclusive and sustainable economic growth for the benefit of all” and the Working lunch on “Ensuring the safe, rapid and effective deployment of artificial intelligence”. The Prime Minister will also hold a trilateral meeting with EU Council President António Costa and European Commission President von der Leyen and a bilateral engagement with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Earlier yesterday, the Prime Minister held bilateral meetings with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and the President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, on the sidelines of the summit. Mr Modi also met Kenyan President William Ruto, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and South Korean President Lee Jae-Myung.

The Jammu and Kashmir Government is set to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Jal Shakti for the implementation of Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) 2.0. The J&K cabinet has cleared the proposal through circulation, paving the way for J&K to join the second phase of the flagship scheme. Jal Shakti Minister Javaid Rana said the cabinet has approved the MoU and a meeting is scheduled in New Delhi on June 18 in this regard. The signing of MoUs is one of the four mandatory requirements for states and Union Territories to avail central funds under JJM 2.0. The other requirements include: creation of Sujal Gaon IDs to ensure complete digital mapping of all rural water supply schemes, timely financial reconciliation, and notification of operation and maintenance (O&M) policies. In March 2026, the Union Cabinet approved the Ministry of Jal Shakti’s proposal to restructure and reorient the implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) from infrastructure creation to service delivery, supported by drinking water governance and an institutional ecosystem for sustainable rural piped potable water supply.

The National Testing Agency (NTA) on Monday welcomed the Centre's decision to impose temporary restrictions on Telegram in India, describing the move as a necessary step to curb examination-related fraud and misinformation ahead of the NEET-UG 2026 re-examination scheduled for June 21. According to an NTA statement, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), acting on recommendations from the agency, has directed a temporary restriction on access to Telegram in India until June 22. The government has also instructed the platform to disable its message-editing feature in India until June 30. The NTA said the measures were aimed at preventing organised cheating networks from exploiting the platform to spread false claims of question paper leaks and to defraud students appearing for the medical entrance examination.

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) yesterday announced the inaugural edition of the AIFF Under-17 Women’s Youth League. The tournament will kick off on the 18th of next month at the RKM Football Academy in Narainpur, Chhattisgarh, marking a historic milestone for women’s youth club football in India. The final match will be played on the 29th of July. The fixtures for the league will be announced tomorrow. The tournament marks the first national youth league for Under-17 women’s clubs in the country, featuring 16 teams from across India. The participating teams have been divided into four groups of four, with the top two sides from each group advancing to the quarter-finals before the competition progresses through the knockout stage. Among the 16 participating clubs, there are five teams from the Indian Women’s League (IWL) and seven from the IWL 2. The four remaining teams are KMP Aspire FC, Zinc Football Academy, PFC Kerala, and hosts RKM Football Academy. The inaugural league marks the first opportunity for clubs across the country to field their Under-17 women’s teams in a structured national tournament. The launch of this league represents another significant step in the AIFF’s commitment to strengthening the women’s football development pathway. Meanwhile, the RKM Football Academy in Narainpur has emerged as one of India’s leading football venues in recent years, regularly hosting AIFF national competitions across men’s and women’s football in both youth and senior categories. The venue also successfully hosted the Rajmata Jijabai Trophy last season and will now welcome another landmark competition to its growing portfolio.

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has urged parents and candidates to beware of scammers ahead of NEET examinations. In a social media post, NTA said that scammers on Telegram are running channels demanding money ranging from 14 thousand to 25 thousand rupees with claims of sharing the re-exam paper. It clarified that there is no leaked paper for the re-exam. It said that fake “proof” videos showing chats from before the exam are also being circulated. NTA also shared a video of its Director General Abhishek Singh, explaining the reason behind blocking the access to the app in the country. Talking to the media, Mr Singh said that NTA is committed to ensuring that no malpractice will happen and every question paper has been made in a complete secure manner. He said that the agency has added layers of security to ensure that nobody who is involved in setting up the question papers, translating them, printing them, moving them or storing them till the date of the examination is compromised in any manner.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast heavy rainfall today at isolated places over Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim. Moderate to heavy rainfall is expected during the day over parts of Assam, Meghalaya, Bihar, Kerala, Mahe, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal. According to the Met Department, a thunder squall is likely today in parts of Rajasthan. Places over Delhi, Haryana, Chandigarh, Punjab, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Coastal Andhra Pradesh and parts of north-east India are expected to experience thunderstorms and lightning today. Similar weather conditions are also expected over Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Vidarbha, West Bengal, Sikkim and West Uttar Pradesh. Meanwhile, heat wave conditions are likely to persist today in parts of Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Vidarbha. Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Gangetic West Bengal, Konkan, Goa and Odisha are likely to experience hot and humid weather today.

In Football, Norway returned to the FIFA World Cup in style with a 4-1 win over Iraq in their Group I opener at the Boston Stadium in the United States this morning. Norway’s Erling Haaland netted twice to make his World Cup debut special. The scoreline now puts Norway at the top of Group I. Earlier, France defeated Senegal 3-1 in the opening game of Group I of the FIFA World Cup 2026 at New Jersey Stadium last night. Kylian Mbappe scored a brilliant brace to become France’s all-time leading scorer with 58 goals. He also surpassed Lionel Messi in the all-time World Cup scoring charts. In the game, Senegal matched France in a tightly contested first half, but the breakthrough came just after the hour mark when Michael Olise played a precise pass into Mbappe, who calmly finished to open the scoring. Paris Saint-Germain forward Bradley Barcola doubled the lead in the 79th minute, delicately lifting the ball over Edouard Mendy after coming off the bench, before Ibrahim Mbaye pulled one back for Senegal to reduce the deficit. The next target for Mbappe will be Miroslav Klose’s record 16 World Cup finals goals. The Frenchman currently has 14 in the global showpiece. Earlier, Iran secured a hard-fought 2-2 draw against New Zealand in their opening match at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. In another fixture, Uruguay and Saudi Arabia played out a 1-1 draw in their opening clash in Miami. Belgium and Egypt also shared the points with a 1-1 draw in their Group G opener at the Seattle Stadium.

Switzerland’s foreign ministry today said a signing ceremony for a deal between the United States and Iran will take place on Friday at the Burgenstock resort near the city of Luzern. The ministry said it has been in close contact with both countries about the possible signing of the memorandum of understanding that US and Iranian officials announced over the weekend.

Several parts of Jammu and Kashmir witnessed rain and thundershowers yesterday as the Meteorological Department has issued a nowcast warning for brief intense showers, thunderstorms, lightning, hailstorms and gusty winds across multiple districts. A spell of rain and thundershowers affected Poonch and Rajouri districts during the day. Rainfall activity was also reported from Shopian, Kulgam and Anantnag districts in south Kashmir, while parts of Ganderbal, including the Sonmarg-Baltal-Holy Cave axis, and the Pahalgam-Holy Cave route received showers accompanied by thunder and lightning. In the Jammu region, parts of Ramban, Kishtwar, Reasi, Kathua and Jammu districts experienced rain and thunderstorm activity. Meanwhile, the MeT Department has forecast unsettled weather conditions across Jammu and Kashmir over the coming days. For today, it is predicted to be partly to generally cloudy weather with light rain, brief intense showers, thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds at scattered places across the Union Territory. From June 18 to 22, generally cloudy conditions are expected with one or two spells of light rain, brief intense showers, thunderstorms, hailstorms, lightning and gusty winds at many places. The forecast indicates that weather activity may continue, though with reduced intensity, between June 23 to 25. During this period, the region is likely to witness partly to generally cloudy skies with light rain, brief showers, thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds at a few places. The MeT Department has urged residents, tourists, pilgrims and transport operators to remain updated about weather advisories and take necessary precautions, particularly in vulnerable areas prone to flash floods, landslides and shooting stones. Intense showers at isolated places could trigger flash floods and mudslides, especially in hilly and mountainous regions.

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has said that India’s Free Trade Agreements with developed economies are aimed at supporting growth, attracting investments, promoting innovation, creating jobs and increasing the country’s participation in international trade. He said this while addressing the closing session of the 5th Annual Meeting of India Global Innovation Connect in New Delhi. The Minister said that India and Switzerland share a special relationship and noted that the Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) signed between India and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries has created a strong framework for trade, investment and innovation-led partnerships. Referring to the EFTA agreement, Mr Goyal said that Switzerland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Iceland have committed to bring 100 billion dollars of investment into India over a period of 15 years and support the creation of one million direct jobs. He said that India’s youthful talent, competitive costs and growing market with the capital, technology and expertise available in developed economies create mutually beneficial opportunities for India and the partnering countries. The Minister highlighted that India has entered into nine FTAs over the last three to three-and-a-half years, covering 38 countries. He said, these agreements provide India access to new markets, facilitate collaboration in emerging technologies and enable greater integration into global value chains while creating opportunities for investment and employment generation. On the power sector, Mr Goyal said that India today has a unified national grid of over 500 gigawatts. He said that the unified grid has improved stability, facilitated greater efficiency and enabled the integration of substantial renewable energy capacity. The Minister stated that more than 50 per cent of India’s installed electricity capacity now comes from renewable energy sources. He also noted that India achieved its Intended Nationally Determined Contributions under the Paris Agreement ahead of schedule and ranks among the leading performers on climate commitments within the G20. Addressing the issue of innovation and research, he acknowledged that India must invest more deeply in building an innovation culture. Mr Goyal informed that the Government’s research and development innovation fund of approximately 1 lakh crore rupees has recently begun operationalisation and that the first set of projects under the initiative has already been approved. On International trade, the Minister said that India welcomes all companies that manufacture in the country and contribute to employment and economic growth. He emphasized that the Government seeks to provide a level playing field to both Indian and foreign enterprises and encourages companies to use India as a base for serving both domestic and international markets.

Union Minister of State for Labour and Employment and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Shobha Karandlaje, is leading the Indian delegation to the 114th International Labour Conference (ILC) being held in Geneva, Switzerland. During the meeting, the Minister met the Director-General of the ILO, Labour Ministers of Bangladesh, Moldova, Brazil, Switzerland, the Vice Minister of Belgium, and other distinguished partners. In a social media post, the Minister said that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, India remains deeply committed to advancing decent work, social protection, and inclusive growth for all. She also noted that India looks forward to contributing actively to the next phase of the coalition’s work by promoting inclusive growth, strengthening social protection systems, supporting responsible business practices, and fostering international cooperation for equitable and resilient labour markets.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has stressed the need for resilient and diversified supply chains, sustained diplomatic efforts, and greater international cooperation to deal with the fallout of ongoing conflicts. Participating in a discussion on “Emerging Powers and the New Geopolitical Competition” at the Kultaranta Talks in Finland, Dr Jaishankar said the impact of conflicts extends far beyond the regions where they occur. He said there is broad agreement that the international community must continue efforts to mitigate the consequences of conflicts and create conditions conducive to diplomacy. On energy security, Dr Jaishankar reiterated that India’s energy choices are guided by national interest and that purchases are based on considerations of affordability and availability. The External Affairs Minister said the centrality of the Gulf region in New Delhi’s foreign policy is underpinned by strong people-to-people ties, energy cooperation, and a growing strategic and defence partnership. Highlighting the growing momentum in India–Europe ties, Dr Jaishankar noted that India and the European Union had this year concluded negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement, signed a Strategic and Defence Partnership, and finalised a Comprehensive Mobility Cooperation Framework. He said these developments reflected the growing depth of the relationship. Earlier, Dr Jaishankar arrived in Finland from Bulgaria on the concluding leg of his two-nation tour to participate in the Kultaranta Talks. The annual dialogue, hosted by Finnish President Alexander Stubb, brings together senior leaders and policymakers to discuss global and regional security challenges. The External Affairs Minister and Finnish President Alexander Stubb exchanged views on the evolving geopolitical situation and underscored the importance of diplomacy in navigating an increasingly uncertain global environment. They met on the sidelines of the Kultaranta Talks in Finland. In a social media post, the Minister said that India and Finland remain committed to advancing their Strategic Partnership in Digitalisation and Sustainability, while strengthening coordination in multilateral fora on issues of shared interest. On the sidelines of the talks, Dr Jaishankar also met UAE Assistant Foreign Minister Lana Nusseibeh. They reviewed progress in the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between India and the UAE and exchanged views on regional issues of mutual interest.