Prime Minister Narendra Modi held discussions with Benoit Bazin, Chairman and CEO of Saint-Gobain, during his visit to Paris, France. The meeting was part of a packed schedule in the French capital following the Prime Minister's participation in the G7 Summit. Paris marks the second stop on PM Modi's three-nation diplomatic tour. During his stay, he is expected to engage in a series of bilateral interactions and take part in the VivaTech Summit 2026, one of Europe's most influential events focused on technology, startups, and innovation.
This year's VivaTech carries special significance for India, which has been designated as the event's official AI partner country. The summit brings together global policymakers, investors, entrepreneurs, and technology leaders to discuss the future of innovation and emerging technologies.
At the event, PM Modi is expected to showcase India's growing role in the global technology ecosystem, highlighting achievements in digital public infrastructure, artificial intelligence, and other advanced sectors. Demonstrating India's expanding presence in the innovation landscape, the country will also host the largest national pavilion at the exhibition.
The Prime Minister is scheduled to join French President Emmanuel Macron for several key sessions at the summit. Their participation will conclude with a joint keynote address focusing on innovation, technology-driven growth, and opportunities for deeper collaboration between India and Europe. PM Modi's visit includes interactions with the Indian community in France. A large diaspora gathering featuring cultural performances and presentations celebrating India's rich traditions is expected to be one of the highlights of the Paris programme.
The visit follows PM Modi's engagements at the G7 Summit, where he emphasized India's priorities on sustainable development, reforms in global governance, and strengthening international trade partnerships. Through a message shared on social media platform X, he called for closer cooperation with countries across the Global South to promote inclusive economic growth and shared prosperity.
During discussions at the G7 outreach sessions, the Prime Minister also advocated stronger collaboration between India, developing nations, and G7 members to improve trade links, connectivity, and economic resilience. He further drew attention to the impact of ongoing tensions in West Asia, noting that developing economies often bear the greatest economic consequences of regional conflicts.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from ANI.
Known primarily for its AI-powered image generation platform, Midjourney Inc. has unveiled a surprising new direction: healthcare technology. During a recent event in San Francisco, the company introduced its first major hardware initiative, a device called the Midjourney Scanner, designed to perform full-body ultrasound imaging.
Speaking at the event, CEO David Holz described the scanner as a groundbreaking innovation, claiming that nothing comparable currently exists. He suggested the technology could offer several advantages over traditional MRI scans and outlined an ambitious plan to deploy approximately 50,000 units in the future. Holz emphasized that the project is currently driven by advanced engineering rather than artificial intelligence. According to him, the scanner relies on sophisticated hardware and software systems, with AI integration potentially coming later.
The company also revealed a unique business model for the technology. Instead of placing the scanners in conventional medical facilities, Midjourney plans to install them in specialized wellness centers called Midjourney Spas. Users will undergo scans while partially immersed in water. The first location, planned for San Francisco, is expected to occupy around 25,000 square feet and include wellness amenities such as hot tubs, saunas, cold-plunge pools, and a fitness center.
The scanner represents just one part of Midjourney's broader innovation roadmap. The company is currently working on eight separate projects, evenly divided between hardware and software. Holz indicated that at least two of the hardware initiatives could reach the market relatively soon. When discussing regulatory considerations, he acknowledged that medical approvals will be an important part of the process. The company intends to begin with simpler, easier-to-approve capabilities before gradually expanding the scanner's medical functions. Over time, Holz envisions the technology evolving beyond imaging into areas that could potentially support therapeutic applications as well.
Before this announcement, Midjourney had built its reputation largely on generative AI tools that allow users to create images and videos through subscription plans ranging from budget-friendly options to premium tiers. The company has also been involved in ongoing legal disputes with major entertainment firms, including Warner Bros. Discovery and The Walt Disney Company. The lawsuits center on allegations that Midjourney's AI-generated content incorporates copyrighted characters and intellectual property without authorization. With its unexpected entry into health technology, Midjourney is signaling ambitions that extend far beyond generative AI, potentially positioning itself as a player in both the wellness and medical-device industries in the years ahead.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Midjourney.
US President Donald Trump has indicated that Washington and New Delhi are on the verge of finalising a long-awaited trade agreement following discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Evian-les-Bains, France. The meeting, their first one-on-one interaction in over a year, focused on trade, regional security, maritime safety, and the broader India-US partnership. Officials familiar with the talks described the atmosphere as highly positive, suggesting a notable improvement in ties that have faced several challenges over the past year.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Trump said his conversation with Modi was productive and reaffirmed that both countries were making significant progress toward a trade pact. According to Trump, negotiations have been underway for some time and are now approaching the final stages. He also praised Modi’s negotiating skills, describing the Indian leader as one of the toughest counterparts he has dealt with in trade discussions.
In a characteristically light-hearted remark, Trump joked that Modi’s calm and friendly appearance masks his strong negotiating instincts, calling him a formidable dealmaker who often catches people by surprise. The US President also revealed plans to visit India in the near future. New Delhi is expected to host the next Quad Summit, where leaders from India, the United States, Japan, and Australia are likely to meet.
During the discussions, Modi highlighted concerns regarding the safety of Indian sailors working across global shipping routes. Stressing their crucial contribution to international trade, he said protecting seafarers should remain a priority amid ongoing tensions in West Asia. The Prime Minister expressed confidence that efforts to reduce regional instability, particularly involving Iran, would place greater emphasis on maritime security. He also underlined the importance of keeping the Strait of Hormuz open, noting its critical role in supporting global trade and energy supplies.
The issue has gained urgency following the deaths of three Indian sailors in recent US military strikes involving merchant vessels operating near Oman. Addressing Modi’s concerns, Trump responded by expressing support and concern for those working at sea. Security cooperation was another important topic during the meeting. Trump described India and the United States as close partners and suggested that Washington would stand by India in the event of external aggression, despite the absence of a formal mutual defence treaty between the two countries.
He also highlighted his longstanding personal rapport with Modi and praised the broader economic relationship between the two nations. Relations between New Delhi and Washington have experienced several strains since the leaders last met in Washington in February 2025. Points of friction have included US tariffs on Indian products, American engagement with Pakistan’s military leadership, immigration-related concerns, and tensions arising from incidents involving Indian crew members on vessels targeted during military operations in the Middle East.
In an effort to improve diplomatic momentum, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited India earlier this year to strengthen communication between the two governments. Earlier at the G7 outreach session, Modi spoke about the importance of trust in international relations. He argued that while the world possesses sufficient resources, a lack of confidence among nations remains a major challenge.
Referring to former US President Ronald Reagan’s famous phrase, Modi remarked that the principle of “trust but verify” continues to hold relevance in today's geopolitical environment. He said the future strength of international partnerships will depend largely on rebuilding confidence and credibility among nations. The Prime Minister concluded by reiterating the need to safeguard seafarers and ensure that maritime security remains a key priority in an increasingly uncertain global landscape.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from PTI.
Delhi Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu on Thursday announced a 20% reservation for former Agniveers in direct recruitment to several Group C positions, including police constables, firemen, forest guards, jail warders and wildlife guards. The decision was taken after Sandhu held a review meeting with the Chief Secretary, the Delhi Police Commissioner and other senior officials to discuss the implementation of reservation benefits for ex-Agniveers across government departments and agencies in the national capital.
Sharing the development on X, the Lieutenant Governor said the move aligns with the Government of India’s broader vision of supporting former Agniveers after their military service. He noted that the reservation aims to make use of the discipline, professional skills and training acquired by these young men and women during their tenure in the armed forces.
The reservation will apply to direct recruitment for vacant Group C posts, which are non-gazetted government positions. According to the LG, all eligible ex-Agniveers will be able to compete for these openings, ensuring equal access to opportunities while acknowledging their contribution to the country.
Sandhu also directed the concerned departments to complete all required procedural changes and amendments to recruitment rules by June 30. In addition, departments have been authorised to assign responsibilities to these recruits based on their specialised skills and operational needs.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from PTI.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has welcomed the implementation of the India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) from 15 July 2026, calling it a major milestone in bilateral relations. Speaking at the G7 Summit in France alongside UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, he said the deal would strengthen trade and investment ties and support India’s Viksit Bharat 2047 vision by benefiting farmers, MSMEs, start-ups, and workers. The agreement, signed in July 2025 after years of talks, is expected to boost bilateral trade by about £25.5 billion annually. It includes major tariff cuts on goods such as textiles, whisky, and automobiles, with most UK imports from India becoming duty-free and over 90% of Indian exports to the UK gaining similar benefits. Officials on both sides have called it a historic step that will expand market access, create jobs, and deepen economic cooperation between the two countries.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Indian Defence News.
Max Rushden is joined by Barry Glendenning, Nick Ames, Lucy Ward, and Jacob Steinberg as England kick off their World Cup campaign in impressive fashion. The episode invites listeners to rate, review, and share on Apple Podcasts, and to join the discussion via email. Today’s focus is England’s 4–2 win over Croatia, with Thomas Tuchel’s side pressing aggressively and playing with real tempo and attacking intent, particularly in a strong second half. The panel debates how much significance should be attached to such a convincing opening performance. Elsewhere in the group, Ghana’s 1–0 win over Panama receives only brief attention before moving on to DR Congo, who earned a well-deserved draw against a disappointing Portugal side. This naturally leads to growing discussion about Cristiano Ronaldo’s role in the team going forward. The episode also previews the next set of fixtures, includes Nick Ames reporting from the GOP convention on his day off, revisits the ongoing “apples” segment, and wraps up with listener questions. Listeners are encouraged to support The Guardian and follow Football Weekly on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.
Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from The Guardian.
Elon Musk has reportedly become the world’s first trillionaire, driven largely by SpaceX, whose massive IPO has pushed its valuation above $2 trillion. At the same time, huge investments in artificial intelligence are lifting other major tech companies like OpenAI and Anthropic, both of which are expected to go public with valuations nearing a trillion dollars. According to The Guardian’s US tech editor Blake Montgomery in conversation with Kai Wright, these IPOs mean that the global financial system is becoming increasingly tied to the success of AI—and potentially exposed to significant risk if it fails.
Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from The Guardian.
Max Rushden is joined by Barry Glendenning, Seb Hutchinson, and Pablo Maurer as the USA kick off their World Cup campaign. They discuss the US team’s dominant opening win over Paraguay in Los Angeles, suggesting they might actually be a strong side, with praise for Christian Pulisic. Elsewhere, Canada rescue a draw against Bosnia and Herzegovina, with Jesse Marsch’s triple substitution helping turn the game around, though Bosnia’s defending nearly held firm. They also preview upcoming fixtures such as Haiti vs Scotland, answer listener questions, and share some light moments from the studio.
Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from The Guardian.
Israel and Iran have carried out direct strikes against each other for the first time since an April ceasefire, increasing concerns that the situation could escalate into a wider regional conflict. The Israeli attacks appear to go against advice from Donald Trump, who reportedly urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not to respond militarily to Iran in order to protect ongoing peace negotiations from collapsing. Journalist Nosheen Iqbal discusses the developments with the Guardian’s senior international correspondent Julian Borger.
Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from The Guardian.
