Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday called for ending the monopoly in technology and said it must be made creative to lay the foundation of an inclusive society.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, while holding talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, discussed the functioning of the Black Sea transport corridor to increase exports of sunflower oil to India.

On the sidelines of the G7 Summit, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Italy.

"The President spoke about the functioning of the Black Sea transport corridor, which makes it possible to increase exports of sunflower oil to India and turnover of other categories of goods," the Ukrainian president's website read.

Notably, the major export to India is sunflower oil from Ukraine followed by inorganic chemicals, iron and steel, plastics, chemicals, etc. India is Ukraine's largest export destination in the Asia Pacific and the fifth-largest overall export destination.

During the G7 Summit, the Ukrainian President congratulated PM Modi on his victory in the 2024 General Elections and wished the Indian people peace and prosperity.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is taking part in the ongoing Group of Seven (G7) Outreach Session on Artificial Intelligence, energy, Africa and the Mediterranean being held in Italy's Apulia on Friday.

The session was also addressed by President Emmanuel Macron of France. In his address, Macron praised PM Modi's initiative on AI and Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) as G20 chair.

Upon reaching the venue of the summit, PM Modi met Pope Francis.

He was welcomed by Italy's PM Giorgia Meloni as India participated as an 'Outreach Nation' in the G7 Summit.

Visuals from the session showed PM Modi sharing a hug with Pope Francis.

PM Modi was seated next to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak of the United Kingdom and the two were seen having a discussion.

PM Modi will also address the 'Outreach Session' of the G7 Summit.

The session was addressed by Italy PM Meloni and Pope Francis.

PM Modi arrived in Italy's Apulia on Thursday late night to attend the G7 Outreach Summit.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Pope Francis met with a warm embrace at the Outreach session of the G7 Summit in Apulia, southern Italy, on Friday, where they joined other world leaders to discuss pressing global issues.

Prime Minister Modi was seen in a light-hearted exchange with the 87-year-old head of the worldwide Catholic Church, who was taken around the table in a wheelchair to greet each of the world leaders gathered at the summit venue of Borgo Egnazia.

"It is up to each of us to make good use of AI," the Pope said in his address at the Outreach session on the topic of Artificial Intelligence, Energy, Africa and the Mediterranean, attended by the participants of the G7 and other leaders of the Global South invited by Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni in her capacity as president of this year's summit.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Italy Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni at the G7 Summit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron agreed to bolster strategic defence cooperation, with a heightened emphasis on promoting India's 'Make in India' initiative.

PM Modi and French President Macron held a bilateral meeting on Friday on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Apulia, Italy.

France is India's closest strategic partner in Europe and the two sides have built up close cooperation, especially in security and defence. India is presently in negotiations with France to acquire 26 Rafale jets for the Indian Navy and earlier purchased 36 jets for the Indian Air Force under a 2016 deal worth Euro 7.87 billion.

Notably, India is participating in the Group of Seven (G7) Summit as an outreach country.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held bilateral talks with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky. This is the second time the Prime Minister met the Ukraine President since the Russia-Ukraine war began. 

The talks are on the sidelines of the G7 Summit 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today met French President Emmanuel Macron and believed to have discussed ways to further bolster the bilateral ties and exchanged views on global issues.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in Italy on the sidelines of the G7 summit. Prime Minister Modi met French President Emmanuel Macron as well. 

Pope Francis is set to become the first head of the Catholic Church to attend a G7 summit.

He is headed to Italy's Puglia to join the heads of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the US at a summit also attended by PM Narendra Modi and leaders from Brazil, Kenya, Turkey and Ukraine.

The fourth session of the G7 Summit in Italy is currently underway on the issues related to migration.

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday joined the G7 leaders for a special session.

Increasing support for war-torn Ukraine has been one of the top agendas during the summit in Italy.

Here's a look at what is on the agenda on the second day of the G7 Summit in Borgo Egnazia, in Puglia:

Italy is hosting the annual summit of leaders from the Group of Seven (G7) major democracies and its Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, has grabbed the Indian imagination after she greeted world leaders with the traditional 'Namaste'.

The G7 summit is being held at the luxurious Borgo Egnazia resort in Italy's Apulia region.

During his day-long visit to Italy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to hold bilateral meetings with his Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

He may also hold talks with Japan PM Fumio Kishida and his British counterpart Rishi Sunak.

PM Modi is also likely to meet Pope Francis, who is among the non-G7 leaders invited for the talks, besides Jordan's King Abdullah II, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and UAE president Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed.

A brawl in the Italian parliament over the far-right government's plans to grant regions more autonomy has triggered an uproar, with some comparing the punch-up to the days of fascism.

Friday is a "packed day" for him, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on PM Modi's Italy visit.

"We have several bilateral meetings with world leaders lined up. He will also be addressing the Outreach session of the G7 Summit," Mr Jaiswal said in a video message from the Brindisi Airport.

The Group of Seven or G7 is an informal forum that brings together Italy, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, the UK, and the US. 

The European Union also participates in the Group and is represented at the summits by the President of the European Council and the President of the European Commission.

G7 leaders were set to agree at the summit in Italy on a new $50-billion loan for Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky flew in to join US President Joe Biden and leaders from Italy, Britain, France, Germany, Canada and Japan at a session of the Puglia talks dedicated to the Russia-Ukraine war.

Gaffe-prone US President Joe Biden was seen awkwardly saluting Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni after he arrived in Italy for the G7 summit on Thursday.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni was seen greeting global leaders arriving at the G7 Summit 2024 with a classic Namaste gesture on Thursday.

Ahead of his departure, PM Modi said he was "glad" that his first foreign visit in his third consecutive term as Prime Minister was to Italy for the G7 Summit.

"I warmly recall my visit to Italy for the G20 Summit in 2021. Prime Minister (Giorgia) Meloni's two visits to India last year were instrumental in infusing momentum and depth in our bilateral agenda," he said.

"During the discussions at the Outreach session, the focus would be on artificial intelligence, energy, Africa, and the Mediterranean. It will be an opportunity to bring greater synergy between the outcomes of the G20 Summit held under India’s Presidency and the forthcoming G7 Summit, and deliberate on issues which are crucial for the Global South," he said.

PM Modi also said that he looked forward to meeting other leaders participating in the Summit.

After landing in Italy for the G7 Summit 2024, PM Modi said he is "looking forward to engaging in productive discussions with world leaders". 

"Together, we aim to address global challenges and foster international cooperation for a brighter future," he posted on X.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has arrived in Italy to attend the Outreach session of the G7 Summit. 

During his day-long visit, PM Modi will take part in the summit session on "Artificial Intelligence, Energy, Africa-Mediterranean", which is being hosted by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and joined by Pope Francis.

He is also expected to hold bilateral meetings with world leaders.