The Democrats, especially the Biden administration, wanted to deliver a sharper message to Mr Modi than would be possible in a formal summit setting. So, why not get the most prominent Democrat in decades to deliver it?, explains Shekhar Gupta.
Billionaire philanthropist George Soros believes the turmoil at Gautam Adani's business empire may weaken Prime Minister Narendra Modi's hold on the government -- a statement which was strongly countered by BJP as an attack on Indian democracy.
For the first time in 20 years, Erdogan's political future is really on the line. He must now prove that he is a leader who can get things done and can mobilise effectively the machine of the state to provide relief to the affected people and help them rebuild their homes and their lives.
Lovlina Borgohain will be in pursuit of history when she takes on reigning World champion Busenaz Surmeneli of Turkey in the Olympics boxing 67 kg semi-finals, in Tokyo, on Wednesday.
The best, wisest, and fairest next step in strengthening our own cause is to restore statehood to Jammu & Kashmir and allow the resumption of robust political activity. That's a box that remains unchecked on the Modi government's report card as we approach the fourth anniversary of Kashmir's Constitutional shift, notes Shekhar Gupta.
All of the top news of the week gone by, in photos.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's has been trying to mollycoddle India with sweet nothings while having a very close relationship with Pakistan.
Pakistan still has to acquire the patience you need in a democracy. The patience to accept that even if I do not like the government I have, I must wait till the next election to change it, explains Shekhar Gupta.
"Our nation has given me the mandate for the presidency," Erdogan said in a victory speech in Istanbul, noting his declaration was based on unofficial results. "I would like to congratulate our nation once again. This has been another test of democracy and we have passed this test successfully," CNN quoted the Turkish president as saying.
A match between Bursaspor and Besiktas attended by thousands of people had finished two hours before the blasts.
Pro-Palestinian sympathies among fans have also spilt into stadiums as four Arab teams compete
Istanbul Basaksehir's players, closely followed by their opponents Paris St Germain, walked off the pitch during a Champions League soccer game on Tuesday after the Turkish club accused a match official of racism.
Modi, who came to Hangzhou from his first visit to Vietnam, met Xi and held talks on a host of issues including bilateral tensions between the two countries over a raft issues.
From United States President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, Modi met them all.
Other world leaders to figure in the top 10 list are Nicolas Maduro from Venezuela, Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey, Emmanuel Macron from France, Enrique Pena Nieto from Mexico, Mauricip Macri of Argentina, Britain's Theresa May, Columbia's Juan Manuel Santos and Akun resmi Joko Widodo of Indonesia.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was among the 11 candidates shortlisted by Time for its annual honour.
Sharif, the PML-N prime ministerial candidate, said that Pakistan cannot become a great nation by voting leaders like Imran Khan who have made false promises to "our nation".
The Tata group has begun its second innings with Air India from a war zone. Being first up in Operation Ganga to evacuate Indian nationals from Ukraine, the salt-to-software conglomerate has faced a real war. But the fire-fighting that the group experienced in appointing a chief executive officer (CEO) for the airline that it acquired from the government in a Rs 18,000-crore deal recently may have felt no less.
Most Turks well integrated in Germany, government says after Ozil's racism comments
"He has been sprinting and the knee is absolutely no issue for the World Cup. We still have a bit of time and it is nothing dramatic."
Modi's Facebook post on May 15 with his mother at his official residence at Delhi's Race Course Road remains on top with 1.6 million likes, 1.2 lakh shares and 34,000 comments.
Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is in Turkey on a day-long official visit to hold discussions with the country's top leadership on the Yemen crisis.
Egypt has taken strong objection to Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's comments that "Rabaa sign" adopted by the supporters of deposed President Mohamed Morsi is a symbol of denouncing injustice.
A surprised United Arab Emirates has asked US Vice President Joe Biden to clarify his statement after he suggested that America's Middle Eastern allies were partly to blame for aiding the Islamic State militant group.
'He has a splendid opportunity to capitalise on the CPEC and turn the economy around decisively, putting Pakistan firmly on a higher growth trajectory.' 'Indeed, under the Imran-Bajwa dispensation, there has been a noticeable whittling down of support to militant groups,' points out Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar.
Here's a glimpse of all that happened around the world last week in images.
Ataturk and Nehru, two liberal secular modernisers, are in peril of being disowned by their successors, says Sunanda K-Datta Ray.
The 29-year-old Ozil announced his international retirement in July after Germany crashed out of the World Cup group stage in Russia. He said he had faced "racism and disrespect" because of his Turkish roots.
'Rahul Gandhi has shown courage to heal the heart of democracy.'
India announced its intention to acquire S-400 'Triumf' surface-to-air missile systems in 2015. The contract worth $5.43 billion was signed during the visit of President Putin to India last year.
Shehbaz, the younger brother of former three-time prime minister Nawaz Sharif, received 174 votes -- two more than the simple majority of 172.
Fethullah Gulen Terrorist Organisation, blamed for last month's failed coup to topple President Tayyip Erdogan in Turkey, has infiltrated" India, according to Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu.
Erdogan has long accused Gulen, a former ally, of trying to overthrow the government.
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field
Modi, who was in Osaka, laid special emphasis on building a disaster resilient future.
Trump defended his decision saying that the United States has done its part and now it is the time for other regional players to play their part.
The explosion hit three military vehicles and a private vehicle in central Ankara, near Turkish parliament buildings, Turkey's semiofficial Anadolu news agency reported, citing Ankara Governor Mehmet Kiliclar. The vehicles were stopped for a traffic light at the time, the military said.
The blast, which could be heard several kilometers away, sent burning debris showering down over an area a few hundred meters from the Justice and Interior Ministries, a top courthouse, and the former office of the prime minister.
Erdogan suggested in an interview with Al-Jazeera that coup plotters might still be active in the weeks ahead.
Boston Celtics' Kanter sparks backlash in China after comments on Tibet, Xi.
