Evian, France: A light-hearted exchange among world leaders at the G7 Summit in France has drawn attention after an informal conversation was inadvertently picked up by microphones before a meeting began.
During the discussion, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni mentioned that she had consumed three cups of coffee that day. Her comment prompted European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to jokingly ask whether the coffee was needed to help her wake up.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz then playfully asked Meloni how many cigarettes she had smoked. In response, the Italian leader revealed that she had not smoked a cigarette for the past month.
The announcement was met with applause and congratulations from several leaders, including representatives from Canada, the United Kingdom, Japan and the European Union. Meloni responded with a smile and raised both hands in celebration.
Adding to the humour, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney jokingly asked whether she was using a nicotine patch to help quit smoking, drawing laughter from those gathered.
The informal exchange, which also included conversations about football, gifts and other everyday topics, offered a rare glimpse into the lighter side of interactions among global leaders attending the summit.
