India, June 17 -- US President Donald Trump lavished praise on Prime Minister Narendra Modi ahead of a bilateral meeting at the G7 Summit in France, describing the Indian leader as "calm", "cool", and a "total killer".

The remarks came shortly before the two leaders sat down for their first formal bilateral engagement in more than a year, signalling the continued personal rapport between them despite recent strains in India-US relations.

Speaking during a gathering of world leaders, Trump contrasted his own personality with that of the Indian Prime Minister.

The comment drew attention as it followed a more restrained interaction between the two leaders a day earlier.

During Tuesday's engagement, Modi and Trump exchanged a formal hands...