A Bhopal court has rejected a plea seeking a second postmortem examination at AIIMS Delhi in the Twisha Sharma death case, while simultaneously raising concerns over the preservation of her body. The court directed Katara Hills police to urgently gather information on advanced low-temperature preservation facilities across Madhya Pradesh and nearby metropolitan cities. Twisha’s body has remained at the AIIMS Bhopal mortuary since May 13 and is currently stored at minus 4 degrees Celsius, while long-term preservation reportedly requires minus 80 degrees Celsius storage. Twisha’s family had sought a fresh autopsy alleging dowry harassment, investigative lapses and possible evidence suppression. Meanwhile, a Special Investigation Team continues probing allegations against her husband and mother-in-law. (PC: X)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Rome sparked online attention after Modi offered her a packet of Parle Melody chocolates, turning the interaction into a viral moment of “toffee diplomacy.” The video, shared by Meloni on X, highlighted a lighter side of Indo-Italian engagement and drew widespread reactions across social media. Parle Products thanked Modi for “taking Parle Melody to the global stage” and called it a proud moment for the company and Indian confectionery. Melody, long considered a nostalgic favourite in India, gained unexpected international visibility through the exchange, with many users celebrating the cultural symbolism and warmth reflected in the gesture between leaders.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has been invited to attend a special United Nations Security Council meeting scheduled in New York next week amid continuing international focus on Iran and rising geopolitical tensions. The invitation signals growing diplomatic attention on Tehran’s role in ongoing regional and global security discussions, particularly as negotiations and concerns surrounding Iran’s foreign policy and nuclear position continue to dominate international debate. However, Iranian authorities have not yet confirmed whether Araghchi will participate in the high-level session. The uncertainty surrounding his attendance has further fueled speculation over Iran’s diplomatic strategy and possible engagement with global powers during the upcoming UN deliberations. More details are expected in the coming days from Tehran and the UN. (PC: Times Now)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was awarded the Food and Agriculture Organization’s highest honour, the Agricola Medal, during a ceremony at FAO Headquarters in Rome. Accepting the recognition, Modi dedicated the honour to India’s farmers, fishermen and 140 crore citizens, calling agriculture the “main stream” of India’s identity. FAO Director-General Dr. Qu Dongyu praised Modi’s leadership in transforming India’s agricultural landscape through farmer-centric reforms, food security programmes and welfare initiatives. The FAO highlighted India’s support for over 800 million people through food schemes, direct income support to 110 million farmers, promotion of natural farming and millets, and India’s push for digital public infrastructure during its G20 Presidency aimed at empowering developing nations.

Thousands of Indian tech workers in the US are facing mounting uncertainty after fresh layoffs at companies including Meta, Amazon and Oracle. Under H-1B visa rules, laid-off employees get only 60 days to secure a new sponsoring employer or leave the country. Many are now attempting to switch temporarily to B-2 visitor visas to extend their stay, but immigration lawyers say approvals and status-change requests are facing tighter scrutiny, more paperwork and rising denial rates. The crisis comes amid over 110,000 tech layoffs in 2026. Indians, who received nearly 284,000 approved H-1B petitions in FY25, are among the worst affected due to long green card backlogs, prompting many to explore Canada and Europe as alternative destinations. (PC: X)

A Chinese-made JF-17 Thunder fighter jet of the Pakistan Air Force crashed during a routine training mission in Pakistan, according to reports. Both pilots managed to eject safely before the aircraft went down, preventing any loss of life. Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the crash, with initial reports pointing toward a possible technical malfunction. The JF-17, jointly developed by China and Pakistan, is one of the Pakistan Air Force’s key combat aircraft. The incident has once again raised concerns over fighter jet safety and maintenance as military aviation accidents continue to occur during training operations worldwide. 

Teenage Rajasthan Royals star Vaibhav Sooryavanshi revealed the meaning behind his viral “A” celebration after smashing a stunning 93 off 38 balls against Lucknow Super Giants in IPL 2026. The 15-year-old said the gesture was spontaneous and emotionally connected to his mother, whose name begins with “A.” His explosive knock powered Rajasthan Royals to a seven-wicket victory while keeping their playoff hopes alive. The innings also helped him break multiple IPL records, including becoming the first Indian batter to hit 50 sixes in a single season. Fans and cricket experts widely praised the youngster’s fearless batting and maturity under pressure. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announced that India and Italy are now “closer than ever” after high-level talks in Rome. Both leaders agreed to upgrade bilateral relations to a “Special Strategic Partnership,” focusing on defence cooperation, innovation, trade, maritime connectivity, and counter-terror financing. They also launched a joint initiative against terror financing and discussed collaboration in artificial intelligence, critical minerals, space, and clean energy. Modi highlighted the importance of Indo-Pacific security and invited Meloni to visit India, while both leaders stressed diplomacy and stronger global cooperation amid ongoing geopolitical tensions. (PC: AP)

Bhopal Police Commissioner Sanjay Kumar said police have no objection to a second autopsy in the death case of Twisha Sharma, whose family has alleged dowry harassment and investigation lapses. A local court is set to examine the case diary after the family sought a fresh post-mortem at AIIMS Delhi. Police stated that permission for a second autopsy rests with the court. Twisha was found dead at her marital home in Bhopal on May 12, just months after her marriage. Authorities have registered a dowry death and harassment case against her husband and mother-in-law, while special teams continue searching for the absconding husband. (PC: PTI)

Meta reportedly instructed employees across multiple regions to work from home before sending layoff emails to nearly 8,000 workers. According to reports, affected staff in Singapore received termination notices at around 4 am local time, with emails sent in phases across different time zones. The company is restructuring teams, reducing management layers and closing thousands of open positions. CEO Mark Zuckerberg has announced major investments in artificial intelligence and smaller operational teams. The layoffs add to a growing trend of job cuts across the global technology sector. (PC: NDTV)