| | At a Glance | PM Narendra Modi gifted Italy counterpart Giorgia Meloni ‘Melody’ chocolates in Rome, sparking a light-hearted response. India faces an intense heatwave, with IMD warning of continued severe conditions. WHO flagged concern over a deadly Ebola outbreak in Congo with no approved cure. A report claims the US and Israel explored regime change in Iran after strikes on top leadership. KKR beat MI to stay alive in IPL 2026 playoffs. | |
| | 🤝Modi-Meloni-Melodi Moment Gives Internet A Candy Crush |  | 'Melodi' Moment Goes Viral
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi gifted Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni packet of 'Melody' chocolate during his visit to Rome, prompting Meloni to share a video thanking him for the gift.
- In the viral clip posted on X, Meloni said, "Prime Minister Modi brought as a gift, a very, very good toffee — Melody," reviving the popular 'Melodi' hashtag online.
- The term 'Melodi', combining the surnames Modi and Meloni, had earlier trended on social media during previous interactions between the two leaders.
Rome Diplomacy, Colosseum Walk- PM Modi and Giorgia Meloni held talks in Rome and later took a late-evening walk through the iconic Colosseum after a dinner meeting in the Italian capital.
- Sharing photographs from the evening, PM Modi said the two leaders exchanged views on a wide range of issues and looked forward to strengthening India-Italy friendship further.
- PM Modi’s Italy visit, the final leg of his five-nation tour, comes amid expanding India-Italy cooperation under the Joint Strategic Action Plan 2025–2029 covering trade, defence, technology, clean energy and IMEC connectivity projects.
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| | 🌡️45°! 46°! 48°! Loading...! Why India Is Turning Into A Pressure Cooker |  | India Sizzles Under Relentless Heat
- Several parts of North and Central India remained under severe heatwave conditions, with the IMD issuing orange and red alerts.
- Delhi temperatures hovered around 44–46°C, while Banda in Uttar Pradesh emerged among the hottest places in Asia at 48.2°C.
- The heat also worsened Delhi’s air quality, triggered warnings across UP districts, and even damaged seasonal flower gardens in Jammu & Kashmir..
El Niño Fears Add To Heatwave Crisis
- Scientists linked the worsening heat to both seasonal weather patterns and the likely development of El Niño conditions.
- Experts warned that India is witnessing more frequent and intense heatwaves, with outdoor workers facing the highest risks.
- IMD urged people to stay hydrated, avoid afternoon heat, wear loose cotton clothes and take extra care of children, elderly and outdoor workers.
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| | 🏥Minus 4°C, Maximum Outrage: Twisha Case Takes Another Grim Turn |  | Mortuary Standoff Deepens
- Twisha Sharma’s body has remained at AIIMS Bhopal mortuary since May 13 after her family refused custody, demanding another autopsy.
- Police warned the body, stored at minus 4°C, risks decomposition because AIIMS Bhopal lacks the required minus 80°C facility.
- The family said an independent medical board examination was necessary to ensure transparency and preserve crucial forensic evidence in the case.
Father Alleges Evidence Tampering
- Twisha’s father alleged serious flaws in the postmortem process, claiming the ligature report was deliberately delayed to influence legal proceedings.
- He accused authorities of tampering with evidence and questioned how ordinary middle-class families could expect justice within such a system.
- With the body lying in storage for over eight days, the family feared delays could damage crucial forensic findings further.
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| | 📈Wrong Parle, Right Hype: How ‘Melody’ Buzz Triggered Stock Surge For Realty Firm |  | Parle Industries Shares Soar
- Parle Industries shares surged 5 per cent and hit the upper circuit on the BSE at Rs 5.25 during intraday trade.
- The spike came amid social media buzz around PM Modi and Italian PM Giorgia Meloni’s “Melody” toffee exchange in Rome.
- The twist is that investors apparently confused Parle Industries with Parle Products, which actually manufactures Melody toffees.
The Two Companies
- Parle Products, the maker of Melody toffees, is privately held and not listed on stock exchanges.
- Parle Industries is engaged in infrastructure, real estate and paper waste recycling businesses.
- The company has not issued any official clarification on the stock movement.
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| | 🤝 One Big Political Family? TVK’s Unity Pitch Sparks Alliance Buzz |  | 'One Family' Pitch
- Tamil Nadu minister Adhav Arjuna said CM Vijay wants the cabinet to “function like one family” amid alliance tensions.
- Arjuna said Vijay favours representation in the cabinet for parties that supported the government.
- He also criticised attempts by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam to form an alliance, claiming it went against the people’s mandate.
CPM Warns Vijay Govt Over AIADMK Rebels- Adhav Arjuna accused the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam of hypocrisy, saying it had earlier accused the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam of being controlled by the BJP before later exploring an alliance with it.
- He said the Communist Party of India (Marxist), Congress and Left parties had united to “protect the constitutional system” and would maintain friendly ties with the AIADMK.
- CPM leader Shanmugam warned the party could reconsider support to the Vijay-led government if rebel AIADMK MLAs were inducted into the cabinet, saying it would contradict the alliance’s mandate and commitment to clean governance.
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| | 🎭‘Gaddar’, ‘Nautanki’: Modi’s ‘Melodi’ Hits A Wrong Chord With Rahul Gandhi |  | LoP Points To ‘Economic Storm’ At Home
- Rahul targeted PM Modi for gifting “Melodi” toffees to Italian PM Giorgia Meloni, calling him a “gaddar” (traitor) and describing the act as “nautanki” (drama).
- “Farmers, youth, women, labourers, and small traders are all in tears — the PM is laughing and making reels,” Rahul said.
- Modi’s foreign tour has drawn opposition criticism, which cited his earlier appeal to people to avoid foreign travel for a year to save fuel amid the Iran war.
BJP Hits Back, Calls Rahul ‘Frustrated’
- BJP chief Nitin Nabin said Rahul’s electoral defeats and the resulting frustration were now reflecting in his character.
- Union minister Piyush Goyal questioned, “Why does Rahul Gandhi hate India and everything made in India so much?”
- “Melodi” is a blend of “Meloni” and “Modi”, and the memes stem from the bonhomie between the two leaders.
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| | Amaravati Bets Big On India’s Quantum Future |  | Quantum City Pitch
- Amaravati wants to become India’s next deep-tech innovation hub.
- The plan focuses on quantum computing, startups, research, and talent.
- Supporters believe the city can attract serious global investment.
Silicon Valley Test
- Building labs is easier than building a lasting tech ecosystem.
- Amaravati must compete with Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and global innovation hubs.
- The real challenge is turning quantum ambition into real jobs.
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| | 🪒A Bald Move: BJP Councillor Shaves Head In Dramatic Protest Over Stalled Civic Works |  | Tonsure Protest Escalates
- BJP councillor Usha Devi Shankhwar shaved her head outside Firozabad municipal corporation, protesting alleged discrimination in development works within her ward.
- After the tonsure protest, Shankhwar staged a dharna inside municipal corporation premises, alleging civic projects had remained stalled for three years.
- Shankhwar accused the mayor’s husband, Surendra Rathore, of obstructing development works and preventing major civic improvements in Ward Number Six.
Support And Counterclaims
- BJP councillor Munendra Yadav joined the protest, while contract sanitation workers’ union members extended solidarity support during the municipal dharna demonstration.
- The protest triggered a political controversy inside the municipal corporation, with several councillors backing Shankhwar’s allegations regarding neglected civic infrastructure projects.
- Municipal Commissioner Prashant Nagar rejected the allegations as baseless, saying projects worth Rs 64 lakh were already completed or nearing completion.
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| | 🚨 WHO Is Worried. You Should Be Too: Rare Ebola Strain With No Cure Kills 136 |  | What WHO Chief Said
- WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said he was "deeply concerned" about the scale and speed of the Ebola outbreak in Congo.
- "I did not do this lightly," Tedros told the World Health Assembly in Geneva, as the death toll rose to 136.
- He noted that deaths had been reported among health workers, suggesting "healthcare-associated transmission," and pointed out that the epicentre in Ituri province is "highly insecure" with over 100,000 people recently displaced.
The Rare Strain And Its Toll
- The outbreak, declared on May 15, is caused by the Bundibugyo strain, a rarer form of Ebola for which there is currently no approved vaccine or specific treatment.
- Congo health minister Roger Kamba said 543 suspected cases have been reported nationwide, including 32 laboratory-confirmed cases, with 136 probable deaths and 69 patients currently under treatment.
- Confirmed cases have been reported in neighbouring North Kivu province, while countries including Rwanda, Burundi and Tanzania have stepped up surveillance and border screening.
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| | 🎭 The Enemy Of My Enemy Is… Ahmadinejad? US Eyeing Return Of Iran’s Hardline Leader |  | Shadow Succession Calculus
- The United States and Israel reportedly explored regime change after strikes killed Khamenei and senior Iranian officials.
- US President Donald Trump suggested leadership should emerge internally, while officials quietly evaluated former president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as a transitional figure.
- Despite a hardline past, Ahmadinejad was viewed as capable of stabilising Iran’s political, military and social landscape.
Plan Falters Amid Strikes
- An Israeli strike on Ahmadinejad’s residence injured him, derailing plans allegedly involving Mossad and potential internal collaboration.
- The strategy envisioned a three-stage governmental collapse, but anticipated internal breakdown within Iran ultimately never materialised.
- Questions remain over Ahmadinejad’s involvement, with his whereabouts currently unknown and details of the plan still unclear.
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| | 🏏 Still In It: KKR Keep Playoff Hopes Alive With Crucial Win Over Mumbai Indians |  | KKR Bowlers Rock Mumbai Early
- Kolkata Knight Riders reduced Mumbai Indians to 41/4 inside the powerplay after early wickets of Rohit Sharma, Ryan Rickelton and Suryakumar Yadav.
- Saurabh Dubey, Cameron Green and Kartik Tyagi picked up two wickets each, while Sunil Narine kept the scoring under control during the middle overs.
- Corbin Bosch provided late resistance with an unbeaten 32 off 18 balls to help MI post 147/8 after struggles from the top order.
Pandey, Powell Deliver In Chase
- Manish Pandey anchored the chase with a composed 45, helping KKR recover after losing early wickets in the run chase.
- Rovman Powell smashed 40 during a crucial 64-run partnership with Pandey that shifted momentum firmly towards Kolkata.
- Rinku Singh finished the match with the winning runs as KKR chased down the target in 18.5 overs to keep their IPL 2026 playoff hopes alive.
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