Rush Hour: SC directs Karnataka to release Kamal Haasan's film, Indians asked to leave Tehran & more
We're building a brand-new studio to bring you bold ground reports, sharp interviews, hard-hitting podcasts, explainers and more. Support Scroll's studio fund today.
Criticising the 'extra-judicial ban' on the screening of the film Thug Life in Karnataka, the Supreme Court has directed the Congress government in the state to ensure its release. 'We cannot allow mobs and vigilante groups to take over the streets,' said the bench.
The film, starring Kamal Haasan, had run into trouble in Karnataka after the actor and politician's remark that the Kannada language 'was born out of Tamil'. Asking Haasan to apologise for his remark, the High Court had on June 3 said that the actor's statements had caused 'unrest and disharmony' in Karnataka.
The actor refused to apologise, saying he had 'no malice' behind his remarks. On Tuesday, the Supreme Court expressed disapproval of the High Court's directive asking Haasan to apologise. Read on.
Indian citizens in Tehran have been asked to leave the Iranian capital by the Indian embassy. Additionally, Indians who are in Tehran but not in touch with the embassy have been asked to contact the diplomatic mission immediately and provide their location and contact numbers.
Separately, the Ministry of External Affairs said that Indian students in the Iranian capital had been moved out of the city for 'reasons of safety' through arrangements made by the embassy. Some Indians were also facilitated to leave Iran through its border with Armenia.
The development comes amid the latest round of the conflict between Israel and Iran. The conflict began on Friday when the Israeli military struck what it claimed were nuclear targets and also other sites in Iran with the aim of stalling Tehran's nuclear programme. The attacks have led to concerns of an escalation and a wider conflict in the region. Read on.
The Karnataka High Court has restrained Bengaluru Police from arresting or taking any coercive action against officials of Royal Challengers Bengaluru or event management company DNA in connection with the stampede outside Bengaluru's Chinnaswamy Stadium.
The decision follows the High Court's June 12 ruling, which declared the arrests as illegal. The court had also granted them interim bail.
The four men were arrested on June 6, two days after the stampede that killed 11 persons and injured more than 50. Read on.
Fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi has accused India of orchestrating his abduction from Antigua and Barbuda in 2021. Choksi has claimed the alleged event was to extradite him in connection with the Rs 13,000-crore Punjab National Bank fraud case.
Choksi is one of the prime accused in the fraud case, along with his nephew Nirav Modi. He had fled India for Antigua and Barbuda in January 2018, a few weeks before the fraud came to light. In July 2021, Choksi had accused Indian agencies of trying to abduct him. The businessman had gone missing on May 23 that year from Antigua and Barbuda, and was detained in Dominica the next day.
On Monday, Choksi's lawyers told London's High Court that only India had the motivation and resources to abduct him. India's lawyer Harish Salve said that 'there is no evidence of India having anything to do with the alleged events'.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
15 minutes ago
- Time of India
Tehran evacuation: Iranians flee city after Trump urges them to leave; highways jammed, video goes viral
Videos of Tehran's highways jammed with vehicles went viral on social media on Monday as thousands of Iranians scrambled to flee the capital, after an alarming message from US President Donald Trump amid the ongoing war between Israel and Iran, as per a report. Iranians Flee Capital After Donald Trump Urges Immediate Evacuation Iranians started to flee from Tehran as Trump issued an urgent warning on his social media site Truth Social on Monday, saying, "Everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran!," quoted Newsweek. The US president also highlighted that, "Iran should have signed the 'deal' I told them to sign," adding, "What a shame, and waste of human life. Simply stated, IRAN CAN NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON. I said it over and over again," quoted Newsweek. ALSO READ: Donald Trump at the situation room in the White House following Israel-Iran war - 5 key things he can do Viral Videos Show Tehran in Chaos #Iran : thousands and thousands of Iranians are fleeing #Tehran tonight following a post by Trump calling on residents to evacuate the capital. Many fear the US will join the Israeli attacks on the country, which would be another extremely dangerous escalation. — Thomas van Linge (@ThomasVLinge) June 16, 2025 According to the Newsweek report, viral videos and images on social media showed that there is massive traffic on a highway heading out of Tehran, with little traffic moving into the city. Tehran, with about 10 million residents, has reportedly been evacuating residents from the city since the war started on June 13 between both countries, as per Newsweek. Several shops in Tehran were shut on Tuesday, and the city's ancient Grand Bazaar was also closed, as per the Associated Press. While, metro stations and schools in Tehran are being used as shelters by Iranian authorities, according to Newsweek. Live Events The chair of the city council, Mehdi Chamran said, "Unfortunately, we in Tehran and in other cities do not have shelters," as quoted in the report. Ongoing Israel-Iran War 2025 This chaos comes as the hostilities between Israel and Iran escalated last week after Israel launched airstrikes against Iran targeting the country's military and intelligence leadership, along with critical nuclear sites and scientists, reported Newsweek. According to the report, Israel's attacks have killed almost 224 people since Friday, while Iran's retaliatory strikes have so far killed 24 people in Israel and wounded about 500. FAQs Why are people fleeing Tehran? After US president Donald Trump called for an immediate evacuation, panic spread, and many feared worsening violence amid the Iran-Israel conflict. What's the current situation in Tehran? The city is tense, highways are jammed, many shops are closed, and shelters are limited, as per reports. Economic Times WhatsApp channel )
The Hindu
17 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Caught in crossfire, Indians in Iran want to return home
With the Israel-Iran conflict entering its fifth day on Tuesday, Indian citizens – from workers in Israel to students and pilgrims in Iran – caught in the crossfire are distressed, with many desperate to return home. While on Tuesday 100 Indian students reached Armenia to fly back to New Delhi on Wednesday, Indian citizens in the warzone told The Hindu that the air strikes and missile attacks have left them scarred. From a safe house in Iran's Qom, Hania, a fourth-year MBBS student at Tehran University of Medical Sciences, recalled seeing the men's dormitory being hit by an Israeli air strike. 'The glass windows broke and the hit injured at least two Indian students who were in the dormitory,' said Ms. Hania, who is from Jammu and Kashmir. Israel-Iran conflict LIVE updates After receiving instructions from the Indian embassy, Ms. Haniya and her peers took a cab to reach Qom, around 180 km from Tehran. Ms. Hania said she is waiting for the Indian embassy to evacuate her and other fellow Indians. Mohammed Ali, 40, a Noida resident who had gone on a pilgrimage with 40 others to Mashhad, Iran, on June 3, said that there is no clarity on what to do next and no information on how long Qom will be safe. 'How long can we wait inside a room? We do not know if we should stay put here (Qom) or arrange for ways to reach the Armenian border,' said Mr. Ali. In north Iran, at least 130 students from Tehran University have been sheltered in a safe house, with 15 in each room. Speaking to The Hindu, Abrar, a fourth-year MBBS student, said that at least three students were injured in Israel's airstrike, and barring first aid, they did not get any medical treatment. 'The students need surgical attention. But because of the war here, such injuries are not being given attention,' he said. In Israel, Indian nationals engaged at construction sites for the past year are still going to work but are worried about the missile attacks. 'You could be doing your work at the construction site, and when you look up, you either see a missile being intercepted or one being launched. These have become part of our lives,' said Haryana's Dinesh Malik, 38, a construction worker in Rishon LeZion, Israel. Tilak Raj, 40, another construction worker from Haryana, said that on the day of the air strike on Tel Aviv, all he could do was think about his family. 'It felt like the entire place would blow up and all I wanted at that moment was to see my family,' said Mr. Raj. He and other colleagues were all shifted to a site in Or Akiva, almost 50 km from Tel Aviv. But that has not brought him any comfort, for every time he spots a flare in the sky, a chill runs down his spine, and he fears the worst.
Time of India
26 minutes ago
- Time of India
Is the end of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei coming? Trump warns Iran: ‘We know where he's hiding — surrender now or face devastating consequences'
Trump warns Iran amid Israel conflict: Says U.S. knows Khamenei's hiding place, demands 'unconditional surrender'- In a dramatic shift during the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict, President Donald Trump warned Iran that the U.S. knows exactly where its Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is hiding. Speaking through social media and to reporters on Air Force One, Trump said that while the U.S. has the ability to strike Khamenei, it's holding back—'for now.' He is now calling for Iran's unconditional surrender and a complete halt to its nuclear ambitions. This comes as Israel continues its fifth day of strikes, damaging Iranian military infrastructure and drawing Washington closer to direct involvement. Is Trump building the case for deeper U.S. military involvement in Iran? Trump's return to Washington from the G7 summit was marked by urgency. The President ended his visit in the Canadian Rockies early, cutting short global discussions to focus on the spiraling Middle East crisis. Upon arrival at the White House, he met with national security leaders, evaluating next steps as Israel pushes for U.S. support in delivering a final blow to Iran's nuclear program. Israel is reportedly seeking American assistance, especially bunker-busting weapons like the 30,000-pound GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator, which only U.S. bombers can deliver. Israeli forces have hit several Iranian nuclear sites, but Fordo, a deep underground uranium enrichment facility, remains untouched. Play Video Pause Skip Backward Skip Forward Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration 0:00 Loaded : 0% 0:00 Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 1x Playback Rate Chapters Chapters Descriptions descriptions off , selected Captions captions settings , opens captions settings dialog captions off , selected Audio Track default , selected Picture-in-Picture Fullscreen This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Text Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Caption Area Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Drop shadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like If You Eat Ginger Everyday for 1 Month This is What Happens Tips and Tricks Undo Trump's tone reflects growing frustration. 'We know where Khamenei is. He's an easy target, but we don't want to kill him—at least not now,' Trump posted. He warned that Tehran must stop firing missiles at civilians and U.S. troops, or face serious consequences. Why is Trump calling for Iran's 'unconditional surrender'? The President isn't mincing words. 'UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER,' he wrote in all caps, echoing his demand that Tehran dismantle its entire nuclear program. He further urged the 9.5 million residents of Tehran to flee, citing safety concerns amid Israeli airstrikes and potential U.S. action. Live Events Trump emphasized he's no longer in the mood to negotiate, stating, 'They should have done the deal. I told them, 'Do the deal.'' He remains skeptical of Iran's peaceful claims, even as U.S. intelligence reports, cited by Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, say Iran isn't actively pursuing a bomb. 'I don't care what she said,' Trump responded. 'I think they were very close.' Could bunker-busting bombs change the course of the Israel-Iran war? The major Israeli concern lies with Iran's Fordo facility, which is too deep for conventional weapons. Only the U.S. possesses the bomber (B-2) and the GBU-57 bomb capable of destroying it. Israeli officials believe that with American help, they could cripple Iran's nuclear infrastructure once and for all. According to sources, Israel even proposed a covert operation to kill Khamenei, which Trump reportedly rejected. An unnamed U.S. official confirmed the plan existed but said the President refused to greenlight it, aiming instead for broader strategic outcomes. Meanwhile, Trump's Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth appeared on Fox News, reinforcing the administration's position: 'We are postured defensively in the region to be strong in pursuit of a peace deal.' Is Trump facing pressure from his own MAGA base over Iran? Trump's assertive stance on Iran is stirring divisions among his MAGA supporters. Influential conservatives like Tucker Carlson, Marjorie Taylor Greene, and Charlie Kirk have voiced concern that deeper U.S. involvement could betray Trump's campaign promise to avoid endless wars. Trump clapped back, particularly at Carlson, writing: 'Somebody please explain to kooky Tucker Carlson that IRAN CAN NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON!' Still, others like Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) argue this is the time to act. Graham believes Trump has a rare opportunity to reshape the Middle East, saying, 'Go all-in.' Is diplomacy still on the table with Iran? Despite his fiery rhetoric, Trump hasn't entirely shut the door on diplomacy. He hinted at a possible peace delegation, saying he might send Vice President JD Vance and special envoy Steve Witkoff to meet Iranian representatives. During a G7 side conversation with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Trump said: 'They should talk, and they should talk immediately. Iran is not winning this war.' Yet the President made it clear—a ceasefire isn't good enough. 'We're looking at better than a ceasefire,' he told reporters. The emphasis remains on a total halt to Iran's nuclear development and missile production. Trump's aggressive posture in the Iran-Israel conflict is rapidly reshaping the U.S. role in the Middle East. As pressure mounts both internationally and from within his political base, the coming days could decide whether America moves toward direct military involvement—or finds a path to peace through power. With Iran's Supreme Leader in hiding, nuclear facilities under threat, and millions of lives at stake, the world watches closely. FAQs: Q1: What did Trump say about Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei? Trump said the U.S. knows where Khamenei is hiding but won't target him 'for now.' Q2: Why is Trump demanding Iran's unconditional surrender? He wants Iran to fully give up its nuclear program and stop missile attacks on civilians and troops.
