Director Joseph Kosinski’s F1 reunites him with Brad Pitt in a formula sure to energize theaters. Pitt stars as aging racer Sonny Hayes, returning to mentor rookie Joshua Pierce (Damson Idris) amid the high-stakes world of Formula One . Critics praise its immersive "head‑rush" racing sequences and Hans Zimmer’s electrifying score, calling it a visceral, thrilling cinematic experience . Holding an 85 % Rotten Tomatoes rating, F1 is dubbed a “high‑octane crowd‑pleaser” on par with Top Gun: Maverick . Set to release June 27 in India (June 27) and the U.S. (June 27), it's widely regarded as "the most enjoyable film of the year." (PC: IMDB)

A charter flight carrying 110 Indian nationals—primarily medical students from Urmia Medical University—landed in New Delhi early on June 19, under Operation Sindhu. These students were moved overland from Iran to Armenia before boarding the evacuation flight . Among them, 90 are from Jammu & Kashmir and their arrival brought relief to anxious families, who praised Prime Minister Modi and EAM Jaishankar . The MEA confirmed more evacuation flights are underway to safely bring back remaining Indian students stranded in Iran amid escalating Israel‑Iran hostilities. (PC: The Hindu)

President Trump informed senior aides on June 18 that he had privately approved detailed military plans targeting Iran, particularly its fortified Fordow nuclear facility, but has not yet issued a final strike order. He emphasized flexibility, stating “I may do it, I may not do it,” and is holding action temporarily to assess whether Iran will abandon its nuclear program . Concurrently, the U.S. has bolstered its military presence in the region—including carrier strike groups and tankers—while Israel intensifies airstrikes . Iran’s Supreme Leader warns that any attack would produce “irreparable consequences,” underscoring the high stakes of this unfolding crisis. (PC: AP)

Oil prices surged Tuesday amid fears the Israel-Iran war could draw in the US, with Brent and WTI crude rising 4.4% and 4.3% respectively. Prices continued edging higher Wednesday. The spike followed Israeli strikes on key Iranian oil sites and President Trump’s demand for Iran’s “unconditional surrender.” US stocks also fell, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq dropping 0.84% and 0.91%. Though global energy flows remain stable, experts warn that further escalation, especially targeting Iran’s Kharg Island or blocking the Strait of Hormuz, could cripple oil supplies. Iran, sitting on 4% of global output, may retaliate against Saudi or global exports. (PC: Reuters)

As Iran-Israel conflict enters its sixth day, the US is preparing evacuation options for citizens in Israel, including flights and cruise ships, according to Ambassador Mike Huckabee. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump has delivered mixed signals about a possible US strike on Iran, saying, “I may do it, I may not.” He added, “Iran’s got a lot of trouble,” but left the door open for a diplomatic resolution. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei warned that Israel will be “punished” for its attacks. Israel, for its part, launched fresh retaliatory strikes Wednesday, deepening the region’s instability and global concern. (PC: HT)

US President Donald Trump has claimed credit for brokering a ceasefire between India and Pakistan, saying, “I stopped the war.” This comes after a 35-minute call with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during which Modi reportedly stated that India acted only in response to terror and never accepted US mediation. India’s Foreign Secretary clarified the ceasefire followed a Pakistani request via military channels, not any US involvement. Trump made the remarks before hosting Pakistan's army chief Asim Munir. Despite India’s repeated rejections, Trump insisted he used trade pressure to achieve peace and claimed “not one story” was written about his role. (PC: NDTV)

Air India has reduced its international widebody operations by 15% until mid-July, citing Middle East tensions, night curfews in European and East Asian airspace, and safety inspections following the June 12 Ahmedabad crash. The airline has canceled 83 flights in 6 days, saying the cuts aim to ensure operational stability and passenger safety. Air India emphasized that 26 of 33 widebody aircraft have cleared safety checks, with the rest under inspection. Affected passengers can reschedule at no cost or request full refunds. The airline apologized for disruptions and pledged to issue revised schedules from June 20. DGCA continues its investigation. (PC: India Today)

Iranian state media reports that Tehran has launched another wave of missile strikes at Israel, claiming some penetrated Israeli air defenses. Israel has not confirmed damage but says it retaliated by striking an Iranian missile site. The tit-for-tat escalation intensifies as former US President Donald Trump said, “I may do it, I may not,” when asked about potential US military involvement. He added, “Iran’s got a lot of trouble and wants to negotiate.” Iran’s supreme leader warned of “irreparable harm” if the US joins Israel. Washington has not requested UK base access in Cyprus or Diego Garcia, according to UK officials. (PC: Reuters)

Israel launched fresh airstrikes on Tehran just hours after Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, warned the U.S. against military action. Loud blasts were heard in east and southeast Tehran around 3:50 pm local time. At least five smoke columns were seen rising. The Israeli military confirmed the attack, saying they targeted military sites. Khamenei had earlier said Iran would not surrender and warned of “irreparable damage” if the U.S. intervened. He called Israel’s attack a “huge mistake” and said Iran will punish it. The war between Iran and Israel has now entered its sixth day, with tensions rising fast. (PC: Reuters)

A new twist has come up in the Raja Raghuvanshi murder case. Police say Sonam called a man named Sanjay Verma 234 times in just three weeks. Over 100 of these calls were made in March and April. The mobile number, now switched off, last went offline on June 8 when Sonam was in Ghazipur. Cops think the SIM card might be fake. They are checking if it was bought with a false ID. Sonam is already in custody for Raja’s murder during their honeymoon in Meghalaya. Police are recreating the crime scene and questioning family and other accused. (PC: IndiaToday)