THE HEADLINES:
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi leads the nation on 11th International Yoga Day at Visakhapatnam; Highlights role of Yoga amid global tensions, says Yoga gives direction to peace.
- Over 500 Indian nationals evacuated from Iran under Operation Sindhu amid escalating Israel-Iran conflict.
- IMD forecast very heavy rainfall in Madhya Pradesh, Eastern Uttar Pradesh and Northeastern parts of country today.
- Neeraj Chopra wins Paris Diamond League with a 88.16m throw.
- In Test Cricket, centuries by Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal put India in strong position at Leeds.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said, today the whole world is going through some kind of stress and in such a situation, yoga gives us direction to peace.
Leading the celebrations on 11th International Yoga Day from Vishakhapatnam, the Prime Minister said that for the 11th time, the world is coming together on June 21 to practice Yoga, highlighting how Yoga has beautifully united people across the globe.
Reminiscing about the journey to recognising the day internationally, the Prime Minister said the day when India proposed in the United Nations that 21st June be recognised as International Yoga Day and then in the shortest possible time 175 countries of the world stood with our proposal. He added that it is a collective effort of the world for the welfare of humanity.
Prime Minister Modi said the theme of this year’s day, Yoga for One Earth, One Health, reminds that how the world comes together to secure a happy and healthy future for present and future generations.
The 11th International Yoga Day is grandly celebrated along the scenic coast of Visakhapatnam, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi leading the event. He was joined by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, and other dignitaries. Around 3.5 lakh people took part in the event, which included a fly-past by the Eastern Naval Command and a 45-minute yoga session.
“Spanning a 28-kilometre stretch along the scenic coastline from RK Beach to Bheemunipatnam in Visakhapatnam, the 11th International Yoga Day event brought together yoga enthusiasts – from seasoned practitioners to first-time participants. In a remarkable show of unity, they performed yoga simultaneously in an open-air setting, aiming to secure a place in the Guinness World Records for the largest gathering of its kind. Led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a 45 minutes Yoga Session was held following the Common Yoga Protocol. Earlier today, a commemorative stamp by Department of Posts marking the 11th International Yoga Day was released. Speaking on this occasion the Prime Minister called on the people to make Yoga a part of daily life in the spirit of One Earth, One Health and complemented the Government of Andhra Pradesh for successfully conducting the month long Yogandhra campaign which trained close to two crore people in Common Yoga Protocol.From , Sai Sistla, RNU, Vijayawada.”
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BJP President and Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Jagat Prakash Nadda performs Yoga at Kartavya Path in New Delhi today. During the occasion, he said that Yoga is the only medium to unite the soul and the divine. Mr Nadda highlighted the importance of yoga in daily life and appealed to adopt Yoga for a healthy lifestyle.
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In Gujarat, the state-level Yoga sessions is being held at Sharmishtha Lake in Vadnagar, the hometown of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The event led by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel is attended by Health Minister Rushikesh Patel, Minister of State for Sports Harsh Sanghavi, and several other dignitaries. Union Home Minister Amit Shah is taking part in a Yog programme in Ahmedabad.
“The state government, in coordination with the State Yoga Board and the Sports, Youth and Cultural affairs Department, has planned mass Yog sessions at more than 60,000 locations targeting over 1.5 crore participants. The state is also aiming to set a new Guinness World Record in Bhujangasana at the Vadnagar event. Addressing the Yoga programme in Vadnagar, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel gave a clarion call for obesity free Gujarat.To promote a state-wide Yog culture and maximise participation on yoga day, Common Yog Protocol sessions were also organised in all districts from 15th to 20th June. To ensure grassroots-level participation, the Police Department has organised Yoga rallies and sessions, while the Gram Sabha promoted Yoga awareness in rural areas. Aparna Khunt Akashvani News Ahmedabad.”
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In Telangana, ministers and public representatives are creating awareness among the people about Yoga.
“Thousands of people, especially students and employees in Telangana, virtually joined Prime Minister Narendra Modi who is in Visakhapatnam, from the Gachibowli stadium in Hyderabad, in doing IYD protocol after listening to his address. Telangana Governor Jishnu Dev Varma and a few state ministers performed Yoga Protocol at the event organised by the Ayush department at the Stadium. Minister of State for Home Bandi Sanjay Kumar joined hundreds of students and youths in the IYD programme held at Dr Ambedkar Stadium in Karimnagar. Special programs are underway in schools and colleges to celebrate Yoga Day across the state. Lakshmi, Akashvani News, Hyderabad.”
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Meanwhile special yoga session was organised also at the Akashvani Headquarters in the National Capital. Director General Akashvani Dr Pragya Paliwal Gaur, ADG L Madhu Nag, officials and staff participated in the programme and practiced Yogasanas.
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A special evacuation flight from Ashgabat, Turkmenistan landed in New Delhi in the wee hours today bringing Indians from Iran home. With this, so far 517 Indian nationals from Iran have returned home under Operation Sindhu. The Operation has been launched to evacuate Indian nationals from Iran in view of the deteriorating situation due to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran. Last night, a flight carrying 290 Indian nationals also arrived in New Delhi.
The Indian Embassy in Iran is actively helping Indian nationals relocate from conflict-affected areas to safer zones and facilitating their evacuation through available means.
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International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi has warned of the risk of nuclear contamination from Israeli attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities. Mr Grossi said the attacks on nuclear sites in Iran have caused a sharp degradation in nuclear safety and security in the country, but they have not so far led to a radiological release affecting the public. Rafael Grossi said this during a briefing at an emergency meeting of the Security Council.
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Iran has said that it would not discuss the future of its nuclear program while under attack by Israel. Iran made this remark yesterday after Foreign Ministers from France, Britain, Germany and the European Union met their Iranian counterpart in Geneva for nuclear talks.
Meanwhile, the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres briefed the Security Council and made an urgent plea for de-escalation, calling the spiralling confrontation a defining moment for the future of global security.
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Moving on to the world of sports, India’s javelin star Neeraj Chopra won the men’s javelin throw competition of the Paris Diamond League 2025 at Stade Sébastien Charléty last night. Two-time Olympic medallist Chopra won the title with a best effort of 88.16 meters achieved with his first throw.
“The 27-year-old Chopra outclassed Germany’s Julian Weber who finished second with 87.88 meter throw. This is the first time in this season that Neeraj has been able to get the better of Weber. Neeraj also took the revenge of Doha Diamond League concluded last month, where Weber nicked Neeraj with a personal best throw of 91.06 meters with his final attempt of the night.
Moving to Test Cricket, India were 359 for 3 at stumps on the opening day of first match of Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy in Leeds. Centuries by Jaiswal and skipper Shubman Gill put the Team India in a strong position. Gill’s ton was special as he joined the eminent list of players who scored hundred in debut match as India’s test captain. Captain Shubman Gill and Vice-Captain Rishabh Pant will carry forward Indian innings on Day 2 this afternoon.
Next we have from FIH Hockey Pro League, the Indian Men’s and Women’s Team will take on Belgium in a double-header today and tomorrow. CHIRAG JHA, SPORTS DESK.”
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Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said that Operation Sindoor sent a powerful message to terrorists and their patrons that New India will no longer be a victim of terrorism, but respond with strength and strategy.
Interacting with soldiers at Northern Command at Udhampur in Jammu and Kashmir yesterday, the Defence Minister commended the precision, coordination and courage of the Armed Forces and intelligence agencies in destroying terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and PoK. He asserted that India’s change in policy towards terrorism is a result of this unmatched valour and dedication.
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India Meteorological Department IMD has forecast for very heavy rainfall in Madhya Pradesh, Eastern Uttar Pradesh and in the Northeastern parts of the country today. Heavy rainfall is expected in Sub-Himalayan West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, West Uttar Pradesh and East Rajasthan today. There is forecast for moderate to heavy rainfall in Konkan & Goa, Madhya Maharashtra and Gujarat. IMD said, Light to moderate rainfall at many places in Kerala, Lakshadweep, Coastal Karnataka, Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Telangana expected today.
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TODAY’S NEWSPAPERS HEADLINE,
- Most papers have on their front page the story of PM Modi targeting the RJD and Congress in a meeting in Bihar. The Asian Age headlines ” Modi blames RJD, cong for jungle raj and poverty in Bihar” ,The Hindustan Time headlines ” Modi targets RJD, Congress in marker for Bihar elections”, and The Statesman headlines ” PM invokes jungle raj to rally Bihar voters.
- Almost all papers also report on the classroom scam allegedly involving former deputy CM Manish Sisodia. The Times of India headlines ” ED claims new evidence in city classroom scam’ and The Hindu says ” ACB questions former Deputy CM Manish Sisodia in 2000 crore Delhi classroom graft case.
- The Tribune headlines ” Iran lifts Airspace curbs to evacuate 1k Indians” and The Indian Express headlines ” Iran opens airspace for India to pull out nationals, first flights landing today”.
- And finally a story in Times of India says monsooner as rains likely to arrive sooner on june 24th.
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THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN,
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi leads the nation on 11th International Yoga Day at Visakhapatnam; Highlights role of Yoga amid global tensions, says Yoga gives direction to peace.
- Over 500 Indian nationals evacuated from Iran under Operation Sindhu amid escalating Israel-Iran conflict.
- IMD forecast very heavy rainfall in Madhya Pradesh, Eastern Uttar Pradesh and Northeastern parts of country today.
- Neeraj Chopra wins Paris Diamond League with a 88.16m throw.
- In Test Cricket, centuries by Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal put India in strong position at Leeds.
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