11th International Yoga Day being celebrated in Jammu and Kashmir
World came together on June 21 to celebrate the 11th International Yoga Day
In Pictures: 11th International Yoga Day being celebrated in Jammu and Kashmir
Yoga gives world the direction of peace: PM Modi
Visakhapatnam, June 21: Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday that Yoga gives the world the direction of peace at a time when it is witnessing conflicts, unrest and instability.
On the 11th International Day of Yoga, he urged the international community to let this Yoga Day mark the beginning of yoga for humanity 2.0 where inner peace becomes global policy.
The Prime Minister was addressing the national event to mark the 11th International Day of Yoga in Visakhapatnam.
The Prime Minister, who performed the Common Yoga Protocol (CYP) along with over three lakh people at RK Beach, emphasised the importance of yoga in ensuring happiness and peace.
He believes that yoga can bring peace by leading the world from clash to cooperation and tension to resolution.
“Unfortunately, today the entire world is going through tension and unrest. Instability has been increasing in many regions. In such times, yoga gives us the direction of peace. yoga is the pause button that humanity needs to breathe, to balance, and become whole again,” he said.
PM Modi stated that yoga should not be mere personal practice but become the medium of global partnership where every country and society make yoga part of their life and public policy.
Congratulating people across the world on 11th International Day of Yoga, the Prime Minister said that yoga isn’t just an exercise but it is a way of life.
“Yoga in simple terms means to connect. It has connected the world,” he said.
He recalled that in 2014 when India moved a resolution in the United Nations to celebrate June 21 as the International Yoga Day, 175 countries supported the resolution in a short time.
“This support was not just for a resolution but it was the collective effort of the entire world for the well-being of humanity,” he said.
“After 11 years, we can now see that yoga has become a part of the lifestyle of crores of people around the world…Whether it’s the steps of the Opera House, the peak of Mount Everest, or the vastness of the sea, every place echoes the same message: Yoga is for everyone and belongs to all. Yoga is for everyone, beyond boundaries, backgrounds, age or ability,” he added.
PM Modi said that he feels proud to see Divyang friends study Yoga Shastras in Braille, scientists practice yoga in space and young friends participate in the Yoga Olympiads in villages. He pointed out that yoga is also being performed on the Navy ships off Visakhapatnam coast.
The Prime Minister underlined the spirit of oneness behind yoga. “The theme for this year’s International Day of Yoga is ‘Yoga For One Earth, For One Health’. This theme reflects a deep truth: The health of every entity on Earth is interconnected. Human well-being depends on the health of the soil that grows our food, the rivers that give us water, the health of the animals that share our ecosystems, and the plants that nourish us. Yoga awakens us to this interconnectedness, leads us on a journey towards oneness with the world, and teaches us that we are not isolated individuals but part of nature.”
Andhra Pradesh Governor S. Abdul Nazeer, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Prakash Jadhav, central ministers K. Ram Mohan Naidu, Chandrasekhar Pemmasani, Bhupati Raju Srinivasa Varma, state ministers Nara Lokesh and Satya Kumar, MPs D. Purandeswari and M. Bharat were present.
Iran rules out nuclear Talks amid ongoing strikes
New Delhi, Jun 21: As missile exchanges between Israel and Iran enter their second week, hopes for reviving nuclear diplomacy are dimming rapidly. Iran has ruled out any talks on its nuclear programme while under attack, just hours after Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant warned of a “prolonged campaign” against Iran.
Speaking to European diplomats in Geneva on Friday, Iran’s chief negotiator Abbas Araghchi said Iran was open to diplomacy — but only “once Israel’s aggression is stopped.” Quoted by the BBC, Araghchi insisted Iran’s nuclear programme remained “peaceful” and condemned Israeli strikes as violations of international law. “Iran will continue to exercise its legitimate right of self-defence,” he said, adding firmly that “Iran’s defence capabilities are non-negotiable.”
The Iranian diplomat’s comments came as the military conflict intensified. On the ground, Iran fired a new salvo of missiles targeting the northern Israeli city of Haifa, reportedly killing one Israeli woman who suffered a heart attack, bringing Israel’s total death toll to 25, according to the BBC. In retaliation, the Israel Defence Forces struck missile storage and launch sites in western Iran, continuing a series of airstrikes that have already killed senior Iranian military commanders and nuclear scientists.
Meanwhile, CNN reported that the Geneva talks between Iranian and European officials “started out tense but became much more positive” as discussions progressed. However, an Iranian source told the network that Tehran would not agree to give up its uranium enrichment capabilities, calling it a “bold red line.”
US President Donald Trump on Friday reiterated that Iran had a maximum of two weeks to show willingness for talks or face potential American military action. “I’m giving them a period of time,” Trump told reporters. “Two weeks would be the maximum. We want to see whether or not people come to their senses.”
The US president was also sceptical of the European diplomatic push, dismissing its relevance. “Iran doesn’t want to speak to Europe,” Trump said. “They want to speak to us. Europe is not going to be able to help in this.”
European leaders meanwhile, remain committed to finding a political solution. UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy acknowledged that the situation was “perilous and deadly serious,” and urged Iran and the US to return to diplomacy within the “short window” now available, reports international media. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, quoted by the BBC, also cautioned against further militarisation. “There can be no definitive solution through military means to the Iran nuclear problem,” he said. “It is dangerous to want to impose regime change in Iran.”
Iran’s leadership, however, remains unmoved by such appeals. An official in the Iranian presidency told CNN that diplomacy with the US could “easily” resume — but only if President Trump orders Israel to halt its strikes. Trump, for his part, said it would be “very hard” to make such a request, according to CNN.
The war has already taken a heavy toll. Iran’s health ministry reported that 224 people had been killed so far, while a human rights group cited by the BBC puts the unofficial death toll at 639. Iranian retaliation has included hundreds of ballistic missiles fired at Israeli targets, escalating fears of a wider regional war. With neither side willing to back down and diplomacy at a standstill, the conflict threatens to escalate further. As Israeli Foreign Minister Eyal Zamir warned in a televised address, the country must brace for “difficult days ahead,” reported the BBC.
For now, the missiles continue to fly, and the window for diplomacy appears to be narrowing by the day.
290 Indian students return from Iran, land in Delhi
New Delhi, June 21: A flight from Mashhad, Iran, carrying 290 Indian students, mostly from Jammu and Kashmir, landed at the Delhi Airport late Friday.
The Indian government has launched Operation Sindhu to evacuate its nationals from the Middle Eastern country as hostilities escalate between Israel and Iran.
Two more flights are scheduled to arrive later in the night, including one from Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, around 3 am, bringing home around 1,000 Indian nationals.
“Heartfelt thanks to the Government of India, Ministry of External Affairs, and all concerned authorities for their timely intervention and support. A great relief for families who had been anxiously awaiting their return,” the Jammu and Kashmir Students Association said in a statement.
In a special gesture, Iran opened its airspace to facilitate India’s evacuation efforts.
Students were earlier moved to Mashhad from Tehran, and the flights operated by an Iranian airline were coordinated by Indian authorities.
The evacuation follows days of aerial bombardments and retaliatory strikes between Iran and Israel.
On Thursday, 110 Indian students were evacuated via Armenia and Doha before reaching Delhi.
The Ministry of External Affairs launched Operation Sindhu last week.
CSC report on reservation legal document; have to follow due process: CM
Jammu, Jun 20: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Friday asserted that the Cabinet Sub Committee (CSC) report on reservation was a legal document hence it required legal examination as per due process and it was being followed.
Following this set process, the Cabinet, after accepting this report, sent it to the Law Department for examination and comments.
After that the cabinet would deliberate the report again and then the next step would be taken, he said.
With regard to queries about next move vis-‡-vis J&K governmentís persisting demand for restoration of statehood, CM Omar said at the moment, the government was waiting for realisation of the Prime Ministerís promise.
The CM was responding to queries during an interaction with select-media after inaugurating ìRaabitaî ñ the CMís public service and outreach office in Jammu.
Confronted with queries on the hot topic of the CSC report on reservation, the CM used this occasion to hit back at political opponents by responding to their criticism in kind and measure.
ìWith what face, Peoples Democratic Party could say anything on reservationÖ When the PDP President Mehbooba Mufti had to fetch votes, she had in fact put a complete ban on her party members to speak anything related to reservation. Should I bring to the fore the record of those tweets put by Mehbooba Mufti and her party on her ëXí handle which said ëNobody in the party is authorised to speak on reservation?í Reason was ñ she was contesting (LS) election from Anantnag and she wanted votes from Rajouri-Poonch people,î CM Omar sharply reacted, when asked that PDP and Peoples Conference supremo Sajad Lone had described the act of J&K cabinet vis-‡-vis CSC report on reservation as a tactic to ìwaste timeî.
ìWhy did she not talk about reservation then? That time, she not only kept mum but she actually entered into a deal (on reservation). Today when her interest is served, she has suddenly started sympathising with the people on reservation. What should I say about Sajad Lone Sahib?î he questioned mockingly.
ìHe (Lone) was close to the government during the past five years when all this happened. We were out of the scene. We were ousted from government accommodations; our security was curtailed. He was comfortably living in the government accommodation,î CM Omar said, aiming barbs at Lone.
ìWhy did he not raise this issue then? See, if I had to waste time only. I would have extended the tenure of CSC for another six months. What you (opponents) could have done? Did you (opponents) have any method to pressurise me to complete this report in six months? How many committees in this country have submitted their reports in time. Most of the committees get extensions after extensions and reports keep on lingering for years. Probably this was the first committee, which met its deadline of six months and completed its report,î he said.
The CM asserted, ìFollowing it (submission), the Law Department has to examine the report. You cannot hijack this process. It (report) is a legal document. It requires a legal examination. Cabinet, after accepting this report, has sent it to the Law Department for examination and for its comments.î
When asked about inputs that the CSC was asked to ëreworkí to remove shortcomings to make it legally tenable, CM Omar said, ìThe report has come. We have taken the report. It has been sent to the Law Department for its comments. When we get it back with the Law Departmentís comments. The Cabinet will deliberate it again and then the next step will be taken.î
ON STATEHOOD
Will the J&K government move to the Supreme Court for restoration of statehood as its repeated demand has not borne any fruit so far?
The CMís answer was, ìWhat will be our next move to get statehood? Will we move to the Supreme Court? On that (SC) account weíll talk later. For the time being, we are hopeful that the (Central) Government will keep its word and fulfill the promise the Prime Minister has made to the people of J&K and reiterated in Sonamarg also and J&K will get its statehood back.î
With regard to a query about meeting peopleís expectations in the eight months of his tenure, the Chief Minister curtly replied, ìI will not go into eight monthsÖone yearÖor two years. People have given us a mandate for five years. Ask us this question after five years.î
He expressed hope that the cause behind the Ahmedabad air tragedy would come to the fore soon and such a tragedy should not recur.
JKEDI launches Summer Internship Programme for 115 students at Udhampur
Jammu, Jun 20: The Jammu and Kashmir Entrepreneurship Development Institute (JKEDI) today inaugurated the second batch of its Summer Internship Program, welcoming 115 undergraduate students at its Bari Brahmana campus in Jammu, as well as its District Centres in Jammu and Udhampur. This initiative underscores JKEDI’s commitment to fostering experiential learning and strengthening industry-academia linkages in line with the objectives of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
The participating students, enrolled in undergraduate programs across Government SPMR College of Commerce (Jammu), Government College for Women (Parade Ground, Jammu), Government Degree College (Akhnoor), and the Bhaskar Degree College (Udhampur), will undergo a 10-day internship designed to fulfill the NEP-mandated 60-hour experiential learning component.
This immersive program is structured to enhance students’ understanding of entrepreneurship, innovation, enterprise creation, and research. Interns will engage in interactive sessions led by seasoned professionals, participate in business simulations, and explore real-world entrepreneurial challenges and solutions.Key focus areas of the internship include fundamentals of research methodology and literature review, Orientation on the J&K Startup Policy 2024–27, Preparation and presentation of internship reports, Awareness of various self-employment schemes operational in the Union Territory of J&K, Career guidance on pursuing entrepreneurship as a viable option.
The participants will also gain insights into the organisational structure and functional verticals of JKEDI, with hands-on exposure to its various programs and initiatives.
By bridging classroom knowledge with practical application, this initiative aims to cultivate critical thinking, problem-solving capabilities, and an entrepreneurial mindset among students. It aligns with JKEDI’s broader vision of nurturing future-ready talent and contributing meaningfully to the entrepreneurship ecosystem in Jammu and Kashmir and beyond.
RSGC kicks off 2025 Club Golf Tournament
Srinagar, Jun 20: The Royal Springs Golf Course (RSGC) commenced its annual Club Golf Tournament on June 19 as part of its 2025 calendar, marking the beginning of the Four Ball, Best Ball (Partner by Choice) competition.
The tournament, as per a statement issued on Friday, is being held in a match play knockout format over five days and has attracted participation from the club’s leading golfers, including several lady members.
The opening day witnessed three engaging matches, with Qazi Fasi and Irfan Khan edging past Abdul Hamid Wani and Dr Altaf Umar Ramzan in a closely fought contest, sealing victory on the 17th hole.
Dr Asif Ali Khanday and Shahid Parvaiz defeated Rubeena Farooq and Shabnum Mir, wrapping up the match on the 14th hole. Two scheduled matches resulted in walkovers.
The tournament has sparked keen interest and excitement among members. The Secretary of RSGC appreciated the response and assured that such events would be held regularly to keep the golf course vibrant and engaging for members.
Iran opens airspace for 1000 Indian students
Srinagar, Jun 20: Like a bolt from the blue, Iran permitted India to use its airspace and fly around 1000 students out of the war-hit country in three chartered flights. After the harrowing wait and gruelling travel for days that seemed like weeks for students from India stuck in Iran, clouds have finally drifted and paved the way for their return. Around 100 Indian students, most of them from Kashmir, were at Mashhad Airport when this news story was filed.
They were set to board three flights to New Delhi.
More flights are in the offing to help Indian nationals leave the country.
Maymoona, whose only son studies in Iran, looked forward to Friday, the day she hoped her son Moomin (name changed) would cross over into Turkmenistan with other students from his college. However, her hopes were dashed when she learnt that the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had not succeeded in creating a safe passage through this country.
ìThey were told to send students in small batches of 50 each. That way, it would take weeks to evacuate them,î she cried inconsolably, fearing for the safety of her child.
However, her tears changed into smiles in the evening when Moomin shared an image of his boarding pass for a flight from Mashhad to New Delhi.
More than 600 students were brought from Qom City in Iran to Mashhad on Wednesday.
The students had travelled over 1000 km to reach this transit point from where they were to move into Turkmenistan or to other neighbouring countries.
However, on Thursday, three buses with Indian students were returned from the Turkmenistan border for want of ìsome documentationî.
On Friday, the buses that were scheduled to leave in the morning were delayed due to paperwork again, the students said.
However, the delay proved fortunate as students were informed that they would move by air to their country.
According to multiple reports, Iran has made a special accommodation by removing airspace restrictions for three charter flights for evacuating students, estimated to be around 1000.
ìWe consider Indians as our people,î Iranian Embassyís Deputy Chief of Mission, Mohammad Javad Hosseni was quoted as telling the media.
FLIGHTS TO LAND IN DELHI
Meanwhile, officials said that two evacuation flights would be arriving in India on Friday night and early Saturday morning.
ìThe first flight is expected to land in Delhi around 11:30 pm on Friday, and the second flight will also land in Delhi around 3 am on Saturday,î they said.
The first flight will come from Mashad while the second flight will be coming from Ashgabat.
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Sajjad Shaheen hails sanctioning of 4 MHPs in Banihal
Banihal, Jun 20: MLA Banihal Sajjad Shaheen has hailed the sanctioning of four Micro Hydel Projects (MHPs) in the erstwhile Banihal constituency as a landmark achievement that will significantly contribute to the region’s development, energy self-reliance, and economic upliftment.
According to a press release, the newly sanctioned projects are Pogal (2.0 MW), Paristan (2.0 MW), Ukharhal (1.75 MW), and Banihal (1.3 MW). These projects, originally conceptualised during the Omar Abdullah-led NC government in 2012 with the intervention of Dr Farooq Abdullah, had faced years of neglect under the PDP-BJP regime. Their revival and re-tendering now reflect the current government’s commitment to harnessing renewable energy and empowering rural areas. In addition, two more Micro Hydel Projects at Buzla and Kawna in Tehsil Khari have also been approved and will be taken up shortly.
MLA Sajjad Shaheen expressed heartfelt gratitude to Chief Minister . Omar Abdullah for this visionary step and continued support towards the development of Banihal. “The sanctioning of these MHPs marks a new chapter in our journey of self-reliance and inclusive development. I am thankful to the Hon’ble CM for this bold and forward-looking initiative,” he said.
He also thanked Minister for Science and Technology Satish Sharma, Secretary S&T Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary, and CEO JKEDA Dr P R Dhar for playing an instrumental role in reviving and processing these crucial energy projects.
The MLA noted that the implementation of these projects will not only ensure better electricity generation but will also open avenues for local employment, infrastructure strengthening, and economic activity in remote and underserved areas of Banihal.
PM Narendra Modi to participate in massive International Yoga Day in Andhra Pradesh on June 21
Amravati, Jun 20: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will participate in a massive International Yoga Day organised by Andhra Pradesh, on Saturday, in a 26-km-long corridor from RK Beach in the port city of Visakhapatnam that stretches up to Bhogapuram, where over 3 lakh people can perform Yoga simultaneously.
Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has said the event, scheduled from 6:30 am to 8:00 am, will be organised in such a way to get recognition and set records, including a Guinness World Record. The Andhra Pradesh government aims to set a string of records in Yoga by mobilising several lakh people, not just in Visakhapatnam, but by organising simultaneous activities across the state on June 21.
The 11th International Yoga Day, celebrated by several countries across the world, has been themed as ‘Yoga for One Earth, One Health’. “As many as 25,000 tribal students will perform Surya Namaskars for 108 minutes. The objective is to set records for the largest group and the most people performing Surya Namaskars simultaneously,” said Naidu.
The government is aiming to organise yoga sessions in one lakh centres across the state and attract five lakh people to participate in yoga activities in Visakhapatnam. Observing that elaborate arrangements have been made across a 26-km stretch from RK Beach in Vizag to Bhogapuram, the CM said 3.19 lakh people can perform yoga simultaneously from RK Beach. Participants from eight lakh locations across the state, country, and the world are expected to join, he said, adding that the estimated two-crore registrations for yoga day activities participation overshot to 2.39 crores.
Meanwhile, elaborate security arrangements are being made for the Visakhapatnam event. “Over 1,200 CCTV cameras and drones will monitor the 26-kilometre stretch where thousands of people will perform yoga, with around 10,000 police personnel deployed for security duties,” DGP Harish Kumar Gupta said earlier. A high-tech police control room has been set up to oversee coordination and ensure foolproof security during the event, which will witness massive public participation. With Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other key ministers attending, standardised security protocols are being followed at every level, Gupta noted.
