
Morning news wrap: On International Yoga Day, PM Modi stresses peace through Yoga; Neeraj Chopra wins first Diamond League in two years with 88.16m throw & more
PM Modi on 11th International Yoga Day, left, and Neeraj Chopra at Paris DL
Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the 11th
International Yoga Day
in Visakhapatnam, calling yoga a "pause button" for peace in a tense world. Israel launched new strikes on Iran's missile sites, while Iran accused the US of backing the attacks and ignoring diplomacy.
As the Israel-Iran conflict grows, a third Indian rescue flight under Operation Sindhu brought citizens home from Ashgabat. In sports,
Neeraj Chopra
won his first Diamond League title in two years with a big 88.16m throw in Paris. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump rejected his intelligence chief Tulsi Gabbard's view on Iran's nuclear program, saying she was wrong.
PM Modi leads 11th International Yoga Day in Visakhapatnam, says 'Yoga is
pause button' amid global tensions
Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the 11th International Yoga Day celebrations in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, highlighting yoga's power to bring peace of mind amid rising global tensions.
Describing yoga as a 'pause button', PM Modi said, "Yoga is for everyone beyond boundaries, beyond backgrounds, beyond age or physical ability. It is a universal gift that unites humanity in health, harmony, and consciousness.
"
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Israel launches new strikes on Iranian missile sites; Tehran accuses US of undermining diplomacy
Israel escalated its military campaign against Iran by striking missile storage and launch infrastructure across multiple cities. Explosions were reported near Tehran, Rasht, and along the Caspian coast.
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The strikes came as US President Donald Trump continued to weigh the possibility of American involvement. Tehran, meanwhile, accused Washington of betraying diplomatic efforts by backing Israeli operations while simultaneously advocating for dialogue.
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Neeraj Chopra clinches first Diamond League win in two years with 88.16m throw
Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra claimed his first Diamond League victory in two years at the Paris leg of the series. After back-to-back second-place finishes, Chopra edged out Germany's Julian Weber with a commanding first-round throw of 88.16m.
Competing with five athletes with personal bests over 90m, Chopra closed with a final attempt of 82.89m.
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Operation Sindhu: Third rescue flight evacuating Indian from war-hit Iran lands in Delhi
The third evacuation flight under Operation Sindhu touched down in Delhi, carrying Indian nationals from Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, as tensions continue to rise in the Middle East. Initiated by the Indian government, Operation Sindhu is focused on ensuring the safe return of Indian citizens from conflict-affected areas amid the escalating Israel-Iran hostilities.
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Trump dismisses Tulsi Gabbard's Iran nuclear assessment, says intelligence community was 'wrong'
US President Donald Trump rejected an intelligence assessment regarding Iran's nuclear program, saying his director of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, was 'wrong.' Speaking to reporters in New Jersey, Trump said, 'Then my intelligence community was wrong.' Upon being informed that the assessment came directly from Gabbard, he responded, 'She's wrong."
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Hindustan Times
12 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Sonia Gandhi hits out at India's ‘silence' as Israel bombs Iran, blasts Netanyahu, Trump
Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Saturday called on the Centre to comment on the Israel-Palestine and Israel-Iran conflicts, saying India's silence represents not just a loss of voice but also 'a surrender of values'. India News In an article in 'The Hindu', Sonia Gandhi alleged that the Indian government was earlier silent on Israel's offensive in Gaza, and is doing the same during the ongoing conflict with Iran. The Congress veteran also accused the government of abandoning India's long-standing and principled commitment to a peaceful two-nation solution envisioning an independent Palestine along with Israel. "New Delhi's silence on the devastation in Gaza and now on the unprovoked escalation against Iran reflects a disturbing departure from our moral and diplomatic traditions. This represents not just a loss of voice but also a surrender of values," Sonia Gandhi wrote in the article. Her opinion piece comes days after the external affairs ministry expressed deep concern after Israel launched waves of airstrikes on Iranian military and nuclear sites. Emphasising that India could still speak on the two key global issues, Sonia said India should use every diplomatic channel to promote a return to dialogue in West Asia. She also said that in the face of this humanitarian catastrophe, "the Narendra Modi government has all but abandoned India's long-standing and principled commitment to a peaceful two-state solution, one that envisions a sovereign, independent Palestine living side-by-side with Israel in mutual security and dignity." Defending Iran's sovereignty in light of Israel's "troubling and unlawful" strikes on June 13, Sonia said the world has "witnessed the dangerous consequences of unilateral militarism". Drawing parallels with the situation in Gaza for nearly two years now, the Congress leader alleged that Israel struck parts of Iran with utter disregard to civilian lives. However, when Israel struck Iran, it said it targeted nuclear and military sites, top generals and nuclear scientists. "These actions will only deepen instability and sow the seeds of further conflict," she noted, adding that Congress has condemned these bombings and targeted assassinations on Iranian soil. 'Iran a long-standing friend' As she called on the government to voice its opinion on the Israel-Iran conflict, Sonia Gandhi spoke highly of the Islamic Republic of Iran, saying the country has been a long-standing friend to India. "It has a history of steadfast support, including in Jammu and Kashmir at crucial junctures. In 1994, Iran helped block a resolution critical of India at the UN Commission on Human Rights on the Kashmir issue," she noted. "Indeed, the Islamic Republic of Iran has been much more cooperative with India than its predecessor, the Imperial State of Iran, that had tilted towards Pakistan in the 1965 and 1971 wars," she added. Referring to the India-Israel strategic relations in recent decades, she said, "This unique position gives our country the moral responsibility and the diplomatic leverage to act as a bridge for de-escalation and peace." She also brought attention to a significant number of Indian nationals living and working across West Asia, and how a conflict there affects their lives too. Big attack on Netanyahu, Trump Lashing out at Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Sonia Gandhi alleged that the government led by him "has a long and unfortunate record of undermining peace and nurturing extremism". She alleged that given the record, "it is not surprising that Netanyahu would choose escalation over engagement". After the Israel-Iran conflict began on June 13, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to his Israeli counterpart and conveyed India's concerns about the situation in West Asia. He had called for the early restoration of peace in the region. Sonia Gandhi also slammed US President Donald Trump, who has taken a tough stance against Iran amid the ongoing conflict, and is deliberating on whether the US military would step in. She referred to Trump calling his own director of national intelligence Tulsi Gabbard 'wrong' in saying that the US believed Iran was not building a nuclear weapon, and said his remark was "deeply disappointing". "Israel's recent actions against Iran have taken place in an atmosphere of impunity, enabled by near-unconditional support from powerful western nations," Gandhi said.

Time of India
16 minutes ago
- Time of India
Donald Trump's Self-Endorsed Nobel Peace Prize Nomination Sparks India-Pakistan Diplomatic Storm
US President Donald Trump has once again demanded the Nobel Peace Prize, claiming he deserves not just one — but four to five of them. Speaking to reporters, Trump said his role in resolving the India-Pakistan conflict, as well as efforts in places like Rwanda, Congo, Serbia, and Kosovo, should have earned him the honour multiple times. His remarks came after Pakistan nominated Trump for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize, claiming his "decisive diplomatic intervention" helped secure a ceasefire between India and Pakistan following the deadly Pahalgam terror attack and India's bold response under Operation Sindoor. According to a report by Dawn, the Pakistani government credited Trump's leadership as "pivotal" in de-escalating the situation, even labelling him a "genuine peacemaker." However, the Indian government has categorically denied any US involvement in the ceasefire. India's Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri clarified that there were no trade talks or mediation discussions with the US during the crisis. Prime Minister Narendra Modi reportedly made it clear to Trump that any resolution was strictly bilateral and had nothing to do with any external actor.#donaldtrump #nobelprize #nobelpeaceprize #pakistan #trumpnobelprize #operationsindoor #indiapakistanconflict #modireacts #pakistanpolitics #trumpnews #usforeignpolicy #indiaresponds #nobelnomination #geopolitics #toi #toibharat #bharat #breakingnews #indianews Read More

The Hindu
17 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Participants in jubilant mood after their yoga performance with PM Modi, CM Naidu in Vizag
VIZIANAGARAM/SRIKAKULAM: Many yoga lovers of Vizianagaram and Srikakulam districts are in jubilant mood as they had got a rare experience of doing yoga along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Minister Naidu and others during the International Yoga Day at Ramakrishna Beach of Visakhapatnam on Saturday, June 21, 2025. International Yoga Day LIVE updates: Yoga teaches us we are not isolated individuals but integral parts of nature: PM Modi Despite the difficulty in catching the government bus early in the morning, many elderly people felt were elated to perform yoga with the visting dignataries and listen to their speeches. Guinness Record in AP: 22,122 Do Surya Namaskar | Naidu Appeals to Modi for Global Push A retired teacher and yoga trainer Borra Kaleswara Rao of Cheepurupalli said that he was thrilled to see Prime Minister Narendra Modi doing yoga with common people at RK Beach. 'Yoga culture has spread in India and abroad after Mr. Modi took initiative to make June 21 as the International Yoga Day since Year-2015. This initiative has given healthy results during Covid-19 period. Fortunately, many people could overcome the impact of Coronavirus as they had practiced yoga during the lockdown period,' said Rao while speaking to The Hindu. Limca Book of Records holder of Yoga Siripurapu Pravallika Narayan said that the celebrations of International Yoga Day at Visakhapatnam had caught the attention of youngsters and others across the country. Mr .Pravallika who made children to perform yoga in the form of English letters urged the government to issue orders making yoga classes mandatory at least two days in a week. Industrialist and SSR Charitable Foundation President Sura Srinivasa Rao said that Yogandhra-2025 had spread the culture of yoga in rural and tribal areas of Srikakulam district. Etcherla-BJP MLA N. Eswara Rao and BJP Srikakulam district president. Siripurapu Tejeswara Rao and former president of the district Birlangi Umamaheswara Rao and others who met Prime Minister in Visakhapatnam thanked him for selecting Visakhapatnam for the celebrations of International Yoga Day. 'Common people's direct participation in the programme is the real achievement. Hope, the yoga culture would continue further since it is the real objective of the government,' said Mr .Eswara Rao. Officials of both the districts expressed happiness with the participation of more than 50,000 common people of the region in the celebrations organised in Visakhapatnam.