
Pujara, Yuvraj celebrate International Yoga Day
New Delhi [India], June 21 (ANI): Indian cricket icons Yuvraj Singh and Cheteshwar Pujara took to social media, celebrating and extending wishes of International Yoga Day.
Pujara shared a picture on X, doing yoga in front of a beaming sun and captioned the post, 'Take a moment to honour the journey within! #internationalyogaday.'
https://x.com/cheteshwar1/status/1936371132489404667
The World Cup-winning all-rounder Yuvraj also posted an Instagram story of himself doing yoga, saying, 'Some days are meant to remind us to pause, to stretch beyond the routine and reconnect with breath, balance and stillness. Today is a great day to make this a practice.'
Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday took part in the 11th International Day of Yoga celebrations, where he hailed yoga as a gift 'beyond age' that transcends all boundaries and unites humanity in 'health and harmony.'
The event took place against the scenic backdrop of the Visakhapatnam coastline, with Indian Navy ships stationed near the shore, adding to the grandeur of the celebrations.
The Prime Minister praised the efforts of the Andhra Pradesh government and extended his appreciation to Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and Jana Sena Party chief Pawan Kalyan for hosting the event in Visakhapatnam.
He lauded their leadership as 'inspiring' and described the state's initiative to promote yoga as 'commendable.
'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. Friends, I am truly delighted that we are gathered here in Visakhapatnam, a city that beautifully blends nature with progress. I extend my heartfelt congratulations to Chandrababu Naidu Garu and Pawan Kalyan for hosting such a wonderful event under your inspiring leadership. It is commendable that the state of Andhra Pradesh has taken this meaningful initiative to promote yoga,' said PM Modi while addressing the gathering.
Over three lakh individuals joined him for a mass yoga session in the coastal city, reinforcing this year's message that 'yoga belongs to everyone' and brings the world together.
The Prime Minister recalled India's initiative at the United Nations in 2014 to declare June 21 as International Yoga Day, a move that received wide global support in record time.
'I remember when India proposed to the United Nations that June 21st be celebrated as International Yoga Day. Remarkably, in a very short span of time, 175 countries came forward to support this initiative. Such unity and overwhelming global support was truly extraordinary. This was not just about agreeing to a proposal, it was a collective step taken for the betterment of humanity. It reflected a shared vision for a healthier, more conscious world. Today, in 2025, we can proudly see that yoga has become an integral part of many people's lives across the globe,' the Prime Minister said. (ANI)
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


United News of India
33 minutes ago
- United News of India
Stealth frigate Tamal to be inducted into Indian Navy on July 1
New Delhi, June 22 (UNI) The Indian Navy is all set to commission its latest stealth multi-role frigate, 'Tamal', at Kaliningrad in Russia on July one. Tamal is the eighth in the series of Krivak class frigates inducted from Russia over the past two decades. It is the second ship of the Tushil Class, which are the upgraded versions of their predecessors, Talwar and Teg classes having three ships each, an official statement said here on Sunday. The ship has 26 percent indigenous components, including the BrahMos long-range cruise missile for targeting both at sea and land. The ship has significant upgrades in its arsenal in comparison to its predecessors, such as vertically launched surface-to-air missiles, improved 100 MM gun, new age EO/IR (Electro-Optical/Infrared) system in addition to the standard 30 MM CIWS (close-in weapon system), heavyweight torpedoes, urgent-attack anti-submarine rockets, and a host of surveillance and fire control radars and systems. India as part of the broader contract for Tushil class is also building two similar frigates, called the Triput class, at Goa Shipyard Limited with transfer of technology and design assistance from the Russian side. By the conclusion of this series of ships, Indian Navy will be operating 10 ships with similar capabilities and commonality in equipment, weapon and sensor fit over four different classes. Tamal has been built at Yantar Shipyard in Kaliningrad, Russia, and is the last warship to be inducted from a foreign source, in line with the Government of India's impetus on Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India initiatives. The crew, comprising of over 250 personnel, have undergone rigorous ashore as well as afloat training in extremely challenging winter conditions of St Petersburg and Kaliningrad, Russia. Tamal has successively completed extensive sea trials undertaken over three months, proving its systems, weapons and sensors. The ship's name, Tamal, symbolises the mythical sword used for combat by Indra - the King of the gods. The ship's mascot is inspired by the congruence of the 'Jambavant' the immortal bear king of Indian mythology and the Russian national animal - the Eurasian Brown Bear. The ship's crew collectively takes great pride in calling themselves the 'The Great Bears'. Tamal stands as a testament to the longstanding Indo-Russian cooperation and friendship which has stood the test of time. The ship's motto, 'Sarvada Sarvatra Vijaya' (Victorious Always Everytime) signifies the Indian Navy's undying commitment to operational excellence in every mission, complementing its motto 'Combat Ready, Credible, Cohesive and Future Ready Force Safeguarding National Maritime Interests – Anytime, Anywhere'. The 125 metre long, 3900-ton warship, packs a lethal punch. Tamal is an impressive blend of Indian and Russian cutting-edge technologies and best practices in warship construction. Upon commissioning, Tamal will join the 'Sword Arm' of the Indian Navy, the Western Fleet, under the Western Naval Command. It will not only be a symbol of Indian Navy's growing capabilities but also exemplifying collaborative strength of the India-Russia partnership. UNI RBE SS


NDTV
33 minutes ago
- NDTV
Despite Clashes With US Presidents, Netanyahu Usually Gets His Way
Jerusalem: A little over a month ago, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appeared to have been shunted to the shadows by US President Donald Trump, who hopscotched the Middle East without visiting Israel, traditionally Washington's closest regional ally. Worse still, from Netanyahu's perspective, Trump lifted sanctions on neighbouring Syria - something Israel opposed - and talked up the prospects of securing a nuclear deal with Iran, something the prime minister has always cautioned against. Fast forward five weeks and the United States has bombed Iran's main nuclear installations, fulfilling a decades-old dream of Netanyahu to convince Washington to bring its full military might to thwart Tehran's atomic ambitions. The US attack underscores a broader truth that has defined Netanyahu's career: no matter how fraught his relationships with successive presidents, he normally ends up getting what he wants. For over three decades, Netanyahu has clashed - often spectacularly - with American leaders. He has lectured them, defied them, embarrassed them publicly and privately. And yet, across Democratic and Republican administrations, US military aid has flowed largely uninterrupted to Israel. Washington remains Israel's chief arms supplier and diplomatic shield. "He probably has concluded that he always gets away with it," said a senior United Nations official in Jerusalem who declined to be named. "It's hard to argue otherwise." Just one month ago, opposition leader Yair Lapid accused Netanyahu of destroying Israel's relations with the United States. This weekend's action represents the closest US-Israeli military alignment yet against a common adversary. Withstanding Pressure Netanyahu's belief in his ability to advance his agenda, and withstand American pressure when needed, has deep roots. Barely a month after becoming prime minister for the first time in 1996, he met President Bill Clinton in Washington and immediately rubbed him up the wrong way. "Who the f--- does he think he is? Who's the f---ing superpower here?" Clinton asked his aides afterwards, according to US diplomat Aaron David Miller, who was present. But vital US aid to Israel continued to flow - something that would remain a constant over the years. Netanyahu was voted out of office in a 1999 election and did not return to power until a decade later, by which time Barack Obama, a Democrat like Clinton, was in the White House. Relations between the two turned openly hostile, initially over Israeli settlement building in occupied territory that Palestinians claim for a future stake - a constant thorn in US-Israeli relations. Matters deteriorated further as Obama entered negotiations with Iran to curb its nuclear drive - a project that Israel said is aimed at creating atomic bombs and that Tehran has said is for purely civilian purposes. Netanyahu spoke to Congress in 2015 at the invitation of Republicans to denounce the prospective deal, without informing the White House. "(The accord) doesn't block Iran's path to the bomb; it paves Iran's path to the bomb," he said. Obama was widely reported to have been furious, but still, the following year Washington delivered the largest military aid package to Israel in US history - $38 billion over 10 years. Political analysts say Netanyahu takes US support as a given, confident that backing from evangelical Christians and the small Jewish-American community will guarantee that Israel remains well-armed, however much he antagonises the White House. Convincing Trump When Hamas militants launched a surprise attack on Israel in October 2023, then-President Joe Biden flew to Israel to show his support, authorising a huge flow of weapons to help with the conflict unleashed in Gaza. But relations between Netanyahu, a right-winger, and Biden, a Democrat, deteriorated rapidly, as Washington grew alarmed by the spiralling number of civilian deaths and the burgeoning humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian enclave. Biden held back on some heavy munitions deliveries and imposed sanctions on a number of violent Israeli settlers, so his defeat at the hands of Trump in last November's presidential election was celebrated by Netanyahu. Finally, he had a Republican in office at a crucial moment for Israel. However, things did not go smoothly, at least to start with. Like Biden before him, Trump was unhappy at the protracted conflict in Gaza and then he blindsided Netanyahu during a meeting on April 7, when he revealed that he was launching direct talks with Tehran aimed at finding a diplomatic solution to the protracted nuclear stand-off with Iran. But while Trump publicly positioned himself as a peacemaker, Netanyahu consistently pushed for military intervention. Although it is unclear if Netanyahu ever got him to say "yes" to Israel's war plans, it was at least not a "no", according to two senior US officials and a senior Israeli source. As soon as Israel launched its aerial war on Iran in the early hours of June 13, Israel pushed the United States to join in, urging Trump to be on the winning side of history, two Israeli officials said last week. "Mr President, Finish the job!" read large billboards that have popped up in Tel Aviv. The sense of relief when the US bombers struck Iran's most protected nuclear sites on Sunday was palpable. "Congratulations, President Trump. Your bold decision to target Iran's nuclear facilities with the awesome and righteous might of the United States will change history," Netanyahu said in a brief video address. "May God bless our unshakeable alliance, our unbreakable faith," he concluded.


Hindustan Times
34 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Asaduddin Owaisi mocks Pakistan over US strikes on Iran: ‘Should Donald Trump win Nobel for this?'
As the United States struck three Iranian nuclear facilities overnight under what it called 'Operation Midnight Hammer', AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi asked Pakistan whether Donald Trump should win a Nobel Peace Prize for this. AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi also mocked Pakistani Army chief Asim Munir for having lunch with US President Donald Trump. (ANI) Owaisi also lambasted Washington and said that it was "never an honest broker". Follow Iran Israel war live updates The AIMIM chief's remarks come against the backdrop of the recent American strikes on Iranian nuclear sites as well as Pakistan's move to nominate the US President for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize. Pakistan had nominated Trump for the Nobel Prize, citing his "diplomatic intervention and pivotal leadership" during the recent India-Pakistan conflict. "The US was never an honest broker. Whether it is Iraq, Libya or Palestine. The US is sitting completely silent on the ethnic cleansing taking place in Gaza," Owaisi told news agency ANI. He added that Washington's policy is to only "cover up the crimes of the Israeli government". Owaisi asked why "no one is talking about a genocide" that is happening in Gaza. ALSO READ | Donald Trump's plan, 125 aircraft, over 24 Tomahawk missiles: Pentagon reveals key details of Iran strikes "You went into Iraq, saying they were creating these weapons of mass destruction, and nothing was found over there. You removed Gaddafi in Libya, and nothing happened. Saddam was killed, and Gaddafi was killed. The US policy is only to cover up the crimes of the Israeli government. What is happening in Gaza? A genocide is happening, and no one is talking about it," the Lok Sabha MP said. Further, he questioned Pakistan's support for Trump and asked if they backed him only to see the strikes on Iran. "We should ask Pakistanis if they want Trump to get a Nobel Peace Prize..." Owaisi said, referring to the US strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities in Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan. ALSO READ | Iran President says US entered conflict after witnessing 'Israel's impotence' He also mocked Pakistan's top military leadership and asked whether Islamabad's Army chief, Asim Munir, had lunch with the US President for this (US strikes on Iran)? "They all have been exposed today," Owaisi added. The AIMIM chief further slammed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, calling him a "butcher of Palestinians". "A genocide is happening in Gaza, and the US is not worried about it. This man (Netanyahu), he has butchered Palestinians... He is doing ethnic cleansing of Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza. History will remember him as the butcher of Palestinians," he added. Owaisi also raised concerns over the chances of serious consequences for India if a full-scale war breaks out in the Middle East region. He cited that over 16 million Indians reside in the Gulf and the Middle East, saying that "if that area erupts in a war, which unfortunately is very likely, then it will have a grave impact on the Indians living there". US President Donald Trump, early on Sunday, announced that Washington carried out strikes on Iran's three nuclear facilities. Following this, he urged Iran to agree to end the war with Israel. Later, Trump also warned Iran that any retaliation from Tehran against the US "will be met with force far greater than what was witnessed" on Sunday.