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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How PM Modi celebrated International Yoga Day since 2015
Yoga has become a cultural link that unites individuals from different continents, with the yearly celebrations of International Yoga Day evolving into a worldwide phenomenon. Yoga comes from the Sanskrit word 'yuj' and means to 'join' or to 'yoke'. It is a pathway to positive changes in body and mind. After coming to power in 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi proposed the idea of the International Day of Yoga at the United Nations General Assembly. Recognising its universal appeal, on December 11, 2014, the United Nations proclaimed June 21 as the International Day of Yoga by resolution 69/131. This year marks the 11th International Day of Yoga, and PM Modi led the celebrations from Visakhapatnam. Here's a look at how Mr. Modi celebrated International Day of Yoga from 2015 to 2025: 2015: Rajpath (Kartavya Path) A massive yoga demonstration was held at Rajpath with Mr. Modi calling it 'Yogpath'. Barring the 'vrikshasana', he followed the entire Common Yoga Protocol that had been put together for the record attempting event on Rajpath to mark the worldwide celebration of the first International Yoga Day. 'Yoga for Harmony and Peace' was the slogan for the first International Day of Yoga. 2016: Chandigarh Leading the second International Day of Yoga in Chandigarh, Mr. Modi pitched the ancient Indian discipline as a viable solution for countries with low health budgets. Over 30,000 people took part in a 45-minute yoga session at the Capitol Complex. 2017: Lucknow Massive yoga practice sessions and demonstrations took place across the country and the world on the third yoga day with Mr. Modi leading from Lucknow. Addressing a huge gathering at the Ramabai Ambedkar Maidan, Mr. Modi said, 'The traditional practice has now become part of every person's life.' 2018: Dehradun Mr. Modi performed yoga with over 50,000 enthusiasts at the Forest Research Institute (FRI) campus in Dehradun and said the ancient Indian discipline has emerged as a 'powerful unifying' force in a strife-torn world. 'Dehradun to Dublin, Shanghai to Chicago, Jakarta to Johannesburg, Himalayan highlands or sunburnt deserts, yoga is enriching millions of lives all over the world,' he said. 2019: Ranchi India celebrated the fifth International Yoga Day on June 21, 2019. 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