National
Selfies with PM Modi, dauntless spirit of Kashmir residents mark 10th Yoga Day celebrations in Srinagar
New Delhi, June 21 (IANS) Thousands of spirited Kashmir locals, motivated by the energising words of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, celebrated the 10th International Day of Yoga (IDY), on the rain-drenched ground of Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar on Friday.
Applauding the spirit of Kashmir residents, PM Modi said: “I saw scores of girls covering themselves with the Yoga mat, and they remained on the ground. This undaunted spirit of theirs and the love for Yoga is quite appreciable.”
The Prime Minister expressed his gratitude for being present in Jammu & Kashmir, the land of Yog and Sadhna, and stated that “the atmosphere, energy, and experience from Yoga could be felt in Jammu & Kashmir today”.
“Participation of 50-60,000 people of Jammu and Kashmir with Yoga today on this occasion is a remarkable feat in itself,” he said.
Highlighting the theme for this year, “Yoga for Self and Society”, PM Modi emphasised about the significant contribution of yoga in enhancing personal wellness and fostering social cohesion and conveyed his best wishes to all citizens and those practising Yoga worldwide.
After finishing his address, PM Modi went to meet the rain-drenched Yoga enthused Kashmiris.
He interacted with young boys and girls and cheered them up, taking selfies himself, chatting with them — thus making their day.
Earlier on Friday morning, the event at SKICC began with a mixed mood of weather and human spirit.
Moments before the start of the programme, rain poured down on SKICC ground, trying to dampen the spirits of the Yoga enthusiasts of Srinagar.
However, the crowd declined to move away and stuck to its ground. The Yoga mats were used as head cover and the long green stretches of floor mats were used as mass-umbrellas.
In commemoration of the 10th anniversary of International Yoga Day, PM Modi highlighted that a remarkable 177 countries supported India’s proposal in the UN.
He also mentioned notable achievements in previous International Day of Yoga events, such as 35,000 individuals practicing yoga on Kartavya Path (earlier known as Rajpath in Delhi) in 2015, and over 130 countries participating in the yoga event led by the Prime Minister at the UN Headquarters last year.
Additionally, he expressed his delight that more than 100 institutes in India and 10 major foreign institutes have been recognized by the Yoga Certification Board established by the Ministry of Ayush.
The celebration led by the Prime Minister was also attended by Lt Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Manoj Sinha, Union Minister of State for Ayush (Independent Charge) and Minister of State in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Prataprao Jadhav, along with other dignitaries.
Lt Governor Manoj Sinha expressed his gratitude to the Prime Minister for selecting Jammu and Kashmir, particularly Srinagar, as the venue for the 10th International Yoga Day main event.
He mentioned that this event has brought a new perspective to the development journey of the Union Territory.
The Lt Governor also commended PM Modi’s efforts in promoting Yoga on an international level, stating that Yoga embodies the spirit of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam.
He emphasised the significance of this year’s theme, highlighting the importance of individuals protecting and supporting each other.
In his welcome address, Union Ayush Minister Prataprao Jadhav extended his congratulations to the citizens on International Yoga Day and expressed his delight in addressing the Yoga enthusiasts in Srinagar.
“The Yoga Yatra, initiated in 2015 under the leadership of the Prime Minister, has been progressing with ever-increasing enthusiasm without any interruptions,” he said.
He said that the theme for this year, “Yoga for Self and Society”, effectively showcases the transformative influence of Yoga.
Yoga serves as a unifying force across all segments of society, injecting vitality into the community.
Not only does Yoga contribute to our physical, mental, and spiritual well-being, but it also fosters unity and welfare within society.
Various embassies and Indian missions around the world also celebrated IDY, highlighting the extensive reach of yoga.
The Ministry of Ayush in Delhi also collaborated with NDMC, ASI, and DDA to organise large-scale yoga events.
In order to engage a wider audience, the Ministry of Ayush also introduced various competitions and activities, such as the “Yoga with Family” Video Contest in partnership with the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) on the MyGov and MyBharat platforms.
This contest aims to inspire families worldwide to demonstrate the joy of yoga and strengthen familial bonds.
Submissions for this contest must be made by June 30, 2024.
–IANS
mr/pgh
National
Defence Ministry: Year 2025 will be year of reforms
On Wednesday, the Defence Ministry announced that 2025 will be designated as the “Year of Reforms,” with a primary focus on establishing integrated theatre commands to enhance collaboration among the three branches of the military.
These reforms are aimed at transforming the armed forces into a technologically advanced, combat-ready force capable of executing multi-domain integrated operations, the ministry stated.
The initiative will emphasize emerging domains such as cyber and space, alongside cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence, machine learning, hypersonics, and robotics.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh described the “Year of Reforms” as a pivotal milestone in the modernization of the armed forces.
“It will set the stage for significant advancements in the nation’s defense capabilities, ensuring the security and sovereignty of India in the face of 21st-century challenges,” he said.
National
A 3.2 magnitude tremor struck Gujarat’s Kutch district on Wednesday morning
A 3.2 magnitude tremor struck Gujarat’s Kutch district on Wednesday morning, according to the Institute of Seismological Research (ISR).
The district administration reported no casualties or property damage following the quake.
The tremor occurred at 10:24 am, with its epicenter located 23 kilometers north-northeast (NNE) of Bhachau, as per the Gandhinagar-based ISR.
Last month, the region experienced four seismic events exceeding a magnitude of 3, including a 3.2 magnitude tremor just three days ago, with its epicenter also near Bhachau.
Earlier tremors in the area included a 3.7 magnitude earthquake on December 23 and a 3.2 magnitude event on December 7, according to ISR reports.
Kutch was also jolted by a 4.0 magnitude earthquake on November 18, 2024. On November 15, a 4.2 magnitude quake hit Patan in north Gujarat, based on ISR data.
Gujarat is considered a high-risk earthquake zone, having experienced nine major earthquakes over the past 200 years, according to the Gujarat State Disaster Management Authority (GSDMA). The 2001 earthquake in Kutch, which occurred on January 26, was the third-largest and second-most destructive in India in the last two centuries, according to the GSDMA.
National
Diljit Dosanjh faces legal action over concert songs
Singer and actor Diljit Dosanjh’s much-anticipated New Year’s Eve concert in Ludhiana faced legal hurdles after a complaint was filed by Punditrao Dharenavar, an assistant professor from Chandigarh.
Following the complaint, the Deputy Director of the Women and Child Department, Government of Punjab, issued a formal notice to Ludhiana’s District Commissioner, urging them to prohibit Dosanjh from performing specific songs during his live show on December 31, 2024.
The notice specifically targets songs accused of promoting alcohol, including Patiala Peg, 5 Tara Theke, and Case (Jeeb Vicho Feem Labbiya), even if the lyrics are slightly modified. The complaint points to previous warnings issued to Dosanjh by various commissions advising against performing these controversial tracks.
Despite these warnings, the singer allegedly continues to perform the songs with minor alterations. Dharenavar raised serious concerns about the influence of such music on young audiences, especially when minors are present at live events.
Adding to the controversy, Dharenavar referenced a 2019 Punjab and Haryana High Court ruling, which directed law enforcement to ensure that songs promoting alcohol, drugs, or violence are not played at public events, including concerts. This ruling underscores the legal basis for the complaint and has further intensified the scrutiny surrounding the event.
National
UP Minister’s convoy overturns, 5 person injured
Five people sustained injuries when a vehicle in the convoy of Uttar Pradesh Minister and Nishad Party chief Sanjay Nishad overturned into a ditch near Januan village in the Khejuri Police Station area of Ballia district late last night.
Sanjay Nishad shared details of the incident, stating that the accident injured five party workers, including four women.
“I was traveling with the convoy to participate in the Constitutional Rights Yatra organized by the party on Tuesday night. Near Januan village in the Khejuri area, one of the vehicles following the convoy lost control while trying to avoid an animal and overturned into a ditch,” Nishad explained.
The injured individuals have been identified as Rakesh Nishad, Ramrati, Usha, Geeta, and Iravati Nishad.
Senior police and administrative officials quickly arrived at the scene following the incident to oversee the situation.
National
Suchir Balaji’s mother alleges Murder
The mother of Suchir Balaji, a 26-year-old former OpenAI researcher found dead after accusing the company of copyright violations, has alleged that her son was “murdered” and called for a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) probe.
Poornima Rao, Suchir’s mother, claimed her son’s death was a “cold-blooded murder” that authorities wrongly ruled as suicide. She further disclosed that a private autopsy report conflicted with the findings of the initial police investigation.
Rao alleged that her son’s apartment had been “ransacked” and cited evidence of a struggle in the bathroom, including bloodstains that suggested he had been assaulted.
“We hired a private investigator and conducted a second autopsy to uncover the truth. The private autopsy does not confirm the cause of death stated by the police. Suchir’s apartment was ransacked, there were signs of a struggle in the bathroom, and it appears he was hit based on blood spots. This is a cold-blooded murder being misclassified as a suicide. Lobbying in San Francisco won’t deter us from seeking justice. We demand an FBI investigation,” Rao wrote on X.
Elon Musk reacted to Rao’s post, commenting, “This doesn’t seem like a suicide.”
Balaji was discovered dead in his San Francisco apartment months after accusing OpenAI of violating copyright laws during the development of ChatGPT, as reported by Fox News. Despite these claims, the San Francisco Police Department found no evidence of foul play and ruled the death a suicide.
On October 24, shortly before his death, Balaji voiced doubts about the “fair use” defense in generative artificial intelligence. “I recently participated in a NYT story about fair use and generative AI, and why I’m skeptical ‘fair use’ would be a plausible defense for a lot of generative AI products,” he wrote on X.
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