"Social Transformation and Development through Yogic practices" ::: An Assam-based organisation promoting Yoga as a tool for Collective Societal Growth

In a grand celebration of wellness and community spirit, Silchar-based NIRAMAYA (A School of Yoga Education), organized YOGAMAHOTSAV at Pranabananda Vidyamandir (Bharat Sevashram Sangha) in Lumding, Assam.

NIRMAYA is accredited to the Union Ministry of Ayush and also is a member institution of IYA.

The high-profile event was held in collaboration with the Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga (MDNIY), Ministry of Ayush, Government of India, marking a major milestone in the countdown to the International Day of Yoga, June 21, 2026.  

As of the three-day Yogic extravaganza, a thought-provoking panel discussion on the Common Yoga Protocol was held, centering on the theme "Social transformation and development through yogic practices". 

The discourse highlighted how integrating yoga into daily life can foster collective societal growth and well-being. 

The grand finale of the Mahotsav featured a vibrant cultural program that beautifully showcased the rich, diverse heritage and traditional glimpses of Northeast India.  

Attended by a large number of guests. delegates students, the sessions saw proactive representation from various government and non-government organizations and departments.

The Yoga performance and intellectual discussions could cement the event's massive success as a unified step toward promoting a healthier society through yoga.

The mega events were graced among others by Srimat Swami Tatva Gyanananda Maharaj of Bharat Sevashram Sangha, Lumding.

A galaxy of eminent dignitaries attended the program, including Legacy Person of Niramaya Yogacharya Divya Geetanand Rahul, Director of Niramaya Srimati Shatakshi Bhattacharjee, and Shekhar Chakraborty, Principal of Pranabananda Vidyamandir and Chairman of the Niramaya Executive Committee. 

Other notable guests included Bikramjit Chakraborty, Chief Advisor of the District Administration Employees Union, Assam; Dr. Rabishwar Ghosh; Bhaskar Jyoti, Officer-in-Charge of the Lumding Police Station; Dhiraj Dey, Secretary of the Lumding Press Club; and Dr. Sumon Bhorali.

The core attraction of the morning session on May 31 was the mass practice of the Common Yoga Protocol (CYP). 

The session was conducted by Dr Sunil Sharma, Assistant Professor of Yoga at MGUMST, Jaipur, who was ably supported by instructors Navaswati Bhattacharjee, Swati Deb, Ratul Chakraborty, Rajesh Das, and Pallab Dey.

This was followed by live demonstrations by Himaghna Bhattacharjee. 

More than 1,500 enthusiastic participants performed the yogic sequences with immense joy.

Following the protocol, Ms Shatakshi Bhattacharjee guided the gathering through a deeply rejuvenating meditation session.

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This is the 39th time that Donald Trump declared US-Iranian talks to be on the point of fruition !! :::: Iran was less definite, saying 'agreement' was being studied

Great news ?? 

Maybe !! Donald Trump has said the US and Iran are on the verge of a peace agreement. 

Earlier on five occasions, the promise of peace has involved walking back the threat of mass devastation, including the destruction of critical civilian infrastructure, a near-certain war crime if carried out.

Oil prices are down, and the stock market is up. This comes only hours after Trump warned Iran was about to be struck “VERY HARD”, a threat that had sent oil prices up and stocks down.

It has been another ride on the Trump rollercoaster, keeping traders on edge, most of the world poorer, and people of the Middle East constantly whiplashing between fear and hope. But whether the ride veers up or down, the management always makes money.

This is the 39th time that the president has declared US-Iranian talks to be on the point of fruition (other counts have the figure higher – it depends on what you term a prediction or just a hint).  

A US breakthrough with Iran could cut India’s oil bill, reduce inflation and boost growth

Crude oil sinks to three-month low, India eyes relief from soaring fuel costs as Trump says Iran deal near

Trump with Xi Jinping in Beijing 

As he was menacing Iran with “very hard” strikes on Thursday night, Trump also pledged the US would take over “total control” of the country’s oil and gas markets and seize the island of Kharg. 

Trump has threatened the capture of Kharg, a focal point of Iran’s hydrocarbon industry, several times before, although in this instance the threat was made while actually bombing Iran.

However, the prospect of mass destruction had evaporated as quickly as it had materialised.  

Brent crude, the international benchmark, briefly fell below $85 a barrel after Trump's announcement, its lowest level since the early days of the war, before rebounding to trade at around $87.50. Before the war erupted in late February, oil was trading at $70 a barrel. 

A lasting US-Iran peace deal could slash India's fuel import bill, lower petrol and diesel prices, ease inflation, support the rupee and remove one of the biggest threats hanging over the country's economic outlook.

Reopening the Strait, through which nearly half of India's crude oil and most of its LPG used to flow, could reduce the energy import bill, lower fuel and transport costs for consumers, help contain inflation, bolster the flagging rupee and boost economic growth.

State-run fuel companies have hiked petrol and diesel prices four times since mid-May to offset the upheaval in oil supplies. Petrol prices have risen nearly 8 per cent, while diesel is up more than 8.5 per cent.  

“I have, as President of the United States of America, cancelled the scheduled strikes and bombings against Iran this evening,” Trump declared on his Truth Social platform as if providing his full capitalised title added any weight to the statement.

The air of optimism was reinforced on Friday afternoon by a White House briefing that a text was in place which both the US and Iran could live with. US officials echoed the president’s prediction that a signing ceremony could be held in a matter of days.

Iran’s foreign ministry was less definite, saying that the proposed agreement was being studied by the country’s “decision-making bodies”, but the oil price fell below $90 a barrel nonetheless.

Two get citizenship under CAA in Tripura; more applications under review :::: six applications reached the final stage

Two get citizenship under CAA in Tripura; more applications under review 

Administrative officials detailed that the entire process is conducted through a dedicated online portal, with applications examined by a State-level committee

Tripura has received between 20 and 25 applications under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), with two applicants already receiving Indian citizenship certificates. 

The remaining applications are under verification and scrutiny.  

“Verification and scrutiny are carried out through the designated online platform. Applications are processed as per the recommendations of the competent authorities. There is no offline procedure,” a senior official said.  

Most applications are under examination, with progress monitored through an online dashboard. 

Recently, six applications reached the final stage of scrutiny. 

Of these, three were returned for re-examination after discrepancies were detected, while three were forwarded to the State-level committee. 

Two applicants linked to these cases were subsequently granted citizenship certificates.

Officials in North Tripura confirmed that the recently processed applications were submitted by residents of the district. 

One of the successful applicants, Jhalak Das Chowdhury, met the District Magistrate after receiving his citizenship certificate to complete Aadhaar-related formalities. 

Another female applicant from the district has also been granted citizenship.  

The CAA provides a pathway to Indian citizenship for eligible members of specified communities who have migrated from certain neighbouring countries under defined circumstances. 

The Act had sparked widespread protests across Tripura and other North Eastern States. Several petitions challenging its Constitutional validity are pending before the Supreme Court. 

Meanwhile, a road and rail blockade called by a group of former militants and their supporters was withdrawn on Friday after the State Government gave assurance on their demands. 

The breakthrough came after Tripura Tribal Welfare Minister Bikash Debbarma visited Sadhupada in the Baramura area and held a crucial meeting with the protesters in the presence of IGP Krishnendu Chakraborty.  

Ex-militants withdraw 72-Hr Tripura rail-road blockade, seeks faster rehab package 

The blockade, called by NLFT & ATTF earlier in the day, severely disrupted vehicular movement on key highways & affected train services

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Air Force jet crashes at Assam airbase, fire reported after landing ::: Incident took place at Air Force station in Jorhat

Air Force jet crashes at Assam airbase, fire reported after landing

An Indian Air Force AN-32 aircraft met with an accident while landing in Assam, which could have triggered a fire. With firefighting operations underway, questions remain over casualties and what led to the incident.

An Indian Air Force AN-32 transport aircraft met with an accident while landing at an airbase in Assam on Saturday, with reports suggesting that the aircraft caught fire inside the base after touchdown. Firefighting teams were rushed to the spot, while senior IAF officials headed to the site as authorities worked to ascertain whether there were any casualties.

The incident took place at the Indian Air Force station in Jorhat.  

In an initial statement, the Indian Air Force said, "Today an AN-32 of IAF met with an accident. Further update will be provided once more details are available."

World Cup 2026 set for return of No 9 as Haaland, Kane and Isak take centre stage ::: Argentina's N. 9 -- Lautaro Martínez offers a different interpretation ... Aggressive, relentless and tactically intelligent,

World Cup 2026 set for return of No 9 as Haaland, Kane and Isak take centre stage

The traditional No 9 could be poised for a revival at the 2026 World Cup as national-team coaches increasingly turn towards physical centre-forwards and more direct attacking football in a tournament that has historically rewarded simplicity over tactical complexity.  

Argentina's Lautaro Martínez offers a different interpretation of the modern No 9. 

Aggressive, relentless and tactically intelligent, he combines physical presence with mobility and pressing intensity.

Harry Kane : English goal getter 

England's Harry Kane remains one of the tournament's most dependable goalscorers. 

While England possess an abundance of creative talent, tournament football has a habit of reducing complicated plans to their simplest form. Kane's ability to score under pressure remains one of the side's greatest assets.

Strikers were no longer judged simply on their finishing. They were asked to drop into midfield as false nines, create overloads between the lines and help orchestrate intricate passing patterns designed to manipulate opposition defences. 

Norway's Erling Haaland will finally have the opportunity to perform on the World Cup stage after helping his country qualify for the finals for the first time in nearly three decades. 

Few forwards embody direct attacking football more completely. Haaland thrives on occupying defenders, attacking space behind back lines and converting chances with ruthless efficiency.

                Erling Haaland ::: Reuters picture

 (social media) 

                                       Lautaro Martínez 

Sweden's Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyökeres could form one of the most formidable strike partnerships at the tournament. 

Both possess the physical attributes associated with traditional centre-forwards, yet their movement and technical quality reflect the modern evolution of the role.

Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyökeres

Uruguay's Darwin Núñez may also benefit from the direct approach favoured by coach Marcelo Bielsa. 

His combination of pace, power and aerial ability makes him particularly dangerous in transition and from crosses into the penalty area.  

Mexico's Santiago Giménez remains one of the game's most instinctive penalty-box forwards, excelling in the chaotic situations that often decide knockout football.

Darwin of Uruguay 

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Not Justified: Jaishankar raises Indian mariners' deaths with US Secy of State Rubio :::: " ..... such lethal actions against commercial shipping are not justified"

Not Justified: Jaishankar raises Indian mariners' deaths with Rubio  

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Friday said he had spoken to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and conveyed India's strong protest over US naval attacks in the Gulf that killed three Indian seafarers.

In a post on X, Jaishankar said he had "reiterated India's strong protest at the attacks by the US Navy in the Gulf that killed three Indian mariners" and stressed that "such lethal actions against commercial shipping are not justified."

The conversation comes days after three Indian crew members were killed in a US strike on the Palau-flagged tanker MT Settebello off the coast of Oman, triggering a sharp response from New Delhi. 

The vessel had 24 Indian crew members on board, of whom 21 were rescued, while the three missing sailors were later confirmed dead.  Following the incident, India lodged a strong protest with Washington and summoned the US charg d'affaires in New Delhi. The Ministry of External Affairs said it had conveyed its deep concern over the use of lethal force against civilian shipping and stressed that attacks on commercial vessels undermine the safety, security and stability of international maritime commerce.

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal had earlier said that attacks on merchant vessels carrying Indian crew members must cease immediately. 

He also called for dialogue and diplomacy to ensure an early return to peace and stability in the region.

Three merchant vessels carrying Indian crew members came under attack in the Gulf region during the week, heightening concerns over the safety of Indian seafarers operating in one of the world's busiest shipping corridors. 

In response, the government has directed relevant agencies to remain on high alert and coordinate closely with the Indian Navy, shipping companies and international maritime authorities.

The US military has said the Settebello was targeted after allegedly failing to comply with instructions issued by American forces during enforcement of a blockade on Iran-linked shipping.

US President Donald Trump accused Iran of carrying out a drone attack on Indian ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz, describing the incident as "totally unacceptable."  

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said, "Their (Iran's) totally rebuffed Drone attack last night against Indian Ships leaving the Hormuz Strait is TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE. They better get their act together and FAST."  

India has earlier also summoned the United States' top diplomat for a second time after a third vessel carrying Indian crew members was caught up in a maritime security incident near Oman within just three days. 

The development has intensified concerns over the safety of Indian seafarers operating around the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most strategically important shipping routes. 

ends 

'"WAR is continuation of politics by other means" :::::: "Very dishonourable people': Trump rejects Iran’s leaked deal claims, accuses Tehran of drone attack on Indian ships :::: Netanyahu says says he is “in full agreement” with Trump to keep Iran from obtaining Nukes

 The US and Iran stepped back from the brink of returning to all-out war on June 11. Hours after saying the US military would carry out strikes against Iran for a third consecutive night, Donald Trump postponed the attack.   

The difficulty begins with the absence of any discernible plan in Washington. Trump has articulated no strategy and no definition of victory beyond a vague aspiration to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.

Weeks of intensive bombing earlier in the war did not shatter the regime’s centre of gravity. 

Rather, it consolidated the regime and has left it more cohesive and determined than it was before. 

In contrast to the more cautious regime of Iran’s late supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, which tended to wait and to respond, the new regime has become assertive.

It has been quick to retaliate against US and Israel attacks with severity and to set the pace of escalation. On June 8, for example, Iran launched barrages of missiles towards Israel in protest at the Israeli military’s escalating campaign in Lebanon.

War, as Prussian military strategist Carl von Clausewitz observed in his 1832 book, 'On War', is the continuation of politics by other means.

The Iranian military had said the US would “receive a more severe response than before” if it followed through on its threats.  

Trump claimed to have cancelled the strikes because of progress in negotiations between the two countries. In a statement posted on social media, Trump said: “Discussions and final points have been, in both concept and great detail, approved by all parties involved.” He later added that the deal is set to be signed over the “next few days”.  

'Very dishonourable people': Trump rejects Iran’s leaked deal claims, accuses Tehran of drone attack on Indian ships

A senior Iranian source says that the draft would waive sanctions on Iran's oil, unfreeze billions of dollars of its funds, and require a cessation of hostilities on all fronts, including in Lebanon.  

An emerging deal between the United States and Iran is “performance-based”, a senior Trump administration official said on Friday. They added that Tehran will get none of its frozen assets until it carries out its part of the agreement.

Trump dismissed Iranian media reports on an imminent deal with the US as “fake news”, saying they were not the terms Washington agreed to. Several Iranian media outlets have been reporting what they described as details of a draft proposal being reviewed by Iran’s leadership. 

Some of the terms of the agreement, according to the reports, include Iran’s control of the strait of Hormuz and postponed discussions on its nuclear programme 

The prime minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, said he is “in full agreement” with Donald Trump to keep Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.  

And, even if it is signed, the agreement Trump is talking about is far from a final peace deal. It appears to be a memorandum of understanding, establishing a framework for the two countries to talk about unresolved issues. 

These include Iran’s ballistic missile capabilities and nuclear programme. (Reuters)