On the 11th International Day of Yoga (IDY), various Sri Lankan Ministers, Parliamentarians, cricket legends, cultural icons, and several locals gathered at the iconic Independence Square in Colombo to practice yoga, highlighting its significance in promoting a healthy lifestyle.

The event was organised by the Indian High Commission in Colombo, in collaboration with Sri Lanka's Health Ministry, and witnessed more than 100 yoga instructors from across the island nation, demonstrating yoga to participants, including the country's tri forces, police, students, and yoga enthusiasts.

Several senior ministers of the Lankan government, including Anil Jayantha and Chrishantha Abeysena, Deputy Speaker Rizvie Salih and several industry members, joined the event.

Meanwhile, several events were also held at Galle, Kandy and Jaffna, organised by the diplomatic offices in Sri Lanka.

चीन के विभिन्न शहरों में योग प्रतिभागियों की भीड़ ने 11वें अंतर्राष्ट्रीय योग दिवस (IDY) समारोह में भाग लिया, जिसने भारत के कल्याण के संदेश की विश्वव्यापी अपील को उजागर किया।

बीजिंग में, सैकड़ों लोगों ने योग का अभ्यास करने के लिए अपनी चटाई बिछाई, पुराने चांसरी परिसर में एक सुंदर 'कीर्तन' और ऊर्जा से भरपूर कॉमन योग प्रोटोकॉल के साथ IDY मनाया।

बीजिंग में भारतीय दूतावास ने X पर पोस्ट किया, "एक निर्देशित ध्यान ने प्रतिभागियों को खुद को केंद्रित करने और शांति का अनुभव करने में मदद की। योग को ओडिसी की सुंदरता के साथ मिश्रित करने वाले एक सुंदर प्रदर्शन के साथ अनुभव को और भी बेहतर बनाया गया! उन्नत योग प्रदर्शनों से भीड़ भी मंत्रमुग्ध हो गई।"

Crowds of yoga participants in various cities across China participated in the 11th International Day of Yoga (IDY) celebrations, highlighting the worldwide appeal of India's message of well-being.

In Beijing, hundreds unrolled their mats to practice yoga, celebrating IDY with a beautiful 'Kirtan' and the energising Common Yoga Protocol at the Old Chancery complex.

"A guided meditation helped participants centre themselves and experience calm. The experience was elevated with a graceful performance blending yoga with the grace of Odissi! The crowd was also spellbound by the advanced yoga demonstrations," the Embassy of India in Beijing posted on X.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung will post diplomatic messages on social media in both Korean and the language of his counterpart, his office said on Saturday.

Before travelling to Canada for the Group of Seven (G7) summit in Canada earlier this week, Lee had ordered his staff to write social media posts in both Korean and foreign languages to "show our diplomatic respect and willingness to communicate," according to the office.

Lee had also told his staff that his messages must reach South Korean residents living abroad and local citizens of those counterpart countries, his office said.

On Lee's X page, an update on his summit with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba was written in both Korean and Japanese on Wednesday.

On the same day, an X post detailing Lee's meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney was uploaded in Korean and English. And a summary of Lee's talks with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum was provided in Korean and Spanish, news agency reported.

United States President Donald Trump has reiterated his claim that he prevented a war between nuclear-armed neighbours India and Pakistan, expressing disappointment that his efforts have not earned him a Nobel Peace Prize.

Taking to his social media platform 'Truth Social', Trump credited himself for halting a potential military conflict between New Delhi and Islamabad following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which triggered retaliatory Indian strikes under the now-revealed Operation Sindoor.

Trump also announced a peace agreement between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda, two African nations with a long and bloody history of conflict. He praised the deal and claimed it as a global milestone, before pivoting to what he sees as a consistent pattern of being denied international recognition for his peacemaking efforts.

"This is a Great Day for Africa and, quite frankly, a Great Day for the World!" Trump said in a post.

Several yoga participants in Singapore and Myanmar on Saturday came together to mark the 11th International Day of Yoga (IDY), a step towards healthier living.

In Singapore, people gathered at Gardens by the Bay to celebrate Yoga Day.

"Hundreds gathered under the iconic supertrees to embrace the power of breath, movement, and stillness -- a reminder that wellness begins from within. With this year's theme -- Yoga for One Earth, One Health -- we were reminded of the deep connection between personal well-being and the health of our planet," the High Commission of India in Singapore posted on X.

Dinesh Vasu Dash, Singapore's Minister of State, Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth, attended the occasion as Guest of Honour.

In Myanmar, the Indian Consulate General in Mandalay celebrated the 11th IDY with approximately 700 Yoga enthusiasts from across the region.

Mandalay Chief Minister U Myo Aung also attended the occasion.

South Korea's new top trade negotiator will visit the United States for tariff negotiations next week amid the looming deadline of July 8, his agency said on Saturday.

Yeo Han-koo will head for Washington on Sunday for tariff talks with U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) chief Jamieson Greer and other senior officials, according to the Ministry of Trade, reports news agency.

Yeo was appointed the trade minister under the Lee Jae Myung government on June 10.

In May, Seoul and Washington agreed to focus their talks on four categories -- tariff and non-tariff measures, economic security, investment cooperation and currency policies.

Earlier, Yeo said he would craft measures that can ensure a "win-win" agreement for both countries, noting the allies are expected to hold "intense" negotiations in the coming weeks.

Senior diplomats of South Korea and the United States have agreed to work together to strengthen their countries' alliance and trilateral cooperation with Japan during their talks in Washington, according to the South Korean Embassy in the US capital.

South Korean Ambassador to the U.S. Cho Hyun-dong met with new Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Allison Hooker at the State Department to discuss the bilateral alliance and a range of regional and global issues, the embassy said.

Confirmed by the Senate earlier this month, Hooker is noted for her longtime experience in diplomacy with North Korea, including preparations for U.S. President Donald Trump's summits with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un during his first term, reports news agency.

"Sharing the understanding on the importance of close cooperation between South Korea and the U.S. over North Korean issues, and of comprehensive bilateral cooperation, the two sides agreed to continue efforts to strengthen the Seoul-Washington alliance and enhance trilateral cooperation with Japan," the embassy wrote on Facebook.

Russia and Ukraine carried out another prisoner swap on Friday, said the Russian defence ministry.

In accordance with the Russian-Ukrainian agreements on June 2 in Istanbul, a group of Russian military personnel was returned from the territory controlled by Ukraine on June 20, the ministry said, not giving the number of released prisoners.

"In return, a group of prisoners of war of the Armed Forces of Ukraine was transferred," it added.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement on Friday that it had killed a senior commander of the Palestinian militant group Mujahideen Brigades in central Gaza.

The IDF added that the commander, Ali Saadi Wasfi al-Agha, served as the military commander of the group's southern Gaza brigades, and was slated to replace the head of the group, Assad Abu Sharia, who was killed by the IDF and Israel's Shin Bet domestic security agency earlier this month.