Page 378 - Human Interest

Bangla Prez visits Meghalaya's Balat village after 47 years

Bangladesh President Abdul Hamid today visited Balat village in Meghalaya's East Khasi Hills district, almost 47 years after he helped set up a refugee camp there during his country's Liberation War. The Bangladesh president is on a five-day visit to India, where among other fixtures, he will attend the International Solar Alliance (ISA) summit of 121 countries in New Delhi on Sunday. Hamid was accompanied by first lady Rashida Khanam and other family members. At Balat, a sleepy town along the India-Bangladesh border, he met local residents and those who he remembered had helped him in setting up the camp, a senior district official told PTI. The camp had given refuge to a number of youths from neighbouring Bangladesh, he said. "I am indebted to the people of Balat and I cherish my time here. I ought to have visited Balat long back," the official quoted Hamid as saying. Hamid also visited Rabindranath Tagore's residence in the state capital and paid tribute to the Nobel .

After wife's revolt, Shami faces attempt to murder charge

India pacer Mohammed Shami faces charges of attempting to murder his wife by poisoning her after the cricketer's wife Hasin Jahan accused him of physically and mentally torturing her and having extra-marital affairs, police said on Friday.

S. Korea president opens Winter Paralympics

South Korean President Moon Jae-in declared the Pyeongchang Winter Paralympics open Friday during a spectacular ceremony that comes amid an Olympics-driven inter-Korean thaw. After cultural and dance performances and a parade by the athletes, Moon officially opened the biggest Paralympics in history. Two North Korean skiers took part in the parade under their own flag, making them the first athletes from the North to compete in a Winter Paralympics. It is the latest sign of an intense rapprochement between the North and South that began at the Winter Olympics in February. The thaw prompted a flurry of diplomatic activity. In the latest development, US President Donald Trump Thursday agreed to hold a historic meeting with the North's leader Kim Jong Un.

Serena Williams defends use of medical exemptions

Serena Williams defended her use of a TUE (therapeutic use exemption) at the 2015 French Open, saying she uses them regularly and has never tested positive for illegal substances. Williams was asked about her use of TUE's following her first round victory over Zarina Diyas of Kazakhstan 7-5, 6-3 at the WTA Indian Wells tournament. "I have never tested positive. I have always done the TUE so you should fact check that," Williams said. "I wasn't going to play (the French Open) unless I had a TUE because if you remember that year I was incredibly sick." Williams insisted she did nothing wrong and that she requested the TUE in 2015 to fight the illness. She skipped practice sessions and needed five three-set wins before eventually claiming the title over Lucie Safarova. "I am never, ever going to take an advantage over someone else. That is not who I am." Reports show Williams was given approval for a TUE for the corticosteroid anti-inflammatory prednisone to help to alleviate the ...

'Supernatural' set for 'Scooby-Doo' crossover

Fantasy show "Supernatural" is all set to crossover with "Scooby-Doo". The trio of Sam, Dean and Castiel will meet up with the Mystery Gang. The show will see Dean (Jensen Ackles) fight off a stuffed dinosaur, which comes to life, in a wrestling match. After the fight gets over, the pawnshop owner offers the brothers a free TV to say thanks. But Sam (Jared Padelecki) is not keen on the idea, but Dean never one to turn down a gift. So, when he takes the TV back to the bunker, the brothers are sucked into a Scooby-Doo cartoon. "Once they get over their amazement at being in the cartoon, two things happen," co-showrunner Robert Singer told EW. "They say, 'We've been in a situation like this before with the Trickster and I think we're supposed to play this out.' And then they realise they're in a Scooby-Doo cartoon, which makes Dean incredibly excited because Scooby-Doo was his favourite cartoon growing up," he added. This is where Dean's being a Scooby nerd help them solve the case. But

My kids are balanced about exposure: Mini Mathur

Television presenter Mini Mathur, whose travel tales of Europe with her 7-year-old daughter, will be showcased in a 10-part series "Mini Me" on the small screen, says both her children are not adversely affected by the exposure they receive due to their celebrity parents.

Sports Highlights at 17.30 hrs

Following are PTI's top/expected stories at 17:30 hrs: STORIES IN THE PIPELINE: *India versus Ireland at the Azlan Shah Cup hockey in Ipoh, Malaysia. *Former BCCI president N Srinivasan's press conference in Chennai.

J-K police's women safety app launched

Jammu and Kashmir Governor N N Vohra's wife Usha Vohra launched a mobile application of the police aimed at ensuring the safety and security of women in the state. At a programme organised by the police here last evening on the occasion of International Women's Day, she launched the Jammu and Kashmir Police's Women Safety App and felicitated the wives of policemen who died on the line of duty, and women police officer for their achievements. Usha Vohra emphasised on the need to make women feel safe and secure, and stressed that in this regard, the police have to play a crucial role. She said in spite of constitutionally and legally guaranteed rights and privileges relating to gender parity, a great deal is still to be done to empower women. Usha Vohra pointed out the need to change people's mindset so that women are respected and treated fairly in every walks of life.

Director Guillermo del Toro announces divorce

Few days after taking home two Oscars at the 90th Academy Awards, director Guillermo del Toro has revealed that he divorced his wife of three decades Lorenza Newton last year. Del Toro told Mexican magazine Reforma, "I separated in February (of 2017) and divorced in September. But few people knew." Speculation began to swirl about del Toro's marriage when he walked the Oscars red carpet arm-in-arm with screenwriter Kim Morgan, who penned the director's upcoming project, "Nightmare Alley". Del Toro, who won Oscars for Best Director and Best Picture for his film, "The Shape of Water", also thanked Morgan in his acceptance speech. In the interview, the director, however, said he is just good friends with Morgan and she was not a factor in his divorce. "She is working with me, we have a nice friendship. In case some news appear, let's clarify that I separated in February. I started working with her at the end of the summer." Del Toro shares daughters Marisa and Mariana with Newton.

British High commission announces Asma Jahangir Scholarship

The British High Commission announced a scholarship, to pay tribute to renowned lawyer and human activist Late Asma Jahangir, who passed away in February.The Asma Jahangir Scholarship will be awarded to a top female candidate who is selected for the British government-funded Chevening Awards programme every year.Jahangir passed away on February 11 after suffering a cardiac arrest.The Chevening scholarships are awarded to outstanding emerging leaders from around the world to pursue a one-year Masters programme at any UK university.Over 1,600 Pakistanis have been awarded the scholarship since 1983 according to Dawn.The announcement regarding the scholarship was made on the occasion of International Women Day which was celebrated worldwide on March 9.British High commissioner to Pakistan Thomas Drew took to his Twitter account to express his delight over the launch of new scholarship."I'm delighted to announce the creation of a new annual "Asma Jahangir Scholarship" for the top female ...

Bill Skarsgard, Maika Monroe to lead 'Villains'

"It" star Bill Skarsgard and "It Follows" star Maika Monroe are set to lead for "Villains", which will be directed by Dan Berk and Robert Olsen.

Cheryl, Payne to make son's first birthday 'very special'

Singers Cheryl and Liam Payne will make their son Bear's first birthday "very special".

'Nirav Modi' grabs eyeballs at Mumbai's Elephant Parade

The parade showcases many kinds of elephant statues on display

Over 21,000 dogs compete for top Crufts prize

More than 21,000 dogs converged on Birmingham, Britain's second biggest city on Thursday, at the start of the Crufts dog show.

Karl Lagerfeld nicknames his girl gang

German designer Karl Lagerfeld says he calls his fashion industry girl gang the "Choupettes".

Charlize Theron's mom is her marijuana supplier

Charlize Theron says she and her mother use marijuana to combat their sleeping problems, and it is in fact her mom Gerda who gets it for her.

North East women more empowered than other places: Manipur Guv

Manipur Governor Najma Heptulla today said women from the North East were "more empowered" than those in the rest of the country. Speaking at a function on the occasion of International Women's Day at Raj Bhavan here, Heptulla said women in the region are economically and socially independent, and are treated with respect and honour, particularly in Manipur. The Governor also said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had fulfilled her "lasting dream" by giving the Defence portfolio to a woman. Altogether 16 women from every district of the state were today felicitated for their achievements in various fields. Chief Minister N Biren Singh also extended his greetings to women. "Commemorating women's rights and achievements to form an inclusive and gender-equal society," he said.

Shami's wife lodges police complaint against husband

Team India pacer Mohammed Shami's wife Hasin Jahan today lodged a written complaint with the police against the cricketer, alleging domestic violence and infidelity. Hasin submitted a written complaint to Kolkata Police Joint CP (Crime) Praveen Tripathi who said that it would be treated as an FIR. "We have received a complaint from the cricketer's wife where she has alleged physical and mental torture by him. We are yet to decide on which sections a case can be started," he told reporters. After meeting Tripathi, Hasin said she has described her ordeal to him and the officer promised proper action in the case. "I have met the officer and told him everything about how I have been tortured by Shami. I have also told him about his multiple sexual partners despite being married to me," Hasin said. Shami, yesterday, in posts on his Facebook page and Twitter handle, had claimed that the news was false and a conspiracy to defame him.

Vandalism of statues nothing but hooliganism: Mehbooba

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti today said the destroying of statues in various parts of the country was nothing short of hooliganism. "This new trend of destroying statues across the country is nothing short of outright hooliganism," Mehbooba said in a tweet. She was commenting on the recent pulling down of Lenin statue in Tripura which was followed by vandalisation of statues of Jana Sangh founder S P Mookerjee and other leaders, including, B R Ambedkar and Mahatma Gandhi. "Vandalism of all kinds is against the law and actually aimed at hurting the very idea of India," Mehbooba said. In Kerala, a bust of Mahatma Gandhi was found defaced in Kannur district's Taliparamba town today. Yesterday, a bust of Jana Sangh founder Syama Prasad Mookerjee was vandalised in Kolkata. The day before, a statue of Dalit icon B R Ambedkar was damaged in Meerut. The incidents came close on the heels of Communist leader Lenin's statues being damaged in Tripura and Dravidan movement ...

Indian volunteer wins Commonwealth Point of Light award

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II today recognised SrishtiBakshi from India as the 26th Commonwealth Point of Lightin honour of her exceptional service to empowering women in India. Srishti is the founder of theCrossBow Milesmovement. After seeing that India's National Crime Records Bureau recorded 327,394 cases of violence against women in 2015, Srishti decided to make a statement and spread her message of gender equality across the country. She is leading a team of hundreds of female volunteers on a 3,800-km walk through India across 260 days. "In achieving one billion steps, herCrossBow Steps movement has spread the message of womens empowerment and safety across India. I hope thePoints of Lightaward helps Shrishti spread her message globally and I congratulate her for her tremendous creativity and determination, said Dominic Asquith, British high commissioner to India, who presented Srishti with her award to mark International Womens Day. During the walk, Srishti leads workshops for ...