Page 86 - Human Interest
Trump, Kim meet for second summit
US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un began their second summit here on Wednesday with a brief handshake, eight months after their historic first meeting in Singapore.
In top tournaments, this American shoots in both pistol and rifle
If his mugshot on international shooting federation's webpage, in which he is sporting a French beard and long locks, does not set him apart, Nick Mowrer's ability to shoot in World Cups with both pistol and rifle surely does. Describing this quirky American as one quintessential one-of-a-kind could be a modest attempt to do justice to his uniqueness, which is making a mockery of the sport's conventions, tournament after tournament. Unusual as it may sound but Mowrer, a World Cup bronze medallist in rifle 3 positions, also shoots 50m free pistol and 10m air pistol, not only in same national level tournaments, but also in the international arena. While the world's best spend years honing their skills in one specific event, Mowrer feels "doing both" come easy to him. "I don't know if there are any differences, they are all basically the same, I play the same shot, same strategy, everything... two rifles and pistol," Mowrer told PTI. In the capital to compete in the ISSF World Cup, the ..
Gavin O'Connor in talks to direct 'Fast'
"The Accountant" director Gavin O'Connor is in negotiations to direct Warner Bros' action thriller "Fast".
Pakistan Foreign Minister won't attend OIC meet
Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Wednesday said that he will not attend the upcoming Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) meet in Abu Dhabi due to Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj's presence at the conclave as the "guest of honour".
Trump holds meeting with Vietnam's President ahead of US-North Korea Summit
US President Donald Trump on Wednesday held a meeting with Vietnam's President Nguyen Phu Trong and thanked the country's leadership for agreeing to host the second US-North Korea Summit.Talking to the media after the meeting, he promoted the idea of a prosperous North Korea by citing the "good example" of Communist Vietnam."We (Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un) both felt very good about having this very important Summit in Vietnam because you really are a good example of what can happen," CNN quoted Trump as saying.He also said that he is "very proud" of what Vietnam had accomplished economically.He later met Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc.Earlier, the Vietnam Prime Minister asserted that the US and North Korea should reach an agreement for the "peace of the world". "For the peace of the world, for a connected and developed world, let's shake hands. We shall develop together and contribute to global stability," he told CNN in an exclusive interview."Vietnam is thriving like
The Final Call gives spin to the web (Review)
Film: The final Call; Starring: Arjun Rampal, Sakshi Tanwar, Neeraj Kabi, Anupriya Goenka; Directed by Vijay Lalvani; Rating: *** (3 stars)
Sir Alastair Cook officially receives knighthood from Queen
Former England skipper Alastair Cook officially received the knighthood for his services to cricket by the Queen in an official ceremony at the Buckingham Palace on Tuesday.After the ceremony, the 34-year-old said that it is hard for him to get used to see his name with a "sir before it"."Seeing my name up there in whatever capacity - you just don't get used to it. You never get used to it and I don't think I will ever get used to seeing my name with a Sir before it," ESPNcricinfo quoted Cook, as saying.The left-hand batsman, who received the honour after kneeling in front of the Queen, said that it was a "nervous" moment for him."It is just weird when you are told you have to just walk and kneel, that you should get so nervous," he said."I have played cricket in front of many thousands and done okay but you get just as nervous just walking and kneeling, which is very strange," he added.The cricketer retired from the Test cricket following the five-match series against India in ...
Hyderabad: Woman seeks govt help to reunite with Kuwait-based daughter
A woman married to a Kuwaiti national has sought External Affairs Minister (EAM) Sushma Swaraj's intervention to reunite with her estranged daughter who is allegedly in custody of her in-laws in Kuwait.Sayeda Fatima Begum, speaking to ANI said, "Around 30 years back I was married to a Kuwait national and we were blessed with a baby girl. After a while, my husband returned to Kuwait and we couldn't get in touch with him for long. Later through a letter we were informed that he has died in a road accident"."After that, my stepson Mohammed Fahad came to India from Kuwait and took me and my daughter there. In Kuwait, my husband's family tortured me a lot and sent me back to India after taking away my daughter to keep with them. Since then I haven't met her despite repeated attempts," she added.Requesting the help of the government, she asserted that she is now suffering from a disease and it's her last wish to meet her Kuwait based daughter."I tried a lot to meet my daughter again by ...
Nobel figure quits after Swedish body's #MeToo scandal
Sara Danius resigned Tuesday from the Swedish Academy that selects the Nobel Prize in Literature, almost a year after she was forced out as permanent secretary by a #MeToo scandal. The Swedish academic's resignation is the latest development in a scandal that emerged from the #MeToo movement to halt sexual abuse, and forced the Academy to postpone awarding the literature prize in 2018. "I have decided to give up my seat... once occupied by the first woman elected to the Academy, Selma Lagerloef," Danius, 56, said in a statement. "It has been an honour," she added, without giving a reason for her decision. In April 2018, Danius was forced to step down as the Academy's permanent secretary, the first woman to hold that position, amid a scandal sparked by Jean-Claude Arnault, an influential figure on Stockholm's cultural scene. He was convicted of raping a young woman in October and December 2011 and the academy was caught up in the scandal because Arnault was married to one of its ...
EU court rules halal meat cannot get organic label
The European Union's top court has ruled that the EU organic food logo cannot be used on meat derived from animals that have been slaughtered in accordance with religious rites without first being stunned. The EU Court of Justice said Tuesday that such labelling aims to ensure products have been obtained in observance of the highest standards in animal welfare. The court says the stunning technique significantly reduces animal suffering. A French animal welfare association brought the case in 2012, arguing that halal beef shouldn't be labelled organic. The ruling states that the practice of ritual slaughter as part of which an animal may be killed without first being stunned is authorised by an exception to the general rule in the EU to ensure observance of the freedom of religion.
Nobel-awarding body official formally resigns after turmoil
The academy that awards the Nobel Prize in literature says its first female permanent secretary has left the body that has been marred by sex-abuse scandals. The Swedish Academy said Tuesday that Sara Danius formally quit, a year after announcing she was stepping down from the secretive 18-member body. Danius is the second woman to leave the prestigious body. Katarina Frostenson the wife of Jean-Claude Arnault who was given 2 years in prison for two rapes in 2011 formally left last month. The scandal rocked the organization and led eight members to either leave or disassociate themselves from the academy. Arnault allegedly also leaked the name of Nobel Prize literature winners seven times. Amid the chaos, the 2018 Nobel literature award was postponed to this year.
15 students, woman injured after bus capsizes
Fifteen school students and a woman sustained minor injuries when the bus they were travelling capsized and fell into a pit near Karuppagounden Pudur village Tuesday, police said. The mishap occurred when the driver of the state transport corporation bus suddenly veered to the left to avoid a moped rider, lost control of the vehicle, which then capsized and fell into a pit. All the injured were taken to the Sathyamangalam government hospital, where they were treated and discharged, police said.
Modi saris in big demand in Jharkhand
Saris with pictures of Prime Minister Narendra Modi are turning into a big hit among women, particularly Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers, in Jharkhand.
President Kovind, PM Modi award Gandhi Peace Prize from 2015 to 2018
President Ram Nath Kovind on Tuesday presented the Gandhi Peace Prize for the years 2015 to 2018 at Darbar Hall of Rashtrapati Bhawan. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was also present on the occasion.The centre, last month, announced the name of the recipients of the International Gandhi Peace Prize after a gap of four years. Instituted in 1995 on the occasion of the 125th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, the annual award is given to those who contribute to bringing about social, economic, and political transformation of society through Gandhian methods.Congratulating the awardees, President Ram Nath Kovind said, "I wish that people from across the world will learn from the good work done by the organisations listed for the peace prize."Speaking at the ceremony, Prime Minister Narendra Modi stressed on the need to follow the Gandhian principles."The prize is being conferred at a time when India marks the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. I extend my heartiest congratulation .
Jilted lover tries to kill woman, self
A 27-year-old man Monday allegedly tried to kill a woman he had been in love with, and then himself in Odisha's Jajpur district, police said. Both were seriously injured and hospitalised. People Bandhadiha village under Dharmasala police station limits found the two, who belong to the same village, lying in a pool of blood and informed their families. They also found a sharp edged weapon near them. The man and the 23-year-old woman were in a relationship but her family was opposed to it and fixed her marriage with another man last week, and asked her to stay away from him, police said. As a result, the woman decided to sever ties with the man which enraged him. The man called her up and asked her to meet him at the village temple near Brahmani river at noon, police said. After she reached there, he attacked her with a sharp weapon. The woman sustained injuries on her neck, stomach and back. Thereafter, the man tried to kill him self by slashing his hand and abdomen with ...
'Period - End of sentence': Village celebrates victory of its daughters at Oscars
Hapur (Uttar Pradesh) [India], Feb 25 (ANI): Katikheda village in western Uttar Pradesh's Hapur district on Monday saw joyous celebration as the short film, 'Period - End of Sentence', won an Oscar at the 91st Academy Awards. Two of their own -Suman and Sneha- went to America to receive the Oscars and villagers were proud of their superstars.The film is based on the menstrual cycle and stigma attached to it. The girls' determination and perseverance to overcome all obstacles have brought this day into their lives. "We never thought in our wildest dreams that we will achieve something like this," said Rakhi, one of the girls who works at the sanitary pads manufacturing unit called 'sabala mahila udyog' that has been featured in the film.Another, Sushma told ANI, "I am extremely happy with the achievement. However, we all faced unfathomable challenges during the course of this journey. The problem of power cuts made our work even more difficult. We had to work till late at night because
World War II spy first Indian-origin woman to get Blue Plaque in UK
Britain's World War II spy Noor Inayat Khan was on Monday confirmed as the first Indian-origin woman to be honoured with a Blue Plaque at her former London home. The Blue Plaque scheme run by English Heritage honours notable people who lived or worked in particular buildings across London. Khan's plaque is set to go up at 4 Taviton Street in Bloomsbury, where she lived as a secret agent during the war. Khan, the daughter of Indian Sufi saint Hazrat Inayat Khan, was an agent for Britain's Special Operations Executive (SOE) during World War II and was captured and killed by the Nazis in 1944 at just 30 years of age. "It is from this house that she left on her final and fatal mission. Noor gave her life in the fight against fascism and her message of peace and tolerance of all religions is even more relevant today," said Shrabani Basu, Chair of the Noor Inayat Khan Memorial Trust (NIKMT). "The blue plaque will be a wonderful addition to the area that has a special association with Noor. .
Omar criticises Modi for 'politicising' war memorial ceremony
National Conference (NC) leader Omar Abdullah Monday said he was "disappointed" with Prime Minister Narendra Modi for "politicising" the opening ceremony of the National War Memorial. "Credit to the PM Modi for building a national war memorial after 70 years. Disappointed with politician Modi for politicising the occasion by making a blatantly political speech at the inauguration," Abdullah tweeted. "Today's speech should have been made in a BJP election rally not at an event with serving armed service officers, veterans & families in the audience," the former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister added. Modi inaugurated the memorial adjoining the iconic India Gate complex in the heart of the capital, nearly 60 years after it was mooted to honour the fallen soldiers after Independence. The PM dedicated the memorial, built at a cost of Rs 176 crore, by lighting the flame positioned at the bottom of the stone-made obelisk. Speaking at the event, he attacked the previous Congress-led UPA .
Need for war memorial was inexorable: Nirmala Sitharaman
Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday paid her tributes to the soldiers who sacrificed their lives in the line of duty and emphsised the need for the War Memorial in the country, for which she said, it had to wait for decades.
Police detain drunk man for threatening to blow up prime minister
A drunk man claiming to be a terrorist, who had made a call to the control room threatening to blow up the prime minister after getting into a fight with his landlord, was detained by the police, officials said Monday. The call was received at 10.30 pm on Sunday from the man, who was a labourer. During the call, the man said "I am a terrorist. PM Modi will be blown up and Delhi will be bombed." The caller was traced and detained on the basis of the call and he was jointly interrogated by Delhi Police's Special Cell, the Intelligence Bureau and the local police, police said, adding that he was let off. The call was found to be a hoax. He had liquor following a fight with his landlord and had made the call because he was angry, police added.