Absconding farmer Biju found in Israel; will return on Monday, says minister...

Kerala: Biju Kurian, who went missing in Israel after reaching there with a state agriculture department delegation, has been tracked down. He will be sent back on today and will reach India on Monday, said Kerala Agriculture Minister P Prasad. 

He said Biju's brother told him that the Kannur farmer would reach Kozhikode in a Gulf Air flight at 4 am. Biju went to Israel with a 27-member delegation to study modern farming techniques. However, he went missing from the hotel where the delegates were put up on February 17. He had informed his family over WhatsApp that he was safe and they need not search for him. He had also stopped responding to calls or texts.

South Korea, US and Japan hold trilateral talks on North Korea

South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin said Pyongyang will face "more severe sanctions" by the international community following a trilateral meeting with his US and Japanese counterparts Antony Blinken and Yoshimasa Hayashi respectively in Munich, Germany.

"North Korea once again has launched a ballistic missile - this one apparently falling in the exclusive economic zone of Japan," Blinken told a joint press conference.

"We call on others to condemn this action, to take appropriate steps, including the effective enforcement of sanctions, and countries that have influence with North Korea should use it to try to move it from the course that it's been on now for the last couple of years," Blinken added.

The Japanese foreign minister said the three countries, along with other Group of 7 countries, have agreed to "take a robust response, including at the UN Security Council."

North Korea fired a Hwasong-15 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) early Saturday (Korea time), marking its first ICBM launch since November. 

Indian athlete eyes new record in Qatar

Indian athlete Shakeer Cheerayi will undertake a solo run from the Abu Samra border in the south to Al Ruwais in the north later this week, in an attempt to set a new Guinness World Record for the fastest crossing of Qatar on foot (male).

The Indian ultra-marathon athlete is hoping to break the current record of 34 hours and 19 minutes during the Wellness Happiness Run.

The existing record was set by Tunisian athlete Sadok Kochbati on February 4 last year.

Addressing a press conference Saturday, Cheerayi said he will cover around 200km while making the solo run.

Confident about setting a new record, he said he will achieve the target in 28 hours.

The flag-off ceremony at Abu Samra will start at 6am on February 17, and will be attended by dignitaries.

Another ceremony will mark the culmination on February 18 at Al Ruwais Port.

Wellness Challengers officials said that all preparations have been made to support Cheerayi during the run, and the athlete will be accompanied by a special vehicle on the road.

The event is aimed at raising awareness among the residents in Qatar while leaving a message of healthy living.

The press conference was attended by Noufa C C, City Exchange head of operations Shanib Shamsudheen, Abey Abraham George, and Adhil Abdul Khader.