There is a popular joke among librarians which says that for every weird librarian there are at least five ‘unconventional’ patrons. Then, of course, for every ‘unconventional’ patron wouldn't there be at least five weird libraries? So, would you enjoy reading a book in a tank or in a Rubic’s cube? From libraries on donkeys or on a boat, we bring you the five weirdest libraries in the world.

The Weapon’s of Mass destruction:

Believe it or not there is a Library in Argentina called The Weapon’s of Mass destruction. The library is actually a 1979 Ford Falcon turned into a tank-like vehicle. The brain behind the library is Raul Lemesoff, who drives to rural areas, slums as well as schools to deliver free books. And no, there is no catch here. Raul offers his books to anyone who wants them.

The Biblioburros:

Ever imagined that a donkey could get you a book? Well, that is what happens in the case of The Biblioburros. In Columbia, a teacher, Luis Soriano is quite famous among the book loving circles for taking his donkeys or Biblioburros around the countryside on weekends.

Epos Book Boat:

This one takes the book reading experience to the boats. The Epos boat is located in the Norwegian fjords. Between September and April, the boat moves to all the 250 small islands in the fjords. The vessel claims to have over 6000 books and that’s not all. The boat also has a captain, cook, librarians and even two entertainers. Of course, during summers, this boat library gets back to business and turns into a cruise ferry.

Stuttgart City Library:

This one is more tech lovers or to be precise, Apple Inc lovers. So, while it looks like an apple store inside, its façade gives it the look of a Rubic’s cube. Fascinating much? The library opened in 2011 to much praise and awe among book as well as architect lovers. However, many bookworms also seemed to think that library more of a starry attraction than a point for serious book lovers.

Swiss sports star Stan Wawrinka is hopeful that the warhorse tennis icon Roger Federer has regained his lost form tremendously in the recent past and may soon come atop the ATP rankings.

“For sure he has a shot for number one, he has just won the first Masters final. For sure he has a big shot,” Wawrinka said as quoted by AFP.

However, the 31-year-old, who lost to Federer in the final of the Indian Wells on Sunday, somewhere got swayed with emotions when he hailed the legend.

“I would like to congratulate Roger. He's laughing, he's an a*****e. I've lost some tough ones against you, but when you played the final in Australia, I was your biggest fan. So congratulations on your comeback and congratulations on today,” Wawrinka said in the trophy presentation ceremony.

Listening to this, Federer started laughing uncontrollably and was amused to see what his good friend Stan Wawrinka had to say to him after the defeat.

The 35-year-old came up in flying colours when he recently recovered from knee injury to win the year’s first Grand Slam – Australian Open. 

The Australian Open triumph, his 18th Grand Slam, was followed by the Indian Wells title, his fifth title to equal Novak Djokovic’s record of highest Indian Wells title.

“He's playing really well, what is different maybe is he is playing closer from the baseline, preferring, using less his slice, he is using more top spin, putting more pressure all the time, returning better that's the difference I seem,” Wawrinka said on Tuesday at the Miami Open, referring to Federer’s improved game post injury.

Swiss sports star Stan Wawrinka is hopeful that the warhorse tennis icon Roger Federer has regained his lost form tremendously in the recent past and may soon come atop the ATP rankings.

“For sure he has a shot for number one, he has just won the first Masters final. For sure he has a big shot,” Wawrinka said as quoted by AFP.

However, the 31-year-old, who lost to Federer in the final of the Indian Wells on Sunday, somewhere got swayed with emotions when he hailed the legend.

“I would like to congratulate Roger. He's laughing, he's an a*****e. I've lost some tough ones against you, but when you played the final in Australia, I was your biggest fan. So congratulations on your comeback and congratulations on today,” Wawrinka said in the trophy presentation ceremony.

Listening to this, Federer started laughing uncontrollably and was amused to see what his good friend Stan Wawrinka had to say to him after the defeat.

The 35-year-old came up in flying colours when he recently recovered from knee injury to win the year’s first Grand Slam – Australian Open. 

The Australian Open triumph, his 18th Grand Slam, was followed by the Indian Wells title, his fifth title to equal Novak Djokovic’s record of highest Indian Wells title.

“He's playing really well, what is different maybe is he is playing closer from the baseline, preferring, using less his slice, he is using more top spin, putting more pressure all the time, returning better that's the difference I seem,” Wawrinka said on Tuesday at the Miami Open, referring to Federer’s improved game post injury.

Punjab chief minister (CM) Captain Amarinder Singh on Thursday defended his Cabinet minister Navjot Singh Sidhu's
participation in a TV comedy show saying he should be allowed to earn his living 'honestly'.

Speaking to a TV channel, the CM said quashed reports of any controversy over the issue of Navjot Singh Sidhu’s participation in The Kapil Sharma Show after taking over as minister in his Cabinet.

Captain Amarinder said in a TV interview that he personally felt Sidhu should be allowed to make his living by continuing to earn through TV shows, if that was his main source of income.

“How does one live without adequate income?” asked Captain Amarinder Singh, adding, “Do they (those opposing his TV shows) want to make ministers corrupt (by stopping them from earning their livelihood)?”

The CM said he did not know the legal position in the matter, and would wait for the state Advocate General’s report, but he did not personally think there was any conflict of interest, as stated by the Attorney General of India in a TV interview.

Captain Amarinder Singh had earlier said he had no objection to Sidhu continuing to appear on television but would change his Culture portfolio if that was in conflict with his TV shows.

Sidhu has been in news over his  involvement in a comedy show despite being a Cabinet minister. The cricketer-turned-politician maintains he earns his living by working in the comedy show and would spare time for it without compromising his responsibilities as a Cabinet minister.

“I have no liquor, sand mining or transport business like former deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal. I earn a living through TV shows and I will be in Chandigarh from Monday to Thursday and in Amritsar from Friday to Sunday. What I do at night should not be anyone’s concern. I will take first flight back to Punjab after TV shoots in Mumbai,” he said on Wednesday.

Punjab chief minister (CM) Captain Amarinder Singh on Thursday defended his Cabinet minister Navjot Singh Sidhu's
participation in a TV comedy show saying he should be allowed to earn his living 'honestly'.

Speaking to a TV channel, the CM said quashed reports of any controversy over the issue of Navjot Singh Sidhu’s participation in The Kapil Sharma Show after taking over as minister in his Cabinet.

Captain Amarinder said in a TV interview that he personally felt Sidhu should be allowed to make his living by continuing to earn through TV shows, if that was his main source of income.

“How does one live without adequate income?” asked Captain Amarinder Singh, adding, “Do they (those opposing his TV shows) want to make ministers corrupt (by stopping them from earning their livelihood)?”

The CM said he did not know the legal position in the matter, and would wait for the state Advocate General’s report, but he did not personally think there was any conflict of interest, as stated by the Attorney General of India in a TV interview.

Captain Amarinder Singh had earlier said he had no objection to Sidhu continuing to appear on television but would change his Culture portfolio if that was in conflict with his TV shows.

Sidhu has been in news over his  involvement in a comedy show despite being a Cabinet minister. The cricketer-turned-politician maintains he earns his living by working in the comedy show and would spare time for it without compromising his responsibilities as a Cabinet minister.

“I have no liquor, sand mining or transport business like former deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal. I earn a living through TV shows and I will be in Chandigarh from Monday to Thursday and in Amritsar from Friday to Sunday. What I do at night should not be anyone’s concern. I will take first flight back to Punjab after TV shoots in Mumbai,” he said on Wednesday.

Dismissing a petition opposing the election of media baron Subhash Chandra to the Rajya Sabha from Haryana, the Punjab and Haryana High Court on Thursday upheld the election.

Chandra was elected to the Rajya Sabha as an Independent candidate, backed by Haryana's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), following a controversy over voting in June last year. In the same biennial poll, Union minister Birender Singh was elected to the Rajya Sabha on a BJP ticket.

The high court bench of Justice P.B. Bajanthri dismissed the plea of Supreme Court lawyer R.K. Anand, who had challenged the election, alleging forgery and fabrication during voting.

Anand, who was backed by the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) and the Congress, had sought quashing of the election. He claimed in his petition that the decision of the assembly returning officer declaring some votes "null and void" was wrong.

The returning officer had declared 14 votes of Congress legislators as invalid as a different pen, other than the officially authorised pen, was used in voting.

Chandra was declared elected in the election, amid a blame game by the Congress and the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD). While Chandra finally secured 24 votes, Anand got only 15 votes.

Union minister Birender Singh was declared elected by securing 40 votes in the 90-member assembly.

Leader of opposition and INLD leader Abhay Chautala had blamed the Congress legislators of getting their votes rejected during the election.

But Congress legislator Karan Singh Dalal blamed the INLD for Anand's defeat.

The INLD and Congress have 19 and 17 legislators, respectively, in the Haryana Assembly. Had they all voted for Anand, he would have won easily.

Dismissing a petition opposing the election of media baron Subhash Chandra to the Rajya Sabha from Haryana, the Punjab and Haryana High Court on Thursday upheld the election.

Chandra was elected to the Rajya Sabha as an Independent candidate, backed by Haryana's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), following a controversy over voting in June last year. In the same biennial poll, Union minister Birender Singh was elected to the Rajya Sabha on a BJP ticket.

The high court bench of Justice P.B. Bajanthri dismissed the plea of Supreme Court lawyer R.K. Anand, who had challenged the election, alleging forgery and fabrication during voting.

Anand, who was backed by the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) and the Congress, had sought quashing of the election. He claimed in his petition that the decision of the assembly returning officer declaring some votes "null and void" was wrong.

The returning officer had declared 14 votes of Congress legislators as invalid as a different pen, other than the officially authorised pen, was used in voting.

Chandra was declared elected in the election, amid a blame game by the Congress and the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD). While Chandra finally secured 24 votes, Anand got only 15 votes.

Union minister Birender Singh was declared elected by securing 40 votes in the 90-member assembly.

Leader of opposition and INLD leader Abhay Chautala had blamed the Congress legislators of getting their votes rejected during the election.

But Congress legislator Karan Singh Dalal blamed the INLD for Anand's defeat.

The INLD and Congress have 19 and 17 legislators, respectively, in the Haryana Assembly. Had they all voted for Anand, he would have won easily.

Oscar-winning actress Kate Winslet has revealed that she was bullied and fat-shamed during her childhood and was called "blubber".

Winslet opened up about her bad childhood memories at the fourth annual "WE Day UK" event here on Wednesday.

"I was always comparing myself to others. They called me 'blubber', they teased me for wanting to act. Locked me in the cupboard and would laugh at me," Winslet said.

"I wasn't the prettiest and I was even told that I'd be lucky in my acting if I was happy to settle for the fat girl parts. I'd never let go of that, and they'd say, 'You're just not what we're looking for, Kate'. I'd hear that a lot. This unkindness made me feel truly horrendous," she added.

Winslet shared that due to her over-sized figure she was often cast in weird roles, but she didn't mind doing them as she loved acting.

"I was always auditioning for the school plays. I didn't really get very good parts, mind you, but I didn't mind. I didn't care. I would often get cast as the crocodile, or the scarecrow, or the dark fairy. I was even a dancing frog once. But it didn't matter. I still loved it," she said.

"I loved acting. It didn't matter how big or small the parts were. I wanted to be great and I was determined to keep learning.

"And then one day, I was cast as Rose in Titanic. The most unlikely candidate, Kate from the sandwich shop in Reading, suddenly acting in one of the biggest movies ever made," she added.

Oscar-winning actress Kate Winslet has revealed that she was bullied and fat-shamed during her childhood and was called "blubber".

Winslet opened up about her bad childhood memories at the fourth annual "WE Day UK" event here on Wednesday.

"I was always comparing myself to others. They called me 'blubber', they teased me for wanting to act. Locked me in the cupboard and would laugh at me," Winslet said.

"I wasn't the prettiest and I was even told that I'd be lucky in my acting if I was happy to settle for the fat girl parts. I'd never let go of that, and they'd say, 'You're just not what we're looking for, Kate'. I'd hear that a lot. This unkindness made me feel truly horrendous," she added.

Winslet shared that due to her over-sized figure she was often cast in weird roles, but she didn't mind doing them as she loved acting.

"I was always auditioning for the school plays. I didn't really get very good parts, mind you, but I didn't mind. I didn't care. I would often get cast as the crocodile, or the scarecrow, or the dark fairy. I was even a dancing frog once. But it didn't matter. I still loved it," she said.

"I loved acting. It didn't matter how big or small the parts were. I wanted to be great and I was determined to keep learning.

"And then one day, I was cast as Rose in Titanic. The most unlikely candidate, Kate from the sandwich shop in Reading, suddenly acting in one of the biggest movies ever made," she added.

The Narendra Modi government's ambitious project – the New Education Policy – aimed at revamping the education system is likely to take more time, the HRD Ministry said on Thursday.

The information was shared by Minister of State for HRD, Mahendra Nath Pandey in response to a written question in Rajya Sabha when asked whether the new education policy is going to be implemented by next academic session.

"Presently, the government is in process of formulating a New Education Policy (NEP) and its finalisation is likely to take some time," the Minister said.

The HRD Ministry is about to announce a committee to draft the NEP after it decided to junk a similar report from the T S R Subramanian committee.

The previous committee had submitted its report to the government in May 2016 suggesting measures that the country must take to improve the sector that caters to over 300 billion students.

The panel had also suggested that the no detention policy be continued for children till the completion of Class V and a child turns 11 and the system of detention must be restored at the upper primary level.

The Narendra Modi government's ambitious project – the New Education Policy – aimed at revamping the education system is likely to take more time, the HRD Ministry said on Thursday.

The information was shared by Minister of State for HRD, Mahendra Nath Pandey in response to a written question in Rajya Sabha when asked whether the new education policy is going to be implemented by next academic session.

"Presently, the government is in process of formulating a New Education Policy (NEP) and its finalisation is likely to take some time," the Minister said.

The HRD Ministry is about to announce a committee to draft the NEP after it decided to junk a similar report from the T S R Subramanian committee.

The previous committee had submitted its report to the government in May 2016 suggesting measures that the country must take to improve the sector that caters to over 300 billion students.

The panel had also suggested that the no detention policy be continued for children till the completion of Class V and a child turns 11 and the system of detention must be restored at the upper primary level.

Filmmaker Puri Jagannadh, who has begun working on his next yet-untitled Telugu project with actor Nandamuri Balakrishna, says he has just wrapped up a massive action sequence.

"Completed my first schedule of NBK 101 in a massive set action sequence. It's going to be feast for all Nandamuri Balakrishna fans," Jagannadh tweeted on Thursday.

The project happens to be Balakrishna's 101st film.

Launched earlier this month, the project marks the first time collaboration of the director and Balakrishna.

Actor Sudheer Babu is rumoured to be playing the antagonist in the film.

The rest of the cast, including the leading lady, is being finalised.

Filmmaker Puri Jagannadh, who has begun working on his next yet-untitled Telugu project with actor Nandamuri Balakrishna, says he has just wrapped up a massive action sequence.

"Completed my first schedule of NBK 101 in a massive set action sequence. It's going to be feast for all Nandamuri Balakrishna fans," Jagannadh tweeted on Thursday.

The project happens to be Balakrishna's 101st film.

Launched earlier this month, the project marks the first time collaboration of the director and Balakrishna.

Actor Sudheer Babu is rumoured to be playing the antagonist in the film.

The rest of the cast, including the leading lady, is being finalised.

 The Lok Sabha on Thursday remembered the sacrifice of Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru on their martyrdom day.

The House also condemned the terror attack on the British Parliament in London that killed five people including the attacker.

As soon as the House met for the day, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan recalled the contribution of the three freedom fighters to the freedom struggle.

The three were hanged on the evening of this day in 1931 in Lahore central jail. Their remains were cremated immediately on the banks of the Sutlej River and the remains thrown in the river.

She also condemned the terror strike in Westminster yesterday in which five people were killed.

The members then stood in silence for a few moments in memory of the freedom fighters and those killed in the London attack.

 The Lok Sabha on Thursday remembered the sacrifice of Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru on their martyrdom day.

The House also condemned the terror attack on the British Parliament in London that killed five people including the attacker.

As soon as the House met for the day, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan recalled the contribution of the three freedom fighters to the freedom struggle.

The three were hanged on the evening of this day in 1931 in Lahore central jail. Their remains were cremated immediately on the banks of the Sutlej River and the remains thrown in the river.

She also condemned the terror strike in Westminster yesterday in which five people were killed.

The members then stood in silence for a few moments in memory of the freedom fighters and those killed in the London attack.

The armed forces should be prepared for conventional warfare along the country's borders and advanced technology for military must be made available on a fast track mode, Army Chief General Bipin Rawat said on Thursday.

He said that adequate focus must be given to ensure that "trial procedure" for procurement of military systems do not linger on for too long.

Without naming any country, Rawat said India will continue to face conventional or non-traditional forms of warfare and the armed forces will have to be ready to deal with any such challenge.

"The armed forces will have to remain prepared for conventional warfare along our borders," the army chief said while addressing a two-day conference on military communication.

Addressing the gathering, Minister of State for Defence Subhash Bhamre said the government was committed to fulfil requirements of the armed forces and that information technology can act as a force multiplier.

Rawat also stressed on the need to adopt the latest technologies for the armed forces without any delay so that it does not become obsolete after induction.

We will have to identify the correct type of technology for the armed forces and ensure that our trial procedure do not linger on for long, he said.

Communication technology for the armed forces must be simple, light-weight and easy to maintain as they will be required for wars on the borders, he said adding the technology must work in extreme weather conditions.

Referring to social media, the army chief said the "adversaries" appeared to be taking advantage of it.

He also talked about the need for having proper encryption mechanism, both for voice and data, for communication network for the armed forces.

Speaking on the occasion, CII's Chandrajit Banerjee pitched for early notification of the strategic partnership for defence production between the government and the defence industry.

The armed forces should be prepared for conventional warfare along the country's borders and advanced technology for military must be made available on a fast track mode, Army Chief General Bipin Rawat said on Thursday.

He said that adequate focus must be given to ensure that "trial procedure" for procurement of military systems do not linger on for too long.

Without naming any country, Rawat said India will continue to face conventional or non-traditional forms of warfare and the armed forces will have to be ready to deal with any such challenge.

"The armed forces will have to remain prepared for conventional warfare along our borders," the army chief said while addressing a two-day conference on military communication.

Addressing the gathering, Minister of State for Defence Subhash Bhamre said the government was committed to fulfil requirements of the armed forces and that information technology can act as a force multiplier.

Rawat also stressed on the need to adopt the latest technologies for the armed forces without any delay so that it does not become obsolete after induction.

We will have to identify the correct type of technology for the armed forces and ensure that our trial procedure do not linger on for long, he said.

Communication technology for the armed forces must be simple, light-weight and easy to maintain as they will be required for wars on the borders, he said adding the technology must work in extreme weather conditions.

Referring to social media, the army chief said the "adversaries" appeared to be taking advantage of it.

He also talked about the need for having proper encryption mechanism, both for voice and data, for communication network for the armed forces.

Speaking on the occasion, CII's Chandrajit Banerjee pitched for early notification of the strategic partnership for defence production between the government and the defence industry.