Pune, Feb 20 (IANS) A 21-year-old Sudanese student who had been injured in the Feb 13 terror blast here died in a local hospital early Saturday, police said, taking the toll to 12.

Amjad Algo J died at Budhrani Hospital around 2 a.m. He was a second year student of Wadia College here, said a police officer. He was a member of the college volleyball team too.

He is the fourth foreign national to have died in the deadly blast. A Nepali worker, an Iranian student and an Italian woman were the other foreigners who were killed.

Thirty five more victims are still in hospital.

Two men are suspected to have carried RDX in their backpacks and left them inside the crowded German Bakery last Saturday. This triggered the blast that has killed 12 people and injured 57.

A little-known Pakistan-based terror group, the Lashkar-e-Taiba Al Alami (LeT-international), has claimed responsibility for the bombing.

The "spokesman" of the group called an Islamabad-based Indian journalist and claimed that the group carried out the attack.

Two people have been arrested in this connection.



One more foreigner dead, Pune blast toll 12(News published under the licence from Indo Asian News Service)

Bhubaneswar, Feb 20 (IANS) A trooper of the Orissa State Armed Police committed suicide by stabbing his bayonet into his belly after he was denied leave, police said Saturday.

Prakash Chandra Barik killed himself Friday evening in Gajapati district of Orissa. He hailed from Kendrapara district. He was posted in 3rd Battalion of Orissa State Armed Police in Koraput and was on duty in Mohana area in Gajapati.

"He applied for leave and was under severe pressure. He was continuously ringing back home. Two of his colleagues went on leave. Later, he took this step," a police officer said.

Barik succumbed to his injuries on his way to the hospital.

"He was denied leave so he took this step," President of Constable Association of Orissa Padmanabh Behera said.

However, camp seniors said Barik committed suicide due to some family problem.

"He was having some family problem so he committed suicide. He had already been given seven days' leave," Havildar Major Surendra Parida said.

(News published under the licence from Indo Asian News Service)

New Delhi, Feb 20 (IANS) After playing mother and wife, popular actress Supriya Pilgaonkar wants to play an adulteress on screen, but says it doesn't seem possible because of the limited roles offered to women her age.



"Everyone wants to make a character of my age a mother. There's no experimentation. I would love to play a detective or an adulteress, but who will give it? Not on the small screen and not even in films," Supriya, who has been acting for 25 years, told IANS.

"I am not even talking about playing the lead roles differently - but in every show or film, there are many characters. Still we are not given any different roles than a mother. Actually, the problem is very few people want to see a change and very few people have the courage to present it. Roles for us are very limited," she rued.

The 52-year-old, who was in the capital Thursday for the launch of her new show on STAR Plus, "Sasural Genda Phool", says TV content is highly driven by viewers' demand.

"I have been lucky to choose my roles, but still I feel that everybody is doing what the viewers want. They see only what the viewers want; it's not balanced. TV is becoming one-sided entertainment : whatever people like, give them that - that's every channel's mantra.

"But to build their sensibilities, we should give the viewers something extra. I feel channels should attempt something different and people need to respond to it to encourage channels to keep trying things instead of following one set pattern," she said.

Supriya, who is married to actor-director Sachin Pilgaonkar, has been earlier seen in serials like "Tu Tu Main Main", "Kadvee Khattee Meethi" and "Radha Ki Betiyaan Kuch Kar Dikhaayengi". Supriya has also done films like "Awara Paagal Deewana" and "Aetbaar".

In "Sasural Genda Phool", which focuses on the modern Indian bahu, she plays "badi maa" - a character who stays at her in-laws' house even though her husband stays away. Supriya feels the show breaks away from the regressive portrayal of women on screen.

"A lot of shows have been regressive in between. I did 'Tu Tu Main Main' and it was very successful - it portrayed today's bahu. After that, the characters started becoming regressive. Now we are trying to bring the modern bahu back to the screen," she said.

The actress will be seen on the big screen in "Jaane Kahaan Se Aayi Hai" as Riteish Deshmukh's mother. The film is being produced by Nikhil Advani and directed by Milap Zaveri.

(News published under the licence from Indo Asian News Service)

Washington, Feb 19 (DPA) Tiger Woods Friday apologised for "irresponsible" behaviour in his first public statement since a November car crash unleashed a storm of revelations about extramarital affairs and stopped his illustrious golfing career in its tracks.

The world's top golfer could not say when he would return to the sport, noting he had let down his family, friends, colleagues and fans.

Woods admitted he had "cheated" on his wife, Elin, a number of times and would re-enter a sex rehabilitation clinic to help save his marriage of more than five years.

"I know I have bitterly disappointed all of you," Woods said, at times tearful as he spoke before a group of friends and family at the TPC Sawgrass Clubhouse in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.

"I am deeply sorry for the irresponsible and selfish behaviour I engaged in."

Woods gave his mother, Kultida, a long hug after speaking for more than 10 minutes, and took no questions from the few media allowed in the room. His wife and two young children did not appear to be present.

Woods, who has stood at the pinnacle of the golfing world for more than a decade, recounted how he had been lured by fame and celebrity into feeling "entitled", abandoning his values and disregarding his Buddhist faith. He admitted his once-stellar reputation as a role model for golf fans and children had been severely tarnished.

"Today I want to ask for your help," he said to fans. "I ask you to find room in your heart to one day believe in me again."

Woods has not played on the PGA Tour and had not appeared in public since he crashed his SUV into a tree outside his house in the middle of the night in late November.

The circumstances of the crash unleashed a series of rumours about Woods' marriage and affairs. He released a statement in December admitting "infidelity" and saying he had quit golf "indefinitely". A number of companies since cancelled sponsorship deals with Woods.

Woods said he would not rule out a return to golf "some time this year", but said his focus in the coming months would be on repairing his private life.

"I do plan to return to golf one day. I just don't know when that day will be," said Woods, who with 17 Major victories over his career trails only the 20 Majors won by Jack Nicklaus.

Woods' choice of making a statement on Friday had drawn the ire of some of the world's top golfers, who were in Arizona for the third day of the Accenture Matchplay Championship, the biggest golfing tournament so far this year.

"Its selfish," South African Ernie Els told Golf Week magazine ahead of Woods' statement. "This takes a lot away from the golf tournament."

Woods said the timing was because he planned to re-enter a rehabilitation clinic on Saturday and that he hoped other players could understand. Woods had already undergone 45 days of treatment from December to February.

"I was unfaithful, I had affairs, I cheated," Woods said. "I have a lot to atone for."

(News published under the licence from Indo Asian News Service)

Chennai, Feb 19 (IANS) Superstar Rajnikant, who has teamed up with Bollywood diva Aishwarya Rai in Tamil film "Endhiran", says it is expected to hit the screens in July or August.

Rajnikant was speaking on one of the costliest films to be made in India -- with a budget of over Rs.125 crore -- after he had visited Chief Minister K. Karunanidhi Thursday to thank him for attending the engagement ceremony of Rajnikant's second daughter Soundarya with industrialist Ashwin Ramkumar.

"Endhiran" is directed by Shankar and according to the him more than 90 percent of the movie is complete. A.R. Rahman has composed the music for the film.
(News published under the licence from Indo Asian News Service)

Washington, Feb 19 (IANS) Brushing off Chinese warnings, President Barack Obama met with the Dalai Lama to express his "strong support" for human rights and religious freedom for the people of Tibet while encouraging a direct dialogue with China.



"The president stated his strong support for the preservation of Tibet's unique religious, cultural and linguistic identity and the protection of human rights for Tibetans in the People's Republic of China," White House press secretary Robert Gibbs stated after their meeting Thursday at the White House.

Obama "commended the Dalai Lama's 'Middle Way' approach, his commitment to non-violence and his pursuit of dialogue with the Chinese government," he said after the hour long meeting in the Map Room in the residential wing of the White House.

"The President stressed that he has consistently encouraged both sides to engage in direct dialogue to resolve differences and was pleased to hear about the recent resumption of talks," Gibbs said.

"The President and the Dalai Lama agreed on the importance of a positive and cooperative relationship between the United States and China."

Obama, who had failed to meet the Tibetan spiritual leader last year to keep Beijing in good humour ahead of his first state visit to China in November, did not receive the Dalai Lama at his Oval Office to indicate the unofficial nature of the meeting. No cameras were allowed as the two Nobel Peace Prize recipients opened their talks. Dalai Lama has now met every sitting US president since George H. W. Bush in 1991, but none of them received him in the Oval Office.

The White House released only a single official picture. An official photograph was also released after the Dalai Lama met later with Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. After the meeting, the Dalai Lama wearing maroon robes of a Tibetan monk and flip-flops in snowy, cold Washington playfully tossed a bit of snow at reporters staking out on the White House grounds and declared himself "very happy" with the visit.

The Dalai Lama said he spoke to the president about the promotion of human values, religious harmony, a greater leadership role for women around the world and the concerns of the Tibetan people, and that Obama was "very much supportive.'

"Since my childhood, I always admired America not as a military power, but mainly as a champion of democracy, freedom, human value, human creativity," the Dalai Lama said.

The Dalai Lama also told Obama "the female is biologically more sensitive about others' pain, others' suffering" and therefore should have more leadership roles. "The president agreed," he said.

Hundreds of Tibetans crowded Pennsylvania Avenue outside the White House and waved Tibet's blue, red and yellow flag. They stood in a large circle singing and dancing, many of them in traditional garb as the Dalai Lama arrived for his much awaited meeting.

Later at the State Department, where he held a short news conference, the Dalai Lama chided China for what he called its "childish" and "limited" approach to Tibetan efforts for greater rights. He said he expected a negative Chinese reaction to his meeting with Obama.

His envoy, Lodi Gyari, said Tibetans feeling marginalised by China would get encouragement from the session.

The State Department did not release any statement, but before the meeting spokesman Phillip Crowley told reporters Clinton "will express our support for the preservation of Tibet's unique religious, cultural, and linguistic identity.

While the US has ongoing concerns about human rights condition among the Tibetan areas of China, Crowley said, "we consider Tibet to be a part of China, but we will talk about those conditions" and "we are going to speak out forcefully when we have these kinds of concerns."
(News published under the licence from Indo Asian News Service)

Shillong, Feb 19 (IANS) Pictures of Jesus Christ holding a cigarette in one hand and a beer can in another in a book for primary classes has triggered a row in Meghalaya and the state government is now contemplating legal action against the New Delhi-based publisher.

The objectionable pictures of Jesus Christ found in the cursive writing exercise copies at a private school in capital Shillong was brought to the notice of the influential church by some guardians.

"We are shocked and hurt by this act where Jesus Christ has been portrayed in a highly objectionable manner...we condemn the total lack of respect for religions by the publisher," Dominc Jala, the Archbishop of Shillong, told IANS.

New Delhi-based Skyline Publication produced the copies meant for students of Class 1.

"Just imagine students at such an impressionable age being dished out objectionable images which are nothing but blasphemous," said T. Jrwa, another church leader.

The Meghalaya government acted swiftly by confiscating all the copies from the school and also from book shops.

"Although private schools are not bound by the prescribed text books of the Meghalaya Board of Secondary Education, still we took immediate action by seizing all the copies and if deemed fit we might even take legal steps," said Meghalaya Education Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh.

An estimated 72 percent of the 2.32 million people in Meghalaya are Christians.
(News published under the licence from Indo Asian News Service)

Austin (US): In a suspected suicide attack, a single-engine private plane Thursday crashed into a seven-storey building complex which houses the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) office in Texas, ABC News reported quoting sources.

Two people were injured and one person was unaccounted for after the crash which left the building a smoking hulk of shattered glass.

The plane hit the side of the building between its first and second floor where the office of Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is located.

A spokesman for the IRS said 190 people work in that office. "We are still in the process of accounting for all of our employees".

However, federal officials said that they had no reason to suspect the incident was terrorism related.

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano was briefed about the incident.

"The Secretary is aware of the situation in Austin. We do not yet know the cause of the plane crash. At this time, we have no reason to believe there is a nexus to criminal or terrorist activity," Department of Homeland Security spokesman Matt Chandler told ABC News.

"We are in the process of coordinating with state officials and other federal partners to gather more information. At this time, we will defer additional questions to local officials and the FAA," Chandler said.

Meanwhile, two F-16 jets have been sent from Houston as "a prudent precaution consistent with our response to recent similar air incidents".

North American Aerospace Defence Command (NORAD) spokesperson John Cornelio said that the jets were flying a combat air patrol over Austin.

Cullen described the plane as a blue and white Piper Cherokee, a plane he used to use in flying lessons.

"I thought it was going to hit me for a second. It was flying right across the top of the trees. It went right across the building and slammed directly between the first and second floors," he was quoted as saying.

Authorities are investigating reports that the pilot may have burned down his house before steering the plane into the building which houses Internal Revenue Service.

Witnesses said the pilot, identified as Andrew Stack, appeared to be in control of the plane moments before the crash.

"It hit it and the strange thing was the engine seemed to me to running at full power. It didn't seem like the plane was in trouble. It was going full blast. It's not a very fast airplane, but this thing was really moving fast," pilot Jerry Cullen told ABC's Austin affiliate KVUE.

"The plane was just coming down. He (the pilot) was so low you could actually see him in the plane," another witness Beth Jones was quoted as saying.

Jones claimed that she had a glimpse of the pilot who seemed to be awake and not struggling while the plane was heading towards the building.

As her car passed under the plane's path she heard a "large explosion" and immediately pulled over to see the building in flames.

The plane flew "just straight, right in" to the complex. "You think, did he go in there on purpose?" Jones asked

(News published under the licence from Indo Asian News Service)