Black box of crashed plane found in Cuba

Sat, Nov 6 11:16 AM

Havana, Nov 6 (IANS/EFE) The black box and cockpit voice recorder of a plane that crashed in Cuba, killing all 68 people on board, have been recovered, a media report said.

Aero Caribbean Flight 883, en route to Havana from the eastern city of Santiago de Cuba, crashed late Thursday in the central province of Sancti Spiritus shortly after the crew reported an emergency and contact was lost.

Provincial chief prosecutor Rolando Diaz said authorities hope the contents of the recorders will shed light on the cause of the crash, the official AIN news agency reported Friday.

The plane, a twin-engine ATR-72, is used for regional and short-duration flights and has a maximum seating capacity of 74 people.

Cuban television and the government website Cubadebate released a list of the victims including 28 foreigners from 10 different countries who were aboard the plane.

The travellers from other countries included nine Argentines, seven Mexicans, three Dutch citizens, two Germans, two Austrians, a Spaniard, a French citizen, an Italian, a Japanese and a Venezuelan.

Cuba's deadliest plane crash of the past three decades occurred in September 1989, when an Il-62 travelling to Milan went down in Havana shortly after take-off and killed all 115 on board and 40 people on the ground.

--IANS/EFE

Obama calls Mahatma Gandhi a hero

Sat, Nov 6 03:51 PM

Mumbai, Nov 6 (IANS) Mahatma Gandhi is a 'hero not just to India but to the world', US President Barack Obama said Saturday after visiting the Mani Bhavan where the apostle of non-violence used to stay.

In remarks in the Visitors book after a 30-minute tour, Obama wrote: 'I am filled with hope and inspiration as I have the privilege to view this testament to Gandhi's life. He is a hero, not just to India but to the world.'

Obama's wife Michelle, who was with him, wrote underneath: 'This visit will be one that I will always treasure. The life and teachings of Gandhi must be shared with our children around the world.'

The Obamas were greeted at the Mani Bhavan, the second halt at the start of their India tour, by its trustees.

The president also read the remarks written by American civil rights leader Martin Luther King, who visited Mani Bhavan in 1959

Obama in India: Business Top on Agenda

Obama pays homage to Mumbai terror victims

“Mumbai is an incredible city which is symbol of energy and optimism of India, ” said President Obama saluting the spirit of Mumbai as he addressed the press at Taj while kick-starting the historic tour to India. Obama mentioned that his visit to Taj is a clear message to terrorists while reiterating that India and US are working closely than ever in the battle against terror.

Obama said his decision to stay in Taj Hotel is a powerful message against terrorism and demanded that the perpetrators of the horrific Mumbai attacks should be brought to justice.

Accompanied by his wife Michelle, he signed the visitors’ book, looked at the plaque on which the names of 26/11 victims are engraved and delivered a six-minute speech in which he paid tributes to people of Mumbai and India hailing their resolve and resilience.

Excerpts of his speech

“We will never forget the awful images of the 26/11 attacks, the flames from Taj Hotel that lit up the skies on those four days of November, 2008.”

“We today, US and India are working together, more closely than ever to deepening counter-terrorism (cooperation), to keep our people safe.”

“Here in Mumbai, the diversity that is India’s strength was in full display… Those who attacked Mumbai wanted to demoralise this city and this country but they failed.”

“The very next day, Mumbaikars came back to work… Within weeks, this hotel was welcoming guests from around the world.”

“The Taj is a symbol of strength and resolve.”

“Just as Indians lost their lives on 9/11, Americans lost their lives on 26/11.”

My stay at Taj is powerful message against terror: Obama

26/11 failed, says Obama, paying homage to victims

Obama praises Taj manager Kang, Moshe’s nanny

India, US to deepen counter-terror cooperation: Obama

 

He arrived at Taj in Presidential limousine ‘Beast’ from the INS Shikra air station at Colaba. He has signed the guest book at Taj and will be meeting the victims of 26/11 terror attack before joining the memorial service for the victims. Obama is accompanied by his wife Michelle and top officials in what would be the president’s longest foreign trip since he assumed office two years ago.

President Obama landed in Mumbai airport around 1 pm kicking-off his much anticipated four-day visit to India where Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan and Protocol Minister Suresh Shetty received him as the representatives of the state along with Union Minister Salman Khurshid.

He then headed to INS Shikra air station at Colaba naval base in a Black Hawk while his dignitaries accompanied him in Chinook helicopters.

Today’s programme includes:

• Memorial of 26/11 victims at Taj/meeting with terror attack survivors

• Visit to Mahatma Gandhi museum Mani Bhavan.

• Meeting with Indian and American entrepreneurs and CEOs at Trident, Nariman Point.

• Address to US-India Business Council Summit at Trident.

In a gesture loaded with symbolism, his first stop will be the iconic Taj Hotel, where he will attend a memorial service in tribute to the victims of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. He will also meet the survivors during the same. President Obama and his wife Michelle will be the most high-profile guests to stay at the Taj since the attacks two years ago. Barack Obama’s India trip itinerary

The choice of Taj Hotel, the epicentre of the Mumbai massacre by terrorists, for his two-day stay has been described by Obama as a “tribute to the resilience of the Indian people” and to underscore the shared commitment of the two countries to counter terrorism.

“By staying at the Taj (hotel), I am pleased to pay tribute to the resilience of the Indian people, while also underscoring our shared commitment to counter terrorism,” Obama said.

After attending the memorial service, Obama will address a business summit organised by the US-India Business Council at Trident with entrepreneurs. More than two hundred US CEOs will be attending the summit which focuses on producing jobs for the U.S. economy by clinching big commercial deals for U.S. companies and promoting greater access to Indian markets – particularly in financial and retail sectors. The Obama administration had set a goal of doubling US exports over the next five years to create more jobs back home.  Read more

FACTBOX: Corporate America’s Wish-List For Obama’s India Trip

In the mean time the Left parties will be holding a nationwide protest on the wake of Obama’s visit in protest of US pressure on India to open its agriculture, retail trade, education, and other services to MNCs.

Meanwhile nuclear scientist Kota Subbarao Buddhi, the father of Vikram Buddhi who is languishing in a US jail for the last four years after allegedly posting hate messages against former President George Bush on the Internet in 2006 has sought a “legal review” of the case by US President Barack Obama. He has requested President of India Pratibha Patil to arrange for a three-minute audience with US President to explain about the case.  Read more

Another person who is looking forward to meet President Obama is Railway announcer Vishnu Zende, whose presence of mind during the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks saved hundreds of lives at the CST station. Zende is among those invited to attend a function at the Taj Mahal Hotel today

Sanitising Mumbai for Obama no small task

Sat, Nov 6 12:33 PM

The pot-holed streets of Mumbai are being spruced up, shabby buildings are being given a paint job, school children are diligently rehearsing their dance moves and the security establishment is putting every man on the job: the city of Gold is getting ready to host the president of the United States.

In the early hours of November 6, when President Barack Obama lands in Mumbai, he may not get a huge welcome at the airport or on the way to his hotel. For one thing, it is the Diwali weekend, the biggest holiday in India. It is a bit like a foreign dignitary arriving in New York on Christmas; the locals are busy with their celebrations and will mind their already traffic-clogged roads being blockaded by the American president's motorcade. One newspaper suggests Obama skirt the notorious Mumbai traffic by flying straight to his South Mumbai hotel by helicopter.

The other thing that could keep the ordinary citizen away from him is the security. All kinds of speculation has been doing the rounds, including claims that scores of U.S. secret service agents have been in Mumbai for weeks looking closely at each and every nook and corner of the potential spots Obama could visit. Mumbai police are reported to have deployed sharp shooters at different points in the city.

A trip to the Chattrapati Shivaji Terminus, the scene of horrific killings by terrorists on the night of November 26, 2008, was apparently scheduled but was called off when the local police could not guarantee a sanitized security environment at the main train station. Michelle Obama's plans to see for herself the notorious red light area of Kamathipura was also nixed by the Maharashtra government.

There is no official confirmation on the Obamas one-day schedule in Mumbai, but some details have trickled out.

The president and first lady are staying at the domed Taj Mahal Palace heritage hotel, where two years ago guests and staff were held hostage for four days while commandos fought the armed terrorists inside during the attack. The Taj, as it is called, and the area around it have been turned into an armed fortress and the U.S. president's entourage has reportedly booked the entire 600-room hotel.

Again, these are not details given out officially, though even a casual visit to the vicinity of the hotel, next to Mumbai's famed Gateway of India monument, will show the extent of the security blanket in the neighborhood.

President Obama will also address a group of Indian businessmen, visit St Xaiver’s college, one of the most prestigious institutions in the city, go to Mani Bhavan, the Mumbai home of Mahatma Gandhi and visit the Holy Name school in Colaba to celebrate Diwali, where the excited kids are practicing their steps but are in the dark about when exactly in the day the president will arrive.

All of which has led to some mixed feelings among citizens.

Though President Obama is much admired in Mumbai and the sites he will visit are all agog in anticipation, the security and the timing of the trip have left many people underwhelmed. The fact that he is travelling with a 200-plus contingent of U.S. businessmen emphasizes the economic angle to his trip, which strikes a chord in this, the commercial capital of India.

But the President, coming to India immediately after fighting the high-pressure mid-term elections in his country, should not feel too aggrieved if citizens do not turn out in large numbers to greet him.

Reproduced From CNNGo.com

Ton-up Ryder, Williamson thwart India

Ahmedabad: Jesse Ryder struck a remarkable 103 and shared a 194-run stand with debutant Kane Williamson to defy world number one India on the third day of the first Test against New Zealand on Saturday.

Ryder struck 10 fours and a six in his 205-ball knock while Williamson was equally impressive in making 87 not out as New Zealand reached 331-5 at stumps at the Sardar Patel Stadium in Ahmedabad. That left the visitors 156 runs adrift of India's first-innings 487.

Ryder completed his third century - all of which have come against India - with a delightful four in the covers but was trapped lbw by Shanthakumaran Sreesanth one ball later in the day's last over.

New Zealand batsman Brendon McCullum said the team was delighted by the efforts of the fifth-wicket pair. "We have not seen a number five and six bat like this in a very long time," he said.

"Ryder has had disciplinary problems but we'd rather not talk about that. He says he has put that behind and moved on. Each time he steps out to bat, the team has massive faith in him. As for Williamson, in New Zealand you don't see kids come through by the age of 20. So, for him to come out and bat the way he did, it is just incredible."

India's bowlers struggled in unhelpful conditions, with a dodgy caught behind decision involving Williamson and a dropped catch of Ryder adding to their woes. Williamson, who scored his maiden One-day century during New Zealand's recent tour of Bangladesh, however showed remarkable application in his nearly five-hour stay at the wicket.

He even dealt calmly with a chest-high beamer from Sreesanth, which prompted Australian umpire Steve Davis to have a quiet word with the fast bowler.

"It (beamer) was not intentional," said Sreesanth. "I used to lose temper earlier but now I am smarter. It was frustrating to bowl on a wicket which had nothing for the bowlers. Given the conditions, I think all our bowlers bowled very well. We now need to get rid of the remaining New Zealand batsmen as early as possible."

Ryder was dropped on 11 in the slips by Rahul Dravid, who failed to latch on to the catch on his right despite getting his fingers to the ball, the unlucky bowler being Sreesanth.

Injury-prone Ryder, playing his first Test in 15 months, was troubled by a strain in the calf and took the help of a runner in the latter part of his knock.

India's spin duo Pragyan Ojha and Harbhajan Singh earlier removed McCullum (65) and Ross Taylor (56) shortly before lunch after they had put on 104 runs for the third wicket.

McCullum, opening for the first time in Tests, completed his 17th Test half-century with a single in the covers after driving Sreesanth twice for fours.

Taylor provided good support to his partner, reaching his 10th Test fifty with a boundary off Harbhajan, but he fell soon after to the off-spinner, offering a simple catch at short mid-wicket to Venkatsai Laxman.

McCullum missed the chance to make a big score after being stumped by an alert Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who whipped off the bails with the batsman's back foot on the line. His 122-ball innings contained 11 boundaries.

mginger

<a href="http://mGinger.com/signup.html?inviteId=2182180">
 <img src="http://img.mginger.com/img/banner/mg468x60_red.png"/>
</a>

Fortress Delhi set for biggest Commonwealth Games

Sun, Oct 3 08:24 AM

Enlarge Photo A paramilitary soldier stands guard in front of a poster advertising the Commonwealth Games outside...

With nearly 6,000 athletes already in Delhi and hundreds more streaming in by the day, the capital was putting the finishing touches to preparations for the biggest ever Commonwealth Games on Saturday.

(For slideshow "Countdown to Commonwealth Games, click http://in.reuters.com/news/pictures/slideshow?articleId=INRTR2HWG7)

The 12-day sports gathering for mostly former British colonies was in crisis a week ago but organisers seemed to have put the worst of the rash of preparatory problems behind them on the eve of the opening ceremony.

The late scramble by the government to salvage the $6 billion event might still not be enough to erase the public relations disaster of the last few weeks but the 19th Commonwealth Games can at least boast the most participants.

"The fact that we will have the participation of 6,800 athletes and team officials from all 71 nations and territories indicates the love they have for India," said chief organiser Suresh Kalmadi.

"We are on course to deliver the Games successfully and smoothly."

The late arriving athletes will land in a city in the grip of huge security operation aimed at ensuring the safety of the athletes and spectators, 60,000 of whom will pack the refurbished Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Sunday.

Some 100,000 security personnel have been deployed around the city and MiG fighters and helicopter gunships will be on standby.

The Delhi government has also ordered shops and commercial establishments to remain closed on Sunday but the city's police chief YS Dadwal said people would still be able to get around.

"It's huge task and we have cancelled leave for all policemen," he told reporters. "It's a moment of great challenge for Delhi Police.

"We have not asked people to stay home. We told them, 'Plan your movement because of limited road space during the Games. Reach venues well in advance and be prepared to stand in queues.'"

Britain's Prince Charles arrived in Delhi on Saturday to attend the opening ceremony on behalf of his mother, Queen Elizabeth, the head of the Commonwealth.

The Delhi Games, intended to showcase India's growing financial clout with a display of soft power, had threatened to become a national embarrassment before the government intervened.

The organisers had seven years to prepare but the shoddy construction and filthy accommodation forced some of the teams to either postpone their arrival or put up in city hotels.

The director of sport for the Canadian team, Scott Stevenson, said conditions in the athletes' village had now improved.

"We wanted it to get to adequate class as we say, which is where we are," he said. "So people are comfortable, they are getting their sleep, eating well and it's easy to move around. It is a comfortable village to be around."

The organisers renovated most of the existing stadiums and some of the venues, including hockey and cycling stadiums, have been hailed as world class.

The string of top athletes who have skipped the games for fatigue, injury, health or security concerns have taken some of the lustre off the sporting competition, which starts on Monday.

Strong swimming teams from Australia, England, South Africa and Canada have bucked the trend, though, and the action at the Dr SP Mukherjee Aquatic Complex will be among the highlights of the Oct. 3-14 event.

"It is very different from the swimming world championships and in my view the only experience that beats competing at the Commonwealth Games is the Olympics," said South Africa's 2004 Olympic champion Roland Schoeman.

Corruption charges, an attack by suspected militants that wounded two tourists, a dengue fever epidemic, a filthy Games Village and the collapse of a footbridge have tarnished India's image, questioning its ability to host events of such magnitude.

(Additional reporting by Patrick Johnston, Amlan Chakraborty and Sudipto Ganguly, editing by Pritha Sarkar)

Five hours of sleep enough for women

Sat, Oct 2 04:02 PM

Women who manage to get between five and six-and-a-half hours of sleep every night are more likely to live longer, a new study has claimed.

Researchers at the San Diego School of Medicine found that women those who slept for between five and six-and-a-half hours a night had the longest survival rates.

While adults are advised to sleep for seven to nine hours every day to stay healthy, the researchers found that those who get slightly less than the recommended amount tend to outlive those who sleep much more.

The findings, they said, would help dismiss the long-held belief that people aren't getting enough sleep, the Daily Mail reported.

The scientists, who monitored 459 elderly women in San Diego for 14 years (since 1995) to try and establish a link between sleep and mortality, found that those who slept for between five and six-and-a-half hours daily had the longest survival rates.

In their first study they worked out peoples' sleeping habits using wrist activity monitors, which are able to tell whether a person is awake or asleep by how much they move and then count up the overall hours of sleep a night.

Last year the researchers tried to get back in touch with all the women 14 years later to find out whether they were still alive. They established that those who had more than six and a half hours sleep a night or less than five were far less likely to be alive today.

Professor Daniel Kripke, who led the study, said: "The surprise was that when sleep was measured objectively, the best survival was observed among women who slept 5 to 6.5 hours.

"Women who slept less than five hours a night or more than 6.5 hours were less likely to be alive at the 14-year follow-up."

Professor Kripke said their study should allay some people's fears that they're not getting enough sleep. He added: "This means that women who sleep as little as five to six-and-a-half hours have nothing to worry about since that amount of sleep is evidently consistent with excellent survival. That is actually about the average measured sleep duration for San Diego women."

Long term studies show that those who drop down to five hours or fewer face a 70 per cent extra risk of dying from all causes. The new study is published in journal Sleep

Anjaana Anjaani Movie Review

By Rummana Ahmed

Cast: Ranbir Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra, Zayed Khan

Director: Siddharth Anand

Siddharth Anand's 'Anjaana Anjaani' creates a colourful atmosphere but lacks a compelling peg. Shot completely in the U.S., it's a slick production, big on the style quotient but slight on substance.

The basic premise - Akash (Ranbir) and Kiara (Priyanka) bump into each other on a bridge while trying to commit suicide. A few disastrous failed attempts later, they make a suicide pact but decide to make the best of their "last" days. While they embark on a journey trying to help each other achieve their unfulfilled last wishes, they rediscover themselves and also predictably fall in love in totally filmi-style.

Cinematic liberties are in abundance in this film. While their adventures together are fun to watch, it's not clear how they manage to fund their amusing expeditions. Akash and his friends are completely broke and declare bankruptcy after the stock market plummets. And we never really know if Priyanka does have a real job other than nursing her broken heart full-time. It is still amazing that while stories of 'Jobless in America' abound, our lead pair not only eke out a decent living in New York city but also manage to finance their misadventures without cutting any corners.

Priyanka manages to look hot and gets ample opportunity to show off her perfectly toned body. While for the most part she does a decent job, at times, her performance comes across as pretentious and looks like a desperate attempt to recreate the Geet of 'Jab We Met'.

The real show-stealer then is once again Ranbir Kapoor. He is fun, attractive, romantic and arrogant, all at the same time; never overdoes his brief and manages to make an average film, a fun one-time watch.

If you have watched 'Salaam Namaste' and 'Bachna Ae Haseeno' and kind of liked it, then Siddharth Anand will not disappoint you this time. Don't expect too much - there are a few fun moments, Vishal-Shekhar's music is average, the 'Aas Paas Khuda' number by Rahat Fateh Ali Khan is good and the packaging is glossy.

The Exorcist' voted 'Most Disturbing Film Of All Time

London, Aug 20 (ANI): Horror classic The Exorcist has been named the 'Most Disturbing Film Of All Time'.

The film has topped the poll for rental service Lovefilm - 37 years after its release reports the Sun.

The story of the demonic possession of a child, which featured Linda Blair as the kid spewing green slime, was rated scarier than more recent flicks such as 'Saw' and 'Antichrist'.

Second on the list was teenage gang movie 'A Clockwork Orange'.

Top Ten:

1. The Exorcist (1973)

2. A Clockwork Orange (1971)

3. Saw (2004)

4. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)

5. Requiem For A Dream (2000)

6. Irreversible (2002)

7. Se7en (1995)

8. Event Horizon (1997)

9. The Blair Witch Project (1999)

10. Antichrist (2009)

(ANI)

Cabinet approves bill to hike MPs' salary

New Delhi, Aug 20 (PTI) Salaries of MPs will be hiked by more than three times with the Union Cabinet today approving a bill over which differences among ministers had surfaced earlier this week.

A meeting of the Cabinet gave its nod to the bill under which the basic salary of the MPs will be hiked from Rs 16,000 to Rs 50,000 per month. However, this is much less than the figure of Rs 80,001 recommended by the parliamentary committee which had said the MPs should get more than government secretaries as the former are above them in the hierarchy.

The Cabinet also approved increase in office expenses of parliamentarians from Rs 20,000 to Rs 40,000 per month. The constituency allowance has also been doubled from Rs 20,000 to Rs 40,000 per month, government sources said.

The limit for interest-free loan for MPs for buying a personal vehicle has been hiked four-fold to Rs 4 lakh from the present Rs 1 lakh. The government also approved a hike in road mileage rate for vehicles used by MPs from Rs 13 per km to Rs 16 per km.

Spouse of a parliamentarian can now travel any number of times in first class or executive class, the sources said. Pension benefits have also been increased from Rs 8,000 to Rs 20,000 per month.

Earlier this week, the Cabinet had deferred a decision on it in view of lack of consensus. The dissenting Ministers had referred to the farmers' suicide and allegations of corruption in Commonwealth Games while making the point that the hiking the salaries of MPs at the moment would be seen in the bad light.

Long-term live-in duos are granted as married

COURTS must presume couples involved in long-term live-in relationships to be married, the Supreme Court has said.

''If a man and a woman cohabit for a number of years, it will be presumed under section 114 of the Evidence Act, that they live as husband and wife and the children born to them will not be illegitimate,'' a bench comprising Justices P. Sathasivam and B. S. Chauhan said. They also quoted a related apex court judgment from 1992.

The bench observed that such sustained association cannot be termed ''walk in and walk out'' relationships and it was for the party opposing the presumption of marriage to prove the contrary in such cases. The bench, which was hearing a dispute over the inheritance of the property of a freedom fighter, Chandra Deo Singh, upheld the right of his children born out of a live-in relationship, to his property.

Singh got into a live-in relationship with Shakuntala, after the death of his wife. His children born out of wedlock filed a case against those born to his live- in partner over the inheritance of property.

The Allahabad High Court ruled against Singh's sons born to his wife. Therefore, they approached the apex court arguing that there was nothing on record to show that their father got married to Shakuntala, who he had been living with after the death of their mother Sonbarsa in 1945.

Advocate Abhay Kumar, appearing for Shakuntala's children, submitted that Singh had been living with Shakuntala for a long time and society had accepted their relationship as husband and wife.

Singh, who was jailed during the freedom struggle from 1945 to 1947, had lived with Shakuntala till his death in 1979.

While accepting Kumar's contention, the bench pointed out that the courts had consistently held there was a presumption of marriage in such cases and that such a presumption could only be rebutted by unimpeachable evidence

Sonakshi shouldn't cross her limits, says mom

As actor-politician Shatrughan Sinha's daughter Sonkashi debuts in Bollywood, her mother says she is free to do what she wants on the big screen, but she must not cross the limits set by the family.

'As an actress, Sonakshi has every right to decide what she wants to do and what she doesn't want to do. It is basically her call. There is a limit for everything and, of course, every family has its own 'maryaada' (rules). We have already told her that we have certain 'maryaada' and she shouldn't cross her limits,' Poonam, an actress herself, told IANS.

Sonakshi, 23, who stars opposite Salman Khan in 'Dabangg', has announced that she is not inclined towards doing any item numbers and has not worn any provocative clothes in the film.

Is that a result of her parents' restrictions?

'Hopefully, when you see her in subsequent projects, you will find out,' Poonam said on being asked about the other restrictions imposed on Sonakshi. She refused to comment any further on the do's and don'ts for her daughter.

Sonakshi is a trained fashion designer, but when Salman offered her a film on the condition that she would have to lose weight, the newcomer jumped at the opportunity.

Poonam said she is extremely proud of her daughter for getting into shape.

'Sonakshi really looked after herself well with her will power. She regularly went to the gym, controlled her food and eating habits which had become very erratic. You know how, as a teenager, kids love to go out and eat. But once she knew she could get a chance in films, she started focussing on her goal; there was no looking back.

'She went on a diet, followed a strict gym routine. She really worked hard and the end product was really beautiful. I am proud of her,' said Poonam, whose last big screen appearance was as Hrithik Roshan's mother in the historical drama 'Jodhaa Akbar'.

Almost three decades ago, Poonam was seen in movies like 'Jigri Dost' and 'Sabak' but moved away from showbiz to take care of her family after her marriage to Shatrughan.

'I have my hands full now. I have a daughter's career to look after and, of course, my sons also. I am a 24X7 housewife and that is why I couldn't take up much work. I did get a lot of offers, but my hands are full,' she said.

But Poonam is open to any role as regal and as one-of-a-kind as her character Hameeda Bano in 'Jodhaa Akbar'.

'If another film like 'Jodhaa Akbar' comes, if I get something like that, maybe I will give it a try.'

She also hopes that some day she will get to share screen space with daughter Sonakshi and son Luv Sinha, who had a flop debut with 'Sadiyaan'.

'I think it will be my privilege to work with my children. This is one relationship where there is no competition, where you would not mind your children walking ahead of you by leaps and bounds. And I hope my children do very well in their lives,' she said.

Poonam's other son and Luv's twin brother Kush is yet to make a film debut.

WASHINGTON (AP)—Roger Clemens was vehement: “Let me be clear. I have never taken steroids or HGH,” he told a House committee in 2008. Now, instead of the Hall of Fame, baseball’s seven-time Cy Young winner could go to prison after being indicted by a federal grand jury Thursday for allegedly lying to Congress. The case writes a new chapter in one of baseball’s worst scandals, the rampant use of performance-enhancing drugs in the 1990s and early 2000s, and leaves Clemens’ legacy in jeopardy. The six-count indictment alleges that Clemens obstructed a congressional inquiry with 15 different statements made under oath, including denials that he had ever used steroids or human growth hormone.

WASHINGTON (AP)—Roger Clemens was vehement: “Let me be clear. I have never taken steroids or HGH,” he told a House committee in 2008. Now, instead of the Hall of Fame, baseball’s seven-time Cy Young winner could go to prison after being indicted by a federal grand jury Thursday for allegedly lying to Congress.

The case writes a new chapter in one of baseball’s worst scandals, the rampant use of performance-enhancing drugs in the 1990s and early 2000s, and leaves Clemens’ legacy in jeopardy.

The six-count indictment alleges that Clemens obstructed a congressional inquiry with 15 different statements made under oath, including denials that he had ever used steroids or human growth hormone.

Former Rep. Tom Davis of Virginia, the top Republican on the House panel at the time of Clemens’ testimony, called it “a self-inflicted wound.”

Clemens had been prominently mentioned in the Mitchell Report, Major League Baseball’s own accounting of its steroid problem, and he went to Capitol Hill on his own to clear his name.

“Clemens was not under subpoena. He came voluntarily,” Davis said. “And I sat there in the office with (committee chairman) Henry Waxman and said, ‘Whatever you do, don’t lie.”’

Clemens was sticking to his story Thursday. He insisted he was telling the truth, again denying any wrongdoing on or off the field.

“Roger is looking forward to his day in court,” Clemens lawyer Rusty Hardin told a news conference. “He is happy this has finally happened. We have known for some time this was going to happen. We’ll let everything get taken care of in court.”

“I never took HGH or Steroids. And I did not lie to Congress,” Clemens said on Twitter. “I look forward to challenging the Governments accusations, and hope people will keep an open mind until trial. I appreciate all the support I have been getting. I am happy to finally have my day in court.”

Hardin said federal prosecutors made Clemens a plea offer but he rejected it. Hardin declined to comment on details of the proposed plea deal—which ordinarily involves admitting to a crime while avoiding the scenario of a multiple-count indictment as happened in the Clemens case.

Clemens faces a combined maximum sentence of 30 years in prison and a $1.5 million fine if convicted on all charges. However, under U.S. sentencing guidelines, he would probably face no more than 15 to 21 months in prison.

Clemens is just the latest superstar to be ensnared in baseball’s steroid scandal. All-time home run king Barry Bonds is scheduled to go on trial in March on charges of lying to a federal grand jury when he said he never knowingly used performance-enhancing drugs. Slugger Mark McGwire admitted earlier this year to using steroids.

What once seemed to be a he-said vs. he-said dispute between Clemens and his former trainer, Brian McNamee, once the New York Yankees’ strength and conditioning coach, escalated into a federal case. The grand jury heard testimony from McNamee, who gave federal authorities syringes he said were used to inject Clemens with drugs.

Hardin said that although many have argued that Clemens should simply admit he took steroids, “the problem is nobody ever talks about what he should have done if he didn’t do it.”

“And he didn’t do it and he’s adamant about that and always has been. Today is just another continuing part of that saga,” Hardin said.

Clemens, who turned 48 this month, ranks ninth on the career list with 354 victories. He once was considered a certain first-ballot Hall of Famer, but getting in at all is now in question.

“In my opinion, he’s a Hall of Famer. Period,” said New York Yankees slugger Lance Berkman(notes), who played with Clemens in Houston. “Whatever you want to say about the guy, he belongs in the Hall of Fame. In my opinion, legacy-wise, I guess that’s up to—I mean, 200 years from now, who cares?

“But in the short term, I guess, he may have some things to address,” Berkman said. “He’s a big boy. He’ll face up to whatever it is. But it doesn’t change my opinion of him at all.”

Yankees catcher Jorge Posada(notes), who played with Clemens on two World Series championship teams, said he would back his former teammate.

“I’m going to support him and I’m going to be behind him and that’s all I can say,” Posada said.

MLB did not comment on the indictment. But many in the game saw it as further validation of the Mitchell Report, released in December 2007.

Clemens was singled out by name 82 times in the 409-page report, compiled by former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell. Much of the information on Clemens came from McNamee.

Former MVP Jose Canseco, who has admitted his own steroid use and accused others, was the most-mentioned player in the Mitchell Report with 105 references.

“I am saddened to hear of the indictment of my friend and former teammate, Roger Clemens,” Canseco said in a statement through his attorney. “I am not aware of any use of steroids by Roger.”

Four days after the report was released, Clemens issued a categorical denial in a statement through his agent.

“I am disappointed that my 25 years in public life have apparently not earned me the benefit of the doubt, but I understand that Senator Mitchell’s report has raised many serious questions. I plan to publicly answer all of those questions at the appropriate time in the appropriate way. I only ask that in the meantime people not rush to judgment,” Clemens said.

Clemens and McNamee testified under oath at the 2008 hearing before a House committee and contradicted each other about whether the pitcher had used PEDs.

McNamee has said he injected Clemens more than a dozen times with steroids and HGH from 1998 to 2001. Clemens says McNamee was lying.

“As far as we’re concerned, it’s vindication,” Earl Ward, one of McNamee’s attorneys, said of the indictment.

Clemens’ case was assigned to U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton, who presided over the perjury and obstruction trial of Vice President Dick Cheney’s former chief of staff, I. Lewis “Scooter” Libby. No date was set for Clemens’ initial court appearance.

In his defiant testimony to the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, Clemens said, “I’ve been accused of something I’m not guilty of.”

Longtime Clemens friend and teammate Andy Pettitte(notes) told congressional investigators that Clemens confided to him that he had used HGH.

“I believe Andy has misheard” the conversation, Clemens responded. He said he had simply mentioned to Pettitte a TV show about three older men who used HGH to get back their quality of life.

Pettitte was taking part in a charity event after New York’s 11-5 win over Detroit at Yankee Stadium on Thursday and wasn’t immediately commenting, the team said.

Clemens was an 11-time All-Star. During a 23-year career that ended in 2007, he played for the Boston Red Sox, the Toronto Blue Jays, the Yankees and the Houston Astros and struck out 4,672 with a lifetime 3.12 ERA.

The Clemens matter was the second referral the congressional committee made to the Justice Department. The other involved Miguel Tejada(notes), who pleaded guilty to making misleading statements to committee investigators in 2005 regarding his knowledge of performance-enhancing drugs.

“The indictment of Roger Clemens comes as no surprise to me,” said Victor Conte, founder of the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative, the center of a drug scandal that enveloped Bonds and other star athletes.

“In my opinion, the case against Clemens is far stronger than the case against Barry Bonds. Brian McNamee is an eyewitness who will testify against Clemens and there appears to be strong physical evidence against him as well,” he said. “I believe Roger Clemens is in a lot of trouble.”

Conte pleaded guilty to steroid distribution in July 2005 and served four months in jail.

AP Baseball Writer Ben Walker and AP Sports Writers Mike Fitzpatrick, Ronald Blum and Beth Harris contributed to this report.