Tamil TV actor Sai Prashanth kills Self; Suicide note Found

Popular Tamil TV actor Sai Prashanth committed suicide at his residence in Chennai, police said, adding he had left a suicide note saying no one must be blamed for his death.

Prashanth is said to have mixed poison in his drink and consumed on 14 March 2016, leading to his death. He was 30.

Police said the reason behind Prashanth’s suicide could be loneliness and depression.

In his suicide note, released by the police next day, Prashanth said his second wife Sujitha or for that no one else should be blamed for his decision.

He also said that his death would not create any problems for Sujitha and that his parents would return all her jewellery along with Rs.500,000.

After divorcing his first wife, Prashanth remarried three months ago.

In the suicide note, the actor also urged his wife to give up her anger and said he had been a good father to his daughter Rakshitha. He also wrote that he was a ‘problem’ for himself.

In his letter, Prashanth thanked actress Radikaa Sarathkumar, with whom he worked in serials, and her company Radaan for their support.

Known for working in serials such as ‘Annamalai’, ‘Selvi’ and ‘Arasi’, Prashant also starred in Tamil films like ‘Neram’, ‘Thegidi’ and ‘Vadacurry’. Prashanth started his career as a video jockey and hosted a popular show, ‘Dil Dil Manadhil’. His last day of shoot was on the sets of Radaan’s Tamil serial “Thamarai” on March 10. He is survived by his parents, his second wife and a daughter. 

Mass Grave of Women and Children uncovered in Palmyra.

A mass grave including the bodies of women and children has been uncovered in the former Isis stronghold of Palmyra.

The government-controlled Syrian Arab News Agency (Sana) said at least 40 corpses had so far been recovered from the site, with some beheaded and others showing signs of “brutal” torture.

The report linked the discovery to a massacre documented in May 2015, when Isis militants were reported to have slaughtered more than 400 mostly women and children in Palmyra just two days after capturing the city.

State employees, their families and those believed to be loyal to the regime were said to be among those targeted.

Isis committed numerous atrocities during its reign over Palmyra, when its world-famous ancient ruins became a favoured backdrop for gruesome propaganda videos showing the execution of prisoners.

During their nearly 10-month occupation of Palmyra, the jihadists executed at least 280 people, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based monitor which confirmed the discovery of the mass grave.

Soon after IS stormed Palmyra, it shot dead 25 soldiers in the ancient Roman theatre.

It later released a video of the mass killing in which the executioners appeared to be children or teenagers.

Saudi Arabia Executions 2016

Saudi Arabia has already executed 82 people this year and is on course to behead twice as many prisoners as it did in 2015, according to new statistics compiled by a leading human rights organisation.  

The total death toll in Saudi Arabia could possibly reach a record high of more than 320 by the end of the year if the current rate is maintained as is mentioned by the UK daily paper the "Independence".

This would be more than double the 158 executions carried out by the Kingdom last year, which was in itself a dramatic rise on the 88 people it beheaded in 2014. The figures were compiled by the UK organisation Reprieve using a combination of official statements from the Saudi government and reliable local media reports.

Human rights groups are increasingly concerned about the fates of Ali al Nimr, Dawoud al Marhoon and Abdullah al Zaher, who have all been sentenced to death by the Saudis despite being children at the time of their alleged crimes. All three were convicted for alleged offences connected to protests calling for reform in the Kingdom and could be executed at any time without warning.

Saudi Arabia looks set for yet another record breaking year of beheadings. The deep injustices of the Saudi system mean that those being sent to the swordsman’s blade are in many cases tortured into ‘confessing’, guilty of nothing more than calling peacefully for reform, or even sentenced to death as children. 

True British TV Comedian Ronnie Corbett dies aged 85

Ronnie Corbett, the veteran entertainer and one half of The Two Ronnies, has died at the age of 85.

The diminutive star passed away surrounded by his family on Thursday morning, his publicist confirmed. It is understood that Corbett, who died in hospital, had been ill for several months.

He and the late Ronnie Barker became one of the funniest duos of their generation, hosting the BBC comedy sketch show that became one of the most popular TV programmes of the late 20th century.


Corbett and his wife Anne Hart, with whom he had two daughters, celebrated their golden wedding anniversary last year.

The BBC aired a one-hour profile of the comedian and actor on New Year's Day, but it is understood that he was too ill to take part in the programme, which was produced in November.

His wife later revealed that, during a celebration to mark the achievement, he had collapsed in a restaurant and was rushed to hospital.

A statement from Corbett's publicist said: "Ronnie Corbett CBE, one of the nation's best-loved entertainers, passed away this morning, surrounded by his loving family.

"They have asked that their privacy is respected at this very sad time."

Corbett's health had suffered over the past few years, and in 2014 he was admitted to hospital with gallbladder problems.