[Entertainment] - Nick Cannon Insists: No Beef With Eminem Over Mariah Carey Dis

Nick Cannon was pretty steamed over Eminem's brutal lampooning of the singer and his wife, Mariah Carey, in the song "Bagpipes from Baghdad, which appears on Eminem's new LP, Relapse. Cannon wrote and then quickly took down a long blog post where he accused Eminem of being racially insensitive and "still obsessed with my wife, the same female that wouldn't let him get to second base from eight years ago"; Eminem later said Cannon had misinterpreted the song.

Entertainment Weekly talked with Cannon on Thursday about the issue.

"I felt like I said what I had to say," Cannon said. "I didn't take [the post] down, like, 'Oh, somebody instructed me to do it' or anything like that. It was just one of those things, like, I said it."

As for the real reason he took the post down, Cannon said it had to do with the traffic to his Web site, which "pretty much crashed my site. There'd be thousands and thousands of comments and people couldn't leave comments on other posts or any of that stuff. So that was the only reason why I took it down."

And while noted that he doesn't have any regrets about what he said — "I feel exactly the same way by it and stick by everything, but I think it's one of those things where it becomes that it's not really that big of a deal, you know?" — he did say he has no beef with the MC.

"I never even considered it as beef," he said. "It's not beef. It's just, Hey, I heard the record. I said what I had to say."

Cannon went on to praise his relationship with Carey. "I feel that my relationship with my wife is one of the best things — or the best thing — that's ever happened to me, and it has nothing to do with celebrity or this industry. It's all about, you know, just love and finding love and being happy and respecting the union that it is."

[Business News - Local] - SLT profits dip by 46% in first quarter

Sri Lanka Telecom, the integrated telecommunication services provider with strength and resilience to weather turbulent market conditions, announced favourable results for its first quarter of the financial year ending 31st March 2009. The Group has achieved a net profit of Rs. 971 million during this quarter.

However, the achievement was 42% below the same quarter of the previous year, due to an increase in operational expenditure and depreciation. In spite of these adverse factors, combined with the economic downturn, the company still achieved a net profit of Rs.734 million, a 46% reduction on the same period last year.

During this quarter, the group revenue was Rs. 11,837 million, 2% higher than the first quarter of 2008. Thus, the company’s level of revenue had dropped by 11%, to Rs. 8,392 million.

“In spite of the adverse economic scenario and gloomy financial conditions prevailing worldwide, SLT has been able to show resilience to weather the storm and bring about performance,” Mrs. Leisha De Silva Chandresena, Chairperson of the SLT Group commented.

The company’s strategy of developing non-voice business sectors, which is also consistent with the government policy on ICT, continued with the development of Internet and data oriented services.

Due to various innovative strategies such as the introduction of affordable packages for customers, expansion of infrastructure facilities and augmenting improvements to the quality of service provided, SLT has become a trend setter and recorded the largest share in the Broadband and Data

Services markets. During the quarter, Broadband and Data revenue has grown by 25% to Rs.1, 595 million quarter on quarter.

Owing to prevailing economic conditions, Wired and CDMA subscribers have been compelled to scale down usage, while some customers have migrated to other fixed and mobile networks seeking budget price packages. As a result, these adverse conditions have brought down the Wired and CDMA revenue by 19% and 18% respectively. Various taxes and levies imposed on fixed services by the government have further aggravated this problem and put much pressure on customers to be more conscious about scaling down usage.

Pressure from the global recession has had an impact on international telecommunication traffic and pricing. These, combined with emerging competitors, have brought down international revenues by 15% to Rs. 1,980 million.

[News - Local] - Murali family overjoyed that LTTE is finished

Sri Lanka's ace spinner Muttiah Muralidaran, also known as Murali, often found himself in the spotlight as a Tamilian in the Sinhala-dominated Sri Lankan national cricket team, in the ethnically divided nation. Now, even as Sri Lanka opens a new chapter in its history, with the Liberation of Tamil Tigers Eelam (LTTE) leader V. Prabhakaran killed and Lanka being declared terror free, Murali's family is celebrating like many in Sri Lanka.

Murali's brother Muttiah Sasidaran said from Colombo, "Obviously we are happy, in fact, overjoyed. This is a great victory for the country and the entire nation is celebrating. This triumph will bring economic growth for us, spur investment and prove a catalyst for development," Sasidaran added, saying, "The future is bright for Sri Lanka."

It is cricket though that the family focuses on and they are doubly pleased at what the end of terrorism in Lanka means for cricket in the nation. Doubts were recently raised by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) lawyers (after the PCB was denied rights for co-hosting the World Cup 2011, along with India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh).

"The security situation in Sri Lanka is serious," the PCB's British lawyer Mark Gay had written in a letter to the International Cricket Council (ICC) on May 8. "The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, the Tamil Tigers, are engaged in a long running armed insurgency against the Sri Lankan authorities. There have been more frequent targets of attacks. Some hotels in Colombo are situated near such locations," Mark Gay's letter had said.

"Now, all such doubts vanish and we can successfully host the World Cup in 2011. Why only cricket, any game, any sport can now be held in any part of the country," said an elated Sasidaran. Murali is scheduled to return on Tuesday (May 26) in Sri Lanka after participating in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for the Chennai Super Kings in South Africa.

Muralidaran's Indian wife Madhi could not be contacted in South Africa where she was with her husband and son (Naren) for the IPL. "Had the IPL been held in India, Madhi would have also gone to her motherland," said Sasidaran.

Murali has seen the ugly face of terrorism upfront. The cricketer, whose deadly doosra claimed so many scalps, escaped along with other team members when Islamic extremists opened fire on the Sri Lankan cricketer’s bus in Pakistan on March 3.

[News - Local] - Indian companies to invest in SL

Minister of Export Development and International Trade G.L. Peiris has announced in parliament today that in 32 of India’s largest companies have expressed their eagerness to invest in Sri Lanka now that there is a durable peace.

[Cartoon] - IPL 2009 Closing Ceremony

[Cartoon] - Thwackman IPL Season 2 Cartoon Part 1

Await for Part 2 !!!!!!!!!!

[Sports] - ICC World Twenty20, 2009 - Fixtures

June 2009
Fri 5 17:30 local, 16:30 GMT	1st Match, Group B - England v Netherlands Lord's, London
Sat 6 10:00 local, 09:00 GMT	2nd Match, Group D - New Zealand v Scotland Kennington Oval, London
Sat 6 14:00 local, 13:00 GMT	3rd Match, Group C - Australia v West Indies Kennington Oval, London
Sat 6 18:00 local, 17:00 GMT	4th Match, Group A - Bangladesh v India Trent Bridge, Nottingham
Sun 7 13:30 local, 12:30 GMT	5th Match, Group D - Scotland v South Africa Kennington Oval, London
Sun 7 17:30 local, 16:30 GMT	6th Match, Group B - England v Pakistan Kennington Oval, London
Mon 8 13:30 local, 12:30 GMT	7th Match, Group A - Bangladesh v Ireland Trent Bridge, Nottingham
Mon 8 17:30 local, 16:30 GMT	8th Match, Group C - Australia v Sri Lanka Trent Bridge, Nottingham
Tue 9 13:30 local, 12:30 GMT	9th Match, Group B - Netherlands v Pakistan Lord's, London
Tue 9 17:30 local, 16:30 GMT	10th Match, Group D - New Zealand v South Africa Lord's, London
Wed 10 13:30 local, 12:30 GMT	11th Match, Group C - Sri Lanka v West Indies Trent Bridge, Nottingham
Wed 10 17:30 local, 16:30 GMT	12th Match, Group A - India v Ireland Trent Bridge, Nottingham
Thu 11 13:30 local, 12:30 GMT	13th Match, Group F - TBC v TBC Trent Bridge, Nottingham D1 v A2
Thu 11 17:30 local, 16:30 GMT	14th Match, Group E - TBC v TBC Trent Bridge, Nottingham B2 v D2
Fri 12 13:30 local, 12:30 GMT	15th Match, Group F - TBC v TBC Lord's, London B1 v C2
Fri 12 17:30 local, 16:30 GMT	16th Match, Group E - TBC v TBC Lord's, London A1 v C1
Sat 13 13:30 local, 12:30 GMT	17th Match, Group E - TBC v TBC Kennington Oval, London C1 v D2
Sat 13 17:30 local, 16:30 GMT	18th Match, Group F - TBC v TBC Kennington Oval, London D1 v B1
Sun 14 13:30 local, 12:30 GMT	19th Match, Group F - TBC v TBC Lord's, London A2 v C2
Sun 14 17:30 local, 16:30 GMT	20th Match, Group E - TBC v TBC Lord's, London A1 v B2
Mon 15 13:30 local, 12:30 GMT	21st Match, Group E - TBC v TBC Kennington Oval, London B2 v C1
Mon 15 17:30 local, 16:30 GMT	22nd Match, Group F - TBC v TBC Kennington Oval, London B1 v A2
Tue 16 13:30 local, 12:30 GMT	23rd Match, Group F - TBC v TBC Trent Bridge, Nottingham D1 v C2
Tue 16 17:30 local, 16:30 GMT	24th Match, Group E - TBC v TBC Trent Bridge, Nottingham D2 v A1
Thu 18 17:30 local, 16:30 GMT	1st Semi-Final - TBC v TBC Trent Bridge, Nottingham
Fri 19 17:30 local, 16:30 GMT	2nd Semi-Final - TBC v TBC Kennington Oval, London
Sun 21 15:00 local, 14:00 GMT	Final - TBC v TBC Lord's, London

[News - International] - North Korea Claims to Conduct 2nd Nuclear Test

North Korea announced on Monday it had successfully conducted its second nuclear test, defying international warnings and drastically raising the stakes in a global effort to get the recalcitrant Communist state to give up its nuclear weapons program.

The North’s official news agency, KCNA, said the country had conducted an “underground” nuclear test.

The announcement came moments after the South Korean government’s geological sensors had detected an artificially triggered tremor emanating from Kilju, northeast North Korea, said Lee Dong-kwan, spokesman of the office of President Lee Myung-bak of South Korea.

The spokesman said “intelligence officials of South Korea and the United States are analyzing the data and closely monitoring the situation.”

Word of the nuclear test sent a shudder through Asian financial markets, with Korea’s stock index plunging four percentage points within minutes.

North Korea conducted its first nuclear test on Oct. 9, 2006, and it had given some advance notice of its intention to test a device. That initial test also was in the northeast.

North Korea recently threatened to conduct a second nuclear test, citing what it called Washington’s “hostilities” against the isolated Communist regime.

The test came against a backdrop of heightened tensions between North Korea and the United States, which keeps a heavy military deployment in South Korea.

Two American journalists are scheduled to be tried June 4 in North Korea, charged with illegal entry into the North and “hostile acts.” That case in particular has aggravated tensions between Pyongyang and Washington, which were already strained after the North launched a long-range rocket on April 5.

After that launching, Washington pressed the United Nations Security Council to tighten sanctions on the North. In retaliation, Pyongyang expelled United Nations nuclear monitors, while threatening to restart a plant that makes weapons-grade plutonium and to conduct a nuclear test.

This month, one day after an American diplomat offered new talks on North Korea’s nuclear program, the North said it had become useless to talk further with the United States.

“The study of the policy pursued by the Obama administration for the past 100 days since its emergence made it clear that the U.S. hostile policy toward the D.P.R.K. remains unchanged,” the North Korean Foreign Ministry said, using the initials for the country’s official name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

In comments carried by KCNA, the ministry said: “There is nothing to be gained by sitting down together with a party that continues to view us with hostility.”

The rebuff came as Stephen W. Bosworth, the American special envoy on North Korea, began a trip to Asia with a fresh offer of dialogue. The North’s vow to “bolster its nuclear deterrent” came just hours before Mr. Bosworth was due to arrive in Seoul.

[News - Business] - Nokia’s “Ovi Mail”: New mobile digital identity

Ovi Mail will be available in more than 85 languages, including Sinhala, soon.

Nokia, the world leader in mobile telephones, launched its premier product, ‘Ovi Mail’ for Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Asia’s emerging markets, in a move to provide even closer access to the Internet via handheld devices.

Speaking at the ‘Ovi Mail’ launch for emerging markets, Vice President, Entry Category Marketing, Paula Laine was of the view that mobility has a profound impact on people's lives. Nokia now has an email service with the potential to provide a personal digital identity, perhaps a first step to discovering mobile aspects of the Internet. She said that 1.8 million mobile consumers, of the 20 million new mobile subscribers added daily, are from emerging markets.

As the market head of the entry category, Paula has been with Nokia for nine years in various strategic roles, ranging from mobile phones to networks and CDMA technology. Most recently, she was a technical assistant to Nokia’s CEO, Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo.

Ovi Mail gives first-time email users the opportunity to set up and start using an email account (username@ovi.com) on their mobile phones. Ovi Mail is a secure and spam-free personal email service designed specially for Nokia Series 40 devices. Mobile phone users who have any of the more than 40 Ovi Mail-optimised mobile devices can set up their email accounts for free within a few minutes, and start using the account immediately. Another benefit of Ovi Mail is that it supports multiple languages, making for easier communications. Today, Ovi Mail is available in more than 10 languages, and will include more than 85 languages (including Sinhala) in the near future.

Speaking on Nokia’s success in emerging markets, General Manager, Nokia (Emerging Asia), Prem Chand said that Nokia’s vision is to provide access to the Internet through mobile devices in emerging markets, where there is low penetration in the Internet due to higher broadband costs.

“Mobile will be next screen that is going to change the world markets by way of convergence and the Internet” he said, adding that there are 4 billion mobile users globally and 2 people out of 3 users the world over have access to a mobile device.

He said that Sri Lanka is an advanced market for Nokia because of the country’s higher gross domestic product (GDP), literacy rate and technological know-how. “While many people are still primarily using voice and text, the Internet does offer a whole new range of opportunities. Ovi Mail has the potential to be the first digital identity for many people in emerging markets. Unlike most other email services, an Ovi Mail account can be created and used directly on a Nokia device without the use of a Personal Computer (PC). Since the launch of the beta service in December 2008, approximately 90% of Ovi email accounts have been created on a Nokia phone,” said Mr.Chand.

Mr. Chand added that, according to extensive Nokia consumer research, nearly half of the customers from emerging markets state that they would prefer to connect to the Internet over a mobile phone than a PC. He added that Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal have the lowest Internet penetration rates in Asia. Access to the Internet by means of mobile phones would be a most feasible and affordable option. At present, Sri Lanka’s Internet penetration stands at 3.7%, compared to 1.4% in Nepal and 0.3% in Bangladesh.

Nokia also unveiled its new Nokia 2323 Classic and Nokia 2330 Classic phones, which will be available in stores in June 2009. These models come Internet-ready and work with Ovi Mail, giving first-time email users the opportunity to set up and start using an email account directly on their mobile phones. With a choice of colours (black and dark blue), the user-friendly Nokia 2323 Classic will retail for approximately UD$ 60. The Nokia 2330 Classic is a low cost camera phone with a contemporary design and enhanced features, including a VGA Camera, BT and Stereo FM radio and radio recording, and support for MP3 ring tones. It comes in black or deep red and will retail for approximately US$ 50 at all Nokia stores and authorized dealers nationwide.

Nokia is the world’s number one manufacturer of mobile devices by market share and a leader in the converging Internet and communications industries.

[News - Local] - TNA claims meeting with UN chief blocked

R. Sampanthan, parliamentary group leader of Tamil National Alliance (TNA), in a press release issued today, claimed that the government had blocked a meeting with the UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon prior to his departure from Sri Lanka.

[News - Local] - LTTE admits leader is dead

The LTTE has admitted for the first time that their leader Velupillai Prabhakaran is dead. A statement issued by the Tigers said their "incomparable leader" had "attained martyrdom" and declared a week of mourning.

A spokesman for the group also told the BBC that it would now use non-violent methods to fight for Tamils' rights.

Sri Lanka's army last week released pictures it said showed Prabhakaran's body after its final offensive.

The statement from the Tamil Tigers (LTTE) said he was killed "fighting the military oppression of the Sri Lankan government" last Sunday.

The rebels had made a last stand in the north-east of the island after Sri Lankan troops cornered them in a coastal strip.

The Tigers' defeat brought to an end their 26-year fight for a separate Tamil homeland.

The statement was signed by the defeated group's head of international relations, Selvarasa Pathmanathan.

It said that the LTTE had declared a week of mourning for their dead leader, starting on 25 May.

The statement called on Tamils all over the world to "restrain from harmful acts to themselves or anyone else in this hour of extreme grief".

In a telephone interview with the BBC, Mr Pathmanathan said Prabhakaran had died on 17 May but did not give details of the circumstances.

Mr Pathmanathan said the Tigers would now use non-violent methods to fight for the rights of Tamils.

"We have already announced that we have given up violence and agreed to enter a democratic process to achieve the rights for the Tamil (self) determination of our people," he said.

Most of the Tamil Tigers senior leadership is believed to have been killed in the fighting.

[Sports] - IPL 2009 Final - Deccan snatch title in tense finish

Deccan Chargers invoked the bull in their emblem to successfully defend a modest total, beat Royal Challengers Bangalore and win a tournament they had ended up last in the previous season. They bowled with fire, fielded aggressively and sledged and hustled - almost literally - to victory in a final that twisted and turned and lived up to the occasion.

The last of those turning points was the 15th over, bowled by Andrew Symonds, who matched his verbal skills from earlier in the night with the wickets of Ross Taylor and Virat Kohli off back-to-back deliveries. Bangalore were 99 for 6 when the over started, and Taylor had looked dangerous during his 20-ball 27. That Symonds over, though, was symbolic of the night: every time a batsman got away from the bowling, a breakthrough pulled the batting side back.

Defending a total three less than what Bangalore chased easily in the semi-final, Deccan came out pumped, their energy reflecting in their behaviour. Symonds shadowed the latest tyro, Manish Pandey, all the way from the dugout to the crease. Pandey was a marked man during his innings. Symonds followed him wherever he went, giving him lip. Ryan Harris matched the aggression with the ball, clocking 145kmph constantly in the first over, a maiden.

Jacques Kallis looked to take the pressure off his 19-year-old partner. In Harris' next over Kallis took two boundaries to get the chase going. RP Singh brought the balance back when Kallis pulled onto his stumps but out came Roelof van der Merwe, who used adrenalin to push Bangalore further towards the target.

Van der Merwe got a mouthful from Symonds and Harris, but he responded by hitting two sixes off one Harris over. Despite the maiden, Harris had gone for 23 in three overs. Even after Pragyan Ojha got Pandey with the first ball he bowled, van der Merwe's pyrotechnics kept Deccan at a distance.

One ball summed up the adrenalin rush van der Merwe was feeling. Beaten in the flight by Ojha he managed an edge which saved him from being stumped but he also dropped his bat. He picked his bat up as he ran the first run, and turned a two into a three, saving himself from the run-out by sprinting down the middle of the pitch and diving into the stumps at the non-striker's end.

One six later the adrenalin got the better of van der Merwe as he jumped out to Ojha and was stumped. The tension was palpable, and it sort of got to a senior pro like Rahul Dravid too. As Bangalore targeted Harmeet Singh, Dravid missed a scoop and was bowled. Bangalore still held the edge, though, with Taylor and Mark Boucher in.

Taylor looked like taking Bangalore home coolly, hitting three fours and a six, until Symonds got him on the pull, with a touch of extra bounce. Adam Gilchrist pulled off a smart stumping down the leg side next ball, and it was all down to Boucher now.

Gilchrist tried to get through Harmeet's last over, during which the youngster claimed Boucher on the cut. The bowling allocation was planned perfectly: RP had two left, and Ojha and Harris one each. Bangalore, with two wickets in hand, needed 27 from the last two overs, and 15 from the last, but RP Singh and Ryan Harris kept their cool despite a six from Robin Uthappa.

Amid the tension of the second innings one felt for Anil Kumble, who spent the most of the last over at the non-striker's end and saw his dream crash. Earlier Kumble had celebrated like a teenager but bowled like the veteran champion he is, and kept Deccan down to a manageable target.

He bowled the first over of the match, took Gilchrist out, then came back in the ninth to dismiss Symonds. That wicket was crucial because Symonds had been dropped on 5 by Dravid, and was reminding Bangalore eerily of the line his batting partner Herschelle Gibbs was apocryphally told during the 1999 World Cup. Kumble again came on in the 17th over to break a dangerous 52-run partnership between Rohit Sharma and Gibbs, when the two had taken Deccan to 110 for 3.

Towards the end Gibbs played a bizarre little innings. He had been inconspicuous in his struggle to score runs earlier, and didn't make much effort to farm the strike in the end. He faced only six balls in the last three overs, and kept taking twos in the last over to hand the strike over to Harris. He had batted the whole 20 overs for less than 60, much like Sachin Tendulkar, in more trying conditions, had in the first match of the tournament. Somehow they both ended up winning.

[Sports] - IPL 2009 Final DC vs RC - Time to complete perfect turnaround

And so, as a blockbuster second season of the IPL reaches its summit, two of its biggest success stories clash in the finale in Johannesburg. They also happen to be the two most unlikely sides given how they fared in 2008. Deccan Chargers and Royal Challengers Bangalore were the two bottom-placed teams then, now they've busted out of the basement and made the house their own.

Not many would have given Deccan or Bangalore a chance this year to get to the top four. But having pulled off amazing turnarounds and tasted difficult periods earlier in the tournament, both teams have undoubtedly deserved to get where they are today.

Deccan started with four wins, imposed themselves, stumbled, but got it together when it mattered. The manner in which they - rather their captain Adam Gilchrist - crushed Delhi Daredevils in the semi-final was stirring. Gilchrist has led the side well and has been their top run-getter for the second season running. Apart from RP Singh, owner of the purple cap, there haven't been true stand-out performers. Herschelle Gibbs has been inconsistent, Pragyan Ojha has lost some bite in the latter stages, and while Rohit Sharma and Andrew Symonds have contributed they haven't been stunning.

If Deccan have been inconsistent, Bangalore reached the worst level of desperation. The last match they lost in this tournament was the last they could afford to. And they have won their last five games, much like Australia's victorious campaign in the 1999 World Cup.

The major factor in Bangalore's rise has been Anil Kumble, who took over the captaincy from a beleaguered Kevin Pietersen. In 2008 Bangalore's selections of a few final XIs raised some eyebrows, but most unflattering was their habit of choking when victory was in front of them. Kumble changed all that by setting an example that the seniors followed.

Bangalore's younger Indian players didn't start off well at all, but the seniors' performances started to rub off. Praveen Kumar, Vinay Kumar and Virat Kohli have chipped in with vital contributions to keep the team buoyant in the competition. This has been a team that has paid a lot of attention to preparation.

On form - they've won five in a row, four of them against semi-finalists - Bangalore are a confident side and will be boosted by the knowledge that they beat Deccan last time. However, after forcefully knocking out the top-ranked side in the semi-finals, Deccan will be confident as they face their southern compatriots. Both Gilchrist and Kumble have handled the captaincy with aplomb, and will not want to let the slightest chance go abegging.

[Sports] - Quick Recall Second Semifinal: Royal Challengers Bangalore beat Chennai Super Kings

Match No. 58 second semifinal: Royal Challengers Bangalore vs. Chennai Super Kings

When: On May 23, 2009

Where: At the Bull Ring, theatre of dreams in South Africa, aka Wanderers, Johannesburg

Who won: Royal Challengers won by six wickets – the Good Times will continue

Man of the match: Manish Pandey

What'd he do: The young man yet again set up the chase for Royal Challengers Bangalore with a brilliant effort which showed the fearlessness of youth.

MVP of the match: Anil Kumble for motivating his team to come back after a great start by the Chennai Super Kings openers.

Turning points: Anil Kumble's decision to hold back an expensive Vinay Kumar's final over till the very end

Innovative stroke: Towards the end, Virat Kohli showed he has the courage to take on the world's best as he danced down the track to Muralitharan and slammed him straight down the ground for a six and that too in the pressure-packed 18th over of the match.

Dot-ball heroes: Muralitharan bowled 12 dot balls, but that was not enough to stop Royal Challenge Bangalore from chasing down any target.

Captain vs. Captain: Anil Kumble did a brilliant job on the field to pull back things after Matthew Hayden and Parthiv Patel went off the radar, MS Dhoni tried to bring sanity to the proceedings but was undone by Manish Pandey & Co.

Off-beat moment: It seemed like the entire Johannesburg was chanting and cheering for the underdog, Royal Challengers Bangalore. The way the PA system went, victory for Royal Challengers Bangalloooooooore... summed up the mood at the ground.

[Cartoon] - Ka-ching! It's Bing

Aka
Bing, or if you're feeling particularly adventurous, Binga.

As in Bing Crosby?
Er… not exactly.

As in the noise a microwave makes?
No, much duller than that. He is named after a popular chain of electronics stores in the Sydney area. Told you.

What it says on his passport
Tall. Blond. Australian. Check his guitar case.

Celebrity endorsements
Has a very selective approach and will not merely endorse any old product. To date, he has only put his name to breakfast cereals, eyewear, energy drinks, watches, shoes, cars, computer games and underpants.

How your grandmother would describe him
A nice young man with a lovely smile.

How white are his teeth?
Officially the whitest substance known to man, one of the main reasons he smiles so much is in order to dazzle opposition batsmen with the glare.

Good karma
Lee is such an all-round good egg that even though he is one of the wealthiest sportsmen in Australia, he still works selling and fitting suits for the menswear shop that gave him a job when he was 17. He once even started a shift there just 10 hours after stepping off a flight from a Test series in South Africa.

Bad karma
Despite the fact that the world's supply of mediocre singer-songwriters is already large enough to last until the next ice age, he is determined to bolster their numbers. An unrepentant guitar botherer, his band Six and Out have been trying the patience of the citizens of New South Wales for years.

Keep him away from
Recording studios.

Not quite as quick as
Shoaib Akhtar.

Quicker than
Everyone else.

Annoyed grumpy Steve Waugh because
Lee knows the first names of all the opposition players and on occasions shakes their hands.

Annoys grumpy Yuvraj Singh because
Since his injury, Lee gets to sit with Preity Zinta when the Kings XI Punjab are playing.

What do his songs sound like?
The gurgling noise that lasts for a minute or two as the last dregs of water are swirling around the plughole.

Useful skill if shipwrecked
Could probably run you up a nice single-breasted double-vented three button suit out of palm leaves and seaweed.

Most popular with
Housewives, dentists, orthopaedic surgeons.

Least popular with
Tailenders, music lovers.

What he will be remembered for
Against New Zealand in 2005, he pioneered the use of baseball-style pitches, including the Twisting Temple-Tickler, the Curving Cheek-Chaser and the almost unplayable Vertical Nose-Flattener.

Most likely to be overheard on the field of play saying
"Sorry mate, she slipped."

Chances of outstaying his welcome
He is planning a Bollywood career, is learning Hindi, and has been invited to sing the theme song for the 2011 World Cup. So quite high.

[Entertainment] - Dune Kossatz crowned Miss IPL Bollywood SA

Dune Kossatz was crowned Miss IPL Bollywood SA at a glittering event at the Monte Casino entertainment complex here in the wee hours of Sunday.

The 34-year-old actress and model from East London outvoted the other 15 finalists selected from among the contestants chosen at each IPL game at various venues South Africa. The finalists were voted for by fans on the official website- www.iplt20.com

Johannesburg Business Marketing graduate Genna Cloud, 24 was also named First Princess and Dunay Nortje the Second Princess.

After winning the title, Kossatz said that she would learn Hindi. "I think it's really great! I think we should all stick together and love one another and be respectful and tolerant of each other," she said.

Kossatz, who represented Chennai Super Kings, said she was disappointed with her team losing in the semifinals but said that the she was proud of the fact that she represented MS Dhoni-led side in the contest.

Kossatz received a specially made crown from Gitanjali Jewellers in gold, silver, diamonds encrusted with other precious stones from former Miss Universe Michelle McLean of South Africa.

The event was yet another feather in the cap of Indian Premier League and an extra cause for celebration to add to the huge success of the tournament that culminates with the final at the Wanderers here later in the day.

[Cartoon] - Barbie boy

Throw another prawn on the grill, it's Matty H

Aka
Matt the Bat, The Chesty Queenslander (© Peter Roebuck), Haydos, Buzz Lightyear

In a nutshell
Formed one half of a modern Asterix-Obelix homage duo with Justin Langer, aka the Nuggety Little Wozzie Legend. Cooks. Given to exuberant celebrations with opening partners, and sometimes, promiscuously, with those down the order as well. Is outdoorsy. Fishes.

Scary thought
He's big, he's from Queensland, he spent time in the cricket wilderness, and he's not overly fond of Indian offspinners with turbans on. i.e. he's about one anger management session away from being Andrew Symonds.

Landmark achievements
Scored 380 in a Test innings, hooked a 136kg marlin, is friends with Andrew Symonds.

Great weakness
Not having learned how to walk into the sunset.

Likes nothing better than
Running triathlons, going fishing, giving the ball a good belt, and getting into the ring with Indian fast bowlers about half his age and a third his weight.

Creature that bowlers who have had occasion to face Hayden most identify with
A dog that attacked him and ripped a five-centimetre gash in his ankle in October 2006, a week after he broke a finger. "It was a vicious attack," Haydos declared, as he looked up the meaning of "irony" in the dictionary.

Quirk-cum-legacy
Squatting at the wicket while taking strike and staring impassively down it while the world and its mother wishes he'd get up and get on with it. Given to performing a more protracted version of this ritual the day before a game, when he stops just short of pitching a tent and setting up a cooking stove on the good-length area.

Strange-but-true fact
Haydos is actually a sensitive metrosexual at heart, as revealed by his fondness for cooking.

Key talent
Swept so well on the India tour of 2001, he was offered a job with one of the local municipal corporations.

Key talent II
Ability to live with the essential paradox of being able to cross himself when he gets to a batting landmark and then sledge a blue streak in the next innings.

Did you know I
Used to travel with a camping stove, frying pan, wok, bamboo steamer and food processor on tour, but kept the fruits of his culinary labours away from bowlers and such other low life-forms.

Did you know II
He is the author of a cookbook, cunningly called The Matthew Hayden Cookbook, and a sequel, called The Matthew Hayden Cookbook 2.

Favourite dishes
Smoked ham and pumpkin soup. Grilled bowler with a side of desiccated fielder.

Key sartorial change
Has changed headgear-colour preference of late - from green to orange.

Comedic high point
Doing a West Indian accent after having had a few at an ICC awards show.

Product he's most likely to endorse
Weed killer.

[Business News - Local] - Sri Lanka firms concerned over data security: Frost & Sullivan

Sri Lankan companies are concerned over data security with most still not having adequate protection, opening up opportunities for network security players, business research and consulting firm Frost & Sullivan said. A survey done by Frost & Sullivan of chief information officers in Sri Lanka, revealed that major threats for information technology (IT) security were highlighted by 85 percent of the respondents.

"They believed that virus, worms, and Trojan Horses are the major disquiet in today’s IT environment," Frost & Sullivan said in a statement.

It said 55 percent respondents felt that data security was one of the major concerns for them and that they would take appropriate measures against them.

"Downtime and physical security were also some of the other security concerns for CIOs."

Frost & Sullivan also noted that adoption of IT regulations and guidelines amongst most organizations remained "quite dismal", with only 36 percent companies following some IT guidelines laid down by various bodies, purely based on their business needs.

"The Internet is becoming an enabler. However, threats in the networked world are getting bigger and becoming more malicious and moving from external to internal," Girish Trivedi, Deputy Director, ICT Practice, Frost & Sullivan, South Asia and Middle East, said commenting on the overall enterprise security scenario for enterprises.

"Enterprises need to evaluate and pre-empt these threats as the gap between attacks or attempt made, to detection is abysmally low.

"As most attacks go undetected or unreported, enterprises maintain the misconception that they are safe, and the consequences (resulting from a security breach) can be anything from losing reputation, customers, and competitive advantage, to legal issues, leading to considerable financial loss."

Frost & Sullivan, at its recently hosted summit in Colombo on “South Asia Enterprise Security Summit 2009”, unveiled a report titled “Overview and Way Forward on Sri Lanka Network Security Market”.

The report states that the telecom sector is leading the market when it comes to adopting network security technologies in Sri Lanka with most of the telecom players catering to the domestic market.

The banking, financial services and insurance (BFSI) sector stood as the second largest spender followed closely by the government sector.

"BFSI companies in Sri Lanka are attuned to the concept of having an active role in monitoring and upgrading their security strategies," Frost & Sullivan said in their statement.

"However, due to the economic slowdown, the performance of BFSI in Sri Lanka was not as impressive in 2008 as expected.

The spending by the government in Sri Lanka remained pretty strong and focused in 2008 and attained the third position."

However, Frost & Sullivan said, there are no strict guidelines or rules by the government or any other body in Sri Lanka that needs to be followed by different companies.

Sectors like manufacturing and retail traditionally are not very proactive in IT security issues.

The Frost & Sullivan report also reveals that 2009 is expected to see many global network security players entering the Sri Lankan market, which it said would make this market highly competitive in terms of pricing.

"Moreover, the companies that could provide a complete suite of UTM (unified threat management) capabilities and integrate all vital technologies into one appliance and make it easy and reliable for the customer can be expected to be able to fulfill the market need of security combined with affordability."

Arun Shetty, Senior Manager - Systems Engineering, Cisco Systems - India and SAARC, one of the speakers at the summit, said that flexible new technologies delivering revolutionary forms of collaboration and communication are transforming the way businesses interact, both internally and externally.

"Mobile devices and virtual platforms have torn down the already wavering notion of a "network perimeter"; this has led to newer threats and risks, and as these have evolved, so have our responses to them."

The Summit was supported by Cisco as the Platinum Sponsor and Dialog Broadband as the Silver Sponsor.

The National Media Partners were Lanka Business Online and Lanka Business Report (part of ETV).

[News - Local] - Sri Lanka rupee flat amid uncertainty on IMF loan

COLOMBO (Reuters) -- Sri Lanka's rupee closed flat on Friday amid increasing uncertainty over a $1.9 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan, while shares rose to 6-month high on hopes of an end to a 25-year war.

The rupee fell to 117.80/118.00 a dollar initially due to U.S. comments on the IMF loan, before closing flat at 117.70/90.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Thursday the timing was wrong for the IMF to consider the loan.

“The market is now totally uncertain about the loan and expecting the worst,” said a currency dealer.

After the market closed, IMF director Dominique Strauss-Kahn said Sri Lanka needed the loan and a solution should be found in the coming weeks.

Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal on Friday told Reuters: “I don't think the IMF will mix economic affairs with political matters.” Analysts and traders say if Sri Lankan does not get the IMF bailout package, adverse impacts on interest rates, external debt repayment, rupee, and foreign investments are imminent.

Sri Lankan markets are worried about delays in the loand, which Britain and the United States have said could be used to punish Sri Lanka for not calling a truce in its civil war.

The rupee hit a record low of 120.80/121.10 on April 23, mainly on market expectations of a further fall in the rupee as part of conditions by the IMF for the loan.

Sri Lanka's government sought the loan from the global lender of last resort to help weather the financial storm and avert a balance of payment crisis.

The rupee has fallen around 8.32 percent since Oct. 30 and 4.07 percent so far this year, after the central bank allowed some depreciation to conserve dollars and help exporters.

The Colombo All-Share index .CSE rose 1.23 percent or 23.75 points to 1,907.67, its highest since Nov. 6.

“The war-end hopes have given confidence,” said Mohandas Thangarajah, a stockbroker at First Guardian Stockbrokers.

Sri Lanka's war, in which rebels are facing an imminent defeat, has signaled a military finish with troops advanced into the shrinking war zone on Friday to rescue all trapped civilians in the war zone in 48 hours. Shares in top conglomerate John Keells Holdings JKH.CM gained 3.61 percent to more than seven-month high of 79 rupees, on a weighted average, while top fixed-line phone operator Sri Lanka Telecom SLTL.CM rose 1.92 percent to 39.75 rupees.

Top mobile phone operator Dialog Telekom DIAL.CM, which on Thursday posted a 1.87 billion rupees loss in its first quarter, closed flat at 5.25 rupees a share.

Turnover was 420.2 million rupees ($3.57 million), less than the last year's daily average of 464 million rupees.

The interbank lending rate or call money rate CLIBOR edged up to 10.948 percent from Thursday's 10.753.

[News - Local] - Canada must protect Sri Lankan Canadians

The Government of Canada and provincial police forces must take immediate steps to protect peaceful Canadians of Sri Lankan origin.

Early this morning a 'Sinhalese' Sri Lankan restaurant in Brampton was firebombed by suspected Tamil Tiger supporters. Last week the Sri Lankan Buddhist Temple in Scarborough was set on fire, again by the same extremists, causing $40,000 in damage.

Other Sri Lankan community establishments (as opposed to Tamil Tiger fronts) are under significant threat in Canada but especially in the Greater Toronto Area. Peaceful Canadians of Sri Lankan origin cannot even gather at places of worship in Toronto . Their children are under threat in their schools and other places. Many of them have received hate mail and threatening phone calls. Some say that they are scared to organize cultural or sports events because they fear Tamil Tiger operatives.

The threat level has increased significantly since the Tamil Tigers and their leader Prabhakaran were eliminated earlier this week. This follows a worldwide pattern; Sri Lankans have been attacked and injured and Sri Lankan establishments, including many embassies, in Great Britain , Europe, and Australia have been attacked and damaged.

It is with regret that I say that nothing has been heard from government officials, provincial or federal, subsequent to the attacks and threats in Canada on Sri Lankan establishments except for Minister Jason Kenney's condemnation of the burning of the Scarborough Buddhist Temple . I am especially dismayed by the silence of the Premier of Ontario, Mr. McGuinty.

There is no point in issuing anodyne statements by Canadian politicians. What is required is action. What is required is proactive police protection of establishments that the community has identified and that should be 24/7 until the threat passes. What is required is active intervention in schools to remove the threat of Tamil Tiger thuggery within.

It is terrible that innocent, law-abiding Sri Lankan Canadians are being subject to these outrages. As Consul General for the Government of Sri Lanka I have been approached by many with their stories. It is not within my power to protect these people. I can only appeal to the Canadian authorities to put a stop to the Tamil Tiger operatives who threaten the people whose homeland I represent.

[Sports] - Raging Gilchrist carries Deccan into the final

There's no rust on this baby. Adam Gilchrist didn't just blow the Delhi Daredevils out with a blitzkrieg but also backed up his vow at the end of a disappointing 2008 to give fans in Hyderabad more to cheer for in 2009. Gilchrist played a pivotal role in bringing last season's wooden spoon holders this far and tonight, in the cauldron of a semi-final, he treated Centurion to a stunning display of hitting. His assault on Delhi's bewildered bowlers turned what threatened to be a tricky chase into a no-contest as Deccan chased down 154 with six wickets in hand and 14 balls to spare. Deccan have duly earned the right to be in Johannesburg on Sunday.

Gilchrist had looked like a man with a plan when, at the toss, he said Deccan would field and try and keep the opposition to an achievable target. With teams not always chasing down totals in the vicinity of 160 easily under lights at Centurion, Deccan's chase wasn't expected to be an easy one. It took Gilchrist five deliveries to dismiss such thoughts. Dirk Nannes, one of the success stories of this IPL, was flayed for five consecutive boundaries in the first over, Gilchrist pulling, cutting and driving with power. Nannes was not needed again until the 11th over by which time Deccan were well on their way.

That assault set a trend that continued through Gilchrist's innings as he made the semi-final his own. Ashish Nehra bowled Herschelle Gibbs for a duck but Gilchrist was in a hurry, clobbering Pradeep Sangwan's first three balls for four, four and six. No frills, just excellent bat speed and powerful wrists. In three overs Deccan were 41 for 1, out of which Nehra's first over cost just three.

Nehra's second was nowhere as controlled. Gilchrist drove a no-ball for four and drilled the free hit for a straight six to raise Deccan's fifty in 23 deliveries - his contribution being 48 from 14 balls. His half-century needed just 17 balls, the fastest of the IPL. Virender Sehwag came on for the first and last time in the tournament, with Gilchrist plundering three successive sixes in a 25-run over. It was the Gilchrist of old, the man who put the fear of God in bowlers the world over.

Why Sehwag brought himself on before Amit Mishra and the crafty Rajat Bhatia on a sluggish track will go down as one of the IPL's blunders, because the legspinner struck almost immediately. Gilchrist fell for a superb 85 from 35 balls one delivery before the strategic break, but the damage had been done. Mishra then cut Andrew Symonds off before he could finish the job, finishing with 3 for 19. Rohit Sharma walked out with 17 required from 38 balls and closed the deal in T Suman's company.

[News - Local] - Seven more LTTE leaders identified among the dead

Troops have positively identified bodies of seven LTTE leaders, says defence sources in Wanni.

Accordingly bodies of self-styled "Brigadier" Soosai, leader of the Sea Tigers, "Lieutenant Colonel" Verti, a senior intelligence leader, "Lieutenant Colonel" Ram Kumar, an Intelligence leader, "Lieutenant Colonel" Manimekala alias Komali , a senior female intelligence leader, "Lieutenant Colonel" Anna Thurai , political head in Batticaloa, "Colonel " Rangan, a senior Sea Tiger leader, "Lieutenant Colonel" Vinodan , a senior intelligence leader have been identified.

Search operations are being continued.

[News - International] - New Apple iPhone specs leaked online

The specifications for the new iPod have apparently been leaked online.

The details of the new handset, expected to be launched next month, suggest Apple will upgrade the new phone to 16GB and 32GB sizes, doubling the current model’s storage, and will also double the processor speed and RAM capacity.

The camera is being upgraded from the current two megapixels to 3.2 according to the specifications on the AppleiPhoneApps blog, which cited sources close to the hardware development team.

Battery life is said to have been extended by 50 per cent, in part down to a new OLED screen that replaces the LCD model.

Apple is expected to keep the price the same for both models, $199 and $299, which is in line with past practice.

The design of the phone is also changing according to the details. The metal band around the handset will go and the back of the phone will be rubberised with a glowing Apple logo.

Other improvements include the ability to record and edit video, a digital compass and a new service with Google Maps tied into the unit’s GPS system.

Rumours of new Apple products are never commented on by the company but the details are similar to those published on a Chinese message board earlier this year.

[Sports] - It was a win that lifted our spirits - Kumar Sangakkara

It may not have been a comprehensive or clinical victory, but our dramatic last-over win against Deccan Chargers was no less sweet for that. We made plenty of mistakes along the way, especially with the bat, but we can be truly proud of the fighting spirit we showed.

It was a win that lifted our spirits and leaves us agonizingly close to a place in the semi-finals. However, we are not home yet. Far from it, in fact. Besides some very good fortune, we need to beat Chennai Super Kings and that will require some extremely good cricket.

We do need to bat better. Once again, there were too many soft dismissals. When you are missing guys like Mahela Jayawardene in the middle order because of injury, it is crucial that the top order takes on greater responsibility. We cannot expect to beat Chennai unless we see a big improvement in this department.

It was another sterling performance by Irfan Pathan on Sunday. The manner in which he held himself together in the final over, refusing to give up despite Rohit Sharma's thunderous hitting, showed great mental strength. He was cool-headed and apparently nerveless. It was brilliant.

But Irfan was not the only hero. I thought Romesh Powar was fantastic. Harbhajan Singh may be the best off-spinner in India but Romesh is not far behind him. He mixes his pace expertly, can really spin the ball and has a fine straighter ball. He is also a good thinker.

His two-wicket over, including the dismissal of Adam Gilchrist, opened the door for us at a time when Deccan appeared to be cruising. It invigorated the team, filling us with self-belief, while also denting the confidence of Deccan. It was a crucial turning point.

Then, of course, there was Yuvi's second hat-trick of the tournament. We all admire Yuvraj for his effortless clean hitting, but his bowling is very useful too. In this IPL, his left-arm spin has been a crucial part of our attack and that spell, helped by some sharp catching, swung the initiative our way.

I feel that the win, like the previous one against Delhi, will help us grow stronger. We are becoming used to pressure games and we expect to pull through in the tighter games. That inner strength and belief is crucial in what is effectively now a knock-out competition.

[Sports] - Super Kings and Kings XI Punjab to clash for semi-final berth

Durban, May 19 (IANS) Chennai Super Kings and Kings XI Punjab will fight for a semifinal spot in the Indian Premier League (IPL) here Wednesday.

Super Kings lost their last match to bottom-placed Kolkata Knight Riders which left them on 15 points and requiring a victory in their last league match to make the semifinal cut.

If they lose, they will have to depend on the results of other teams to reach the semi-final.

For Kings XI Punjab, who are on 14 points, a loss here will see the end of their title hopes.

Kings XI Punjab will be high on confidence after two back-to-back wins against Delhi Daredevils and Deccan Chargers.

In their last match, against Deccan Chargers, Kings XI Punjab pulled off a close win defending a low total of 134 runs.

Their bowling looks in good shape with Irfan Pathan and Brett Lee in fine touch. The slower bowlers in Ramesh Powar and Piyush Chawla, too, have provided breakthroughs at important times. And skipper Yuvraj Singh has been a revelation with the ball, claiming two hattricks in the tournament, one coming against Chargers Sunday.

Yuvraj would hope to carry the same form in batting that looks shaky and is dependant on Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene, whose return after missing the match against Chargers would bolster the team.

Super Kings will have to quickly regroup themselves after their loss to Knight Riders.

Skipper Dhoni minced no words when he asked his bowlers to raise their game after they failed to defend a target of 188.

Super Kings batting is the best in the tournament with Matthew Hayden, Suresh Raina, and Dhoni in top form.

The bowling has been a let down time and again in the tournament.

Super Kings had confidently thrashed Kings XI in the first match and Dhoni is confident of a similar result.

'It is a must win situation for us. We were in a similar situation last year as well and had to win our last match to move into the semis,' Dhoni said.

'We will go out and play our cricket and hope that we reach the semis.'

'The guys have to realise that they need to perform. It's about how the players raise their bar of performance in such situation. We have a fantastic side and hope for the best,' he said.

[News - Local] - Ranil thanks the President over the phone

The Opposition Leader Ranil Wickramasinghe telephoned the President Mahinda Rajapakse while touring abroad and thanked the President, the cabinet and the security forces for defeating the LTTE militarily, said the office of the Opposition Leader.

The Opposition Leader Ranil Wickramasinghe exchanged views with the President about strengthening the national unity and providing relief to the war displaced. The Opposition Leader had informed that he was unable to attend the opening of the new parliamentary session since he was on a foreign tour, said the office of the Opposition Leader.

[News - Local] - Army Commander assures Prabha’s demise; corpse shown

Army Commander Sarath Fonseka officially announced that LTTE leader Prabhakaran was killed and his dead body was recovered from the battlefield.

He produced a video in which Prabhakaran’s body, his identification tag denoting no: 01 and his identity card were shown.

The Army Commander made the following statement.

“I make this statement as the Commander of Sri Lanka Army under directions of President Mahinda Rajapakse and the Defense Secretary Gptabhaya Rajapakse.

“I consider that it is my luck that I can announce this information received from the battle grounds. We have recovered and identified the body of the terrorist leader Velupillai Prabakaran from the battle field. “

Meanwhile, pro-LTTE international media said this morning that the story of the death of the LTTE leader was a fabrication and he was alive.

The bodies of LTTE armed wing leader Banu, armed wing leaders Jeyam and Lakshman, senior intelligence leader Thomas, Sea Tiger leader Sri Ram, women’s wing leader Isseiyaravi, intelligence wing deputy leader Kapil Amman, women’s wing training officer Ajanthi, martar unit in charge Warda, Prabakaran’s secretary Puthiyavan and Shankar’s wife Subha have been identified from the bodies recovered.