IPL 5: Winless Punjab confront unbeaten Pune

One team will look to register its first win and the other will pull out all stocks to remain unbeaten. One captain will try to lift the gloom with runs off his bat and the other will hope overconfidence doesn't find a space in his team's dug-out. The return match between Kings XI Punjab and Pune Warriors India at the PCA Stadium has a lot at stake.

Both Sourav Ganguly and Adam Gilchrist are in their second Indian Premier League season with Pune and Punjab respectively, and both are captain-cum-mentor of their respective franchise. But the contrast lies in the starts the IPL veterans have had to their fifth season of the league. While Ganguly's team has won everything coming its way so far, Gilchrist's Punjab have struggled to find their feet.

IPL 5: Morne Morkel happy to be Delhi's first-change bowler

New Delhi: He has always opened the bowling for South Africa but speedster Morne Morkel isn't complaining at being used as a first-change bowler by his Indian Premier League (IPL) team Delhi Daredevils. "I am fine with it. The ball is still pretty new and I come to bowl in the third or fourth over. It doesn't matter whether I am opening the bowling or coming as one-change. I am happy to do any job for the guys or what the captain wants," Morkel said after Delhi beat Chennai Super Kings in an IPL match here on Tuesday night.

For Morkel, more than his own set of choices and preferences, the important thing is to keep winning. "I believe there is no need to change the winning recipe. The current strategy is working for us. I am fine if I am given the new ball but there are two ways of attack. One should have a different gameplan for different conditions," the 27-year-old, who has been the leading wicket-taker for his franchise with seven scalps from three games, said.

Review: Narendra Modi iPhone, iPad app is a half-baked effort

New Delhi: Given the experience on how clueless our politicians seem to be in the matters of technology it always makes news when a politician does something that gives him a semblance of tech-savviness.

Even if you may, or may not, agree with his politics, Narendra Modi's e-initiatives do give him an apparent advantage over other politicians. Half-a-million users follow Modi on Twitter, his blog is regularly updated and so is his Facebook page and YouTube channel. Even though most of the updates that are posted under Modi's name lack the personal touch and therefore a hired hand could very well be posting much of them.

With assembly elections in Gujarat coming closer, Modi has opened yet another channel to reach out - an iOS app for the iPhone and the iPad.

Personally, I do not see much value in having an app for a purpose that can very well be served through a Web browser. But since apps give an appearance of 'happening', everyone is scrambling to get one and so seems Modi. At the same time, having an app does no harm (except that they usually cost some money) and it may attract more users. This is possibly also the thought behind this app.

Nokia Lumia 900 bug hits US ambitions

Helsinki: Struggling cellphone maker Nokia has found a software bug in its new flagship Lumia 900 model, dealing a blow to its ambitions to re-enter the lucrative US smartphone market.

The glitch, which Nokia said on Wednesday it would fix early next week, can in some cases cause the phone to lose its data connection.

Nokia lost smartphone market dominance to Apple and Google in part due to its weak performance in the United States and the Lumia 900, which uses Microsoft's Windows Phone software, is key to its comeback bid.

"It's like they stalled their engine when everybody is looking at them at the start of their race," said Gartner analyst Carolina Milanesi.

The Lumia 900 went on sale in the United States through AT&T on April 8 and is due to launch globally this quarter. The model won several awards at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas when it was launched there in January.

Sony launches 4 new in-car entertainment systems

New Delhi: Sony has announced the launch of four new Xplod in-car entertainment systems - the XAV-701BT, XAV-601BT, XAV-64BT and XAV-63.

The new Passenger App Control allows users to connect an iPod or iPhone via USB to display their favourite TV shows, movies, and compatible applications onscreen. Besides, Bluetooth connectivity on the XAV-701BT, XAV-601BT and XAV-64BT with an external microphone enables true hands-free calling while driving.

The XAV-701BT and 601BT audio-visual receivers feature WVGA panel displays with full touchscreen capability. These two receivers also offer universal smartphone connectivity to any MirrorLink-certified smartphone. (MirrorLink is a technology standard developed by the Car Connectivity Consortium that enables the streaming of smartphone content to in-dash receivers, facilitating control of applications and music on the receiver's touchscreen.)

On the other hand, the XAV-63 and XAV-64BT are claimed to include features typically found only in expensive audio-visual receivers. These two receivers have 6.1 inch WVGA displays, iPod/iPhone Passenger App Control and iPod video playback.

The XAV-701BT and XAV-601BT cost Rs 33,990 and Rs 29,990, respectively. These two receivers will be available by the month of June. The XAV-64BT has been priced at Rs 24,990, and will be available in May.

Priced at Rs 19,990, the XAV-63 is available in the market

Prabhu Deva's dance steps not easy, says Akshay

Mumbai: Akshay Kumar, who returns to the action genre after seven years with 'Rowdy Rathore', confesses that he had to put in a lot of hard work while shooting dance sequences as director Prabhu Deva's steps were very difficult. "Whatever he tells me, I go and rehearse it. We start rehearsing one week before. His steps are not so easy that you can do it immediately on the sets. Whatever steps he tells me I practice it and then do it finally," Akshay, who is a good dancer himself, said.

He was talking on the sets of the TV show 'Dance India Dance' where he appeared to promote his film.

'Rowdy Rathore' also stars Sonakshi Sinha and is slated for a June 15 release.

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Akshay's recently released 'Housefull 2' has garnered huge response at the box-office. The film reportedly earned Rs 50 crore in just four days.

Akshay says a lot of hard work has gone into the multi-starrer directed by Sajid Khan.

"It has been a hard battle in four days. So let's hope everything goes well. It's everybody's hard work together. It's a team work from Sajid Khan to (producer) Sajid Nadiadwala," he said.

'Race 2' to hit theatres on January 25 next year

New Delhi: The release of 'Race 2', a sequel of 2008 hit of the same name, has been postponed for January 25, 2013. The multi-starrer thriller was earlier slated for November release this year but now producer Ramesh Taurani has delayed the arrival of the film in cinemas.

"Race 2 releases January 25th next year. We felt it was just the right date to release our film," Taurani said in a statement.

Produced by Tips, the action thriller stars Saif Ali Khan, John Abraham, Deepika Padukone, Bipasha Basu, Anil Kapoor and Ameesha Patel.

"Race 2 is in the same genre and will be made on a grand scale as the original. We will be shooting in Turkey and Cyprus next. The story has plenty of twists and turns and every character will have gray shades," said Abbas.

'Kya Super Kool Hain Hum' doesn't make fun of K3G: Riteish Deshmukh

Mumbai: The promos of 'Kya Super Kool Hain Hum' are out and have some sequences of 'Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham' (K3G) embedded in them. Actor Riteish Deshmukh says that the scenes from Karan Johar's family drama have been included to make fun of their sex comedy.

"We are not making fun of it (K3G). Actually we are making fun of our film, that our film is not a family drama. It's not a film that can bring families together... It's not about getting families together. It's about having fun and enjoying ourselves," Riteish told reporters Monday at the launch of the first look of 'Kya Super Kool Hain Hum'.

Riteish also said that it was really brave of Karan to share the footage of his film and thanked him for his support. "None of the footage that we have used in the film can be used without the permission of the filmmaker. Hats off to Karan who has a sense of humor...not many people would have the guts to give their films to be made fun off. All of us here would like to thank Karan for extending his support by giving the footage of K3G for our film," said the actor.

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Co-produced by Sachin Yardi and Ekta Kapoor, 'Kya Super Kool Hain Hum' also stars Tusshar Kapoor, Neha Sharma and Sarah Jane Dias in the lead roles. The film is slated for an August release.

Sex not a marketing tool for 'Hate Story': Director

Mumbai: Director Vivek Agnihotri, who is now ready with his next film 'Hate Story', which is based on sex, maintains that he is not using the plot of the movie to market it. 'Hate Story' is touted as India's first onscreen erotica. The film written by Vikram Bhatt and directed by Agnihotri, marks Bengali actress Paoli Dam's entry into the Bollywood.

"We are not using sex as a marketing tool for this film. We have made an erotic thriller and we are marketing it as an erotica film. Why should we market our film as something else? Like I have not made a musical film and I am saying that

it is a war film," director Vivek Agnihotri told PTI in an interview.

"An erotic thriller is a form of art. It is beautiful, it is a higher point of art. And every art beyond a point becomes erotica, it was challenging, but I enjoyed it a lot. Also as far as my film goes, it was easy to shoot those (sex)

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scenes. If people want to see it then why should we not make a film of this kind. We are making it for a section of audience who wants to see these kind of films," he said.

The movie has generated a lot of buzz online thanks to Bengali actress Paoli Dam's dare bare scenes.

SRK in legal trouble for smoking in Jaipur stadium

Jaipur: A complaint was filed in a court here Monday against Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan for publicly smoking at the Sawai Man Singh Stadium during an Indian Premier League (IPL) match Sunday between Rajasthan Royals and Kolkata Knight Riders, a lawyer said.

The complaint was submitted in the court of the additional chief judicial magistrate. The court has fixed April 12 for hearing in the matter.

"Smoking publicly is banned in Rajasthan since 2000. However, Shah Rukh Khan was smoking publicly in front of thousands of spectators. The actor was broadcast live while smoking on the TV channel which was showing the match," said lawyer Nem Singh Rathore who filed the complaint on behalf of Jaipur Cricket Academy director Anand Singh Rathore.

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The lawyer said that spectators were being allowed into the stadium only after frisking. "The police was confiscating any objectionable items including cigarettes while frisking. However, it seems Shah Rukh was allowed to carry the cigarette packet into the stadium which is negligence on part of the police also," the complainant said.

Shah Rukh is the co-owner of the Kolkata side.

Salman Khan to copy Jason Statham in Shirish Kunder's next film

Mumbai: Since the time his Wanted provided a shot in the arm for single screen theatres a couple of years ago, we've seen Salman Khan doing larger than life action in his subsequent hits. The actor is now all set to do stunts similar to Jason Statham's Transporter series, in his next, directed by Shirish Kunder.

And that's why producer Sajid Nadiadwala is said to have roped in a stunt coordinator who has worked with Statham in his action films.

Reportedly, Philip Guegan, who coordinated the action in the first Transporter film, is believed to have been brought on board to direct the thrills for Salman.

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It is learnt that this idea was suggested by Nadiadwala himself. A well-placed industry source tells us," From the time Sajid acquired the rights to remake the south Indian hit, Kick in Hindi with Salman, he's been thinking of ways to not only make it differently, but also take it to another level with the action sequence."

Yuvraj Singh says return to cricket won't be easy

Gurgaon: After surviving a rare form of cancer, India's World Cup hero Yuvraj Singh has answered the question surrounding his return to the field of play, saying while he wants to come back soon, his focus as of now is entirely on his health.

Addressing the media here on Wednesday during his first and only press conference following treatment in the US, Yuvraj had an air of positivity about him and answered questions right from the time he was diagnosed with a malignant tumour to when he is expected to play again for India. However, he made it clear that a comeback won't be easy and his fans need to be patient, like they have been during the last three months.

"The fans are emotional, [but] they understand it will take time for me to return. Right now I have to look after my health. I must focus," Yuvraj said, sitting alongside his doctor Dr. Nitesh Rohatgi, at the Yuvraj Singh Centre of Excellence in Pathways School here.

FBI replaces Osama on its most wanted list

Washington: A child pornography suspect has been placed on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitive list to replace al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, who was killed by US forces in May 2011. Eric Justin Toth, 30, a former private school teacher, was indicted in 2008 in Maryland on one count related to producing child pornography, according to court records.

Authorities found pornographic images on a camera in his possession, the FBI said. Authorities are offering a $100,000 reward for information leading to Toth's arrest.

There also is a sealed two-count complaint against Toth that has been filed in federal court in Washington, DC, which charges him with possessing a video that includes an image of child pornography and transporting it across state lines, according to the FBI.

Toth may advertise himself on the Internet as a tutor or a male nanny and was believed to have lived in Arizona as recently as 2009. Prior to that he was believed to have been in Virginia, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin and Minnesota, the FBI said.

If convicted on the charge in Maryland, Toth would face at least 15 years in prison and as many as 30 years.

Bangalore: Beaten and burnt by her father, baby Afreen dies

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Bangalore: Three-month-old baby Afreen, who was allegedly beaten and abused by her father, died of cardiac arrest in Bangalore on Wednesday. Afreen, who was admitted to Bangalore's Vani Vilas hospital on Sunday, suffered a massive cardiac arrest on Wednesday at 10:40 AM and died at 11:10 AM after all efforts to revive her by the doctors failed.

Professor of Paediatrics at Vani Vilas Hospital R Premalatha said that multiple convulsions could have led to the cardiac arrest.

National Commission for Protection of Child Rights Chairperson Shanta Sinha said, "This is very tragic and sad. The case should be brought to a logical ending. The mother will have to be given full cooperation and protection."

Nina Nayak of the Child Rights Protection Commission said a Quick Response Unit needs to be set up to attend to such cases on time.

Her condition had started to worsen from Tuesday, forcing the doctors to seek help from the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS).

Her father Umar Farooq allegedly wanted a boy, and started torturing and abusing Afreen after she born. Umar Farooq has already been arrested and sent to jail. Her mother, who allegedly witnessed the abuse and torture, wants the strictest possible punishment for him.

Noida: Student beats teacher with iron rod

New Delhi: A sports teacher was allegedly beaten with by an iron rod by a class ninth student in Noida. Police say the boy was upset after the teacher caught him cheating during an exam and he was failed.

Police say the boy and his father even approached the school Principal for leniency, but when refused, the angry student took on the teacher.

The student has been absconding after the incident.

India scales down tsunami warning, authorities on alert

New Delhi: Hours after a tsunami warning was issued on Wednesday following the 8.6-magnitude earthquake in Indonesia, India withdrew the warning, saying that there was no cause of panic.

Home Secretary R K Singh said, "Apart from Nicobar, the tsunami warning has been reduced to tsunami alert."

Referring to the second earthquake in Indonesia, which measured 8.2 on the richter scale, Singh said, "Let us see what waves are generated by the second quake."

According to Singh, the authorities have been asked for evacuation in South Andaman. Meanwhile, reports suggested that some people had already been evacuated from South Andaman as a precautionary measure.

Reports also said that Andaman and Nicobar Islands could see waves up to 3.9 metres high following the quakes.

Though the tsunami warning has been scaled down, the government has sounded high alert in six districts of Odisha and emergency preparations are underway.