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Opera Next -- the auto-updating test edition of the next major version of the Norwegian Web browser -- is out in a new version, 11.50. It has a clever addition to Speed Dial, the page of thumbnail links to favorite sites which has been widely imitated since Opera invented it: extensions. Rather than just depicting shrunken versions of sites you've saved, Speed Dial can now include widgety little applications, such as the weather one in the lower left-hand corner of the screen above.

Past patterns may point to China, but top investigators say they will never know for sure who mounted a "significant" cyberattack against Lockheed Martin Corp, the Pentagon's No. 1 arms supplier. Lockheed, which is also the government's top information technology provider, said on Sunday it was a "frequent target of adversaries around the world." The company has not disclosed which of its business units was targeted, but people with experience plugging holes after such strikes said that cyberspies likely sought trade secrets or weapons-related data. The Bethesda, Maryland-based company did not respond to a request to clarify whom it deemed adversaries, and whether it suspected a foreign state in the digital assault it said it had detected "almost immediately" on May 21.

The Katunayake FTZ will remain closed until June 02, according to the Board of Investments (BOI) Executive Director Sunil de Silva. The Free Trade Zone had been closed today (May 31) in order to establish industrial peace, following violent clashes between protesters and police officers yesterday.

The suspension of the proposed private pension scheme has to be a cabinet decision, and not one made by the Central Committee of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), the JVP says. Temporarily suspending it is not enough, according to Anura Kumara Dissanayake who stated that the pension scheme has to be completely scrapped. Addressing a press conference at the JVP’s Pelawatte headquarters the Parliamentarian agreed that private sector employees need a pension, but said this draft bill cannot be accepted as it was brought forth to steal workers’ funds. Therefore a new pension scheme, which benefits the employees, has to be introduced and not the amending of the already proposed bill, he emphasized.

African and Islamic members of the 47-nation Human Rights Council moved to quell any attempt to reopen the debate on Sri Lanka’s conduct at the end of the war, AP reports. “The international community must support national efforts to win the peace in Sri Lanka,” said Pakistan’s ambassador Zamir Akram, speaking on behalf of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, which has a powerful presence in the council. Akram said a recent report by the office of U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was “primarily based on second-hand information that was never verified.” AP reports. Earlier a U.N. human rights expert says new footage from the final days of the Sri Lankan civil war in 2009 is authentic and proves war crimes took place.

Elections for the remaining 67 Local Government bodies will be held on July 23, Elections Department told Ada Derana a short while ago. In the previously held 234 LG bodies the United People’s Freedom Alliance secured victory in 205 bodies. Illankai Tamil Arasu Katchchi (ITAK) came in second winning 12 while the United National Party (UNP) managed to secure 09 LG bodies. The Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) won 04, National Congress 02, the Up-Country People’s Front (UPF) 01 while an Independent Group secured 01 LG body.

I first heard about the Pujie Girls and planking while watching a local Taiwanese talk show that featured ongoing fads. Karren and Jinyu were on the show demonstrating to local university students how planking can be both fun and done safely. I loved the photos and the idea of planking seemed very visually interesting to me; I had to find out more about it. After a bit of research online, I found that there was a whole community of underground plankers who posted their escapades via various social media sites like Facebook and Twitter. I added myself to the fanpage of the Pujie Girls on Facebook and introduced myself. I was hoping that they would contact me soon so that I could secure an interview session with the internet celebrities for Reuters. The pair are Taiwan’s most well-known plankers, with almost 100,000 fans following them on Facebook. They are so popular that China’s version of Facebook, Weibo, has invited them as VIPs on the tightly controlled social network to promote

Indian Coast Guard (Eastern region) has apprehended ten Sri Lankan fishermen and seized two fishing boats for allegedly fishing in Indian waters, Indian media report. The boats -- ‘‘Chejana’’ and ‘‘Kulanputha’’ were seized about 120 kms from Kakinada late last night, an official release said. Adding that the boats had 5,000 kg of fish onboard altogether, it said the two vessels were being taken to the Kakinada Port for handing over to the police. This is the eighth such apprehension of Sri Lankan fishermen and boats in 2011, the release said. Till date, 17 boats with 84 crew and 18,900 kg of fish have been apprehended, the release added.  (PTI)

NATO aircraft destroyed the guard towers at Muammar Gaddafi's compound in Tripoli, a NATO official said on Saturday, then staged a rare daytime air strike on the Libyan capital, heightening pressure on him to quit. "RAF Typhoons, along with other NATO aircraft, last night used precision-guided weapons to bring down guard towers along the walls of Colonel Gaddafi's Bab al-Aziziyah complex in the center of Tripoli," Major General John Lorimer, chief British military spokesman, said in a statement.

Lowlands in several areas including Udugama have been flooded as a result of the increase in the water level of the Ging Ganga. Due to this the Disaster Management Center (DMC) has taken steps to provide the flood-victims in the area with food and relief. Local political leaders have also stepped in to assist in the relief efforts, the Ada Derana correspondent reported. A programme to provide the public in areas such as Udugama, Gamagoda and Parana Thanayamgoda with dry rations was also implemented today (May 28).

Luxury goods makers may boast familiarity with China, but the pace of change in the world's fastest-growing country still startles them. The world's biggest luxury market within five years has become a second home for brands such Hermes ( HRMS.PA ), Prada and Tiffany & Co ( TIF.N ) that tap Chinese appetite for fast super sports cars, 10,000-euro ($14,060) handbags and diamonds. Top executives of groups such as Italian car maker Lamborghini and jeweler Harry Winston Inc ( HW.TO ) told the Reuters Global Luxury and Fashion Summit this week that Chinese rapid change can befuddle them.

Cabinet has approved a proposal made by President Mahinda Rajapaksa on setting up an electronic system at the Department of Immigration and Emigration to issue Visas online for foreigners visiting Sri Lanka, the Government Information Department stated. Foreigners who are visiting and travelling via Sri Lanka will be able to obtain visas through the Immigration Department website by personally applying for them on payment of the prescribed fees. Those who do not have private access to internet facilities, will be able to apply for visa through private agencies to be established for the purpose and also through Sri Lankan Foreign Missions and from the Department Head Office.

Barack Obama, the US president, has addressed the British parliament, saying that Western influence remains strong in the world, despite emerging world powers such as China, India and Brazil. In a speech to both houses of parliament on Wednesday, Obama said that Western powers still had a responsibility to uphold "universal rights", but stressed that this work must be done through multilateral forums like the G20. "We do this knowing the West must overcome mistrust and suspicion from many," he told the assembled British legislators, in a reference to Western support for recent pro-democracy uprisings in many countries in North Africa and the Middle East. "Ultimately freedom must be won by the people themselves, not imposed from without." Obama's speech to both houses of parliament on Wednesday was historic as it marks the first time a US president has been afforded that opportunity. Source: Al Jazeera

After a relatively short (but long in Kardashian terms—hiya, Khlomar!) six months of dating, New Jersey Nets forward Kris Humphries popped the question to Kim, E! News confirms. As one would expect, it was a proposal—and ohdeargodareyouforreal—a ring befitting the reality princess. PlaySara Rue Gets Hitched PlayKirstie Alley Caught Kissing Romeo PlayKim Kardashian Steps Out With Beau "OMGGGGGGG!!!!!!!!" Kim wrote on her blog. "It's true! I couldn't be happier! Thank you guys for all of the sweet messages!!! I finally found my missing puzzle piece, I'm complete! The proposal took place one week ago, on May 18, when the 26-year-old Humphries surprised his 30-year-old love in her Beverly Hills home. When she entered her bedroom, she saw Humphries already on bended knee with red rose petals forming what was by then a hopefully obvious question: "Will you marry me?" "I didn't expect this at all," the bride-to-be told People. &q

 Resources Global Professionals, a professional services firm, is scouting for acquisitions in China, India and Germany, and sees Asia as its fastest growing market over the next five years, its CEO said. The unit of Irvine, California-based Resources Connection Inc ( RECN.O ) assigns its 3,000 full-time consultants to work on clients' projects. The consultants are allowed flexible work schedules and many are paid by the hour. Resources Global is benefiting from global demand for outsourced professional services by corporate clients including Chevron ( CVX.N ), Sony Corp ( 6758.T ), Sotheby's ( BID.N ), Starbucks ( SBUX.O ) and Yum Brands Inc's ( YUM.N ) Taco Bell Corp. More employers globally and in the United States are finding it tough to find skilled technicians, sales agents and engineers, according to ManpowerGroup ( MAN.N ). "We want more critical mass for India and China because of the size of the market and the economic growth," CEO Donald Murray told Re

The protestors who were arrested in Katunayake last evening were released today after questioning police said today. According to police further legal action against the protestors would be taken after investigations. Yesterdat the Katunayake Airport junction on the Colombo- Negombo main road was blocked by protestors demonstrating against the proposed pension scheme for the private sector.    The protest was jointly organized by 24 trade unions from garment factories within the Katunayake Free Trade Zone (FTZ).

Italian supercar maker Lamborghini is considering adding an "everyday" model to its line-up, its chief executive Stephan Winkelmann said at the Reuters Global Luxury and Fashion Summit. Lamborghini, a unit of Volkswagen's ( VOWG_p.DE ) Audi brand, whose sleek cars bear the charging bull logo, sees the luxury super sportscar market returning to the record levels seen in 2007 by 2013-14, Winkelmann said. Around 35,000 super sports cars were sold in 2007, compared with about 26,000 last year, he said. Strong demand from emerging regions such as China and Russia is boosting sales of high-end models. Referring to plans for a third model, Winkelmann said: "We are going to have a third model. It has to be an everyday car. We want to have a car which is able to be used on a daily basis." Lamborghini, which competes with fellow Italian brand Ferrari ( FIA.MI ), has not yet decided which segment the car will belong to, he said, adding that once that decision was made, th

The Provincial Councillors of the Eastern Province abstained from attending the council session scheduled for today (May 24) in protest of TMVP member and fellow Provincial Councillor Pradeep Master’s arrest. Pradeep Master was arrested last week along with other TMVP members for alleged involvement in a crime spurt in Batticaloa. The next council session will be held on June 25.

Devastating tornadoes, floods, earthquakes overseas and a busier-than-usual hurricane   season have U.S. insurance companies bracing for record losses in 2011. Insurers could suffer as much as $10 billion from weather-related losses in the United States in 2011, which is up from the average of $2 billion to $4 billion, according to EQECAT Inc, which provides disaster and risk models to insurance companies. On top of the potential U.S. losses, insurers are also reeling from disasters overseas, including large earthquakes across the Pacific Rim. And as if that was not enough, analysts now expect an above-average Atlantic hurricane season. "This is not a black swan year that is an absolute worst case, but it is significant and it is close to that," said Jose Miranda, director of client advocacy at EQECAT Inc, which provides disaster and risk models to insurance companies.

Indians and Pakistanis are among a large number of inmates on hunger strike in Sri Lanka’s main jail to seek early repatriation to their countries, an Indian prisoner has said. Using a mobile telephone provided by a guard, the prisoner, who did not wish to be identified by name, said the protest fast began May 19 at the Wellikade prison in Colombo. According to him, 27 Indian male and four female prisoners along with 21 Pakistanis have refused to take any food and are surviving only on water ‘for the past few days’.

 I have never made any statement that was in opposition to the country or the army, former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka said today (May 23) at the Colombo High Court when the court took up the White Flag case. Fonseka spoke about his 36 years in the service of the army citing the various operations that he had been a part of when he was called to the stand today.

Armed Yemeni government loyalists trapped Arab and Western diplomats inside an embassy on Sunday to block the signing of a political accord that would unseat President Ali Abdullah Saleh, witnesses said. Saleh, a political survivor who has twice backed out of signing at the last minute, is under strong diplomatic pressure to seal the Gulf-brokered deal to end three months of protests against his rule. The deal, if Saleh signs, would within a month make him the third Arab leader ousted by popular street protests this year. But a diplomat, speaking hours after Saleh was due to have signed, said chances of a signing were now looking slim. "The issue of the ruling party signing is being complicated, and chances of finishing the deal are getting weak," a Gulf diplomat told Reuters in the Yemeni capital. The deal would give Saleh immunity from prosecution, ensuring a dignified exit after nearly 33 years at the helm of the Arabian Peninsula state, located on a shipping lane thr

A navy soldier succumbed to injuries after falling out of a moving vehicle belonging to the Sri Lanka Navy today (May 22). According to Navy Spokesman, Commander Kosala Warnakulasuriya the accident had taken place in the Vakarai are in Batticaloa. The body of the 23-year-old soldier, D.M. Divahara, has been handed over to the navy following postmortem examination at the Valaichchenai Hospital, police revealed.

Three people have been killed and 11 injured following a collision between a van and a lorry at Ambepussa on Colombo-Kandy Road, hospital sources confirmed. According to the Police the accident had occurred at 3.45am at Dewala Junction. Two females are said to be amongst the dead as Warakapola Police has commenced investigations into the incident.

Syrian security forces have killed at least nine people in Homs, including an 11-year-old boy, in the latest armed crackdown on protesters, according to three separate witnesses, who spoke to Al Jazeera. Two boys, named by activists as Aiham al-Ahmad, 11, and 16-year-old Ahmad Bakr were killed when police officers opened fire on Friday, after their vehicle crashed into a wall and was attacked by protesters, according to a witness, who saw the boys shot. "The four secret police officers opened fire on the protesters with machine guns," one witness said. The attack took place after officers drove police cars into a crowd of some 2,000 demonstrators in an attempt to disperse them, a second witness said. After hitting several protesters with the vehicles, one of the cars crashed into a wall, prompting the officers to jump out and open fire. Four other protesters, two of them identified by activists as Raqan Mishrif and Mustapha Ali al-Zakrit, were also killed, while at least seve

Security officials allegedly detained the daughter of Sarath Fonseka for half an hour at the Bandaranaike International Airport today (May 20) Anoma Fonseka stated. Aparna Fonseka, who was returning to Sri Lanka was detained by security officers while her mother, Anoma was asked to leave the premises during the questioning.

The Police have arrested 3 suspects who had allegedly attempted to extort a sum of Rs.2 million from a private pharmacy. The suspects were arrested yesterday (19) in a special operation initiated by the Criminal Investigation Unit of the Mount Lavinia Police following a complaint lodged with the Colombo Crimes Division. The suspects who were arrested in Dehiwala have been identified as residents of the Moratuwa Katubadda area. The Police stated that the suspects will be produced at the Mount Lavinia Magistrate Court today (20).

There may not be four versions of Windows 8 for ARM system-on-a-chip processors that are incapable of running legacy Windows apps after all. Microsoft has rebutted recent statements about Windows 8 running on ARM processors made by Intel's senior vice president and general manager of its software and services group. Intel's Renee James recently suggested that there would be at least four versions of Windows 8 for the ARM chip architecture. She also said these versions of Windows 8 would not be compatible with older Windows programs written for Windows 7, Vista and XP. "Intel's statements during yesterday's Intel investor meeting about Microsoft's plans for the next version of Windows were factually inaccurate and unfortunately misleading," Microsoft said. "From the first demonstrations of Windows on SoC, we have been clear about our goals and have emphasized that we are at the technology demonstration stage. As such, we have no further details or in

Shares of LinkedIn Corp surged nearly 90 percent in their public trading debut on Thursday, a jump reminiscent of the heyday of investors' love affair with Internet stocks in the late 1990s. The shares rose to $85.18 in morning trading on the New York Stock Exchange, 89.3 percent above their $45 initial public offering price. That pushes the market value of the company to about $8 billion. LinkedIn is the first prominent U.S. social networking company to publicly test just how hungry investors are for Web 2.0 inhabitants as people turn to other hot names in the space: Facebook, Groupon, Twitter and Zynga. LinkedIn, which runs a professional social network, raised $352.8 million on Wednesday by selling 8 percent of the company, or 7.84 million shares, for $45 each. The company increased its anticipated price range by $10 on Tuesday to $42 to $45 per share. Underwriters on the IPO were led by Morgan Stanley, Bank of America Merrill Lynch and JPMorgan.

Following the arrest of TMVP members in Batticaloa President Mahinda Rajapaksa has ensured Eastern Province Chief Minister Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan that he will resolve the issue within a week, TMVP Media Spokesman Azad Mowlana stated. In a meeting held today (May 19) between the two parties, the President had expressed his regret at the incident and had claimed that he had no knowledge of the offenses that had been brought against the arrested parties. Mowlana stated that the President had assured the Chief Minister that once a Police report was submitted regarding the arrests that the matter will be resolved within a week.

Sri Lanka’s Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) has recommenced investigations into complaints on alleged acts of bribery and corruption. Therefore complaints can now be forwarded in writing or in person, the Commission stated. The Commission had been defunct since March 29, 2010 due to new appointments not being made after the Commission’s term had come to an end. However it had recommenced operations on May 16 as a result of the new appointments on the recommendations of the Constitutional Council. Former Supreme Court Judge D.J.D.S. Balapatabendi had been appointed as the new Chairman of the Bribery Commission while former IGP Jayantha Wickramaratne was appointed its Commissioner and former Court of Appeal Judge, L.K. Wimalachandra a member.

A native of Jaffna was taken into custody for possessing a forged passport when the immigration personnel at the Cochin International Airport in Nedumbassery grilled him when he was trying to leave India to Paris by Oman Air flight on Tuesday. Emigration police superintendent K G James told Express that Jeevadas, 30, a Sri Lankan, possessed a passport in the name of Savari Muthu Peter, issued from Trichy passport office in 2007. Emigration personnel during the clearance proceedings found that he was actually Jeevadas and reached India in 2003. As his passport issued from Sri Lanka was expired he managed to get a forged passport in the name of Savari from Trichy. He reportedly confessed that he possessed a forged passport. He would be handed over to Nedumbassery police to investigate whether he is involved in any terrorist activity or whether he is a member of the LTTE, the Express News Service reported.

For the first time in Sri Lanka, Dialog Axiata in partnership with Roamware gives you the opportunity to reload Dialog Prepaid Connections via Facebook. Now you can reload your friends, family or loved ones Dialog Prepaid connections, directly through facebook in 3 easy steps. Login to Facebook and search for ‘Social Top Up’ for more information. Help your buddies stay connected with Social Top Ups powered by Dialog in partnership with Roamware. Global eZeTop is also an easy way to send credit to relatives in Sri Lanka through the web. With More Magic you can top-up your friend’s or family’s prepaid mobile numbers from the comfort of your home or office through the web. It’s convenient, immediate and easy, plus you can use your existing PayPal account during the transaction. United Kingdom Dialog Axiata has partnered with London-based QiComm to offer a unique calling service to Sri Lankans living in the UK through a new product called VIZZ Mobile. UK Callers can now connect to friends

Hewlett-Packard Co slashed its full-year outlook, casting doubts about Chief Executive Leo Apotheker's turnaround plan and sending its shares down 5.4 percent. The world's largest technology company blamed the impact of the March earthquake in Japan and weak PC sales. The company released its results a day before it originally planned after an internal memo from Chief Executive Leo Apotheker warned his executives of "another tough quarter" ahead. Apotheker, who took the helm in September, wants to boost earnings and dividends by pushing into sectors such as cloud computing, where services are hosted from data centers. Investors are looking for signs of progress on that strategy. "HP has been known historically for consistency," said Gleacher & Co analyst Brian Marshall. "Now they are known for inconsistency." HP cut its outlook for full-year profit, excluding items, to "at least $5.00 per share" from previous outlook of "$5.20