Sehwag leading India loses toss, New Zealand batting

NAPIER - Virender Sehwag, leading India in the absence of Mahendra Singh Dhoni who is out with a back problem, lost the toss and New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori decided to bat in the second cricket Test here at McLean Park Thursday.

Chris Brown not applying for university education

WASHINGTON - Rapper Chris Brown has denied reports that he’s applying for university education.

Chris Jericho says his ‘bitch slap’ to Rourke will be heard round the world

NEW YORK - Real-life wrestler Chris Jericho has said that he will give ‘The Wrestler’ Oscar nominee Mickey Rourke the bitch slap that will be heard “round the world”, when the latter attends this year’s Wrestlemania.

Australia and South America need elephants to save their threatened native plants

SYDNEY - An ecologist has said that large herbivores like elephants need to be introduced in regions such as Australia and South America, which would help save threatened native plants.

India will look to defy history in New Zealand (Preview)

HAMILTON - India will seek to put behind a morale shattering record in hostile conditions and script a fresh chapter when they take on New Zealand in the first of the three cricket Tests starting here Wednesday.

‘Jackomania’ grips people worldwide

LONDON - It seems that Jackomania has gripped people all over the world.

As Michael Jackson prepares for his ‘last ever’ London gigs, the demand for concert tickets has soared, leaving the sales website eventually crashed.

Chris Brown pulls out of Nickledeon Kid’s Choice Awards

LONDON - Singer Chris Brown, who was a few days ago urging young kids to vote for him, has reportedly pulled out of the Nickledeon Kid’s Choice awards, after being charged with two felony counts for his alleged attack on Rihanna.

Chris Brown’s manager denies having sexual relationship with him

NEW YORK - Singer Chris Brown’s manager Tina Davis has finally shot down suggestions that she had a sexual relationship with her client, and that it was her racy text message that triggered the row between him and Rihanna.

Chris Brown charged with assault

LOS ANGELES - Chris Brown has been charged with assault and making criminal threats over his fight with girlfriend, pop star Rihanna, last month.

Broad’s charge of lack of security totally fabricated: Butt

LAHORE - Pakistan’s cricket chief Ijaz Butt Thursday took a swipe at match Referee Chris Broad over his outburst against security arrangements in Lahore, saying that he would soon send a formal complaint against the Englishman to the International Cricket Council (ICC).

Joy in Australia as last stranded whale swims free

SYDNEY - The last survivor of a pod of 192 pilot whales that came ashore on Tasmania’s King Island at the weekend swam back out to sea Wednesday.

Manchester United prepare for road to history

LONDON - After winning the Carling Cup, Manchester United could take another step towards an unprecedented quintuple Wednesday, as they face Newcastle United in the Premier League.

Australians try to save stranded whales

SYDNEY - A volunteer army was Monday tending to around 54 whales that were still alive among a pod of 200 that became stranded on a beach on Tasmania’s King Island.

Will Rahman have his day with ‘Slumdog’ at the Oscars?

LOS ANGELES - British director Danny Boyle’s hit film ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ is the favourite to win the Oscar for best picture at Sunday night’s annual Academy Awards, but would luck smile on Indian music maestro A.R. Rahman too?

Britain to invest 150 million pounds in Bihar

PATNA - The Department for International Development (DFID) of Britain plans to invest up to 150 million pounds in Bihar, a senior official of the British government said here Sunday.

Chris Brown and Rihanna: A teen romance turns sour

LOS ANGELES - As among the brightest and most successful young stars in the US music industry, Chris Brown and Rihanna were a match made in publicists’ heaven. But just as they were set to send their relationship into hyperdrive with a joint appearance at the Grammy Awards Sunday night, the fairy-tale romance turned sour and very ugly.

Gwyneth Paltrow rubbishes rumours of marriage trouble

LONDON - Oscar winning actress Gwyneth Paltrow dismissed rumours that her marriage to Coldplay lead singer Chris Martin is in trouble.

I could have continued for at least a year: Ganguly

KOLKATA - Nearly four months after announcing his retirement from international cricket, former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly Monday said he could have continued in both forms of the game for at least one more year.

Brown and Kinnear charged over touchline spat

LONDON - The Football Association (FA) charged Newcastle United manager Joe Kinnear and Hull boss Phil Brown with improper conduct following their contretemps during last week’s FA Cup third-round replay.

Tinsel Town to invade staid Washington on Obama inauguration

LOS ANGELES - Ever since Republican presidential candidate John McCain used a sarcastic video to mock Barack Obama as the world’s biggest celebrity, the US president-elect has scrupulously kept a respectable distance from his closest Hollywood supporters.

No sequel to ‘The Dark Knight’?

LONDON - Charles Roven, the producer of box office smash ‘The Dark Knight’, has revealed that he is uncertain about plans for a sequel to the film.

Lewis wants to team up with Coldplay

LONDON - British singer Leona Lewis wants to work with the band Coldplay on her next album to make it sound rockier.