Lithuanian teenager Ruta Meilutyte takes shock 100m breaststroke gold in London 2012 Olympics

Lithuanian schoolgirl has become the first swimmer to win a medal for her country after producing the race of her life to take the 100 metre breaststroke title.

Ruta Meilutyte was left completely speechless after winning gold in the 100-meter backstroke. 

London: The 15 year-old, who is coached by Jon Rudd at Plymouth Leander and studies at Plymouth College which is the same school as diver Tom Daley, finished in a time of 1 min, 5.47 secs to clinch Olympic gold.

Her performance was even more impressive considering that the start, a time when swimmers are already battling their nerves, was delayed by a technical malfunction that saw the starter's gun go off before he had called "on your marks".

American Breeja Larson dived into the pool on the gun but was able to race because of the malfunction.

The eight finalists sat down while the problem was fixed and an unfazed Meilutyte still got off the blocks fastest, and led at the turn, but then had to survive a fierce challenge from American Rebecca Soni, the reigning world champion in the event.

The more experienced Soni drew level in the final few strokes but Meilutyte kept her cool and got her hands on the wall first.

Emilie Heymans, Jennifer Abel win Canada's first Olympic medal at the Olympic Games in London

Jennifer Abel (left) and Emilie Heymans celebrate their bronze medal win in 3-metre synchronized diving at the 2012 London Summer Olympic Games in London, England, July 29, 2012. 

LONDON - Emilie Heymans stopped and all but panicked for a moment. She didn't know what to do with her arms. She had done these dives all her life, all year long, and here she was at her fourth Olympic Games, and this woman of nerve was melting down.

"I don't remember what I have to do with my arms when we walk," she said to her diving partner, Jennifer Abel.

And Abel took a deep breath and knew precisely what she needed to do."I said, well, it's back, front, back..."

A simple instruction, really. But not when your mind is going blank. A simple instruction that led to a podium finish.

"And then we did our second dive and it wasn't that good. After that, it was just, look, just try it and calm down ... We know what to do."

It's what partners do at a moment of sporting crisis. They get each other back together, back in synchronization. It's what Heymans has done for four Olympic Games at the times that mattered most. She got her act together. They got their act together. And Canada has its first medal of the 2012 Olympics because the kid, 20-year-old Abel of Montreal, knew what the old lady of the diving board, Heymans, 30, of Brossard, Que. needed at that exact moment in time at the Olympic Aquatics Centre.

"She knows that I know her and she knows that she knows what to tell me to not make me feel nervous and I know what to tell her to make her calm...I calm her down."

They calm each other down.

"We like the same things, hate the same things," said Abel.

And they loved raising their arms together, with big wide, smiles, these unlikely friends -- Heymans looking relieved and celebratory, which has never been her way -- with the first Canadian medal of the Games. They each get one.

And Canada now has one to call its own.

Now one of them makes history while other just begins her career. Before these Olympics began, Heymans was an athlete of a lifetime. The pragmatic Olympian. She shows up and wins something. Now she's taken a greater step -- alongside Marnie McBean and Kathleen Heddle -- as the most decorated Canadian women in Summer Olympic history. Four Olympic Games, four medals won for Heymans. No female diver has ever done that before. No Canadian athlete has gone to four Olympics and come back with a medal each time.

Three of them with three different synchronized partners. Like McBean, who needed Heddle in rowing, Heymans has needed Abel, and before her, Blythe Hartley and Anne Montminy in her synchronization. The more public Alexandre Despatie has gotten more publicity from the diving world: Heymans has the been the best in-the-moment Olympian the country has had in years at the Summer Games.

"It's the story of our team," said chef de mission, Mark Tewksbury, grinning like a proud papa after the third-place finish. He was so excited he tripped over himself ever so slightly. He was right in saying that Heymans was in her fourth Games, owning her fourth medal. But he did say Abel was in her first Games, and this was her first medal.

It was her first medal. But in her second Olympics.

"It's awesome," said Yihua Li, Heymans' coach. She coaches Heymans. Cesar Henderson coaches Abel. Twice a week, they take a break from their individuals athletes and their individual clubs in two sides of Montreal and come together for synchro practice. At first, Abel and Heymans didn't seem to fit. They had different rhythms, different styles. Heymans is a power diver. Abel is more a finesse diver. Heymans is larger, Abel more petite. "But these girls are very competitive. With each other and against each other.

"I'm so proud of Emilie. She works so hard. She always wants better. If she gets bronze, she wants a silver. If she gets silver, she wants a gold. I'm so happy, so relieved.

"With her, maybe the whole year in competition she screws up, but the one time you need here, when you really need her, she comes through."

There was no gold medal available Sunday except to the Chinese. They are in their own world in this sport. The silver and bronze came down to the Americans, Canadians and Italians. And after a bad second dive that sent Canada to fifth overall, Abel and Heymans moved up to fourth, then third with their fourth dive. They had a shot at silver with their final dive. But they had to match their excellent fourth dive and couldn't do so. Like Yogi Berra, Heymans said: "it's never over until the last dive."

"I'm really happy," said Abel, with flags being waved around her and members of Canada's Olympic team hugging in the background. "I don't feel (happy) but I know that I am," she said.

WOMEN'S 3-METRE SYNCHRONIZED DIVING

Gold: China - Wu Minxia and He Zi

Silver: USA - Kelci Bryant and Abby Johnson

Bronze: Canada - Emilie Heyman and Jennifer Abel

I don't like the word Bollywood: Amitabh Bachchan

"One is normally used to seeing this on television. But to be a part of it was a huge surprise," says Amitabh Bachchan about carrying the torch at the London Olympics this year. The actor talks to us about how he was surprised when he was approached for this, and how he has been closely following India's prospects. Amitabh also talks about how he would love to play a historical character at this juncture of his career...

What did carrying the torch mean to you?
The Olympics is the ultimate sporting event. And to be asked to be a part of it is a huge honour. I don't know why I was chosen. It feels wonderful that Great Britain, the hosts of the Olympics, has chosen people from different communities, different parts of the world. It shows the spirit of the Olympics, where it preaches the coming together of caste, creed, religion, colour, nations to compete in a friendly atmosphere. And just to be a part of it is a moment of great pride.

Were you surprised when they contacted you?
Yes. One is normally used to seeing this on television. But to be a part of it was a huge surprise.

Have you been following India's prospects?
Yes. We have the largest contingent ever so far in any Olympics. And one wishes them the very best. There are many routines where there were no representatives ever. Initially, India came just as a hockey team and that was it. But now they are in track and field, boxing, wrestling, archery and shooting. These are all routines which were never heard of or at least never heard of as being associated with India. But they all hopefuls.

Today, you are not merely a filmstar, but a legendary Indian. Do the issues that confront India make you think about the way India is progressing?
We are just normal human beings. And just because we happen to be in a profession where you are loaded with the title of a celebrity doesn't mean we are acquainted or equipped or knowledgeable enough to be able to answer some of these questions. But somehow it is just because you are a celebrity it is assumed you will have this great solutions to some of the greatest problems the country is facing. I would just say I am an aware citizen of my country. Yes, what develops in the country affects all of us and we have our opinions. I just feel that expressing it is not what I would like to do because I am not knowledgeable enough.

Any historical character you might like to play?
I haven't played any historical characters. Yes, that would be one of the important options.

Hindi cinema has grown bigger. Today, it is as big abroad as it is in India. How do you see it get better as the years go by?
I don't like this word ( Bollywood) which describes the Indian film industry. Cinema was almost looked upon as infra dig, parents used to go and vet a film before we were allowed to get inside a theatre. Cinema in general was held as an institution where children from good families were not looked as being associated with. But look at the change that has happened now. I don't know if this is good for the country or not; but it's almost become a part of our culture. There are more people who know about the Indian film industry. So, that bodes well. The West was very cynical about our quality of cinema. We made very escapist fare. But one of the points the West did not recognise was that cinema as a medium of entertainment for the common man. I do see Indian cinema progressing very well; gradually, our talent is being recognised, whether in Great Britainor Hollywood, in festivals in Cannes, London, Venice. So, I think we are on the right path.

Apple buys Samsung's mobile security supplier AuthenTec for $356m

Apple Inc has agreed to buy AuthenTec Inc for $8.00 per share, the maker of fingerprint sensor chips used in personal computers said, in a deal valued at about $356 million.

AuthenTec makes security software and chips for mobile phones that it licenses to companies such as Samsung Electronics Co Ltd. It also produces chips for fingerprint recognition and near-field communication (NFC).

Melbourne, Florida-based Authentec disclosed the deal in a filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission.

Based on Thursday's closing price $5.07, the offer represents a premium of 58 percent for AuthenTec's shares.

AuthenTec, which also counts Lenovo Group Ltd, Fujitsu Ltd and Dell Inc as customers, has annual revenue of about $70 million.

Piper Jaffray advised in the deal, the company said.

London Olympics set to open with magnificent ceremony

LONDON: London presented a vibrant picture of Great Britain's rich heritage and culture as a colourful opening ceremony marked the inauguration of the 30th Olympic Games at the spunky Olympic stadium on Friday night. 

Queen Elizabeth II declared the Games open amidst thunderous cheers from the capacity crowd of 80,000 signalling the launch of the biggest sporting spectacle which returned to Britain after a gap of 64 years, giving the country the distinction of holding the mega event for an unprecedented third time. 

The night sky lit up with dazzling fireworks as the Queen declared the Games open to herald London's moment of glory in the presence of as many as 100 heads of state and a host of other dignitaries who have descended on this historic city to witness the extravaganza, watched by an estimated one billion global audience. 

The 27 million pound three-and-a-half-hour long opening ceremony, which magically transformed the stadium into a rural British idyll, complete with cows, horses, sheep and dogs and synthetic clouds to provide traditional British rain, was designed to give Britons a "picture of ourselves as a nation". 

More than 10,000 performers took part in the opening extravaganza which vividly brought about the country-side scenes -- a cricket pitch, traditional country side cottages, mining wheel and people dressed in the Victorian era. 

Actor Daniel Craig, who has played the fictional spy 007 James Bond in films, was shown in a video accompanying the Queen from Buckingham Palace into a waiting helicopter and then taking her to the Stadium. 

There was also a touch of British humour in the form of Rowan Atkinson who regaled the audience with his famous "Mr Bean" comic act. 

The Ceremony's artistic director Danny Boyle, whose film "Slumdog Millionaire" won eight Oscars, had kept most elements of his show a secret. 

Former England football captain David Beckham brought the Olympic flame on a speedboat on the Thames river before handing it over to five-time Olympic gold medallist rower Sir Steve Redgrave. 

A group of seven athletes nominated by British Olympic champions then took the flame from Redgrave and ran around the stadium before lighting the Games' Couldron made up of 204 copper petals carried in by teams from across the world. 

The competitive action will unfold tomorrow as around 10,500 athletes from 204 countries affiliated to the International Olympic Committee will battle for glory and honour in the next 17 days with powerhouses USA and China expected to retain their supremacy. 

The 17-day sporting spectacle will see competitions in 39 disciplines with the new addition of women's boxing this time around. 

The 204 participating teams walked into the stadium amidst loud cheers from the spectators many of whom had thronged the stadium well ahead of the scheduled start. 

The largest-ever Indian contingent, hoping to make a significant impact at the Olympic level after their path-breaking show in the Beijing Games, got a rousing welcome as they walked into the stadium with the men attired in blue blazers and women wearing yellow saris. 

Beijing bronze-winning wrestler Sushil Kumar led the contingent holding the Indian tricolour as the athletes acknowledged the cheers of the crowd and soaked in the electrifying atmosphere at the brand new stadium built at a cost of pounds 486 million for the mega-event. 

Apart from the fireworks and absorbing cultural programmes, the heart-touching entry of many of the strife-torn countries were some of the highlights of the nearly three hour opening ceremony depicting the theme "Isles of Wonder". 

A segment featuring bike stunts was earlier scrapped from the opening ceremony due to fears that an overrunning show would cause bottlenecks on public transport. 

The Ceremony kicked off with the largest harmonically tuned bell in Europe, produced by the Whitechapel Foundry, being rung by Britain's Tour de France champion Bradley Wiggins and the Stadium was transformed into the British countryside for opening scene 'Green and Pleasant', which included real farmyard animals. 

It was then the segment 'Pendemonium' which celebrated Britain's role as the birthplace of the Industrial revolution -- the workshop of the world. 

The Ceremony also included a special sequence celebrating the best of British, featuring volunteer performers from the NHS. 

Danny Boyle, Artistic Director of the London 2012 Olympic Opening Ceremony, said, "Our Isles of Wonder salutes and celebrates the exuberant creativity of the British genius in an Opening Ceremony that we hope will be as unpredictable and inventive as the British people." 

The formalities started with Queen Elizabeth, accompanied by her husband the Duke of Edinburgh, being received at the entrance of the Olympic Stadium by the President of the IOC, Jacques Rogge. 

The Union Flag was carried into the stadium and raided by representatives of the Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force. 

Another segment of the programme 'Second to the right and straight on till morning' honoured two of Britain's greatest achievements -- its amazing body of children's literature and its National Health Service. 

It was then time for 'Abide with me', a favourite hymn of Mahatma Gandhi, which was choreographed by Bangladeshi-origin Akram Khan, who has successfully combined classical European and Indian classical forms of dance in his work. 

After the dignitaries took their seats, the procession of the participating teams in the Stadium began with Greece entering the arena first as per Olympic convention while the host nation Great Britain coming in last amidst rousing cheers from the vociferous home crowd. 

After all the nations had arrived into the Stadium, LOCOG Chairman Sir Sebastien Coe gave a brief speech, followed by Rogge who, in turn, invited the Queen to officially declare the Games open. 

"I declare open the Games of London, celebrating the 30th Olympiad of the modern era," the Queen said. 

Once the Games were declared open, the Olympic Flag was then carried into the Stadium and hoisted into the air as the respective Anthem was played. The Olympic Charter states that each flag must fly for the entire duration of the Games - placed in a prominent position in the main Stadium. 

Sarah Stevenson, Taekwondo silver medallist at Beijing 2008, read the Olympic oath on behalf of athletes holding a corner of the IOC flag in their left hand and raising their right, vowing to compete according to the rules of their respective sport. 

Mik Basi, a boxing referee born at Newham, read the judges' oath followed by Eric Farrell, MBE, who reads the coaches' oath. 

The big finale was the entrance of the Olympic Flame into the Stadium. It was passed through the athletes to the final Torchbearer.... who ceremoniously lit the Cauldron, indicating the beginning of the Games. The Flame will continue to burn for the whole of the Games. 

Breath-taking fireworks then lit up the London sky with Beatles' Paul McCartney belting a number as the ceremony came to a dazzling end, setting the stage for the competitions to begin in earnest from Saturday.