The main pack was split into two groups when riders went down with less than two kilometres to go in the 130-kilometre leg and only about 10-15 riders were left in front to contest the sprint.

Cavendish, who rides for the Omega Pharma-Quick Step team, finished in two hours 58 minutes 38 seconds on the circuit in downtown Naples, which featured a long, flat finishing straight.

Defending champion Ryder Hesjedal of Victoria finished safely in the main pack in the 63rd spot, along with other overall favourites Bradley Wiggins and Vicenzo Nibali.

Cavendish has now won a combined 37 stages at the Giro, Tour and Vuelta cycling's three Grand Tours.

Elia Viviani, an Italian with Cannondale, crossed second, and Nacer Bouhanni, a Frenchman with FDJ, was third.

It was the 11th Giro stage win of Cavendish's career and his 98th victory overall. He'll wear the overall leader's pink jersey in Sunday's second stage, a team time trial on the nearby island of Ischia.

It will mark the fourth time Cavendish wears the pink jersey. He wore it for two days in 2009 when his former team Columbia won the opening team time trial and for one day in 2011 after a stage win.

"I've worn it before at the start but that was thanks to my team," Cavendish said. "I really wanted to win this here in Napoli. ... Now I want to go for a pizza."

The course featured two mild climbs in the Posillipo neighbourhood and several loops down the finishing straight alongside the bay.

On a warm spring day, fans came out en masse to watch the race. Some even brought their dogs, one of which nearly tripped up some riders on a sharp corner after slipping under a barrier lining the road.

With the roads narrow in areas and stretches of cobblestones, there were several crashes. Among those who hit the asphalt were Laurent Pichon of France, Matteo Rabottini of Italy and Miguel Minguez Ayala of Spain.

There were a couple of groups of early breakaway riders and the last man caught by the main pack was Cameron Wurf, an Australian with Cannondale, with about 20 kilometres to go.

Cavendish's Omega team led the chase.

Sunday's team time trial from Ischia to Forio lasts 17.4 kilometres.

The race ends May 26 in Brescia.

(Reuters) - Business software maker BMC Software Inc, whose anemic growth has been a source of frustration for its largest shareholder, said it would be taken private by a group led by Bain Capital and Golden Gate Capital for about $6.9 billion.

Elliott Management, which owns 9.6 percent of BMC and had been pushing for a sale for more than a year, had argued that BMC's management was neglecting the huge opportunity to expand into the fast-growing cloud computing market.

"Going private will be very positive for them because it will enable them to make the changes that were necessary, that were much difficult when you are a public company," Lazard Capital Markets analyst Joel Fishbein said.

BMC has some catching up to do in a market now dominated by Salesforce.com Inc and where Oracle Corp, SAP AG and Microsoft Corp are investing heavily.

BMC's revenue is expected to have grown just 3 percent in the year ended March 31 to $2.23 billion, after growth of just 5 percent the previous year. BMC reports fourth-quarter results on Tuesday.

The deal represents this year's largest "pure" leveraged buyout so far.

Michael Dell has teamed up with private equity firm Silver Lake to take Dell Inc private for $24.4 billion, yet that buyout firm accounts for only a quarter of the equity in the deal. Earlier this year, Warren Buffett agreed to buy ketchup maker Heinz for $23 billion with private equity firm 3G Capital being a minority investor.

In BMC, private equity saw a company with stable cash flows and a lot of potential to leverage. The company has net debt of just $151 million, according to Thomson Reuters data.

Elliott, Paul Singer's activist hedge fund, succeeded in adding two directors to BMC's board last year after a proxy battle.

The hedge fund firm, founded by the billionaire Singer in 1977, had also criticized BMC's "ineffective" merger and acquisition strategy, arguing the company took too long to make acquisitions and paid too much.

The offer price of $46.25 per share represents a premium of less than 2 percent to BMC's Friday close of $45.42.

Elliott will make about a 20 percent return on its initial investments in BMC. It first bought shares of the company in early 2012 in the high $30s, and started agitating for a sale of the company in May of that year.

The stock has risen 4.5 percent since March 21, when Reuters reported that private equity groups were looking to buy the company.

BMC shares were trading at $45.50, up 8 cents, by midday on the Nasdaq.

STREAMLINING

BMC has two main divisions. The enterprise services management business manages networks, databases and storage and brings in nearly two-thirds of total revenue, but has stagnated over the years.

The mainframe services management unit, which helps automate data center operations, has grown slowly but is a cash cow that could help the new owners maximize profits.

The private equity group also includes GIC Special Investments Pte Ltd, part of Singapore's sovereign wealth fund, and Insight Venture Partners, a New York investment firm that focuses on software and internet businesses.

"I think they will streamline the business, focus on the higher growth areas, either divest or spin off some of the unproductive businesses," Fishbein said, adding that he expects it will take 12-18 months to "right-size" the business.

Under the sale agreement, Houston-based BMC has a "go-shop" provision that allows it to seek alternative proposals within 30 days. Analysts said it was unlikely BMC would get better offers.

BMC, which also competes with CA Inc and Compuware Corp, said the deal is expected to close later this year. Credit Suisse, RBC Capital Markets and Barclays have agreed to provide debt financing for the deal.

Morgan Stanley & Co LLC and BofA Merrill Lynch were financial advisers to BMC, while Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz was legal counsel.

Qatalyst Partners, Credit Suisse, RBC Capital Markets and Barclays served as financial advisers to the buyers, while Kirkland & Ellis LLP acted as legal counsel.

Sidley Austin LLP was legal adviser to GIC and Willkie Farr & Gallager LLP was legal adviser for Insight Venture Partners. Moelis & Co advised Elliott Management.

(This version of the story corrects paragraph 23 to show Moelis advised Elliott, not BMC.)

(Additional reporting by Supantha Mukherjee and Aditya Kondalamahanty in Bangalore, Nicola Leske, Nadia Damouni and Greg Roumeliotis in New York; Editing by Saumyadeb Chakrabarty and Marguerita Choy)

Producers of the upcoming Broadway revivals of Harold Pinter's "No Man's Land" and Samuel Beckett's "Waiting for Godot" said Monday that Crudup and Hensley will join their illustrious colleagues at the Cort Theatre.

Crudup, last on Broadway in "Arcadia," won a Tony for "The Coast of Utopia," while Hensley, who played The Monster in "Young Frankenstein," won a Tony for "Oklahoma!"

Both works by Pinter and Beckett will play in repertoire under the direction of Sean Mathias. Previews begin Oct. 26.

Prior to Broadway, "No Man's Land" will play a brief engagement at Berkeley Rep from Aug. 3-31, with McKellen, Stewart, Crudup and Hensley all aboard.

Russell, 24, has been staying at her parents' home in Rhode Island since her husband's death, and the focus on her "is part of the wider effort by the FBI to determine who else may have played a role aiding the bombers," .

The authorities are looking at a range of possibilities, two senior law enforcement officials said, including that she could have — wittingly or unwittingly — destroyed evidence, helped the bombers evade capture, or even played a role in planning the attacks.... While the authorities do not believe the bombers were tied to a larger terrorist network or had accomplices, they remain skeptical that others did not know of their plans or did not help them destroy evidence. []

Oh boy, , "I sure hope there's more to this than the Journal is letting on, because if the odds of a completely innocent explanation are as high as they imply, it's a major cloud of suspicion over Tamerlan Tsarnaev's wife for no reason at all." Even if Russell's DNA is found on the bomb fragments, why would that even be surprising? he asks.

Not every component in the device had a nefarious explanation. There's a chance, I suppose, that one of the pressure cookers came from the family's own kitchen. Tamerlan, who was famously domineering according to people who knew him, also might have told his wife to go out and buy one of the components he needed without explaining what it was for. Unless her DNA's on the explosive itself, how would the feds ever prove that it didn't end up there innocently? []

"Given the level of sophistication of this device, the fact that the pressure cooker is a signature device that goes back to Pakistan, Afghanistan," House Homeland Security Committee Chairman , it seems likely "that there was a trainer, and the question is where is that trainer or trainers."

That's pretty weak tea, . Pressure-cooker bombs are popular in Pakistan "in part because they are cheap and easy to make," and because there are instructions on how to make them online. Politicians have their own reasons for talking up outside help or downplaying the possibility, says Peters, but it's "likely that none of them know for sure what happened."

It's certainly possible that the Tsarnaevs had help. It's just as possible they didn't. We just don't know yet, and the reason we don't know is because the FBI's investigation is barely a week old. So rather than going on TV and declaring, as McCaul did, that "the experts," whoever they are, "all agree that there is someone who did train these two individuals," every politician needs to take a deep breath and let the FBI do its job. []

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Should I deny myself as an individual and be pulled along, or is it better to stay quiet and just be who everyone expects you to be? -- INDEPENDENT THINKER IN FLORIDA

DEAR INDEPENDENT THINKER: Independent thinkers are the people who have contributed the most to society. Our most important scientific discoveries were conceived by individuals who chose not to accept conventional thinking. The same is true for religion -- Jesus was an independent thinker.

I'm not sure what kind of conversation you feel the adults in your life are trying to discourage. But people who are deeply committed to their religious faith can feel offended or threatened if their beliefs are challenged. Even though you are an independent thinker, you should be respectful of the beliefs of others.

DEAR ABBY: Around the time of my sister's wedding, she and her fiance, "Greg," tried to get me and their best man, "Bruce," together. They brought him along when they would visit and encouraged us to date. Not long after the wedding we did start dating.

Bruce is a great guy and I enjoy being with him. My problem is, he's my brother-in-law's nephew even though they are close in age. (Bruce's mom is Greg's half sister.)

Am I dating a family member? Are we committing incest? Should we end this relationship? I don't know what is "right." -- WEIRDED OUT IN WISCONSIN

DEAR WEIRDED OUT: Bruce is not a blood relative; he is related to you by marriage. That is not the same as incest. If you care about each other, the right thing to do is continue the relationship and see where it leads. "Great guys" can make great husbands.

DEAR ABBY: My husband fathered a child in high school that was placed for adoption. His mother has become very close with the adoptive family and visits often. My husband does not. However, my mother-in-law constantly asks him to go on vacation with her to visit the child. I also found out that she sends the child gifts and signs my husband's name on the cards.

Abby, I feel this is hugely disrespectful not only to me, but also to my husband. He has chosen not to get involved with this child because he doesn't think it's fair to the adoptive family. He also doesn't wish to become attached. We have already told her she is overstepping her boundaries, but it continues to happen. What can we do? -- FRUSTRATED IN THE SOUTH

DEAR FRUSTRATED: Your mother-in-law may have the best of intentions, but forging your husband's name is dishonest. Sooner or later the child will find out the truth, and the result may be painful. However, there is nothing you can do to control your husband's mother's behavior, so accept it and don't take it personally.

Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Write Dear Abby ator P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.

For everything you need to know about wedding planning, order "How to Have a Lovely Wedding." Send your name and mailing address, plus check or money order for $7 (U.S. funds) to: Dear Abby, Wedding Booklet, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447. (Shipping and handling are included in the price.)

HarperCollins said the book, "Waiting to be Heard," will be published in the United States as planned on April 30. Knox will also do an interview with ABC's Diane Sawyer that is due to air the same day.

"The publication is going along as scheduled. She is going ahead with all of the events," said a spokesman for HarperCollins.

Italy's highest court ordered a new trial in the death of roommate Meredith Kercher on Tuesday after overturning the 2011 acquittal by an appeal court of Knox and Raffaele Sollecito, who had served four years in prison.

The murder occurred while Knox, her boyfriend and Kercher were students at the University of Perugia in Italy.

Knox said in a statement after the court decision that it was painful to receive the news and that she would continue her legal battle, confident in the truth.

In the book Knox is expected to describe the events leading up to her arrest, her trial and her years behind bars.

(Reporting by Patricia Reaney; editing by Cynthia Osterman)

EDF Energy's 1,630-megawatt Hinkley Point C nuclear reactor was initially expected to commence electricity production in 2018, but regulatory delays following Japan's Fukushima accident have put back the start-up.

The French company has not given a new date for the plant's start of operations, but government data forecasting installed power capacity showed the energy ministry is counting on 2020 as the new date.

The data, published as part of a request under Environmental Information Regulations, showed the government expects Britain's nuclear capacity to jump to 11.3 gigawatts (GW) in 2020 from 9.6 GW in 2019. It stands at 10.1 GW this year but a plant closure is expected to reduce that figure in 2014.

"The estimates are based on conversations we've had with EDF," said a spokesman for the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC).

EDF has yet to make its final investment decision for the huge nuclear project and is locked into secretive discussions with the government about a minimum electricity price the French firm will receive for power generated at Hinkley Point C.

Britain is counting on a new wave of nuclear power plant construction to help it meet legally-binding targets to cut greenhouse gas emissions.

When the nuclear new build programme was first announced before the Fukushima accident, station developers came forward with plans to build 16 GW of new capacity by 2025.

The government figures show that it now expects only 3.3 GW of new nuclear capacity to come online by then.

The government figures also showed that it does not expect new gas-fired power generation capacity to rise before 2024, despite planning to reform the electricity market in a way that will encourage gas plants to be built for back-up capacity.

DECC forecasts gas-fired power capacity to drop to 25.9 GW by 2022, from 32.9 GW this year, before recovering to 28.3 GW in 2024.

At the same time, renewable energy capacity is predicted to increase more than three-fold to 51 GW by 2030, in line with the government's plan to encourage reduce carbon emissions from the power production sector.

(Reporting by Karolin Schaps; editing by Keiron Henderson)

Conde Lansine, a doctor in the eastern city of Siguiri, said Tuesday it is feared that far more people are dying in remote villages and are not included in that toll.

Siguiri, near the country's border with Mali, has been the hardest-hit community, and Lansine said it was believed that hundreds may have died since January.

Eastern Guinea is hit annually with meningitis cases, though doctors say this year has been much deadlier.

Meningitis is an infection of the lining that surrounds the brain and spinal cord.

Even when the disease is caught early and treatment is started, up to 10 percent of patients die within two days.

Britain is currently one of a group of countries blocking attempts to introduce a Europe-wide ban on the world's most widely used insecticides, neonicotinoids, arguing their impact on bees is unclear.

A vote takes place in Brussels on April 29 on whether to ban the poisons on flowering crops.

"If there's any chance that they're killing the bees as a precautionary measure they need to be banned," Hamnett, who has campaigned against pesticides for decades, told Reuters TV.

"The British government is committing political suicide I think by not supporting this ban."

Britain, Germany and three other countries abstained from a vote earlier this year.

Hamnett questioned whether this was because two major pesticide companies, Germany's Bayer and Swiss company Syngenta, which has operations in Britain, are lobbying against the ban, saying the impact of pesticides on bees is unproven.

"Are they in bed with Syngenta or Bayer or are they just stupid?" said Hamnett.

The companies have proposed a plan which includes planting more flowering margins around fields to provide bee habitats, monitoring to detect the neonicotinoid pesticides blamed for the decline, and research into the impact of parasites and viruses.

The fashion duo then handed in a petition to Prime Minister David Cameron's Downing Street office, urging the government to put environmental concerns ahead of pressure from the agribusiness lobby.

"Why is government supporting big business because it doesn't help people at all? What is good for the planet is good for the economy," said Westwood.

Bees are currently suffering a sharp decline and colony collapse due to a variety of reasons.

Campaigners argue that bees are crucial for the planet as they perform a vital role in pollinating crops and their disappearance will have catastrophic effects on the world.

They want pre-emptive action taken on banning pesticides while more research is carried out to fully assess how seriously pesticides affect bees.

"This could become a really serious problem. There are parts of China where they have to pollinate fruit trees by hand because they have wiped out their insects through overuse of chemicals," said Quentin Gibon who joined the protest wearing a bee costume.

Earlier this year EU governments failed to agree a ban on three widely used pesticides linked to the decline of honeybees, but the European Commission is threatening to force such a ban through unless member states agree a compromise next week.

(Reporting by Georgina Cooper of Reuters Television, Editing by Belinda Goldsmith)

Azarenka withdrew from her opening match because of an ankle injury she suffered playing at Indian Wells last week.

"I'm very disappointed ... But I have to take my health into consideration," said Azarenka, who won the Australian Open in January but has struggled with injuries since.

"I tried everything I could but couldn't make it. It's an unfortunate part of our job."

Azarenka's withdrawal proved an unexpected bonus for American teenager Lauren Davis, who failed to qualify for the tournament.

She was given a 'lucky loser' pass into the event when Azarenka pulled out then saved three match points in defeating Madison Keys 6-1 5-7 7-6.

"I just hoped and I wished and I prayed that I would get in," said Davis. "I was just so happy. I didn't care if I won or lost. I just was so grateful for the opportunity to play."

Former U.S. Open champion Del Potro last week, suffered a surprise 7-6 6-1 loss to Germany's Tobias Kamke.

The towering Argentine had two set points in the opening set but lost his way just a week after making the men's final at Indian Wells.

"He didn't play obviously his best tennis," said Kamke. "But still I think I did a good job and pretty satisfied with that."

There were no other major casualties amongst the top seeds, with Djokovic and Sharapova both winning in straight sets.

Sharapova romped to a 6-2 6-0 win over Canada's Eugenie Bouchard while Djokovic, playing in the late night match, cruised to a 6-1 6-0 victory over Lukas Rosol.

Only Spain's David Ferrer, the men's third seed, had an easier time. He won in a walkover when Dmitry Tursunov pulled out.