Dolphins Maintain Round-the-clock Visual Vigilance

Dolphins have a clever trick for overcoming sleep deprivation. Sam Ridgway from the US Navy Marine Mammal Program explains that they are able to send half of their brains to sleep while the other half remains conscious. What is more, the mammals seem to be able to remain continually vigilant for sounds for days on end. All of this made Ridgway and his colleagues from San Diego and Tel Aviv wonder whether the dolphins' unrelenting auditory vigilance tired them and took a toll on the animals' other senses?

Dolphins Get A Lift From Delta Wing Technology

We can only marvel at the way that dolphins, whales and porpoises scythe through water. Their finlike flippers seem perfectly adapted for maximum aquatic agility. However, no one had ever analysed how the animals' flippers interact with water; the hydrodynamic lift that they generate, the drag that they experience or their hydrodynamic efficiency. Laurens Howle and Paul Weber from Duke University teamed up with Mark Murray from the United States Naval Academy and Frank Fish from West Chester University, to find out more about the hydrodynamics of whale and dolphin flippers.

Alhaj Muhammad Owais Raza Qadri Biography

Alhaj Muhammad Owais Raza Qadri is the crownless king of Sana Khawans around the world and undoubtedly the most heartily loved, popular and legend of Sana Khawans, known for his melodious voice and unique style of expressing his great love and respect with the Holy Prophet, Hazrat Muhammad .
There are millions of Owais Raza Qadri's fans worldwide who deeply admire and inspired with him. They longed to know about the personal details which are still undiscovered and how he spent his daily life, so some information was collected about his daily routine. This is the first edition of his biography. Further information will continue to be added day by day, Insha-Allah-o-Rabb-ul Aalameen.
Alhaj Muhammad Owais Raza Qadri was born on 8th. July 1970 in Pakistan. He is Intermediate in academic qualifications. He has performed several Hajj and Umras, the first Umra being in 1992 while the first Hajj in 1996. Apart from Holy Places, Pakistan is Owais Qadri's favourite country. Among clothes, he likes Shalwar Qameez the best. Owais Qadri's closest friend is Mohammad Shoaib Qadri. According to him, the memorable moment of his life has not arrived. His favourite personality is Alahazrat, Mujaddid-e-Din-o-Millat Imam Shah Ahmed Raza Khan Barelvi. His favourite dish is Bar B.Q. and favourite colors are black and white.
He rests after 8 o'clock in the morning. Each night two or three Mehfil-e-Naats were used to be attended but now onwards, there will be just one each night. He is currently working on an new album.
There are numerous wishes which have not yet been fulfilled but are confidential. Bulbul-e-Madinah plans to open a Naat Academy very soon, Insha-Allah-o-Rabb-ul Aalameen.
Alhaj Muhammad Owais Raza Qadri was married in 1994 and has four children: two daughters and two sons named Mohammad Anees Raza and Mohammad Afeef Raza.
He started reciting naats at the age of 8 only. He was inspired by AlHaaj Yousuf Ashrafi (late) who was his ideal Naat Khawan also. He did not take special naat classes but acquired the companionship of good, pious "Ushaqaan-e-Rasool". All naats are his favorites. Reciting the Kalaam of Imam-e-Ahle-Sunnat, Ala-Hazrat Shah Ahmed Raza Khan Barelvi is liked by Owais Raza Qadri. His first album was released in 1983 and after that numerous albums have been released.
He has traveled to many countries of the world spreading the message of Islam and love for the Holy Prophet including England, Dubai, Iraq, Iran, India, Hijaz-e-Muqaddas South Africa, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Malawi, Kenya, Syria etc.
There are no formalities for the bookings of Mehfil-e-Naat, however, privilege is given to areas where something could be done to promote Islam.
Regarding his future plans, Owais Qadri states that he will continue reciting naats and work for getting people back to the path of Sala'at-o-Sunnat. Muhammad Owais Raza Qadri advises new naat khawans that Naat Khawani is Ibaadat and before reciting any naat essential knowledge should be collected about it and special care should be taken to ensure that it is not objectionable by Islamic Shariah. It is best to check all naats with a learned scholar. Furthermore, they should restrain from such acts which can be criticized by others. They should be true and practical Muslims, i.e. not that talking about love for the Holy Prophet and murdering the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet by shaving off the beard and not showing regularity in daily prayers.
Addressing the young generation, Muhammad Owais Raza Qadri remarks that undoubtedly success lies within the fact that we must walk on the path guided to us by Allah Rabb-ul Aalameen and the Holy Prophet , leave the way of strangers and always believe in death. Acquire adequate knowledge of Islam and recite at least one Ruku of the Holy Quran (Kanzul Eemaan) with translation.

National Express Failure Fuels Crisis Fears

The collapse of Britain's most expensive rail franchise has triggered fears of major setbacks to transport expansion and upgrade plans.

series of rail projects may be put on hold or scrapped as a result of National Express handing its £1.4bn London-to-Scotland rail franchise back to the Government.

The firm's refusal to continue funding the loss-making East Coast Main Line beyond the next few months was described by Transport Secretary Lord Adonis as "regrettable and disappointing".

It is also a huge blow to the Department for Transport's finances, with the DfT expected to have to accept a far lower offer for the franchise when it is put out to tender.

Lord Adonis said operations would be taken over by the publicly-owned East Coast Main Line Company with "no disruption of services" but admitted that reduced income could force the Government to revise other plans.

There is doubt over whether the Government will be able to press ahead with plans to expand capacity on Thameslink and replace ageing intercity trains.

n addition, the electrification of the Great Western Main Line and Midland Mail Line may be put on hold.

But the Government has insisted its £16bn Crossrail project linking Heathrow Airport to Canary Wharf and Essex remains on track.

The doubts come as a leaked document revealed a potential £29bn transport budget shortfall.

The transport industry memo, seen by the Guardian newspaper, warned of "looming spending cuts" on road and rail plans which could lead to schemes being delayed, downsized or scrapped.

Lord Adonis said the Government planned to tender for a new East Coast franchise operator "from the end of 2010".

He also warned there might be grounds to terminate the two other National Express rail franchises - East Anglia and the London to Tilbury and Southend operation c2c

Tarin says will negotiate with IMF over power tariff

ISLAMABAD: Finance Advisor Shaukat Tarin said Pakistan will negotiate with IMF, World Bank and other organizations about increased power tariff.

Talking to Geo News here, Tarin said the country is facing shortfall of 3,000 to 4,000 MW. The government is aware of the miseries of people created by load-shedding. Efforts are underway to overcome the crisis. He said an effective policy would be chalked out for dues of oil companies and elimination of circular debts.

16-hour long load shedding in Lahore enrages people

LAHORE: The duration of unannounced load shedding has touched to 16-hours in some parts of Lahore, forcing people to remain outside their homes under open air all night long.

The most affected areas were Wapda Town, Behrin Town, Green Town, Town Ship, Kot Lakhpat, Kahna, Faisal Town, Model Town, Allama Iqbal Town and many more other areas.

The last night rainfall also multiplied peoples’ miseries as it had left atmosphere hot and close all night long so people had to pass their night outside homes under open atmosphere.

Power outages have also led to water shortages in many areas while people demanded government overpowering power crisis so that people may receive a sigh of relief, sources said.

3 militants, 3 volunteers killed in Upper Dir clash

SWAT: Three militants and three volunteers of national lashkar were killed during between militants and national lashkar in Upper Dir.

According to sources, clash happened between national lashkar and militants in Dogdaga area of Upper Dir. Three militants and three volunteers of national lashkar including district ameer Naeemullah were killed and four injured in the trade of fire.

National lashkar set ablaze three houses of militants including the house of Naeemullah. On the other hand, unknown gunmen shot dead two persons in tehsil Kabal of Swat.

According to Swat media center, curfew will be relaxed till 6 pm in Khawazkhela, Madeen, Dareeshkhela and Bedra. Curfew relaxation also announced in district Shangla till 6 pm whereas in district Lower Dir, curfew has been eased till 8:00 pm in tehsil Maidan and Adeenzai.