Australian farmer revolutionizes water-turbine technology

The Sundermann turbine "T3" prototype was tested in Hervey Bay, Queensland.

MELBOURNE — Fred Sundermann, an Australian farmer with a long history in design and innovations, has developed a bi-directionally low-head water turbine designed to maximize operational efficiency in slow water flows.

Turbines have been around for more than a century, but Sundermann Water Power (SWP) Limited (the business backing the technology) claims that the Sundermann Turbine (S-Turbine) is the most efficient in harnessing the power of water.

“The problem today is that all existing lo-tech turbine systems throughout the world are inefficient as such whereby the water that hits the blade flows either passes through or around the blade, thus making them inefficient,” SWP Chairman Mr Ed Gibson said in a video interview.

As detailed on the SWP website, the key to the turbine technology is in its gearbox and blade systems:

The turbine has a unique design in that its efficiency is achieved by the tilting of the power blades during the rotating cycle. The blades rotate half a revolution for each full rotation of the central shaft. This configuration allows each blade to contribute a unidirectional force to the central shaft, for virtually the entire rotational cycle. In this way they can efficiently utilize the kinetic energy of the moving water. The central shaft works the generator via a gearbox to produce emission free renewable energy. Electrical power is generated at a voltage of 690V.

The idea for a micro-hydro turbine system was first conceived by Mr Sundermann 10 years ago in Heyfield, Victoria. Later in 2006, he developed the first working prototype out of bike chains and although the turbine could only produced 1 KW of power, it proved that his design worked (see this video for a quick demo of the turbine in action).

The latest S-Turbine prototype, the T3, measuring 2.44 m high, 2.2 m long and 2 m wide, is made out of iron, recycled plastic and 2pac, a water resistant paint. SWP is currently investigating stainless steel options for future prototypes.

Last year, SWP tested the T3 in Hervey Bay, Queensland, to confirm that it was a fully functional turbine, with no inhibitors to the free rotation of the blades and gears while in operation.

The test was considered a success by the SWP, based on the proven operational functioning of the turbine, and it reaching, at times optimum performance for the fitted generators and consistently 70% of the generators maximum output.

The turbine was able to power three standard hot water system heater (elements) at a rate considered equal to that achievable with mains power in a typical household. It generated up to 6 KW of power with the ability to increase exponentially.

SWP has indicated that “The Sundermann Turbine is suitable for installations where water flow is either: in a single direction, such as rivers or ocean currents, or in tidal areas where the water flow reverses direction approximately every six hours.”

Running 24-hours a day, each turbine delivers up to 100 KW of power and multiple turbines can be combined to form a larger working unit, or ‘bank’ delivering up to 1 MW per bank.

“Scale them up to any size, if we have a big river, we can have them built into a weir shape; if there are big tidal differences, you can build them big. The blades are just doors virtually –- depending on the water floor,” Mr Sundermann said.

But there are some limitations to the turbine technology, namely its reliance on water flow and stable surfaces. “The water has to be 5 km of water speed, and the limitations are that we can’t put it in rivers with soft banks, it needs to have a solid base,” Mr Sundermann explained.

SWP indicated that the turbine is ideal for places with high rainfall such as Brazil, Argentina, Peru, Chile New Guinea and places in South-East Asia.

Portable and cost-effective, the water turbine is a particularly viable energy alternative for remote and isolated communities where infrastructure is not well developed.

“They are a plug-in power as they are dropped into a river stream and immediately start generating power that is free and renewable energy, and it lowers the use of diesel fuels, so we think we have fantastic potential for global application for that,” SWP Director Mr Leigh Benett said in an ABC Rural Report.

The SWP organization is currently going through the process of a Commercialization Australia grant and have reached stage two. Further testing of the turbine will ensure its reliability.

“We have proved it works, but we have to have it tested long term, so we know the bearings are OK and everything is right,” Mr Sundermann said. “We have to walk before we run, and we have to perfect the little ones before we get the big ones going,” Mr Sundermann said.

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The Curse of Child Servitude

A girl not more than ten years of age trying to lift quite a healthy kid up, who I am sure was heavier than her, to a ride. She loses her balance in an effort to do so. This was a scene I got to see at a famous fast food restaurant play area. Yes! That little girl was a servant to a big happy family. The parents sit alone and dine in while the servants babysit the mischievous kids. Babysitting of course includes feeding them, taking full care of them that they don’t get lost and also bearing with all their stubbornness.

Getting help of a servant is not bad at all, it’s just you should at least consider the age of a person before you hire him/her. How can you expect a kid, who herself/himself is not able to carry her/his own burden, to help you in a task you yourself can’t do alone? Think about your own kids for a while; what if they are made to do stuff you expect the little servants to do. You of course dread seeing that.

If women are too insecure of their female servants that they will steal away their husbands, they should be equally uncomfortable with their men sexually harassing these little servants. You cannot deny the fact that this happens a lot. Men should also take care of the fact that the servant they hire should be old enough to carry the burden of the work load they assign them.

Another excuse people give for child labor is that the children’s parents themselves bring the kids to them for this purpose. You cannot just blame them about it. You are equally at fault when you hire them than their parents or maybe more. If you are kind enough to help them, be sensible in doing so. Spend some money on their kids’ education and give them a better future. Getting them enrolled to a not-so-expensive school won’t be a tough job. You just will have to cut down your dine out routines a bit to help them.

People hire these little children not just as their domestic servants but also to their workplaces. One of the main reasons is that you get it cheap. Tea-stalls, workshops or any other place you see the kids working; it’s always the job tougher than they can bear. Worse is when the same little angels are made to do harsher jobs like molding bricks or making glass bangles. We should make an effort to bring a relief to these kids in some way. Even a change in our attitude or just a kind word can make a difference at times.

Just look at the kids who work at your houses or workplaces for a change and think about it; do they really deserve doing what they are? What if it was your kid instead of that poor soul? How do they feel, when they look at all those luxuries you provide your kids with, living at your house? I am sure you will feel bad. If you can’t do any good for them; stop doing bad. If you feel bad for them or their families; hiring them is not a solution. Walk in their shoes for a while and think of better ways to help them. Say no to child labor. It’s a crime, it’s a curse!

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10 Weird Facts About Valentines Day

As dates are closing to February 14, the whole town is painted red. Literally! Well Valentines day is one day that is loved by every happy couple. Heck even single people enjoy it with friends if there is no one special in their life. But like any other hallmark holiday this day too comes with its weird superstitions  and stories.

Here we have ten weird fact about Valentines day. So read on for the things that you did not know about the day of love. And please be careful about the color of flower you give when it comes to roses, the consequences might not be so pretty!

10. Dumping

53% of women in America would dump their boyfriends if they did not get them a present for Valentines day! and then we complain when people are materialistic!

9. History

In medieval times young men and women would write their names and place them in a bowl on February 14. Each would then draw names from the paper of the opposite sex and wear them on their sleeve. Hence the term” to wear your heart on your sleeve”.

8. Myths

It was once believed that if a woman saw a flying robin on Valentine’s day she would end up getting married to a sailor. If a sparrow was the bird she saw she would end up marrying a man that was poor and live a happy life, if she saw a goldfinch then she was to marry a man that was a millionaire. One can only wonder who she would marry if she saw a crow.

7. The Greatest Valentine

Teachers receive the most valentines followed by children, mothers, wives and sweethearts.

6. Spending

The average US Consumer is expected to spend $117 on gifts,meals and entertainment on valentines day.Men spend double as compared to women who spend approximately $76  and men spend $158

5. Profits

Chocolates and candy reaches a sale of $1011 billion on Valentines day  and nearly $1.7 billion worth of flowers are bought each year on valentines day.

4. Single People

For every 120 single men in their twenties there are a 100 single women. So the good ones are out there after all!

3. Kissing

Kissing helps reduce tooth decay because the extra saliva helps clean out your mouth. Also you burn 26 calories in a one minute kiss. Who says it isn’t healthy to smooch!

2. Flowers

15% of the women in America send flowers to themselves on valentines day.198 million red roses were produced for valentines day in 2010.However be careful when giving roses to a feminist they are also known as a symbolic woman zone! And if you want to stay just friends only in that case giving yellow roses is appropriate. In some countries white and yellow roses are used in funerals so be careful!

1. Chocolate

Richard Cadbury introduced the first box of chocolates on Valentines Day in the late 1800′s Physicians of the 1800′s commonly advised their patients to eat chocolate to calm their pining for lost love.

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England need second-highest run chase in Test history for unlikely win over Pak

Azhar Ali scored a dogged 157 to push Pakistan's lead to 323 in the Dubai Test © Associated Press

England at last saw the back of Azhar Ali, but still need to pull off the second-highest run chase in their Test history to avoid a 3-0 whitewash against Pakistan.

Azhar's painstaking career-best 157 spanned six sessions and almost nine hours, before the number three was ninth out in Pakistan's 365 all out on the third evening at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

England were therefore left with more than six and a half sessions to make 324, on a wearing pitch which had already helped spinners Monty Panesar (five for 124) and Graeme Swann share eight wickets.

They made an acceptable start to their mission improbable, openers Alastair Cook and Andrew Strauss reprising the roles played by their great antecedents Jack Hobbs and Herbert Sutcliffe, the last and only other time England made so many to win - against Australia in Melbourne in 1929.

Cook and Strauss achieved a notable first for this series at least, when they surpassed their previous highest opening partnership of 27 on this disappointing tour - reaching 36 for none at the close.

They had a scrape each before stumps, Cook dropped by Taufeeq Umar off Umar Gul at third slip on four and Strauss rightly given not out on 14 - even after DRS - when he got his pad outside the line on impact against Mohammad Hafeez's off-spin.

Azhar's 442-ball vigil had been a triumph of unstinting concentration, shot selection and restraint - taking in a stand of 216 with Younus Khan (127), and containing just 10 fours and one six.

But Pakistan's last seven wickets then fell for only 34 runs in 21 overs, to give world number ones England a glimmer of hope that their batsmen might yet redeem themselves here.

Younus predicted yesterday that the tourists could still have a chance in this match, if their luck held. Equally, having watched Azhar's unflustered tour de force, it seemed they might collectively do worse than take their cue from him.

Azhar was in absolutely no hurry on the way to his second Test hundred and beyond, having previously reached exactly three figures on this same ground against Sri Lanka last year.

He eventually reached the milestone from the 319th ball he faced, with one of the most memorable shots of his long innings - a cut off Panesar for his fifth four.

He might have gone before his third-wicket partner Younus, for 84, but survived when Swann was just unable to hang on to a tough chance at second slip, very low to his left off the bowling of James Anderson.

Instead England's only breakthrough this morning came when Stuart Broad had Younus lbw on the front foot - DRS indicated the ball would have clipped the very top of middle-stump - after a five-hour stay which had helped to shut England out for 82 overs.

Younus was replaced by captain Misbah-ul-Haq, another batsman content to make the most of the ample time available in this well-progressed match.

He and Azhar duly added another 87, until Misbah fell lbw pushing forward to Panesar in late afternoon to kickstart the rush of wickets.

There was no DRS left for Asad Shafiq, sweeping at Panesar to become the 40th lbw victim of this head-scratching series, and Adnan Akmal was soon bowled for a duck by one that turned to beat his defence and hit off-stump.

Swann then scored his first successes, after 32 overs in vain.

Abdur Rehman and Saeed Ajmal were both caught at slip shortly before tea - and then Azhar fell bat-pad to the off-spinner, and Panesar completed the innings with yet another lbw to account for Gul.

Meanwhile, Tim Bresnan arrived in Dubai this afternoon in time to watch the final session here, having undergone fitness tests in Yorkshire on the elbow injury which ruled him out of the Test series.

England hope the seamer will be available for four one-day internationals and three Twenty20s against Pakistan, starting on February 13. (The mirror)

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Pakistan is going to whitewash England: Afridi

KARACHI: Pakistan's former captain and flamboyant all-rounder Shahid Afridi feels the team is capable of handing out a 3-0 whitewash to world number one England given the way it dominated the first two Tests.

Pakistan enjoy an unassailable 2-0 lead over the English. "I think Pakistan will complete a clean sweep in the third Test. They can whitewash England," Afridi told reporters at a function to launch the autobiography of former chief selector Salahuddin Ahmed.

Afridi said Pakistan enjoyed a psychological hold over the English batsmen.

"I see this series as the best opportunity for Pakistan to win the series 3-0. As they keep on winning they are getting hungrier for success and that is always the first sign of a team turning into a top class side," he said.

"Another good thing is that all the players realise their responsibility and are contributing and supporting each other on the field."

The all-rounder, who will join the team for the one-day and Twenty20 matches against England from next week, said Pakistani players have made winning a habit.

"After winning the first two Tests, the morale and confidence in the team is very high," he added.

Afridi, who was captain of the one-day side until last May, said that the way Pakistan are improving, they could soon match the feats of other great teams.

"Pakistan has the potential to be as good as the Australians were at one time," he said.

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India afraid of taking on Pakistan : Zaka Ashraf

The contrasting form of the Pakistan and India sides of late might have left the latter’s management reluctant for a showdown, according to Ashraf. PHOTO: AFP

Dubai: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Zaka Ashraf has said that the national team’s recent resurgence has left arch-rivals India afraid to take them on and is forcing the delays in bilateral resumptions.

The neighbours have not played a Test series since 2007 but there were hopes of a thaw after the sides met in the World Cup semi-final last March. The teams are slated to play each other under the International Cricket Council’s Future Tours Programme this year as well. But India’s hectic schedule has made it difficult to find a slot for the bilateral series, prompting Ashraf to accuse the Indian board of running scared.

“Because of the way our team is performing and the way their team is doing in Australia, maybe India are afraid,” said Ashraf. “For them, losing to Australia isn’t an emotional matter. But there are more emotions attached if they lose to Pakistan.”

India were routed 4-0 in their Test series in Australia to record eight consecutive away defeats, while Pakistan have not lost a series since August 2010. Ashraf complained that all requests by the PCB to revive relations had been unsuccessful.

“We’re ready to play against them when their prime minister and board president want the teams to play. Maybe it’s their selectors and team management who are afraid of facing Pakistan.”

India lose chief sponsor

Meanwhile, Indian cricket was hit by a major crisis when the long-time sponsor of the national team pulled out over differences with the board.

The Sahara group of companies, which has been a cricket sponsor since 2000, said in a statement that it was ending what it called a ‘one-sided emotional relationship’ with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

“We feel such a one-sided emotional relationship can’t be dragged any further,” read the company statement. “We’re withdrawing from all cricket under the BCCI.”

Sahara also withdrew its ownership of the Pune Warriors team in the Indian Premier League over a dispute with the BCCI.

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Breaking News About Humsafar Episode 20

Due to Technical Problems Episode 20 Has Not Been Telecast ed
Please Bare With Us We Apologize To Our Fans For This Unfortunate Thing

But Please If You Love Humsafar Then Don’t Use Bad Language And Remarks
Its Humsafar And TRP Rating Or Money Is Not More Important Then Our Fans
So Please Control Your Emotions And Trust Us And Forgive Us For Tonight !!

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Humsafar Drama Full Episode 20 By Hum Tv 4th February 2012

Humsafar Drama Full Episode 20 By Hum Tv 4th February 2012

Watch online streaming of the latest episodes of the dramas of Hum Tv.Humsafar watch online serial.Watch Humsafar Drama serial online.Humsafar 4th February 2012 Hum Tv.Famous Humsafar Drama watch online.

Note : Humsafar Episode 20 did not air Today Hum Tv due to 12 Rabi ul Awal Thanks for Visiting Site.

When Episode 20 of hum tv drama serial humsafar will on-air, we will upload it on our site.A lot of humsafar fans got upset today due to old episode of humsafar. Hum tv didn't telecasted humsafar episode 20 today.Humsafar facebook fan page filled with huge no. of humsafar fans angry comments and walls for not telecasting drama serial humsafar 's episode no. 20. It is also noted that drama serial humsafar is on no. 1 top Pakistani drama serials due to high ratings.Fans wait for its new episode every week.Today on 4th Feb humsafar 20th episode was had to telecast but due to some issues hum tv didn't telecast humsafar's new episode which should be Episode no.20.A large number of keywords " Humsafar Episode 20" was recorded on google Pakistan and all over the world on search engines by Humsafar's fans.

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The man of crises, the superman of Pakistan team - Younus Khan

After getting bundled out in the first innings for a paltry 99, Pakistan bounced back in the second with a commanding 180-run lead. The chief architect of this act Younis Khan, came into this game amid heavy scrutiny as he had failed to make a compelling impact on the series thus far.

Walking in with Pakistan hanging by the thread at 28 for 2, he got off the mark with an inside edge down to backward square. The enormity of the challenge he faced could be judged by the fact that it had been raining wickets since Day 1.

These were testing times for Pakistan. While all were busy making assumptions and predictions of a meagre total, Younis and Azhar silently resolved to take advantage of a pitch that was flattening out and take Pakistan to a secure position heading into Day 3.

It took Younis 20 balls to stroke his first boundary, an elegant straight drive presenting full face of the bat off Stuart Broad. Along with Azhar Ali, he showed true grit and determination in crafting an astounding revival in this innings.

Throughout his innings, he rarely gave the bowlers or DRS a chance to dislodge him. Younis presented the perfect technique of extricating yourself from frailties of the DRS system. Confidence was oozing from his stroke play as he punished anything short or wide from the bowlers. Younis was particularly good against spin bowlers, making use of his favorite sweep shot astutely.

Stauss’s applause for Younis Khan and Azhar Ali, as they marched off the ground clearly indicated a day bossed by the king who registered 20^th century under his belt with a strike rate of 58.97 in this innings.

In a broader perspective, Younis’s innings may well make Pakistan the first team since 1907, to win a test after being bundled out for less than a 100 runs in the first innings of a Test match. For now though, in a series which has failed to enchant the batsmen Younis Khan along with Azhar Ali has played a pivotal role in ascertaining Pakistan’s dominance over England.

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Gaddafi's shirt, wedding ring up for sale

Tripoli: Slain dictator of Libya, Moammer Gaddafi's bloodied shirt and wedding ring have been put up for $2 million (Rs 10 crore) auction. The disgraced dictator was wearing the silver ring and bloodied beige shirt when he was dragged from a drainpipe near his home town of Sirte before being beaten and shot.
Libyan national Ahmed Warfali is apparently asking for $2 million (Rs 10 crore) for the items after somehow coming into their possession. He believes he could have attracted a higher value if he had been selling them in Europe.
A picture of what appears to be the ring shows an engraving representing the date Gaddafi married his wife, Safia, on September 10, 1970.

But critics say Warfali should not be selling his possessions. "The ring does not belong to Gaddafi. It's Libyan money and this guy should not sell the ring," said one person, who posted his comments on a Facebook wall for residents of the town of Zintan, where Gaddafi's son Saif al-Islam is being held.
Saif was arrested in November last year, but has not yet been handed over to the transitional government or the International Criminal Court for trial.
Another Facebook user said, "Well you can sell Saif for 20 billion dollars, if you do not want the guy to sell the ring." There remains tensions in the country in the wake of Gaddafi's death as militias continue to jostle for power.

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Queenie Padilla quits showbiz, embraces Islam

Actress Queenie Padilla. File photo

MANILA, Philippines – Actress Queenie Padilla has quit show business for her Muslim religion.

In an interview with ABS-CBN News, Padilla said she finds inner peace and direction in life in Islam.

"Islam is a way of life. When you start to [become a] Muslim, you know [what] your life purpose really is. I am such a sinful person, but Allah invited me to his house. I am so close to him," she said.

Padilla recently performed the Hajj, a pilgrimage to Makkah in Saudi Arabia. She said she has become a totally different person because of Islam.

"When I was in showbiz, I was very unhappy. I was lost and I always felt I never belong. But now that Allah is in my life, Alhamdullilah, La illa illalah, I am so happy and content in my life,” she said.

As she enjoys her new life, Padilla said she will not go back to show business.

“Haram kasi sa isang babae ang maging artista kasi lahat ng aura pinapakita mo. Kasi ang babaeng Muslim ay napaka-modest. At ang babae sa Islam ay parang jewel... Actually I already quit [showbiz] like 8 months [ago], since my last appearance on TV,” she said.

Padilla thanked her father, action star Robin Padilla, who introduced her to Islam.

“I just want to thank my father for giving me the opportunity to perform Hajj. And I love him so much because without my father, I might not have been a Muslim,” she said.

Even Padilla’s relatives and friends in Saudi Arabia were inspired by her new image.

As she returns to the country, Padilla said she will carry with her the experiences she had while doing Hajj, adding that she will share these to her fellow Filipinos.

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Younis' century puts Pakistan in control

Close Pakistan 99 and 222 for 2 (Younis 115*, Azhar 75*) lead England 141 (Strauss 56, Rehman 5-40) by 180 runs

	Younis Khan scored the first century of this series to put Pakistan in the driving seat in the third Test © Getty Images
Related Links Matches: England v Pakistan at Dubai (DSC) Series/Tournaments: England tour of United Arab Emirates Teams: England | Pakistan Gallery: Younis, Azhar seize control for Pakistan

The first hundred of this Test series was a long time in coming but it was well worth the wait. It went to Younis Khan. His enduring talent has again lifted Pakistan's expectations that they can achieve their first whitewash in a Test series against England.

When Younis came to the crease shortly before lunch on the second day, he was out of form, 22 wickets had fallen for 268 runs and batsmen on both sides were in mental turmoil over a record number of lbw decisions in a three-Test series. Not another wicket fell all day.

By the close, Younis had 115, his third-wicket stand with Azhar Ali was worth 194 in 72 overs and Pakistan's lead was 180. Some Pakistan fans held aloft a banner stating that Pakistan's target was to be the No. 1 Test side in the world. England can confirm it is an uncomfortable place to be.

Whenever mutterings are heard that his Test career is nearing an end, Younis comes up with something special. England tried to bowl straight, seeking to add to the 37 lbws in the series (the record in any length of series is 43) but the pitch was slow and the sound of ball against pad was conspicuous by its absence as Younis worked the ball serenely through the leg side.

It is only two months since Younis took an unbeaten double hundred off Bangladesh in Chittagong and his serenity flooded back. Both he and Azhar, whose restrained unbeaten 75 again identified him as a talent in the making, read the line confidently, their footwork was crisp and on the rare occasions Monty Panesar and Graeme Swann matched the turn found by Pakistan's left-arm spinner Abdur Rehman, they had the skill to adjust to the ball off the pitch.

England imagined they might have dismissed Azhar lbw, on 70, just before the close when Swann found turn around leg stump. Umpire Simon Taufel said no, England reviewed, more in hope than expectation, but to the consternation of the fielding side Hawk-Eye showed the ball going too high. Pakistan's lead was 168 and England had not got the break they desperately needed. Andrew Strauss, an England captain with no time to waste, even took the new ball two overs before the close.

Younis' second 50 took 60 balls and changed the complexion of the match. His gathering confidence was illustrated when he twice reverse-swept Swann as England's spinners resorted to bowling into the rough outside leg stump. Two short balls from Panesar helped him through the 90s. When he swept Panesar to reach his 20th Test hundred, two greats of India's past, Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev, were moved to rise from their seats in the VIP area and applaud.

But the incident that will most trouble England was one of the rare balls Younis missed: a delivery from Panesar that pitched on middle, dislodged a piece of turf as it spun past the outside edge, and cracked Anderson on the left shoulder at first slip. This is a dry pitch and it can be expected to turn extravagantly as the match progresses.

It all possessed a different feel to the pre-lunch session. Six more wickets tumbled on the second morning, with England scraping a first-innings lead of 42 and then removing Pakistan's openers. Taufeeq Umar's technical frailties were again evident as James Anderson bowled one from wide on the crease to have him caught by Strauss at first slip. Mohammad Hafeez, after striking Panesar cleanly for a straight six, fell lbw to an over-ambitious sweep.

England's batting frailties are now so extreme that their average of 17.84 runs per wicket is currently lower than in any completed series since the 19th century, an era when the roller was probably pulled by a horse, if they could find a horse, and the art of groundsmanship extended to little more than pushing the stumps in.

England began the series fretting about the mysterious spin bowling of Saeed Ajmal but they are ending it baffled by the conventional approach of Rehman, who took five wickets for the second successive innings as Pakistan restricted England's first-innings lead. This canny left-arm spinner, enjoying unforeseen riches in his late-blooming career, had performed the sajda on the outfield in Abu Dhabi when he took five Test wickets in an innings for the first time. Once again he fell to his knees.

England, resuming on 104 for 6, lasted 12 overs. Anderson, the night-watchman, propped forward to the last ball of the first over and was bowled through the gate. It was the sort of respectable, turning delivery Rehman has produced on countless occasions and suddenly it looked unplayable.

Stuart Broad hinted at positive intent but he was lbw to Ajmal after Pakistan turned to DRS to overturn Steve Davis' not-out decision. Broad was straight back to the laptop, analysing his dismissal, seeking answers. Another centimetre and he would have been outside the line. Umpires would never give anybody out on such small margins; technology does.

Andrew Strauss' prolonged resistance ended at eight-down, to his most adventurous shot. He had extended his overnight 41 to 56 when he came down the pitch to hit Rehman over the legside and was stumped by Adnan Akmal.

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B-town congrats Riteish Deshmukh and Genelia D'Souza

 
Riteish Deshmukh and Genelia D'Souza Friday tied the knot at a lavish ceremony in a five-star hotel here. Bollywood wishes "happiness" and "eternal bliss" to the newlyweds.

The couple tied the knot in the presence of family and close friends in a typical Maharashtrian wedding ceremony.
Shah Rukh Khan: What a lovely wedding...riteish & genelia looked beautiful...may Allah bless them with happiness. Side Note: the chola roti was very nice too.
Bipasha Basu: Congrats Mr. and Mrs. Deshmukh! Sooo adorable!

Anupam Kher: Congratulations to Riteish and Genelia for their life together hereafter. May you fall in love with each other everyday of your life.

Madhur Bhandarkar: My heartfelt wishes to Riteish and Genelia for the new journey of life they r going to start together. God bless u both.

Shazahn Padamsee: Congrats to my lovely friends Riteish and Genelia for the beginning of their beautiful journey together today. Lots of love to both of u.

Tusshar Kapoor: Heartiest congratulations to @Riteishd and @geneliad, my 2 most fun co stars on their wedding today!! Another couple bites the dust!!

Kumar Taurani: @geneliad @Riteishd Many congratulations, you looking awesome as couple, God Bless You...

Minissha Lamba: Here's wishing @Riteishd and @geneliad a blissful life of joy! You make love look so beautiful...

Vishal Dadlani: Congratulations, and happiness always! RT @Riteishd: MR & MRS DESHMUKH.

Sujoy Ghosh: Love at its best ... RT @Riteishd: MR & MRS DESHMUKH

Sophie Choudry: Big day for the beautiful couple Riteish and Genelia when officially to become one! Wishing them happiness, fun times and eternal bliss! God Bless.

Neha Dhupia: From my side too congrats to Riteish and Genelia for their wedding. Flower petals filled tweets coming your way!

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England vs Pakistan: Placing All Bets On Pakistan

   

by Ashar Zaidi

Profile: A Sports correspondent at Geo New

Logic might favor England but passion is eager to topple it down; let’s see who rules the deserts.


Agreed, you are the number one test side in the world. Agreed, you have dominated your last six test series. Agreed, the world’s best have kneeled before your might, that you are gifted with some of the best performers in the game and you feel refreshed after a four months rest, but that doesn’t mean things will walk your way all the time. Sharpen your swords England, Misbahism is geared up for a showdown.


England and Pakistan are two top teams. Try comparing them in any aspect and the equilibrium will hit the middle mark each time.  That’s precisely the reason why fans and experts appear impatient for a mouth watering encounter, followed by the trickiest question of all, who will come out victorious?


This is a tough question to answer. The bookies love England but ask me and I see this love affair as a well disguised googly. My hard-earned money is on Pakistan and I won’t risk it without rock-solid reasoning.


Strauss has a world conquering squad just like Michael Vaughn did in 2005, but like the Indians, they are mostly back-yard heroes that can win in favorable conditions. Expose them to hostile terrain and they fall like autumn leaves. I remember England touring Pakistan in 2005 still basking in the euphoria of their Ashes triumph, only to see their top names licking injuries and Shoaib Akthar puncturing their batting sedans. With mud for UAE pitches flown in from Karachi, I can only see history repeating itself.


So, here are six reasons why I believe England will return home with only Arabic hospitality to talk about.


1- Stepping into the Unknown


It’s UAE, meaning it’s an arid-zone. Even in January the place can be devilishly humid, dusty and the scorching sun beats hard on your head. No coach in the world can teach you how to handle quickies while dry winds are slapping your face. Long days in the heat can drain life out of your legs and water alone would fail to quench the English thirst, instead tons of Gatorade would need to be gulped.


For statistic devotees, England are yet to play a test match on UAE soil and the last ODI they played here was way back in 1999. As for Pakistan, UAE is their second home. The green shirts have played nine matches and are well versed with the conditions.  Will the ball turn or skid on these placid wickets? England must have spent sleepless nights solving this enigma. For Pakistan, they have the perfect idea for mix and match.


2- Paki Pace Factory Fired Up


They say a team is built around its fast bowling therefore it can’t possibly go wrong in Pakistan’s case. Pakistani spinners have been capturing bulk of headlines recently, somewhat over shadowing the brilliance pacers have shown with the ball. The likes of Umar Gul, Wahab Riaz, Junaid Khan, Tanveer Ahmed and Aizaz Cheema have largely been responsible for causing early dents and paving way for the spinners to wipe out the cake. These maverick quickies are equipped with a plethora of lethal deliveries, good enough to sink any batting line on Earth.


To fine tune their every move is the bowling maestro Aquib Jawaid (Bowling coach) who himself has bowled countless memorable spells on these barren fields. Hard to forget would be his seven against Sri-Lanka in Sharjah. He is a living example for his militia to follow.


England, on the other hand could have wished for a few better options. Let’s admit, Tim Bresnan was one bowler who could have extracted life out of Dubai’s moribund surface. But with him out of the picture the English pace battery appears vulnerable. Major work load will fall on James Anderson and Stuart Broad and don’t expect the likes of Grame Onions, Steven Finn and Chris Tremlett to cause Pakistanis much trouble.


This will be the ideal setting for an unseen injury popping up to one of these pacers. If that happens, England is sure to lose heart. In most of their previous victories, it’s the combination of four fast bowlers that have guided them through; Dubai could be a different story.


3- Spin Fear


We heard it before, now we have seen it. England doesn’t like to play spin. Take the two practice matches for example: M. Nabi, the off-spinner from Afghanistan bagged five while the Swabi born Leggie, Yasir Shah cleaned up eight in the second, exposing a huge feebleness in English defense.


This is their fragility before second string spinners, and the big boys haven’t even stepped in. Both Saeed and Rehman are world class spinners and their fingers are itching to cast magic. The spot-light is on the tricky Ajmal who some see as the English tormentor, with 50 wickets in the calendar year, he is one player around whom the hype has been building.


Ajmal is a darling character; he loves challenges and has a habit of cracking jokes. Remember the “Special Delivery” he warned about? It is now termed “The Teesra”.  We have seen the traditional off-spin, then Shane Warne invented the “Seedha” while Saqulain brought out the “Doosra”. Where in the world Ajmal’s Teesra will spin is still a mystery!


The spin night-mare doesn’t end here. Rehman and Hafiz are equally good supplements that give their Captain plenty of option to juggle.


England on the other hand is pinning hopes on their Desert Rose, Grame Swann, but whether their vital cog can live up to expectations is another story. Ask me and I would say he is an over-rated bowler, simply because England doesn’t have another quality act. Just 27 wickets in 2011 and you expect him to make you shiver? C’mon, even a club bowler could do better. While some would argue that he is nurtured under Mushtaq Ahmed’s watchful eyes, let me remind you that Pakistani batsmen are best mediators of spin. As for Monty, let’s first see if he finds a place in the final 11. We can ponder about his vitality later on.


4- The Younis Factor


Mince no words, Younis will be the difference between victory and defeat.  While many credit Misbah for keeping the unit together and turning it into a winning lot, if you knew the dynamics of the Pakistan dressing-room you would know it’s Younis that has keeps the fabric knitted. On the field he is a classy batsman, an excellent exponent of classic stroke-play and a skilful fielder with a deadly accuracy of hitting the stumps. Back in the drawers, he is the best pitch reader, an astute thinker, motivator and a strategy genius for his side.


The 34 year old Khan from Mardan is a tough nut to crack and possesses a dreadful appetite for runs. His mountainous 313 at Karachi and epic 267 at Bangalore are credible proof’s he can play really long innings and bat England out of the match. 2011 has been a fantastic year for Khan, cracking 765 runs in just 12 innings with a staggering avg of 85. England definitely won’t want him batting long and nursing the tail.


5- No Rating Fear, Only Hunger to Prove


The brutal fact is that this is one horror Strauss can’t shy away from. Stepping in 2012 as the top ranked test side, the English have a lot at stake. They might have belted the Protease, Aussies and the Indians, but they are well aware of the un-predictability and destruction Pakistan can cause. If England loses, the Telegraph, Guardian and Times would cry that England succumbed on the first real litmus test.


Pakistan are enjoying life out of any such fear. Their recent feats have been looked down as being against toothless opponents, so this is their proving stage. If they win, it will be a testimony of their metal. If they lose, Misbah would simply shake off the loss as it would be one against the best side in the world.  


6- Pakistanis Don’t Break Under Pressure


England reached summit No. 1 after thrashing India last summer. Apart from their prolific play England had two other factors to thank. India is a team of ageing legends and as Brad Haddin rightly pointed out, it’s a team that breaks down under pressure. Rest assured Strauss won’t find anything like-wise here.  Even at 38 and 34, Misbah and Younis are the fittest horses in the stable and whenever stakes are down, even Ajmal can show heroics with the bat. It’s an All for one, and one for all equation.


May the Best Team Win:


And so my bragging comes to an end. Thankfully, Pakistanis are realistic and focused on the task ahead. Opener Taufiq Umar couldn’t be more candid admitting that his team would have to exceed their abilities to beat England. On the other hand, the placid tracks of UAE demonstrate the rarity of a positive result. This means a single session played loose could slip out the series. Have no doubt in mind; there will be loads of storms in the deserts.

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Anonymous gain access to FBI and Scotland Yard hacking call

The hackers published a video of the call on YouTube

Hacking network Anonymous has released a recording of a conference call between the FBI and UK police in which they discuss efforts against hackers.

The call, said to have taken place last month, covers the tracking of Anonymous and similar groups, dates of planned arrests and details of evidence held.
Anonymous also published an email, apparently from the FBI, showing the email addresses of call participants.
The FBI and Scotland Yard confirmed the leak and said they were investigating.
It also emerged on Friday that hackers linked to Anonymous had accessed the websites of several US law enforcement agencies and that of the Greek justice ministry.
 
'Email intercept'

The FBI said in a statement: "The information was intended for law enforcement officers only and was illegally obtained. A criminal investigation is under way to identify and hold accountable those responsible."

London's Metropolitan Police's central e-crime unit said the matter was being investigated but that no operational risks had been identified.
It was unclear how Anonymous had managed to obtain the recording but a lawyer for one of the suspects discussed told the BBC it appeared to have been taken as an audiofile from an intercepted email, rather than having been eavesdropped on.
A comment on one of the Twitter accounts linked to Anonymous, AnonymousIRC, said: "The FBI might be curious how we're able to continuously read their internal comms for some time now."
BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner says the recording, which was published on YouTube, will be highly embarrassing for the cyber crime detectives.
At one point an FBI agent thanks the Metropolitan police for their help with investigations, to which the British detective replies: "We're here to help. We've cocked things up in the past, we know that."

Analysis

Leo Kelion Technology reporter

While it now appears that the FBI-Scotland Yard conference call was obtained through an intercepted email recording, recent research does suggest it is possible for hackers to intercept communications systems once thought secure.
Earlier this week, two researchers from Germany's Ruhr University Bochum announced they had reverse engineered two of the secret ciphers used to encode calls made by satellite phones. The pair said the devices - used in military campaigns and natural disaster areas - used algorithms that were "considerably weaker" than what was available elsewhere.
Another noted security researcher, Karsten Nohl, told a conference he had generated a code book which allowed calls made on mobiles using the GSM standard to be decrypted.
One solution is to make VoIP (voice over internet protocol) calls using the latest encryption techniques. But such conversations only remain safe if any recordings are similarly encrypted and the decryption codes safely guarded.

The FBI said in a statement: "The information was intended for law enforcement officers only and was illegally obtained. A criminal investigation is under way to identify and hold accountable those responsible."

London's Metropolitan Police's central e-crime unit said the matter was being investigated but that no operational risks had been identified.
It was unclear how Anonymous had managed to obtain the recording but a lawyer for one of the suspects discussed told the BBC it appeared to have been taken as an audiofile from an intercepted email, rather than having been eavesdropped on.
A comment on one of the Twitter accounts linked to Anonymous, AnonymousIRC, said: "The FBI might be curious how we're able to continuously read their internal comms for some time now."
BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner says the recording, which was published on YouTube, will be highly embarrassing for the cyber crime detectives.
At one point an FBI agent thanks the Metropolitan police for their help with investigations, to which the British detective replies: "We're here to help. We've cocked things up in the past, we know that."
'Attention seeker'
According to the alleged leaked email, the 17-minute phone call took place on 17 January.
The email was sent to law enforcement officials in the US, UK, Sweden, Ireland and other countries, inviting them to "discuss the on-going investigations related to Anonymous, Lulzsec, Antisec, and other associated splinter groups".
The recording features the voices of about five men, apparently speaking from London, Los Angeles and Washington.

What is Anonymous?

Anonymous describes itself as an "internet gathering". The term is used to describe a collective of people who come together online, commonly to stage a protest.
The groups vary in size and make-up depending on the cause. Members often identify themselves in web videos by wearing the Guy Fawkes masks popularised by the book and film V for Vendetta.
Its protests often take the form of disrupting websites and services.
Its use of the term Anonymous comes from a series of websites frequented by members, such as the anarchic image board 4Chan.
These allow users to post without having to register or provide a name. As a result, their comments are tagged "Anonymous".
In the past, groups have staged high-profile protests against plans by the Australian government to filter the internet and the Church of Scientology.
Many Anonymous protests tackle issues of free speech and preserving the openness of the net.

They begin with light-hearted conversation but move on to discussing the names of some of the people being tracked and their plans for legal action.

The online pseudonyms of suspects are included in the recording, but some of the real names appear to have been bleeped out.
Among those discussed are several British men accused of being behind cyber attacks in the US and UK, including Jake Davis and Ryan Cleary who were arrested last year.
The British detectives discuss delaying some arrests while US investigations are being carried out.
The police also refer to a 15-year-old who claims to have been behind an attack on online gaming site Steam last year, where the identities and credit card details of tens of thousands of users were accessed.
"He's a 15-year-old who's basically just doing this all for attention," says the British detective.
Anonymous is a loose collective of hackers, anarchists and pranksters which has targeted the websites of a range of governments, companies, law enforcement agencies and individuals in recent years.
Also on Friday, Anonymous claimed credit for an attack on a police website in the US city of Boston. A message posted on the site said it had been hacked several months ago in response to "police brutality" towards the Occcupy Wall Street movement.
This followed another attack on a police website in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, where officials say personal information on informants, crimes and residents were accessed.
Hackers operating under the Anonymous name also took over the website of Greece's justice ministry on Friday, prompting officials to take the site down.
The hackers said the action was a protest against Greece's signing of a global copyright treaty and the government's handling of the economic crisis.
The website was replaced with a video of a figure wearing the symbolic white mask of Anonymous supporters, saying: "Democracy was given birth in your country but you have killed it."

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