Amrita University readies device for women’s safety

Thiruvananthapuram: A security device put together at the Centrel for Cyber Security Systems and Networks at the Amrita University in Kerala promises to offer women the chance of alerting their families when attacked. 

Krishnashree Achuthan, director of the Kollam-based Amrita University's Centre for Cyber Security Systems and Networks, led the team which developed the Amrita Personal Safety System (APSS). "APSS is an inconspicuous, wearable and easy-to-operate electronic device that will help girls and women to trigger communication with family and police when in distress. The device will remain invisible to the offender and yet can easily be triggered by its user with multiple options to ensure stealthy and secure communication," Achuthan said.

The nationwide outrage sparked by macabre incidents like the Dec 16 rape and death of a girl in Delhi set the Amrita Centre cyber-security professionals to work. The Amrita Centre for Cyber Security is making efforts to ensure that this device is securely lodged in an earring or a ring.  We are designing it so that it can be affordable. The device will soon be equipped with technology that can videotape events," added the director. A distinct feature of APSS is that it can function even in rural areas where the speed of communication is minimal. Also, this device intelligently combines many location-aware technologies and it can function both indoors and outdoors.

"This customisable device provides flexibility in design so it can be easily worn, and integrates more than 15 features pertaining to women's safety and security. Significantly, it can also be used as a safety device for mentally challenged people with many functionalities to quickly identify their whereabouts," said Achuthan. 
The centre's director recalled that her team of researchers were inspired by Amrita University's chancellor Mata Amritanandamayi Devi. The APSS prototype will be formally unveiled during Amritavarsham 60 - the 60th birthday celebrations of Amritanandamayi, Sep 26-27 at her ashram at Kollam. 
(IANS)

Amrita University readies device for women’s safety

Thiruvananthapuram: A security device put together at the Centrel for Cyber Security Systems and Networks at the Amrita University in Kerala promises to offer women the chance of alerting their families when attacked. 

Krishnashree Achuthan, director of the Kollam-based Amrita University's Centre for Cyber Security Systems and Networks, led the team which developed the Amrita Personal Safety System (APSS). "APSS is an inconspicuous, wearable and easy-to-operate electronic device that will help girls and women to trigger communication with family and police when in distress. The device will remain invisible to the offender and yet can easily be triggered by its user with multiple options to ensure stealthy and secure communication," Achuthan said.

The nationwide outrage sparked by macabre incidents like the Dec 16 rape and death of a girl in Delhi set the Amrita Centre cyber-security professionals to work. The Amrita Centre for Cyber Security is making efforts to ensure that this device is securely lodged in an earring or a ring.  We are designing it so that it can be affordable. The device will soon be equipped with technology that can videotape events," added the director. A distinct feature of APSS is that it can function even in rural areas where the speed of communication is minimal. Also, this device intelligently combines many location-aware technologies and it can function both indoors and outdoors.

"This customisable device provides flexibility in design so it can be easily worn, and integrates more than 15 features pertaining to women's safety and security. Significantly, it can also be used as a safety device for mentally challenged people with many functionalities to quickly identify their whereabouts," said Achuthan. 
The centre's director recalled that her team of researchers were inspired by Amrita University's chancellor Mata Amritanandamayi Devi. The APSS prototype will be formally unveiled during Amritavarsham 60 - the 60th birthday celebrations of Amritanandamayi, Sep 26-27 at her ashram at Kollam. 
(IANS)

Manipur blast kills eight, injures 10

Imphal: At least eight people were killed and 13 others injured in a powerful bomb blast Friday in Manipur's Imphal West district, police said. Police said the deceased were construction labourers working for a Kolkata-based firm. All the deceased and injured were rushed to the Regional Institute of Medical Science (RIMS) in Imphal. "The blast took place around 7.30 p.m. at Khoyathong area in Imphal. The deceased were engaged in the construction work for last six months and all of them were from different places of the country," police added. "Preliminary investigation indicated the bomb was an Improvised Explosive Device (IED)," police said. 

"It was of high intensity and probably planted in a shop," Inspector General of Police (Law and Order) L. Kailun told IANS.

"The injured with multiple wounds were shifted to local hospitals." "We are yet to identify the group responsible for the blast," he said. No militant group has so far claimed responsibility for the attack. Top police officials who visited the blast site suspected the involvement of local rebel groups. Earlier, troopers of the Assam Rifles patrolling along the Ukhrul-Imphal road in Imphal East district had a narrow escape when a powerful IED, planted by the roadside, exploded.

The incident occurred at around 10.30 a.m. near Khurai Popular High School at Khurai Thongam Leikai in Imphal East district. An auto-rickshaw driver was injured in the incident. The outlawed People's Liberation Army, an armed wing of Revolutionary People's Front had claimed responsibility for the morning blast. There are an estimated 19 militant groups active in Manipur, bordering Myanmar, with demands ranging from secession to greater autonomy.

Manipur blast kills eight, injures 10

Imphal: At least eight people were killed and 13 others injured in a powerful bomb blast Friday in Manipur's Imphal West district, police said. Police said the deceased were construction labourers working for a Kolkata-based firm. All the deceased and injured were rushed to the Regional Institute of Medical Science (RIMS) in Imphal. "The blast took place around 7.30 p.m. at Khoyathong area in Imphal. The deceased were engaged in the construction work for last six months and all of them were from different places of the country," police added. "Preliminary investigation indicated the bomb was an Improvised Explosive Device (IED)," police said. 

"It was of high intensity and probably planted in a shop," Inspector General of Police (Law and Order) L. Kailun told IANS.

"The injured with multiple wounds were shifted to local hospitals." "We are yet to identify the group responsible for the blast," he said. No militant group has so far claimed responsibility for the attack. Top police officials who visited the blast site suspected the involvement of local rebel groups. Earlier, troopers of the Assam Rifles patrolling along the Ukhrul-Imphal road in Imphal East district had a narrow escape when a powerful IED, planted by the roadside, exploded.

The incident occurred at around 10.30 a.m. near Khurai Popular High School at Khurai Thongam Leikai in Imphal East district. An auto-rickshaw driver was injured in the incident. The outlawed People's Liberation Army, an armed wing of Revolutionary People's Front had claimed responsibility for the morning blast. There are an estimated 19 militant groups active in Manipur, bordering Myanmar, with demands ranging from secession to greater autonomy.

31 killed in Iraq bombings

Baghdad: At least 31 people were killed and 47 others got injured in bomb attacks near two Sunni mosques in Iraq's Diyala province Friday, police said. At least 30 people were killed and 42 others wounded around midday when a car bomb hit worshippers after they completed their Friday prayers at a mosque in Ottomaniya town, 15 km southwest of the provincial capital of Baquba, Xinhua reported citing a police source. 

One person was killed and five others got wounded when a roadside bomb exploded near a Sunni mosque in Qarataba town, some 110 km northeast of Baquba, the source added. Since early this year Iraq has witnessed massive bombings in different cities, indicating that high-profile violent attacks are still common in the country despite the dramatic decrease in violence since its peak in 2006 and 2007 when the country was engulfed in sectarian killings.

31 killed in Iraq bombings

Baghdad: At least 31 people were killed and 47 others got injured in bomb attacks near two Sunni mosques in Iraq's Diyala province Friday, police said. At least 30 people were killed and 42 others wounded around midday when a car bomb hit worshippers after they completed their Friday prayers at a mosque in Ottomaniya town, 15 km southwest of the provincial capital of Baquba, Xinhua reported citing a police source. 

One person was killed and five others got wounded when a roadside bomb exploded near a Sunni mosque in Qarataba town, some 110 km northeast of Baquba, the source added. Since early this year Iraq has witnessed massive bombings in different cities, indicating that high-profile violent attacks are still common in the country despite the dramatic decrease in violence since its peak in 2006 and 2007 when the country was engulfed in sectarian killings.

Too much time in office can age you faster

Los Angeles: If you are sitting all day in office and giving extra hours, you might get a good pay check, but chances are that you will also get old sooner than you can imagine. According to Jill Zander, founder of the Jill Zander Skin Rejuvenation Clinic, sitting and working on a desk is directly connected to ageing. Sitting with your head bent slightly forward staring at a keyboard, laptop or iPad screen, may shorten the neck muscles and increase the gravitational pull on the jawline eventually leading to the formation of jowls, reports femalefirst.co.uk 

To avoid this, it is important to keep the position of computer screens positioned in the right manner. This helps prevent a drooping jawline which can be caused by looking down too much. If you constantly lean your face on your hands in certain positions at your desk day after day, it can enhance the sleep lines that are formed if you sleep in a particular position.

To avoid this you can adjust your chair height so that your forearms rest on the desk. This will make you less likely to lean on your hand and make you more aware of your sitting position. Office stress can lead to skin stress.  According to a study, the stress can have damaging effect on critical DNA in the cells in the body. Because of stress the sebaceous glands also produce more oil and this can result in adult acne. A walk for five minutes outside office can help you de-stress and it can also boost Vitamin D levels, which stimulates the production of elastin and collagen.

Too much time in office can age you faster

Los Angeles: If you are sitting all day in office and giving extra hours, you might get a good pay check, but chances are that you will also get old sooner than you can imagine. According to Jill Zander, founder of the Jill Zander Skin Rejuvenation Clinic, sitting and working on a desk is directly connected to ageing. Sitting with your head bent slightly forward staring at a keyboard, laptop or iPad screen, may shorten the neck muscles and increase the gravitational pull on the jawline eventually leading to the formation of jowls, reports femalefirst.co.uk 

To avoid this, it is important to keep the position of computer screens positioned in the right manner. This helps prevent a drooping jawline which can be caused by looking down too much. If you constantly lean your face on your hands in certain positions at your desk day after day, it can enhance the sleep lines that are formed if you sleep in a particular position.

To avoid this you can adjust your chair height so that your forearms rest on the desk. This will make you less likely to lean on your hand and make you more aware of your sitting position. Office stress can lead to skin stress.  According to a study, the stress can have damaging effect on critical DNA in the cells in the body. Because of stress the sebaceous glands also produce more oil and this can result in adult acne. A walk for five minutes outside office can help you de-stress and it can also boost Vitamin D levels, which stimulates the production of elastin and collagen.

Four get death for Dec 16 gang rape

New Delhi: Four men were sentenced to death Friday for the Dec 16, 2012, gang rape and murder of a 23-year-old physiotherapy intern here. The court Sep 10 held that the crime was 'premeditated' and a 'cold blooded murder'. A fast track court, which has convicted four persons in the December 16 gangrape-cum-murder case, fixed September 13 for pronouncing the quantum of sentence to be awarded to them. 

Additional Sessions Judge Yogesh Khanna reserved the order on punishment after hearing arguments of the prosecution, which sought death penalty for the four, and the defence lawyers. The Delhi Police sought death penalty for the four for brutally gangraping and murdering a defenceless 23-year-old girl in a cold blooded manner. Advancing arguments on quantum of sentence, Special Public Prosecutor Dayan Krishnan said the death sentence should be awarded to the four convicts--Mukesh (26), Vinay Sharma (20), Pawan Gupta (19) and Akshay Thakur (28)--as the case falls in the category of 'rarest of rare' cases.

The defence lawyers, however, sought a lenient punishment for the convicts, saying life imprisonment in such a case is a rule while death penalty is an exception. During the arguments, the prosecutor told the court that the convicts do not deserve any mercy, as they killed the helpless girl who kept on pleading for mercy. 'The crime is not only grotesque and diabolic in nature
but the barbaric behaviour of the convicts was of the highest kind. Maximum sentence has to be given as the court should see that they have raped and killed a helpless girl, even as she pleaded for her life,' he said. He said people at large are watching this case and if the convicts are awarded a lighter punishment, the public will lose faith in the judicial system.

'This is an extreme case of depravity and sexual assault of a young girl, who could not survive after their gruesome attack and gangrape. 'The act to damage the girl's intestines intentionally leaves no scope of sympathy,' the prosecutor argued. 

Four get death for Dec 16 gang rape

New Delhi: Four men were sentenced to death Friday for the Dec 16, 2012, gang rape and murder of a 23-year-old physiotherapy intern here. The court Sep 10 held that the crime was 'premeditated' and a 'cold blooded murder'. A fast track court, which has convicted four persons in the December 16 gangrape-cum-murder case, fixed September 13 for pronouncing the quantum of sentence to be awarded to them. 

Additional Sessions Judge Yogesh Khanna reserved the order on punishment after hearing arguments of the prosecution, which sought death penalty for the four, and the defence lawyers. The Delhi Police sought death penalty for the four for brutally gangraping and murdering a defenceless 23-year-old girl in a cold blooded manner. Advancing arguments on quantum of sentence, Special Public Prosecutor Dayan Krishnan said the death sentence should be awarded to the four convicts--Mukesh (26), Vinay Sharma (20), Pawan Gupta (19) and Akshay Thakur (28)--as the case falls in the category of 'rarest of rare' cases.

The defence lawyers, however, sought a lenient punishment for the convicts, saying life imprisonment in such a case is a rule while death penalty is an exception. During the arguments, the prosecutor told the court that the convicts do not deserve any mercy, as they killed the helpless girl who kept on pleading for mercy. 'The crime is not only grotesque and diabolic in nature
but the barbaric behaviour of the convicts was of the highest kind. Maximum sentence has to be given as the court should see that they have raped and killed a helpless girl, even as she pleaded for her life,' he said. He said people at large are watching this case and if the convicts are awarded a lighter punishment, the public will lose faith in the judicial system.

'This is an extreme case of depravity and sexual assault of a young girl, who could not survive after their gruesome attack and gangrape. 'The act to damage the girl's intestines intentionally leaves no scope of sympathy,' the prosecutor argued.