Nirbhaya Gangrape Convicts Sentenced Death-Penalty

NEW DELHI: Citing the extreme brutality committed by the December 16 gangrape convicts, a special fast-track-court gave its verdict to hang all the four convicts till death. The verdict was more or less was in favor of the public sentiments who have been demanding death penalty for all the gangrape accused.

While declaring the verdict, special court said that this case one of the rarest cases of which the public held a view that giving a death-penalty to these convicts would reduce crimes towards womenfolk in India. While producing judgement, the court has to look into matters like society's mood towards the incident, the amount of brutality and the like, said Yogesh Khanna, additional sessions judge.

The gangrape of a paramedical student by the six on a moving bus had invoked public anger towards all the convicts. Besides raping the helpless girl, the culprits had assaulted her brutally that she even had internal injuries that caused her death, despite the hard efforts of a Singapore Hospital.

Nirbhaya Gangrape Convicts Sentenced Death-Penalty

NEW DELHI: Citing the extreme brutality committed by the December 16 gangrape convicts, a special fast-track-court gave its verdict to hang all the four convicts till death. The verdict was more or less was in favor of the public sentiments who have been demanding death penalty for all the gangrape accused.

While declaring the verdict, special court said that this case one of the rarest cases of which the public held a view that giving a death-penalty to these convicts would reduce crimes towards womenfolk in India. While producing judgement, the court has to look into matters like society's mood towards the incident, the amount of brutality and the like, said Yogesh Khanna, additional sessions judge.

The gangrape of a paramedical student by the six on a moving bus had invoked public anger towards all the convicts. Besides raping the helpless girl, the culprits had assaulted her brutally that she even had internal injuries that caused her death, despite the hard efforts of a Singapore Hospital.

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US, Russia agree deal on Syria chemical weapons

Geneva: The United States and Russia agreed on Saturday on a proposal to eliminate Syria's chemical weapons arsenal, averting the possibility of any immediate U.S. military action against President Bashar al-Assad's government. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov announced the agreement after nearly three days of talks in Geneva. Kerry said that under the pact, Syria must submit a "comprehensive listing" of its chemical weapons stockpiles within one week. He told a news conference with Lavrov that U.N. weapons inspectors must be on the ground in Syria no later than November.

The goal, he said, was the complete destruction of Syria's chemical weapons by the middle of 2014. Kerry said that if Syria did not comply with the agreement, which must be finalised by the Organization for the Prevention of Chemical Weapons, it would face consequences under Chapter 7 of the U.N. Charter, the part that covers sanctions and military action. There was no agreement on what those measures would be. U.S. President Barack Obama reserves the right to use military force in Syria, Kerry said. "There's no diminution of options," Kerry said. Lavrov said of the agreement: "There (is) nothing said about the use of force and not about any automatic sanctions."

 Obama had threatened the use of force in response to an Aug. 21 chemical weapons attack in Syria that U.S. officials say killed about 1,400 people. The United States has blamed Assad's government for the attack, while Russia and Assad say it was the work of rebel forces. In Istanbul, the head of the opposition Syrian Supreme Military Council, General Selim Idris, said the rebels regarded the deal as a blow to their struggle to oust Assad. But they would cooperate to facilitate the work of any international inspectors on the ground, he told Reuters.

But another military council official, Qassim Saadeddine, said the opposite. "Let the Kerry-Lavrov plan go to hell. We reject it and we will not protect the inspectors or let them enter Syria." WARPLANES
Despite the diplomatic breakthrough, chemical weapons only account for around 2 percent of deaths in a civil war in which 100,000 people have been killed. On Saturday, Syrian warplanes struck against rebel-held suburbs of the capital Damascus and government forces clashed with rebels on the frontlines, according to residents.

The residents and opposition activists asked about the deal said that it would not benefit normal Syrians. "The regime has been killing people for more than two years with all types of weapons. Assad has used chemical weapons six or seven times. The killing will continue. No change will happen. That is it," said an opposition activist in a rebel-held suburb of Damascus who uses the name Tariq al-Dimashqi. "The most important point is the act of killing, no matter what is the weapon," he said. Syrian state media broadcast the Kerry and Lavrov news conference live, indicating that Damascus is satisfied with the deal. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said earlier that a report by U.N. chemical weapons experts would confirm that poison gas was used in the Aug. 21 attack.

Ban also said that Assad "has committed many crimes against humanity", although he did not say whether it was Assad's forces or rebels who used the gas. The original drive for a political solution to the conflict, dubbed the "Geneva Plan" and calling for a transitional government, went nowhere as Assad refused to cede power and the opposition insisted he could not be a part of any new political order. The latest talks prompted Obama to put on hold his plans for U.S. air strikes in response to the chemical weapons attack. Obama is now also spared facing a vote in Congress on military action that he had appeared increasingly likely to lose at this stage. Experts say removing Syria's hundreds of tonnes of chemical weapons, scattered in secret installations, will pose huge technical problems in the middle of a civil war.

US, Russia agree deal on Syria chemical weapons

Geneva: The United States and Russia agreed on Saturday on a proposal to eliminate Syria's chemical weapons arsenal, averting the possibility of any immediate U.S. military action against President Bashar al-Assad's government. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov announced the agreement after nearly three days of talks in Geneva. Kerry said that under the pact, Syria must submit a "comprehensive listing" of its chemical weapons stockpiles within one week. He told a news conference with Lavrov that U.N. weapons inspectors must be on the ground in Syria no later than November.

The goal, he said, was the complete destruction of Syria's chemical weapons by the middle of 2014. Kerry said that if Syria did not comply with the agreement, which must be finalised by the Organization for the Prevention of Chemical Weapons, it would face consequences under Chapter 7 of the U.N. Charter, the part that covers sanctions and military action. There was no agreement on what those measures would be. U.S. President Barack Obama reserves the right to use military force in Syria, Kerry said. "There's no diminution of options," Kerry said. Lavrov said of the agreement: "There (is) nothing said about the use of force and not about any automatic sanctions."

 Obama had threatened the use of force in response to an Aug. 21 chemical weapons attack in Syria that U.S. officials say killed about 1,400 people. The United States has blamed Assad's government for the attack, while Russia and Assad say it was the work of rebel forces. In Istanbul, the head of the opposition Syrian Supreme Military Council, General Selim Idris, said the rebels regarded the deal as a blow to their struggle to oust Assad. But they would cooperate to facilitate the work of any international inspectors on the ground, he told Reuters.

But another military council official, Qassim Saadeddine, said the opposite. "Let the Kerry-Lavrov plan go to hell. We reject it and we will not protect the inspectors or let them enter Syria." WARPLANES
Despite the diplomatic breakthrough, chemical weapons only account for around 2 percent of deaths in a civil war in which 100,000 people have been killed. On Saturday, Syrian warplanes struck against rebel-held suburbs of the capital Damascus and government forces clashed with rebels on the frontlines, according to residents.

The residents and opposition activists asked about the deal said that it would not benefit normal Syrians. "The regime has been killing people for more than two years with all types of weapons. Assad has used chemical weapons six or seven times. The killing will continue. No change will happen. That is it," said an opposition activist in a rebel-held suburb of Damascus who uses the name Tariq al-Dimashqi. "The most important point is the act of killing, no matter what is the weapon," he said. Syrian state media broadcast the Kerry and Lavrov news conference live, indicating that Damascus is satisfied with the deal. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said earlier that a report by U.N. chemical weapons experts would confirm that poison gas was used in the Aug. 21 attack.

Ban also said that Assad "has committed many crimes against humanity", although he did not say whether it was Assad's forces or rebels who used the gas. The original drive for a political solution to the conflict, dubbed the "Geneva Plan" and calling for a transitional government, went nowhere as Assad refused to cede power and the opposition insisted he could not be a part of any new political order. The latest talks prompted Obama to put on hold his plans for U.S. air strikes in response to the chemical weapons attack. Obama is now also spared facing a vote in Congress on military action that he had appeared increasingly likely to lose at this stage. Experts say removing Syria's hundreds of tonnes of chemical weapons, scattered in secret installations, will pose huge technical problems in the middle of a civil war.

Busting myths about hydration for healthy body

Los Angeles:  Do you need to drink eight glasses of water per day to avoid being dehydrated or is it really true that one can't get dehydrated in winters? Well think again as there are certain myths that Sodastream have cleared about human body. The drinksmaker device has come up with certain facts about human body that needs attention, reports femalefirst.co.uk. Myth: Everyone should drink eight glasses of water a day. Although it’s nice to drink more but the truth is that not everyone requires eight glasses of water a day to maintain adequate hydration. The amount of fluids that each person needs varies and is based on activity level, gender and body size. Other sources of fluids that contribute to hydration include carbonated drinks, juice, milk, coffee, tea, fruits, vegetables and other foods with higher water content. Myth: Only water really hydrates you. Not true. Many beverages with high water content contribute to the body’s hydration status, including carbonated soft drinks, juices, tea and even coffee to a certain extent. In addition, 20 percent of hydration regularly comes from the food you eat.

Myth: You can’t really get dehydrated in the winter. Not true. Both heat and air conditioning lower indoor humidity which means the humidity from our skin and breath is lost to the dry air thereby creating a dehydrating effect for the body. Chapped lips, dry eyes and irritated skin are all signs of dehydration. So whether working indoors or engaged in outdoor winter sports, be sure to drink plenty of water in the wintertime too to avoid the effects of dehydration. Myth: Thirst is a good indicator that I need to drink.  Many people can use thirst as an indicator to rehydrate, but that may not always be reliable. As many of us know, thirst signals are easily ignored when it’s inconvenient to drink, and we do this regularly, so it’s tough to rely on thirst as a signal to drink. In addition, physical activity, high temperatures, stress and fatigue may increase water loss making it necessary to consume more than you usually need.

- IANS

Busting myths about hydration for healthy body

Los Angeles:  Do you need to drink eight glasses of water per day to avoid being dehydrated or is it really true that one can't get dehydrated in winters? Well think again as there are certain myths that Sodastream have cleared about human body. The drinksmaker device has come up with certain facts about human body that needs attention, reports femalefirst.co.uk. Myth: Everyone should drink eight glasses of water a day. Although it’s nice to drink more but the truth is that not everyone requires eight glasses of water a day to maintain adequate hydration. The amount of fluids that each person needs varies and is based on activity level, gender and body size. Other sources of fluids that contribute to hydration include carbonated drinks, juice, milk, coffee, tea, fruits, vegetables and other foods with higher water content. Myth: Only water really hydrates you. Not true. Many beverages with high water content contribute to the body’s hydration status, including carbonated soft drinks, juices, tea and even coffee to a certain extent. In addition, 20 percent of hydration regularly comes from the food you eat.

Myth: You can’t really get dehydrated in the winter. Not true. Both heat and air conditioning lower indoor humidity which means the humidity from our skin and breath is lost to the dry air thereby creating a dehydrating effect for the body. Chapped lips, dry eyes and irritated skin are all signs of dehydration. So whether working indoors or engaged in outdoor winter sports, be sure to drink plenty of water in the wintertime too to avoid the effects of dehydration. Myth: Thirst is a good indicator that I need to drink.  Many people can use thirst as an indicator to rehydrate, but that may not always be reliable. As many of us know, thirst signals are easily ignored when it’s inconvenient to drink, and we do this regularly, so it’s tough to rely on thirst as a signal to drink. In addition, physical activity, high temperatures, stress and fatigue may increase water loss making it necessary to consume more than you usually need.

- IANS

US set for military action if diplomacy fails on Syria: Obama

Washington: President Barack Obama said Saturday he was willing to give a chance to diplomacy to help resolve the Syrian crisis, but warned the military option was still on the table. US Secretary of State John Kerry and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov are in talks following Moscow's surprise initiative to finalise an agreement on eliminating Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's chemical weapons. "We need to see concrete actions to demonstrate that Assad is serious about giving up his chemical weapons," Obama said in his weekly address. "And since this plan emerged only with a credible threat of US military action, we will maintain our military posture in the region to keep the pressure on the Assad regime." The Russian plan has led Obama to put on hold planned military strikes in response to an August 21 chemical attack outside Damascus that Washington blames on the regime and says killed more than 1,400 people.

"We're making it clear that this can't be a stalling tactic," Obama said of the discussions in Geneva. "Any agreement needs to verify that the Assad regime and Russia are keeping their commitments: that means working to turn Syria's chemical weapons over to international control and ultimately destroying them," he added. "This would allow us to achieve our goal -- deterring the Syrian regime from using chemical weapons, degrading their ability to use them, and making it clear to the world that we won't tolerate their use." The United States has estimated that Syria possesses around 1,000 metric tonnes of various chemical agents, including mustard and sarin gas, sulfur and VX. The Russian estimates had been initially much lower, a senior US administration official said.

Obama pointed to "indications of progress" after the Assad regime acknowledged for the first time that it possessed chemical weapons and applied to join the 1993 Chemical Weapons Convention. "We'll keep working with the international community to see that Assad gives up his chemical weapons so that they can be destroyed," the president said. "We will continue rallying support from allies around the world who agree on the need for action to deter the use of chemical weapons in Syria. "And if current discussions produce a serious plan, I'm prepared to move forward with it."

US set for military action if diplomacy fails on Syria: Obama

Washington: President Barack Obama said Saturday he was willing to give a chance to diplomacy to help resolve the Syrian crisis, but warned the military option was still on the table. US Secretary of State John Kerry and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov are in talks following Moscow's surprise initiative to finalise an agreement on eliminating Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's chemical weapons. "We need to see concrete actions to demonstrate that Assad is serious about giving up his chemical weapons," Obama said in his weekly address. "And since this plan emerged only with a credible threat of US military action, we will maintain our military posture in the region to keep the pressure on the Assad regime." The Russian plan has led Obama to put on hold planned military strikes in response to an August 21 chemical attack outside Damascus that Washington blames on the regime and says killed more than 1,400 people.

"We're making it clear that this can't be a stalling tactic," Obama said of the discussions in Geneva. "Any agreement needs to verify that the Assad regime and Russia are keeping their commitments: that means working to turn Syria's chemical weapons over to international control and ultimately destroying them," he added. "This would allow us to achieve our goal -- deterring the Syrian regime from using chemical weapons, degrading their ability to use them, and making it clear to the world that we won't tolerate their use." The United States has estimated that Syria possesses around 1,000 metric tonnes of various chemical agents, including mustard and sarin gas, sulfur and VX. The Russian estimates had been initially much lower, a senior US administration official said.

Obama pointed to "indications of progress" after the Assad regime acknowledged for the first time that it possessed chemical weapons and applied to join the 1993 Chemical Weapons Convention. "We'll keep working with the international community to see that Assad gives up his chemical weapons so that they can be destroyed," the president said. "We will continue rallying support from allies around the world who agree on the need for action to deter the use of chemical weapons in Syria. "And if current discussions produce a serious plan, I'm prepared to move forward with it."