SC to hear curative plea on gay sex; gives hope to LGBT

New Delhi: The Supreme Court today agreed to hear in open court curative plea of gay rights activists against its order of criminalising gay sex, giving a ray of hope to LGBT community that the controversial verdict may be reconsidered and modified. 

Curative petition is the last judicial resort available for redressal of grievances in court which is normally decided by Judges in chamber without giving parties to argue. In rare cases such petitions are given an open court hearing. 

A four-judge bench headed by Chief Justice P Sathasivam decided to give an open court hearing to a bunch of petitions filed by gay rights activists, an NGO Naz Foundation and other persons including noted film director Shyam Benegal challenging the apex court's verdict upholding the validity of Section 377 of IPC which makes gay sex an offence punishable up to life imprisonment. 

"List in the court next week," the bench, also comprising justices R M Lodha, H L Dattu and S J Mukhopadhaya, said in its brief order. 

The petitioners, including Naz Foundation which has been spearheading the legal battle on behalf of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community, contended that there was an error in the judgement delivered on December 11 last year as it was based on old law. 

The apex court had earlier dismissed a batch of review petitions filed by the Centre and gay rights activists against its December 2013 verdict declaring gay sex an offence. 

The court had said it did not see any reason to interfere with the December 11, 2013 verdict and had also rejected the plea for oral hearing on the review petitions which are normally decided by judges in-chamber. 

The Supreme Court had on December 11, 2013 set aside the Delhi High Court judgement decriminalising gay sex and thrown the ball in Parliament's court for amending the law. 

The judgement revived the penal provision making gay sex an offence punishable with life imprisonment in a setback to people fighting a battle for recognition of their sexual preferences. PTI

SC to hear curative plea on gay sex; gives hope to LGBT

New Delhi: The Supreme Court today agreed to hear in open court curative plea of gay rights activists against its order of criminalising gay sex, giving a ray of hope to LGBT community that the controversial verdict may be reconsidered and modified. 

Curative petition is the last judicial resort available for redressal of grievances in court which is normally decided by Judges in chamber without giving parties to argue. In rare cases such petitions are given an open court hearing. 

A four-judge bench headed by Chief Justice P Sathasivam decided to give an open court hearing to a bunch of petitions filed by gay rights activists, an NGO Naz Foundation and other persons including noted film director Shyam Benegal challenging the apex court's verdict upholding the validity of Section 377 of IPC which makes gay sex an offence punishable up to life imprisonment. 

"List in the court next week," the bench, also comprising justices R M Lodha, H L Dattu and S J Mukhopadhaya, said in its brief order. 

The petitioners, including Naz Foundation which has been spearheading the legal battle on behalf of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community, contended that there was an error in the judgement delivered on December 11 last year as it was based on old law. 

The apex court had earlier dismissed a batch of review petitions filed by the Centre and gay rights activists against its December 2013 verdict declaring gay sex an offence. 

The court had said it did not see any reason to interfere with the December 11, 2013 verdict and had also rejected the plea for oral hearing on the review petitions which are normally decided by judges in-chamber. 

The Supreme Court had on December 11, 2013 set aside the Delhi High Court judgement decriminalising gay sex and thrown the ball in Parliament's court for amending the law. 

The judgement revived the penal provision making gay sex an offence punishable with life imprisonment in a setback to people fighting a battle for recognition of their sexual preferences. PTI

Attack on Hamid Mir: PM summons high-level meeting today

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has convened a high-level meeting today (Sunday) to discuss the attack on renowned journalist and Geo News anchorperson Hamid Mir in Karachi.

The prime minister has directed Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan to get the latest update on the incident.

Nawaz Sharif also made a telephone call to senior journalist, Amir Mir, brother of Hamid Mir and inquired about the health of his brother.

The Prime Minister prayed for early recovery of Hamid Mir during his conversation with the brother of Hamid Mir. He assured an independent inquiry into the incident.

 

Attack on Hamid Mir: PM summons high-level meeting today

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has convened a high-level meeting today (Sunday) to discuss the attack on renowned journalist and Geo News anchorperson Hamid Mir in Karachi.

The prime minister has directed Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan to get the latest update on the incident.

Nawaz Sharif also made a telephone call to senior journalist, Amir Mir, brother of Hamid Mir and inquired about the health of his brother.

The Prime Minister prayed for early recovery of Hamid Mir during his conversation with the brother of Hamid Mir. He assured an independent inquiry into the incident.

 

Northern Mexico plane crash kills 8

MEXICO CITY: A Hawker 800 jet crashed in northern Mexico late on Saturday, killing all eight people on board, the government of the state of Coahuila said.

The plane came down in an industrial estate in the municipality of Ramos Arizpe, just north of state capital Saltillo, the Coahuila attorney general´s office said in a statement.

According to preliminary findings, the jet departed from the Mexican Caribbean island of Cozumel on the east coast of the Yucatan Peninsula and was bound for Ramos Arizpe, the statement said.

It was not clear what caused the crash.

Separately, authorities in Naucalpan on the northwestern fringe of Mexico City said late on Saturday that a three-way car collision there had killed at least eight people and injured 12 others, some of them seriously.

Northern Mexico plane crash kills 8

MEXICO CITY: A Hawker 800 jet crashed in northern Mexico late on Saturday, killing all eight people on board, the government of the state of Coahuila said.

The plane came down in an industrial estate in the municipality of Ramos Arizpe, just north of state capital Saltillo, the Coahuila attorney general´s office said in a statement.

According to preliminary findings, the jet departed from the Mexican Caribbean island of Cozumel on the east coast of the Yucatan Peninsula and was bound for Ramos Arizpe, the statement said.

It was not clear what caused the crash.

Separately, authorities in Naucalpan on the northwestern fringe of Mexico City said late on Saturday that a three-way car collision there had killed at least eight people and injured 12 others, some of them seriously.

People scan internet for health early in week: Study

New York:Do you scan internet looking for topics on how to improve your health early in the week and switch to lifestyle and soft searches on weekends? A fascinating research says so.

On average, searches for health topics were 30 percent more frequent at the beginning of the week than on days later in the week, with the lowest average number of searches on Saturday, it added.

The researchers analysed weekly patterns in health-related Google searches and revealed a recurring pattern that could be leveraged to improve public health strategies.

'Many illnesses have a weekly clock with spikes early in the week,' said John W. Ayers, lead author from San Diego State University.

This research indicates that a similar rhythm exists for positive health behaviours.

Investigators scanned 'healthy' Google searches in the US from 2005 to 2012.

They found that search volumes Monday and Tuesday were three percent greater relative to Wednesday, 15 percent greater than Thursday, 49 percent greater than Friday, 80 percent greater than Saturday, and 29 percent greater than Sunday.

'It is interesting to see such a consistent and similar rhythm emerging from search data,' added Benjamin Althouse from Santa Fe Institute.

'These consistent rhythms in healthy searches likely reflect something about our collective mindset.

'Understanding these rhythms could lead to insights about the nature of health behaviour change,' he added in the study published in American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

Since Monday comes around every seven days when people are 'open to buy' health, it can be used as a cue to help create healthy habits for life, the study concluded. IANS

People scan internet for health early in week: Study

New York:Do you scan internet looking for topics on how to improve your health early in the week and switch to lifestyle and soft searches on weekends? A fascinating research says so.

On average, searches for health topics were 30 percent more frequent at the beginning of the week than on days later in the week, with the lowest average number of searches on Saturday, it added.

The researchers analysed weekly patterns in health-related Google searches and revealed a recurring pattern that could be leveraged to improve public health strategies.

'Many illnesses have a weekly clock with spikes early in the week,' said John W. Ayers, lead author from San Diego State University.

This research indicates that a similar rhythm exists for positive health behaviours.

Investigators scanned 'healthy' Google searches in the US from 2005 to 2012.

They found that search volumes Monday and Tuesday were three percent greater relative to Wednesday, 15 percent greater than Thursday, 49 percent greater than Friday, 80 percent greater than Saturday, and 29 percent greater than Sunday.

'It is interesting to see such a consistent and similar rhythm emerging from search data,' added Benjamin Althouse from Santa Fe Institute.

'These consistent rhythms in healthy searches likely reflect something about our collective mindset.

'Understanding these rhythms could lead to insights about the nature of health behaviour change,' he added in the study published in American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

Since Monday comes around every seven days when people are 'open to buy' health, it can be used as a cue to help create healthy habits for life, the study concluded. IANS

Four must eat white vegetables

New York: If white coloured clothes have a soothing effect on people, eating white vegetables is beneficial too and you should include more of cauliflower and garlic in your diet.

Here's a list of healthy white vegetables that you should consume more, reports huffingtonpost.com:

* Cauliflower: It contains sulfur compounds that are associated with fighting cancer, strengthening bone tissue and maintaining healthy blood vessels.

* Mushroom: Mushrooms are low in calories, fat-free, cholesterol-free, gluten-free, with barely any sodium, and yet they carry a wealth of selenium, potassium, riboflavin, niacin and vitamin D. Mushrooms are also filling, so they can help you control your weight.

* Garlic: It is believed to help in growing hair, cause acne to disappear and keep colds and flu at bay. Its antioxidant properties can help boost your immune system.

* Potatoes: The white potato provides as much fiber as and more potassium than other commonly consumed vegetables or fruit. A medium skin-on baked potato weighs in at just 163 calories, a whopping 941 milligrams of potassium and 3.6 grams of fiber. Potatoes also provide vitamin C, vitamin B6 and magnesium in addition to small amounts of high quality protein.

Four must eat white vegetables

New York: If white coloured clothes have a soothing effect on people, eating white vegetables is beneficial too and you should include more of cauliflower and garlic in your diet.

Here's a list of healthy white vegetables that you should consume more, reports huffingtonpost.com:

* Cauliflower: It contains sulfur compounds that are associated with fighting cancer, strengthening bone tissue and maintaining healthy blood vessels.

* Mushroom: Mushrooms are low in calories, fat-free, cholesterol-free, gluten-free, with barely any sodium, and yet they carry a wealth of selenium, potassium, riboflavin, niacin and vitamin D. Mushrooms are also filling, so they can help you control your weight.

* Garlic: It is believed to help in growing hair, cause acne to disappear and keep colds and flu at bay. Its antioxidant properties can help boost your immune system.

* Potatoes: The white potato provides as much fiber as and more potassium than other commonly consumed vegetables or fruit. A medium skin-on baked potato weighs in at just 163 calories, a whopping 941 milligrams of potassium and 3.6 grams of fiber. Potatoes also provide vitamin C, vitamin B6 and magnesium in addition to small amounts of high quality protein.