Security Council OKs Syria resolution, warns of consequences


United Nations (CNN) -- The U.N. Security Council, capping a dramatic month of diplomacy, voted unanimously late Friday to require Syria to eliminate its arsenal of chemical weapons -- or face consequences.
"Today's resolution will ensure that the elimination of the Syrian chemical weapons program happens as soon as possible and with the utmost transparency and accountability," Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said.
The U.N. resolution was based on a deal struck this month between the United States and Russia that averted an American military strike over allegations the Syrian government used sarin nerve gas in an August 21 attack on a Damascus suburb that U.S. officials said left at least 1,400 people dead.
The resolution did not authorize the automatic use of force if Syria is said to be in violation, as was previously sought by the United States.
The 15-member Security Council met shortly after the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, or OPCW, voted to fast-track Syria's addition to the Chemical Weapons Convention, which bans such weapons.
For nearly two years, the U.N. Security Council had been unable to reach a consensus over what to do to bring about an end to Syria's civil war. Russia and China repeatedly vetoed resolutions dating back to October 2011 that condemned President Bashar al-Assad's government and called for him to step down.
The turnaround came this month, when Russia called for Syria to divest itself of its chemical weapons arsenal after U.S. President Barack Obama accused Syria of crossing a "red line" with the use of nerve gas and threatened a strike.
Syria announced this month that it was willing to join the agreement.
A binding obligation
Both the United States and Russia warned that if Syria failed to adhere to the terms of the U.N. resolution, it would face consequences.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said the world community was imposing a binding obligation on the government of al-Assad to get rid of its stockpile.
"This resolution makes clear that those responsible for this heinous act must be held accountable," said Kerry.
If the resolution succeeds, the world "will have eliminated one of the largest chemical weapon arsenals on Earth, eliminating it from one of the most volatile places on Earth," Kerry said.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told the council that his country, long an ally of the Syrian government, "will stand ready to take action" if the resolution needs enforcement.
By agreeing to dismantle its chemical weapons program and provide documentation of its arsenal, "Damascus has shown its readiness to cooperate," said Lavrov.
Syrian U.N. Ambassador Bashar Jaafari said the resolution holds all parties in Syria accountable for the use of chemical weapons.
Inspectors return to Syria
U.N. weapons inspectors returned to Syria this week to look into at least a half-dozen claims of chemical weapons use -- some allegedly by the government, others allegedly by rebels.
U.N. inspectors have already confirmed the use of chemical warfare in the rural Damascus suburb of Ateibeh in August, but have not explicitly said who was responsible.
The al-Assad government has repeatedly accused rebels of using chemical weapons, an assertion that has been widely dismissed by most Western leaders.
The United Nations estimates more than 100,000 people have died since March 2011 when a brutal government crackdown against protesters devolved into an all-out civil war.
The Security Council vote followed action by the executive council of the OPCW, meeting in the Netherlands. That group adopted its measure by consensus in about 10 minutes.
"We now have a legal mandate to start a verification mission in Syria," OPCW spokesman Michael Luhan.
The OPCW agreed to an "accelerated program for achieving the complete elimination of Syria's chemical weapons by mid-2014," it said in a statement. Inspections in Syria will begin Tuesday.
"The decision also calls for ambitious milestones for destruction, which will be set by the council by 15 November," the organization said.
Obama: 'Very hopeful'
Obama, speaking before the votes, said he was "very hopeful" about the developments, but warned much work remains to be done.
"I think, rightly, people have been concerned about whether Syria will follow through on the commitments that have been laid forth and I think there are legitimate concerns as to how technically we are going to be getting those chemical weapons out while there's still fighting going on the ground," Obama said.
Obama said the threat of U.S. military power pushed Syrian leaders to agree to destroy their chemical weapons and said the resolution "not only deters and prevents additional chemical use but actually goes beyond what could have been accomplished through any military action."
The OPCW plans to send an advance team of inspectors to Damascus, an official with the organization, who declined to be identified while discussing delicate operations, told CNN on Friday.
The official said that in order to meet international deadlines for destruction of Syria's chemical weapons, the group may opt for a "quick and dirty" program that would render the weapons unusable but wouldn't destroy them, the official said.
U.S. official: Syrian CW list more complete than anticipated
'Not a license to kill'
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu has said his country is willing to transport and destroy Syrian chemical weapons, although only as part of an international coalition.
Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier in September took to The New York Times to argue against military intervention in Syria.
Striking Syria would have many negative ramifications, Putin argued in the piece, including the killing of innocent people, spreading violence around the Middle East, clouding diplomatic efforts to address Iran's nuclear crisis and resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and "unleash(ing) a new wave of terrorism."
In his remarks Friday night, Ban called on both the Syrian government and rebels to stop the fighting.
"As we mark this important step, we must never forget that the catalog of horrors in Syria continues with bombs and tanks, grenades and guns," he said. "A red light for one form of weapons does not mean a green light for others. This is not a license to kill with conventional weapons."
Syria submits 'initial disclosure' of chemical weapons program
'No meaningful enforcement mechanisms'
Two Republican U.S. senators criticized the Security Council vote, saying it will do little to end the civil war.
"This resolution is another triumph of hope over reality," John McCain and Lindsey Graham said in a statement. "It contains no meaningful or immediate enforcement mechanisms, let alone a threat of the use of force for the Assad regime's noncompliance."
The pair said al-Assad's forces will continue to "use every weapon in their arsenal short of chemical weapons" on the Syrian people while receiving outside assistance from Russia, Iran and Hezbollah while doing so.
CNN's Phil Gast, Chelsea J. Carter, Dana Ford, Andrew Carey and Jim Sciutto contributed to this report.

0 comments:

Need for Speed Official Trailer (HD)





Framed for a crime he didn't commit, Tobey (Aaron Paul) gets out of jail determined to settle the score with the man who is responsible for his false sentence.

0 comments:

The Flat Belly Diet





By 

WebMD Expert Review

The Flat Belly Diet: What It Is

It sounds like a dream come true: Eat certain foods and banish belly fat forever.
The Flat Belly Diet promises a flat belly and weight loss of up to 15 pounds in 32 days. "A flat belly is about food & attitude ... not a single crunch required," it boasts on its cover.
Written in the first person by Liz Vaccariello, editor-in-chief of Prevention, along with Cynthia Sass, MPH, RD, former nutrition director at Prevention, the Flat Belly Dietis targeted to the millions of Americans who want to notch off a few inches or more off their waistline. After all, who doesn't want a trimmer belly?
The basic Flat Belly Diet plan is a 1,600-calorie Mediterranean-style diet with an emphasis on wholesome, unrefined foods including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, beans, seeds, lean protein, and very little red meat (once a month). 
According to the authors, the secret ingredient in the Flat Belly Diet that whittles away belly fat is the addition of a monounsaturated fat, or MUFA, at every meal. MUFAs are found in olives, avocados, nuts, seeds, dark chocolate, soybean, flax, and olive and sunflower oils.
"Research shows that MUFAs have health benefits and target belly fat. They also help control satiety, so by adding in one MUFA at meals and snacks it is easier to stick with the plan and lose belly fat," explains co-author Sass.
Before starting on the 28-day plan, dieters go on a 1,200- to 1400-calorie, four-day anti-bloat jump-start period designed to reduce bloating and get dieters in the mind-set of a healthier eating plan. During the jump-start, dieters drink 2 liters of daily "sassy water," a blend of spices, herbs, citrus, and cucumber. "We tested the diet plan on 11 volunteers and they told us the flavored water reduced bloating,constipation, helped them feel better and get rid of that sluggish feeling," explains Sass.
There's a lot of girlfriend-sounding advice from journalist Vaccariello, who is not a medical professional, along with more credible "notes from our nutritionist" that feature registered dietitian Sass. Success stories of the 11-member test panel are sprinkled throughout the book.
Exercise is optional but encouraged. An entire chapter is devoted to the flat belly workout with diagrams of exercises, walking plans, and a 28-day workout plan.

The Flat Belly Diet: What You Can Eat

Whether you are a vegetarian or a meat eater, have food allergies, or are lactose intolerant, this plan can be adapted to meet your individual needs. The plan calls for four, 400-calorie meals spaced every four hours, and each meal includes a MUFA.
Dieters don't count calories. Instead, they choose from a list of 28 interchangeable mix-and-match breakfasts, lunches, dinners and snack packs. Food lists with portion sizes and calories allow flexibility in creating snack packs and can be used whenever you need it most. Eighty recipes are included with nutrient analysis of calories, protein, carbohydrates, total fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, sodium and fiber.

Sample Anti-Bloat Menu
Breakfast: 1 cup Rice Krispies, 1 cup skim milk, 1/2 cup pineapple, 1/4 cup sunflower seeds
Lunch: 3 oz chunk light tuna in water, 1 cup carrots, 1 light string cheese
Dinner: 3 oz chicken breast, 1 cup mushrooms sauteed in 1 teaspoon olive oil, 1/2 cup brown rice
Snack: pineapple smoothie (1 cup skim milk, 4 oz. pineapple, and 1 tablespoon flaxseed)
2 liters sassy water
Sample Flat Belly Menu
Breakfast: Apple almond oatmeal
Lunch: Pesto ham and cheese sandwich on whole-grain English muffin with lettuce & tomato and 1 cup grape tomatoes
Dinner: 3 oz grilled salmon steak with 2 tablespoons almonds, 1 1/2 cup green beans
Snack: 1/4 cup hummus with 2 tablespoons pine nuts and 1 cup red pepper strips
Calories of meals and snacks during the diet phase are controlled at 400, but the other nutrients can vary. "You can get up to 40% of your calories from fat if you choose the higher fat menu items," says Sass, which exceeds the National Institutes of Health recommendation of 20%-35% of calories.
On the web site, individuals can alter the calorie levels from a low of 1,200 to a high of 2,000 by modifying the snack. Dieters can also send email questions to the authors.

The Flat Belly Diet: How It Works

The premise of the Flat Belly Diet is that if you trim calories to 1,600 per day, add a MUFA at every meal, eat every four hours, and get regular exercise (although this is optional) you will lose weight and belly fat.
For people who skip meals or don't eat breakfast, the structure of the diet can help change bad habits into good ones.
Chances are you will lose belly fat on the Flat Belly Diet, but not because of the MUFAs. When you lose weight, you are more likely to lose it in your midsection regardless of the type of weight loss plan, says Michael Jensen, MD, Mayo Clinic obesity researcher and endocrinology specialist. The plan promotes a lifestyle of overall healthy eating, weight control, stress reduction, and exercise that could be sustained beyond the 32 days. Log onto flatbelly.com for added support, motivation, additional menu plans, and the option to print shopping lists or track nutritional intake. 
Beyond the diet book, a series of flat belly cookbooks, a pocket guide, journal, workout, and an online diet option are also available.

The Flat Belly Diet: What the Experts Say

While losing belly fat is important to your health -- extra pounds in your midsection increase your risk of cardiovascular and other diseases more than extra weight in your hips and thighs -- scientific research is scant on diets that specifically target belly fat, Jensen says. And MUFAs are no magic bullet.
"There are so many variables associated with weight loss that it is premature to associate belly fat with a specific food or diet plan," Jensen says.
Christine Rosenbloom, PhD, RD, Georgia State University professor emeritus, also questions some of the advice in the book. "The science behind the jump-start plan associated with stress, gum chewing, bulky raw foods, drinking carbonated drinks, alcohol, coffee, tea, and acidic fruit juices is pure speculation and not based on scientific research," she says. "There is not adequate scientific evidence to link lack of sleep, stress, or MUFAs to a reduction in belly fat."
She likes the addition of the healthy fats because they make dieting easier and deliver important nutrients like fat-soluble vitamins. But she cautions dieters to watch the portions of high-calorie fats. "Monitor your portions because it is so easy to overeat things like nuts and guacamole and if you are not careful, they will causeweight gain instead of helping you lose weight," she warns.
Losing 15 pounds in 32 days is most likely the result of losing water weight, not the fat loss that dieters seek. "A pound of fat equals 3,500 calories, so to lose 15 pounds in 32 days of real fat, you would need to burn off 1,640 calories each day and that is not likely," she says. Losing weight quickly can be a real motivator as long as dieters recognize that real fat loss is slower and more likely to be at the recommended safe rate of 1-2 pounds per week. Additionally, Rosenbloom notes, research does not support the notion of spot reduction for losing belly fat.
Rosenbloom says, "To keep your belly in check, remember the acronym SED:Strength training to preserve muscle mass, Exercise aerobically to burn fat, and your Diet should be healthy, calorie-controlled, and include heart-healthy fats."

Flat Belly Diet: Food for Thought

You can lose weight on The Flat Belly Diet plan, but don't be fooled into thinking MUFAs have magic belly-flattening nutrients capable of melting away belly fat.
It is a calorie-controlled, Mediterranean-style diet plan that can help you lose weight in a safe and effective manner. The Mediterranean diet has been proven to be a nutritious and healthy plant-based plan that is good for your heart and overall health.
What will melt body fat, including belly fat, is losing weight on a well-balanced plan like this one or any other healthy, calorie-controlled eating plan.
Kathleen Zelman, MPH, RD, LD, is director of nutrition for WebMD. Her opinions and conclusions are her own.

0 comments:

Westgate mall attack: British man arrested in Nairobi


UK Foreign Office confirms Briton has been held after reports of man trying to board plane from Kenya to Turkey

The Foreign Office has confirmed that a British man has been arrested in Kenya following the siege at a mall that has left dozens dead.
The agency said in a statement on Wednesday that British officials were ready to provide assistance to the man. Officials would not provide details about the arrest or name the man, who is believed to be in his 30s.
The Daily Mail said the man was arrested on Monday as he tried to board a flight from Nairobi to Turkey. The newspaper said his face was bruised and he was acting suspiciously.
A Kenyan official has said the terrorists who took over the mall included a Briton and several Americans but provided no further details.

0 comments:

Westgate mall attack: British man arrested in Nairobi


UK Foreign Office confirms Briton has been held after reports of man trying to board plane from Kenya to Turkey

The Foreign Office has confirmed that a British man has been arrested in Kenya following the siege at a mall that has left dozens dead.
The agency said in a statement on Wednesday that British officials were ready to provide assistance to the man. Officials would not provide details about the arrest or name the man, who is believed to be in his 30s.
The Daily Mail said the man was arrested on Monday as he tried to board a flight from Nairobi to Turkey. The newspaper said his face was bruised and he was acting suspiciously.
A Kenyan official has said the terrorists who took over the mall included a Briton and several Americans but provided no further details.

0 comments:

fainali ya Miss Tanzania 2013


Picha zote za tukio zima la Miss Tanzania 2013 kuanzia Red Carpet,warembo wakiwa kwenye stage,mshindi akitangazwa hadi anakabidhiwa gari lake. Picha zaidi ya 30 kutoka kwenye fainali za Miss Tanzania 2013, enjoy.

0 comments:

fainali ya Miss Tanzania 2013


Picha zote za tukio zima la Miss Tanzania 2013 kuanzia Red Carpet,warembo wakiwa kwenye stage,mshindi akitangazwa hadi anakabidhiwa gari lake. Picha zaidi ya 30 kutoka kwenye fainali za Miss Tanzania 2013, enjoy.

0 comments: