A US naval strike group led by an aircraft carrier has deployed to Middle Eastern waters, the United States said Monday, as Tehran warned it was ready to hit back at any American attack launched in response to a crackdown on anti-government protests. A US-based rights group said on Monday that it had confirmed the deaths of nearly 6,000 people in the wave of protests suppressed by Iran's security forces, but emphasised the actual toll could be several times higher. The protests started in late December, driven by economic grievances, but turned into a mass movement against the Islamic republic, with huge street demonstrations for several days from January 8. But rights groups have accused authorities of quelling the movement with unprecedented violence, shooting into crowds of protesters under the cover of an internet shutdown that has now lasted 18 days -- the longest Iran has ever imposed. The clerical leadership who took power after the 1979 Islamic revolution remains in pla...
A new study from Tulane University suggests that climbing at least 50 stairs each day can lower the risk of heart disease, The Independent reported. According to the research, daily stair climbing of more than five flights may reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases by almost 20 per cent. Strokes, coronary artery disease, and other cardiovascular illnesses, such as atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), are the main killers and causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. "Short bursts of high-intensity stair climbing are a time-efficient way to improve cardiorespiratory fitness and lipid profile, especially among those unable to achieve the current physical activity recommendations," The Independent quoted Dr Lu Qi, a co-author of the study and a professor at Tulane University's School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine as saying. He added, "The findings highlight the potential advantages of stair climbing as a primary preventive measure for ASC...