user: question: An extremist Libyan militia has captured twelve men who now face mutilation and execution for allegedly being gay. The militia stormed a private party in Ain Zara, a suburb of the capital Tripoli, late on Thursday night and took the men hostage. Pictures of the men with their hands up against the wall and their faces covered as well as one of a man's back with a henna tattoo have been posted on Facebook. Under threat of death: Twelve men face mutilation and execution after they were captured by an extremist Libyan militia. One of the pictures was accompanied by the Quranic call 'there is no power but the power of Allah!' Gay Star News reported that the group labelled the men the 'third sex' which is a term used in the Arab Gulf area to denote homosexuals. At the time of writing, the picture of the men received 133 likes, 138 shares, and 189 comments some of which were 'flog them hard!', ‘let them see bullets!’, ‘free Libya! [ie from gays]’ and ‘ride them like camels’. The militia call themselves the 'special deterrence unit' on their Facebook page and on it they boast that they caught the men doing the 'practices of the people of Lot' (i.e having gay sex) and that the men are to be mutilated and executed. The group also posted this picture of a man's back with a henna tattoo which has received 46 likes and 30 shares. Human Rights Libya left a. comment saying the organisation hopes the men will not be treated. inhumanely and called upon the militia to hand the men to the civil. authorities. They identified the group as the Al-Nawasi militia, who are considered to be extreme Salafists. The group also claims that they have now become a legal part of the Libyan Ministry of Interior. They state their mission is to remove ‘corruption’, ‘vice’, alcoholic drinks and now gays from the streets of Libya. A Libyan LGBT activist nicknamed Khaleed told Gay Star News: ‘Many of us fear that some of the. militias [there are over 250 of them in the country], which are extreme. Islamists who are very well armed and financed, will focus on the LGBT. community and hunt us down. ‘The. police is largely absent or powerless so Libyan civil society has a. real problem; the militias often take the law onto their own hands. ‘That. the Al Nawasi militia claims they are now part of the Ministry of. Interior is very worrying; this move should be unacceptable to the. public and to civil society groups.’ The group's Facebook page (pictured) features the photo of the men which has attracted many 'likes' and 'shares'

answer: The militia stormed a private party in Tripoli and took the men hostage. Pictures of men with hands up against wall were posted on Facebook. Militia states on Facebook page that mission is to rid Libya of gay people.


question: Walking in groups does more than put a spring in your step – it cuts your risk of life-threatening disorders, say researchers. Stroke, coronary heart disease, depression and even cancer recurrence can be staved off through regular outdoor walking in groups, they found. Among the benefits are lower blood pressure, resting heart rate, blood cholesterol levels, body fat and Body Mass Index (BMI). Walking in groups cuts the risk of life-threatening disorders such as stroke and coronary heart disease (file image) Researchers at the University of East Anglia (UEA), who carried out a study, want doctors to recommend group walking as a regular tonic. Sarah Hanson and Professor Andy Jones of UEA’s Norwich Medical School carried out a review of 42 studies that looked at 1,843 participants in 14 countries, including a total of 74,000 hours of group walking. Sarah Hanson said ‘Our research suggests that by joining a group, people walk faster and further than they would normally walk. ‘It is one of the best and easiest ways to boost overall health. The benefits are wide ranging – and they go above and beyond making people more physically active.’ She said the psychological benefits and security found in group walking paid health dividends. ‘The merits of walking – including lowering the recurrence of some cancers – are well known, but these findings show that the dynamics and social cohesion of walking in groups may produce additional advantages. ‘People who walk in groups also tend to have a more positive attitude toward physical activity, a shared experience of wellness, and say they feel less lonely and isolated’ she added. Britons are advised to do 150 minutes a week of moderate activity such as gardening, dancing or brisk walking. Britons are advised to do 150 minutes a week of moderate activity such as gardening, dancing or brisk walking. But almost a third do less than 30 minutes exercise a week, and one in 10 doesn't manage to walk more than five minutes at a time over a month. The new study, published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine (must credit), looked at walkers with obesity, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, fibromyalgia, Parkinson’s disease, as well as healthy participants. The findings showed people who joined walking groups registered statistically significant falls in average blood pressure, resting heart rate, body fat, weight, and total cholesterol. Walkers also experienced improvements in lung power, overall physical functioning, and general fitness, and they were less depressed than before they started walking regularly. Evidence was less clear-cut for reductions in other risk factors for ill health, such as waist circumference, fasting blood glucose and blood fats. Three-quarters of all participants stuck with the group, and there were few side effects, apart from a handful of falls on roots or wet ground, and minor injuries such as calf strain. Sarah Hanson said people in groups get a sense of belonging, with some men and women enjoying the security. She said ‘People told us all the organising was done for them, they simply had to turn up. It becomes an obligation, habit-forming, which helps them stick at it. ‘Some men said if they go for a walk in the woods on their own with no dog their motives might be questioned.’ She said ‘These findings may provide clinicians with evidence of a further effective option to recommend to those patients who would benefit from increasing the amount of moderate-intensity physical activity they do.’ The ‘Walking for Health’ scheme, run by the Ramblers and Macmillan Cancer Support, is England’s largest network of outdoor group walks, with 70,000 regular walkers, 10,000 volunteer walk leaders and approximately 3,000 short walks offered every week around the country. Jackie Hayhoe, programme manager for Walking for Health, said ‘Walking really works. Every day we see the positive impact this simple activity has on the thousands of people who regularly take part in Walking for Health group walks. ‘We’re delighted to see further evidence to support what we see on the ground – that walking with others adds to the many health and well-being benefits regular walkers see. “As the evidence mounts, we’d like to see more local authorities, clinicians and public health professionals supporting and recommending walking groups in their local areas.’ j.hope@dailymail.co.uk.

answer:

assistant: Scientists found walking in groups reduced blood pressure and BMI. Researchers now want doctors to recommend activity as regular tonic. Walkers are also afforded a sense of belonging when doing it together.