Exercise cuts genetic obesity risk by 40 percent: study

WASHINGTON: Physical exercise can reduce a genetic predisposition to obesity by an average of 40 percent, a new study showed.

The research challenges the notion that an inherited propensity to obesity is impossible to overcome and boosts the case for the benefit of more exercise for anyone looking to shed some weight.

The study, published in this week’s Public Library of American Science Medicine journal, is based on examination of 20,430 people living in Norwich, Britain.

It found most of the study’s participants inherited between 10 and 13 genetic variants known to increase the risk of obesity, with some inheriting as many as 17 variants, and others as few as six.

Using modelling techniques, the researchers found that each genetic variant was linked to an increase in body mass index (BMI) — a measure of body size based on both height and

Most people in UK back face veil ban: poll

LONDON: More than two-thirds of the British public want Muslim face veils banned in all public places, according to a poll report.

The poll followed a French parliament vote, which may soon lead to an outlawing of burqas in France. In April Belgium outlawed the veils – the first European country to do so.

According to the poll, 67% of the 2,000 people who participated in the UK survey believe Britain should adopt the law, forbidding women to cover their faces, though human rights groups have inveighed against it.

One of those supporting the ban is chairman of the Muslim Educational Center in Oxford.

“We”re not telling these women what they can wear. We”re telling them the only thing they should do is uncover their faces,” said Imam Dr Taj Hargey. “I think this notion that somehow this is a religious symbol, a Koranic requirement, is nonsense.”

The new French law is scheduled to be implemented sometime next year, after it’s approval by the senate. Violators will then be fined 150 euros for covering their faces.

India Could not Harm Pakistan: AQ Khan

Lahore, Pakistan News: Nuclear scientist Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan has warned India that Pakistan could incur irreparable loss upon it, in case the atomic war is triggered.
During an interview to an Indian Daily, Dr AQ Khan noted that neither could India harm Lahore, nor it could inflict heavy damage upon Pakistan. He ruled out the notion that Pakistan’s nukes could fall in wrong hands, and denied having leaked out atomic secrets to Iran, saying that Musharraf created that hype.
Khan deplored that US never trusted Pakistan but it has close ties with India.

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India Could not Harm Pakistan: AQ Khan was first posted on February 21, 2010 at 5:58 pm.

Tony Blair Defends Saddam’s Removal

Tony Blair Defends Saddam’s Removal, Former British prime minister Tony Blair has said that the plan to remove Saddam from power was justified despite the fact that there were no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.
He said there were many reasons, which justified the decision to dethrone Saddam as he was becoming a biggest threat for the region.
He rejected the notion that he helped US just because of being a Christian. Blair said that most of the families of troops who are fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan feel proud of them but the opinion of those who oppose the wars is also respected.

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Tony Blair Defends Saddam’s Removal was first posted on December 12, 2009 at 3:54 pm.