Washington, November 5 : Penn State researchers have identified thousands of positions where a molecular “master regulator” is located in DNA to control genes in fat cells.

Dr. Mitchell Lazar, Director of the Institute for Diabetes, Obesity, and Metabolism at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, has revealed that the master molecule is called PPAR gamma, a target of anti-diabetic drugs.

The drugs bind to PPAR gamma in the nucleus of fat cells, which affects the expression of many genes, about twenty of which were previously known.

The latest study has uncovered about 5,300 additional sites that PPAR gamma targets in fat-cell DNA.

Manila - Rescuers raced against time Wednesday to search for nine people missing after the sinking of a motorized wooden boat in the eastern Philippines that killed 42 people, officials said.

Seoul - North Korea's state-controlled media on Wednesday released new, undated pictures of leader Kim Jong Il for the second time in four days.

Weeks of public absences have fuelled speculation over the health of the 66-year-old leader.

The official Korean Central News Agency reported that Kim visited two army units and observed training. Pictures released with the report showed an apparently healthy Kim, clad in a thick parka, with a group of soldiers, but it remained unclear when the photos were taken.

Los Angeles - The Boston Celtics won the NBA Championship with a gritty defence, and they showed that down the stretch to knock the Houston Rockets from the unbeaten ranks.

Ray Allen scored 29 points, Kevin Garnett had 14 with 11 rebounds and the Celtics shut down the Rockets for a 103-99 road victory on Tuesday night, in an early season match-up of league powerhouses.

"I was really proud of our guys because it was a big game for them and for us," Celtics coach Doc Rivers said after his club improved their record to 3-1. "It was hard fought, physical game. Every time we got the lead they fought back."

London, Nov 5: Hollywood legend Clint Eastwood, who served as a small-town mayor in the 1980s, has dubbed politicians "sell outs."

The 78-year-old veteran actor governed Californian beach haven Carmel-by-the-sea from 1986 to 1988.

However, the ‘Dirty Harry’ star insists it was as high as his political ambitions go.

"I enjoyed being Mayor of Carmel, but you do see that it is very difficult to get things done. You just have to lose your soul. You have to bulls**t people,” the Daily Express quoted him, as saying.

Paris - French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Wednesday sent a letter to US President-elect Barack Obama congratulating him on what he called a "brilliant victory."

After extending the "warmest congratulations" on his behalf and that of the French people, Sarkozy wrote that Obama's election triumph "crowns an exceptional campaign ... (that) has shown the vitality of American democracy to the entire world."

Sarkozy added, "In choosing you, the American people have chosen change, openness and optimism."