Washington, Oct 30 : The initial excitement of joining a gym and being regular often dies, and people start coming up with innovative excuses to miss their exercise routine. Now, according to a group of researchers, such a sudden transition to a sedentary lifestyle can quickly lead to symptoms of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease 
(hepatic steatosis).

Hepatic steatosis is a reversible condition that causes fat to accumulate in liver cells of obese people.

The new study by researchers at University of Missouri indicated that a regular exercise can prevent nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, which affects at least 75 percent of obese people.

Washington, Oct 30 : Allergies are much more than just an annoying immune malfunction, they may protect against certain types of cancer, suggests a new study.

According to a new article in the December issue of The Quarterly Review of Biology, allergy symptoms may protect against cancer by expelling foreign particles, some of which may be carcinogenic or carry absorbed carcinogens, from the organs most likely to come in with contact them.

In addition, allergies may serve as early warning devices that let people know when there are substances in the air that should be avoided.

The article has been produced by researchers Paul Sherman, Erica Holland and Janet Shellman Sherman from Cornell University.

Tel Aviv - Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak ordered the crossing points into the Gaza Strip to be shut Thursday, after militants in the salient fired a Qassam rocket at southern Israel.

The rocket, fired from the north of the strip toward the nearby Israeli town of Sderot, caused neither damage nor injuries, an Israeli military spokesman said.

Militants had also fired a rocket on Thursday, causing Barak to take a similar decision regarding the crossing points.

George Town (Malaysia), Oct 30 : The National Fatwa Council in Malaysia is expected to make its stance clear about Muslims practicing yoga soon, after a leading Muslim professor at a Malaysian University preached to his community men to shun yoga, saying that its origins could be tracked to Hinduism.

It is learnt that the matter had been discussed at the Council''s meeting in Kota Baru recently.

New Delhi - Envoys of the Dalai Lama, the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader, were travelling to Beijing on Thursday for a new round of talks with Chinese officials, a senior Tibetan official said.

"The envoys Lodi Gyari and Kelsang Gyaltsen took a flight for Beijing early Thursday morning. They will be there (Beijing) for about a week," said Thubten Samphel, spokesman for the Tibetan government-in-exile in India.

A disciplined bowling effort in the last overs of the 23rd match of the ICL20s Indian Championship ensured a 3 run win for Hyderabad Heroes over the Ahmedabad Rockets.