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Washington, October 24 : Surgeons at the Ohio State University Medical Center have preformed the first incisionless surgery in the US by using a device known as EsophyX, approved by the Food and Drug Administration, to cure gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), also known as heartburn.

The surgeons have treated the first two patients in the country by using the device.

The mechanism, which is new in the US, has been proven safe and effective in patients treated throughout Europe for GERD.

According to the surgeons, the new procedure does not leave any scars and results in minimal post-operative pain. It also reduces patients’ recovery time significantly, they say.

Edinburgh, Oct.24 : Muslims attending prayers at Edinburgh's central mosque last night criticised the eight-year jail sentence handed to Mohammed Atif Siddique as too severe.

Karim Adam Zarhara, 31, said: "I think he is the victim of political interference. Whatever happened to freedom of speech?"

Rohan Haksar said he believed the sentence was "very unjust".

Sana Ashraf, 21, said she had not followed the case, but believed Siddique was "disadvantaged" by being a devout Muslim.

"If you're Asian, you have a beard and are religious, it's going to work against you from the start," the law student was quoted by Scotsman, as saying.

Mohammed Ali, a 21-year-old student, said: "I don't think it's good for young people to be made a criminal for motives alone.

Wellington, Oct. 24 : International students will be able to stay in New Zealand longer to seek work under changes announced today.

Immigration Minister David Cunliffe was quoted by stuff.nz.com as saying the changes would allow many international students to stay in New Zealand on a job search permit for up to a year, instead of six months, while they looked for skilled work.

"There is increasing competition for skilled graduates and we need to allow them enough time to find a job in their area of expertise here in New Zealand and not run the risk that they will go elsewhere," he said.

"In many cases, these are precisely the type of skilled workers we need in New Zealand."

Edinburgh, Oct.24 : An Indian-born supermarket worker in a Scottish town was told to start speaking in English or he would have his throat cut.

The 22-year-old, who was chatting in his native language on his mobile phone, was threatened with an eight-centimetre blade as he walked home at 2:30 a.m. from his shift.

At Selkirk Sheriff Court yesterday, Brian McCrindle, 38, was tagged for three months after he admitted making a racially aggravated threat and also being in possession of an offensive weapon. The incident happened in Melrose Road, Galashiels, on June 26.

Graham Fraser, prosecuting told the court: "It was a very frightening incident against someone who was just minding his own business."

London, Oct.24 : British boxer Amir Khan has been cleared of dangerous driving after he speeding through a red light and knocking down a pedestrian.

The world lightweight title hopeful reached a top speed of 47mph as he went through traffic lights in the wrong lane in Bolton town centre on March 2.

Geoffrey Hatton, 55, suffered a broken leg when he was hit by Khan's BMW 6-series convertible on a pelican crossing.

The jury at Bolton Crown Court agreed with Khan's argument that his driving was careless, but not dangerous.

Khan was impassive as the jury returned a verdict of not guilty of dangerous driving, but guilty of careless driving.

Judge Steven Everitt banned Khan from driving for six months and fined him 1,000 pounds.