Scientists discover why smokers are thinner

WASHINGTON: US scientists have figured out exactly how nicotine acts as an appetite suppressant in the brain, a finding that could one day help in the fight against obesity, researchers said Thursday.
Smokers tend to be thinner than people who don't smoke, and the study led by Yale University and published in the journal Science describes how nicotine activates certain neurons in a part of the brain called the hypothalamus.
Those neurons tell the body when it's had enough to eat, according to senior author Marina Picciotto, a professor of neurobiology and pharmacology at Yale.
"Many people say they won't quit smoking because they'll gain weight. Ultimately, we would like to help people maintain their body weight when they kick the habit and perhaps help non-smokers who are struggling with obesity."
Researchers made the discovery by studying mice, but are hopeful that similar receptors can be isolated in humans, too.

India ease to victory over West Indies

PORT OF SPAIN: Half-centuries from Virat Kohli and Parthiv Patel followed up Amit Mishra's career-best bowling to lead India to a seven-wicket victory over West Indies in the rain-affected second One-day International on Wednesday.
Kohli struck six fours and one six in 81 from 103 balls to earn the Man-of-the-Match award, and Patel made 56 from 64 deliveries, as the Indians, chasing a revised target of 183 from 37 overs due to rain, reached their target with 20 balls remaining.
India captain Suresh Raina clinched victory, when he steered a delivery from Ravi Rampaul wide of point for two runs.
India now lead the five-match series 2-0, following a four-wicket victory in the first ODI two days ago at the same venue.
Mishra had upstaged half-centuries from Lendl Simmons and Ramnaresh Sarwan, triggering a batting collapse with a career-best spell, as West Indies posted 240 for nine from their allocation of 50 overs.
Mishra captured four for 31 from his allotment of 10 overs, while
Munaf Patel bagged three for 35.
India suffered an early setback, when Shikhar Dhawan was caught at square cover off Ravi Rampaul for three in the third over.
But a second wicket stand of 120 between Kohli and Patel put India firmly on track, enduring two stoppages for rain.
Earlier, India were on the back-foot, when West Indies benefitted from three straight half-century stands.
Sarwan's 56 off 90 balls was the top score, and Simmons' supported with 53 from 84 deliveries.But five wickets - three to Mishra - fell for 22 in the space of 47 deliveries before Sammy struck one four and two sixes in 22 from 19 balls to push West Indies to a respectable total.
The third ODI will be played on June 11 at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground in Antigua.

SHC defers Afridi case hearing till June 16

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) has deferred the hearing of the case involving the PCB's disciplinary proceedings against former captain Shahid Afridi till June 16, Geo News reported.
The court had earlier stayed the committee's proceedings against Afridi, after he had filed a petition challenging the validity of the sanctions imposed on him by the PCB.
The court upheld the decision to revoke the permission for the former captain to play abroad, adjourning the hearing of the petition against the PCB until June 16.
Afridi went to court after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) punished him for allegedly breaching the code of conduct by announcing his retirement after he was dumped as one-day captain, and for levelling allegations against the board.
The PCB suspended his central contract, revoked all his no-objection certificates (NOCs) which would have allowed him to play in England and Sri Lanka and served him with a show-cause notice last week.
Afridi's lawyers, Syed Ali Zafar had sent a letter to the PCB in a bid to resolve the dispute between the two parties. He had stressed repeatedly that they were asking only for due process to be followed and that the act of suspending Afridi's central contract and withdrawing his NOC were punishments handed down to the former captain before he had been heard.
He said that the PCB lawyers were using delay tactics which were causing a financial loss to Afridi, therefore he was considering the option of suing the board.
PCB's lawyer Taffazul Rizvi said that the petition should have been filed in the Lahore High Court (LHC) instead of SHC therefore SHC did not have the right to hear Afridi's case. He said that the NOC was issued under central contract and after its suspension the PCB was not bound to retain the NOC. He said that Afridi would have to appear before the disciplinary committee in any case.
Rizvi said that the PCB would submit its detailed response during the next hearing and if needed, PCB chairman Ijaz Butt could also appear in court.

Jayasuriya recalled for Sri Lanka ODI series

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka on Thursday recalled veteran left-handed batsman Sanath Jayasuriya for the upcoming limited overs series against England, Ireland and Scotland.
Jayasuriya, who turns 42 at the end of this month, is the oldest player in international cricket. Now a ruling party legislator, he last played a one-day game against India in December 2009.
He quit the Test arena in 2007, but continued to play in the shorter versions of the game.
He is likely to open the innings, as regular opener Upul Tharanga was dropped from selection on Wednesday after he failed a random doping test.
Selectors led by former skipper Duleep Mendis named Thilina Kandamby as vice-captain of the squad. They also included all-rounder Jeewan Mendis and wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Chandimal.
All-rounder Angelo Matthews, who is recovering from a quadriceps muscle injury, was included in the squad subject to him passing a fitness test.
Sri Lanka, currently playing a Test series in England, are scheduled to play a lone T20 match in Bristol on June 25 followed by five one-dayers from June 28 to July 9.
The tour will end with two one-day games against Ireland and Scotland.
Squad: Tillakaratne Dilshan (captain), Thilina Kandamby (vice-capt), Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardena, Dinesh Chandimal, Jeevan Mendis, Dimuth Karunaratne, Thissara Perera, Lasith Malinga, Nuwan Kulasekera, Suranga Lakmal, Dilhara Fernando, Suraj Randiv, Ajantha Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Sanath Jayasuriya.

Roddick in hunt for record fifth Queen's crown

LONDON: Andy Roddick remains in the hunt for a record fifth Queen's crown after advancing to the quarter-finals with a 6-4, 6-4 win over South Africa's Kevin Anderson on Thursday.
Since his last Queen's triumph back in 2007, Roddick has been trying to break the record for most singles' titles at the Wimbledon warm-up event which he currently shares with six other players including John McEnroe, Boris Becker and Lleyton Hewitt.
The American has endured a dispiriting 2011 campaign marred by a right shoulder injury that bothered him for several months and led him to miss the French Open after several first round exits from recent tournaments.
But, despite his recent troubles, Roddick is a three-time Wimbledon finalist who thrives on the lush lawns of west London.
Returning to his favoured grass courts has been the perfect tonic for Roddick and he followed a tough three-set win over Feliciano Lopez in the second round with another gritty victory against 15th seed Anderson.
Roddick, seeded third, looked determined to make a fast start and a superb forehand brought up two break points in the fifth game. Anderson couldn't respond to Roddick's pressure as he sent a volley wide to concede the break.

Pakistan needs to do more in fight against terrorism: CIA Chief

WASHINGTON: Cooperating with Pakistan in the fight against terrorism is essential to maintain pressure on Al-Qaeda after Osama bin Laden's death, CIA chief Leon Panetta said ahead of a US Senate hearing Thursday.
"Continuing cooperation with Pakistan is critical to keep a tremendous amount of pressure on Al-Qaeda's leadership and the networks that provide it support and safe haven at a time when it is most vulnerable," Panetta said in written responses to US lawmakers.
But he warned that Pakistan, which is a large recipient of US aid, needed to do more to step up in the fight against terrorism. "Future requests for security assistance will be informed by Pakistan's response to the counter-terrorism steps we have proposed," he said.
Panetta is to attend Thursday's hearing of the Senate Armed Services committee as it considers his nomination to be the next secretary of defense to replace Robert Gates.
The current CIA chief acknowledged in his responses that "the relationship with Pakistan is not always easy and we have our differences." But he said: "One of the key lessons from this operation is that we have seen no clear evidence to indicate that senior Pakistani leaders were involved in harboring Osama bin Laden or knew of his whereabouts."
The Al-Qaeda leader and mastermind of the September 11, 2001 attacks was killed by a US commando raid on his Pakistani hideout on May 2, after a decade-long manhunt to find him.
"If confirmed, I will continue to work with our partners in both Afghanistan and Pakistan to achieve our goal of eliminating terrorist networks that threaten the United States and our allies and partners," Panetta wrote.
Pakistan has lost some 11,000 soldiers in its counter-terrorism operations in the northwestern tribal areas and has suffered "more than 30,000 civilian casualties in recent years, most recently in significant attacks following the bin Laden operation," he said. But he stressed: "It is vital that Pakistan live up to its end of the bargain, cooperating more fully in counterterrorism matters and ceasing to provide sanctuary to Afghan Taliban and other insurgent groups." 

Karachi incident: President takes notice, orders immediate inquiry

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari has taken notice of the killing of a youth by Rangers in Karachi.
According to the Presidential spokesman, the President has expressed deep sorrow over the killing and ordered a report of the incident. The spokesman added that a complete investigation of the incident would be conducted.
The incident took place on Wednesday and was broadcast on numerous news channels.