Washington, April 5 : Obese people are at higher risk of developing periodontal disease than normal-weight individuals, according to a new study.

Researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health and the University of Puerto Rico, evaluated the link between different measures of obesity and risk of periodontal disease.

They analyzed data from 36,903 men from the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study who were free of reported periodontal disease at the start of follow-up, and we followed them for up to 16 years (1986-2002).

Washington, Apr. 5 : Pakistan is concerned with the US President Barack Obama’s idea of forming new contact group including India on Afghanistan and Pakistan, and has said that it will raise the issue during the US Special Envoy to Pakistan and Afghanistan Richard Holbrooke’s forthcoming visit to the country.

“We will talk to our American interlocutors. Holbrooke will be in Pakistan soon. We intend to talk to him about the idea of a contact group,” The Daily Times quoted Pakistan’s Ambassador to US Hussain Haqqani, as saying.

London, April 5 : Michelle Obama may have wowed the Brits with her chic outfits during her London visit but top US fashion designers worry her designs “don’t carry the right message”.

According to Oscar de la Renta, a firm favourite amongst previous First Ladies, the mum-of-two’s choice of switching between young and foreign designers could do a little rethinking.

"American fashion right now is struggling," the Telegraph quoted him as telling Women''s Wear Daily (WWD), the "fashion industry bible".

Kabul  - The top US envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan arrived in Kabul to hold talks with Afghan and NATO military officials, a US embassy spokesperson said Sunday.

Ambassador Richard Holbrooke was accompanied by the US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen. Both officials were vital in drafting a strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan that US President Barack Obama announced late last month.

Prague  - The European Union (EU) joined the international community Sunday in strongly condemning North Korea's launch of a long-range rocket.

A statement issued by the Czech government, which currently holds the EU's sixth-month rotating presidency, said the North Korean action placed additional strains on regional stability and was contrary to United Nations resolutions.

"These actions place additional strains on regional stability at a time when the unresolved nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula requires mutual confidence building," the EU said.

Washington, Apr 5 : Celiac disease patients, who are asked to stay away from gluten, can supplement the protein in their diet by opting for a new gluten-free bread, which resembles French bread in terms of texture and colour, according to a new study.

Celiac disease is a digestive disease that damages the small intestine and interferes with absorption of nutrients from food.

Over two million people who have celiac disease cannot tolerate gluten, a protein in wheat, rye, and barley.