NEW YORK - NEARLY half of patients who completed 56 weeks of treatment with Orexigen Therapeutics Inc's experimental obesity treatment, Contrave, lost at least 10 percent of their weight in a late-stage study and the drug also appeared to help cholesterol and blood sugar levels.

The drug demonstrated an even greater improvement in non- weight loss measures in patients considered to be at high risk of heart disease, according to data released on Saturday.

PARIS - EXHILIRATED scientists on Saturday announced they had used gene therapy to restore eyesight to children blighted by a rare, inherited form of creeping blindness.

Youngsters were able to walk unaided around dimly-lit obstacles, take part in lessons at school without extra help - and one child saw the colour of his father's eyes for the very first time.

PARIS - KICKING off with thousands gathering on the steps of Sydney's iconic Opera House, global warming protests took place around the world on Saturday to mark 50 days before the UN climate summit.

From Asia to Europe via the Middle East, activists staged lively events addressing world leaders and to mobilise public opinion around climate issues.