Blocking this protein in the body could slow the ageing process: Duke-NUS researchers

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SINGAPORE: Experts from the Duke-NUS Medical School have discovered a peptide that actively promotes age.

Their study showed that as the body ages, organs express increasing levels of the interleukin-11 ( IL-11 ) protein.

Raised levels cause the heart and stomach to accumulate fat and build up, which are the hallmarks of ageing, and decrease muscle mass and strength.

Therefore, blocking this protein may be able to slow down age and prolong good lives.

According to Assistant Professor Anissa Widjaja from the Duke-NUS Medical School’s Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Programme,” Ageing is driven by a tiny set of valves that get more and more effective as we get older.”

On Thursday ( Jul 19 ), she told CNA’s Singapore Tonight that if we could turn off one or more of these ( switches ), it would help our cells function more youthfully. &nbsp,

” And, IL-11 is one of these valves”.

THE Finding

Prof Widjaja, who is the first and co-corresponding author of the study, said the revelation was “pure success and serendipity”.

While conducting another study on the cell’s role in causing increased bruising in the heart and kidneys, her group received tissue samples from various age groups in 2017.

They discovered that as you get older, your body’s ranges of IL-11 rise.

” I was pretty confused in the beginning. We could n’t find any possible role of IL-11 in ageing in ( published literature )”, she recalled.

” During age, you have more cells swelling, inflammation, and a reduction in your heart’s ability to heal, repair and heal after injury”, she said.

Her team concluded that the proteins might play a vital role in the ageing process because IL-11 causes related responses in the body, according to her research.

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Can taxis still compete with ride-hailing? Yes, say industry players

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Industry experts claim that place fees are in place to encourage car owners to go there, which also apply to other areas like Singapore Expo and Gardens by the Bay.

The absence of competitive fares indicates that the fares are not aggressive enough to entice drivers to be there, according to the statement from the place operators and tourists. That’s why ( the surcharge ) has to go up”, said transport economist Walter Theseira.

The Singapore University of Social Sciences ‘ associate professor of economics argued that the airline industry must try to stabilize supply and demand.

However, there are concerns that rising prices may turn even more people aside from taxis and force them to use ride-hailing, causing more cabs to jump through.

HOW DID RIDE-HAILING OVERTAKE TAXIS?

Many people nowadays prefer to book a car on ride-hailing services over taxis because they want the assurance of knowing the price in advance, as opposed to a prepaid fare, and the ability to compare prices between various apps.

” The industry has shifted very quickly towards ride-hailing”, said Prof Theseira, who was on the same radio.

The majority of Singaporeans want to travel by game, according to the author. The reveal of rides by supplied fare has been going over constantly, and will probably come down more”.

Drivers are choosing ride-hailing because a personal car’s rental is less expensive than a taxi, apart from a large number of possible passengers on apps.

However, according to observers, the acting model between the two sides may have ended at the end of the month.

Individuals get to keep all they earn after paying for hire and energy, so car firms do not accept payment from supplied fares. Ride-hailing companies, on the other hand, earn from fee, which means owners earn less per vacation.

Authorities have been attempting to stop the taxi’s drop by lowering operating costs, lowering car rentals, and facilitating more people’s licensing.

Car firms, too, have been adapting, as the two factors try to offer the best of both worlds to cater to different customers.

For example, the reservation platforms of car firms nowadays have a flat-fee unit, which mirrors the ride-hailing suffer design, &nbsp, and gives users an option other than supplied fares.

Cars ARE HERE TO STAY

Industry experts predict that the good ol’ taxi wo n’t be phased out.

There is room for improvement in the gridlock for the various models of hiring a journey, they said, and the demand for car transportation is still high as ever, especially during peak times.

Most travellers in Singapore not longer care whether our demand is met with a taxi or a personal vehicle. We go with whichever is cheaper”, said Prof Theseira.

” In fact, big platforms then do cross scheduling. But when you book a trip, it could be a car or a secret employ car, but you pay the same fare independently. The final destination of desire is essentially the same.

” So, ride-hailing ( may have ) killed the old taxi model, but it did n’t kill the taxi per se.”

The car industry is far from being considered a twilight business, Mr Ban said.

” When autonomous cars come over, that might be a problem for car owners. But at the time, I think vehicles are very adaptable. Taxis are here to be, “he added.

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High Court throws out Iswaran’s bid to get prosecution to hand over statements of all its witnesses

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A High Court judge in Singapore on Friday ( Jul 19 ) rejected former transport minister S Iswaran’s request to require the prosecution to provide the transcripts of all of its witnesses.

The attorneys for Iswaran, led by Senior Counsel Davinder Singh, had now lost their next case in a criminal update hearing on July 5. This was their second time.

Justice Vincent Hoong noted that there was nothing in the Criminal Procedure Code’s language to help the defense’s claim that the trial is required to release all document statements of witnesses who do not want to mark off on conditioned claims.

Justice Hoong also rejected the defense’s claim that the defendant’s actions have been a major injustice or a process abuse.

The announcement comes about a fortnight before Iswaran is scheduled to go on trial in the High Court for his legal fees. CNA is aware that his test will start on August 13.

Problem cases are typically heard in state judges, but the trial had safely requested that this one been heard in the High Court in March.

The 62-year-old Singaporean is accused of 35 counts, including 32 counts of obtaining goods as a common servant, two counts of problem, and one of obstructing justice.

These involve his connections with home magnate Ong Beng Seng and managing chairman of Singapore-listed Lum Chang Holdings, Mr. Lum Kok Seng.

Neither Mr Ong nor Mr Lum have been charged, with the Attorney-General’s Chambers ( AGC ) previously saying that they would take a decision over the investigations against both men after Iswaran’s case has been completed.

Mr. Singh had requested that the trial make available to the defense all conditioned statements, which are written statements that have been used as evidence in a court case, during the fugitive revision reading.

If never, he asked for “draft” comments or all written comments from the trial testimony.

He claimed that his customer was being targeted, creating a “discrimination against” situation for him. &nbsp,

The experienced attorney also asserted that the trial originally wanted to move forward with Mr. Lum’s case first, so it was only appropriate to give the defense conditioned statements.

However, the prosecution took the position for the first time that they were not required to provide conditioned remarks after the defense was granted its request for all costs to be heard together in one test.

The trial, led by Deputy Attorney-General and Senior Counsel Tai Wei Shyong, said the army was mischaracterising the lawyer’s place and that the army was the one changing its place.

Iswaran resigned from his federal jobs two weeks before his initial court appearance in January.

Prior to this, he was given a leave of absence while the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau looked into the case.
 
If convicted of obtaining a significant factor as a public servant, Iswaran can be jailed for up to two years, fined, or both.
 
If convicted of corruptly obtaining gratification under the Prevention of Corruption Act, he can be jailed for up to seven years, fined up to S$ 100, 000 ( US$ 74, 400 ), or both.
 
If convicted of obstructing justice, he may be jailed for up to seven decades, fined, or both.

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Some discretion exercised in dealing with unauthorised planting, MPs say

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According to Mountbatten MP Lim Biow Chuan, whose ward is also run by Marine Parade Town Council, the town council has some discretion when it comes to smaller plants as long as they do n’t harm the infrastructure or annoy the residents.

He claimed that this was discouraged because it could result in security risks and divert funds from planned repair projects and projects.

The city council “updates a regular schedule and an official trees register to ensure appropriate pruning and minimizing risks” and maintains an established tree register. However, this repair does not expand to illegal plantings”, he said.

Illegal plantings “may not have been evaluated for protection and may pose risks to the estate’s residents.” Hence, if an illegal tree branch falls off and injures a native, who did get obligation”? he added.

” We may advise against planting any plants or plants in the ground area of HDB lands without the permission of the city council for the health of our residents.”

TO RETAIN OR REMOVE?

Similarly, Yio Chu Kang MP and vice-chairman of Ang Mo Kio Town Council Yip Hon Weng&nbsp, said his town council decides on a” case-by-case” basis whether to remove or retain unauthorised plants.

This depends on factors such as the threat of malaria mating, the type of plant, its place and the possible impact on surrounding system.

He questioned whether like plants are only removed after residents complain, noting that while his village council takes complaints into account, its main concern is the community’s security and well-being.

” Unauthorised seedlings that obstruct channels, damage property, or pose health risks are prioritised for treatment. Likewise, plantings that improve the environment without causing problems may become retained after cautious evaluation”, he said.

He added that there have been cases where the city council has stayed these plants and included them in their maintenance routine.

Three places where formerly unapproved flowers were discovered have been incorporated into the formal residents ‘ backyard, according to Ang Mo Kio Town Council, along with an inventory and servicing schedule for people to follow up. The courtyard is inspected regular.

” We make an effort to maintain a harmonious balance between the value that vegetation brings to our living culture. Our goal is to ensure that all crops, whether approved or no, contribute to our society while adhering to health and regulatory regulations, added Mr. Yip.

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Malaysia passes new Bills to create duty-free island Pulau Satu in Johor’s Forest City

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SINGAPORE: A 770-acre archipelago in Johor’s besieged Forest City may actually be a duty-free area, which will see it like special tax provisions to increase economic growth in the area. &nbsp,

This comes after Malaysia approved five Bills on Wednesday ( Jul 17 ) for the island of Pulau Satu, which is a part of the blighted US$ 100 billion development. &nbsp,

The bills include changes to sales and service revenue laws, taxation, which the government levies on the purchase of a particular good or service, and other laws. They were approved by Deputy Finance Minister Lim Hui Ying for a second reading and passed in a voice vote. &nbsp,

They are the Customs ( Amendment ) Bill 2024, Excise ( Amendment ) Bill 2024, Free Zones ( Amendment ) Bill 2024, Sales Tax ( Amendment ) Bill 2024, and Service Tax ( Amendment ) Bill 2024.

When the appropriate regulations are amended, Pulau Satu may join the likes of another duty-free islands in the country for as Labuan, Langkawi, Tioman and Pangkor.

According to local media reports, Mdm Lim claimed that Pulau Satu would be subject to the current laws governing another duty-free islands, including the requirement for visitors to spend at least two days there before being eligible for duty-free products. &nbsp,

Mdm Lim added that chocolates, perfumes, drinking and fragrance would be free from work.

She added that the Bills are intended to promote business, draw investments, and encourage regional economic activity as part of Putrajaya’s plans to establish a special economic zone in Forest City to promote economic growth and investment in Johor, as reported by Free Malaysia Today. &nbsp,

Several members of parliament ( MPs ) took part in the Bills debate, which was met with some back and forth questions. &nbsp,

Mr Jimmy Puah, member of the People’s Justice Party ( PKR ), which is part of the ruling Pakatan Harapan ( PH) coalition, suggested expanding the list of duty-free items to include electronics and other popular products to encourage more purchases by Singaporeans.

According to nearby media, he even suggested lowering the 48-hour be need to just one night in order to give the Lion City a competitive edge over the Lion City.

Forest City is currently categorized as a duty-free place, which it received in 2016 With the current Bills article, Pulau Satu’s position will shift and it will be gazetted as a duty-free area. &nbsp,

A representative from Forest City’s Chinese designer Country Garden told CNA that this will lessen the stringent requirements for income enables and applications for the purchase of duty-free products. &nbsp,

Under duty-free area laws, customers can buy up to three crates of beer ( 24 cans per crate ), five litres of liquor, and three cartons of cigarettes ( 200 sticks per carton ) at duty-free prices from designated complexes. &nbsp,

Just within Forest City and not taken out, had alcohol and cigarettes be consumed.

Yet, local media has recently reported a flurry of prostitution of duty-free items out of Forest City and reselling them at marked-up costs, labelling the growth a” sneaking hotspot”.

Mr. Anwar made the announcement last August that the Forest City project would be designated as a special financial zone to boost the Iskandar Malaysia region’s economy during a visit to Johor. &nbsp,

In January, Singapore and Malaysia signed a Memorandum of Understanding on a Johor-Singapore special economic zone ( SEZ ), aiming to boost cross-border economic connectivity. &nbsp,

However, the Forest City project has met hurdles, including fears over lagging development and Country Garden’s financial issues. &nbsp,

In response to the development’s slow pace of construction and low occupancy rates for its residential properties, various media reports referred to the project as a “ghost town.” &nbsp,

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Readying for war or being prepared for crises? China’s stockpiling of resources raises eyebrows and questions

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Consider fuel for example. According to analysis firm Vortexa and exchanging sources, China has requested from its position oil companies to include eight million tonnes, or roughly 60 million containers, of crude oil to the nation’s emergency stockpiles to improve provide security.

If completed, the collecting would be one of the region’s largest in recent years, Reuters reported.

Beijing also has vision on cobalt, a key electronic vehicle power material. According to an estimate from the leading trading firm Darton Commodities, it anticipates that China will possess or control up to 60 % of the world’s chrome supply by 2025.

According to sources cited by Reuters and Bloomberg, China may purchase about 15, 000 kilograms of cobalt from nearby Chinese suppliers over the coming months for private stockpiles.

Supplies of copper and iron ore are also growing, both of which are greatly imported by China. &nbsp,

For metal, stock registered with the Shanghai Futures Exchange rose to a 51-month substantial of 339, 964 kilograms, in the week to June 7. &nbsp,

Meanwhile, China imported 1.18 billion tonnes of iron ore last month, a report high, Reuters reported citing traditions information.

In terms of grains, state-owned agricultural stockpiler Sinograin announced in a observe to its affiliates that they will enhance their purchases of wheat from important areas for its reserves in early June.

Most analysts we spoke with concur that there is ample evidence to suggest that Beijing has recently increased stockpiling, but they also acknowledge that it is difficult to say how many.

At the same time, they caution that collecting is not exclusive to China, nor is the state a person to collecting. ” All reasonable states hoard essential resources to ensure national security and economic stability,” said Mr. Mok.

In terms of stockpiling, China has a higher definition of what is considered to be a safety minimum, Mr Han-Shen Lin, senior adviser and China country director of The Asia Group, told CNA, adding: “( This ) can be seen as alarming to other nations”.

Indeed, the warning signal appeared in a June hearing by the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission ( USCC), titled” China’s Stockpiling and Mobilization Measures for Competition and Conflict.”

According to its website, the committee monitors and examines the national security effects of the US-China trade and economic relationship.

A panel of experts gave their opinions on China’s strategy for conflict during the roughly five-and-a-half-hour session, with some claiming that stockpiling activities may show an immediate invasion of Taiwan.

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Madeleine’s Original Portuguese Egg Tarts at Tanjong Katong closing in August

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When CNA Lifestyle visited the barn at around 1.30pm on Wednesday, we were the only clients it. Speaking to an individual of Madeleine’s Unique Portuguese Egg Tarts, we learned the unit is rented from a tenant. But, said employer has decided to sell his system, causing the owners of&nbsp, Madeleine’s Classic Portuguese Egg to “take a break” and locked down operations.

“( There’s ) still no location to move to. The place has to be big and ( has a ) power ( that’s ) supply good enough for our machines”, said the employee, who added that the&nbsp, duration of this “break” is still unknown.

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Can Miss Universe Singapore’s expanded criteria make it a more inclusive pageant?

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But colour me wary. The development of conditions” to preserve the show inclusive”, according to the press release, feels like little more than lip services.

SHOULD WE JUST GET RID OF Contests? &nbsp, &nbsp,

To be clear, I do n’t think the revised version of Miss Universe Singapore will be more than a checkbox exercise because there will be more contestants who may not fit the traditional pageant mold.

Anyone who has felt discriminated against due to visible traits, from disability to ethnicity, knows that diversity does n’t always mean inclusivity. The first ensures that your view is valued and integrated in that area while the latter guarantees that you get exposure to spaces you’re typically excluded from. &nbsp,

In the past, boldly transgender, gay, and bisexual women from other nations have represented the United States, but none have triumphed. Plus, the law that allowed parents, married, or pregnant women to engage had already been instituted by the Miss Universe Organization last month, with Miss Colombia 2023 being the first mom to thrive. &nbsp,

I do n’t think we should expect a truly inclusive idea of beauty on every level, despite Miss Universe Singapore’s new criteria making it possible for more diverse contestants.

Maybe a more extreme option would be to do away with ceremonies completely- the less-than-desirable effects that appearance-based competitions have on younger women, from their self-esteem to mental heath, is well-documented.

Charm AS VIRTUE&nbsp,

That said, there’s no denying that being considered pleasing to the eye does make life much easier. Also, just being part of an acclaimed show, even at a regional level, can be a stepping stone for women to further different ambitions. &nbsp,

For example, popular local actress Rebecca Lim, who placed in the top five of Miss Universe Singapore 2005, credited the pageant for “opening the door to stardom”, the press release stated. &nbsp,

Prior to the appointment of former Nominated Member of Parliament ( NMP ) Eunice Olsen in 2004, she had a significant amount of public support and recognition with her TV hosting and winning Miss Universe Singapore 2000. &nbsp,

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Singapore Aquatics president Mark Chay diagnosed with leukaemia

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Leukaemia-scarred Singapore Aquatics ( SAQ ) president Mark Chay will not seek a second term as the association’s chief. &nbsp,

The 42-year-old confirmed his diagnosis with CNA on Wednesday ( Jul 17 ) evening. &nbsp,

News of Mr Chay’s condition, first&nbsp, reported by the Straits Times, comes as his two-year expression as Protocol key ends in August. &nbsp, According to the review, he will prioritise his health and his household and, thus, will not get re-election for the article he took up in June 2022.

A former federal diver, &nbsp, Mr Chay made his Olympic debut at 18 years old at the 2000 Sydney Games and competed again four years later in Athens. &nbsp, &nbsp,

He was named Singapore’s Sportboy and Sport of the Year in 2001 and 2002 both.

Mr. Chay spoke out on issues relating to sports while serving as a chosen member of parliament from 2021 to 2023. &nbsp,

He serves as the director of growth for the non-profit Global Esports Federation, which has its headquarters in Singapore.

POSSIBLE Leader

Protocol must keep its annual general meeting by Sep 30, which is also when an poll, if needed, for business carriers will be held.

Mr Chay has endorsed&nbsp, SAQ secretary-general Kenneth Goh to be the agency’s next president, according the Strait Times.

A former federal diver himself, Mr Goh, 46, is an intellectual director and associate professor at Singapore Management University. &nbsp,

CNA has reached out to Mr Chay, Mr Goh and SAQ for opinion. &nbsp,

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Billion-dollar money laundering convict expelled by Cambodia after deportation from Singapore

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Zhang was the fifth of 10 accused persons to be dealt with by Singapore’s courts in relation to the S$ 3 billion ( US$ 2.2 billion ) money laundering case. He forfeited around S$ 118 million in property to the state, which&nbsp, amounted to about 90 per cent of the S$ 131 million worth of assets actually seized by the authorities.

The event, which concluded in&nbsp, June, involved 10 immigrants and billions of dollars worth of assets such as painful money, &nbsp, luxury properties, branded items, crypto and alcohol.

About S$ 944 million ( US$ 697 million ) in assets seized in relation to the 10 criminals embroiled in one of Singapore’s largest money-laundering probes was forfeited to the state, while the 10 individuals who were convicted were sentenced to between 13 and 17 months ‘ jail. &nbsp,

17 additional suspects who are n’t currently in Singapore are still being investigated. The remaining$ 3 billion worth of the entire S$ seized is made up of belongings to these suspects.

ZHANG and SIX OTHERS ARE DELTED TO CAMBODIA FOR WHATREAS?

Zhang, one of the seven people who were found guilty in the$ 3 billion income trafficking case, were deported from Singapore to Cambodia. The others are &nbsp, Su Baolin, Su Haijin, Su Wenqiang, Wang Baosen, Chen Qingyuan and Lin Baoying. &nbsp,

Vang Shuiming was deported to Japan, while Wang Dehai was deported to the English and they&nbsp, are all barred from re-entering Singapore. &nbsp, Only&nbsp, Su Jianfeng, a 36-year-old Vanuatu regional with stems in Fujian, China, remains in Singapore. He&nbsp, was sentenced to 17 times ‘ prison next month. &nbsp,

Despite acknowledging&nbsp, that three of the seven deported people do not carry Thai documents, based on publicly available data, &nbsp, Singapore’s Minister of State for Home Affairs and for Social and Family Development&nbsp, Sun Xueling said on Jul 2 the goal was to quickly and effectively arrest the convicted foreigners.

Europeans who have been found guilty of crimes in Singapore and are deported can show which nation they want to go to, she added.

However, it is not the case where the violators respond to a question from Ms. Sylvia Lim ( WP-Aljunied ) in response to” I choose and therefore I will be sent there.” According to her,” there needs to be an evaluation by the government as to whether or not the person may be allowed to the land, based on the travel file that he or she holds.”

” These foreigners may enter any nation to which their card or go record authorizes travel.” Similar to the convicted immigrants in the S$ 3 billion cash trafficking case, this applies.

According to Ms. Sun, the ministry will have to choose the country where convicted foreigners with many passports have the best chance of being admissible, and then conduct an assessment before deporting them.

Minister of State for Law and Transport Murali Pillai added:” In the presence of abduction, the place is that after judgment and offering of statement, the criminals will be required to keep Singapore.

We have no control over what happens to them in those nations or their nationalities.

CNA has contacted GDI for more information about where Zhang was deported from Singapore to Cambodia, as well as the immigration status of the six other people who were deported from Singapore to Cambodia. &nbsp,

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