The Star Online: Metro: South & East

N. Korea stages largest parade at war anniversary
Psychiatric tests for cop accused of murders
Breakthrough in fight against breast cancer

N. Korea stages largest parade at war anniversary

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[unable to retrieve full-text content]PYONGYANG: North Korea mounted its largest ever military parade to mark the 60th anniversary of the armistice that ended fighting in the Korean War, displaying long-range missiles at a ceremony presided over by leader Kim Jong-un.

Psychiatric tests for cop accused of murders

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THE police officer accused of the Kovan double murder made a surprise appearance yesterday in court, where it was agreed that he will undergo psychiatric evaluation.

Senior staff sergeant Iskandar Rahmat, who was arrested in Johor Baru two weeks ago after a 54-hour manhunt, has also told his lawyers that he wants to claim trial to all charges against him.

The 34-year-old, who had been remanded at the Central Police Station, was due to appear in court next Monday.

But this was brought forward when police concluded their investigations into the case.

Yesterday, the prosecution applied for Iskandar to be remanded at the Changi Prison Complex Medical Centre for psychiatric evaluation.

His legal team, led by Ferlin Jayatissa, did not object.

Jayatissa, who is assisted by Rudy Marican and N. Sudha Nair, said that he was appreciative that access to Iskandar had been facilitated by the investigation team.

"Given the nature of the charge and the possible exceptions to it, the defence has no objections.

"This is a necessary and appropriate step in the ongoing investigation," he said.

Iskandar was charged on Monday last week with the murder of car workshop owner Tan Boon Sin, 66, and his son at Hillside Drive on July 10.

Iskandar will appear via video-link when the case is mentioned next on Aug 16. — The Straits Times / Asia News Network

Breakthrough in fight against breast cancer

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SCIENTIST in Singapore have identified a gene which makes an aggressive form of breast cancer even worse, in a development which could lead to more effective drugs to treat it.

Patients with triple negative breast cancer, whose tumours have high levels of a gene called UBASH3B, are likely to have earlier relapses within three years of treatment.

Scientists at the Agency for Science, Technology and Research's Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS) also said that these patients' cancer is more virulent and spreads faster in the body.

Triple negative breast cancer gets its name because it's tumours lack oestrogen, progesterone and HER2, which are common in other types of cancer.

This means sufferers must rely on more generic chemotherapy and radiotherapy and cannot use drugs designed to attack breast cancer through those three elements.

In tests involving two sets of cancer-ridden mice, removing the gene from one set of the mice's tumours had slowed down their cancer's growth by more than half compared with the other set, said GIS senior investigator and project leader Yu Qiang.

Dr Yu added that the team plans to approach pharmaceutical companies here to help develop a drug to target the gene.

Triple negative breast cancer affects 15% to 20% of patients with breast cancer – the most common cancer among women here, making up three in 10 cancer diagnoses.

If the research is clinically validated, doctors could also screen patients for the gene and recommend more aggressive treatment for those who need it, said Tan Tock Seng Hospital consultant surgeon Tan Ern Yu. — The Straits Times / Asia News Network

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

Ahad, 28 Julai 2013