Renting Leads to Faster Biological Ageing, Study Finds
New research from the University of Essex and the University of Adelaide suggests that renting a home can lead to faster biological ageing compared to living in your own home or social housing. The impact of renting is said to be nearly double that of being unemployed.
Biological ageing refers to the decline in the functioning of the body’s tissues and cells, regardless of a person’s actual age. The study found that renting in the private sector, falling behind on payments, or living in a home affected by pollution are all linked to faster ageing due to the stress they can bring.
Interestingly, people in social housing appeared to be less negatively affected, partly due to the affordability and increased security it provides. The researchers emphasised that a person’s housing situation can have significant consequences for their health.
“The most notable and robust finding is the faster ageing identified among private renters,” the study stated.
Vivo Employee Arrested in India
Indian authorities have arrested a Chinese employee of smartphone maker Vivo, according to the company. The arrest follows a raid on Vivo’s office last year, where it was accused of illegal remittances from India to China. Vivo, the second-largest smartphone brand in India after Samsung, denies any wrongdoing and asserts its compliance with Indian law.
The arrest comes amid growing tensions between India and China. Recently, Indian police formally accused Vivo of facilitating illegal fund transfers to NewsClick, a news portal under investigation for spreading Chinese propaganda.
The arrest was made under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), which allows for criminal cases to be filed. Vivo has also been accused of customs evasion by the tax enforcement agency. The company is owned by China’s BBK Electronics, which operates other smartphone brands such as Oppo and Realme in India.
Shell Shares Reach Highest Level in Two Decades
Shares of energy company Shell listed on the Amsterdam stock exchange have reached their highest level in over two decades. In early trading on Wednesday, the shares rose by 0.7%, reaching a level not seen since late 2001. Shell’s London-listed shares also rose by 0.7%, hitting their highest point since mid-2019 earlier in the day.
The surge in share prices can be attributed to the recent spike in oil prices. After fighting broke out in Israel, the oil price experienced its largest one-day increase since April. Although the price has risen 2.5% this year, currently standing at around $88 per barrel, it remains close to its highest level in 11 months.
