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Japan Faces Alarming Rise in Unattended Deaths Amid Aging Population
A recent report by Japan’s National Police Agency reveals a troubling statistic: nearly 40,000 people died alone in their homes during the first half of 2024. This stark figure sheds light on the growing issue of isolation among the country’s aging population.
Of these deaths, nearly 4,000 individuals were discovered more than a month after passing away, and in some heartbreaking cases, 130 bodies remained unnoticed for a year or longer. The report underscores the challenges Japan faces as it navigates its status as the world’s oldest population, according to the United Nations.
The data shows that 37,227 people living alone were found dead at home, with those aged 65 and over comprising more than 70% of this number. The largest group of the deceased belonged to those aged 85 and above, accounting for 7,498 bodies. The 75-79 age group followed closely with 5,920 deaths, while 70-74-year-olds accounted for 5,635.
The National Police Agency hopes this report will bring attention to the serious issue of elderly people living and dying alone. The findings will be presented to a government group dedicated to addressing unattended deaths.
Japan has long been grappling with the consequences of its aging and declining population. Earlier this year, the Japanese National Institute of Population and Social Security Research projected that the number of elderly citizens living alone could reach 10.8 million by 2050, with single-person households expected to rise to 23.3 million.
In response, the Japanese government introduced a bill in April to tackle the country’s long-standing loneliness and isolation issues, which are exacerbated by the aging population. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has expressed grave concerns, warning that Japan is on the brink of societal dysfunction due to its declining birth rate.
This demographic crisis is not unique to Japan. Neighboring countries like China and South Korea are also facing similar challenges, with China experiencing its first population decline since 1961 in 2022 and South Korea reporting the lowest fertility rate in the world.
The report serves as a sobering reminder of the urgent need for policies and support systems to address the isolation and loneliness faced by Japan’s elderly population, as the country confronts the realities of its demographic shift.
Ukraine has confirmed an agreement with the United States on a minerals deal, calling it a “positive outcome” with “good amendments,” though officials have yet to disclose further details.
Media reports suggest that Washington has dropped an initial demand for a $500 billion share in potential revenue from Ukraine’s natural resources. However, the deal does not appear to include the firm security guarantees that Kyiv had sought.
US President Donald Trump announced that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to travel to Washington this week to finalize the agreement. The development follows a series of tense exchanges between the two leaders.
While Trump did not explicitly confirm the deal’s finalization, he stated that in return, Ukraine would get “the right to fight on.” Acknowledging Ukraine’s resilience, he added, “Without the United States and its money and its military equipment, this war would have been over in a very short period of time.”
When asked whether US military support for Ukraine would continue, Trump indicated that assistance might persist “until we have a deal with Russia,” stressing the need for a negotiated settlement to end the conflict. He also suggested that any future peace deal would require “some form of peacekeeping” acceptable to all parties involved.
Ukraine possesses vast deposits of critical minerals such as lithium and titanium, alongside substantial reserves of coal, gas, oil, and uranium—resources valued in the billions. Trump has framed the agreement as one that will allow the US to recoup more than it has spent on supporting Ukraine. However, final details of the deal reportedly remain under negotiation.
Two Australian nurses have been suspended after a video surfaced showing them making violent antisemitic remarks, including threats to harm Israeli patients. The incident, which allegedly took place at a hospital in Sydney, has sparked outrage and is now under police investigation.
New South Wales (NSW) Health Minister Ryan Park confirmed that the two individuals had been stood down immediately and would never work in the state’s healthcare system again. Authorities are conducting a thorough review of hospital records to ensure no patients were harmed, though a rapid preliminary check found nothing unusual.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the video as “sickening and shameful,” emphasizing that antisemitism has no place in Australia. His comments come just days after the country passed stricter hate crime laws in response to a surge in antisemitic incidents.
The video, shared online by Israeli content creator Max Veifer, appears to have been recorded in a hospital setting. In the footage, a man claiming to be a doctor tells Veifer he has “beautiful eyes” but adds, “I’m sorry you’re Israeli,” before making a throat-slitting gesture and stating he sends Israelis to “Jahannam” (an Islamic concept of hell). A woman later appears on screen, saying she refuses to treat Israelis and will “kill them” instead.
Despite the video being edited with emojis and censoring certain comments, authorities have not questioned its authenticity. NSW Police stated they have identified the individuals involved and are investigating whether criminal charges should be pursued.
Albanese vowed that anyone found guilty of committing hate crimes will “face the full force of our laws.” Park echoed this sentiment, apologizing to the Jewish community and reassuring them that NSW hospitals remain committed to providing “first-class” healthcare to all patients, regardless of background.
Coca-Cola has warned that it may have to increase the use of plastic bottles in the U.S. if President Donald Trump’s new tariffs make aluminium cans too expensive. The announcement was made by Coca-Cola CEO James Quincey during a call with investors.
Trump’s recent order imposes a 25% import tax on all steel and aluminium entering the U.S., a move expected to raise costs for canned food and beverage manufacturers. Quincey acknowledged that Coca-Cola could shift more emphasis to PET plastic bottles to manage affordability.
“If aluminium cans become more expensive, we can put more emphasis on PET bottles,” he said, while noting that packaging costs are only a small fraction of the company’s overall expenses.
This shift comes shortly after Coca-Cola scaled back its sustainability goal of using 50% recycled materials in its packaging by 2030, adjusting the target to 35-40% by 2035. The beverage giant has been under pressure from environmental groups, which have labeled it the world’s “top global plastic polluter” for six years in a row.
Aluminium cans, despite being pricier, are far more recyclable than plastic bottles. The U.S. imports nearly half of its aluminium, according to the United States Geological Survey, making the tariffs a significant factor in production costs. Unlike in 2018, when some can-makers received exemptions from similar tariffs, Trump has now ruled out any exceptions for products or countries.
In a separate move, Trump also signed an executive order rolling back efforts to replace plastic straws with paper alternatives in government facilities—undoing a policy introduced by former President Joe Biden, who had called plastic pollution a “crisis.”
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