oleh admin | Mar 30, 2025 | aging, health, healthcare and medicine, life expectancy, society
TOKYO — Japan’s average life expectancy hit 85.2 years in 2021, marking an increase of 5.8 years compared to roughly three decades earlier. However, the duration lived with health problems as well as regional discrepancies have expanded, according to findings from a research group.
In a
study
Published online on March 20 in The Lancet Public Health, one of Britain’s prestigious journals affiliated with The Lancet, a research group comprising scientists from Keio University examined statistics sourced from the Vital Statistics, National Health and Nutrition Survey, along with previous studies focusing on disease rates. They calculated individual averages for life expectancy and associated metrics per prefecture independently. Their findings led them to propose innovative societal strategies aimed at fostering healthier communities characterized by extended lifespans.
The study indicated that average life expectancy climbed from 79.4 years in 1990 to 85.2 years in 2021, whereas healthy life expectancy rose from 69.4 years to 73.8 years. Consequently, the duration of living with health problems extended by 1.4 years, totaling 11.3 years.
All numbers have been rounded to one decimal point. Unlike national metrics, healthy life expectancy demonstrates the extent and influence of disease occurrence.
In 1990, Okinawa boasted the highest average life expectancy at 80.6 years, whereas Osaka reported the lowest at 78.2 years, showing a discrepancy of 2.3 years. Fast forward to 2021, every prefecture experienced an increase in longevity; however, the disparity expanded slightly to 2.9 years. At this time, Shiga led with an impressive 86.3-year life span, followed distantly by Aomori which stood at 83.4 years—the top and bottom ends of the spectrum, respectively.
Death rates, apart from those caused by significant age-related conditions such as strokes, heart disease, and gastric cancers, dropped by around 2% each year between 1990 and 2005, but this decline slowed down to approximately 1.1% per year from 2015 to 2021.
The team observed that although medicine has made great strides, a comprehensive strategy incorporating improved social services should complement medical treatment. Concerning regional inequalities, Shuhei Nomura, a distinguished professor at Keio University with expertise in global health, remarked, “If areas known for their long lifespans can guide us—by effectively distributing healthcare resources and promoting healthy living habits—the discrepancies might diminish.”
(Originally written in Japanese by Ryo Watanabe from the Lifestyle, Science & Environment News Department)
oleh admin | Mar 30, 2025 | business, fast food, fast food industry, news, restaurant chains
Whataburger has recruited former
McDonald’s
executive Todd Ewen to aid in accelerating its ongoing expansion.
The American quick-service restaurant company verified that Ewen will assume the position of senior vice president and chief development officer starting from March 24.
“I am eager to assist the leadership team in achieving the significant growth objectives they have outlined,” Ewen stated.
It is reported that Whataburger lured away the US-native Ewen, boasting two decades of expertise, to aid in their ongoing successful growth across the country.
“We aim to introduce Honey Butter Biscuits along with exceptional hospitality to over 24 million additional customers this year,” stated Whataburger Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer Alexander Ivannikov.
Todd’s extensive knowledge of real estate within the fast-food sector will play a crucial role in assisting Whataburger in implementing their expansion plan. This will ensure that delectable meals and excellent experiences reach additional communities and attract more enthusiasts.
In his new position, Ewen will transition from serving the globe’s leading hamburger company to joining one of the top 100 largest companies in the United States.
The Golden arches has 14,000 locations in the US alone, compared to just over 1,000 Whataburger restaurants.
The company based in Texas is developing its five-year expansion strategy, as President and CEO Debbie Stroud affirmed that they go over this annually.
Stroud mentioned that the review assists them in determining where they can make the most significant difference.
As part of its strategy, it aims to keep growing with intentions to establish new eateries in various locations.
North Carolina
this year.
“For North Carolina particularly, this year it focuses on Charlotte and the nearby regions, while next year it will shift to Raleigh and its surrounding areas,” Stroud explained.
QSR
.
The
Texas
-based chain has already expanded to six additional states, including
Florida
and
Georgia
.
It is also set to launch another site in San Antonio, Texas, via a collaboration with Love’s Travel Shops.
Whataburger has not disclosed its sales forecast for 2025, however, it generated more than $4 billion in revenue last year.
Stroud mentioned that the company intends to broaden its reach to additional states down the line, yet he advised fans to ‘keep an eye out’ for updates.
In 2000, Ewen started his professional journey as a commercial real estate officer at US Bank Corporation.
He was
In 2009, they were appointed as a McDonald’s regional real estate manager, and then took on the role of development director in 2013.
In 2016, the executive departed from the fast-food chain and established L3 Commercial Development in Raleigh, North Carolina, the following year.
In those years, he headed over
$300 million in leasing and buying deals, while also connecting with various brokers, developers, and investors.
Ewen expressed gratitude towards the ‘amazing individuals’ he has collaborated with, and mentioned that he recognized Whataburger as ‘something extraordinary’ in a social media post.
LinkedIn
.
The ex-McDonald’s worker from North Carolina has verified his plans to relocate to San Antonio.
In addition to the expansion, Whataburger is marking its anniversary.
75th birthday
with various offers.
Among its new menu items was the Monterey Melt, a dish that the chain stated had been frequently requested.
Instagram
and
Reddit
.
Whataburger started offering both Mexican Hot Chocolate Coffee and the Mexican Hot Chocolate Shake.
Among the new offerings for its anniversary, the chain introduced a ‘digital home’ feature and also revealed a partnership with well-known clothing label Wrangler.
The firm intends to present an array of additional promotions and competitions as it approaches its birthday on August 8.
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oleh admin | Mar 30, 2025 | crime, criminal justice, international relations, politics, politics and law
Should Malaysia genuinely aspire to enhance its international legal standing and demonstrate a steadfast dedication to justice, it should seize this opportunity to rejoin the Rome Statute.
When ex-Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte was
arrested in Manila
He was then moved to The Hague to face trial at the International Criminal Court (ICC) for allegations of crimes against humanity. His replacement, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., described this transfer as adherence to the nation’s obligations to Interpol.
The international law enforcement agency had actually asked for assistance in carrying out the ICC’s arrest warrant. However, it was noteworthy that Manila based its reasoning on the country’s duty to Interpol instead of the ICC.
Under Duterte,
the Philippines withdrew
From the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the ICC, the court maintains jurisdiction over offenses committed in the Philippines during the time when the country was a part of the Rome Statute.
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As a result, the nation’s Department of Justice has found itself
entangled in legal gymnastics
As Philippine domestic politics grapple with efforts to achieve justice, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla bewilderingly justified the arrest under the banner of “international humanitarian law,” a phrase typically associated with the regulations governing warfare.
The uneasy intersection of domestic politics and international justice in the Philippines echoes situations from
Malaysia’s own short-lived dalliance
Six years ago, through the ICC, on March 4, 2019, Putrajaya ratified the Rome Statute and submitted it to the Secretary-General of the United Nations on the same day. However, on April 5 of that year, the administration reversed its decision. By the close of the month, Malaysia was formally removed from the agreement as confirmed by the United Nations.
Malaysia’s dedication to the ICC, tracing back to 1998 when the original treaty for setting up the court was agreed upon diplomatically, eventually crumbled due to divisive internal political dynamics. The administration failed to anticipate strong public opposition regarding this issue, leading to confusion caused by inaccurate information about the extent and authority of the court, thereby ensnaring Malaysia’s “three Rs” —
race
,
religion
and
royalty
.
The former Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Mahathir Mohamad, who held office at that time, expressed frustration with those attempting to create “confusion among the public by claiming that this law undermines the rights of the Malay community and the rulers.” He emphasized that these claims were baseless.
It is now time for Malaysia to reconsider joining and enacting the Rome Statute, especially considering the government’s increased involvement in supporting Palestine via international legal channels. The nation promptly took action.
offer political support
For South Africa’s 2023 case against Israel at the International Court of Justice based on the Genocide Convention, Putrajaya cited Malaysia’s adherence to the treaty and urged “Israel to comply with international law and cease its acts of violence against Palestinians” immediately.
In January 2024, when the ICJ delivered its provisional measures directive requiring Israel to
desist contravening its obligations
Following the Genocide Convention, the Malaysian foreign ministry issued a statement supporting the international legal guidelines the subsequent day.
When Malaysia aligned itself with various other nations regarding the matter of Palestine through what became known as the Hague Group, their initial declaration made in January included numerous allusions to international law, the ICJ, the ICC, and United Nations resolutions, along with emphasizing the ideals of fairness.
These diplomatic efforts have been
buttressed by legal action
When the UN General Assembly decided to ask for the ICJ’s advisory opinion on the legal implications of Israel’s control over Palestinian territories, Malaysia’s foreign minister went to The Hague in February 2024 to deliver an oral statement during the court’s public hearings.
In reality, Malaysia had jointly sponsored the United Nations General Assembly resolution seeking an advisory opinion. Half a year prior, it had presented a detailed written submission asserting that “the entirety of Israel’s occupation along with its policies and actions within the occupied territories infringes upon the right to self-determination under international law.”
There is a larger, modern context surrounding these actions that highlights why legal accountability remains crucial.
extend to leaders
, similar to how it operates within the ICC, instead of involving only states like the ICJ does. Amidst the turmoil shaking the global order due to violations of international norms, treaties being torn apart, and alliances disintegrating, governments face further pressure from their citizens regarding unaddressed issues related to both domestic and international justice.
Israel’s conflict in Gaza has demonstrated that occasionally it is the public’s ethical guidelines that set apart a country from its leadership. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s
defiance on Palestine
In light of Western leaders’ disregard for international law—and possibly their push for the most egregious breaches—it should serve as a starting point for a more sophisticated public discussion in Malaysia about whether the nation should reassess its decision to join the ICC.
The home front discussion in Malaysia will face similar challenges this time due to the enduring polarization within the nation.
most taboo topics
However, if Malaysia genuinely wishes to enhance its reputation internationally and uphold the values of justice, its leadership ought to capitalize on this outside support to restart the nation’s membership with the Rome Statute.
Political will often hinders substantial progress toward accountability. Previously, the absence of Malaysia’s journey toward joining the ICC wasn’t due to a lack of support from Putrajaya’s political will. Instead, it was the insufficient backing from key sections of society that eventually influenced the royal institution via a political lens.
These previous lessons ought to provide Malaysia with a more cautious and deliberate strategy for the near term.
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The article initially appeared on the South ChinaMorning Post (www.scmp.com), which is the premier source for news coverage of China andAsia.
Copyright © 2025. South ChinaMorning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.
oleh admin | Mar 30, 2025 | disasters, emergencies, news, severe weather, storms
A significant storm system is currently moving through the central U.S., bringing with it an array of hazardous weather conditions including intense thunderstorms, tornadoes, and ice storms. This has resulted in widespread power outages affecting hundreds of thousands of people and placing millions at risk of damage from these destructive forces.
Over 75 million Americans find themselves within the danger area as the enormous weather system moves eastwards, potentially setting off tornado watches, flash flood warnings, and ice storm alerts across several states.
‘A wide area spanning much of the Southeast along with parts of the lower and mid sections will likely experience multiple intense thunderstorms throughout today and into the night.’
Mississippi
Valley into the
Ohio
valleys and the southern Great Lakes region,’
NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center
announced Sunday.
The statement went on to say, ‘There is a high likelihood of extensive areas experiencing damaging winds. Additionally, significant-sized hail and multiple tornadoes are expected from supercell thunderstorms. Some of these tornadoes might be intense.’
About twelve tornadoes might strike cities such as Little Rock.
Arkansas
; Memphis and Nashville in Tennessee; Paducah,
Kentucky
; Evansville and Bloomington,
Indiana
as early as Sunday afternoon and evening.
Severe weather forecasted for Monday is anticipated to impact the busy Interstate 81, 85, and 95 routes stretching from New Orleans to Atlanta, Charlotte, and Washington.
DC
, Philadelphia and
New York City
, as reported
Accuweather
.
By late Saturday evening, a tornado warning had been issued for large parts of the region.
Oklahoma
until 1 am Sunday,
ABC News
noted, since forecasters cautioned about ‘substantially sized hail along with destructive wind gusts’ throughout the southern Plains region.
This might affect significant areas such as Oklahoma City and Dallas throughout the evening.
Southern
Louisiana
Near Baton Rouge was likewise subject to a flash flood warning, as certain regions had already received up to 4.5 inches of rainfall.
Meteorologists anticipate an additional 1 to 2 inches could occur by early Sunday.
Destruction has already started in sections of the Midwest, with over 200,000 customers experiencing power outages—67,631 in northern Wisconsin and an astounding 148,141 in northern Michigan.
Michigan
– Following a major ice storm that led to extensive tree destruction and complicated travel, according to TMJ4.
Local authorities indicate that several counties in northern Michigan are facing widespread power outages, impacting more than 90 percent of inhabitants, due to trees falling onto electrical wires.
On Sunday, the situation might worsen due to the storm moving eastwards, bringing about several waves of severe weather systems anticipated to move across eastern Texas up to the southern Great Lakes region during the daytime and extending through the nighttime hours.
This is where the highest likelihood of hazardous severe thunderstorms is anticipated.
Meteorologists have likewise alerted about a particularly hazardous area prone to intense tornadoes extending from eastern Arkansas into western regions.
Tennessee
and Kentucky into southwestern Indiana.
It might affect residents in Memphis, Nashville, Louisville, and Evansville.
In addition, thunderstorms accompanied by heavy rainfall are advancing towards the Carolinas and Asheville—areas that have recently experienced wildfires because of arid weather conditions.
On Saturday, seven states ranging from New York to North Carolina continued to face Increased Fire Risk.
Many regions will continue to face significant weather hazards throughout the night.
At the same time, the northern part of the storm is ushering in a cold front, with predictions of snow and ice stretching from North Dakota all the way to New England.
Warnings of an ice storm have been posted for Wisconsin and Michigan, with forecasts indicating that as much as a half-inch of ice could accumulate on roads, trees, and electrical systems.
By Monday, this damaging system will hit the East Coast and the I-95 corridor, possibly affecting zones ranging from Upstate New York to Tallahassee and New Orleans, bringing along hazardous winds and potential twisters in the southern parts.
Read more
oleh admin | Mar 30, 2025 | donald trump, politics, politics and government, politics and law, trump administration
-
The increasing impact of social media on politics and the Democrats’ ‘highly ineffective’ attempts to engage Generation Z. Tune into Welcome to MAGAland on your preferred podcast platform.
President
Donald Trump
is set to reveal a major new series of tariffs later this week following a tumultuous month of economic developments that have unsettled markets.
White House
and sowed uncertainty in the American public about his ability to mitigate an impending economic downturn.
Now
a new poll shows
Only 23 percent of Americans believe they are more financially secure now that President Trump has taken office, even though he promised to bolster the economy.
This setback for the present administration is evident when comparing the recent CBS/YouGov poll with the one from January, where 42 percent anticipated that Trump’s policies would enhance their financial situation.
The figures have effectively turned upside down, as 28% of Americans anticipate being in a poorer financial position with Trump leading the country, compared to the 42% who currently feel economically strained—an rise of 14%.
Americans feel that they are faring significantly worse rather than better since President Trump took office, with their sentiments being almost double at this point.
Economists are now cautioning that the administration’s upcoming tariffs, scheduled to take effect on Wednesday, could further strain the finances of financially troubled Americans as costs are expected to rise significantly across various key products including vehicles, technology items, and oil and gas.
Senator Rand Paul (R-Ky.) cautioned on Sunday that
The cost of cars might go up by anywhere from $5,000 to $10,000.
Over fifty percent of Americans believe that Trump is concentrating excessively on imposing tariffs on other nations as part of his economic strategies, rather than prioritizing measures to reduce prices for consumers.
Trump has been teasing April 2 as ‘Liberation Day,’ where he will announce a net set of international tariffs with the aim of making the U.S. more self-reliant. The President wants to domesticate more industries rather than outsourcing and he believes that other countries are getting the better end of the deal when it comes to trade with the U.S.
President Trump secured victory in the 2024 election largely due to American voters believing he could boost the economy following ex-President Joe Biden being held responsible for steering the U.S. towards an economic downturn.
Even now, 38 percent of Americans attribute inflation and increasing prices to Biden’s policies, whereas 34 percent hold Trump responsible. Additionally, 19 percent believe that both share an equal amount of blame.
In addition to tariffs, the Trump administration has aimed at shrinking the federal workforce and trimming the bloated government budget, asserting that these measures will cut down on wasteful spending by taxpayers—though they stop short of guaranteeing a lighter tax load for individuals.
Americans are evenly divided regarding the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) federal layoffs, incentive-based retirement programs, and reallocations, with 50 percent supporting and 50 percent opposing these measures.
According to the most recent survey published on Sunday, the general sentiment among Americans leans towards prioritizing economic and financial policies that have an immediate effect on their personal finances rather than engaging in international trade disputes or widespread dismissals of federal employees.
According to the CBS/Yougov survey, 48% support Trump’s approach to the economy, whereas 52% do not agree with his handling of it.
Read more
