One major pillar targets musculoskeletal health and mobility, a growing concern in ageing societies. The programme is supporting work on rapid screening tools for fractures and falls, as well as advanced research using bone organoids and lab-grown tissue models, to help predict how patients respond to drugs, allowing doctors to personalise fracture prevention for those most at risk.

Launching the programme on March 28, NRF chief executive John Lim said musculoskeletal problems are often underestimated despite being a major driver of disability worldwide. The goal, he said, is to translate promising research into real-world healthcare and move care earlier, from treatment to prevention and recovery support in the community.

Beyond physical health, FHT2 also includes a mental wellbeing track that will develop a platform combining large language models, behavioural science and real-world data to power apps that deliver tailored interventions for issues such as anxiety, depression and stress, particularly among young people .

A third track focuses on rehabilitation and recovery, including technology-assisted therapy for patients rebuilding upper-limb movement after stroke, part of a broader push to improve quality of life as people live longer.

FHT2 follows the first Future Health Technologies programme, which ran from 2020 to March this year and produced tools such as a cognitive screening test for early dementia signals and a chatbot-based health coaching app. The second phase is intended to speed up adoption in clinics and hospitals, with programme leaders saying they want patients to benefit directly from these technologies by 2030.

Figures compiled by the social service agency Loving Heart Multi-Service Centre from media reports show that at least 33 seniors died alone and were not discovered for some time in 2025. In 2024, there were at least 42 such cases. The police do not keep official statistics on undetected deaths, according to a parliamentary reply in 2024.

One widely reported case occurred in Jurong East in 2024, when the decomposing body of an 80-year-old woman was found in her flat after neighbours complained of a strong smell. Her husband was hospitalised at the time of her death.

The number of seniors living alone has also risen in the country. Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said in Parliament that about 87,000 residents aged 65 and above were living alone in 2024, a 50 per cent increase from 58,000 in 2018.

Social service agencies say isolation is a key factor. Elaine Ho, head of community health at Loving Heart, said some seniors avoid social interaction, stop going out and gradually experience declining health.

To address the problem, community groups are expanding befriending and outreach programmes. Loving Heart plans to launch a “No More Undetected Deaths” project in early 2026, using trained volunteers to regularly check on vulnerable seniors living alone in Jurong East.

The initiative will begin with two housing blocks in Yuhua and aims to eventually support up to 400 seniors. Volunteers will be trained to build relationships, identify warning signs and link seniors to appropriate support.

Ong has said such befriending programmes are essential to preventing seniors from dying alone at home, adding that outreach efforts by grassroots volunteers, active ageing centres and government agencies will continue to be strengthened.

These companions keep clients company, accompany them on walks or medical visits, and make planned appearances in care homes to signal that residents have attentive “family.”

Demand rose sharply, prompting the original group to expand to about 1,000 providers within three months, with copycat services now appearing in Henan and other provinces.

Users are often in their fifties and sixties, including widowed or childless seniors and those whose adult children live abroad, many of whom want emotional support rather than medical care.

Some arrangements have grown into long-term relationships: Wu, a client since 2011, now spends holidays with her hired “shared children” and describes the bond as mutually supportive.

Another senior, Chen, posts online for companions who feel like family and hopes such relationships might one day evolve into guardianship agreements that exchange assets for end-of-life care.

Entrepreneurs in cities such as Qingdao and Chengdu are testing similar models, though many note low profits and unclear liability rules as China’s elderly dependency ratio climbs to 22.57 percent.

Footage by Viory from the scene showed elderly protesters waving banners denouncing Milei and accusing the government of stripping away hard-earned rights. “They want to take it all, all the rights. The rights we've fought for so many years,” said one protester. “I'm 67 years old and I've been through it all, and we keep fighting in the streets just the same,” he added.

Tensions have continued to rise since Milei’s La Libertad Avanza coalition secured victory in last week’s elections . Many demonstrators voiced concern that the government’s response to social unrest had grown increasingly repressive. “Now that he won, it’s going to get worse. But why do they repress us?” asked another retiree at the scene.

The protest was the latest in a growing wave of opposition to the president’s economic policies, which include major public spending cuts aimed at controlling inflation and addressing Argentina’s long-standing debt crisis. However, critics argue these measures disproportionately impact the country’s most vulnerable populations, including pensioners.

Organisers have called for a nationwide mobilisation next week, hoping to rally more than 100,000 people across multiple cities to demand the restoration of pensions and essential services.

The night ended in celebration as Adama Roy Kamara was crowned the new queen.

“I feel good about myself. Really, today is my happiest day,” Kamara said after receiving her crown. “Right now, the community feels good because I won this competition, and I am very happy,” she told Viory. 

The pageant, organised by the Dorwontony Organisation for the Aged (DOFA), is held every October to mark the Month of the Elderly. DOFA CEO Doreen Barrie explained that the event is meant to raise awareness about the value of senior citizens in society and combat the stigma surrounding ageing.

When Miss Universe lifted its long-standing age cap of 28 for this year’s competition, Sakai, 66, seized the chance to compete alongside women decades younger. Out of hundreds of hopefuls, she was selected as one of 42 finalists nationwide.

For Sakai, the journey has become more than a personal challenge; it is a cultural statement that she aims to show that older women, often sidelined in Japanese society , can still shine.

“I was the star. It was my moment,” Sakai said , recalling her brief but unforgettable walk on stage. “You have raised four kids and have always put others first. It’s time to do something for yourself,” her husband told her when she first considered applying.

Though she once feared criticism, Sakai was surprised by the support she received from her children and the public. “People actually don’t care as much about you as you think,” she reflected.

As Japan’s elderly population hits record highs, with nearly 100,000 people over the age of 100 this year, Sakai hopes to serve as a reminder that Respect-for-the-Aged Day, often celebrated in the country, is not just about celebrating longevity, but about recognising the dignity and vitality of older generations.

Taiwan’s labour market now faces both immediate and long-term pressures as older generations retire and fewer young people enter the workforce.

The first wave of retirees comes from the cohort born between 1958 and 1966, when 3.78 million births were recorded. This group began entering retirement in 2023, triggering a contraction in the labour force.

A second wave, expected in about 16 years, will include those born between 1976 and 1982, when 2.89 million births occurred, the Ministry said. Together, these two groups will reduce the working-age population by 6.67 million.

The demographic strain is compounded by persistently low birth rates, with fewer than 1.6 million people entering the workforce compared with more than 2 million retiring. “Working-age youths” were defined as individuals aged 15 and older, according to the ministry.

Older Taiwanese have low participation in the labour market, with only 10% of those aged 65 and above remaining employed, compared with 25 to 35% in South Korea, Japan, and Singapore. Younger workers are also slower to enter the workforce, as labour force participation among those aged 15 to 29 is only 38%, well below the 60% seen in Europe and the US.

A Ministry of Labour study noted that more than 196,000 university and college graduates have yet to register for labour insurance, excluding those serving in the military, working abroad, or farming. Suggesting that many young Taiwanese are struggling to find employment or remain inactive at home.

According to United Nations data, the number of people aged 65 or older worldwide is expected to more than double from 761 million in 2021 to 1.6 billion by 2050. The population aged 80 and above is growing at an even faster rate. In 2021, one in ten people globally was aged 65 or older; by 2050, that figure is projected to rise to one in six.

Just days ago, Japan, the country with the oldest population, reported a record number of centenarians, with 99,763 people aged 100 or older as of September 1. This marked the 55th consecutive annual increase. 

Northern Africa , Western Asia, and sub-Saharan Africa are projected to record the fastest growth in older populations over the next three decades, the UN said.

Taiwan’s total population has been shrinking for 19 consecutive months. At the end of July, government data showed the population stood at 23,337,936, down 8,805 from June and 71,387 from a year earlier.

Japan’s population shrank by more than 900,000 people in 2024, the steepest decline on record, fueling concerns over the sustainability of the workforce and the mounting costs of medical care and pensions, the Telegraph reports.

Outgoing Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has described the situation as a “quiet emergency”, promising to expand free daycare, encourage flexible working hours, and promote policies to support families. Authorities are also turning to care robots and incentives for foreign workers to ease the pressure on Japan’s strained social systems.

South Korea, on the other hand, has more than 10 million people aged over 65, while Italy is also grappling with a shrinking birth rate and a swelling pensioner population.

Japan’s oldest living person is Shigeko Kagawa, a 114-year-old former doctor in the Nara region. She attributed her vitality to walking long distances during house calls in her younger years, which she said gave her “strong legs, the source of my current vitality.”

Globally, however, the record for the world’s oldest person is currently held by Britain’s Ethel Caterham , who turned 116 in August.

What they said

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) reports that "In Japan, many cases occur where a dead body is found in a house, but the housemate does not immediately report it. This has attracted attention since around 2017 as a typical example of the “80-50 problem,” a problem that occurs in households where older parents care for middle-aged hikikomori. In a 2019 Japanese survey, approximately 0.8% of 40-64-year-olds were middle-aged hikikomori living with their parents, indicating that approximately 300,000 households in Japan comprise older parents and middle-aged hikikomori."

Peru claims to have found a 124-year-old man from the Andean Mountains who could be the world's oldest person. The government of the country asserts that Marcelino Abad, a resident of the central Peruvian region of Huanuco, is 124 years old, potentially making him the oldest living person by a significant margin and possibly surpassing the oldest human ever verified independently. According to Reuters , Peruvian officials state that they are assisting Abad in his application to Guinness World Records for independent verification.

President involved in Rolex watch scandal

Peru’s president, Dina Boluarte, is facing corruption allegations after being seen wearing 14 luxury watches at official events. She initially claimed to have bought them with her own money, but later said they were on loan. El Pais reports that on March 14, the La Encerrona podcast uncovered that Boluarte sported 14 upscale timepieces at different formal occasions. Among them was a steel Rolex Datejust 36 adorned with 18-karat rose gold and diamond accents, estimated at approximately $19,000. Not one of these lavish possessions was disclosed in the mandatory assets declaration for public officials, including the president, even if they were received as gifts. Boluarte's collection has sparked questions about her wealth and led to a police raid on her residence.

$7 Billion pension withdrawal bill

Investors in Peru are concerned about a potential $7 billion pension withdrawal bill. The stock market has already seen a drop and investors fear that pension funds will have to sell assets if the bill is approved. Congress is expected to vote on the bill this Thursday. Bloomberg reports that Congressional approval could spur stock and bond selloff. On the other hand, Lima’s main equities index has dropped 7% since the first vote.

Fossil of 16-million-year-old river dolphin discovered

A 16 million-year-old fossil skull of a river dolphin named Pebanista yacuruna has been found in Peru. It is believed to be the largest dolphin in South America, related to the South Asian river dolphin in India. According to The Japan News Found during the 2018 expedition, published in Science Advances. Ancestors lived in the ocean before moving to freshwater environments in the Amazon and India. Similar species still exist in the Amazon and Orinoco river basins.

Blueberries problem solved

Peru's blueberry exports have rebounded, with a 60% increase in sales in January-February 2024 compared to the same period in 2023. As per EastFruit analysts, following a tumultuous start to Peru's blueberry export season, resulting in the first-ever decrease in the global trade of this popular berry, export volumes are now rebounding. Despite a 20% overall decline in the past 12 months, Peru remains a major exporter to markets such as the USA, the Netherlands, and China. However, competition from Chile, Ukraine, and Poland remains strong.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro took to social media to mourn Juan's passing, expressing condolences and recognising his extraordinary life saying, "Juan Vicente Pérez Mora has transcended into eternity at 114 years old, from the town of El Cobre who gave Venezuela the Guinness Record for being the oldest man in the world."

Juan's journey into the record books began on February 4, 2022, when he was officially recognised as the oldest man alive aged 112 years and 253 days old following the passing of Spanish-born Saturnino de la Fuente Garcia on 18 January 2022 at 112 years and 341 days.

Reflecting on Juan's legacy, Craig Glenday, Guinness World Records Editor-in-Chief, remarked, "It’s been an honour to recognize and celebrate the incredibly long life of Venezuela’s first ever fully authenticated supercentenarian man."

Juan attributed his longevity to a simple yet disciplined lifestyle, including hard work, adequate rest, early bedtime, daily consumption of aguardiente (distilled alcoholic spirit), and unwavering faith in God.

Married for 60 years to Ediofina del Rosario García, Juan and his wife established a large family of 11 children, 42 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren, and 12 great-great-grandchildren.

Having witnessed significant milestones throughout history, including both World Wars, the invention of television, and the moon landing, he became the first male supercentenarian from Venezuela in 2019 on his 110 th birthday and would have turned 115 in May. 

Attention now turns to 112-year-old Gisaburo Sonobe of Japan, who is expected to become the oldest living man pending confirmation from his family, according to Guinness World Records.

While María Branyas Morera who was 115 years 321 days old, as of 19 January 2023 was recognised by Guinness World Records as the world's oldest living person, South Africa’s Johanna Mazibuko , who died two months before turning 129 in March 2023 was said to have been the world’s oldest living person.