Entertainment
Dame Joanna Lumley warns of ‘crisis hidden in plain sight’ – with 1.5 million older people set to spend Christmas alone
Dame Joanna Lumley has warned of a “crisis hidden in plain sight”, with 1.5 million older people set to spend Christmas alone.
Age UK spoke to more than 2,600 people and found 11% will eat dinner alone on 25 December, while 5% will not see or speak to anyone the whole day.
Applied to the overall population, the findings suggest 1.5 million people will eat alone at Christmas, according to the charity.
Dame Joanna said the “silence can be deafening” for those left isolated and called it “a crisis hidden in plain sight”.
The actor and campaigner is now joining other luminaries including Dame Judi Dench, Brian Cox and Miriam Margolyes to back Age UK’s campaign against loneliness.
The charity says its volunteers made more than 70,000 minutes’ worth of calls to people during Christmas week last year and is urging people to donate.
‘A tragedy we don’t talk about enough’
Age UK said it also supports coffee mornings and festive lunches to give lonely people the chance to enjoy in-person interaction.
Dame Judi said: “For so many older people, Christmas can be a time of silence – days without conversation or company.”
Succession star Brian Cox called the issue “a tragedy we don’t talk about enough”.
He said: “Far too many older people are left spending the season in silence, when it should be a time of warmth, connection and joy.”
Brian Cox is another of the campaign’s high-profile backers. Pic: PA
Margolyes, of Harry Potter fame, added: “Growing older shouldn’t mean disappearing into the background, we need to be seen, heard and celebrated.
“That’s what Age UK is striving for – they’re changing how we perceive age.”
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The charity’s chief executive, Paul Farmer, said: “Your donation could bring comfort, friendship, and care to an older person facing loneliness this winter.
“From friendly, weekly calls to local lunch clubs, we’re here to make sure no one spends winter alone. But we can’t do it without you.”
The Japanese government is reportedly backing plans to introduce a significant reduction in the nation’s maximum tax rate on crypto profits, with a flat rate of 20% across the board.
Japan’s financial regulator, the Financial Services Agency (FSA), first floated the proposed tax changes in mid-November, outlining plans to introduce a bill in early 2026, and now the government and ruling coalition — the political parties in control of Japan’s parliament, the National Diet — are on board.
According to a report from Japanese news outlet Nikkei Asia on Sunday, the new rules aim to align crypto taxation rules with those of other financial products, such as equities and investment funds.
Under the current laws, taxation on crypto trading is included as part of income taxes for individuals and businesses, falling under the category of “miscellaneous income.” The rate ranges from 5% on the lower end of the spectrum to 45% on the high end, with high-income earners potentially on the hook for an additional 10% inhabitant tax.
Meanwhile, assets such as equities and investment trusts are taxed separately, with a flat 20% tax on profits, regardless of the amount.
The tax changes could be a boon for the domestic cryptocurrency market, as the higher tax rates may have deterred potential investors.
According to the Nikkei report, the potential changes to crypto taxation in Japan will be introduced as part of a “solid investor-protection framework” proposed in the FSA’s bill, which aims to amend the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act.
The FSA will submit the bill during the regular Diet session in 2026, as it pushes for greater oversight of crypto trading, including a ban on dealing with non-public information and stricter investment disclosures.
Japan finally set for crypto tax change after long fight
The Japan Blockchain Association (JBA), the nation’s major crypto-focused non-governmental lobbying group, has been calling for these changes for almost three years.
Related: Bitcoin falls to $84K: Is Japan’s bond market the culprit, or is more at play?
In July 2023, the JBA published a letter to the government on its website, outlining key tax reform requests to support the industry. The letter called for a 20% tax rate that aligns with other investment vehicles.
“This letter requests a review of tax on crypto assets, which is the biggest hurdle for companies operating Web3 businesses in Japan and a disincentive for the public to actively own and use crypto assets,” the letter reads.
While it is unclear if the JBA had a direct influence on the FSA’s thinking, the financial watchdog did start warming up to the idea and pushing for reform in September 2024.
Magazine: Koreans ‘pump’ alts after Upbit hack, China BTC mining surge: Asia Express
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