In today’s edition of Squirrel News, we’re diving into the global increase in the number of countries abolishing the death penalty, Baltimore’s impressive 36% drop in violent crime, and Denmark’s unique approach to mental health treatment: cultural enrichment.
A growing number of countries are moving away from the death penalty
Nearly three-quarters of the world’s nations have now either abolished the death penalty outright or do not practice it. As of December 31st 2023, 112 countries have abolished it for all crimes, 9 only for ordinary crimes, and 23 countries have effectively abolished it in practice – bringing the total number of countries that have effectively abolished the practice to 144.
Baltimore sees big drop in violent crime: homicides down 36% in 2024
Non-fatal shootings also saw a drop of approximately 30%, suggesting a clear trend of diminishing violence across the city. These figures follow a 20% reduction in homicides the previous year.
Denmark prescribes ‘culture vitamins’ to boost mental health
In the Scandinavian country, a unique approach to addressing mental health is gaining traction: ‘culture vitamins’. Instead of traditional treatments, doctors are prescribing cultural activities – such as theatre trips, museum visits, and group readings – to combat anxiety, stress, and depression.
New Swedish parental leave law allows grandparents to be paid for childcare
Under this new law, parents have the option to transfer a portion of their parental leave entitlement to their child’s grandparents. According to the Social Insurance Agency, a couple can transfer up to 45 days of leave, while a single parent can transfer up to 90 days.
Children’s sugar consumption halved since tax announcement, study finds
The tax, which came into force in April 2018, has been so successful in improving people’s diets that experts have said an expansion to cover other high sugar food and drink products is now a “no-brainer”.
Japanese high court backs gender change without mandatory surgery
On Wednesday, a Japanese high court ruled that a transgender woman can change the sex listed on her family registry without needing to undergo surgery, as the current law mandates. This ruling is expected to increase pressure on the government to amend the existing legislation.
How Portland police and activists are joining forces to treat addiction
Treatment providers are joining forces with law enforcement to patrol areas with high drug use. When officers encounter individuals in need, rehab experts are right there to offer help – marking a shift from the traditional approach on how best to treat addiction.
Breathing new life into America’s ‘left-behind’ counties
The counties in America once labelled as “left behind” – mainly former manufacturing hubs that faced tough times at the start of the century – have made an impressive comeback. Over the past three years, they’ve been adding jobs and new businesses at a rate not seen since the Clinton era.
