■JAPAN
World’s oldest man dies
The world’s oldest man, Tomoji Tanabe, died at his home in southern Japan yesterday at the age of 113, a local official said. Tanabe, who suffered from a chronic heart problem, passed away with his relatives at his bedside, said an official at Miyakonojo City, where he lived. “Mr Tanabe was a symbol of Miyakonojo ... and cheered up many residents,” making the town a byword for longevity, said Mayor Makoto Nagamine. When Tanabe turned 113 on Sept. 18, he said the secret to his longevity was a big appetite but a strict diet, together with avoiding alcohol, cigarettes and snacks. Tanabe had eight children, 25 grandchildren, 53 great-grandchildren and six great-great-grandchildren.
■NEW ZEALAND
Policy change on A(H1N1)
Authorities abandoned their battle to contain the swine flu virus yesterday as officials said widespread transmission of the infection meant there were likely more than 1,000 cases nationwide. Health Minister Tony Ryall said officials were moving to “manage” the spread of the virus after attempting to contain it for two months. Laboratory tests to confirm the disease will no longer be automatically conducted on all suspected cases. Only patients in high-risk groups or those who appear to have severe infections will be treated with the antiviral drug Tamiflu. Until now, all suspect flu cases were treated with the drug. New government regulations mean parents who defy rules that require children exposed to swine flu to stay home from school for up to seven days could face fines of up to NZ$500 (US$320).
■CHINA
Dams close to collapse
Several dams on the Yellow River are close to collapse just a few years after they were built amid concerns that more than 40 percent of the nation’s reservoirs are unsafe, state media said yesterday. Shoddy construction, unqualified workers and embezzlement of funds are threatening dam safety in Gansu Province, the official China Daily said — a situation that could also put people in danger. “Several dams on branches of the Yellow River in Gansu Province are near collapse only one or two years after their construction,” the paper said. Citing an investigation by the state-run China Youth Daily newspaper, the report pointed to one dam built in 2006 in Huan County on the Yellow River that has developed a dangerous breach in the middle.
■MALAYSIA
Woman charged over maid
A woman has been charged with scalding her Indonesian maid with hot water and hurting her with scissors and a hammer, a lawyer said yesterday. M. Manoharan said his client, Hau Yuan Tyng, 43, pleaded not guilty in a Kuala Lumpur court on Thursday to three charges of causing hurt to Siti Hajar Sadli — in one case allegedly using hot water; in another, a hammer; and in a third, a pair of scissors. Hau faces a maximum of 43 years in prison and whipping, he said.
■HONG KONG
More kids arrested for drugs
The number of schoolchildren aged 10 to 15 arrested for possessing or trafficking dangerous drugs has doubled since last year, a news report said yesterday. Seventy children aged 10 to 15 were arrested for offences involving dangerous drugs between January and April, twice as many as in the same period last year, the South China Morning Post reported. There has also been a rise in the number of 16 to 20-year-olds arrested on drug offences from 337 in the first four months of last year to 357 in the first four months of this year, the newspaper said.
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