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More than 9m in China with dementia
PARIS: Around 9.19 million people in China had dementia in 2010, compared with 3.68 million 20 years earlier.
In what its authors say is the most detailed study into age-related mental health in China, the paper says prevalence of dementia is rising far faster than thought and the country is ill-equipped to deal with the problem.
Reporting in the journal The Lancet, a team trawled through 89 academic studies published in English and Chinese between 1990 and 2010.
They calculate that in 2010 there were 9.19 million people with dementia in China, of whom 5.69 million had Alzheimer’s.
This compares with 3.68 million cases of dementia in 1990, of whom 1.93 million had Alzheimer’s.
The 2010 estimate means that China that year had more individuals living with Alzheimer’s disease than any other country in the world, says the study.
The paper raised tough questions about China’s preparedness, given that western countries are only now beginning to realise the hugely expensive bill for helping people with dementia.
AFP
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Putins announce their divorce on TV
MOSCOW: Vladimir Putin pulled off one of his most audacious pieces of stagecraft, attending a ballet with his rarely-seen wife and then announcing their marriage is over.
The end of the marriage of the Russian president and Lyudmila Putina less than two months shy of their 30th anniversary came on state television after a Thursday evening that started out like a model of domestic contentment – a devoted husband taking his wife to the ballet.
But after the performance of Esmeralda at the Great Kremlin Palace, the two came into a luxurious room to speak to a reporter.
“Excellent. Great music, excellent production,” Putin said and Lyudmila echoed his praise.
After about a minute, the reporter asked about rumours the two didn’t live together.
Putin smiled slightly, like a boy caught misbehaving, and turned his head toward Lyudmila.
“This is so,” he said.
It wasn’t immediately clear if that meant just separate domiciles.
After a few more comments, the reporter gently prodded: “I am afraid to say this word ‘divorce’.”
“Yes, this is a civilised divorced,” Lyudmila said.
The peculiar format for the announcement appeared aimed at underlining that this wasn’t just a powerful man dumping his faithful helpmate.
That’s a potentially important strategic move for Putin, who has based his public image on rectitude and support of traditional values.
Tabloid reports in 2008 claimed Putin already had divorced Lyudmila and planned to marry a gymnast less than half his age.
The Interfax news agency cited presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying the divorce has not been formalised and that the televised comments were only an announcement of the decision to divorce.
Divorce is common in Russia, and almost 700,000 marriages were dissolved in 2009, according to UNICEF.
Stay informed, daily
The Putins married on July 28, 1983, and have two daughters, Maria and Yekaterina.
AP
Prince Philip hospitalised for surgery
LONDON: Prince Philip, the 91-year-old husband of Queen Elizabeth II, has been admitted to hospital for “exploratory” surgery and is likely to stay there for two weeks.
“His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh has been admitted to the London Clinic for an exploratory operation following abdominal investigations,” a Buckingham Palace statement said on Thursday.
A palace spokeswoman later said he was “in very good health” and the operation would be conducted under general anaesthetic.
Doctors have carried out tests over the past week, and decided he should undergo a laparotomy on Friday, according to British press reports. This requires a large incision to be made through the abdominal wall in order to look for abnormalities including tumours, explaining the lengthy recuperation period.
The duke, who turns 92 on Monday, was hospitalised twice last year for a bladder infection that forced him to miss the last of the Queen’s huge diamond jubilee celebrations.
He also suffered a blocked coronary artery the previous Christmas that required surgery.
AFP
US phone records search ‘thwarted attack’
WASHINGTON DC: The chairman of the US House of Representatives Intelligence committee says the federal government’s ongoing search of telephone records thwarted an attempted terrorist attack in the country in the last few years.
Republican congressman Mike Rogers defended the telephone records collection at a news conference on Thursday.
He said the information culled from the records enabled US authorities to stop a “significant case”.
He declined to provide additional details but said he was in touch with US officials about providing more information.
He said the National Security Agency’s search is for business records and is constantly being reviewed.
He said nothing is done without court approval.
AP
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