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• Japanese doctor apologises for smoking remark 

A Japanese doctor has apologised after saying that people should smoke themselves to an early death to save the country money on elderly care, according to his hospital.

"It is clear that medical costs will increase if non-smoking spreads," the doctor said last week, according to Ida Hospital in Kawasaki City. "It's better that people smoke a lot and die early."

The man, whose name has been withheld, made the comment at a gathering of doctors, the hospital said.

"The hospital president has reprimanded him severely," said Tetsuya Yamamoto, a public relations official of the hospital.

"He said it was a careless remark and sincerely regrets it,"

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