Japanese women retake top spot

Japan's women retook their place as the world's longest-lived last year, edging out Hong Kongers as their life expectancy bounced back from the dip caused by the 2011 tsunami, officials said yesterday.
Health ministry data showed girls born in Japan in 2012 could expect on average to live to 86.41, up from 85.90 in 2011 when the average was dragged lower when thousands of lives were cut short by the natural disaster.
The Japanese are renowned for their longevity, attributed in part to a healthy diet, active lifestyle and good medical system.
The health ministry compiled international rankings using data from Japan and 48 other countries plus Hong Kong.