Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe Oldest human honored in Japan FUKUCHI, Japan, July 2 (UPI) -- Yone Minagawa, the world's oldest person at 114 years old, Monday was presented a certificate issued by Guinness World Records. Advertisement Fukuchi Mayor Koji Urata gave her the certificate from the British record-keeping organization officially recognizing her as the world's living human at a ceremony at the nursing home where she lives, the Kyodo news service reported. Minagawa went to the top of the longevity list Jan. 28, the day American Emma Faust Tillman died at age 114. Tomoji Tanabe, a 111-year-old resident of Miyakonojo, was given a certificate for being the world's oldest man from Guinness World Records last month. 'Haunted' mental hospital to be demolished DUNWOODY, Ga., July 2 (UPI) -- An old mental institute in Dunwoody, Ga., believed by some to harbor a ghost is to be knocked down to make room for a skatepark. Advertisement Local lore says the ghost of a young boy wanders the halls of the abandoned Georgia Retardation Center on North Peachtree Road, but no one knows his name or his story, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported Monday. But the hot spot for those interested in the paranormal is supposed be demolished by the end of July and none of the men working around it have reported any sightings. Crane operator Antonio Dean said he hadn't seen or heard anything unusual, but he and other workers avoid going inside the buildings. Dan Milhouse, who manages the security company patrolling the park, said guards hadn't reported any ghost stories to him. "There are no such thing as ghosts," he said. But Angela Marlett and the Marietta-Roswell Ghost Tracking Group, said they have all felt the sudden slamming of doors, footsteps and drastic temperature drops in rooms with no windows within the building. "It's indisputable when you have voice recordings and hear someone say something on tape," Marlett said. "It's crazy." Kenyan assistant ministers need work NAIROBI, Kenya, July 2 (UPI) -- Assistant Kenyan ministers in Nairobi have revealed they have nothing to do and have sent a letter to the president requesting duties. Advertisement "I just go to the office and read newspapers," said assistant fisheries minister Abu Chiaba. Kenya currently has at least 50 assistant ministers within its 33 ministries, with some ministries having two assistants, The BBC reported Monday. Assistant ministers reportedly cost the government more than $9 million a year in salaries and allowances. "We owe it to the taxpayer that what we are paid is commensurate with what we do," they said in a letter addressed to President Mwai Kibaki. "I'm treated like a shadow and only learn of issues in my ministry through the press," Assistant Tourism and Wildlife Minister Kalembe Ndile said. The assistant ministers reportedly want to be referred to as deputy ministers and would like Kibaki to spell out their duties. Dead camel found by road in Sweden KARLSKRONA, Sweden, July 2 (UPI) -- Police near Karlskrona, Sweden, ruled out any criminal intent in the case of the dead camel found on the side of the E22 Motorway. Police found the remains of the animal, which had visible injuries to its body, at the side of the E22 motorway at 3:30 a.m. Monday, The Local reported. It was revealed that Chamellen the camel was on its way to be sold and handed over to its new owner when the animal kicked open the door of the trailer it was in and injured its leg. Advertisement The driver pulled over and after checking on the camel, immediately called a vet, who decided to put the animal down, the newspaper said. Chamellen was then left in the ditch to await transportation. "It's actually quite a tragic story," Chamellen's owner Bengt Elingsson, told The Local.
