The number of Japanese people killing themselves in online death pacts rose alarmingly again last year, despite government efforts to monitor websites where suicidal people meet.

The National Police Agency said 91 people died in group suicides arranged over the Internet up from 55 in 2004. The number of Internet suicide pacts has almost tripled since police began keeping records in 2003.

New figures showed that 32,552 Japanese killed themselves in 2005 up 0.7 per cent from the previous year. Poor health was cited in suicide notes as the most common reason, accounting for 40 per cent of the total. More than half of all those who killed themselves last year were unemployed. Men aged over 40 comprised the biggest single group 73 per cent. The number of children rose by almost 10 per cent to 861.

The government plans to invest large sums into local services for people suffering from depression and other mental illnesses and will call on companies to improve pastoral care for employees.

Viet Nam to limit online game time

Japan is not the only country that suffers from Internet problems. Viet Nam also takes measures to tackle troubles brought by online game.

An official said on Friday that the government of Viet Nam is limiting the number of hours that its citizens can spend playing online computer games.

Regulations go into effect this month to deter playing by preventing gamers from earning points after more than 5-hours online. A player's virtual character will only be able to earn half the normal amount of points after the first three-hours of play.

"According to the ordinance, the providers of online games will have to develop software that monitors playing time and controls the scores," said Vu Xuan Thanh, head of the Inspection Department at the Ministry of Culture and Information.

The government is hoping to deter people, especially children, from spending countless hours playing games accessed via the Internet.

The new regulations also require that online players under the age of 14 be accompanied by an adult. Gaming shops must close at 11 pm.

An estimated 2 million Vietnamese regularly play online computer games. In Hanoi, neighbourhood gaming shops are filled with children even into the evening hours.

Source: China Daily