Japan group gives A-bomb posters to museum on Mandela-linked island

February 20, 2006

A civic group from Hiroshima on Monday gave a set of posters on the atomic bombings in Japan to a South African museum on Robben Island, where former President Nelson Mandela spent many years as a political prisoner. The 30 posters were presented by a visiting delegation from the Peace for Stone Association of Hiroshima to Paul Langa, chief executive officer of the Robben Island Museum, during an hourlong meeting at his Cape Town office.

AUM's Asahara mentally fit to stand trial, expert report says

February 20, 2006

Shoko Asahara, founder of the religious cult formerly known as AUM Shinrikyo, is mentally competent to stand trial, an expert report presented Monday to the Tokyo High Court said, rejecting his lawyers' claim that his mental condition is not normal. While exhibiting a reaction to being incarcerated for a long time, the 50-year-old Asahara ''does not suffer mental illness and he is able to communicate,'' says the report by Akira Nishiyama, a physician in Tokyo well-versed in judicial psychiatric evidence.

Cram school teacher pleads guilty to killing girl

February 20, 2006

A former part-time cram school teacher pleaded guilty on Monday to fatally stabbing a 12-year-old pupil at the school in Uji, Kyoto Prefecture, last December. ''I committed an irreparable mistake, and I would not have done this if I had committed suicide,'' Yu Hagino, 23, told the Kyoto District Court. ''I am sorry that I claimed a precious life.''

AUM's Asahara mentally fit to stand trial

February 20, 2006

Shoko Asahara, founder of the religious cult formerly known as AUM Shinrikyo, is mentally competent to stand trial in a courtroom, an expert report submitted to the Tokyo High Court said Monday, rejecting his lawyers' claim that his mental condition is not normal. While developing prison-related reactions, the 50-year-old Asahara ''does not suffer mental problems and he is able to communicate,'' the report concludes. ''He has not lost his litigation capacity.''