Japan stabbing suspect cries during interrogation

TOKYO (AP) — The suspect in a knifing rampage that left seven dead in Tokyo was handed over to prosecutors Tuesday, as Internet postings he is accused of writing painted a picture of an angry, lonely young man and a meticulously planned attack.

Tomohiro Kato, a 25-year-old factory worker, was transferred from police custody to a holding cell at the Tokyo prosecutors office, where he was expected to undergo further questioning into Sunday’s attack. Police say he slammed a rented truck into a crowd of pedestrians before jumping out and stabbing several people with a five-inch knife.

A police spokesman said Kato has generally been cooperative, though unapologetic, during questioning and has at times broken down in tears. The spokesman requested anonymity because the investigation is ongoing and refused to give further details.Undergoing MyBlogLog Verification

Shuttle astronauts wrap up space station work

Cape Canaveral (US) (AP): Shuttle Discovery’s astronauts wrapped up their few remaining chores at the international space station, flexing the robot arm belonging to the newly installed Japanese science lab and opening up a new area for storage.

The two crews planned on saying goodbye, with Discovery leaving the station Wednesday morning.

The $1 billion lab’s robotic arm got its first thorough checkout during a two-hour procedure in which it was fully extended, and all six of its joints were moved. The 33-foot robotic arm was first moved on Saturday, but only very slightly.

“It was such a pretty view, we just wanted to share it with you guys,” Japanese astronaut Akihiko Hoshide told flight controllers near Tokyo as he operated the arm.

With fall vote in view, Obama assails McCain on economy

RALEIGH, North Carolina: Senator Barack Obama, with the Democratic stage to himself for the first time, began a two-week assault on Senator John McCain’s economic policies in a series of battleground states on Monday, moving to focus on the ailing economy as the central theme of the general election campaign.

In his most pointed and sustained attack on McCain’s economic agenda, Obama said that a McCain presidency would be a continuation of President George W. Bush’s faltering economic policies. And he highlighted his own proposals to aid economically beleaguered Americans: tax cuts for middle-income families and retirees, a $50 billion economic stimulus package, expansion of unemployment benefits, and relief for homeowners facing foreclosure.

The address, at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds, pushed for a more active government role in restoring the nation’s economic health and aiding distressed families, setting up a stark contrast with McCain, who has proposed tax cuts for corporations and other tax reductions to spur the economy. But while Obama has tried to link McCain’s economic policies to Bush, McCain has departed from the president by calling for a greater government role in helping homeowners.

Passe Muraille to collaborate with indie theatre groups in 2008-9 season

Theatre Passe Muraille, Toronto’s leading alternative theatre company, announced a 2008-9 season on Monday that includes several collaborations with emerging theatre troupes.

“I want to reinvigorate [the theatre's] role as a seed bed for the many artists and independent companies working in Toronto and across Canada,” said Andy McKim, who is presenting his first season as artistic director at Passe Muraille.

Theatre Passe Muraille will be working with Victoria’s up-and-coming Atomic Vaudeville on Legoland by Jacob Richmond, a vaudeville-like routine about the infamous Lamb siblings, who use ukulele, puppets, multimedia and gangster rap to present the story of their encounter with a beloved pop celebrity.

Take Out delivers a harsh slice of life

A few days ago, I was almost run over by a Chinese delivery man. It wasn’t my first close call: Over the years, I’ve yanked my daughter’s stroller out of the way of a cyclist crossing against the light, had my heel bruised by the pedal of a delivery bike going the wrong way down a one-way street, and watched as a beefy guy in a suit was bowled over by someone with an apparent disregard for brakes.

But even as I quietly cursed the guy who whipped by me last week, I spared a moment to think about what might have brought him to our near collision.

The evening before, I’d watched Take Out, a quietly remarkable slice of vérité drama which opened last Friday at the Quad Cinemas in the Village. Shot for about $3,000 – or as much as some people will drop on an after-work blowout at China Grill – the film is a close-up view of one day in the life of a recently arrived Chinese immigrant.