Atomic bomb survivors' benefits upheld in Japan

TOKYO -- Japan's highest court ordered Hiroshima's local government to settle medical backpayments to three Japanese citizens who survived the 1945 U.S. atomic bomb attack but were deprived of government benefits because they moved to Brazil, a court official said Tuesday.

Japan's Supreme Court upheld a Hiroshima High Court ruling last February ordering the local government to pay the three more than $24,000 each as compensation for unpaid medical expenses, court spokeswoman Rie Ueda said.