David To Star In The Sarah Jane Adventures

Most Doctor Who fans weren't expecting to see David Tennant as The Doctor until November, but now it's been revealed he's going to star on CBBC first!
And it's not just a brief return either - The Doctor will play a big role in a two-part story of The Sarah Jane Adventures.
The third series of the Sarah Jane Adventures will be back on the CBBC Channel for 12 weeks from September.
Doctor Who boss Russell T Davies said: "Viewers thought they may have to wait until November for the next full episode of Doctor Who, but this is an extra special treat.
"And it's not just a cameo from David - this is a full on appearance for The Doctor as he and Sarah Jane face their biggest threat ever." The series will also see Sarah Jane, K-9, Clyde, Luke, Rani and Mr Smith battle a haunted house and the return of the Judoon.

New Doctor Who Animation On The Way

David will be voicing an animated series of Doctor Who which will debut this autumn. The BBC has commissioned seven episodes, which will be around six minutes long and which will be accessible via the red button. They are also due to be aired on Children's BBC. The episodes will link together as a story called Dreamland, penned by Phil Ford, who has also written for Torchwood and The Sarah Jane Adventures. It will be directed by Gary Russell. The cast on the animated episodes will include Georgia Moffett, David Warner and Lisa Bowerman.

President Obama will nominate Judge Sonia Sotomayor to replace Justice David H. Souter

President Obama will nominate Judge Sonia Sotomayor of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit as his first appointment to the court, officials said Tuesday, and has scheduled an announcement for 10:15 a.m. at the White House.

If confirmed by the Democratic-controlled Senate, Judge Sotomayor, 54, would replace Justice David H. Souter to become the second woman on the court and only the third female justice in the history of the Supreme Court. She also would be the first Hispanic justice to serve on the Supreme Court.

The president reached his decision over the long Memorial Day weekend, aides said, but it was not disclosed until Tuesday morning when he informed his advisers of his choice less than three hours before the announcement was scheduled to take place.

The president narrowed his list to four, according to people close to the selection process, including Federal Appeals Judge Diane P. Wood of Chicago, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and Solicitor General Elena Kagan.

In what may be her best-known ruling, Judge Sotomayor issued an injunction against major league baseball owners in April 1995, effectively ending a baseball strike of nearly eight months, the longest work stoppage in professional sports history, which had led to the cancellation of the World Series for the first time in 90 years.

Source: The New York Times, May 26, 2009

Japan reintroduces popular juries in penal trials

May 21, 2009: Japan reintroduced popular juries in penal trials after a break of 66 years. This aligned Japan with the other G8 countries and created an opportunity for debate on capital punishment.

The reform will be introduced starting today, and will take until July, according to the provisions of the Justice Minister. Popular juries faced resistance and constitutional doubt from jurists and society at large.

It will be up to the six popular jurists, as well as three judges, to decide guilt or innocence in cases of murder. They will also decide the punishment, which includes the possibility of capital punishment by hanging.

According to a poll by the Yomiuri newspaper, despite more than 80% of the population favouring the death penalty, 79% said they did not want to take part in popular juries ‘so as not to have to decide on giving the death penalty.’

'I think that many people are worried about serving as jurors. However, it is necessary to bring the common sense that members of the public develop in everyday life into the trials,' Justice Minister Eisuke Mori said.

The minister expects a public debate on the death penalty as a result of the reform.

Source: ANSA, 21/05/2009

Iran: four hanged in Shiraz

May 20, 2009: Four people were hanged in the prison of Shiraz in the morning, according to several Iranian newspapers such as Etemad.

According to the report the four people hanged in Shiraz were: A woman identified as Afsaneh (29), convicted of extramarital relationship and murdering her husband in 2006; An Afghan man (age not mentioned) convicted of raping a 50 years old woman in 2005; A man identified as Rasoul (age not given) convicted of keeping drugs; A 20 year-old young man convicted of a murder in August 2006.

According to this information this unidentified young man was a minor at the time of committing the alleged offence.

Source: Iran Human Rights, 23/05/2009

Shock horror!! Childhood smacking led to attempted suicide

Is this for real? Or is the person who wrote this a woman named Anthea who used to work for the Families Commission? Maybe she still does.

"When I was about three years of age, I was molested. As a result, when I was smacked by my parents, the pain simulated me sexually. As time progressed, the continued childhood discipline smacking with the pain and humiliation associated with it caused me to become sexually attractive to the pain. I began to self-harm. The resulting intense shame, secrecy and anxiety surrounding this addictive behaviour became very long-term. Later in life it led to two suicide attempts.

I now put the shame where it appropriately belongs – at the feet of those who sexually molested and smacked me in my childhood and at the feet of individuals who still believe it is OK to smack children.

I am able to inflict high levels of pain on myself as ‘sexual stimulation’ resulting from childhood conditioning caused by being smacked. This conditioning is now managed by ongoing medical support to prevent actual self-harm.

I suffer from life-long debilitating Post Traumatic Stress Disorder resulting from the treatment I received as a child.

I disclose my real life story because smacking children as was legal under [the old] Section 59 is still considered ‘harmless’. This mindset has the real potential to put many children at risk - as it did to me. My life has been irreparably damaged by the smacking culture in my childhood.

I have witnessed many other sufferers deal with the psychological impact resulting from childhood smacking during many group psychotherapy sessions over the years."

Robert[not his real name]"

I bet it's not his real name.Who'd be silly enough to put a real name to a story like that?

New Banana Island

Well that is what they are calling it. On the West Bank just opposite the Sheraton Hotel,

it is a charming little resturant with a small hassle free bazaar, animal attractions and a laid back atmosphere. Hubby and I went there the other day for lunch and had a really nice time.