Precious film takes Toronto prize

Precious, a gritty movie produced by Oprah Winfrey and featuring singer Mariah Carey, has won the main prize at the Toronto Film Festival.

It won the award voted for by film fans, taken last year by eventual Oscar winner Slumdog Millionaire.

Director Lee Daniels said he made the film "for every person who looked in the mirror and felt unsure about the person looking back".

Precious stars actress Gabourey Sidibe in her first major screen role.

The film gained a warm critical reception when it premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January and is due to be released in cinemas in November.

It tells the story of Harlem teenager Precious, who is illiterate and expecting her second child.

The movie also features rock star Lenny Kravitz in one of his first acting roles.

Source: BBC News

Bid to halt US 'vein' execution

Lawyers for a US man on death row say they will try to halt a second attempt at his execution by lethal injection.

On Tuesday the execution of murderer and rapist Romell Broom was called off and delayed for a week after Ohio state officials failed to find a vein.

His lawyers demanded that the procedure be stopped after two hours, describing it as "cruel".

They say that as he survived it would amount to "cruel and unusual punishment" to try again.

Source: BBC News

This is sick. I have been firmly opposed to the death penalty forever. I know some of you are saying well he raped and murdered, which he did, and should be punished and it was a terrible crime. But, this just goes to show how execution is never easy. Now this man has to wait two weeks for the next attempt? Ridiculous!

Now, I know many people don't have any sympathy for him and will say things like, 'he had no sympathy for the girl he raped' and that sort of thing. Fair enough. But if that is your argument, then what you are doing is putting yourself in the same category as the killer. Why lower yourself to his level?

I will never waver in my belief that; No state should have the right to decide if someone lives or dies. This is more because of the potential for abuse, racially motivated executions and the ever present possibility of executing an innocent person, than for sympathy towards creeps who kill innocent children or anyone else.

Argentina & Legal Pot

The supreme court in Argentina has ruled that it is unconstitutional to punish people for using marijuana for personal consumption.

The decision follows a case of five young men who were arrested with a few marijuana cigarettes in their pockets.

But the court said use must not harm others and made it clear it did not advocate a complete decriminalisation.

Correspondents say there is a growing momentum in Latin America towards decriminalising drugs for personal use.

The Argentine court ruled that: "Each adult is free to make lifestyle decisions without the intervention of the state."

Supreme Court President Ricardo Lorenzetti said private behaviour was legal, "as long as it doesn't constitute clear danger".

"The state cannot establish morality," he said. Source: BBC News

I think this is a good decision. Although they have not made dope completely legal they have made it so that police and court resources can be freed up so they may be put to better use solving more serious crime.

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Saudis chided on 'rights abuses'

Amnesty International has strongly criticised Saudi Arabia over abuses allegedly committed under its counter-terrorism programme.

In a new report the human rights group says that since 2001 thousands of Saudis have been detained for years without charge or trial.

The group's 69-page report describes Saudi Arabia's human rights record as "shocking" and "dire".

It says the international community has been far too quiet about the abuse. Full Story at BBC News.

'Deathbed confession' man charged

Now that I'm done venting about america again, here is a little story from BBC News of another american.  The next time you think you are having a bad day, remember this guy. If this wasn't a true story, I have to say it would be funny.

A US man who thought he was dying and confessed to having killed a neighbour in 1977 has been charged with murder after making a recovery, US media say.

James Brewer could now face the death penalty over the unsolved killing in Tennessee 32 years ago, reports say.

Convinced he was dying after a stroke, Mr Brewer reportedly admitted to police he shot dead 20-year-old Jimmy Carroll.

The 58-year-old, who had fled Tennessee after the killing, was arrested after his condition improved, reports say.

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