Quick refugee update 5 - Tamil boats

The High Court has granted an interim injunction preventing the government handing over any of the remaining 153 Tamil asylum seekers to Sri Lanka, with the case to be heard this afternoon.

ETA: The results of today's High Court hearing: we know there are 153 asylum seekers, and that 21 of them are minors, the youngest of whom is two years old. They're being held on an Australia vessel at sea. The government has promised 72 hours notice before any handover. Sri Lanka claims it has no plans to take the group. The case could take weeks to resolve as both sides make their case. (We also know that the 41 asylum seekers who have been handed over so far faced court in Sri Lanka.)

The UN and international law experts have all criticised the previous handover of 41 asylum seekers as illegal and dangerous.

The father of a three-year-old aboard the second boat has not heard from his daughter or wife for ten days and has pleaded with the Australian government for information about their fate.

(no subject)

Not only have some Doctor Who scripts leaked, but so have some scripts for Top Gear. Now that would make interesting reading.

I often wonder how aware TG's audience are of the amount of scripting and editing that creates the show - it varies from subtle to blazingly obvious. Kpop fans also vary in how aware they are of the entertainment company's control of their idols' words - interviewers may only select from pre-approved questions, and idols are coached in what answers to give, and everything is scripted, edited, and approved - and their emotional manipulation of the fans. Younger fans are particularly in danger of being taken in. But how much does the average Top Gear viewer believe of what they see (and hear)?