Mother loses super court fight

Every parent hopes their child will defend the weak and fight for justice. But when one mother decided to call her son Superman, she was blocked by a judge, who claimed the child would be ridiculed in later life.

Sara Leisten wanted to call her baby Staalman - Superman in Swedish - because he was born with one arm outstretched in the way the superhero flies. The Leistens, who live in Gothenburg, were refused permission to call their son a similar name, Staalis.

But they are not about to give up. Yesterday, the couple said they would try again with Staalmannen which means The Superman. Swedish MPs have called for the law on babies' names to be changed, as existing legislation is confusing and allows the use of Batman but not Asterix or Superman.