This week marked the publication of the Leveson inquiry report, awaited by journalists and media academics across the UK and beyond. The Home Office has proposed a minimum price plan to end cheap alcohol sales and David Cameron has called for greater awareness of HIV and Aids. Elsewhere, we’ve seen a violent week for the Middle East with an increasingly, bitterly divided nation in Egypt and the escalation of the Syrian crisis.
Democracy or dictatorship?
Last week HCX reported on Egypt’s new crisis after Muhammad Morsi, the president, issued a decree that vastly increased his powers in office, including immunity from judicial oversight. The move prompted the biggest street protests in the country since the overthrow of Hosni Mubarak. Developments this week have seen Islamist backers of Egypt’s President Mohammed Morsi holding mass rallies to support his sweeping new powers and the drafting of a constitution. With no public discussion and little advice from his own aides, the president ruled not only to block any future court challenges to the legality of the constituent assembly. He also awarded legal immunity to himself, until such time as a new constitution and parliament impose some binding limits.
His opponents are angry that the draft constitution was hastily passed by an Islamist-dominated assembly on Friday. However, brotherhood supporters insist that the expanded powers are strictly for the public good. Mr Morsi says he will give up his extraordinary powers once the new constitution is approved by a referendum, however his move appears to have plunged Egypt into its gravest crisis since the uprising that ended six decades of military-backed dictatorship.
Lord Justice Leveson proposes much tougher press regulation
In 2011, accusations that News of the World employees had illegally hacked the mobile phone messages of missing schoolgirl Milly Dowler who turned out to be murdered, prompted allegations of illegal intrusion into privacy by the paper, and the possibility of it happening at other papers. David Cameron demanded a judge-led inquiry and Lord Justice Leveson, an appeal court judge was chosen to conduct a full review of the press and recommend ways of reforming its worse abuses.
The overarching Leveson inquiry lasted 16 months and took evidence from 474 people. The long-awaited report, published on Thursday, broadly criticises reporters, newspaper proprietors, police and politicians. Lord Justice Leveson called for a new independent watchdog – which he said should be underpinned by legislation.
Leveson’s 2,000-page report, found that some press behaviour had been “outrageous” and “wreaked havoc with the lives of innocent people“. Following cross-party talks, which will resume next week, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport will begin the process of drawing up a draft bill implementing the Leveson recommendations. However David Cameron has stated he does not want a press law, and would prefer the industry to come up with a tough alternative.
Ignorance about HIV and Aids raising risk of spreading
David Cameron has warned that there is too much ignorance about HIV and Aids, as many people with the immunodeficiency virus are not benefiting from treatment and are raising the risk of it spreading. The Health Protection Agency (HPA) said its figures suggested about 100,000 people in the UK were currently living with HIV, but about a quarter of them did not know they had the virus, which untreated can lead to the development of Aids. Its figures have been released to coincide with World Aids Day. Mr Cameron said World Aids Day, should be used to ‘spread the message‘ about education, testing and early diagnosis.
Lisa Power, from the Terrence Higgins Trust charity, said fear was stopping some people getting tested, but they were much better off knowing if they had HIV. She said: “It’s extremely alarming that so many people in the UK have HIV but are undiagnosed”.The WHO said improving access to antiretroviral drugs was key to cutting Aids-related deaths.
Minimum price plan to combat “irresponsible” drinking
Ministers are proposing a minimum price of 45p a unit for the sale of alcohol in England and Wales as part of a drive to tackle problem drinking. The main target is supermarkets selling beer for less than bottled water. The Home Office said the consultation was targeted at “harmful drinkers and irresponsible shops“. A spokesman added: “Those who enjoy a quiet drink or two have nothing to fear from our proposals.”
The 45p minimum would mean a can of strong lager could not be sold for less than £1.56 and a bottle of wine below £4.22. the government thinks this could cut drinking by 3.3% and save lives. Suppliers and most retailers are outraged at measures, which they say, would penalise the poor without tackling the problem. Andrew Opie, of the British Retail Consortium, said: “The government should recognise the role of personal responsibility. It should not allow interfering in the market to regulate prices and promotions to become the default approach for public health policy.”
Eric Appleby, chief executive of Alcohol Concern, said: “We’re paying a heavy price for alcohol misuse and setting a minimum unit price will help us on the road to changing this.”
Syrian Internet largely restored after blackout
Internet and telephone service were restored across much of Syria on Saturday following a two-day, nationwide communications blackout that came during some of the worst fighting to hit the capital since July. Experts say the shutdown was likely caused by President Bashar Assad’s regime, raising fears that the government is taking increasingly bold measures to cut off the country from the outside world as it tries to crush a relentless rebellion.
Syrian rebels are fighting a 20-month-old revolt against the Assad regime. Activists say some 40,000 people have been killed in the crisis, which began in March 2011 with pro-democracy protests but has morphed into a civil war.
Image Credits: Guardian.co.uk