29/09/2011

Other UK News In Brief

Press Freedom Warning

The top man in the BBC has warned against a single converged regulator for the British media. BBC Director General Mark Thompson has defended self-regulation of the British press, saying that the current system led by the Press Complaints Commission "should not be dismissed out of hand" in the wake of heavy criticism over the phone-hacking scandal. Speaking at the International Press Institute conference in Taiwan on Sunday morning, Mark Thompson said he was "sceptical of the view that newspapers should be regulated in the same way as broadcasters like the BBC who reach into every household in the land". Thompson argued that the non-statutory regulation of the press meant it was able to keep a close eye on the regulation of broadcasters such as the BBC and Sky, which are obliged to keep to guidelines enforced by Ofcom and designed to ensure their coverage is fair and balanced.

PM Hails New Year

The Prime Minister David Cameron has sent his warm wishes to Jewish people in Britain and around the world as they prepare to celebrate Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. "I'd like to wish everyone in the Jewish Community here in Britain and around the world a Shanah Tovah. I know this is a time when many of you will be reflecting on the past year and looking to the challenges ahead. On the former, I would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to the tremendous contribution your community has made to this country and continues to make each year," he said.

Yorks Head To Front Line

Personnel from 1st Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment are starting a gruelling six-month tour in Afghanistan where they will work alongside the Afghan National Army to help them prepare to fully take over security operations in the country. Nearly 500 members of the battalion are flying out to Afghanistan this week and next after completing a series of last minute preparations and checks at their barracks in Munster in North Germany.

(BMcC/GK)

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