标签： Oceania

Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, commenced a landmark legal confrontation against Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL) at London’s High Court on Monday. The nine-week trial represents the final chapter in the royal’s extensive litigation campaign against British tabloid publishers, alleging systematic unlawful information gathering practices.

The case unites Prince Harry with six prominent co-claimants including music legend Elton John, filmmaker David Furnish, actress Elizabeth Hurley, and actor Sadie Frost. The collective alleges that ANL, publisher of the Daily Mail and The Mail on Sunday, engaged in extensive illegal surveillance activities spanning from 1993 to 2018.

According to court documents, the plaintiffs accuse the media group of commissioning private investigators to plant listening devices in vehicles, impersonating individuals to obtain confidential medical records through ‘blagging’ techniques, and illegally accessing private telephone communications. These allegations form part of what Prince Harry considers a personal mission to hold British media accountable for their reporting practices.

The defendant has vigorously denied all accusations, characterizing them as “preposterous” and “lurid” in previous statements. ANL maintains that the claims are unfounded and has pledged to defend its journalistic integrity throughout the proceedings.

This trial marks Prince Harry’s third appearance in British courts regarding media intrusion cases, following previous settlements with Rupert Murdoch’s News Group Newspapers and a successful lawsuit against Mirror Group Newspapers that resulted in substantial damages awarded for phone hacking violations.

The timing of this legal action coincides with Prince Harry’s brief return to the United Kingdom from his California residence, though reports indicate no planned meetings with his father, King Charles III, during this visit. The Duke is scheduled to provide personal testimony on Thursday, becoming the first senior royal in over a century to give evidence in multiple court cases.

Media law experts suggest this final case may establish significant precedents regarding press accountability and the boundaries of investigative journalism in the digital age, potentially reshaping UK media practices for years to come.

A growing international movement to restrict youth access to social media platforms is gaining momentum across Western nations, with France and the United Kingdom actively considering measures inspired by Australia’s groundbreaking legislation. The Australian model, which prohibits individuals under 16 from accessing major platforms like Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube, has ignited a complex global debate about digital protection versus personal freedom.

This policy shift stems from escalating concerns regarding adolescent mental health deterioration. Prominent advocates, including American psychologist Jonathan Haidt, author of the influential book ‘The Anxious Generation,’ argue that excessive social media exposure is fundamentally rewiring developing brains and creating a mental health crisis. Haidt’s work, which has attracted significant political attention, posits that screen-based interactions are displacing crucial real-world experiences necessary for healthy development.

However, the scientific community remains deeply divided on implementing blanket bans. Canadian psychologist Candice Odgers and other academics challenge the alarmist narrative, contending that Haidt’s conclusions lack robust scientific validation. This academic disagreement centers on the difficulty of isolating social media’s specific impact amid numerous factors influencing teen wellbeing.

Research from the University of Queensland’s Michael Noetel suggests that while evidence of harm exists, the effects might be more nuanced than extreme positions indicate. Noetel describes supporting restrictive measures as ‘a bet worth making’ given potential benefits. Conversely, University of Adelaide researcher Ben Singh’s longitudinal study of over 100,000 Australian youth revealed a U-shaped relationship: both heavy usage (over two hours daily) and complete non-use correlated with poorer outcomes, while moderate engagement showed the best results. The study notably found gender differences, with excessive use most harmful for girls and complete deprivation most detrimental for older teenage boys.

French psychiatrist Serge Tisseron acknowledges social media’s ‘appallingly toxic’ aspects but cautions that outright bans might be technologically circumvented by digitally-native youth while inadvertently relieving parents of supervisory responsibilities. He advocates for more sophisticated, nuanced regulatory approaches rather than polarized all-or-nothing solutions.

As France debates legislation for under-15s and UK officials consult experts, many researchers suggest observing Australia’s implementation. Cambridge University’s Amy Orben notes that within a year, substantial data will emerge regarding the ban’s effectiveness and any unintended consequences, with Australia’s e-safety commissioner already reporting 4.7 million blocked underage accounts.

In the dusty workshops of Chongshan village near Suzhou, a centuries-old tradition of sacred woodcarving stands on the brink of disappearance. Master craftsman Zhang meticulously shapes a block of wood into a divine foot beneath the silent gaze of dozens of unfinished life-sized Buddhist and Taoist statues, continuing a family legacy that spans multiple generations.

This specialized craft, requiring five to six years of dedicated apprenticeship to master, faces an existential crisis as younger generations reject the demanding profession. Zhang, who learned the intricate art from his father during his teenage years, acknowledges the inevitable: ‘Once our generation retires, there will be no one left to carry on the tradition.’

The decline stems from a combination of inadequate financial compensation and modern youth’s reluctance to invest the necessary time and energy. The village experienced a temporary resurgence in orders during the late 20th century when China relaxed religious restrictions, leading to a nationwide revival of temple construction and decoration.

However, the market has now reached saturation point, with most temples across China already furnished with statues. At another workshop, 71-year-old artisan Gu recalls adapting to political pressures during the Cultural Revolution by producing secular handicrafts when religious expression was suppressed. Specializing in carving expressive Buddha heads, Gu demonstrates how each gilded figure conveys unique emotional depth – some smiling, others crying, with renowned monk Ji Gong sculptures even displaying contrasting expressions on each side of the face.

While outsiders perceive these creators as artists, Zhang maintains a pragmatic perspective: ‘People look at us like we’re artists. But to us, we’re just creating a product.’ This disconnect between cultural significance and economic reality ultimately threatens the survival of one of China’s most spiritually significant artisanal traditions.