What the papers said in the week ending 25 December 2021
Covid:
The end of the year has not seen the end of Covid – The Omicron variant is spreading world-wide, including in the UK. Many countries have returned to more disciplined socialising rules. This is a strategy supported by most experts but the UK has hesitated to take such action, leaving it to individuals to decide how to behave. WHO’s Europe chief says ‘another storm coming’ as Omicron takes hold | Coronavirus | The Guardian
- Scotland and Wales both act to tighten rules amid Omicron spread | Coronavirus | The Guardian
- New year ‘too late’ for extra Covid rules in England, scientists say | Coronavirus | The Guardian
- Good news is Omicron may be less severe, bad news is it’s surging faster | Omicron variant | The Guardian
- Risk of hospital stay 40% lower with Omicron than Delta, UK data suggests | Coronavirus |Guardian
There is heavy reliance on the belief that multiple vaccinations will protect people, and the beginning of scapegoating of those who remain unvaccinated Sajid Javid hits out at unvaccinated for ‘taking up hospital beds’ | Vaccines and immunisation | The Guardian
Gordon Brown and others continue to preach the wisdom, humanity and economic advantage which will come if rich countries share their wealth in vaccines with poor countries A bold plan saved the world economy in 2009. With this new plan, we can control Covid | Gordon Brown | The Guardian
The Queen’s Christmas plans were influenced by prudence in the face of Covid and her message reflected particularly on the joys of her long marriage to Phillip and her sadness at his death Queen cancels Sandringham plans and will celebrate Christmas at Windsor | The Queen | The Guardian
- Queen’s Christmas speech: ‘It can be hard after losing a loved one’ – video | UK news | The Guardian
Changing times:
Politically Incorrect names are being lost from the Beano. New names are kinder but will they retain the affection of the originals – and can they help us in living with diversity? Cripes! Spotty becomes Scotty as the Beano reflects modern thought | The Beano | The Guardian
A historical wrong is being corrected and perhaps will reduce the misuse of people who are different: Women executed 300 years ago as witches in Scotland set to receive pardons | Scotland | The Guardian
Alan Bennett provides his traditional sardonic reflection on the year and its characters: Alan Bennett dedicates Kipling poem A Dead Statesman to Boris Johnson | Books | The Guardian
We see the world’s greed choking itself with riches of some: ‘Like a freeway in traffic’: America’s busiest ports choked by a pandemic holiday | Supply chain crisis | The Guardian
And many are fearful that basic needs will not be met as they are priced out by the energy market: Ministers under pressure to protect consumers from energy price crisis | Energy industry | The Guardian
Locked in with our televisions and computers, even wise older people are succumbing to the thrill of risk at the click of a mouse: Psychiatrists warn of problem gambling rise among over-65s | Gambling | The Guardian
A walk in the park is good for body and soul – a consistent story Contact with nature in cities reduces loneliness, study shows | Loneliness | The Guardian
Christmas Messages:
Pope Francis ran gently through the nativity story, all its characters and their symbolism – teaching for every day. He declares that we will learn nothing without humility, and he urges us to remember: ‘God comes for me’ Pope Francis: This Christmas, remember that without humility, we will never find God | America Magazine
The Archbishop of Canterbury lists trials and tribulations: floods, wars, civil war, corruption, suffering, illness, pandemic, malaria, measles, cholera, typhoid, poverty oppression and persecution as characteristic of this year. He stirs us to find joy in Jesus Christ and cites the five marks of mission – tell, teach, tend, transform and treasure to guide us toward joy, hope and togetherness. The Archbishop of Canterbury’s Christmas Message – Anglican Ink © 2021
Happy New Year to people of every age, of faith or of none
David Jolley
