What the papers said in the week ending 10 June 2023
Perhaps the story of stabbings of children in an Annecy park is an unusual choice to start a note from the newspapers of interest to older Christians. The horror of the event is undeniable – almost certainly the consequence of a man with serious mental health problems, falling between whatever services are there to help. The response of a young Christian, himself on a personal pilgrimage, and his reflections, make moving reading: ‘It’s unbelievable’: Annecy shocked by knife attack on young children in park | France | The Guardian
Other Christian news, includes information about the health of Pope Francis: Pope advised not to give Sunday blessing from hospital balcony | Pope Francis | The Guardian
Health:
Hope for treatment of lung cancer: Lung cancer pill cuts risk of death by half, says ‘thrilling’ study | Cancer research | The Guardian
Cancer is common amongst older people. Hardly news, but we have to make appropriate provision: Global ‘silver tsunami’ of older cancer patients is coming, experts warn | Cancer | The Guardian
- Exercise and yoga are effective DIY approaches to modify the course of life with cancer: Walking and yoga ‘can cut risk of cancer spreading or returning’ | Cancer | The Guardian
Sexually transmitted infections are more prevalent – at all ages. A recognised consequence of societal breakdown: Syphilis cases at highest level for 75 years in England last year | Sexual health | The Guardian
Celebrities share their stories of life with dementia and cancer: Coronation Street star Julie Goodyear has dementia | Television | The Guardian
Heat can be as dangerous as cold: Heat health alert issued for England this weekend | UK weather | The Guardian
A simple chemical may slow the ageing process: Common energy drink ingredient taurine ‘may slow ageing process’ | Ageing | The Guardian
War:
The Russia/Ukraine conflict continues and has new and dreadful features: Ukraine’s troops attack along front in apparent precursor to counteroffensive | Ukraine | The Guardian
- Zelenskiy says dam attack an ‘environmental bomb of mass destruction’ – as it happened | Russia | The Guardian
- Fields of southern Ukraine could ‘turn into deserts’ after dam destruction | Ukraine | The Guardian
- Intense fighting reported as Ukrainian forces go on attack south of Zaporizhzhia | Ukraine | The Guardian
The way we are:
People breed dogs for money and for shows of strength: We are in danger. Dangerous dogs law is a mess, warn campaigners | Pets | The Guardian
Care services for profit are often not fit for purpose: The Guardian view on outsourced children’s homes: the wrong model | Editorial | The Guardian
Social care is in crisis: Dear Jeremy Hunt, I’d love to get a job. But thanks to your social care crisis, I can’t | Denise Wilkins | The Guardian
- Failure to structure our services should not put pressure on people who are already doing more than can be reasonably expected: Ministers seek volunteer social care army to speed up hospital discharges | Social care | The Guardian
There is no excuse for inequalities administered against people of colour: Black remand prisoners held 70% longer than white counterparts in England and Wales | UK criminal justice | The Guardian
We are reminded of options which are not taken – national and personal: How Britain was shaped by the roads not taken | History | The Guardian
Despite everything, some people seek and find extraordinary financial reward: UK’s top bosses paid millions despite cost of living crisis, annual reports show | Executive pay and bonuses | The Guardian
- It would seem that many young people have such ambition: Power, success, fun and excitement: study finds gen Z wants them all (magzter.com)
- Unfortunately, pursuit of financial gain can go awry. What happens when your local authority is declared bankrupt? Woking council declares bankruptcy with £1.2bn deficit | Local politics | The Guardian
Finland has an interesting way of clawing back from errant rich drivers: Finnish businessman hit with €121,000 speeding fine | Finland | The Guardian
- And eventually the law will catch even the most wealthy: Daily Telegraph and Sunday Telegraph newspapers to be put up for sale | Telegraph Media Group | The Guardian
Words are important in determining respect. Sometimes the traditions of centuries can be improved on: London school drops ‘Sir’ and ‘Miss’ honorifics to fight cultural misogyny | Education | The Guardian
But the place of the wind recorder as a means to enter the world of music cannot be questioned: Clarion call: recorder fans warn instrument heading for extinction | Music | The Guardian
90 can be a time to publish a first novel: easier if you are already famous: Michael Caine announces debut thriller to be published in November | Film | The Guardian
Books continue to thrive in the competition of new media, as people come to re-evaluate how to study and spend their time The Guardian view on Bloomsbury’s success: publishing wizardry | Editorial | The Guardian
Basics:
People and relationships are what we most value – and we struggle when they are lost: Anyone who’s lost a loved one knows the pressure to visit shrines to the past. But it doesn’t always help | Kat Lister | The Guardian
The editor of The British Medical Journal, Tom Moberly, signals a stand for right thinking: ‘The ultimate goal must be to break out of thinking that wealth and profit are the primary aims of society. In their place, we must prioritise health and wellbeing as the common goods that will save our species and our planet from disaster.’ Good health for its own sake | The BMJ
Perhaps not quite the full story, but the prophets of old and every serious faith practised today will have sympathy with this.
David Jolley
Chair of Christians on Ageing, in a personal capacity.
