Lockdown loneliness led to an increase in anxiety and depression in people over 50
The Canary UK

Lockdown loneliness led to an increase in anxiety and depression in people over 50

Older people’s mental health declined during the Covid-19 lockdowns as their loneliness contributed to a rise in anxiety and depression, according to a study. Researchers at the University of Exeter and King’s College London studied data from more than 3,000 people aged over 50. They said loneliness emerged as a key factor linked to worsening symptoms of depression and anxiety. And a decrease in physical activity since the start of the pandemic was also associated with worsening symptoms of depression and anxiety. Women were also more likely to be struggling with their mental health, as were retired people. ‘A huge issue in society’ Dr Byron Creese at the…

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22 January 2021
Peers launch a scathing attack on the government’s War Crimes Immunity Bill
The Canary UK

Peers launch a scathing attack on the government’s War Crimes Immunity Bill

Peers in the House of Lords are giving the government’s controversial war crimes immunity bill a rough ride, with one peer describing it as “indefensible”. Another warned that it was among the worst pieces of legislation they had ever seen, while a third peer said it would put service personnel on a “different legal basis” to the society they defend. The Overseas Operations Bill aims to stop so-called ‘vexatious’ allegations being pursued against UK troops for abuse and even murder during the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. It has been championed by former army officer turned veterans’ affairs minister Johnny Mercer. Criticisms Former generals, veterans, human rights groups,…

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21 January 2021
Dozens of experts call on Longleat to give the ‘UK’s loneliest elephant’ her last chance for companionship
The Canary UK

Dozens of experts call on Longleat to give the ‘UK’s loneliest elephant’ her last chance for companionship

Dozens of experts have thrown their weight behind calls for giving the ‘UK’s loneliest elephant‘ her last chance for companionship. Anne, who currently resides at Longleat Safari and Adventure Park, hasn’t seen another elephant for 19 years. A French sanctuary has offered her a home, opening up the possibility of her spending the remainder of her days with her own kind. Action for Elephants UK (AFEUK) has been calling for Longleat to allow Anne to have an independent assessment to ascertain her suitability for such a move. The safari park hasn’t yet, however, agreed to that request. Now the Pro Elephant Network (PREN) has written an open letter…

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21 January 2021
Highlights from a presidential inauguration like no other
The Canary UK

Highlights from a presidential inauguration like no other

On 20 January, two weeks after a mob of Trump supporters stormed the US Capitol, Joe Biden was sworn in as the 46th President of the US. Taking place in the midst of a pandemic, it was an inauguration like no other. Biden’s message of unity The president began his inauguration speech on the topic of democracy, saying: This is America’s day. This is democracy’s day. A day of history and hope. He added: We’ve learned again that democracy is precious. Democracy is fragile, and at this hour, my friends, democracy has prevailed. Biden’s overarching message was of unity and the need to come together was a key…

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21 January 2021
“The Hill We Climb”: Watch Breathtaking Poem by Amanda Gorman, Youngest Inaugural Poet in U.S. History
Democracy Now (U.S.A)

“The Hill We Climb”: Watch Breathtaking Poem by Amanda Gorman, Youngest Inaugural Poet in U.S. History

One of the most remarkable moments from Wednesday’s inauguration ceremony came from poet Amanda Gorman, the youngest poet in U.S. history to speak at a presidential inauguration. The 22 year-old read “The Hill We Climb,” a poem she finished right after the riot at the Capitol earlier this month. We feature her full recitation and get reaction from scholar Cornel West and award-winning journalist Maria Hinojosa. Source link

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21 January 2021
“The Work Continues”: Cornel West & Maria Hinojosa on the Promise & Dangers of the Biden Admin
Democracy Now (U.S.A)

“The Work Continues”: Cornel West & Maria Hinojosa on the Promise & Dangers of the Biden Admin

We host a wide-ranging discussion of the historic inauguration of President Joe Biden and Kamala Harris — the first-ever woman, South Asian and Black vice president — how we got here, and what comes next, with award-winning journalist Maria Hinojosa and author and Harvard professor Cornel West. Hinojosa says she had “mixed emotions” watching the inauguration, her sense of hope tempered by memories of the Obama administration. “We all had these extraordinary expectations, and then things didn’t turn out that way,” she says. “The work continues.” West says that while getting Trump out of office was vital, he is still suspicious “of the capitulation to the neoliberal greed…

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21 January 2021
“Democracy Has Prevailed”: Joe Biden Sworn In as President; Kamala Harris Becomes First Female VP
Democracy Now (U.S.A)

“Democracy Has Prevailed”: Joe Biden Sworn In as President; Kamala Harris Becomes First Female VP

This is a rush transcript. Copy may not be in its final form.AMY GOODMAN: Joe Biden was sworn in as 46th president of the United States Wednesday, ending the Trump era with a call for national unity and urging Americans to come together during a period of turbulence. Biden spoke on the Capitol steps, that building that just two weeks ago prior was mobbed by a group of right-wing extremists trying to overthrow the election. PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN: This is America’s day. This is democracy’s day, a day of history and hope, of renewal and resolve. Through a crucible for the ages, America has been tested anew, and…

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21 January 2021
Headlines for January 21, 2021
Democracy Now (U.S.A)

Headlines for January 21, 2021

Tony Blinken, Biden’s nominee for secretary of state, said Tuesday the new administration will continue to recognize Juan Guaidó as the president of Venezuela rather than the democratically elected president, Nicolás Maduro. Blinken also said the U.S. would continue to impose harsh sanctions, which have crippled the Venezuelan economy. In January 2020, Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaidó stormed parliament with a group of lawmakers in an effort to forcefully swear himself in as the country’s leader. Guaidó and his supporters were eventually pushed back by police with tear gas outside of government buildings. Guaidó has failed to consolidate power since 2019’s unsuccessful coup attempt. Ongoing U.S. sanctions have…

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21 January 2021
Nearly nine million people borrowed more cash due to pandemic
The Canary UK

Nearly nine million people borrowed more cash due to pandemic

Nearly nine million people in Great Britain had to borrow more money because of the coronavirus pandemic, new figures show.The Office for National Statistics (ONS) data, published on Thursday, showed that 17% of adults reported borrowing money in December 2020 compared to 11% at the end of June.It also showed that the proportion of people borrowing more than £1,000 had increased from 35% to 45% during the same period. Nearly 9 million people had to borrow more money because of the #coronavirus pandemic by December 2020. The proportion that had borrowed £1000 or more also increased from 35% to 45% since June https://t.co/9TKCQ39J0o pic.twitter.com/ULMa0KfBDz — Office for National…

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21 January 2021
Covid-19 infections ‘may have risen’ at start of current lockdown
The Canary UK

Covid-19 infections ‘may have risen’ at start of current lockdown

Experts tracking the spread of Covid-19 in England say infections may have gone up at the beginning of the current lockdown. Professor Paul Elliot, who is leading the React study at Imperial College London, suggested the current measures may not be strict enough to see a drop in infections and the reproductive rate – the R. The study on 143,000 people, who were randomly selected, looked at the prevalence of coronavirus including in people without symptoms. Infections from January 6 to 15 were 50% higher than in early December, the study found. Elliott told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme the current R rate – which represents how many…

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21 January 2021