Puppy love: it has been the stuff of songs, sitcoms and stories galore.
But what, exactly, makes dog man’s best friend? On our Discovery pages, this edition of the Weekly delves into the bonding that takes place when pet and owner gaze into each other’s eyes. A rush of the hormone oxytocin may well be behind a relationship that’s developed over thousands of years, when dogs were first domesticated.
Our science coverage isn’t all that delights in this edition. The lead book review grabbed me at the outset. Consider this first paragraph: “The American painter Grace Hartigan drank like a fish, cursed like a sailor, slept with whomever she wished and let nothing interfere with her belief that she was a great artist.”
How could you not want to read this review?
Sometimes deciding what we put into the Weekly is as easy as that.
So it was, as well, with this week’s cover story. Crafted by senior writer Chris McGreal, and woven with insight and analysis, the piece considers Russia’s sprawling propaganda machine, and looks at whether America can counter Moscow’s campaign of confusion. Thanks to deputy editor Graham Snowdon, by the way, for his super headline on this front page.
As we went to press, aid and relief were heading for Nepal, which suffered a staggering earthquake last weekend, Ethiopia sent a chilling message to critics as it jailed members of a blogging group, and the Indian government was hoping to profit from the gold being hoarded in the nation’s temples.
On the environment front, provincial leaders in Canada were taking the fight over carbon emissions to Prime Minister Stephen Harper in Ottawa. And in the US, a drought means lower water levels for the massive Hoover Dam. That, in turn, means less clean energy. You can’t say we don’t cover the world!
We bring you the last of our in-depth coverage of the British election before the 7 May vote. As polling day nears, alliances are the order of the day, and political reform may well follow. Catch up with the campaigning on our UK news and Comment pages.
Some of you may have noticed on our Eyewitnessed photo spread a corner dedicated to a reader-contributed image. We’ve partnered with GuardianWitness on its 365 days, year in photos, assignment. How does the week look from your perspective? Send us an image by clicking here, and don’t forget to indicate that you’re a Weekly reader. We’ll print one each week in the paper.
We enjoy linking up with our Weekly readers in 173 countries. And unlike those canine friends on our Discovery pages, we don’t rely on deep and longing gazes to create a chemical bond. A passion for global events, covered with unique Guardian style, keeps us connected. I’m always happy to hear what you think of the edition, so please feel free to email me by clicking here.
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