Mention of Tony Blair rarely sparks scenes of adulation these days – unless, perhaps, you’re in Kosovo, where streets and children are named after the former British prime minister in recognition of his part in ending the 1998-99 Kosovan war and paving the way for the state’s eventual declaration of independence.
Yet 10 years after that event, and despite the efforts of its allies, Kosovo remains in international limbo, unrecognised by its northern neighbour Serbia, while Russia and China block UN membership. Nor could 10th anniversary celebrations last weekend disguise the serious domestic challenges facing the country. With internal wrangling and even rumours of partition refusing to go away, Andrew MacDowall reports from Pristina for the Guardian Weekly cover this week on an uncertain future for the new kid in the Balkans.
Inside we report from Dublin, where deadly gang warfare is spilling out on to the streets, to Rio, where the army is taking over the city’s security amid increasing violence. From the US we hear about the young Americans attempting to revive the debate on gun laws in the wake of another horrific school shooting. From the Vatican in Rome, we hear why Pope Francis is under pressure after five years as the head of the Catholic church.
Our Weekly Review long read explores the increasingly precarious world of work, and what might eventually follow it when, as many thinkers predict, the daily grind ceases to make sense any more. There’s also an interesting interview with Katrín Jakobsdóttir, the new prime minister of Iceland who hopes to rebuild trust in politics.
Books explores the world domination plans of India’s ambitious millennial generation. Culture meets the pop stars tapping into the country music scene, and visits a photographic exhibition celebrating the history of the selfie.
On the back page, the Guardian’s former environment editor John Vidal makes a welcome return to the Weekly, praising an international push to plant more trees. You would think by now that the benefits of a greener world, expressed through sustainable agroforestry, really ought to be apparent to everyone. Furthermore, as my 10-year-old son reminded me recently, trees are tremendously satisfying to climb up and sit in. And that can only be a good thing.
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