We could fill an entire edition of Guardian Weekly with news about the Trump administration. From questions about Russia to awkward meetings with world leaders, great stories just keep on coming from the White House. We try very hard, however, to pick the most relevant themes and issues so as not to overwhelm. After all, life carries on apace outside America, as the edition now rolling off the presses proves.
Our cover story delves into the state of Turkish politics with a referendum looming next month on expanded presidential powers. Foreign affairs columnist Simon Tisdall, who Weekly readers will know well, considers what’s behind this power move, and how it will impact Europe.
Strong coverage continues inside on Asia, with more analysis from Tisdall, along with our partner paper the Washington Post, on the implications of further North Korean missile testing and US secretary of state Rex Tillerson’s diplomacy in northeast Asia, which included a meeting last week with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. From Japan, a court has ruled that negligence by the state contributed to the triple meltdown at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant in March 2011 in what will no doubt be a significant verdict for evacuees.
We report on struggles in Tanzania to fund cancer care, the worsening famine in Yemen, and conflict between an oil giant and indigenous reindeer herders in western Siberia. In New Zealand, a river has been awarded the same legal rights as a person. And we meet the Delhi IT worker with a “crazy dream” to land a craft on the moon.
From Britain, we analyse Theresa May’s very bad week as U-turns, rebellions and scandal undermine the prime minister’s reputation as a safe pair of hands. And, following his death this week, tributes are paid to Martin McGuinness, the former IRA chief of staff who became a key figure in the Northern Ireland peace process.
Is meritocracy the great delusion of our time? Jo Littler, who has written a book on the matter, opens a very strong Comment section. Matthew d’Ancona argues that reality is nudging its way into Donald Trump’s world, while Jonathan Freedland says Britain’s Conservative party is pursuing a hard Brexit, no matter the cost.
With the news and views taken care of, our deeper-read feature section waxes eloquent on the wolf. Finland is torn between protecting an ancient foe and culling it. Which force will win out?
Discovery reports on a project helping unlock creativity in those with cognitive degeneration. Book reviews take in history, illness and the whodunnit.
On the Culture pages we meet America’s most celebrated ballet dancer, Misty Copeland, who is principal at the American Ballet Theatre. What a Cinderella story it is!
For our Game of Thrones fans, we review concert plus drama, on the stage. What this equals is anybody’s guess.
Nature watch, one of my favourite Weekly items (and I know one of yours too) is for the birds this week with the sweeping statement that great tits will take over the world, despite, or perhaps because of, the ridiculous name. Paul Evans provides us with poetry in the woodland, in his distinct and delightful way.
Don’t pass up sport this edition, where we ride the waves with the women hoping to make it on to surfing’s world tour. Thanks to Guardian Australia for this wonderful piece of writing.
Weekly likes to put the world into perspective, so I can’t sign off without highlighting news that some schools in the US city of Boston are adapting a different sort of global viewpoint. They’re switching from the Mercator map, a projection that has been with us some 500 years and makes Europe and North America loom rather large, to the lesser-known Gall-Peters projection, which cuts the US, the UK and the rest of Europe down to size. Having received many letters over the years about the world as represented on pages 2-3 of the Weekly, I am certain this story will resonate.
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