Oh, the woes of being a red-headed child. The teasing, the tantrums, the gnashing of teeth and the pulling of hair. It caused a traumatising first few years indeed! Such was my lot until adulthood, when there developed a certain cachet associated with auburn.
So when one of the Weekly’s assistant editors suggested a double-whammy of reviews on the Books pages dedicated to hair, it seemed a chance for catharsis. I was more than happy to oblige. Among the 48 thoughtful pages that comprise the Weekly, these reviews, one on flame-haired folk and the other on the statement that is dreadlocks, provide insights and amusements. You may want to start your reading here.
If, however, you prefer to read from the beginning, I can advise that we spent considerable time mulling over our cover story. As Greece continued to stare into the economic abyss, imperilling the eurozone, and as holidaymakers – most of them British – were massacred on a Tunisian beach, there was much to weigh up in positioning this edition of the paper. Those moving stories were difficult to capture and analyse effectively, and were in danger of being outdated by week’s end.
Instead we kick off the paper with a fine piece of unique and analytical reporting from the South China Sea, where correspondent Oliver Holmes meets former foes reuniting over China. As Japan, the Philippines and the US launch military drills in the region, Beijing finds much to spark fury. Holmes looks at the issue from a geo-political perspective, and also in the context of Japan’s post-war constitution, to provide a fine piece of reportage.
We report on events in Tunisia, and in Greece, on our international news and finance pages. And I anticipate much more analysis on these events in editions to come.
It was an equally eventful week in legal news, where the US Supreme Court declared gay marriage legal across the country, and also issued a ruling that supported healthcare reforms in America known as Obamacare.
In climate news, meanwhile, a court in The Hague ordered the Dutch government to cut emissions by at least a quarter in the next five years, a landmark ruling that is expected to cause ripples around the world. And in Oslo, Norwegian bee-lovers were behind the creation of a special flower-emblazoned pathway among cemeteries, rooftop gardens and balconies meant to care for and encourage these important pollinators.
Partner paper Le Monde reports from Mali on moves towards rebel peace. And the Guardian analyses the likelihood of economic self-sufficiency among some African nations. Is the time of development aid nearing an end? It’s an interesting discussion point.
Our Comment & Debate section is especially strong this week, with an opening piece by Guardian executive editor Jonathan Freedland on the sadism of Islamic State. We should not be afraid to call evil by its name, Freedland contends, in this quite riveting column.
The Letters page is also gripping, with our intelligent and outspoken readers sharing views on the Pope, international boundaries and technology’s shortcomings. Why not join in with a letter for publication? You can contribute by clicking here.
Our Review section looks at airlines and the regressive view some carriers take towards their cabin crew. It’s an interesting piece, written off the back of Qatar Airways and its policy of sacking pregnant stewardesses.
Also in Review, we take you to Buenos Aires, bookshop capital of the world. And we visit a remote village in Pakistan where a micro-hydro scheme brings energy to a region hit by conflict and floods.
On our Discovery pages, we consider the US recycling industry, which our other partner paper, The Washington Post, reports is truly down in the dumps. Culture, meanwhile, takes in a wonderful exhibition on shoes at London’s V&A Museum, which runs until January. Perhaps something for our many overseas readers to catch if visiting Britain this year?
From the high seas to the high heel, from pulped paper to cherished books, I feel certain you’ll find something to your taste in this edition. Please do send me your feedback by email by clicking here. And thanks for reading.
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