Hopes and wishes: in some languages, these phrases may well be interchangeable.
I’m not sure if that goes for the various dialects of Chinese. But I am certain that hopes, wishes and financial prospects, too, have been seriously damaged for investors in China’s exuberant, and highly volatile, domestic stock markets.
We give over our front page and a news spread inside to a Guardian long-read piece on how China’s financial bubble has burst. It’s a fitting cover story in light of both this week and last month’s massive share index declines.
Having grown up with the notion of Red China (yes, showing my age...), it feels very odd indeed to be signing off on a front page that speaks of the capitalist-communist state and its share market fluctuations.
There were some dramatic moves this week, too, on the political stage. In the Middle East, Turkey and the US have agreed on the outlines of a plan to drive Islamic State from a strip of land along the Turkey-Syria border. The move is likely to draw Turkey further into Syria’s civil war and may well increase the intensity of the US air war against Isis. We bring you two pages of news and analysis.
On the surveillance front, criticism was directed at “Big Brother” laws in both France and Canada. In the US, presidential contender Hillary Clinton said America must face some hard truths on race in the case of Sandra Bland, who was arrested on a routine traffic violation and died in police custody three days later. Still with the conflict theme, some of the world’s best-known researchers signed an open letter warning of a military artificial intelligence arms race.
Not much by way of hopes and wishes there. So how about this ...
Nasa scientists on the hunt for extraterrestrial life announced the discovery of Earth’s closest twin: it has the jazzy name of Kepler-452b. A malaria vaccine received the European go-ahead, and a new drug offered some hope for patients with mild Alzheimer’s.
In Nepal, farmers are regrouping after April’s 7.8 magnitude earthquake. “We’re strong and we’ll survive” concludes one village farmer. And on the south Pacific island of Vanuatu, there is rebuilding, replanting and reorganising after Cyclone Pam cut a devastating swath through the region in March.
On our UK news pages, we report on Britain’s out-of-control housing market, which looks set to lock out the majority of those aged below 40 over the next 10 years. Meet “generation rent”. And we visit Cornwall, in England’s south-west, where recent seagull attacks have left tourists, bruised, battered and very frightened indeed.
In light of several high-profile internet hacks in the past two weeks, our Comment pages offer up thoughtful observations about an almost certain massive cyber-attack to come. We also consider options for governing Europe, the new identity politics engulfing Britain’s Labour party, and the angst experienced by expatriates for the sweet familiarity of home.
On our Letters page, you shared views on Islamic State, Greek debt, technological advances and fossil fuels. Contributions are always welcome, and can be made by emailing us here.
Our deeper-read Review section looks at skin-lightening in India, same-sex marriage in Latin America, and the shame of human trafficking in Thailand’s fishing industry.
Discovery looks at the logistics of the kiss and also considers the power of the scream. How’s that for a bit of drama?
Our book reviews extol the healing power of a refuge, the joys of collections and the wonders of San Francisco’s Beat era. An eclectic sort of fun continues on our Culture spread, with a visit to the Comic-Con fan convention, where women have now claimed their half-share of the geek world.
Good to meet you profiles Declan Ball who, like so many of you out there, has had a long relationship with the Weekly. If you’d like to feature in this regular column please do drop us a line, which you can do by clicking here or emailing guardian.weekly@theguardian.com.
I hope this edition gives a varied and realistic snapshot of the latest week, while feeding the need we all have for hopes and wishes. Feel free to drop me a line with feedback of any kind by clicking here.
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