The cover of the 15 May edition of the Guardian Weekly magazine features an illustration by Guardian Design. This issue delves into how cars have come to dominate our cities, often at the expense of public transit. The number of public transit vehicles per 100,000 residents varies widely: Sydney has 181, Paris 118, and Houston only 16. This disparity reveals attitudes toward transportation, especially in the United States, where car-centric planning prevails.
The Slow Lane: A New Environment Series
Oliver Milman's feature story explores how transportation affects human and planetary health. Transportation accounts for about a third of all planet-heating emissions, with sector emissions doubling since 1990 due to increased oil consumption for cars, planes, and ships. The new series, The Slow Lane, investigates why US cities lag behind global peers in public transit and whether sprawling cities like Sydney can make rail systems work for everyone. Experts offer tips on fixing car-choked urban areas.
UK Politics: Labour's Local Election Drubbing
In the UK, Labour and Keir Starmer faced a terrible week after heavy losses in local elections. As the magazine went to press, the prime minister faced intense pressure to announce a stepping-aside timeframe. Pippa Crerar provides a brutal analysis of Starmer's failing efforts to keep his party united.
Five Essential Reads in This Week's Edition
Spotlight: Tensions in the Netanyahu-Trump Alliance
Israeli PM Netanyahu insists on full coordination with the US president, but rumors suggest Washington no longer consults him. Julian Borger reports on emerging tensions.
Science: Has Skincare Gone Too Far?
Face products are more advanced than ever, but layering them has led to a rise in perioral dermatitis, as Anita Bhagwandas reports.
Essay: How to Survive the Information Crisis
Guardian editor-in-chief Katharine Viner writes that in this age of crisis, technology pulls us apart, but journalism can bring us together.
Opinion: Venice Biennale and Geopolitics
Charlotte Higgins observes anger and denial over Israel and Russia at the Venice Biennale, where geopolitics play out through art.
Culture: Unmasking Angine de Poitrine
The Quebecois duo behind microtonal rock—a viral hit—tell Laura Snapes about their 333-year-old alien persona inspired by Borneo monkeys.
Other Highlights
- Audio: The mysterious death of a teenager who posed as a Russian billionaire
- Video: The Muslim Vote: Democratic threat or Islamophobic myth?
- Gallery: Fade to black: inside grand abandoned cinemas in the US and Canada
Readers also enjoyed a piece on literary nepo babies and a lighthearted Pass Notes on laissez-faire parenting.
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