The cover of the 19 June edition of the Guardian Weekly magazine features an illustration by Yuri Cortez and the Guardian Design team. This issue delves into the rise of Claudia Sheinbaum, Mexico's trailblazing and technocratic president, and examines the global cost of the war on Iran.
Claudia Sheinbaum: A Popular Leader with Challenges
Claudia Sheinbaum, a former climate scientist and protege of her predecessor Andrés Manuel López Obrador, has maintained an approval rating of around 70% since becoming Mexico's president in 2024. She is the world's most popular leftwing leader and the first female leader of one of Latin America's most macho countries. Her popularity is partly driven by major universal healthcare reforms. However, there is a tension between her disciplined, scientific approach to governing and the messy, often violent politics of modern Mexico. She has faced criticism over her handling of the country's crisis of disappearances, the influence of organised crime, and the rising presence of the army in national life. Rachel Nolan's long read explores Sheinbaum's rise and questions how far she can retain her leftwing ideals while leading a country with such intractable problems.
Five Essential Reads in This Week's Edition
The Big Story: Counting the Cost of the War on Iran
With a peace deal expected to be signed later this week, Oliver Holmes examines the human, economic, and environmental toll of a conflict that appears to have achieved nothing.
Science: How the Loss of Wild Bees Impacts Human Health
Crops and flowers rely on wild bees for survival, but their decline means crucial nutrients will go missing from our diets. Gloria Dickie reports on this pressing issue.
Feature: How Personal Taste Fell Out of Fashion
Our favourite music, clothes, and books used to be markers of individuality, but algorithms have made us all sheep. Rachel Aroesti meets the style rebels fighting back.
Opinion: If Kyiv Has Really Got Putin on the Run, He Won't Accept Peace Meekly
Don't expect the Russian president to pursue peace, says Simon Tisdall. Instead, he could continue to expand the war beyond Ukraine's borders, with dire risks for us all.
Culture: The Revolutionary Art of David Hockney
Guardian critic Jonathan Jones pays tribute to the artist whose work was a feast of visual pleasures.
Other Highlights from the Guardian Website
- David Hockney – a life in pictures
- In Makerfield for the UK byelection that could change everything
- How Taylor Swift's debut single has defined 20 years of her pop stardom
What Else We've Been Reading
Deputy editor Clare Horton shares a piece about the strangest things dogs have eaten, based on readers' stories. Editor Graham Snowdon recommends a list of 70 brilliant books for the northern hemisphere summer from the Guardian's literary team.
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