How London, Paris and New York coped in the heatwaves of the past
Paris, London and New York are more often associated with culture, finance and history than with dangerous heat. Yet each summer all three are increasingly exposed to extreme temperatures they were never designed to withstand. Like many dense urban areas, they amplify heat through what is known as the “urban heat island effect”. This reflects […]
Is the US preparing for military action against Cuba? Expert Q&A
A US court filed criminal charges against Cuba’s 94-year-old former leader, Raúl Castro, on May 20. Castro has been charged with conspiracy to kill US nationals, four counts of murder and two counts of destruction of aircraft. The charges relate to a 1996 incident in which four men were killed after Cuban fighter jets shot […]
Tuna has overtaken cod as the UK’s top-selling seafood – here’s why
Awesome, unexpected and unforgettable: a sudden bolt of silver as a tuna jumped clear of the sea. Nobody else saw it, and I (Angus Atkinson) almost thought I was hallucinating. But since I first saw one from a boat just off the south Devon coast ten years ago, Atlantic bluefin tuna have steadily increased in […]
Matt Brittin takes over as BBC director general – will the former Google exec’s tech world experience be right for the job?
The BBC started a new chapter on May 18 when Matt Brittin took over as director general. The former senior Google executive has come to the broadcaster at a time of profound change in both media and technology. While the worlds of media and big tech face different challenges, their corporate and competitive strategies are […]
Net migration and asylum claims have fallen – here’s what the latest figures tell us
1000 Words/Shutterstock The latest figures on immigration to the UK show a sharp decline in net migration, which is now at its lowest point since 2012, excluding the pandemic years. Data released by the Office for National Statistics and the Home Office covers the most recent changes in visas, small boat arrivals, asylum hotel use […]
How ‘zebra striping’ on a night out can help you drink less – and potentially avoid a hangover
‘Zebra striping’ involves alternating between alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. Halfpoint/ Shutterstock On a typical night out, the rhythm of drinking can be hard to control. Rounds arrive quickly, glasses are topped up before they’re empty, and intentions to “take it slow” often dissolve by the second or third drink. If you’re not careful, you’ll find […]
Spying, Southampton and economic pressure cooker of the ‘richest match in football’
Football kit. beast01/Shutterstock In elite football, competitive advantage is pursued relentlessly. Big clubs invest heavily in performance data and tactical analysis in the pursuit of marginal gains. Yet that desperate search for gains has now led to one club, Southampton FC, suffering an enormous loss. Southampton admitted to spying on their opponent’s training session and […]
NHS shakeup: if it sounds like we’ve been here before, it’s because we have
People in a hospital waiting room. toodtuphoto/Shutterstock.com Amid political upheaval and the subsequent resignation of the health secretary, the king’s speech unveiled the NHS modernisation bill – the most significant overhaul of the health service in more than a decade. By legally abolishing NHS England and bringing operational management directly into Whitehall, ministers say they […]
Cooling poverty is making extreme heat more dangerous for millions
Vidigal is a favela in Leblon, one of the most expensive neighbourhoods in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. SIALABE/Shutterstock Imagine walking along Ipanema beach on a summer afternoon. The sand is golden, there’s a cooling sea breeze, the shade of a parasol and a cold drink in hand. Now look up. Clinging to the hillside just […]
Wildfire risk is now spreading to cool climates like the Scottish Highlands and Irish uplands
An Irish Air Corps helicopter extinguishing a wildfire in Howth, Dublin, in 2023. Thomas Halpin/Shutterstock The most destructive wildfire season on record in Europe was in 2025, with more than one million hectares burned and tens of thousands of people displaced by fires across the continent. For people in Ireland and Britain, the type of […]