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How London, Paris and New York coped in the heatwaves of the past

By The Conversation - May 26, 2026

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 […]

Bogotá is home to some 800,000 exiled Venezuelans. Photo: Richard Emblin

Exiled Venezuelans may well support regime change – but diasporas don’t always reflect the politics

By The Conversation - February 18, 2026

Protest and military action raised the prospect of regime change in Iran and Venezuela, and the voices of both countries’ diasporas were heard loud and clear through the media of their host nations. Venezuelan exiles in the U.S. were, according to the popular narrative, broadly behind President Donald Trump and his plan to “run Venezuela,” […]

Ecuador: From model of Latin American stability to nation in crisis

By The Conversation - January 17, 2024

The drug violence that erupted on January 9 in Ecuador’s Quito and Guayaquil sends an ominous message across Latin America, given the nation’s long standing reputation of stability in the region.

Chinese spy balloons: How they work and what they see

By The Conversation - February 6, 2023

The downing of a Chinese spy balloon off the South Carolina coast, was preceded by a confirmation that a second spy balloon was crossing South American airspace.

Why central banks face an epic battle against inflation amid political obstacles

By The Conversation - January 5, 2023

Where is the global economy heading in 2023? After all the challenges of last year, it’s a question we ask with trepidation. Just as the economy was dealing with the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February ramped up inflation.

The iconic Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center in New York. Photo: Andrew Dallos/Creative Commons.

Why the Christmas tree is a tradition older than Christmas

By The Conversation - December 21, 2022

Evergreens have long served as symbols of life during the bleakness of winter. But Queen Victoria spurred the tradition that has become a global phenomenon.

For Colombia’s ex-combatants: “Words of reconciliation are our only weapons”

By The Conversation - June 13, 2022

After six decades of fighting, it is estimated that almost 20% of Colombia’s population is a direct victim of the internal conflict, including almost nine million internally displaced people.