Millions hit by extreme heat on three continents

13 Sept 18:54 Key points summarised by AI

Millions across three continents are enduring extreme heat, pushing July towards becoming the hottest month on record, with experts directly attributing this to climate change.
Devastating wildfires are raging in Greece and the Canary Islands, while health systems are strained globally, prompting warnings from governments and the WHO for vulnerable populations.
Record-breaking temperatures are impacting diverse regions, from Beijing's 27 consecutive days above 35C to unprecedented heat in France, Spain, Italy, and the US, including Phoenix's record 18 days above 110F.
The intense heatwaves are causing significant disruption, from evacuations due to fires to surges in energy demand and calls for reduced outdoor activity, highlighting the urgent need for heat safety.

Government to start building Chainat-Pasak-Gulf water diversion canal next year

Today 14:58 Key points summarised by AI

Thailand's government will launch the "Chainat-Pasak-Gulf" water diversion canal project in fiscal year 2027, a seven-year mega-infrastructure initiative.
This permanent structural solution aims to mitigate recurrent central plains flooding by diverting water from the Chao Phraya River directly into the Gulf of Thailand, significantly reducing flow to major cities like Ayutthaya and Bangkok.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul justifies the long-term investment as a means to reduce future damages and fiscal burdens, contrasting it with the 40-50 billion baht spent annually on short-term flood relief.
Concurrently, the Prime Minister instructed officials to expand drainage capacity into the Tha Chin River and swiftly remove water hyacinths to improve immediate flood management.