Nurses are collapsing amid extreme heat conditions in UK hospitals, prompting union warnings of unsafe workplaces as Andy Burnham faces pressure over government climate adaptation and emergency responses.
A fire in a Hong Kong housing estate flat left 16 people hospitalized for smoke inhalation, with over 20 residents rescued from the rooftop after the blaze broke out on Sunday afternoon.
Amid a summer of extreme heat, NPR readers from diverse backgrounds share practical, personal, and inventive methods for staying cool without air conditioning, drawing on childhood experiences and family traditions.
Midea's European air conditioner sales surge due to heatwaves, with 200,000 new orders in a month for two Chinese factories, driven by demand for easily installable units like PortaSplit.
A 56-year-old woman, surnamed Chan, was arrested in Hong Kong's Mong Kok for alleged electricity theft after a fire in her Tung Choi Street flat, believed to be caused by a short circuit, killed three cats and two dogs. Irregularities in the flat's power supply were found.
Online sales in Great Britain reached a five-year high in June, rising 1% month-on-month, driven by a heatwave boosting demand for air conditioners and outdoor products, and World Cup spending, according to the ONS.
The ASA warns UK consumers about misleading ads for portable air conditioners falsely claiming design by former NASA engineers and unrealistic performance, with prices between £70-£120.
European governments face criticism for poor emergency management of extreme weather and underinvestment, while citizens increasingly buy Chinese air conditioners due to cost-of-living concerns, despite EU trade policy towards Beijing.
The UK's energy system operator warned of potential strain on power supplies Thursday night due to extreme temperatures and high demand from cooling systems. France's EDF also noted heatwave impacts on its nuclear reactors, which export power to the UK.
China is leveraging its manufacturing prowess to develop affordable, "good enough" AI models for mass adoption, mirroring strategies used for solar panels and EVs. This approach, utilizing open-weight models, shifts value creation to those who adapt the technology, potentially challenging US AI dominance.
Europe's record heatwaves are creating opportunities for Thailand's economy. The Tourism Authority is encouraging European travelers to visit during the milder rainy season with discounts, while Thai manufacturers are seeing a surge in air conditioner exports to Europe, particularly France and Germany.
Hundreds queued and scuffles broke out at Lidl stores across France on Thursday during a sale of discounted fans and air conditioners. Police intervened at several locations as demand surged due to an upcoming heatwave.
Les hôpitaux de l'APHP reçoivent 1 800 climatiseurs d'ici le 10 juillet pour faire face à la canicule. Ces appareils s'ajoutent aux 1 000 déjà commandés et portent le total à 4 300, mais ne font pas partie des 30 000 promis par le gouvernement. La Fédération des hôpitaux publics français appelle à un plan d'investissement massif pour s'adapter au changement climatique.
Hundreds of people besieged Lidl supermarkets in and around Paris on Thursday, with scuffles breaking out as residents scrambled to buy bargain air-cooling units priced as low as €179 before an anticipated heatwave. Police were called to multiple stores due to the massive crowds.
유럽연합(EU)이 대중 무역적자 감축 목표 시한인 10월을 앞두고 중국산 에어컨 수입 급증으로 어려움을 겪고 있다. 중국 업체들은 유럽 시장에서 높은 점유율을 차지하며 EU의 무역 불균형 심화에 기여하고 있다.
Europe faces a widening trade deficit with China, exacerbated by record heatwaves driving demand for Chinese air conditioners. EU and China aim for tangible trade results by October, but Beijing's stance and Europe's consumer needs complicate efforts.
A European heatwave sparks massive demand for Chinese air conditioners and fans, with Alibaba's AliExpress and Alibaba.com seeing triple-digit growth in sales, particularly in Germany, Spain, Italy, Sweden, and Belgium.
Great Britain's National Energy System Operator (Neso) issued a second electricity supply alert this week, asking generators for extra power on Friday evening due to high demand from air conditioning and reduced generation capacity caused by Europe's heatwave.
Britain's grid operator, Neso, is expected to pay millions to secure extra electricity on Wednesday evening due to extreme heat straining the energy system. High demand from air conditioning and low wind generation prompted the payment to avoid a rare summer power supply crunch.
Record heatwaves across Europe are driving up electricity prices to multi-year highs due to increased demand for cooling and power plant outages. Great Britain is importing electricity at significantly higher costs, while Germany and France also face soaring market prices.
As temperatures rise, air conditioners provide relief but also pose health risks. This explainer details how ACs work, their health impacts, and offers 10 tips to prevent heatstroke, along with DIY cooling alternatives.
Extreme heat in India is causing prolonged school closures, forcing parents, disproportionately women, to juggle work and childcare. This disruption impacts household income, career progression, and children's education, highlighting a lack of gender-sensitive climate action plans.
Window heat pumps, a new self-contained technology, provide affordable and efficient heating and cooling for renters and owners of older homes. Unlike traditional systems, they are easy to install, portable, and cost significantly less.
Italian families can expect to spend over 400 euros on air conditioning this summer, according to Assium. Rising energy prices, partly due to the Middle East conflict, and earlier intense heatwaves are contributing to the increased costs, with electricity prices up 17.8% and electricity tariffs 7.2% higher than last year.
