Dozens of customers accuse TUI River Cruises of operating vessels with persistently broken air conditioning and plumbing issues, leaving passengers stranded in heatwaves after paying thousands for luxury holidays.
The BWF World Championships in New Delhi face external challenges: irregular monsoon showers, high humidity (70-90%), and air conditioning drafts at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, which may affect shuttle speed and player performance.
As the UK faces worsening heatwaves, air conditioning use rises, but its climate impact and ethical considerations are explored, alongside greener alternatives like fans and evaporative coolers.
Nurses are collapsing from extreme heat inside UK hospitals and care homes lacking air conditioning, ventilation, and operable windows, prompting the Royal College of Nursing to call the working conditions inhumane.
High temperatures are shifting French real estate preferences, with over 80% feeling home heat discomfort and one in three considering moving. Buyers now prioritize cooling features, air conditioning, and dual-aspect layouts over traditional assets like southern exposure.
China’s National Cultural Heritage Administration has ordered museums nationwide to strengthen emergency management during the summer peak season following operational failures, including a sudden power outage at Xian’s Terracotta Warriors museum.
Great Britain faces an electricity supply shortfall on Wednesday evening as a solar eclipse blocks up to 95% of the sun, wiping out solar power generation while summer heat drives up demand.
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.
Europe is experiencing rising demand for air conditioning due to increasingly frequent heat waves. While politicians debate its use, scientists are exploring "solid-state cooling" as a more efficient, refrigerant-free alternative to conventional ACs, which contribute to global warming.
A collection of news briefs covers Waymo's potential free rides in California due to regulatory delays, the rise of air conditioning in Europe amid extreme heat, a war game simulating a Chinese cyberattack on US water supplies, expiring data center regulations, Amazon worker investigations, the anti-data-center movement in Michigan, AI-driven insurance models, self-driving car interference with first responders, factors behind Venezuela's earthquake damage, environmental certifications for Mexican World Cup stadiums, and community opposition to xAI's data centers.
As the UK faces hotter summers, demand for air conditioning in homes has surged. Costs vary significantly, from portable units (£350-£650) to fully installed ducted systems (£5,000-£10,000). While offering comfort, units increase energy bills and raise environmental concerns.
Europe faces a surge in demand for air conditioning due to rising temperatures. While ACs offer comfort and can save lives, their energy consumption exacerbates climate change. Innovative solid-state cooling technologies are emerging as a potential sustainable alternative.
Germany experienced record-breaking June heat, surpassing 40C. Experts urge rethinking housing design, emphasizing natural materials, smart window proportions, and shading over air conditioning to combat extreme heat and its health consequences.
Europe is experiencing record heatwaves, yet debates over air conditioning persist. While direct cooling is a solution, widespread AC installation faces hurdles due to building design, energy pressures, and political disputes, highlighting a systemic issue in climate change adaptation and lagging infrastructure development.
Criminals are exploiting the UK heatwave by creating fake Aldi websites offering steep discounts on air conditioning units. These sophisticated scams pressure shoppers to act quickly before realizing they've compromised their financial details.
President Donald Trump's Great American State Fair in Washington, D.C., is experiencing significant setbacks, including failed air conditioning units, intermittent power problems, and lackluster crowds amidst a severe heatwave. Several Democratic-led states have also withdrawn participation.
Currys CEO Alex Baldock reported a 6% sales increase to £9.2bn and 23% profit rise to £153m, driven by heatwave demand for cooling products and World Cup TV sales. He warned of tight AC and fan supplies for an upcoming heatwave and urged the government to reconsider national insurance increases and business rates for retailers.
France's deputy mayor Audrey Pulvar blamed US air conditioning use for contributing to a heatwave that caused over 1,300 deaths in France, sparking a transatlantic debate with American media, while both regions face extreme temperatures.
An opinion piece criticizes the French government's stance on air conditioning during heatwaves, arguing it's a "liberticidal agenda" that prioritizes ideological control over individual freedom and public health. The author highlights policies that disincentivize A/C installation and contrasts it with the need for climate control in vulnerable settings.
Europe faces intense heatwaves but many homes lack AC due to aesthetic, noise, and climate concerns. Infrastructure strains, yet resistance to cooling systems persists, making AC a political flashpoint.
Tui cruise passengers were stranded in Budapest for two days due to a failed air conditioning system on the Tui Skyla ship during a heatwave. Passengers, including elderly individuals, struggled with temperatures over 35C. Tui has apologized, arranged flights home, and offered full refunds and vouchers.
Paris Deputy Mayor Audrey Pulvar criticized American journalists and the US for its role in global warming, blaming the country's high greenhouse gas emissions and widespread air conditioning use for exacerbating Europe's record-breaking heatwave, which has caused over 1,300 excess deaths in France.
The EU Commission stated it would not micromanage air conditioning use, despite a heated political debate in France and Europe's record heatwave. The bloc considers heating, cooling, and energy efficiency part of a new housing policy under development.
The EU Commission's Brussels headquarters turned off air conditioning on lower floors during a record heatwave, sparking outrage among staff who likened the policy to 'feudalism' as top officials' offices remained cool.
