China’s Politburo orders rapid-response overhaul in the face of floods and extreme heat

China’s top leadership has warned of the dangers of extreme weather and the need for better forecasting and disaster prevention, according to state media. The Politburo issued the warning at its first flood and drought prevention meeting for the year in Beijing on Tuesday, a gathering chaired by Chinese President Xi Jinping. The Politburo urged local governments to take “forceful” measures against drought, flooding and typhoons, to “always put the safety of people’s lives fir