Unprepared

• Paris is currently facing severe overheating issues, which are exacerbated by decades of urban planning decisions. • Strict city regulations limit the installation of external air-conditioning units to preserve the historic facades and aesthetic appeal of the city's architecture. • This conflict between preserving heritage and adapting to rising temperatures has left the city ill-prepared for the impacts of climate change.

Sharp rise in hospital visits will in turn drive up annual healthcare costs for heat-related conditions to over $1bnPeople in the US are poised to endure another summer of unusually ferocious heat and there will be little respite in the years ahead, with a new study finding that the coming 15 years could see a doubling in hospitalizations due to heat-related illnesses.The number of annual heat-related emergency department visits or hospitalizations across the US are set to rise from about 109,000 cases a year to as many as 237,000 cases by 2040, the new research has estimated. Continue reading...

• Many companies are failing to secure their systems as they rapidly integrate Large Language Models (LLMs) and generative AI. • Security gaps are being driven by "shadow AI" and weak internal controls, leaving firms vulnerable to data breaches, hallucinations, and unauthorized access. • This lack of preparation is critical because cybersecurity threats have increased exponentially in recent years, outpacing corporate defense strategies.

Research by National Preparedness Commission calls for ‘worst-case scenario’ planning by European statesBritain’s vital supply chains are unprepared for the prospect of a major shock such as war with Russia, and bold steps are needed to catch up with “worst-case scenario” planning by European states, ministers have been warned.Donald Trump’s “America First” transformation of the US, which has made what was once a trusted UK ally a much less reliable partner, should also feed into that planning, according to a new report. Continue reading...