Record-breaking heatwave in Beijing prompts creative cooling solutions.

Beijing experiences its highest June temperature since 1961, with authorities issuing a heat alert for the next three days as temperatures are likely to remain above 40 degrees Celsius. The heat wave has led to a rise in patients with heatstroke and at least one death. People are sharing advice on the most hydrating snacks for the hot weather, while entrepreneurs promote seat-cushion fans designed to combat a sweaty butt. Pressure is piling up on China’s electricity producers as surging power demand threatens to overload the grid, but critics argue that China should tackle distorted incentives and a lack of flexibility in the power grid to make wind and solar power sufficient to avoid shortages and a more cost-effective solution than coal.