The Stream, July 19: Heat Wave in Central U.S.

The heatwave in the central United States intensified Monday, closing government buildings without air-conditioning and prompting warnings to residents to keep as cool as possible, Reuters reported. The National Weather Service has put 18 states under a heat warning, watch or advisory.

And while some states are baking in heat, climatologists say that drought could become a permanent condition in some regions, The New York Times reported.

Despite the post-Fukushima concerns about the safety of civilian nuclear power electricity generation, India started construction of its 25th nuclear power plant, according to UPI.

Is New York taking steps toward allowing natural gas drilling? According to Reuters, natural gas well construction could become a key battleground in the debate over allowing fracking in the state.

China Power Investment Corp. is ploughing ahead with the controversial Myitsone Dam on Burma’s Irrawaddy River despite its own environmental assessment that calls for the project to be cancelled, Asia Sentinel reported, citing the Burma Rivers Network, which obtained a copy of the study.

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