Life Alarm

Severe flooding has overwhelmed Bangkok, with reports describing streets transformed into stagnant lakes as the Thai capital reaches what officials and observers call a breaking point. The crisis is drawing attention to the city's drainage capacity and links to extreme weather patterns, including the El Niño-Southern Oscillation, as residents grapple with standing water and disrupted daily life.

A patient with lung disease died by suicide after an insurance issue delayed access to medication used to treat flare-ups, according to reporting by KFF Health News. The case highlights how coverage disputes and delays in filling prescriptions can have life-threatening consequences for people managing chronic respiratory illness. It is likely to fuel broader debate over insurance prior-authorization practices and timely access to essential medicines in the United States.

A new report by Mercator Ocean International finds the world's oceans are warming at an alarming pace, with far-reaching consequences for marine life, coastlines, and communities worldwide. The nonprofit's data underpins the warning, which scientists and commentators are sharing as evidence of accelerating climate change impacts on marine ecosystems and coastal populations.

Kyiv residents describe terror as Russia intensifies its attacks on the Ukrainian capital, with mayor Vitali Klitschko saying the enemy is tearing the city apart. The escalation has hit civilian neighbourhoods and prompted renewed alarm about the toll of the war on urban life. The remarks underline growing pressure on Kyiv's defences and on residents enduring repeated strikes.