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Thailand has activated a restructured disaster management system with four regional committees to address simultaneous threats from seasonal flooding and prolonged drought conditions affecting agriculture and water security.
Japan's Kumamoto prefecture grapples with recovery following a magnitude 7.1 earthquake that killed 38 people. Extreme heat, water shortages, and crowded emergency shelters are hampering relief efforts as Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi conducts her first visit to the disaster zone.
Sultan Nazrin Shah has called for establishing internationally adoptable core principles for waqf governance, proposing digital platforms and a regional environmental initiative to strengthen Islamic endowments globally.
The Philippines is investigating Singapore's flood management innovations, from real-time data systems to rainwater recycling, as the archipelago grapples with annual cyclones and monsoon flooding.
Selangor is investing RM40.5 million in a comprehensive flood mitigation programme across Petaling Jaya, combining quick-fix solutions and sustainable infrastructure improvements to address recurring urban flooding.
Malaysia is intensifying efforts to protect food security from El Niño impacts through advanced water management systems, RM84 million in farmer assistance, and development of drought-resistant rice varieties.
California authorities are racing to restore giant sequoia groves devastated by wildfires that killed nearly 20% of the world's population of these ancient trees. A coalition has thinned vegetation, conducted controlled burns, and planted over 682,000 seedlings.