China’s Politburo orders rapid-response overhaul in the face of floods and extreme heat

China’s top leadership has warned of the dangers of extreme weather and urged advances in forecast accuracy, rapid emergency rescue and local capabilities for disaster relief in its first meeting for the year on flood and drought prevention, according to state media.

The meeting, held in Beijing on Tuesday by the Politburo, was chaired by Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The Politburo urged local governments to take “forceful” measures against drought, flooding and typhoons, to “always put the...