The heat's off the charts

Record-high temperatures in the Northwest are having deadly effects. Record-high temperatures are being set across the western US; the coronavirus delta variant is forcing new lockdowns across Asia. Tonight's Sentences was written by Gabby Birenbaum. TOP NEWS The deadly Northwest heat wave [An 130 degree temperature at the Furnace Creek Visitor Center]( Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images - The heat wave in the Northwest has caused record-high temperatures, shattering records by more than 10 degrees in some places as Portland, Seattle, Vancouver, and places further inland are struggling. [[Axios / Andrew Freedman](] - At least six deaths in Washington and Oregon have been linked to the heat wave, which has also caused a significant increase in emergency services visits for heat-related reasons. [[NPR / Jaclyn Diaz](] - In King County, where Seattle is located, 91 people sought out emergency services for heat-related problems — shattering the previous record of nine. [[CNN / Angela Fritz, Carma Hassan, and Brisa Colon](] - Among the chief concerns in the Pacific Northwest is a population not used to severe heat and often lacking air conditioning. The average high temperature in Portland at this time of year is 73 degrees — on Monday, it was 115. [[NYT / Neil Vigdor](] - According to the National Weather Service, heat waves are the deadliest weather phenomenon, on average, over the past 30 years. The current heat wave is being caused by a heat dome, in which a sinking column of air traps heat and gives the sun unobstructed access to the ground. [[Vox / Umair Irfan](] - President Joe Biden met virtually with western-state governors today to discuss the heat and the potential for a devastating wildfire season. He said the region is underresourced and would require quick action. [[CNBC / Emma Newburger](] - Climate change is making the frequency of these heat events more likely, as global temperatures rise. [[Atlantic / Robinson Meyer](]  [Learn more about RevenueStripe...]( New lockdowns across Asia - Several Asian nations are reinstating lockdown restrictions due to the threat of the delta variant, with Indonesia, Thailand, Bangladesh, and Malaysia implementing shutdowns to stop the spread. [[Guardian / Jon Henley](] - The delta variant spreads more easily than the original Covid-19, and poses a stronger risk in countries where majorities of the population have not yet been vaccinated. [[Barron’s / Josh Nathan-Kazis](] - In Bangladesh, case counts are approaching the levels of their April peak, so soldiers will be patrolling the streets to enforce the stay-at-home order. In Malaysia, residents are experiencing their fourth lockdown after cases have barely gone down. [[NYT / Livia Albeck-Ripka, Saif Hasnat, Yu Young Jin, Mujib Mashal, and Aina J. Khan](] - In Vietnam, which had been succeeding in keeping cases relatively low, cases have doubled within a month, leading to a social distancing requirement in Ho Chi Minh City and the suspension of some travel. [[France 24 News](] - Meanwhile, Thailand is trying to isolate Phuket as a tourism hub while case numbers reach their third-highest daily case total of the pandemic and doctors worry about the potential lack of hospital beds. [[Bangkok Post](] MISCELLANEOUS Actress Allison Mack, who was involved with the sex trafficking cult NXIVM, was sentenced to three years in prison. [[BuzzFeed News / Nicole Fallert](] - A Pennsylvania appeals court on Wednesday overturned Bill Cosby's 2018 conviction on sexual assault charges, and Cosby was freed from prison. [[NYT / Graham Bowley](] - Tibet opened a high-speed bullet train, allowing travelers to see the Himalayas via rail. [[CNN / Maggie Hiufu Wong](] - The Trump Organization and its CFO are expected to be charged tomorrow with tax-related crimes by the Manhattan district attorney’s office. [[WSJ / Corinne Ramey](] Support our journalism Reader contributions help keep Vox and newsletters like Sentences free for all. Support our work from as little as $3. [Contribute]( VERBATIM "Climate change is driving the dangerous confluence of extreme heat and prolonged drought. We're seeing wildfires of greater intensity that move with more speed and last well beyond traditional months, traditional months of the fire season.” [[President Joe Biden on the source of the western heat wave](] LISTEN TO THIS [Henrietta Leavitt and the end of the universe]( In the early 1900s, Henrietta Leavitt made one of the most important discoveries in the history of astronomy: a yardstick to measure distances to faraway stars. Using this tool, scientists eventually transformed our understanding of the universe. They realized space was expanding, that this expansion was accelerating, and that ultimately, everything will end. [[Spotify / Unexplainable](] Read more from Vox [Discrimination against Section 8 tenants is rampant. This housing rights group is suing.]( [How big business exploits small business]( [A sci-fi writer got meta about gender. The internet responded by ruining her life.]( [How the delta variant is altering the course of the Covid-19 pandemic]( [New York City releases preliminary ranked-choice vote count — and then pulls it](  [Learn more about RevenueStripe...]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [YouTube]( This email was sent to {EMAIL}. Manage your [email preferences](, or [unsubscribe](param=sentences) to stop receiving all emails from Vox. If you value Vox’s unique explanatory journalism, support our work with a one-time or recurring [contribution](. View our [Privacy Notice]( and our [Terms of Service](. Vox Media, 1201 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20036. Copyright © 2021. 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