Northern China flash flood kills 8/node/2612071/world
Northern China flash flood kills 8
China has suffered weeks of extreme weather since July, battered by heavier-than-usual downpours with the monsoon stalling over its north and south. Above, rescue workers search for victims a day after a flash flood in Yuzhong county. (AFP)
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Updated 52 sec ago
Reuters
Northern China flash flood kills 8
The banks of a river running through the grasslands of Inner Mongolia burst at around 10 p.m. on Saturday
China has suffered weeks of extreme weather since July, battered by heavier-than-usual downpours
Updated 52 sec ago
Reuters
BEIJING: At least eight people have died in a flash flood in northern China, state media reported on Sunday, with four others still missing, as the East Asian monsoon continues to unleash atmospheric chaos across the world’s second-largest economy.
The banks of a river running through the grasslands of Inner Mongolia burst at around 10 p.m. (1400 GMT) on Saturday, the report said, washing away 13 campers on the outskirts of Bayannur city, a major agricultural hub. One person has been rescued.
China has suffered weeks of extreme weather since July, battered by heavier-than-usual downpours with the monsoon stalling over its north and south.
Weather experts link the shifting pattern to climate change, testing officials as flash floods displace thousands and threaten billions of dollars in economic losses.
Bayannur is an important national grain and oil production base, as well as a sheep breeding and processing center.
At the other end of the country, a three-and-a-half-month fishing suspension in the southern province of Hainan ended on Saturday, state media reported, after agricultural affairs officials ordered ships to shelter in port owing to persistent, heavy rain.
The deluge in Inner Mongolia follows a deadly downpour in Beijing – just under 1,000km away – late last month which killed at least 44 people and forced the evacuation of more than 70,000 residents.
The central government announced last week 430 million yuan ($59.9 million) in fresh funding for disaster relief, taking the total allocated since April to at least 5.8 billion yuan.
‘Planting food, not hate’: Brazil’s Lula razzes Trump over tariff-hit grapes
South American powerhouse reels from Washington’s 50-percent tariffs
The tariffs imposed on Brazil are among the steepest to hit a US trading partner
Updated 7 sec ago
AFP
BRASILIA: President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said on Saturday that he hopes Donald Trump can come and get to know the real Brazil, as the South American powerhouse reels from Washington’s 50-percent tariffs.
In a video taken while he planted grapes – one of the tariff-hit goods – Brazil’s leftist leader addressed Trump.
“I hope you can visit someday so we can talk and you can get to know the true Brazil, the Brazil of people who love samba, carnival, soccer, the United States, China, Russia, Uruguay, and Venezuela. We love everyone,” Lula said.
The tariffs imposed on Brazil are among the steepest to hit a US trading partner.
And unlike with other countries, the measures against Brazil have been framed in openly political terms, with the Republican president justifying the move by alleging Brasilia is conducting a “witch hunt” against his ally, former president Jair Bolsonaro.
Bolsonaro is being tried for an alleged coup attempt against Lula in 2022, and the United States recently sanctioned the judge in the case, along with seven other Supreme Court magistrates.
Lula has backed the Supreme Court and promises to defend “the sovereignty of the Brazilian people.”
His administration has also vowed to combat Trump’s tariffs, including by lodging an appeal if necessary.
The levies, which affect several key exports from the largest economy in Latin America, sweep aside centuries-old trade ties and a surplus that Brasilia put at $284 million last year.
In his message on X, Lula said he was giving an example of “planting food, and not planting violence, or planting hate.”
“I hope that someday we can talk, President Trump, so you can learn about the quality of the Brazilian people,” he adds.
Meet the actor with Down syndrome who wants to run for president of Chile
Sebastian Solorza positions himself as a “point of balance” between the far right and the far left, a fierce ideological battle that dominates Chile’s political scene.
Should he enter the electoral race, his platform will focus on greater inclusion, improved health care and education, and enhanced security, a main concern of citizens who have been grappling with an unprecedented crisis of violence in recent years
Updated 17 min 45 sec ago
AP
SANTIAGO: Sebastián Solorza is already a familiar face to many Chileans, having starred in a popular Netflix series and won national acting awards. Now, the 43-year-old actor with Down syndrome wants to enter the race for president in Chile’s national election this year.
Solorza is racing against the clock to gather 35,000 signatures by Aug. 18, a requirement for him to run as an independent candidate. He positions himself as a “point of balance” between the far right and the far left — a fierce ideological battle that dominates Chile’s political scene.
“I listen with my heart,” Solorza told The Associated Press, adding that his condition allows him to offer a softer communication style.
Should he enter the electoral race, his platform will focus on greater inclusion, improved health care and education, and enhanced security — a main concern of citizens who have been grappling with an unprecedented crisis of violence in recent years.
Chile will choose its new president on Nov. 16, with the campaign so far defined by the mutual attacks between the two main contestants: The far-right José Antonio Kast, who lost to current leftist president Gabriel Boric in 2021, and Jeannette Jara, the ruling coalition’s communist nominee.
With three months remaining until the election, polls show Kast and Jara vying for the top two spots. This scenario suggests they would face each other in a second-round runoff on Dec. 14.
Solorza argues that his candidacy offers a middle ground between political extremes, while working toward a “more inclusive country.”
“I’ve spent my entire life breaking down prejudices, as an actor, as a worker and as a citizen,” he said last month when announcing his plans to run as an independent candidate. “We all deserve the same opportunities.”
The actor hopes his candidacy will give greater visibility to people with Down syndrome and other disabilities. While it’s unlikely he will secure the necessary support to run for president — he has collected a little over 600 of the 35,000 signatures required — he sees his political foray as a success.
Demystifying myths and prejudices
Solorza keeps a tight schedule, balancing an acting career with a day job at a construction company. In his limited free time, he spends time visiting Congress, talking with members of the Parliament and meeting with constituents to promote his campaign.
On the streets of Huechuraba, a quiet and green neighborhood in the northern part of Chile’s capital, Solorza is often greeted by supporters, fans, and workers from restaurants and cafés where he is a regular. Always smiling, he walks slowly, making time for anyone who wants a photo or a brief chat.
In Valparaíso — a coastal town about 100 kilometers (62 miles) from Santiago, where the Congress is based — Chileans show up to the Parliament to express their support. “Good luck with the signatures,” one supporter said last week. “Let it be the people who ultimately decide our future.”
Solorza’s political aspirations open the door to “raise the voices of people with Down syndrome” and help to “demystify myths and prejudices still present in society,” said Carolina Gallardo, director of the Chilean nonprofit Down Up Foundation, which offers support and community for families raising children with Down syndrome.
Fueled by the arts
The attempt at a political debut is just the latest in a long line of barriers Solorza has overcome.
He was born and raised in the 1980s, a time with far less knowledge about Down syndrome than today. His mother, Jenny Solorza, recalls his early years as “very dark,” because doctors never provided a clear diagnosis for their son, leading them to search for information on their own.
“We wanted to do our best and always encouraged him with music,” she said. As a result, “Sebastián has a very broad musical culture, and that’s what he grew up with.”
Solorza attended special schools where he developed his passion for the arts, fueled by music, rather than focusing on traditional academics. At 18, he received a scholarship to join a theater school and began performing regularly on stage and appearing in popular TV talk shows.
He later rose to national fame for his leading role as Tomy in the Chilean thriller “Chromosome 21.” The series, which follows a detective trying to determine if a young man found at a murder scene is a witness or a suspect, ranked second on Netflix in Chile just two days after its release in 2022.
The part earned Solorza the Best New Actor award at the 2023 Caleuche Awards, one of the most important ceremonies in the Chilean film industry.
Despite social media criticism that he lacks preparedness and political experience to run for office, he insists he will not be deterred.
“I know my candidacy would be uncomfortable for many,” he said. “But I am here to support minorities.”
’Pickypockets!’ vigilante pairs with social media on London streets
Diego Galdino, from a family of police officers in Brazil, said he has become expert at identifying likely thieves
Sceptics however, have raised concerns about such vigilante content-creators, arguing they are ill-trained to intervene in potentially dangerous situations
Updated 31 min 16 sec ago
AFP
LONDON: On a recent weekday, Diego Galdino was on the hunt for pickpockets in central London, patrolling tourist hotspots for familiar suspects and telltale signs of those about to commit thefts.
Galdino, however, is not a policeman.
The Brazilian food app delivery rider has become a popular, social media-fueled vigilante targeting pickpocketing in the British capital.
He started filming — and then trying to disrupt — thieves in action after witnessing several incidents.
And his videos on Instagram, TikTok and other platforms under the handle “pickpocketlondon” have proved a hit.
One posted late July on TikTok amassed nearly 27 million views — another on Instagram showing a suspect spitting at him garnered more than 12 million.
“I didn’t know nothing about TikTok, I didn’t know nothing about uploading a video,” Galdino told AFP.
“I catch them stealing, I catch a lot of situations and I upload daily and grow very quickly,” he said.
Similar accounts have emerged in other European cities including Venice and Paris, as the era of mass tourism, social media and side hustles collides with crime and vigilantism.
Galdino said he was “completely surprised” by the response.
“My life’s changed a lot,” he added. Now, he said, he was inundated with media interview requests and got recognized by supporters and suspects alike.
Galdino, from a family of police officers in Brazil, said he has become expert at identifying likely thieves.
They appear well organized, are often women and work in pairs. They mainly target tourists, dressing like them to blend in, he said.
Standing outside Buckingham Palace, the 32-year-old said he could change his “perception” while patrolling to create a kind of tunnel vision.
A network of around 20 other delivery riders helps out, sending tip-offs via WhatsApp when suspects are spotted.
Once on the scene, Galdino swoops in filming with an attached camera, shouting a signature “pickypockets” warning to sound the alert.
“Watch out, pickypockets!” he yells.
His presence is not always welcomed though, and Galdino said he had faced violence.
But focus, adrenalin and a sense of “injustice” at the thefts overrode any fear, he said.
“I hate this kind of thing,” Galdino added. “These people get up in the morning ... (to) steal. They don’t pay tax, they don’t produce nothing to society.”
On the streets, locals as well as visitors seemed to appreciate his efforts.
“Keep doing what you’re doing!” said passerby Tom, 37, after recognizing Galdino.
“Hopefully tourists (who) come to London who maybe don’t know about the phone-snatchers see your videos.”
Sceptics however, have raised concerns about such vigilante content-creators, arguing they are ill-trained to intervene in potentially dangerous situations.
“We’ve got a kind of performative form of crime vigilantism for clicks,” criminologist Jennifer Fleetwood told AFP.
“I’m sure the guy is very well-meaning, but honestly this is not an effective form of crime control,” she added.
“He’s not going to be out there for the next 10 years, is he?” said Fleetwood, a university lecturer in criminology who wrote the book “What We Talk About When We Talk About Crime.”
London’s leaders insist they are tackling pickpocketing.
Labour Mayor Sadiq Khan boosted police numbers in the center to curb theft, robbery and antisocial behavior.
“We’ll be targeting hotspot areas with both plain-clothed and uniformed patrols, building on the progress we’ve already made,” the Metropolitan Police said.
Their statement did not comment directly on Galdino, but it did note a 15.6 percent reduction in “theft from the person” in the six weeks since their boost began April 6.
However, force’s statistics show it recorded more than 32,000 “thefts from the person” in the year to July in central Westminster.
That is up on the previous 12 months and a considerable increase on the year from July 2022.
Fleetwood argued the social media fixation on pickpocketing risked exaggerating the problem.
Statistics show such thefts are no more prevalent in the capital than other English cities and regions, she said.
“I’ve seen so much stuff on social media about London being unfriendly or London being dangerous.
“But ... is it the case that you’re more likely to be a victim of personal crime in London? Actually, no.”
Erin downgraded to formidable Category 4 hurricane
The storm was about 636km east of Grand Turk Island packing maximum sustained winds of 225kp
Storm expected to dump heavy rainfall through Sunday across the northern Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico
Updated 52 min 38 sec ago
Reuters
Hurricane Erin, the first hurricane of the 2025 Atlantic season, is a formidable Category 4, the US National Hurricane Center said in an update late on Saturday downgrading the storm from Category 5 as the wind speed eased slightly.
The storm was about 636km east of Grand Turk Island packing maximum sustained winds of 225kph, the NHC said, down from 160 mph.
The NHC forecast Erin is moving toward the west-northwest at nearly 14 mph with a turn more northward expected to occur on Monday into Tuesday.
The NHC said the meteorological service of France has discontinued the tropical storm watch for St. Martin and St. Barthelemy, while the meteorological service of the Netherlands has discontinued the tropical storm watch for Sint Maarten.
The NHC had previously said it expected Erin to strengthen into next week.
The hurricane’s center was forecast to pass north of the northern Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico through Sunday and move to the east of the Turks and Caicos Islands and the southeastern Bahamas on Sunday night and Monday.
The storm is expected to dump heavy rainfall through Sunday across the northern Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, the NHC said.
Swells generated by Erin will affect portions of the northern Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Hispaniola and the Turks and Caicos Islands through the weekend, and the swells will spread to the Bahamas, Bermuda and the East Coast of the United States early in the coming week, it said.
The Bahamas, which provides some meteorological services for the Turks and Caicos Islands, issued a Tropical Storm Watch for the British islands to its southeast.
Erin has also raised concerns about wildfire risks if human-caused sparks ignite parched vegetation and strong dry winds fan the flames. BMS Group Senior Meteorologist Andrew Siffert said these conditions could arise if Erin grows into a powerful offshore storm fueled by colliding warm and cold air rather than tropical seas.
Insurance-linked securities manager Twelve Securis said on Friday that Erin was forecast to remain far enough offshore to spare the US East Coast from significant impacts.
From drought to floods, water extremes drive displacement in Afghanistan
As if the displacement of Afghans by over 40 years of successive wars were not enough, climate change-fueled shocks now drive people from their homes and strain livelihoods
In early 2025, nearly five million people across the country were impacted and nearly 400,000 people were displaced, the UN migration office said in July
Updated 17 August 2025
AFP
KABUL, Afghanistan: Next to small bundles of belongings, Maruf waited for a car to take him and his family away from their village in northern Afghanistan, where drought-ridden land had yielded nothing for years.
“When you have children and are responsible for their needs, then tell me, what are you still doing in this ruin?” said the 50-year-old.
Many of the mud homes around him are already empty, he said, his neighbors having abandoned the village, fleeing “thirst, hunger and a life with no future.”
Successive wars displaced Afghans over 40 years, but peace has not brought total reprieve, as climate change-fueled shocks drive people from their homes and strain livelihoods.
Since the war ended between the now-ruling Taliban and US-led forces in 2021, floods, droughts and other climate change-driven environmental hazards have become the main cause of displacement in the country, according to the UN’s International Organization for Migration (IOM).
In early 2025, nearly five million people across the country were impacted and nearly 400,000 people were displaced, the IOM said in July, citing its Climate Vulnerability Assessment.
The majority of Afghans live in mud homes and depend heavily on agriculture and livestock, making them particularly exposed to environmental changes.
This photograph taken on July 10, 2025 shows a hand pump near dilapidated dome-shaped traditional Afghan houses on a deserted street as chronic water scarcity stalks the drought-ridden village of Bolak in the Chahar Bolak district at Balkh province. (AFP)
The water cycle has been sharply impacted, with Afghanistan again in the grip of drought for the fourth time in five years and flash floods devastating land, homes and livelihoods.
“Crop failure, dry pastures and vanishing water sources are pushing rural communities to the edge,” the UN Food and Agriculture Organization said in July.
“It’s getting harder for families to grow food, earn income or stay where they are.”
Experts and Taliban officials have repeatedly warned of escalating climate risks as temperatures rise, extreme weather events intensify and precipitation patterns shift.
The country’s limited infrastructure, endemic poverty and international isolation leave Afghans with few resources to adapt and recover — while already facing one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises worsened by severe aid cuts.
‘Everything comes down to water’
Abdul Jalil Rasooli’s village in the drought-hit north has watched their way of life wither with their crops.
Drought already drove many from his village to Pakistan and Iran a decade ago.
Now they’ve returned, forced back over the border along with more than four million others from the two neighboring countries since late 2023 — but to work odd jobs, not the land.
“Everything comes down to water,” said the 64-year-old, retreating from the day’s heat in the only home in the village still shaded by leafy trees.
“Water scarcity ruins everything, it destroys farming, the trees are drying up, and there’s no planting anymore,” he told AFP.
Rasooli holds out hope that the nearby Qosh Tepa canal will bring irrigation from the Amu Darya river. Diggers are carving out the last section of the waterway, but its completion is more than a year away, officials told AFP.
Damaged mattress and pillows are pictured in a flash flood affected area in Nirkh district, Maidan Wardak province, AFghanistan, on July 2, 2025. (AFP)
It’s one of the water infrastructure projects the Taliban authorities have undertaken since ousting the foreign-backed government four years ago.
But the theocratic government, largely isolated on the global stage over its restrictions on women, has limited resources to address a crisis long exacerbated by poor environmental, infrastructure and resource management during 40 years of conflict.
“The measures we have taken so far are not enough,” Energy and Water Minister Abdul Latif Mansoor told journalists in July, rattling off a list of dam and canal projects in the pipeline.
“There are a lot of droughts... this is Allah’s will, first we must turn to Allah.”
Hamayoun Amiri left for Iran when he was a young man and drought struck his father’s small plot of land in western Herat province.
Forced to return in a June deportation campaign, he found himself back where he started 14 years ago — with nothing to farm and his father’s well water “getting lower and lower every day.”
The Harirud river was a dry bed in July as it neared the border with downstream Iran, following a road lined with empty mud buildings pummelled back to dust by the province’s summer gales.
Praying for rain
Taliban authorities often hold prayers for rain, but while the lack of water has parched the land in some parts of the country, changes in precipitation patterns mean rains can be more of a threat than a blessing.
This year, rains have come earlier and heavier amid above-average temperatures, increasing flood risks, the UN said.
A warmer atmosphere holds more water, so rain often comes in massive, destructive quantities.
“The weather has changed,” said Mohammad Qasim, a community leader of several villages in central Maidan Wardak battered by flash floods in June.
“I’m around 54 years old, and we have never experienced problems like this before,” he told AFP in the riverbed full of boulders and cracked mud.
Eighteen-year-old Wahidullah’s family was displaced after their home was damaged beyond repair and all their livestock were drowned.
The family of 11 slept in or near a rudimentary tent on high ground, with no plans or means to rebuild.
“We’re worried that if another flood comes, then there will be nothing left and nowhere to go.”
