Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
Attention duty announcers, radio and TV stations:
Please broadcast the following as soon as possible and repeat it at suitable intervals:
As the Hong Kong Observatory will issue Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 8 tomorrow (July 20), the Government announced that the Children Community Vaccination Centre (CCVC) and Private Clinic COVID-19 Vaccination Stations (PCVSs) under the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme will remain closed tomorrow and their vaccination service will be suspended.
If the Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 8 is cancelled before 1pm tomorrow, the CCVC and PCVSs will reopen and resume vaccination service two hours after the cancellation and they will operate until the normal closing time.
Affected persons can make a new vaccination appointment through the booking system on the website of the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme (booking.covidvaccine.gov.hk) after the scheduled time of the original booking.
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
FUZHOU, July 21 (Xinhua) — East China’s Fujian Province issued a Level 4 emergency response at 8 a.m. Monday to address the flood threat posed by Typhoon Wipha, the provincial flood and drought relief headquarters said.
Under the influence of the outer circulation of Typhoon Wipha, the sixth this year, heavy rains and downpours have been lashing coastal areas of Fujian Province since Sunday.
According to meteorological services, heavy rains will continue in some areas of the province over the next three days.
The Provincial Flood and Drought Management Headquarters calls for heightened vigilance against severe weather. All districts and agencies must quickly adopt or make necessary adjustments to emergency response measures, with increased emphasis on monitoring, early warning, and joint consultation to assess risks.
It is necessary to carefully formulate and implement a large-scale strategy to mitigate the impact of heavy rainfall disasters and respond to secondary hazards such as flash floods in mountainous areas, floods in small and medium-sized rivers, geological disasters and urban flooding, the headquarters stressed.
On Sunday at around 8:15 p.m., Vipha made landfall for the second time as a strong tropical storm near Hailing Island in Yangjiang, Guangdong Province, southern China. Maximum sustained winds near its epicenter reached 25 meters per second.
China has a four-tier emergency response system, with tier one being the most serious. -0-
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Climate change knows no borders – as Kenya can tell you. The country is routinely hit by weather disasters.
“Every five to ten years, the country experiences either very heavy rains that cause floods or persistent drought,” says Reuben Chepng’ar, the senior manager in the Banking Supervision Department at the Central Bank of Kenya.
By the year 2030, Kenya aspires to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 32%. This work is expected to cost $62 billion, but the government says it can raise only $8 billion. The investment shortfall of $54 billion is expected to come from the private sector and global development institutions, such as the European Investment Bank and the Internal Monetary Fund.
The Central Bank of Kenya is trying to help commercial banks support more green projects, enhance their climate-related risk reporting and attract foreign investors. The Central Bank used technical assistance from the European Investment Bank to create new climate investing and reporting guidelines in the country.
The European Investment Bank collaborated with Kenya’s Central Bank to develop two guidelines under a programme known as Greening Financial Systems technical assistance. EIB consultants worked with the Central Bank and local banks from 2023 to 2025 to develop regulations that commercial banks must follow for climate reporting and green investments.
The EIB support to the Central Bank was financed through the IKI Fund, an EIB trust fund backed by Germany to help climate action initiatives in emerging countries. The IKI Fund highlights the importance of international cooperation and knowledge sharing. Since climate risks transcend borders, coordinated action among global institutions is essential to ensure that local financial systems are aligned with global sustainability objectives. The European Investment Bank oversees a group of trust funds that are financed by EU countries and the European Commission. These funds provide grants, technical assistance and loan guarantees around the world.
Marjan Stojiljkovic was a team lead for the EIB technical assistance programme in Kenya. He is a climate finance consultant who offers training around the world to banks on sustainability reporting requirements and managing risks related to green lending.
“One objective of this project was how to internalise and measure the impacts of climate risk on banking operations in Kenya, because climate risks are real and they have impacts on the financial sector,” Stojiljkovic says.
After a series of meetings and workshops, the central bank created two sets of policy guidelines to help commercial banks improve climate risk reporting. One is the Kenya Green Finance Taxonomy and the other is the Climate Risk Management Framework. The green taxonomy is the fourth to be adopted in Africa, after South Africa, Rwanda and Ghana. The taxonomy is based on the EU green taxonomy that provides a clear classification system for sustainable economic activities and guidance on assessment and reporting. One aim is to prevent greenwashing, or the exaggeration of the benefits projects bring. Another aim is to increase sustainable investments, particularly by attracting foreign investment. The climate risk framework was designed to increase transparency in Kenya’s financial sector and encourage businesses to adopt more sustainable practices.
As part of ACT Government’s ‘One Government, One Voice’ program, we are transitioning this website across to our . You can access everything you need through this website while it’s happening.
Released 21/07/2025
A new Chair and general members have been appointed to the ACT Climate Change Council for a 3-year term following a recruitment process.
The eight members of the Council are representatives of the Canberra community with a wide range of expertise, skills and experience. Their insights will be vital as the ACT builds a climate-resilient city and community and continues to work on new and innovative methods to achieve net zero by 2045.
The new members work across a variety of areas in the ACT including energy innovation and the energy transition, public health, climate change adaptation and resilience, youth engagement, and social and economic sciences.
Dr Arnagretta Hunter will Chair the Council through her second term on the committee after joining in 2022.
The ACT Government has also appointed the first of 2 dedicated Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander positions, with Stephen Mudford formally joining the Council after participating previously as an Observer. Madison Barancewicz also joins as the Council’s first ever youth representative.
The new appointments of the ACT Climate Change Council are:
Dr Arnagretta Hunter – (Chair)
Stephen Mudford (Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Member)
Madison Barancewicz (General Member)
Dean Spaccavento (General Member)
Professor Jacki Schirmer (General Member)
Associate Professor Rebecca Colvin (General Member)
Dr Rosemary McFarlane (General Member)
Dr Heinz Schandl (General Member)
The new Council will work with the Canberra community to ensure their views can be reflected in the advice provided to the Minister.
Recruitment will be undertaken for a second dedicated Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander position, as outlined in the Climate Change and Greenhouse Gas Reduction Act 2010. The government will continue working with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community to fill this position.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Climate Change, Environment, Energy and Water Suzanne Orr:
The ACT Climate Change Council provides valuable, independent expertise and advice to help guide and inform the development of government climate change and energy policy. The ACT has an ambitious target of becoming a zero-emissions territory by 2045.
Whilst we are making progress towards achieving this goal, there is more work to be done and we need to shift to doing things differently. As a jurisdiction we’ve achieved a lot and we’re now arriving at an increasingly complex and challenging period of the transition.
The diverse skills and expertise of the new ACT Climate Change Council will be important as we investigate further emissions reduction options for hard to abate and complex sectors, such as waste and transport.
The new and diverse Climate Change Council seeks to better represent every corner of the Canberra community. The Council will play an important role in helping to shape the new ACT Climate Change Strategy, with a focus on changing and improving the way we reduce emissions and prepare and adapt for the impacts of climate change.
I want to extend my gratitude to the outgoing members and the outgoing Chair, Professor Mark Howden, who have contributed significantly to the ACT’s nation-leading work on climate action.
I look forward to working with the new Council to provide further benefits for the ACT community.
Quotes attributable to Chair of the ACT Climate Change Council Dr Arnagretta Hunter:
“It is an honour to accept another term with the ACT Climate Change Council and particularly to serve as its Chair. I’ve accepted this role because of the remarkable group that’s been assembled for this Council term. I’d like to thank our remarkable ACT community for their expertise and enthusiasm to be involved, and also congratulate the Minister on her work to achieve what will be a great Council. With diverse skills, deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities of the changing climate, along with genuine community connection I believe the Council will continue to offer frank and fearless advice framed with compassion and engagement for the ACT today and into the future.
“I’m particularly proud to do this work in Canberra. The ACT has been a global leader in climate change action and policy and, along with other significant challenges, climate change remains a focus and priority. The past few years have offered us a glimpse of the challenges to come with increasing extreme weather events as the climate changes, we know that planning for our future is increasingly important.
“This Council will balance our robust understanding of science and communities along with an imagination for our best future. Among other tasks, we will help frame the next iteration of the ACT Climate Change Strategy, offering what we hope is the best evidence and approach for our community”.
Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Current Mesoscale DiscussionsUpdated: Mon Jul 21 06:00:03 UTC 2025 No Mesoscale Discussions are currently in effect.
Notice: The responsibility for Heavy Rain Mesoscale Discussions has been transferred to the Weather Prediction Center (WPC) on April 9, 2013. Click here for the Service Change Notice. Archived Convective ProductsTo view convective products for a previous day, type in the date you wish to retrieve (e.g. 20040529 for May 29, 2004). Data available since January 1, 2004.
Australia’s climate is changing. To avoid catastrophic disruptions from successive supercharged disasters, society must adapt. But change takes time and it’s not always clear how much progress we’re making.
We wanted to find out what Australia’s governments, industries and local groups are doing to adapt to climate change. Our work culminated in the Australian Adaptation Database, which captures more than 700 initiatives so far.
Standout examples from this first national stocktake include Ramblers Reef in Victoria – an artificial reef of rocks and shells 500 metres offshore that has helped reduce coastal erosion. In Adelaide, urban cooling and greening projects are transforming the city and suburbs across 17 councils .
Our project shows climate adaptation is happening in Australia, but there’s plenty of room for improvement. The more society can do now to prepare for change, the better off we’ll be in the long run.
Why track Australia’s progress in climate adaptation? First, it enables progress to be reported efficiently to governments and international bodies such as the United Nations.
The database also helps people share knowledge. Anyone striving to improve their resilience to climate change can look to the database for ideas and inspiration.
The data was mainly gathered from conversations we had with people in state and territory government departments, local government associations, not-for-profit organisations and private companies across Australia.
On Wednesday, we will present the database at the opening of the national Climate Adaptation 2025 conference in Perth.
The project shows the vast range of ways Australians are preparing for a warmer world. Examples include:
planting trees to cool cities such as Adelaide and rural towns such as Birchip in Victoria
Anyone can explore and search the database. It’s not an exhaustive record of all climate adaptation in Australia, but provides more detail than ever before. It’s constantly being updated as new examples are added.
But the database is only as good as the information we feed into it, so we need everyone to contribute. All you need to do is hit the “submit an entry” button on the homepage to get started.
Artificial reefs such as Ramblers Reef help slow erosion (ABC News)
The role of government: local, state and federal
Much work to date in climate adaptation has involved laying the foundations for practical actions.
For example, South Australia’s Climate Ready Coasts program aims to improve planning for coastal hazards. This joint effort between state and local governments make sense, given both have a role to play, and it helps ensure adaptation actions are efficient and coordinated.
At the federal level, the Australian government has focused on funding for national disasters such as the Future Drought Fund. Another example, the Infrastructure Betterment Fund, involves making roads, rail, bridges and other infrastructure more resilient to climate change.
Australia is yet to release its first National Adaptation Plan. This document is expected to clarify the federal role in climate adaptation.
The private sector
The private sector is beginning to adapt to climate change. Examples include:
Change is hard, but Australia is finally making some progress in climate adaptation. Markus Spiske, Unsplash., CC BY
What’s next?
Our research shows the policy and governance mechanisms to drive adaptation are largely in place. The knowledge and networks to support meaningful action are gradually being developed.
But the next “heavy lifting” phase – putting plans into action – is yet to begin in earnest.
There’s a clear need to channel funding to those best placed to deliver frontline projects and programs, especially local governments and community organisations.
The Australian Local Government Association is calling for a A$400 million climate adaptation fund to support Australian councils to deliver place-based adaptation actions.
This research is part of a three-year project exploring how to encourage and promote best practice in adapting to climate change across Australia.
The next step is to measure progress around climate adaptation, which is difficult and rarely done – even though it’s required under the Paris Agreement.
The good news is Australia has made a start, but there is much more to do to ensure the wellbeing of our country through a changing climate.
Tia Brullo receives funding from the National Environmental Science Program Climate Systems Hub Project Number CS2.1
Elissa Waters receives funding from the National Environmental Science Program Climate Systems Hub Project Number CS2.1 and Australian Climate Service.
Jon Barnett receives funding from the National Environmental Science Program Climate Systems Hub Project Number CS2.1
Sarah Boulter receives funding from the National Environmental Science Program Climate Systems Hub.
Roadmap to rebuild trust in water sector unveiled in major new report
Sir Jon Cunliffe publishes final recommendations
A new integrated regulator for water, stronger consumer advocacy and 9 new regional water authorities to deliver on local priorities are among the final recommendations set out today (21 July) by the Independent Water Commission.
Chaired by Sir Jon Cunliffe, the Commission sets out 88 recommendations in its report to the UK and Welsh governments to transform the sector.
The report covers how the system is regulated, how to manage the competing demands on water, how water companies are governed and how critical water infrastructure is kept resilient both now and in the future.
It follows just under nine months of extensive engagement, analysis and research, including the 50,000+ responses submitted to the Commission’s Call for Evidence.
Key recommendations include:
Single integrated water regulators. The report recommends a single water regulator in England and a single water regulator in Wales. In England this would replace Ofwat, the Drinking Water Inspectorate and water-environment related functions from the Environment Agency and Natural England. In Wales, Ofwat’s economic responsibilities would be integrated into Natural Resources Wales. Water is a complex sector responsible for the second-largest infrastructure programme in the UK. Water companies will spend £104 billion on investment and operation over the next 5 years. Climate change, population growth and economic development will put huge pressure on water systems over the coming decades. The current regulatory landscape is fragmented and overlapping and fully joined-up regulation is essential for the system to meet the demands of the future and ensure that private water companies act in the public as well as the private interest. A powerful, single regulator for water would simplify the system, reduce duplication, close regulatory gaps and ensure a much stronger “whole-firm” view of each company.* It would also improve investor confidence through a more stable regulatory regime. In making this recommendation, the Commission has looked closely at other regulatory models such as Ofcom.**
Eight new regional water system planning authorities in England and one national authority in Wales. As part of a radical overhaul of water system planning, the report recommends devolving current planning responsibilities and transferring resources from the regulators to 9 new regional water authorities. These would be responsible for developing water investment plans that reflect local priorities and voices. They would streamline existing planning processes and be empowered to direct funding and ensure accountability from all sectors that impact water. They would be independent and include representation from local councils, public health, environment, agriculture and consumers, among others.
Greater consumer protection. The Commission sets out proposals to improve affordability and customer service. That includes upgrading the consumer body CCW into an Ombudsman for Water to give stronger protection to customers and a clearer route to resolving complaints. It then proposes transfer responsibility for consumer advocacy to Citizens Advice. The Commission also recommends the introduction of a national social tariff to provide consistent support for low-income customers who need support to pay their bills. This will help address the widely different levels of support currently in place, with caps on bills varying by £100s in different parts of the country.
Stronger environmental regulation. The report recommends significant improvements to areas such as Operator Self-Monitoring through greater digitalisation, automation, third-party assurance and inspections. It proposes stronger regulation on abstraction, sludge, drinking water standards and water supply. After one of the driest springs on record, it recommends compulsory water metering, changes to wholesale tariffs for industrial users and greater water reuse and rainwater harvesting schemes. It also sets out where environmental legislation needs updating and why, including proposals for a new long-term and legally binding target for the water environment.
Tighter oversight of water company ownership and governance. The Commission recommends new powers for the regulator to block changes in water company ownership – for example, where investors are not seen to be prioritising the long-term interests of the company and its customers – as well as potential new ‘public benefit’ clauses in water company licences. It recommends that the regulator set “minimum capital” requirements so that companies are less reliant on debt and more financially resilient. On investment, the report sets out proposals to improve investor confidence, including government direction to the regulator to support stability and predictability for long-term investors.
Public health reforms: The report covers legislative reforms to better manage public health risks in water, recognising the many people who swim, surf and enjoy other water-based activities. These include a) new public health objectives in water quality legislation b) senior public health representation on regional water planning authorities and c) legislative changes to address emerging pollutants such as PFAS, micropollutants and microplastics.
Fundamental reset of economic regulation. More detail is set out on the Commission’s recommendation for a new ‘supervisory’ approach to economic regulation, supporting tailored decisions and earlier interventions in water company oversight. The report also makes recommendations on the Price Review process, including changes to ensure companies are investing in and maintaining assets and to help attract long-term, low-risk investment.
Clear strategic direction. A new long-term National Water Strategy should be published by both the UK and Welsh governments. This should have a minimum horizon of 25 years, with interim milestones on a 5 and 10 year basis. It should be cross-sectoral, with a clear framework for managing the many demands on water. A set of ministerial priorities specifically for the water industry should also be issued to regulators every five years, replacing the current Strategic Policy Statement (SPS). A clear long-term strategy will help drive the right outcomes for consumers, growth and the environment and support long-term investment planning.
Infrastructure & asset health reforms. The report sets out a marked step change in how water infrastructure is managed, monitored and delivered – essential for safeguarding the provision of water and wastewater management for future generations. That includes new requirements for companies to map and assess their assets and new resilience standards that are forward-looking and applied consistently across the industry.
Sir Jon Cunliffe said:
Restoring trust has been central to our work. Trust that bills are fair, that regulation is effective, that water companies will act in the public interest and that investors can get a fair return.
Our recommendations to achieve this are significant. They include the management of the whole water system, regulation of the water industry, the governance and financial resilience of water companies and a stronger voice for local communities and water customers.
In this report I have considered what is best for the long-term future of water. This is a complex sector with a highly integrated system, responsible for the second-largest infrastructure programme in the UK.
Resetting this sector and restoring pride in the future of our waterways matters to us all. In countless conversations in the last nine months I have been struck by the urgent need and passion for change. Doing this will require hard work, strong leadership and sustained commitment. But it can and must be done.
I am grateful to all to all those who have contributed generously and constructively to our work with their time, expertise and challenge.
The final report also shares recommendations on implementation, including which reforms can be delivered in the short-term and which require new primary legislation.
As set out in the Terms of Reference, the Commission has operated independently of UK and Welsh Ministers.
Sir Jon Cunliffe has been supported by an expert Advisory Group, with leading voices from areas including the environment, public health, consumers, economics and investment.
Sir Jon Cunliffe was appointed on 22 October 2024 to lead the Independent Water Commission. His Terms of Reference were published on gov.uk.
The Commission launched an eight-week Call for Evidence on 27 February 2025. The Commission’s interim report was published on 3 June.
*The Commission has looked in detail at the challenges within the existing regulatory framework. The existing model of multiple regulators makes it difficult for the regulatory system to come to a clear, overall view of a water company’s performance and the challenges it faces. Enforcement action in some areas has been described as duplicative. Elsewhere, there are gaps in the oversight of asset health and monitoring water infrastructure delivery. There is an inherent complexity in the current system whereby the EA, NRW and the DWI set the requirements that determine much of water company costs, while Ofwat subsequently determines the revenues companies can receive from water bills to cover those costs.
**Ofcom was established through combining five existing regulators into one. Further detail is covered in Chapter 4 of the final report.
***Social tariff variability: Evidence returned via the Commission’s Call for Evidence set out the differing levels of support a low-earner would receive under 2024/25 rates depending on where they lived. For example, a single parent with one child, working part-time and receiving Universal Credit with an income under £19,000 per year would have an annual water bill capped at £91.12 in Portsmouth, compared to £364 in Bradford.
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, July 21 (Xinhua) — China’s National Flood and Drought Control Headquarters on Sunday raised the flood and typhoon response in the southern provinces of Guangdong and Hainan to Level 3 in response to Typhoon Wipha.
The Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region remains in a Level 4 emergency response mode due to the typhoon.
According to meteorologists, heavy rains are likely in some areas of Hainan and Guangdong provinces from Sunday to Monday.
Meanwhile, central authorities including the National Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Commission, the Ministry of Emergency Management and the State Food and Material Administration have sent a batch of relief supplies to Guangdong and Hainan. The supplies include 33,000 items such as folding beds, blankets and lamps.
China has a four-tier emergency response system, with tier one being the most serious. -0-
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
While public attention has been focused on the domestic fast-track consenting process for infrastructure and mining, Associate Minister of Finance David Seymour has been pushing through another fast-track process – this time for foreign investment in New Zealand. But it has had almost no public scrutiny.
There are valid concerns that piecemeal reforms to the current act have made it complex and unwieldy. But the new bill is equally convoluted and would significantly reduce effective scrutiny of foreign investments – especially in forestry.
A three-step test
Step one of a three-step process set out in the bill gives the regulator – the Overseas Investment Office which sits within Land Information NZ – 15 days to decide whether a proposed investment would be a risk to New Zealand’s “national interest”.
If they don’t perceive a risk, or that initial assessment is not completed in time, the application is automatically approved.
Transactions involving fisheries quotas and various land categories, or any other applications the regulator identifies, will require a “national interest” assessment under stage two.
These would be assessed against a “ministerial letter” that sets out the government’s general policy and preferred approach to conducting the assessment, including any conditions on approvals.
Other mandatory factors to be considered in the second stage include the act’s new “purpose” to increase economic opportunity through “timely consent” of less sensitive investments. The new test would allow scrutiny of the character and capability of the investor to be omitted altogether.
If the regulator considers the national interest test is not met, or the transaction is “contrary to the national interest”, the minister of finance then makes a decision based on their assessment of those factors.
Inadequate regulatory process
Seymour has blamed the current screening regime for low volumes of foreign investment. But Treasury’s 2024 regulatory impact statement on the proposed changes to international investment screening acknowledges many other factors that influence investor decisions.
Moreover, the Treasury statement acknowledges public views that foreign investment rules should “manage a wide range of risks” and “that there is inherent non-economic value in retaining domestic ownership of certain assets”.
Treasury officials also recognised a range of other public concerns, including profits going offshore, loss of jobs, and foreign control of iconic businesses.
The regulatory impact statement did not cover these factors because it was required to consider only the coalition commitment. The Treasury panel reported “notable limitations” on the bill’s quality assurance process.
A fuller review was “infeasible” because it could not be completed in the time required, and would be broader than necessary to meet the coalition commitment to amend the act in the prescribed way.
The requirement to implement the bill in this parliamentary term meant the options officials could consider, even within the scope of the coalition agreement, were further limited.
Time constraints meant “users and key stakeholders have not been consulted”, according to the Treasury statement. Environmental and other risks would have to be managed through other regulations. There is no reference to te Tiriti o Waitangi or mana whenua engagement.
Forestry ‘slash’ after Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023: no need to consider foreign investors’ track records. Getty Images
No ‘benefit to NZ’ test
While the bill largely retains a version of the current screening regime for residential and farm land, it removes existing forestry activities from that definition (but not new forestry on non-forest land). It also removes extraction of water for bottling, or other bulk extraction for human consumption, from special vetting.
Where sensitive land (such as islands, coastal areas, conservation and wahi tapu land) is not residential or farm land, it would be removed from special screening rules currently applied for land.
There would no longer be a need to consider investors’ track records or apply a “benefit to New Zealand” test. Regulators may or may not be empowered to impose conditions such as replanting or cleaning up slash.
The official documents don’t explain the rationale for this. But it looks like a win for Regional Development Minister Shane Jones, and was perhaps the price of NZ First’s support.
Finally, these changes could be locked in through New Zealand’s free trade agreements. Several such agreements say New Zealand’s investment regime cannot become more restrictive than the 2005 act and its regulations.
A “ratchet clause” would lock in any further liberalisation through this bill, from which there is no going back.
However, another annex in those free trade agreements could be interpreted as allowing some flexibility to alter the screening rules and criteria in the future. None of the official documents address this crucial question. As an academic expert in this area I am uncertain about the risk.
But the lack of clarity underlines the problems exemplified in this bill. It is another example of coalition agreements bypassing democratic scrutiny and informed decision making. More public debate and broad analysis is needed on the bill and its implications.
Jane Kelsey has received funding from the Marsden Fund for research related to New Zealand’s foreign investment regime and international agreements.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
China’s State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters on Sunday upgraded its emergency response for flood and typhoon control to Level III in the southern provinces of Guangdong and Hainan in response to Typhoon Wipha.
It maintained the Level IV emergency response to the typhoon in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.
According to meteorological forecasts, Wipha is likely to bring rainstorms and heavy downpours to parts of Hainan and Guangdong from Sunday to Monday.
Meanwhile, a batch of relief supplies had been dispatched to Guangdong and Hainan by central authorities including the office of the national commission for disaster prevention, reduction and relief, the Ministry of Emergency Management, and the National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration. These supplies comprise 33,000 items such as folding beds, quilts and lamps.
China has a four-tier emergency response system, with Level I being the most severe response.
Work begins soon on a major flood resilience project – Hakanui Straight (formerly Nesbitt’s Dip) – on State Highway 2 near Te Karaka.
The upgrade will see an 850 metres long flood-prone section of the highway raised by 3 metres, new drainage installed, the main culvert for Hakanui Stream replaced and safety barriers installed.
The work is being delivered by Transport Rebuild East Coast (TREC) and local contractor crews, and is one of two projects which have been added to the recovery programme funded by savings found from other projects. The second project will involve flood resilience on SH35 at Rototahe.
TREC project manager Richard Bayley says the work will keep communities connected and freight moving and ensure a stronger, safer and more reliable route.
Mr Bayley says in the past this stretch of road had to close during heavy weather events because the area is prone to flooding.
“These closures create disruption for communities and the flow of freight, as well as causing safety risks for emergency services.
“To reduce the risk of future flooding, we’re raising the highway and upgrading drainage, making it stronger, safer, and more reliable for everyday travel and emergency response.
“The Hakanui Straight project spans a vital link for freight between the Bay of Plenty and the East Coast, and ensuring its resilience is essential for businesses, residents, and regional connectivity,” says Mr Bayley.
The improvements being made are particularly significant for Te Karaka residents, who faced severe flooding during Cyclone Gabrielle when water breached the stopbanks of the Waipaoa River. In the early hours of 14 February 2023, around 500 residents evacuated to surrounding hills, watching as the floodwaters overtook their homes, workplaces, and marae.
Kaitiaki of Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki, Pimia Wehi, says working with TREC throughout the design process has been crucial in ensuring the upgrade meets the community’s needs.
“This is a huge step forward for Te Karaka, Puha, and Whatatutu. The devastation of Cyclone Gabrielle is still fresh in our minds as families lost their homes, businesses were destroyed, and many of us were stranded without communication for more than a day,” says Pimia Wehi.
“Seeing this work begin is a relief. It means our people will have better access to emergency routes and won’t have to face being completely cut off again.”
Mr Bayley says early enabling work, such as the site office establishment, fencing and services relocation, is expected to begin this week, weather permitting.
“Road users aren’t likely to notice too much activity until the physical work begins, which is expected next month.
“At that stage, short traffic delays are expected while crews carry out the upgrades. Traffic will be managed by closing the road shoulder during early works, followed by one lane closures with stop/go to maintain two-way traffic during major works with reduced speed limits along the work site.
“Please drive to the conditions and be aware of the increased truck movements and trucks crossing the road.”
About the name Hakanui Straight
The project name is ‘Hakanui Straight’ but was formerly Nesbitt’s Dip. This is a change requested by hapū and Iwi representatives as the name reflects the area’s cultural and historical significance. The Hakanui Stream was important for local food gathering, mahinga kai, and as a travel route for waka.
With the road being elevated to ensure safer and quicker evacuations during floods, ‘Straight’ (rather than ‘Dip’), embodies strength, directness, and a clear path forward.
What’s changing at Hakanui Straight?
An 850-metre section of SH2 will be raised by approximately three metres to reduce flood risks and keep the road open in severe weather.
The Hakanui Stream culvert will be upgraded with a larger, 1.8-metre-diameter structure to handle higher water volumes, prevent highway flooding and allow safe fish passage to protect local aquatic life.
DHS has accomplished more in six months than most Administrations achieve in an entire term
WASHINGTON – In just six months, President Trump and Secretary Noem have delivered the American people a long list of victories in their mission to secure the homeland and Make America Safe Again.
Under their leadership, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has closed the southern border, removed violent criminal illegal aliens, restored law and order to our immigration system, supported Americans in times of crisis, revolutionized our Coast Guard to meet the challenges of the 21st Century, and kept Americans safe.
Secured the Southern Border
On day one, President Trump declared a national emergency at the southern border.
President Trump immediately reinstated “Remain in Mexico” and ended catch-and-release.
Daily border encounters have plunged by 93% since President Trump took office.
Under President Trump’s leadership, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) has located over 10,000 unaccompanied children.
Migrants are turning BACK before they even reach our border— migration through Panama’s Darien Gap is down 99%.
President Trump—with $46.5 billion from the Big Beautiful Bill—is finishing the border wall. DHS already has more than 85 miles either planned or under construction with funding from the prior year, in addition to hundreds of miles that are now planned to be funded by the bill. President Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill also includes over $5 billion for new technology and border surveillance.
With the Big Beautiful Bill, CBP will get the resources they need to keep America safe, including $4.1 billion to hire additional personnel, including 5,000 more customs officers and 3,000 new Border Patrol agents.
In June, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) had the lowest number of nationwide encounters in CBP history at 25,228.
The number of nationwide apprehensions in June was also a historic low of just 8,024.
Notably, on June 28, Border Patrol recorded only 136 apprehensions across the entire Southwest Border—the lowest single-day total in agency history.
And in both May and June, U.S. Border Patrol reported zero parole releases—reinforcing the Administration’s commitment to ending catch-and-release policies.
Removed the Worst of the Worst Illegal Aliens
The Trump Administration empowered our brave men and women in law enforcement to use common sense to do their jobs effectively.
DHS returned to using the term “illegal alien” which is the statutory language. President Trump will not allow political correctness to hinder law enforcement.
The Trump administration has arrested more than 300,000illegal aliens in 2025 alone.
70% of ICE arrests are criminal illegal aliens with criminal charges or convictions.
The Big Beautiful Bill will allow ICE to arrest and remove even more criminal aliens by providing $14.4 billion for removals, 10,000 new ICE agents, 80,000 new ICE beds, and a $10,000 signing bonus for new ICE agents. This will help ICE achieve as many as 1 million deportations per year.
As part of 287(g), DHS partnered with the State of Florida and opened Alligator Alcatraz, giving the Trump administration the capability to lock up some of the worst scumbags who entered the country illegally under the previous administration. The new facility expands facility and bed space by the thousands.
Operation Tidal Wave, the first 287(g) enforcement operation coordinated with state and federal law enforcement partners, resulted in over 800 arrests.
President Trump and Secretary Noem are empowering state and local law enforcement to get these criminal illegal aliens off our streets. DHS has secured more than 800 signed agreements with state and local partnerships under 287(g).
At the direction of President Trump, CBP and ICE began widescale immigration enforcement operations in sanctuary city Los Angeles and southern California. The month-long operation resulted in arresting some of the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens.
In July, federal law enforcement officers executed criminal warrant operations at marijuana grow sites in Carpinteria and Camarillo. At least 14 migrant children have been rescued from potential exploitation, forced labor and human trafficking. Federal officers also arrested at least 361 illegal aliens from both sites in Carpinteria and Camarillo.
After weeks of delays by activist judges, the Department of Homeland Security finally deported eight barbaric, violent criminal illegal aliens to South Sudan.
Delivering Justice for Victims of Illegal Immigration
President Trump and Secretary Noem reopened the Victims of Immigration Crime Engagement (VOICE) office, which was shuttered by the Biden Administration. President Trump and Secretary Noem are standing up for the victims of illegal alien crime and ensuring they have access to much needed resources and support they deserve.
Incentivizing Historic Self-Deportations
President Trump ended the CBP One app that allowed more than one million aliens to illegally enter the U.S. The Trump Administration replaced this disastrous program with the CBP Home app, which has a new self-deportation reporting feature for aliens illegally in the country.
President Trump launched Project Homecoming through a presidential EO. The United States is also offering any illegal alien who uses the CBP Home App a stipend of $1,000 dollars, paid after their return to their home country has been confirmed through the app. So far, tens of thousands of illegal aliens have used the app to self-deport.
In addition to offering CBP Home, DHS announced illegal aliens who self-deport through the app will receive forgiveness of any civil fines or penalties for failing to depart the United States. DHS also made CBP Home more user friendly by eliminating certain steps and making it easier than ever for illegal aliens to self-deport.
DHS and DOJ are enforcing our immigration laws and fining illegal aliens who do not depart when they are supposed to. So far, nearly 10,000 fine notices have been issued by ICE.
Restoring Common Sense to America’s Legal Immigration System
President Trump ended the broad abuse of humanitarian parole and returned the program to a case-by-case basis. As part of this effort, Secretary Noem terminated the Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela parole programs.
Following victory at the U.S. Supreme Court, DHS began sending termination notices in June, informing the illegal aliens both their parole is terminated, and their parole-based employment authorization is revoked – effective immediately.
DHS has returned the Temporary Protected Status immigration program to its original status: temporary. No longer will this program be abused and exploited by illegal aliens. Secretary Noem rescinded the previous administration’s extension of Venezuelan, Haitian, Nicaraguan, Honduran, and Afghan TPS.
Secretary Noem terminated Harvard University’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) certification—meaning Harvard can no longer enroll foreign students and existing foreign students must transfer or lose their legal status—for fostering violence, antisemitism, and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party.
It is a privilege, not a right, for universities to enroll foreign students and benefit from higher tuition to help pad their multibillion-dollar endowments. Harvard University repeatedly abused this privilege and even stonewalled DHS’s request for information.
Initiating a Golden Age in American Air Travel
Secretary Noem terminated the politically motivated Quiet Skies Program, which since its existence has failed to stop a single terrorist attack while costing US taxpayers $200 million a year. The program, under the guise of “national security,” was used to target political opponents and benefit political allies.
TSA ended the “shoes-off” travel policy, allowing passengers traveling through domestic airports to keep their shoes on while passing through security screening at TSA checkpoints. This change will drastically decrease passenger wait times at our TSA checkpoints, leading to a more pleasant and efficient passenger experience.
The Trump administration fully implemented REAL ID enforcement measures nationwide—a law signed 20 years ago. REAL ID helps ensure that travelers are who they say they are and prevents fraud by criminals, terrorists, and illegal aliens. Most travelers have not even noticed a difference because nearly 94% of travelers are already REAL ID compliant.
Secretary Noem ended collective bargaining for the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) Transportation Security Officers, which constrained TSA’s chief mission to safeguard our transportation systems.
Fixing Disaster Relief for the 21st Century
The Federal Emergency Management Agency is now shifting from bloated, DC-centric dead weight to a lean, deployable disaster force that empowers state actors to provide relief for their citizens. The old processes are being replaced because they failed Americans in real emergencies for decades.
President Trump has established the FEMA Review Council to provide recommendations on how to best conduct disaster relief at the federal level.
Under Secretary Noem’s leadership, the FEMA Review Council is developing a comprehensive plan for necessary change.
DHS has empowered state and local governments to lead disaster relief efforts without interference from the federal government.
Provided Rapid and Effective Support to Flood Victims in Texas
Within moments of the flooding in Texas, DHS assets, including the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), CBP Border Search, CBP BORSTAR, and FEMA personnel surged into unprecedented action alongside Texas first responders for search and rescue operations.
FEMA deployed 311 staffers delivering critical intelligence, aerial imagery, and shelter for 171 survivors.
Combined state and federal rescue efforts evacuated and rescued over 1,500 people.
Getting CISA Back on Mission
Under the Biden Administration, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency (CISA) censored free speech and targeted Americans.
Under President Trump’s direction, DHS closed CISA’s politically weaponized offices and fired those responsible for abusing their power.
CISA is now back on-mission: Protecting Americans and critical infrastructure from cyberthreats.
CISA is shifting away from an all-hazards approach to a risk-informed approach, prioritizing resilience and action over mere information sharing.
CISA personnel are deployed across 10 regions in support of all 56 states/territories.
CISA is also on the front lines of defending America from cyberattacks.
CISA partnered with the FBI and NSA to ensure state and local governments have information and resources necessary for protection.
CISA is also providing security support for next year’s FIFA World Cup.
Secretary Noem discontinued the Critical Infrastructure Partnership Advisory Council (CIPAC) as a part of the implementation of President Trump’s Executive Order 14217, Commencing the Reduction of the Federal Bureaucracy, and removed members of the Cyber Safety Review Board (CSRB), which CISA oversees.
Revolutionizing the Coast Guard
When President Trump came back into office, the Coast Guard faced its greatest readiness crisis since World War II because the Biden Administration left it underfunded and neglected.
President Trump’s order to surge Coast Guard assets to our maritime border changed the game.
In the first few months of the Trump Administration, the Coast Guard seized more cocaine and other illegal drugs than during the entirety of 2024.
For the first time in years, the Coast Guard expects to exceed its recruiting goals.
In Fiscal Year 2025, the Coast Guard has brought in more than 4,250 recruits – 1,200 more than the same time last year.
That’s 108% over the goal.
Under Biden, the Coast Guard fell short of its recruiting goals four years straight.
Under President Trump and Secretary Noem, the Coast Guard is unleashing “Force Design 2028,” a revolutionary new blueprint that will make the Coast Guard more agile, more capable, and more responsive than ever before.
Standing up for the American taxpayer
The United States Coast Guard (USCG) eliminated an ineffective information technology (IT) program, saving nearly $33 million, and is now focusing resources where they’re most needed to protect our homeland.
USCG partially terminated a wasteful Offshore Patrol Cutter (OPC) contract with Eastern Shipbuilding Group (ESG), which has been slow to deliver four OPCs, harming U.S. defense capabilities.
The Trump Administration stopped aliens on the Terror Watchlist from receiving Medicaid benefits.
Secretary Noem cancelled CISA’s expensive headquarters project, saving taxpayers over half a billion dollars.
To stop policies that were magnets for illegal immigration, DHS froze all funding to non-governmental organizations that facilitate illegal immigration and announced a partnership with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to ensure taxpayer dollars do not go to housing illegal aliens.
The Hong Kong Observatory downgraded the storm signal from No. 8 to No. 3, as Typhoon Wipha moved away from the city this evening.
The No. 8 Southeast Gale or Storm Signal, issued at 4.10 this afternoon was replaced by the Strong Wind Signal No. 3 at 7.40pm.
The Hospital Authority said that 33 people received medical treatment at public hospitals due to typhoon-related injuries.
During the storm, the Government’s 1823 Call Centre received 286 reports of fallen trees and the Fire Services Department received 425 reports, while the Drainage Services Department received seven flooding cases.
Meanwhile, the Home Affairs Department opened 34 temporary shelters at which 277 people sought refuge.
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
GUANGZHOU, July 20 (Xinhua) — Typhoon Wipha, the sixth typhoon this year, made landfall in the coastal city of Jiangmen in south China’s Guangdong Province at around 5:50 p.m. Sunday, according to the Guangdong Provincial Meteorological Service.
At the time of the typhoon’s arrival on the coastline, the maximum wind speed near its epicenter reached 33 m/s. It is expected to move in a southwesterly direction at a speed of 20-25 km/h. -0-
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Typhoon Wipha situation report (7) The Home Affairs Department has so far opened 34 temporary shelters in various districts and 253 people have sought refuge at the shelters.
As at 4pm today, the Government’s 1823 Call Centre and the Fire Services Department received 171 reports and 300 reports of fallen trees respectively, while the Drainage Services Department has received three confirmed flooding cases. In addition, no report of landslide has been received so far.
According to the Hospital Authority, as at 4pm today, 16 males and 10 females have sought medical treatment at the Accident and Emergency Departments at public hospitals so far during the typhoon period. Issued at HKT 16:52
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Attention duty announcers of radio and television stations:
Please broadcast the following message as soon as possible and repeat it at suitable intervals:
The Department of Health (DH) today (July 20) announced that, as the Hong Kong Observatory has issued the Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 8, apart from the DH methadone day clinics that remain open, the remaining methadone clinics will commence operation as soon as possible and stay open until the closing time of the clinics.
Those receiving methadone treatment can attend Methadone Clinics for their daily dose.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
GUANGZHOU, July 20 — South China’s Hainan and Guangdong provinces have been placed on high alert as Typhoon Wipha, the sixth typhoon of the year, is expected to make landfall along the coast Sunday afternoon or evening.
As of 7 a.m. Sunday, Typhoon Wipha was observed at 21.7 degrees north latitude and 114.9 degrees east longitude, with the maximum wind speed near its center reaching 33 meters per second. It is expected to move westward at around 25 km per hour, with its intensity continuing to strengthen, according to meteorological forecasts.
In Guangdong’s Zhuhai City, where strong winds and heavy rainfall are forecast, authorities raised the typhoon alert to red and upgraded the emergency response for typhoon control to Level I at 3 a.m. Sunday, according to the local meteorological bureau.
The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge was temporarily closed in response to the typhoon. Outbound customs clearance at Zhuhai Port of the bridge was suspended at 2:30 a.m., followed by the closure of the main bridge at 3:30 a.m., according to the bridge’s management bureau.
School classes, transportation and business activities have been suspended across Zhuhai, and residents have been urged to stay indoors.
At 8:30 a.m. Sunday, Hainan raised its emergency response for flood and typhoon control from Level IV to Level III, as strong winds and rainstorms are expected to impact the island province between Sunday and Tuesday, according to the provincial emergency management bureau.
In the provincial capital of Haikou, various departments are taking precautions ahead of the typhoon.
The maritime authority is carrying out electronic inspections in affected waters, maintaining real-time vessel monitoring and deploying personnel for on-site checks.
Water affairs departments have organized drainage teams to inspect and maintain facilities, opened manhole covers in advance to facilitate drainage, and set up warning signs.
The power department has stationed repair vehicles in key areas, while emergency plans have been activated for vegetable reserves to ensure market supply.
China’s national observatory issued a yellow alert for Typhoon Wipha on Saturday.
China has a four-tier emergency response system, with Level I being the most severe response, and a four-tier color-coded weather warning system, with red representing the most severe, followed by orange, yellow and blue.
Hong Kong issued its highest storm warning on Sunday as Typhoon Wipha, packing winds of more than 167 kilometres (103 miles) per hour, brought heavy rain and strong winds across the territory, forcing the cancellation of more than 200 flights.
The city’s weather observatory raised its storm signal to No. 10 at 9:20 a.m. (0120 GMT) and said it expected the signal to remain at that level “for some time.”
According to the warning, Wipha will pass approximately 50 km south of the observatory. Hurricane-force winds are affecting the southern part of Hong Kong, the observatory said.
Cathay Pacific Airways (0293.HK) cancelled all flights arriving at or departing from Hong Kong International Airport between 5 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Sunday. The airline waived ticket change fees and made arrangements for customers to rebook.
Most public transport services were suspended on Sunday, including ferries, due to high sea swells.
Torrential rains that pounded South Korea for four consecutive days have left at least nine people dead and several others missing, after downpours triggered deadly landslides in the southern Sancheong County, officials said.
A person in their 60s was found in cardiac arrest after a landslide, triggered by heavy rain, engulfed homes in a village in Sancheong, South Gyeongsang Province, on Saturday morning.
In a separate incident, a landslide in another village in Sancheong killed two others in their home, while a deadly mudslide swept through homes in a different village in the county shortly after noon, leaving two people dead and one missing, according to fire authorities.
Also in Sancheong, another individual was found in cardiac arrest around noon after their home was inundated by rain. Sancheong County issued an alert urging all residents to evacuate to safety, Yonhap News Agency reported.
In the nearby city of Miryang, also in South Gyeongsang Province, a driver in his 60s was killed after floodwaters swept away his car.
Authorities said five people were confirmed dead, two were missing, and two others were found in cardiac arrest in the province on Saturday alone, as record rainfall battered the region. Firefighters continued rescue operations to locate those still unaccounted for.
South Gyeongsang is among the regions hardest hit by the recent downpours, with some areas receiving more than 700 millimetres of rain between Wednesday and Saturday.
The National Fire Agency issued a nationwide firefighting mobilisation order in response to the landslides.
So far, central and local government authorities have reported five deaths and four missing persons since the onset of the rain on Wednesday. Four of the five people killed in South Gyeongsang on Saturday were not yet included in the official death toll.
The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters is expected to release updated figures on casualties and damage assessments later in the day.
Weather authorities have warned that up to 250 mm of additional rainfall could fall within the day, raising concerns about further damage and casualties.
Evacuation orders have been issued for 7,029 residents from 4,995 households, with more than 2,800 people still unable to return home.
The torrential downpours have inundated roads, triggered landslides, and flooded homes across the country. Overnight rainfall remained extreme in many regions.
Incheon’s Yeongheung Island saw 98.5 mm of rain fall in just one hour, between 12:50 a.m. and 1:50 a.m., while Boseong in South Jeolla Province received 88 mm in the same time frame.
Some areas have already received over 40 percent of their annual average rainfall in the past four days. Seosan recorded 558.6 mm of rain from Wednesday to Friday morning — equivalent to 45 percent of its yearly average.
A total of 729 cases of public infrastructure damage have been reported, including 388 flooded roads, 133 landslides, and 57 river facility collapses. Private property damage reached 1,014 cases, including 64 flooded buildings and 59 instances of submerged farmland.
Torrential rains that pounded South Korea for four consecutive days have left at least nine people dead and several others missing, after downpours triggered deadly landslides in the southern Sancheong County, officials said.
A person in their 60s was found in cardiac arrest after a landslide, triggered by heavy rain, engulfed homes in a village in Sancheong, South Gyeongsang Province, on Saturday morning.
In a separate incident, a landslide in another village in Sancheong killed two others in their home, while a deadly mudslide swept through homes in a different village in the county shortly after noon, leaving two people dead and one missing, according to fire authorities.
Also in Sancheong, another individual was found in cardiac arrest around noon after their home was inundated by rain. Sancheong County issued an alert urging all residents to evacuate to safety, Yonhap News Agency reported.
In the nearby city of Miryang, also in South Gyeongsang Province, a driver in his 60s was killed after floodwaters swept away his car.
Authorities said five people were confirmed dead, two were missing, and two others were found in cardiac arrest in the province on Saturday alone, as record rainfall battered the region. Firefighters continued rescue operations to locate those still unaccounted for.
South Gyeongsang is among the regions hardest hit by the recent downpours, with some areas receiving more than 700 millimetres of rain between Wednesday and Saturday.
The National Fire Agency issued a nationwide firefighting mobilisation order in response to the landslides.
So far, central and local government authorities have reported five deaths and four missing persons since the onset of the rain on Wednesday. Four of the five people killed in South Gyeongsang on Saturday were not yet included in the official death toll.
The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters is expected to release updated figures on casualties and damage assessments later in the day.
Weather authorities have warned that up to 250 mm of additional rainfall could fall within the day, raising concerns about further damage and casualties.
Evacuation orders have been issued for 7,029 residents from 4,995 households, with more than 2,800 people still unable to return home.
The torrential downpours have inundated roads, triggered landslides, and flooded homes across the country. Overnight rainfall remained extreme in many regions.
Incheon’s Yeongheung Island saw 98.5 mm of rain fall in just one hour, between 12:50 a.m. and 1:50 a.m., while Boseong in South Jeolla Province received 88 mm in the same time frame.
Some areas have already received over 40 percent of their annual average rainfall in the past four days. Seosan recorded 558.6 mm of rain from Wednesday to Friday morning — equivalent to 45 percent of its yearly average.
A total of 729 cases of public infrastructure damage have been reported, including 388 flooded roads, 133 landslides, and 57 river facility collapses. Private property damage reached 1,014 cases, including 64 flooded buildings and 59 instances of submerged farmland.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Rescuers work at the capsizing site of a cruise ship in Ha Long Bay, northern Vietnam’s Quang Ninh province, July 20, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
A total of 47 people have been recovered, including 10 survivors and 37 confirmed dead, after a cruise ship capsized in Ha Long Bay, northern Vietnam, Vietnam News Agency reported on Sunday.
The wreck was salvaged and towed ashore on early Sunday morning for further investigation.
The ship sank on Saturday afternoon while carrying 48 Vietnamese tourists on a sightseeing tour.
Five crew members were also on board, according to the state-owned media.
Under the direction of Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha, authorities in Quang Ninh province deployed four large vessels and core rescue forces to support the salvage operation.
Rescue teams are now racing to search for missing people as Typhoon Wipha is approaching the area, local media VnExpress reported.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The Hurricane Signal No. 10 issued by the Hong Kong Observatory at 9.20am today (July 20) remains in force.
The Home Affairs Department has so far opened 34 temporary shelters in various districts and 221 people have sought refuge at the shelters.
As at 10am today, the Government’s 1823 Call Centre and the Fire Services Department received 13 reports and 72 reports of fallen trees respectively. No report of landslide or flooding has been received so far.
According to the Hospital Authority, as at 10am today, two males have sought medical treatment at the Accident and Emergency Departments at public hospitals so far during the typhoon period.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Typhoon Wipha situation report (3) The Home Affairs Department has so far opened 34 temporary shelters in various districts and 214 people have sought refuge at the shelters.
As at 9am today, the Government’s 1823 Call Centre and the Fire Services Department received four reports and 11 reports of fallen trees respectively. As at 8am today, no report of landslide or flooding has been received so far.
According to the Hospital Authority, as at 8am today, one male has sought medical treatment at the Accident and Emergency Departments at public hospitals so far during the typhoon period. Issued at HKT 9:36
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Attention duty announcers of radio and television stations:
Please broadcast the following message as soon as possible and repeat it at suitable intervals:
The Department of Health (DH) today (July 20) announced that, during the Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 9 being in force, DH methadone day clinics (except Cheung Chau Methadone Clinic) will remain open until the closing time.
Those receiving methadone treatment can attend Methadone Clinics for their daily dose.
The public is advised to pay attention to radio and television announcements.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Temporary Closure of the Hong Kong Wetland Park As Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 8 or above is now in force, the Hong Kong Wetland Park is closed. The Park will re-open two hours after the signal is lowered. The Park will remain closed today if the signal No. 8 or above remains hoisted at 2pm. Any person or organisation who has paid a deposit for visiting today can contact the Park’s ticket office for refund arrangements or to change the visit date. Issued at HKT 7:03
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Attention TV/ radio announcers:
Please broadcast the following as soon as possible:
As Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 8 is in force, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (July 20) that all gazetted beaches under its management are temporarily closed. In accordance with the Bathing Beaches Regulation under the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance (Cap. 132, sub. leg. E), any failure to comply with the temporary closure arrangements is an offence and the offender will be liable to a maximum fine of $2,000 and imprisonment up to 14 days upon conviction.
Members of the public should stay away from the shoreline during inclement weather, and should not conduct any water sports activities on beaches to avoid causing danger to themselves and rescue personnel.
Palestinian supporters and protesters against the 21 months of Israeli genocide in Gaza marched after a rally in downtown Auckland today across the Viaduct to the Greenpeace environmental flagship Rainbow Warrior — and met a display of solidarity.
Several people on board the campaign ship, which has been holding open days over last weekend and this weekend, held up Palestinian flags and displayed a large banner declaring “Sanction Israel — Stop the genocide”.
About 300 people were in the vibrant rally and Greenpeace Aotearoa oceans campaigner Juan Parada came out on Halsey Wharf to speak to the protesters in solidarity over Gaza.
“Greenpeace stands for peace and justice, and environmental justice, not only for the environmental damage, but for the lives of the people,” said Parada, a former media practitioner.
Global environmental campaigners have stepped up their condemnation of the devastation in Gaza and the occupied Palestinian territories as well as the protests over the genocide, which has so far killed almost 59,000 people, most of them women and children, according to the Gaza Health Department, although some researchers say the actual death toll is far higher.
Greenpeace campaigner Juan Parada (left) and one of the Palestine rally facilitators, Youssef Sammour, at today’s rally as it reached Halsey Wharf. Image: Asia Pacific Report
Gaza war emissions condemned New research recently revealed that the carbon footprint of the first 15 months of Israel’s war on Gaza would be greater than the annual planet-warming emissions of 100 individual countries, worsening the global climate emergency on top of the huge civilian death toll.
The report cited by The Guardian indicated that Israel’s relentless bombardment, blockade and refusal to comply with international court rulings had “underscored the asymmetry of each side’s war machine, as well as almost unconditional military, energy and diplomatic support Israel enjoys from allies, including the US and UK”.
The Israeli war machine has been primarily blamed.
“This is cruelty – this is not a war”, says the young girl’s placard on the Viaduct today. Image: Asia Pacific Report
Greenpeace open letter Greenpeace Aotearoa recently came out with strong statements about the genocidal war on Gaza with executive director Russel Norman earlier this month writing an open letter to Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Foreign Minister Winston Peters, expressing his grave concerns about the “ongoing genocide in Gaza being carried out by Israeli forces” — and the ongoing failure of the New Zealand Government to impose meaningful sanctions on Israel.
He referred to the mounting death toll of starving Palestinians being deliberately shot at the notorious Israeli-US backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) food distribution sites.
Norman also cited an Israeli newspaper Ha’aretz report that Israeli soldiers had been ordered to deliberately shoot unarmed Palestinians seeking aid, quoting one Israeli soldier saying: “It’s a killing field.”
Today’s rally featured many Palestinians wearing thobe costumes in advance of Palestinian Traditional Dress Day on July 25.
This is a day to showcase and celebrate the rich Palestinian cultural heritage through traditional clothing that is intricately embroidered.
Traditional thobes are a symbol of Palestinian resilience.
“Israel-USA – blood on your hands” banner at today’s rally in Auckland. Image: Asia Pacific Report
