Joe Root likely to return as England test captain 

The death toll from flash floods and landslides in China’s northwestern Gansu Province has risen to 25 as rescue teams continue recovery efforts while heavy rainfall threatens more areas across the country. According to Chinese state media, the disaster struck Weiyuan County in Dingxi City after torrential rain triggered floods and landslides on July 26. Earlier reports had confirmed 10 deaths, but updated figures released on Sunday showed that at least 25 people have now lost their lives while another 23 were injured. Rescue workers remain active in the affected areas as authorities assess the full extent of the damage. China’s National Commission for Disaster Prevention, Reduction and Relief has instructed Gansu provincial authorities to carry out detailed investigations and damage assessments following the deadly disaster. Officials are also working to identify areas at risk of further landslides as persistent rainfall continues during the country’s annual flood season. Local authorities in Gansu have warned residents to remain alert because unstable hillsides and saturated ground could trigger additional landslides, particularly around Dingxi and nearby districts. Emergency services have been placed on standby to respond quickly if weather conditions worsen. The severe weather has not been limited to Gansu. China’s national weather agency issued fresh warnings on Sunday for several regions, including Beijing and Inner Mongolia, where heavy rain, strong winds and thunderstorms are expected. Forecasters said a broad stretch of the country from the southwest to the northeast could experience dangerous weather over the coming days. Sichuan Province has also been hit hard by continuous rainfall. State broadcaster CCTV reported that more than 64,000 people have been evacuated from high risk areas, while over 881,000 residents have been relocated since the beginning of this year’s flood season. Local governments are continuing emergency operations to protect communities vulnerable to flooding and landslides. Weather officials have also warned of another potential threat developing in the western Pacific. Super Typhoon Dolphin is moving towards East Asia and is expected to begin affecting China’s southeastern coastal regions from Wednesday. Authorities are closely monitoring its path and preparing emergency response measures in case the storm brings strong winds and heavy rainfall to coastal provinces. China experiences frequent flooding during the summer monsoon season, with mountainous regions particularly vulnerable to landslides caused by prolonged rainfall. In recent years, extreme weather events have become more common, prompting authorities to strengthen disaster preparedness and improve emergency response systems to reduce the impact on local communities. As rescue and recovery efforts continue in Gansu, officials are urging residents in vulnerable areas to follow weather updates and evacuation orders to minimise the risk of further casualties as heavy rain continues across large parts of the country.

Thousands of students and unemployed young people marched toward the state legislature in India’s eastern Jharkhand state on Monday. The protesters were demanding action over alleged irregularities in civil services recruitment examinations. Police used water cannons to disperse the demonstrators as they moved toward the state assembly in the state capital, Ranchi. The protesters accused authorities of failing to ensure transparency in government recruitment exams. They also raised concerns over alleged question paper leaks. The demonstrations began on July 25 and have grown in size in recent days. Thousands of young people had earlier gathered at a stadium in Ranchi as the campaign gained momentum. The protesters are demanding major changes to the state’s examination system. They have also called for the cancellation of certain examinations and a federal investigation into the alleged irregularities. On Monday, demonstrators moved toward the legislature despite heavy security arrangements. Some protesters climbed over police barricades while carrying placards and Indian flags. They chanted slogans and called for action against those responsible for the alleged examination problems. The protests reflect growing frustration among students and unemployed youth in Jharkhand, one of India’s less economically developed states. The state government has held talks with representatives of the protesters. Officials have said that many of their demands have already been accepted. The government has also indicated that it is willing to continue discussions to address the remaining concerns. The demonstrations in Jharkhand come amid wider anger among Indian youth over alleged corruption in recruitment examinations. Similar protests were held in New Delhi in recent weeks. Those demonstrations focused on alleged irregularities and paper leaks involving national-level examinations. The protests eventually contributed to the resignation of India’s Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan last month, following controversy surrounding alleged leaks in a national medical entrance examination. The growing demonstrations have highlighted concerns over unemployment and limited job opportunities for young people. Students and job seekers argue that examination irregularities can damage their career prospects after years of preparation. The protests also reflect broader concerns about transparency in public recruitment and the credibility of competitive examinations.

WASHINGTON: US Senator Richard Blumenthal has called on the Pentagon to explain why the USS Abraham Lincoln has remained at sea for more than 250 days, raising concerns about the health, safety and readiness of thousands of sailors and Marines aboard the aircraft carrier. Blumenthal, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, sent a letter to Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao seeking detailed information about the carrier’s prolonged deployment. The senator said the USS Abraham Lincoln left Naval Base San Diego on November 21, 2025, for what was originally expected to be a seven-month mission. Its deployment was scheduled to end in May but has since been extended, with no publicly announced date for its return. According to Blumenthal, the carrier has spent more than 200 consecutive days without a port visit, setting a record for the length of time it has remained at sea without such a stop. The prolonged deployment has triggered concerns about conditions aboard the carrier, including reported shortages of basic supplies, water contamination, plumbing problems and difficulties with mail deliveries. Blumenthal also raised concerns about the mental health and morale of crew members, as well as deck safety and general living conditions. He said reports of fatigue, deferred maintenance and limited opportunities for rest could increase the risks faced by personnel working aboard an aircraft carrier. The USS Abraham Lincoln carries around 5,000 sailors and Marines and operates in an environment involving aircraft, fuel, weapons, heavy machinery and complex electrical systems. Blumenthal warned that prolonged exposure to these conditions could create additional safety risks if crews are exhausted or equipment maintenance is delayed. The senator asked the Pentagon to provide information about reported habitability problems aboard the carrier, including issues involving hygiene supplies, mould, toilets, laundry facilities and water systems. He also requested details about the Navy’s measures for monitoring crew fatigue, morale, mental health and operational readiness. Blumenthal wants officials to disclose whether the extended deployment has been linked to increases in safety incidents, medical problems or disciplinary cases. Reports cited by US military publications have also described incidents in which sailors aboard the carrier allegedly attempted to go overboard during its prolonged deployment, intensifying concerns about the psychological pressure on personnel. The senator has asked the Navy to explain what measures are being taken to address such concerns and protect the wellbeing of the crew. The extended deployment comes as the United States continues military operations and maintains a significant naval presence connected to tensions involving Iran and the wider Middle East. Blumenthal questioned the Pentagon about the strategic purpose of keeping the carrier deployed for such an extended period. He asked officials to explain the military objectives linked to the Lincoln’s continued presence in the region and how the Navy determines whether the carrier remains operationally necessary. The senator also sought details about every extension of the carrier’s deployment, including who approved the extensions and what operational requirements were cited. He further questioned whether the Navy’s existing fleet structure and deployment system can maintain the current demand for aircraft carriers without undermining crew welfare, equipment readiness and future maintenance requirements. Blumenthal warned that maintaining a high operational tempo for an extended period could create a readiness problem in the future if the impact on personnel and equipment is not properly addressed.

Romania has completed a full shutdown of its Cernavoda nuclear power plant after severe drought dropped water levels in the Danube River to historic lows. The plant, which relies on the Danube for cooling and typically provides 20% of the country’s electricity generation, took its second reactor offline following the prior closure of its first reactor in late July. State operator Nuclearelectrica stated that the second reactor was shut down due to the ongoing drop in water levels, with no restart anticipated for at least ten days. To mitigate the energy shortfall, Romania declared a state of emergency for August, activated a 330-megawatt lignite-fired power plant, and requested that major industrial consumers and households curb power use during peak hours. Major automakers including Dacia and Ford have paused domestic production to help conserve power. The total shutdown immediately threatens energy security in neighbouring Moldova, which relies on Romanian imports to cover up to 60% of its electricity deficits. Moldovan authorities warned of potential rolling power cuts if alternative supplies cannot be secured from Ukraine or Western Europe. Across Europe, low river levels have similarly forced nuclear output reductions in France and triggered emergency engineering interventions in Hungary.

The US state of Washington is facing one of its most severe wildfire emergencies of the year as rapidly spreading fires continue to burn across vast areas, forcing thousands of residents to evacuate and leaving tens of thousands without electricity. State authorities have declared a state of emergency after wildfires scorched more than 250,000 acres of land. Officials said the total area burned since the beginning of the current wildfire season has now exceeded 450,000 acres, highlighting the scale of the crisis. Governor Bob Ferguson announced emergency measures and imposed a statewide burn ban. He said extremely high temperatures, dry conditions and strong winds have created dangerous conditions that are allowing the fires to spread quickly. Firefighters are battling more than a dozen active wildfires across the state. More than 4,000 emergency personnel have been deployed to contain the blazes and protect communities under threat. The Old Trails Fire has become one of the most destructive wildfires in eastern Washington. The fire is threatening thousands of homes and buildings, particularly around the city of Spokane. Authorities have ordered mandatory evacuations in several areas as flames continue to move toward residential communities. Emergency officials have also evacuated important public facilities as a precaution. These include a Department of Veterans Affairs hospital, a waste-to-energy plant and water treatment facilities. Authorities said the measures were taken to protect patients, staff and essential infrastructure. The wildfire emergency has also disrupted electricity services across eastern Washington. Utility provider Avista reported that around 60,000 customers remain without power because of fire damage and precautionary shutdowns designed to reduce additional risks. One of the largest active blazes is the Kaiser Canyon Fire in northeastern Washington. The wildfire has expanded to nearly 134,000 acres and continues to challenge firefighters because of difficult terrain and rapidly changing weather conditions. Fire crews from more than a dozen US states have joined local emergency responders to strengthen firefighting operations. National Guard personnel have also been mobilised to assist with evacuation efforts, logistics and emergency response. Authorities are using helicopters, aircraft, bulldozers and other heavy equipment to slow the spread of the fires and establish containment lines. Emergency teams are working around the clock to protect homes, businesses and critical infrastructure. Residents in affected communities have been urged to follow evacuation orders without delay and remain informed through official emergency updates. Officials warned that weather conditions could continue to fuel the fires in the coming days. Despite the widespread destruction and the large-scale emergency response, authorities have confirmed that no deaths or injuries have been reported so far. Firefighters continue working to bring the blazes under control while monitoring the risk of new fires across the state.