The suspect snuck out of his home with a knife fully intending to kill a random person — something he said he’d wanted to do since he was 10 years old, according to the complaint.
Day: July 31, 2025
Severe Flooding in Beijing Claims 44 Lives, Extensive Rescue Operations Underway
From July 23 to 29, 2025, intense storms in Beijing resulted in 44 confirmed fatalities and nine individuals reported missing, affecting over 300,000 residents as rescue efforts continue to recover from the extensive damage. Reports 24brussels.
According to officials, the most severely impacted area was the mountainous Miyun District, particularly the town of Taishitun, where 31 fatalities occurred within an elderly care center. Flooding has damaged approximately 24,000 homes and significantly affected various suburban and rural counties in Beijing, including Miyun, Huairou, Yanqing, and Pinggu.
Record-breaking heavy rainfall led to peak water levels in the Miyun Reservoir, which were 30% above historical averages, resulting in flash floods that devastated infrastructure across 40 townships and 312 villages.
In response to this crisis, emergency services have mobilized a workforce of 6,830 personnel, supported by 1,356 vehicles and 296 boats, to conduct rescues and facilitate evacuations. They have rescued 1,879 people and evacuated over 104,000 residents from danger zones.
Rescue teams employed drones, heavy machinery, and boats to distribute 56 tons of emergency supplies and have largely cleared affected rural roads in an effort to restore essential services such as power, water, and telecommunications.
Local authorities have declared a level one emergency response, prioritizing the immediate repair of housing and infrastructure damaged by the floods. Support services are also being provided to the families of victims, alongside efforts to ensure secure living conditions for displaced residents.
Despite these proactive measures, there remain significant concerns regarding the potential for future extreme weather events and the ability of Beijing’s urban infrastructure to cope with such challenges.
Italian Government Considers Nuclear Energy Amid Renewable Project Delays
The Italian government is contemplating a return to traditional nuclear power plant designs, amidst a significant backlog of renewable energy projects stalled by bureaucratic processes. This shift may require temporary financial subsidies, according to government officials. Reports indicate that Italy faces a backlog of 150 gigawatts of renewable energy projects currently impeded by paperwork, impacting the country’s energy transition efforts, reports 24brussels.
Former Prime Minister Mario Monti stated that while nuclear energy poses financial competitiveness against solar and wind when factoring in additional infrastructure needs, it also drew attention away from the pressing challenges in advancing renewable energy initiatives. He emphasized that nuclear could mitigate reliability issues related to variable renewable energy sources that require supplementary systems, such as battery storage, to stabilize the power grid.
Michele Governatori, a member of the climate think tank Ecco, expressed skepticism about a definitive return to nuclear energy. He suggested that the buzz surrounding nuclear discussions might allow the government to avoid making unpopular decisions regarding the pace of renewable energy development, an essential step for sustainable growth.
Governatori underlined that nuclear energy’s financial viability is fraught with challenges, emphasizing that nuclear plants must operate continuously to justify their high operational costs. He noted that due to irregular energy production from renewables during optimal weather conditions, nuclear energy might frequently be underutilized.
Rome’s renewed interest in nuclear energy could serve as a strategic maneuver to circumvent confrontations with regional governments that often block energy projects due to local concerns about new developments. This conflict stems from the NIMBY (Not In My Backyard) phenomenon, where local authorities resist projects perceived as undesirable in their communities.
Furthermore, there are significant lobbying influences at play. Governatori stated that larger national entities have vested interests in nuclear energy over renewables. The renewable sector is typically dominated by smaller developers, who may not have the same proximity to governmental support systems as traditional energy sectors.
As Italy grapples with its energy future, the balancing act between nuclear power and renewable energy development presents a complex challenge for policymakers as they aim to satisfy both economic and environmental objectives.