Heavy rain hits north China

Heavy rain swept across northern China, including Tianjin, Hebei and Shanxi, with some areas experiencing water logging.

From 20:00 on Tuesday to 16:00 on Wednesday, rainfall was recorded across the regions of Baoding and Langfang, north China's Hebei Province. Specifically, the central and southern parts of Baoding, the Xiongan New Area, and the southern portion of Langfang experienced heavy rainfall, with certain areas encountering torrential downpours.

The Hebei Provincial Meteorological Observatory maintained the issuance of a blue alert for rainstorms throughout Wednesday afternoon. In addition, the local meteorological disaster prevention command center activated a Level-IV emergency response mechanism for heavy rainfall during the night of July 1. China has a four-tier flood-control emergency-response system, with Level I being the most severe response.

"The Meteorological Bureau of Hebei Province, in collaboration with the Department of Water Resources and the Department of Natural Resources of Hebei Province, has respectively issued meteorological risk warnings for mountain floods and geological disasters. From July 4 to 5, there will be another province-wide precipitation process. Most areas will experience thunderstorms or showers, with moderate to heavy rain in the central region and some areas experiencing torrential rain," said Chen Zijian, a deputy senior engineer at Hebei Meteorological Observatory.

Elsewhere in northern China, the central urban area of Tianjin Municipality has experienced sustained rainfall starting from Wednesday afternoon. At 16:43 on the same day, the Tianjin Meteorological Observatory upgraded the blue alert for rainstorms to a yellow alert. From 7:00 on Wednesday to 7:00 on Thursday, the average rainfall across Tianjin was 57.6 millimeters, with the maximum rainfall reaching 222.1 millimeters. Many low-lying areas were submerged in water and relevant departments worked through the night to clear the silt and drain the water.

Recently, heavy rain has also lashed many areas in Shanxi Province. The Meteorological Observatory of Shanxi Province issued a yellow alert on Thursday, warning of downpours in Yangquan, Linfen, Taiyuan and other regions.

From Wednesday to 8:00 Thursday, local cumulative rainfall has exceeded 50 millimeters in some areas. Some low-lying sections have been flooded, prompting the traffic police to activate emergency response protocols. Patrol teams were dispatched to regulate traffic flow and assist vehicles that were stranded in waterlogged zones.

In addition, in Mishan Town, Gaoping City, a woman was found trapped in a submerged farmland by local residents, who immediately called the police for help. Eventually, she was safely evacuated to a secure location by the police and firefighters.

At present, heavy rainfall continues to affect multiple regions across Shanxi Province. According to the meteorological department, strong precipitation is forecast over the next three days, accompanied by thunderstorms and strong winds in certain areas. The risk of geological disasters remains notably elevated in regions including Changzhi, Jinzhong, and Linfen.

Heavy rain hits north China

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel on Sunday said Cuba is a free, independent and sovereign nation, rejecting U.S. President Donald Trump's accusations that the island country provided "security services" to Venezuela in exchange for oil.

Earlier on Sunday, Trump suggested Cuba should make a deal with Washington.

"There will be no more oil or money going to Cuba -- Zero! I strongly suggest they make a deal, before it is too late," Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social.

"Cuba lived, for many years, on large amounts of oil and money from Venezuela," Trump said.

However, Trump did not specify the terms of a deal or the consequences Cuba could face.

Diaz-Canel said on X that the United States has "no moral authority to point the finger at Cuba in anything", adding that the U.S. side turns everything, even human lives, into a business.

Diaz-Canel said that the United States is "hysterical" against the Caribbean nation because of the sovereign decision of the Cuban people to choose their political model.

"Those who blame the Revolution for the severe economic hardships we suffer should be ashamed and keep quiet," he said. "Because they know and recognize that they are the result of the draconian measures of extreme asphyxiation that the United States has imposed on us for six decades."

Cuba does not attack or threaten other countries, said Diaz-Canel, adding that the country is ready to defend itself "to the last drop of blood".

Also on Sunday, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez said the United States behaves like a criminal and unchecked hegemon that threatens peace and security, not only in Cuba and this hemisphere, but throughout the entire world.

In an X post, Rodriguez said Cuba has the absolute right to import fuel from markets willing to export it and develop trade relations without interference or subordination to unilateral coercive measures imposed by the United States.

Venezuela on Sunday reiterated its "historic stance" toward Cuba, reaffirming its unwavering commitment to the principles of "fraternity, solidarity, cooperation and complementarity", despite mounting pressure from Washington to isolate the Caribbean nation.

The Venezuelan government released a statement underscoring its support for the free exercise of self-determination and sovereignty of peoples, which it considers fundamental pillars of international relations.

It emphasized its adherence to the principles enshrined in the United Nations Charter and international law, highlighting the longstanding and evolving ties between Venezuela and Cuba.

The Venezuelan government stressed that relations between states should be governed by the principles of non-intervention, sovereign equality and self-determination, and that "political and diplomatic dialogue" is the only viable path to "peacefully resolve disputes of any kind".

Cuban president says ready to defend Cuba, refutes Trump's accusations