Torrential rains have battered Gansu and Ningxia in northwest China and Liaoning Province in northeast China, prompting upgraded flood emergency responses and temporary closures of tourist sites.
In Gansu Province, places including Lanzhou City and Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture raised their flood response from level IV to level II on Sunday. Linxia's Jishishan County recorded hourly rainfall of up to 52.1 mm that flooded roads and disrupted traffic. Authorities worked overnight to clear streets and restore access.
Linxia City also upgraded heavy rain alert to the highest red alert, and closed all tourist attractions on Monday as a precaution.
In neighboring Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, five cities including Yinchuan and Zhongwei activated Level IV flood responses. In Zhongwei's Shapotou District, roads were sealed off Sunday night due to rising water levels, and administrative and cleaning staff worked overnight to pump out floodwater.
On Sunday, Dalian City in northeastern Liaoning Province experienced heavy rainfall, with up to 94 mm recorded, leading to waterlogging and traffic disruptions. By Sunday night, the temporary urban flooding had largely cleared.
Heavy rains lash parts of China, triggering flood alerts
The Republic of Korea (ROK)'s former impeached President Yoon Suk-yeol on Friday was sentenced to five years in prison on arrest obstruction charges.
The criminal division of the Seoul Central District Court in charge of Yoon's obstruction of justice case handed down the prison sentence to Yoon for abusing the presidential security service to hinder the anti-corruption agency from executing its arrest warrant in January 2025.
The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) was once thwarted in its attempt to arrest Yoon as the presidential security service formed human shields and bus blockades to prevent investigators from entering the presidential residence.
The team of Cho Eun-suk, an independent counsel who led investigations into Yoon's insurrection and other charges, demanded a 10-year prison term for Yoon.
The court said Yoon privatized the presidential security service for personal safety and private interests by blocking the law enforcement agencies' lawful execution of an arrest warrant and attempting to destroy evidence, pointing out that despite the very bad nature of his crime, he consistently offered unconvincing excuses and showed no remorse.
The court stressed that severe punishment was necessary, considering the need to restore the rule of law damaged by Yoon's crime, but it noted that the fact that he was a first-time offender with no criminal record was considered a favorable factor.
The sentencing, which was broadcast live, was Yoon's first verdict coming from his botched martial law bid.
The first-instance sentencing for Yoon's insurrection charges was scheduled for Feb 19. The special counsel sought a death penalty for Yoon on the charges.
Yoon declared emergency martial law on the night of Dec 3 in 2024, but it was revoked hours later by the National Assembly.
The constitutional court upheld a motion to impeach Yoon in April 2025, officially removing him from office.
The ousted leader was indicted while in detention in January 2025 on charges of leading an insurrection, becoming the first sitting ROK president facing such prosecution.
ROK ex-president Yoon sentenced to 5 years in prison on arrest obstruction charges
