📰 World Headlines – August 2025: China Floods, Pakistan Disaster, and Global Health Alert

🌍 Today’s News Headlines – August 2025

Welcome to your quick roundup of the biggest stories shaping the world right now. From devastating floods to health emergencies, here’s what you need to know today.

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🇨🇳 Southern China Battles Historic Floods and Virus Outbreak

Southern China is experiencing its heaviest August rainfall since 1884, triggering floods and landslides across the Pearl River Delta, including Guangzhou and Foshan. Transportation has ground to a halt, and entire neighborhoods are underwater.

But the deluge has brought another crisis: a chikungunya outbreak. More than 7,000 cases have been reported in Foshan, with the virus spreading to Hong Kong, Macao, and Hunan province. Symptoms include severe joint pain and high fever—earning the virus the nickname “the disease that bends you over.”

Authorities are deploying drones for insecticide spraying, introducing fish that eat mosquito larvae, and even releasing special “elephant mosquitoes” to control the outbreak. Meanwhile, residents face fines if stagnant water is found around their homes.

The U.S. CDC has issued a Level 2 travel advisory for China. Globally, chikungunya cases have topped 240,000, with at least 90 deaths reported.

🔗 Read: What to know about the chikungunya outbreak in China (Washington Post)
🔗 CDC issues urgent travel warning after chikungunya spreads globally (India Times)

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🇵🇰 Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Devastated by Flash Floods

Monsoon rains have unleashed catastrophic flash floods and landslides in Pakistan’s northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). Districts like Swat, Buner, and Bajaur are worst affected.

So far, over 320 people have lost their lives, and hundreds more are injured or missing. Tragedy struck rescue operations as well, when a helicopter carrying relief workers crashed, killing five people on board.

The provincial government has declared a day of mourning, as relief efforts continue under dire conditions.

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🇭🇰 Hong Kong Hit by Rare “Black Rainstorms”

Between July 29 and August 5, Hong Kong was battered by four consecutive “black rainstorm” events—the highest level of rain alert in the city. This marks one of the most extreme rainfall weeks in its history, causing flash flooding, transport chaos, and widespread disruption.

Experts are warning that climate change is making such “once-in-a-century” events increasingly common. 

✍️ Closing Note

The last few weeks have reminded us how deeply interconnected global health, climate change, and infrastructure challenges are. From Asia’s worsening monsoon disasters to the spread of mosquito-borne diseases, today’s headlines highlight the urgent need for resilience and preparedness.

Stay tuned for tomorrow’s roundup of world news at a glance.