Typhoon Gaemi hits China’s coast after leaving 25 dead

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — A strong typhoon has made landfall on China’s southeastern coast after sweeping across the nearby island of Taiwan, where it caused landslides and flooding in low-lying areas and left three dead. Typhoon Gaemi had swept up the western Pacific, intensifying seasonal rains earlier in the week in the Philippines, where the death toll has climbed to 22. Offices and schools in Taiwan were closed for a second day on Thursday and people were urged to stay home and away from the coastline. In China’s coastal Fujian province, flights, trains and ferry services were canceled and more than 240,000 residents were evacuated as the typhoon approached.

Belgian authorities detain 7 terror suspects in a series of raids across the country

BRUSSELS (AP) — Authorities in Belgium have carried out 14 raids across the country and detained seven people for questioning over suspected terrorist activities. There was no immediate indication the raids on Thursday were linked to the Olympic Games that open a day later in Paris. The Belgian federal prosecutor’s office says the detained people “are suspected of participating in the activities of a terrorist group, of financing terrorism and preparing a terrorist attack.” Spokesperson Arnaud d’Oultremont told The Associated Press that investigators had “not yet identified the suspects’ concrete objectives.” Police in the French capital have launched a huge security operation to secure the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games.

270 flights canceled in Frankfurt as environmental activists target airports

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — A total of 270 flights were canceled at Germany’s busiest airports after environmental activists launched a coordinated effort to disrupt air travel across Europe at the height of the summer vacation season to highlight the threat posed by climate change. Frankfurt Airport said flights were halted for safety reasons after climate activists breached security fences in the early morning. The airport said that all runways were back in operation by 7:50 a.m. local time. Climate activists staged or attempted similar actions in Finland, Norway, Switzerland and Spain on Wednesday. Environmental groups said they planned to target airports around Europe this summer to remind people about the link between fossil fuels and climate change.

Russia arrests another high-ranking defense ministry official

MOSCOW (AP) — A court in Moscow has ordered the head of a Defense Ministry’s construction division to be detained for two months on suspicion of abuse of power, Russian news agencies reported. It is the latest in a series of arrests of high-ranking ministry officials this year. Andrei Belkov heads the Military Construction Company, which builds bases, hospitals, schools and other facilities for the military, according to its website. The company came under the supervision of Deputy Defense Minister Timur Ivanov, who was arrested in April on charges of bribery.