Deadly rains

China's drought problems have been replaced, for now, by severe, deadly storms and flooding.

Intense rain and flooding killed at least 25 people late this week in central China, on top of a growing death toll over the past days of more than 50 people. The rains have come after months of severe drought that has damaged farmlands and led to power shortages in across many provinces in China. State media reported that in one county, 100,000 people were stranded by flooding, and landslides have swept through several areas. Experts say the heavy rains will ease China's drought woes for a bit, but the longterm impact remains uncertain.