Southern China rains kill 55, leave 14 missing
BEIJING (AP) -- Chinese authorities say rainstorms that battered southern China this week have killed 55 people and left 14 others missing....

Possible tornado surprises north Alabama city
ATHENS, Ala. (AP) -- A possible tornado has knocked down trees, flipped Dumpsters and damaged the roof of a nearby WalMart in a north Alabama city....

Tornado-ravaged Texas town to start recovery
GRANBURY, Texas (AP) -- Residents whose homes were torn apart or blown away by a North Texas deadly tornado can soon return to retrieve what belongings may be left and start cleaning up, authorities said Friday....

States to get initial money from Japanese gift
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) -- The five West Coast states affected by debris from the 2011 tsunami in Japan are about to receive an initial $250,000 each from a $5 million gift from Japan for cleanup....

Bangladesh, Myanmar relieved as cyclone fizzles
COX'S BAZAR, Bangladesh (AP) -- A once-fearsome cyclone that was threatening Bangladesh and Myanmar dissipated quickly, causing some deaths but largely relieving authorities who had told more than 1 million people to leave vulnerable coastal areas in preparation for a far worse storm....

Christie unveils buyout offer to NJ flood victims
SAYREVILLE, N.J. (AP) -- Some 350 homeowners in the central New Jersey towns of Sayreville and South River whose properties have flooded repeatedly will be eligible to sell their homes in the first phase of a new federally funded buyback program, Gov. Chris Christie announced Thursday....

Damaged Texas neighborhood closed during search
GRANBURY, Texas (AP) -- A North Texas neighborhood torn apart by a tornado will remain closed to its residents until officials can account for everyone who lived there....

Tropical Storm Alvin strengthening in the Pacific
MIAMI (AP) -- Tropical Storm Alvin, the first named storm of the east Pacific hurricane season is gradually strengthening off the coast of Mexico....

Report: Feds' warnings about Sandy were confusing
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Federal weather forecasts for Superstorm Sandy were exceptionally accurate last fall, but the warnings themselves were confusing, an internal review found....

Boats carrying fleeing Rohingya minority capsize
SITTWE, Myanmar (AP) -- An overcrowded boat capsized while trying to escape a cyclone bearing down on Myanmar, tossing dozens of members of the displaced Rohingya minority group into the sea. Eight bodies were found and more than 50 people were missing and feared dead, the United Nations said....