Come Rain or Shine...

CHINA'S WORST drought since the Eighties has left 19 million people short of drinking water and is affecting 8.7 million hectares (21.48 million acres) of farmland, Chinese officials said yesterday.

China has had "scant rainfall" since last September, said the State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters and with rainfall at or near record lows, this summer's crops are now said to be seriously threatened.