The official death toll nearly doubled to 78,000 from Myanmar?s killer cyclone as heavy rains on Friday lashed much of the area stricken two weeks ago, further hampering relief efforts.

Faced with drought and a jump in consumption, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has called for cleansing sewage for drinking water and imposing watering restrictions.

Spain's worst drought in decades forced the city of Barcelona to literally start shipping in drinking water this week.

Severe storms with damaging winds and possible tornadoes pounded the South, killing at least one person in Louisiana and shattering windows at the Texas Capitol.

Firefighters made major gains against a wildfire that has charred thousands of acres along the Atlantic coast as police questioned a man seen tossing a Molotov cocktail into nearby woods.