This deployment is much bigger than usual. At its height, more than 100 ships were out at once. By December 4, over 90 were still at seaway more than normal daily numbers. Watchers say this long-lasting presence points to a planned effort, not just a quick ...

In the final weeks of 2025, rain became the new normal across China's dry north -- so frequent, and at times so violent, that it was rewriting local records and stretching the very notion of a "flood season."

In 2025, northern China experienced record-breaking rainfall and floods, with some areas like Beijing and Hohhot receiving nearly double their usual annual precipitation, causing 404 deaths or missing persons and $23 billion in losses.

From raging wildfires to catastrophic floods, here are some of the costliest climate disasters and why their impact goes far beyond the immediate destruction.