IN BRIEF (Page 4)

BEIJING

Rain set to lash southern regions

China's meteorological authority on Friday maintained a blue alert, the lowest level in its four-tier warning system, in connection with rainstorms that are expected to hit some southern regions. On Saturday, torrential rain will hit areas south of the Yangtze River, the National Meteorological Center said in a statement on its website. Rain is expected to sweep through Hunan, Jiangxi, Guangxi, Guangdong, Guizhou, Zhejiang, Anhui, Fujian and Yunnan. Precipitation could reach up to 140 mm, according to the statement.