May 3, 2018

Nearly 100 killed after dust storms sweep India

This wall collapsed as a result of the dust storm. Photo: -/AFP via Getty Images

At least 95 people are dead and several are injured after dust storms swept across the Indian states of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan on Wednesday, reports the BBC.

The backdrop: Dust storms are common in India, but this one, with winds reaching up to 80 mph, was strong enough to knock down trees and collapse houses. Hotel owner Shivam Lohia told the AFP news agency, "I haven't seen such a devastating storm in at least 25 years. Everyone was scared and running for cover as trees and homes were getting blown away. It was a nightmare."

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Rebecca Falconer, Laurin-Whitney Gottbrath
Updated 15 mins ago - Science

Gulf Coast braces for Zeta after storm strengthens into hurricane

Hurricane Zeta's forecast path. Photo: National Hurricane Center

Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards (D) declared a state of emergency Monday as Zeta strengthened into a hurricane and threatened Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula as it moved towards the U.S. Gulf Coast.

The state of play: Zeta was expected to make landfall on the northern part of the Yucatan Peninsula Monday night, bringing with it a "dangerous storm surge" and "heavy rainfall" as it moved into the Gulf of Mexico, the National Hurricane Service said.

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Axios
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Stef W. Kight, Rebecca Falconer
Updated 1 hour ago - Politics & Policy

Supreme Court rejects request to extend Wisconsin absentee ballot deadline

Photo: Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images

The Supreme Court in a 5-3 decision Monday rejected an effort by Wisconsin Democrats and civil rights groups to extend the state's deadline for counting absentee ballots to six days after Election Day, as long as they were postmarked by Nov. 3.

Why it matters: All ballots must now be received by 8 p.m. on Election Day in Wisconsin, a critical swing state in the presidential election.

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