Sep 30, 2019

More than 100 people die in India floods

Rebecca Falconer

Patients wade through floodwaters on their way to hospital during heavy monsoon rain in Patna in the northeastern state of Bihar, India. Photo: Sachin Kumar/AFP/Getty Images

More than 100 people have died after torrential rains in northern India triggered major flooding, the BBC reports.

The impact: The worst-hit states were Uttar Pradesh, where 93 people have died since Thursday and Bihar, where 29 had lost their lives in the floods, per the BBC. Other flood-related deaths were reported in Gujarat and Kolkata, according to India Today.

  • A Bihar disaster response official told AFP the city of Patna alone had recorded some 8.9 inches of rainfall since Friday. The news agency reports streets have been submerged in some places.

The big picture: The Indian Meteorological Department forecast Monday heavy rainfall across 15 states, per AFP. The Times of India reports that puts the country on track for the wettest September since 1917.

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Ben Geman

French energy giant looks to capitalize on India's LNG market

A Total oil refinery in Dunkirk in 2010. Photo: Andia/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Total SA is acquiring a 37% stake in the Indian gas distribution firm Adani Gas as the French energy giant looks to capitalize on rising LNG demand in the world's second-most populous nation.

Why it matters: The roughly $600 million deal announced Monday will give Total "a footprint in a market where annual LNG demand will hit 28 million tons by 2023, making it the fourth biggest importer of the fuel," Bloomberg reports. Total is already the world's second-largest LNG player.

Go deeperArrowOct 14, 2019
Dave Lawler

Kashmir crackdown: A warning of nuclear war between India and Pakistan

Daily life in locked-down Srinagar. Photo: Tauseef Mustafa/AFP/Getty Images

India and Pakistan are sliding toward potential nuclear war, according to the president of Pakistani-controlled Kashmir. The warning comes as Pakistan attempts to rally global outrage against its neighbor and rival.

Catch up quick: On Aug. 5, India revoked the constitutional autonomy of Jammu and Kashmir — the state it controls within the disputed Himalayan territory — while instituting a communications blackout and a curfew enforced by hundreds of thousands of troops.

Go deeperArrowOct 4, 2019
Rebecca Falconer

In photos: The aftermath of deadly Typhoon Hagibis in Japan

Japan Defense Forces evacuate residents from the Typhoon Hagibis-devastated Marumori in Miyagi prefecture Monday. Photo: Jiji Press/AFP via Getty Images

A massive search and rescue operation involving 110,000 people was underway in Japan Monday after deadly Typhoon Hagibis lashed the country over the weekend, the BBC reports.

The big picture: The storm that triggered floods and landslides Saturday has killed at least 40 people and injured scores more, according to Japanese news outlets. "About 38,000 people across 17 prefectures had evacuated their homes" so far, the Japan Times reports. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said there were concerns for the "impact on lives and economic activities," per the Japan Times.

See photosArrowOct 14, 2019