Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is in the southern state of Kerala to see for himself the devastation caused by what officials say is the worst flooding in a century.
He arrived late on Friday and is due to be flown over the worst-hit areas.
At least 324 people have been killed and more than 200,000 are homeless after weeks of rain triggered landslides and floods.
Troops backed by military helicopters are involved in a huge rescue effort.
More rain is forecast and a red alert in place.
Strong winds are also predicted for Saturday and Sunday.
Across India close to 1,000 people have been killed in the current rainy season, which began in June, officials say.
Helicopters have airlifted emergency supplies to many areas and special trains that carry drinking water have been sent to the state.
Kerala’s chief minister, Pinarayi Vijayan, says the flooding is the worst the state has seen in 100 years.
He told reporters that more than 223,000 people were now living in more than 1,500 emergency relief camps set up in the area.
Parts of Kerala’s commercial capital, Cochin, are under water, snarling up roads and leaving railways across the state impassable.
Some local plantations are reported to have been inundated, endangering the local rubber, tea, coffee and spice industries.
Schools in all 14 districts of Kerala have been closed and some districts have banned tourists, citing safety concerns.
Prime Minister Modi arrived in the state capital, Thiruvananthapuram, on Friday and flew to Cochin early on Saturday.
He then chaired a meeting of officials to take stock of the situation.
He is due to conduct an aerial survey of the worst affected areas, Indian media reported.
SOURCE: India TV
The country’s home minister has also offered his support for Kerala.
Anil Vasudevan, the head of the Kerala health disaster response wing, has said they are prepared to help victims and are setting arrangements in place to deal with the potential risks of water-borne diseases when the flooding recedes.
It is normal for Kerala to get some of the country’s highest rainfall during monsoon season, but the India Meteorological Department said it had been hit with 37% more than usual because of a spell of low pressure over the region.
Further downpours are forecast for the weekend, leading many to fear the situation may get worse.
Environmental scientists are also blaming deforestation, especially the failure to protect ecologically fragile mountain ranges in the area, local media report.
Mr Vijayan, the region’s chief minister, has said the situation in Kerala has been made worse by neighbouring governments.
Imran Khan sworn in as Pakistan prime minister
Former cricketer Imran Khan has been sworn-in as the new prime minister of Pakistan, more than two decades after he entered politics.
He was elected prime minister in a vote at the country’s National Assembly on Friday.
His PTI party won the most seats in July’s elections and Mr. Khan has become PM with the help of small parties.
Correspondents say his priority will be to address a financial crisis, with the economy in need of a huge bailout.
In Friday’s vote, Mr. Khan was backed by 176 members.
His opponent, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) president Shahbaz Sharif, received 96 votes.
In a speech to parliament, 65-year-old Mr. Khan reiterated his campaign promise to hold “corrupt” politicians to account, and to improve opportunities for young people.
“First of all, we will start strict accountability. I promise to my God that everyone who looted this country will be made accountable,” he said.
“I did not climb on any dictator’s shoulders; I reached this place after struggling for 22 years.”
Opposition parties have claimed elements of last month’s elections were rigged.
Despite this, they agreed to take their seats in the assembly.
In the lead-up to the election, Mr. Khan was widely seen as the favoured candidate of the powerful military, which was accused of meddling to turn opinion against his rivals.
Before the election Mr. Khan told the BBC that if he were to be elected, his initial focus would be on the economy.
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Pakistan’s currency, the rupee, has declined significantly in the last year.
Inflation is on the rise and the country’s trade deficit is widening.
Exports such as textiles have taken a hit from cheaper products made by regional competitors, including China.
Analysts say the new government may need to turn to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for the country’s second bailout since 2013, which could complicate efforts to boost welfare.
George Papadopoulos: Mueller proposes sentence for ex-Trump aide
SOURCE: BBC
US special counsel, Robert Mueller, has recommended a prison sentence of up to six months for former Trump campaign aide, George Papadopoulos.
Mr. Mueller, head of an investigation into alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 election, said such a sentence was “warranted and appropriate.”
Mr. Papadopoulos has admitted lying about his contacts with Russians while a member of the Trump campaign team.
Sentencing is due to take place on September 7.
“The government does not take a position with respect to a particular sentence to be imposed, but respectfully submits that a sentence of incarceration within the applicable guidelines range of zero to six months imprisonment is appropriate and warranted,” Mr. Mueller’s memorandum to the judge in the case says.
The memorandum adds that Mr. Papadopoulos lied to the FBI about his contacts with alleged Russian go-betweens.
They included a London-based professor who said Russia had “dirt” on Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.
“The defendant’s lies undermined investigators’ ability to challenge the professor or potentially detain or arrest him while he was still in the United States,” the memorandum says.
“The defendant’s false statements were intended to harm the investigation, and did so.”
Mr. Papadopoulos – a Chicago-based international energy lawyer – is one of three ex-Trump campaign officials who have admitted lying to investigators, including former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn and businessman Richard Gates, who served as deputy campaign chairman.
Separately, former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort faces charges of bank and tax fraud in the first trial stemming from the inquiry into alleged Russian meddling.
He denies any wrongdoing.
Prosecutors say the 69-year-old dodged taxes on millions of dollars he made lobbying for Ukrainian politicians.
The allegations against him are not linked to Mr. Trump and centre on his consultancy work with pro-Russian politicians in Ukraine.
