Thousands Rescued from US Floods

America's fourth largest city, Houston, faces an "unprecedented" flooding emergency. Twenty helicopters are being used to evacuate people from rooftops, after more than three-quarters of a metre of rain has fallen, with more heavy rain forecast. Also, Indian authorities prepare for further unrest after the conviction of the self-styled guru Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh and a ban on plastic carrier bags in Kenya comes into force with severe penalties for offenders.

(Photo: A man carries his belonging as he walks through the flooded waters in Houston. Credit: AFP)