Thousands of people in Japan's southern island of Kyushu have been asked to evacuate as torrential rains triggered landslides and floods.
According to officials, 15 people are feared dead and nine reported missing.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe urged people to be on "maximum alert" as "heavy rainfall is likely to continue until Sunday".
As many as 10,000 soldiers have been deployed to assist in rescue operations.
Swiss government to pay $56,000 to each victim of Crans-Montana bar fire
Switzerland said on Wednesday it would make a one-off payment of 50,000 Swiss francs ($56,000) to severely injured survivors and bereaved families of the New Year bar fire in the ski resort of Crans-Montana that killed 41 people and injured over 100 more.
Arab League condemns Israeli settlers' attack on West Bank mosque
The Arab League has strongly condemned the burning of the Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq Mosque in the West Bank by a group of Israeli settlers on Monday, stating that the crime constitutes a deliberate attack on places of worship.
India's Modi to address Israel's Knesset during Israel visit
India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi has arrived in Israel for a two-day visit that both countries have cast as a chance to deepen relations.
Trump hails ‘golden age’ in State of the Union as voters sour on economy
US President Donald Trump boasted in his State of the Union address on Tuesday that he had ushered in "the golden age of America," seeking to project an aura of success despite sagging approval ratings and deepening voter frustration ahead of November's midterm election.
Albanese tells Australia to 'turn the heat down' after bomb threat
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has said on Wednesday that he did not take his security for granted, after he was evacuated from his residence for several hours following an alleged bomb threat.
