JAPAN: Torrential rain struck Japan’s north-central prefectures of Ishikawa and Toyama today, triggering flooding and landslides, closing roads and stranding people in flooded homes and vehicles.

The Japan Meteorological Agency issued the Level 5 heavy rain warning for parts of the Ishikawa and Toyama prefectures, urging residents in the affected areas to take precautionary measures against possible flooding and landslides.

FRANCE: A driver deliberately rammed their car into a group of people in northern France, killing two people and injuring nine others, authorities said.

The incident late Wednesday night in Caen isn’t being treated by officials as a terrorist attack. Caen Mayor Aristide Olivier told France Bleu Normandie that it seemed to be the result of “a fight that turned bad.”

GAZA: Nickolay Mladenov, head of US President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace, told the UN security council on Wednesday that the gap between what has been agreed upon by Israel and Hamas and what is happening on the ground is the biggest risk to the peace process in Gaza.

“Israeli strikes have continued since the road map was accepted, and Palestinian civilians are still being killed,” Mr Mladenov said.

TANZANIA: Emmanuel Nchimbi was expelled from Tanzania’s ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi party today for indiscipline following his decision earlier this week to resign as the country’s vice-president after 10 months in the job.

Mr Nchimbi has made some controversial remarks in recent weeks, including urging Tanzanians to “fight for a new constitution,” highlighting a major falling out with President Samia Suluhu Hassan.