Iraq’s foreign minister today asked Japan’s premier and its defence chief to extend Tokyo’s deployment of about 600 troops to southern Iraq.

Officials warned of heavy rains and strong winds today as a powerful typhoon approached southern Japan, forcing airline companies to cancel hundreds of flights.

JAPANESE diplomats are investigating an astonishing claim that two former Japanese soldiers have been hiding in the mountains of the southern Philippines since World War Two.

Three people were reported dead and around 200 injured after three strong earthquakes shook north-western Japan within minutes of each other today.