A global treaty banning nuclear weapons is set to be adopted at the United Nations on Friday despite opposition from the United States, Britain, France and other nuclear powers that boycotted negotiations.

Tanzania's foreign ministry said Wednesday that 24 truckers driving in a convoy from the country had been kidnapped by the Mai-Mai militia in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

At least 15 people are missing after huge floods swept away houses in southern Japan, tearing up roads as they surged through villages, with authorities warning hundreds of thousands of people to flee.

The United States led a push at the UN Security Council Wednesday for tougher sanctions on North Korea, while warning the isolated regime's launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile had drastically narrowed the path for diplomacy.

The UN Security Council will hold an emergency meeting on Wednesday after North Korea said it had successfully tested its first intercontinental ballistic missile, diplomats said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Israel Tuesday for what he called a "groundbreaking" first ever visit by an Indian premier, with growing ties between the two countries including billion of dollars in defence deals.

President Emmanuel Macron on Monday promised a "profound transformation" of French politics, proposing to slash by a third the number of MPs, and telling lawmakers he would call a referendum if they do not agree.