TOKYO -- Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Wednesday emphasized the importance of safeguarding national interests during tariff negotiations after the United States threatened to increase tariffs on Japan.

Speaking at a party leader debate, Ishiba said Japan is the largest investor in the United States and one of the biggest creators of jobs there, making it "a different case from other countries." (Japan-U.S.-Tariff)

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ISLAMABAD -- Seven more people have died and 14 others were injured in rain-related accidents across Pakistan over the past two days, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said Wednesday.

The latest casualties have raised the total deaths to 64, while the number of injured has climbed to 117 since the start of the monsoon season on June 26, according to the NDMA. (Pakistan-Rain)

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NEW DELHI -- The death toll in a chemical factory in India's southern state of Telangana rose to 40 on Wednesday.

The massive blast took place on Monday in the Pashamylaram industrial area of the state's Sangareddy district. (India-Blast-Death Toll)

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SEOUL -- Sixteen people were injured on Wednesday as a vehicle dashed into a restaurant building in eastern South Korea, according to Yonhap news agency.

The sport utility vehicle (SUV), driven by a man in his 80s, rushed into the restaurant building at an expressway rest area in Gangneung, some 220 km east of the capital Seoul, at about 11:32 a.m. local time (0232 GMT) (South Korea-Car Accident-Injury) Enditem