Monsoon season is under way across southern Asia, with India bearing the brunt of the torrential rains over the past week. Floods and landslides caused by the annual deluge of rainfall resulted in the deaths of at least a dozen people last week, with the death toll from the season so far likely to be nearer 200. Thousands have also been displaced due to the severe flooding.
In south-east Asia, Japan has suffered multiple rounds of torrential rain, bringing some devastating impacts, primarily in the south of the country. More than 500mm (20in) of rain fell over a couple of days in some locations, with this vast quantity of water filtering down mountainsides to trigger mudslides and flash floods. It has been deemed the worst natural disaster in Japan since the earthquake and tsunami of 2011.
Meanwhile, in the southern hemisphere, Australia has been shivering in the coldest spell of weather for several years. Some areas in New South Wales have seen the mercury drop below zero to the lowest temperatures since 2006. The cold spell has also brought snow – in some places nearly a metre (3ft) – to the Australian Alps region.
