Across Japan, a total of 896 people nationwide had their driver’s licenses suspended for riding a bicycle while under the influence of alcohol between January and September this year, up from just two people during the same period last year, according to the National Police Agency (NPA).

Sapporo, Dec. 10 (Jiji Press)—Hokkaido Governor Naomichi Suzuki on Wednesday announced his approval for the restart of the No. 3 reactor at Hokkaido Electric Power Co.’s Tomari nuclear power plant in the northernmost Japan prefecture.

The powerful earthquake that struck late on Monday, with its epicenter off the east coast of Aomori Prefecture, occurred in an area that has been hit by quakes in the past measuring magnitude 7 and magnitude 8.

Following the death of a pregnant woman who was struck by a car in May, the Aichi prefectural assembly is expected to pass an opinion paper that recognizes fetuses killed or injured in accidents as victims.

Tokyo, Dec. 10 (Jiji Press)—Disinformation regarding a powerful earthquake that mainly hit Aomori Prefecture and other parts of Japan’s Tohoku northeastern region Monday night is being spread on X and other social media platforms, including a claim that the temblor was created artificially.

The powerful tremors that rattled the Tohoku region and Hokkaido late Monday and subsequent tsunami warnings reminded many residents of the terror of the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake.

The Legislative Council, an advisory entity for the justice minister, proposed toughening punishments for acts of dangerous driving causing death or injury at its meeting on Tuesday, indicating numerical criteria about vehicle speeds and alcohol concentration of alleged drivers.

Shortly after the powerful earthquake off the east coast of Aomori Prefecture hit the Tohoku region and Hokkaido on Monday night, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi went inside the Prime Minister’s Office and led disaster response operations until the early hours on Tuesday.

Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning conducted about 40 takeoffs and landings of aircraft on Monday, bringing the total number since Friday to around 140, according to the Defense Ministry.

The government plans to put highly confidential information about economic affairs under the jurisdiction of the Law on the Protection of Specially Designated Secrets, according to draft revisions of the enforcement guideline for the law that The Yomiuri Shimbun has obtained.

Information about important materials, supply chains for advanced technologies and other matters related to the nation’s security will be thoroughly protected under the law.

Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said Tuesday that China did not issue a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) or a navigation warning, regarding the incident in which Chinese military aircraft directed radar at Japanese Air Self-Defense Force fighter jets.

NOTAM is a notice to inform others that an exercise is taking place in a maritime zone or airspace.

Chinese defense authorities did not respond when the Japanese side attempted to make contact using a dedicated hotline regarding Chinese military aircraft directing radar at Japanese Air Self-Defense Force fighter jets, according to Japanese government sources.