Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority is expected to give the go-ahead on Wednesday to a fuel reprocessing plant that is the centerpiece in the government's nuclear fuel recycling policy.

The plant in Aomori Prefecture, northern Japan, is operated by Japan Nuclear Fuel Limited. The facility is designed to extract plutonium for recycling from spent nuclear fuel generated by nuclear power plants.

The coronavirus continues to spread across Japan. Nearly 1,000 cases were reported on Tuesday with several prefectures recording new daily records.

Osaka Governor Yoshimura Hirofumi said, "We have confirmed 155 infections. The number shows that the virus is spreading through community transmission."

The Meteorological Agency has called for caution against mudslides and flooding due to a record rainfall in Yamagata Prefecture, northern Japan.

Weather officials forecast more heavy rain in the Tohoku region and Niigata Prefecture in northern Japan on Tuesday night.

The latest earnings forecast from Nissan Motor suggests the coronavirus is making life even harder for the struggling automaker. The firm is projecting a net loss of more than $6 billion in the current fiscal year.

Company executives say the loss for the April to June quarter reached 285.5 billion yen, or 2.7 billion dollars. They say the full-year net loss is likely to be 670 billion yen, or about 6.4 billion dollars. That's about the same as the previous year.

Restaurant firm Yoshinoya Holdings says it will close up to 150 of its outlets by the end of March as the coronavirus pandemic has sapped its earnings.

The company is best-known for its rice bowls topped with sliced beef. It operates 3,300 stores in Japan and abroad.

A group of Japanese lawmakers is looking to place restrictions on Chinese-made apps out of concern that user data could end up in the hands of the Chinese government.

The lawmakers from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party say they will urge Japan's government to take legislative steps to limit the use of video-sharing app TikTok and others offered by Chinese firms.

A Japanese high court has overturned a lower court ruling that found a nurse guilty of giving a doughnut to an elderly woman who later died after choking on it.

The 60-year-old practical nurse works at a special nursing care home for the elderly in Nagano Prefecture, central Japan.

Japan's top government spokesperson has expressed strong displeasure with a South Korean botanical garden for setting up a statue of a man kneeling in front of a girl statue symbolizing those referred to as comfort women.

The garden has explained to South Korean media that the male statue represents Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo.

The Meteorological Agency says heavy rainfall will likely hit the Tohoku region in northeastern Japan and Niigata Prefecture through Wednesday morning.

Weather officials are warning of possible mudslides and flooding in the areas. They say the level of rainfall may require officials to issue emergency warnings, and urge residents to make preparations.

Tokyo Metropolitan Government officials say they confirmed 266 new cases of novel coronavirus infections on Tuesday.

This is the first time in two days that the daily tally topped 200, and the 20th consecutive day for it to have surpassed 100.

Japan's top government spokesperson has said the government has a high level of interest in North Korea's movements on a daily basis.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga Yoshihide said the government is working to collect and analyze data, but he refrained from commenting on specific contents.

The Meteorological Agency says heavy rain and thunder will likely hit eastern and northeastern Japan through Wednesday morning, especially in the Tohoku region and Niigata Prefecture.

The officials say warm, damp air has been flowing into a seasonal rain front and a low pressure system stretching from the Sea of Japan to the northeastern Tohoku region.

Japan's government is keeping an eye on the confrontation between the US and China that grew more intense with a tit-for-tat closure of consulates in each country.

Speaking to reporters on Monday, Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga Yoshihide stressed the importance of stable relations between the US and China.

Tokyo Metropolitan Government officials say 131 new cases of the coronavirus were confirmed on Monday.

It is the first time in seven days that the daily tally in the capital has been below 200, but the 19th straight day of more than 100 cases.