A Japanese regional assembly on Tuesday (December 2) began deliberations on whether to partially restart the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant, the world's largest, as the nation seeks to bolster its domestic power sources.

Kashiwazaki

The Kashiwazaki Kariwa nuclear power plant in Niigata, Japan, which has been offline since the 2011 Fukushima disaster, is under consideration for a partial restart. The regional assembly has begun debates and is expected to vote by December 22 on whether to approve the restart of unit No. 6, marking what would be the first restart for Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) since the disaster.

Local residents and officials have expressed concerns about safety and unresolved issues from the Fukushima accident, while national leaders, including Prime Minister Sanae Takahashi, support nuclear restarts to enhance energy security and reduce reliance on costly imported fuels. The outcome of the assembly's vote could have significant implications for Japan's energy policy.

Japan's regional assembly to vote on restarting nuclear plant

At the world's biggest nuclear power plant, Japanese workers carried out a routine safety drill for a business delegation from Tokyo. Kashiwazaki Kariwa, located on the coast of the Sea of Japan, was shut down after the Fukushima disaster in 2011. But with Japan seeking to boost its domestic power sources, a regional assembly on Tuesday began debates on whether to partially restart a plant. Both plants are operated by Tokyo Electric Power Company, or TEPCO. A powerful tsunami destroyed the Fukushima Daiichi reactor in March 2011. More than 160,000 residents fled as radiation spewed into the air. Now, the peaceful coastal area is gaining attention as the restart of the plant's unit No. 6 would be the first for TEPCO since the disaster. TEPCO President Tomoaki Kobayakawa said the company has been improving safety at its nuclear power business. But Yukihiko Hoshino, a local Kashiwazaki City Assembly member, said local residents were concerned about the chances of another nuclear accident. The plant is located some 180 miles northeast of Tokyo, in an area that is home to around 80,000 people. People talk as if the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster is over, but it's still ongoing. The problems haven't been resolved. There are still people who can't return home. And the fact that none of this has truly been solved, they've not learned everything from it. After the Fukushima disaster, Japan shuttered all 54 nuclear reactors in operation at the time, which left it heavily reliant on fossil fuel imports. Prime Minister Sanae Takahashi has said she supports more nuclear relaunches to strengthen energy security. She also addressed the cost of imported energy, which accounts for 60 to 70 percent of Japan's electricity generation. The regional assembly of Niigata is set to vote by the 22nd of December on whether to restart the nuclear plant.

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Nuwara Eliya

Severe storms batter Southeast Asia, displacing millions

Honduras’ presidential race is too close to call, with Nasry Asfura and Salvador Nasralla nearly tied at just under 40% each as technical glitches delay official results.

Tegucigalpa

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Airbus must inspect hundreds of its A320 jets for potential quality flaws in the plane's body as a total of 628 aircraft contain panels that may be too thick or too thin due to a manufacturing issue at a supplier.

Blagnac

Airbus to inspect hundreds of A320s for defective panels

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Damascus

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Washington

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Monday is World AIDS Day. It has been recognized globally since 1988, but this year, the U.S. government is not commemorating it for the first time.

U.S. not recognizing World AIDS Day this year

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New Orleans

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New York

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West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey said Monday that Andrew Wolfe, the second National Guardsman shot in Washington, D.C., last week, has woken up from an induced coma.

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Caracas

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Moscow

Trump envoy set to meet with Putin in Moscow, Russia confirms

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Kyiv

Ukraine Invasion

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Luigi Mangione headed to court on what evidence should be allowed

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Tel Aviv-Yafo

Protests in Tel Aviv after Netanyahu seeks pardon in fraud cases

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Miami

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Paris

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Colombo

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Florida

Rubio and Witkoff to meet with Ukraine's negotiators in Florida

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Trump declares Venezuela's airspace closed

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Chicago

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Ukraine strikes Russian oil tankers in the Black Sea

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Rome

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Cyclone Ditwah pounds Sri Lanka with deadly force

Investigators in Hong Kong are gathering evidence at the site of the apartment block fire that killed at least 128 people. At least 150 are missing, and 11 people involved in the renovation of the complex have been arrested.

Tsim Sha Tsui

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Istanbul

Pope Leo XIV visits Istanbul's iconic Blue Mosque on Turkey trip

The Afghan man accused of shooting two National Guard members will face first-degree murder charges for an attack that prompted President Donald Trump to declare he would freeze migration from "Third World Countries" to the U.S.

Breakdown