A powerful earthquake registering a maximum intensity of 6 upper on Japan’s seismic scale struck Aomori Prefecture at around 7:30 a.m. today. According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, the epicenter was off the coast of Iwate Prefecture, with a depth of about 50 kilometers. The earthquake’s magnitude was estimated at 6.9.

As of 5 a.m. on June 25, Typhoon No. 7, Mekkhala, was south of Okinawa, moving slowly north with strong intensity, and is expected to move north east of Miyakojima in Okinawa Prefecture later in the day before passing west of Okinawa’s main island, bringing storm-force winds and heavy rain. Typhoon No. 8, Higos, located farther east of the Philippines, is not expected to develop significantly.

The sale of religious corporations that operate temples and shrines across Japan is drawing growing scrutiny from authorities, who fear the transactions could be used for tax evasion and money laundering, as brokers openly advertise properties and corporate status for tens or even hundreds of millions of yen.

Nine Japanese nationals were among 17 people detained in Laos on suspicion of involvement in a special fraud operation, while Japanese authorities have sought cooperation from Cambodian police over dozens of Japanese citizens believed to have gone missing after traveling to Cambodia.