Nation

District of Columbia

Access to Comey evidence challenged

WASHINGTON — The Justice Department has challenged a court order that complicated efforts to seek a new indictment against former FBI Director James Comey by making a trove of evidence off-limits to prosecutors.

An order issued over the weekend by a federal judge in Washington barred the Justice Department at least temporarily from accessing computer files belonging to Daniel Richman, a close Comey friend and Columbia University law professor who prosecutors see as a central player in any potential case against the former FBI director. Prosecutors moved Tuesday to quash that order.

Missouri

Redistrict opponents submit vote petition

JEFFERSON CITY — Opponents of Missouri’s new congressional map have submitted thousands of petition signatures calling for a statewide vote on the plan backed by President Donald Trump. Organizers of the petition drive said they turned in more than 300,000 signatures to the secretary of state’s office.

That’s well more than the roughly 110,000 signatures needed to suspend the U.S. House districts from taking effect until a public vote can be held next year. But the signatures still must be formally verified by election authorities.

World

Japan

Damages assessed from late-night quake

TOKYO — Japan was assessing damage Tuesday and cautioning people of potential aftershocks after a late-night 7.5 magnitude earthquake caused injuries, light damage and a tsunami in Pacific coastal communities.

At least 34 people were injured, one seriously, the Fire and Disaster Management Agency said. Most of them were hit by falling objects, public broadcaster NHK reported.

The 7.5 magnitude quake struck around 11:15 p.m. in the Pacific Ocean, about 50 miles off the coast of Aomori, the northernmost prefecture of Japan’s main Honshu island.