Tokyo, A vast majority of Japanese favour the gradual phasing out of nuclear plants but accept that some reactors need to be restarted to secure enough power in the short term, a newspaper poll showed on Sunday. The poll, published in the Tokyo Shimbun newspaper and conducted on the first anniversary of the tsunami-triggered nuclear crisis, comes ahead of decision expected soon by the government on whether to allow the restart of two idled nuclear reactors.. According to the poll by Japan Association for Public Opinion Research, 79.6% of those asked were at least more or less in favour of breaking with nuclear power eventually . But 69% backed the restart of some nuclear reactors to ensure enough power. Just 28% were opposed. Since last year's accident at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant the country's commercial nuclear power plants have been undergoing safety inspections with just two out of 54 reactors currently online. Japanese business circles fear power shortages could slow an already limping economy , but residents near existing plants are against the early resumption of idled reactors , some filing lawsuits seeking injunctions to block the process. ...
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Tokyo, Japan has announced its bid to host the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games and established the Tokyo 2020 Council, headed by Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda and including other key figures from the government, business and sports communities. The newly-formed council Monday said in a release that a premium advisory board was convened at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government building with all 64 members agreeing to exert utmost to provide all necessary support and advice to Tokyo's bid to host the mega event, Xinhua reported. Tsunekazu Takeda, Tokyo 2020 Council president, who is also the Japanese Olympic Committee (JOC) chief and a former Olympian, expressed his gratitude to the members for their enthusiastic support for Tokyo's bid. "I am certain that the establishment of the council will send a clear message to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) that the whole of Japan is united in its efforts to ensure that Tokyo's bid for the 2020 Games is successful." "Staging the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2020 would serve as a major motivating force for the Japanese sporting community and act as a catalyst for the regeneration and reinvigoration of Japan, and ...
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