"Japan pledged nearly $500 million to contain leaks and decontaminate radioactive water from the tsunami-crippled Fukushima nuclear plant, as the government stepped up its intervention in the worst atomic disaster in a quarter century."
"The announcement comes just days before the International Olympics Committee decides whether Tokyo - 230 km (140 miles) from the wrecked plant - will host the 2020 Olympics and the government is keen to show the crisis is under control. Madrid and Istanbul are the rival candidates.
'The world is watching to see if we can carry out the decommissioning of the Fukushima nuclear power plant, including addressing the contaminated water issues,' Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told cabinet ministers, who met to approve the plan."
Kiyoshi Takenaka and Mari Saito report for Reuters September 3, 2013.
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