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WORLD NEWS Saturday 8 June 2019
Japan plans carbon emission cuts, more nuclear energy

By MARI YAMAGUCHI spend more time on inspec-
Associated Press tions under the stricter post-
TOKYO (AP) — Japan is Fukushima standards, while
calling for further efforts utility companies have opt-
to cut its carbon emissions ed to scrap aged reactors
by promoting renewable instead of investing in addi-
energy while also pushing tional safety measures.
nuclear power despite its Nearly half of the 54 reac-
2011 Fukushima nuclear tors in Japan have been
plant disaster. designated for decommis-
An energy policy paper, sioning, and only nine have
adopted by the Cabinet resumed operation since
on Friday, said Japan faces the accident.
the urgent task of reducing The slow reactor restarts
carbon emissions by utilities have added to Japan's
that rely heavily on fossil large plutonium stockpile
fuel plants to make up for from spent fuel. Japan has
shortages of cleaner nucle- resorted to reducing the
ar energy. The call comes 47-ton stockpile by burning
as nuclear reactors around plutonium in conventional
Japan are slowly being re- reactors after the coun-
started — despite linger- In this Nov. 12, 2011, file photo, the Unit 4 reactor building of the crippled Fukushima Dai-ichi try's fuel recycling program
ing anti-nuclear sentiment nuclear power station is seen through a bus window in Okuma, Japan. stalled. The plutonium is
since the Fukushima crisis Associated Press currently enough to pro-
— after being shut down to duce about 6,000 atomic
meet tougher safety stan- 3% in 2017. The report said counted for 74% of Japan's ichi nuclear plant's cooling bombs. But the amount is
dards. the cost of renewables also energy supply. systems, sending three of its not decreasing, and ex-
Japan wants renewable needs to be reduced. Nuclear energy made up reactors into meltdowns. perts are now calling for
energy's share in 2030 to Japanese utilities rely more about one-third of Japan's Despite the government's more drastic steps to re-
grow to 22-24% of the coun- heavily on fossil fuel plants energy supply before 2011, renewed ambitions for duce the stockpile amid
try's power supply from than those in the U.S. and when a massive earth- nuclear power, reactor criticism that it makes To-
16%, while pushing nuclear Europe, the paper said. quake and tsunami de- restarts are proceeding kyo's calls for nuclear non-
energy to 20-22% from just Coal and natural gas ac- stroyed the Fukushima Dai- slowly as nuclear regulators proliferation less credible.q

Putin says US unilateralism hurts global trade, sows chaos

By VLADIMIR ISACHENKOV relations, saying that their
IRINA TITOVA cooperation in the global
Associated Press arena is "a major factor of
ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (AP) stability in global affairs."
— Russian President Vladi- He emphasized that "we
mir Putin has criticized the aren't creating a military
United States for using pres- union and we aren't work-
sure and sanctions to main- ing against anyone," add-
tain its economic suprema- ing that Moscow remains
cy, saying it spawns chaos open to expanding ties
in global affairs. with the European Union
Speaking Friday at an in- and the United States.
vestment forum in St. Pe- Xi said Russia and China
tersburg, Putin said the U.S. would coordinate their ef-
attempt to "spread its juris- forts in the energy sphere
diction to the entire world" more closely.
challenges the global or- The Chinese leader noted
der. that the current global
He said globalization "be- trade system needs fine-
comes a parody of itself tuning but spoke strongly
when common internation- against protectionism,
al rules are replaced with Russian President Vladimir Putin addresses the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum in St. warning that globalization
laws, administrative and Petersburg, Russia, Friday, June 7, 2019. can't be stopped.
judicial mechanisms of one Associated Press Xi said that despite trade
country or a group of coun- disputes between China
tries." It is, he said, "the first tech- wars ... fights without rules tempts to hamper the and the U.S. they are close-
Flanked by Chinese Presi- nological war of the digital between all." construction of the Nord ly interdependent and nei-
dent Xi Jinping at the fo- era." The Russian leader accused Stream 2 pipeline intended ther side wants to disrupt
rum's panel, Putin said the Putin warned that the "frag- the U.S. of turning the dollar to carry Russian natural gas ties. "Neither we, nor our
U.S. action against Chinese mentation of the global into an "instrument of pres- to Germany and further on American partners are in-
telecom giant Huawei rep- economic space, the poli- sure," undermining trust in in Europe, saying it reflects terested in that," Xi said. "I'm
resented an attempt to cy of unrestrained political the U.S. dollar, the world's the U.S. desire to win ad- sure that my friend, Presi-
"blatantly squeeze it out of egoism" paves the way to major reserve currency. vantages for itself. dent Trump, isn't interested
the global market." "endless conflicts and trade He also criticized U.S. at- Putin hailed Russia-China in that either."q