News Headlines - 30 August 2020

▽Abe right-hand man Yoshihide Suga emerges as a top pick to replace him | The Japan Times

Aug 30, 2020
Yoshihide Suga, the chief Cabinet secretary who has been Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s right-hand man for nearly eight years, on Sunday emerged as a leading candidate to take over the nation’s highest political position... His candidacy is seen as a major development in the race to succeed Abe, who abruptly announced Friday that he is stepping down because of a chronic illness. Abe refrained from nominating a successor and said he would not use his influence the selection process for his replacement.
The other key contenders so far are LDP policy chief Fumio Kishida and former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba, both of whom expressed a desire to run shortly after Abe’s surprise announcement.

▽Japan swim queen Ikee wins first race since leukaemia diagnosis - CNA

Japan's Rikako Ikee on Saturday (Aug 29) won in her first race since being diagnosed with leukaemia 19 months ago... In February 2019, Ikee was diagnosed with leukaemia and has been slowly battling back to full fitness since then.
She was discharged from hospital in December after around 10 months of treatment and resumed training in March.

▽International cruise terminal set to open in Tokyo on Sept. 10 : The Asahi Shimbun

A new terminal that can accommodate the world's largest cruise ships is ready to go, but is still awaiting its first foreign arrival, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Tokyo International Cruise Terminal, set to open in Koto Ward on Sept. 10, was shown to the media in a preview on Aug. 26.
The terminal was scheduled to start operations in July to coincide with the Tokyo Olympics, but its opening was postponed due to the pandemic.

▽Banksy asylum boat passengers evacuated

All passengers from the Louise Michel, the boat sponsored by street artist Banksy that became stranded off the coast of Italy, left the vessel on Saturday.
The most vulnerable passengers, numbering 49, were evacuated by Italian coastguards, following distress calls sent out by the Louise Michel. The others were transferred to the Sea-Watch 4 humanitarian ship. Both vessels were east of Lampedusa, a small island south of Sicily, the Marinetraffic site reported on Saturday evening.
The Italian coastguard service said in a statement that “given the danger of the situation, the coastguard sent a patrol boat to Lampedusa that took in 49 people deemed the most fragile, including 32 women, 13 children and four men.” The body of a deceased migrant was also evacuated to Lampedusa.

▽Dozens detained in Belarus anti-government protest | Euronews

Tens of thousands of protesters have taken to the Belarusian capital in the third weekend of demonstrations, demanding President Alexander Lukashenko resigns.
Demonstrations began after the autocratic leader claimed victory in an election on August 9, which opponents say was rigged.
Police said 125 people were arrested in Sunday's rally, but Ales Bilyatsky of the Viasna human rights organisation said more than 200 were detained.