News Headlines - 29 October 2020

▽Japanese actor Kentaro Ito arrested in hit-and-run case | The Japan Times

Up-and-coming actor Kentaro Ito was arrested Thursday for allegedly driving away after hitting a motorbike with his car in Tokyo the previous day, police said.
The 23-year-old has admitted to the allegation, the police said, quoting him as saying, “It is true that I left the scene after hitting a bike.”
A Newcomer of the Year award winner of the 2019 Japan Academy Film Prize, Ito is suspected of hitting a bike in Shibuya Ward around 5:45 p.m. Wednesday, causing injuries to a man and a woman and driving away without offering help.

▽Japan's total coronavirus cases top 100,000

Japan's cumulative total of confirmed novel coronavirus cases topped 100,000 on Thursday, according to a tally based on official data, amid a recent uptick in the number of new infections coinciding with a resumption of economic activity.
The single-day number of new cases across the country reported Thursday was 809, eclipsing the 800 mark for the first time since Aug. 29, as some clusters of infections have been detected since early this month.
The total figure includes about 700 cases aboard the Diamond Princess, a cruise ship that was quarantined in Yokohama in February. There have been more than 1,700 deaths in the country attributed to the virus.

▽Taiwan Achieves Record 200 Days With No Local Virus Cases | Time

Taiwan holds the world’s best virus record by far and reached the new landmark on Thursday, even as the pathogen explodes anew in Europe and the U.S. Taiwan’s last local case came on April 12; there has been no second wave.
What did this island with 23 million people do right? It has had 550 confirmed cases, with only seven deaths. Experts say closing borders early and tightly regulating travel have gone a long way toward fighting the virus. Other factors include rigorous contact tracing, technology-enforced quarantine and universal mask wearing. Further, Taiwan’s deadly experience with SARS has scared people into compliance.

▽China sets ‘pragmatic’ targets through 2035 - Global Times

With decisive progress in the past five years and a strategic victory against the COVID-19, top leadership of the Communist Part of China (CPC) on Thursday unveiled a steady and bright picture for the country's future, as it sets sweeping social and economic development goals for the next five to 15 years that aim to build the world's most populous nation into a modern socialist power in the economic, technological and other fields by 2035.

▽At least 140 migrants drown off Senegal coast, UN says - BBC News

At least 140 migrants bound for Europe have drowned after a boat carrying around 200 people sank off the coast of Senegal, the UN has confirmed.
The boat caught fire and capsized on Saturday, shortly after leaving the town of Mbour, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said.
About 60 people were rescued, according to reports.
It is believed the migrants were attempting to reach mainland Europe via Spain's Canary Islands.
This route from West Africa has grown in popularity since 2018.