Hello and welcome to the Intelligence on Economist Radio. I'm your host, Shashank Choshy,

filling in for Jason Palmer. Every weekday we provide a fresh perspective on the events

shaping your world. The World Health Organization has a tiny budget and limited powers, and if

Donald Trump is reelected, America will walk out. But during the pandemic, it has been

quietly effective, fighting misinformation and supporting international cooperation

on vaccines and public health. And we look at what the Prophet Muhammad had to say about

puppies. In Egypt, the pandemic has pushed up the demand for pets, but a debate over the

role of dogs in Islam reflects a deeper power struggle in the country, between mosque and

state. But first. In Japan, last months a abrupt resignation of Abe Shinzo left a void

in a difficult time. The country's longest serving Prime Minister had tried to revitalize

the economy, revamped the constitution, and boost national pride by hosting the Olympics.

The woes of 2020 have left all that in doubt. Now, a successor has emerged to take on the

job. Yesterday, Sugayoshi Hide was elected as president of Japan's ruling liberal democratic

party. Or the guaranteeing, he'll become Prime Minister after a parliamentary vote tomorrow.

He was Mr. Abe's chief cabinet secretary and promised continuity.

He must overcome this crisis so that each person in Japan can feel safe and have a stable

life. In order to do that, we need to carry on Prime Minister Abe's measures and move

forward with him. I believe it is my mission to do so.

Mr. Sugayoshi was never really seen as a candidate for the top job. He had the reputation

of being behind the scenes operator rather than a public leader. And in fact, he told

friends that he preferred the shadows to the spotlight, but he thought he could be more

effective in a less prominent public role. No, a Snyder is a Japan correspondent.

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