BUENOS AIRES, Argentina

Tokyo defeats Istanbul for 2020 Olympic Games

Tokyo was awarded the 2020 Olympics on Saturday, capitalizing on its reputation as a “safe pair of hands” and defying concerns about the Fukushima nuclear crisis.

Tokyo defeated Istanbul 60-36 in the final round of secret voting by the International Olympic Committee. Madrid was eliminated earlier after an initial tie with Istanbul.

Tokyo, which hosted the 1964 Olympics, billed itself as the reliable choice at a time of global political and economic uncertainty.

“Tokyo can be trusted to be the safe pair of hands and much more,” bid leader and IOC member Tsunekazu Takeda said in the final presentation. “Our case today is simple. Vote for Tokyo and you vote for guaranteed delivery. … Tokyo is the right partner at the right time.”

Tokyo had been on the defensive in the final days of the campaign because of mounting concerns over the leak of radioactive water from the tsunami-crippled Fukushima nuclear plant.

“Let me assure you the situation is under control,” Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said. “It has never done and will never do any damage to Tokyo.”

Abe gave further assurances when pressed on the issue by Norwegian IOC member Gerhard Heiberg.

“It poses no problem whatsoever,” Abe said, adding that the contamination was limited to a small area and had been “completely blocked.”

COLUMBUS, N.M.

Illegal immigrant suspect apparently likes it hot

Authorities say an immigrant suspected of entering the country illegally tried to make his journey in an unusual but hot place — a shipment of red chili.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers working at a New Mexico border checkpoint said the man was discovered Thursday face down among a commercial load of the spicy stuff.

Columbus Port Director Robert Reza said next to the “highly intoxicated” 35-year-old was a bottle of tequila.

The man, who authorities described as a Mexican national, told agents that he climbed into the commercial hopper while it was being staged in Mexico with hopes of catching a ride to Chicago. But agents said he got less than 100 yards into New Mexico before he was discovered.

The red chili shipment was later released.

— From news service reports