News Headlines - 29 December 2019

▽Dutch far-right politician Geert Wilders holds Muhammad cartoon contest | DW

Dutch far-right politician Geert Wilders announced on Sunday what he called the winner of a contest for caricatures of Islam's Prophet Muhammad, more than a year after he shelved a similar event due to the fear of a violent backlash.
The drawing Wilders called the "winner" was a dark image of a bearded man with a wrinkled brow wearing a black turban and black shirt... In August last year, Wilders canceled a similar contest after Dutch police arrested a 26-year-old man who had threatened to kill him over his anti-Islam stance.

▽Putin thanks Trump for 'helping foil new year terror attacks' in Russia - ITV News

Russian president Vladimir Putin thanked Donald Trump for helping to foil a terror attack planned over the new year in St Petersburg.
Russian security forces detained two Russians suspected of preparing to carry out terrorist acts after information obtained from their “American partners”.
In a statement released on the Kremlin's website on Sunday, Mr Putin thanked Trump for “information transmitted through the special services that helped prevent the completion of terrorist acts in Russia”.

▽Japan OKs controversial plan to send naval forces to Mideast

Japan on Friday approved a contentious plan to send its naval personnel to the Middle East to ensure the safety of Japanese ships transporting oil to the energy-poor country that heavily depends on imports from the region.
The Cabinet's decision reflects tensions that have escalated between Iran and the U.S. since President Donald Trump withdrew from Iran's 2015 nuclear deal.

▽Video released of Fukushima No.3 reactor interior | NHK WORLD

Japan's nuclear regulator has released a video of the interior of the No.3 reactor building at the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.
The reactor suffered a meltdown and a hydrogen explosion that blew off the upper part of the building.
Workers have finished removing debris from the fifth and highest floor of the building. They are now transferring nuclear fuel from a cooling pool in the building to a storage facility on the compound.

▽Tom Hanks receives honorary Greek citizenship | Euronews

President Prokopis Pavlopoulos signed an honorary naturalization order allowing the actor to claim citizenship, his office told The Associated Press on Friday.
Hanks' wife, actress and producer Rita Wilson, is of Greek and Bulgarian ancestry and the couple often spend their summer vacations on the Greek island of Antiparos. They've also produced a number of films in the country.
Wilson and Hanks produced the 2002 comedic hit "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" and its sequel that was released in 2016. Hanks was also the executive producer of the 2008 musical "Mamma Mia!" and the 2009 comedy "My Life in Ruins."