News Headlines - 29 November 2020

▽Ceremony Marks 130th Anniversary of Japan Diet | JIJI PRESS

A ceremony was held on Sunday to mark 130 years of the launch of Japan's parliament.
The ceremony took place at the chamber of the House of Councillors, or the Upper House of the Diet, with participants including Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, Emperor Naruhito, Empress Masako and Princess Mako, the eldest daughter of Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko.

▽Aide’s conviction will likely lead to loss of Anri’s seat in Upper House : The Asahi Shimbun

Rookie Upper House member Anri Kawai will likely forfeit her Diet seat after the nation’s top court dismissed the appeal of her top aide who was convicted of a vote-buying charge in her campaign.
The Supreme Court’s rejection, dated Nov. 25, finalized the rulings by lower courts that found Hiroshi Tatemichi, a government-paid aide to Kawai, guilty of exceeding the legal limit in payments made to her election campaign staff.

▽Dave Prowse: Darth Vader actor dies aged 85 - BBC News

Dave Prowse, the Bristolian former bodybuilder best known for playing Darth Vader in the original Star Wars trilogy, has died aged 85.
Prowse was cast as Vader for his imposing physique, even though the role was voiced by James Earl Jones... Prowse's career as an actor spanned 50 years, but it was his role as the Sith Lord in Star Wars that brought him international fame.
Unfortunately, his West Country accent was not deemed suitable for the part of a menacing Hollywood villain and his lines were dubbed.

▽German restaurant bears out pandemic with furry customers | Reuters

The owner of a Frankfurt restaurant is staging a protest against the coronavirus lockdown in Germany by filling his tables with a hundred stuffed toy pandas, in a play on the word “pandemic”.
German officials are expected on Wednesday to agree to extend until Dec. 20 a “lockdown light” they imposed on Nov. 2 that means bars, restaurants and entertainment venues must stay closed, while shops and schools can remain open.

▽Lewis Hamilton wins after Romain Grosjean escapes dramatic Bahrain GP fire - BBC Sport

Lewis Hamilton took his 11th victory of the season in a Bahrain Grand Prix notable for a violent, fiery crash by Haas driver Romain Grosjean.
Grosjean was taken to hospital with burns to the back of both hands after his car pierced the barriers on the first lap.
The burning Haas was trapped sideways in the barrier, with nearly 30 seconds passing before Grosjean climbed clear as medical crews rushed to help.