News Headlines - 06 December 2020

▽Trump orders withdrawal of most US troops from Somalia | DW

US President Donald Trump has ordered the removal of most American soldiers from Somalia by early 2021, the Pentagon said in a statement on Friday.
Nearly 700 US soldiers are currently deployed in Somalia. They conduct training with local forces - including the elite Danab special forces - and assist them in their fight against the al-Qaida-linked al-Shabab militant group in counterterrorism missions.

▽Nike's diversity advert causing a backlash in Japan - BBC News

Nike is facing a backlash in Japan over an advert which highlights racial discrimination in the country.
The video shows the "real life experience" of three young soccer players from mixed heritage... But it has sparked fierce debate as Japan is unaccustomed to openly discussing sensitive issues such as race, with some questioning whether a foreign brand should have waded in.

▽Japan court nullifies approval of Oi nuclear reactor's safety steps | The Japan Times

A court on Friday nullified the government's approval of safety measures for two reactors at Kansai Electric Power Co.'s Oi nuclear plant in Fukui Prefecture.
The Osaka District Court ruled in favor of about 130 plaintiffs who claimed that the Nos. 3 and 4 reactors of the nuclear plant are vulnerable to a major earthquake.
It is the first time a court has blocked government approval for a power company to operate a nuclear plant under new safety standards introduced following the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster.

▽Pope cancels traditional pre-Christmas ceremony due to COVID-19 | Reuters

Pope Francis has cancelled a ceremony that traditionally begins Rome’s Christmas season on Dec. 8 at the Spanish Steps because of coronavirus restrictions, the Vatican said on Monday.
The pope customarily places a wreath of flowers at the base of a 12-metre column bearing a statue of the Madonna and blesses from a distance another wreath already placed around the statue’s arm by firefighters using a ladder.
The Vatican said Francis would skip the ceremony, which popes have been carrying out on the feast of the Immaculate Conception since 1953, “in order to avoid any risk of contagion caused by gatherings of people”.

▽Japan space capsule from Hayabusa2 picked up in Australia after voyage to asteroid - The Mainichi

The Japanese space agency said Sunday the capsule from its Hayabusa2 space probe was collected from the Australian desert in "perfect condition," hopefully containing samples from the Ryugu asteroid that could help explain the origins of life.
The capsule appeared as a bright fireball lasting several dozen seconds as it re-entered Earth's atmosphere before dawn, its protective heat shield glowing as it reached temperatures of approximately 3,000 C.
If the mission was successful, the capsule will contain two samples from the Ryugu asteroid, including the first subsurface asteroid sample ever collected. Scientists believe that organic matter and water existed on the asteroid when the solar system was created around 4.6 billion years ago.