at 20:00 (JST), December 13

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Conservative Party has taken enough seats to hold a majority in Parliament.

There's a reported breakthrough in trade negotiations between the United States and China.

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https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20191213200000_english_1.mp3


Key words : johnson final result
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191213_43/

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Conservative Party has taken enough seats to hold a majority in Parliament.

The final results of Thursday's general election have yet to be announced, but the Conservatives have won 355 seats as of 5:50 a.m. local time.

They needed 326 seats to form a government on their own.

The results pave the way for Johnson to follow through with his pledge to take the country out of the European Union next month.

Boris Johnson said, " This one nation Conservative government has been given a powerful new mandate to get Brexit done."

The leader of the main opposition Labour Party has conceded defeat and announced his intention to step down.

Jeremy Corbyn said, "Brexit has so polarized and divided debate in this country. It has overwritten so much of the normal political debate. I will not lead the party in any further general election campaign."

The new Parliament will convene on Tuesday, and the government will outline its policies in the Queen's Speech on Thursday.

Key words : world leader reacted election result
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191213_45/

World leaders have reacted to the UK election results.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said, "I think we will immediately listen to the new Prime Minister, just to be reassured."

She added that EU officials are ready to negotiate as necessary.

US President Donald Trump tweeted, "Looking like a big win for Boris in the UK!" Trump has already made clear his strong support for Brexit.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said he's hopeful the vote will bring clarity on Britain's future direction.

Abe said, " The Conservatives' victory means Britain will be able to decide the path it will pursue for Brexit. I hope this will help us predict what might happen next."

But Abe also touched on the risk Brexit poses to the Japanese economy.

Key words : a survey shows
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191213_25/

A survey shows that a clear majority of Japanese manufacturers doing business in Britain have been feeling a negative impact from the country's move toward Brexit.

The poll by the Japan External Trade Organization, or JETRO, asked companies about the effects of Britain's departure from the European Union on their business.

Of 65 Japanese manufacturers with British operations, around 70 percent report feeling a negative impact.

Nearly a quarter say they have no such problems. Only one-and-a-half percent report experiencing a positive impact.

The 65 manufacturers were among nearly 1,000 Japanese companies with operations in Europe that JETRO polled in September and October.

Key words : breakthrough
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191213_40/

There's a reported breakthrough in trade negotiations between the United States and China.US media outlets are citing sources who claim that an in-principle deal has been reached in what's being called a "phase one" agreement.

President Donald Trump is likely to hold off on a new round of tariffs on Chinese goods. He tweeted on Thursday that negotiators are "getting very close to a big deal."

Trump held talks with his trade advisers. It's reported that the phase one deal could include a pledge from Beijing to purchase 50 billion dollars' worth of American farm produce next year.

That's double what China had bought before the trade war flared up between the world's two largest economies.

The reports also say Trump is planning to put on hold a plan to impose additional levies of 15 percent on 160 billion dollars' worth of Chinese goods from Sunday.
Washington is also reportedly considering reducing existing tariffs.

Key words : benchmark index
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191213_44/

The benchmark index for the Tokyo Stock Exchange has closed at its highest level in 14 months following Britain's general election and reported progress in the US-China trade talks.

The Nikkei Stock Average posted its biggest one-day gain so far this year to close at 24,023 on Friday, up 598 points from Thursday's close.

The broader TOPIX index gained 27 points to 1,739. This is also a record high for the year.

Investors are apparently relieved that the Conservative Party's majority in the general election will end the deadlock over Britain's departure from the European Union.

Media reports that the United States and China have reached a basic agreement on their "phase one" trade negotiations also lifted investor sentiment.

Market sources say buy orders were placed across the board as investors have become more willing to take risks.

They also say the dollar's rise against the yen is another factor behind the stock rally. A weaker yen helps to boost Japanese exporters' earnings.

Key words : postpone reschedule india
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Key words : abolition
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191213_22/

A Japan-sponsored resolution calling for the abolition of nuclear weapons has been adopted by the UN General Assembly.

The assembly passed the resolution on Thursday with support from 160 out of more than 180 voting countries.
It had been adopted last month by the assembly's First Committee, which deals with disarmament issues.

Among nuclear-weapon states, Britain and France backed the resolution, while Russia and China opposed it. The United States, an ally of Japan, abstained.

The resolution lists actions the international community must take immediately toward achieving a world without nuclear weapons.
It calls on all countries, especially nuclear states, to enhance transparency and mutual confidence regarding nuclear policy. It also calls on all countries to facilitate future-oriented dialogue.

The resolution was passed ahead of next year's UN review conference on the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. The conference is held every five years.

UN discussions on nuclear disarmament have been stalled due to disagreements between the US and Russia, and China's military expansion.

As the only country to have suffered atomic bombings, Japan wants to build on the resolution and serve as a bridge between nuclear and other states.
But it is unclear what role Japan will be able to play, given the opposition and abstention of major nuclear states including the US.

Key words : will begin
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20191213_04/

Japan will begin exporting apples to India for the first time on a trial basis. The South Asian nation is one of the world's largest consumers of the fruit.

Japan will make 10 shipments. The deliveries will begin as early as later this month. The country received approval for trial exports from the Indian government earlier this month. Permission was granted after 10 years of negotiations.

Japan can launch full-fledged exports if India confirms that Japanese apples are free of diseases, pests, and other problems.

Japanese apple growers are trying to boost exports, as domestic consumption is not increasing. Among the growers are those in the northern prefecture of Aomori.

The biggest importers of Japanese apples now are Taiwan and Hong Kong.

Market analysts see India as one of the most promising markets, as it has a population of 1.3 billion.

Key words : segment wrapping up the top stories of the week
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