A record expenditure but the government says it will be spent carefully on the issue of congo and we need to enhance our defense capability to handle the security environment at the same time we also need to have appropriate control over the defense expenditure so we will strive to make it more efficient you know bleeding. Clue in. Japans growing Defense Budget is a boon for american arms makers tokyo buys weapons almost exclusively from the United States last Year American arms imports were valued at 675000000. 00. Its a deal in principle and one that will have many people feel relieved after hours of discussions Russia Ukraine and the European Union of reached a tentative gas deal that will go into effect on the 1st of january 2020 the deal was brokered right here in berlin and heres what we know about it. These pipes are front and center of a geopolitical crisis north stream 2 percents a new undersea route for russia to deliver gas to the e. U. Bypassing its neighbor ukraine in the midst of a conflict that started with russias annexation of crimea in 2014 whats at stake for ukraine up to 3000000000. 00 intransitive fees for gas coming from the orange gas field in western siberia it flows through the brotherhood pipeline crossing ukraine into slovakia for further distribution within the e. U. With the introduction of the north stream pipeline in 2011 much of the russian gas delivered to the e. U. Had a new route and north stream 2 will double the capacity leaving ukraine to worry not only about a major source of income but also its own demand ukraine depends on gas from russia but moscow has weaponized its supplies in the past turning off the spigot repeatedly in the 990. 00 s. Russian president Vladimir Putin says similar action is no longer a plan if. We are not going to sign any kind of contract with ukraine in order to stop gas translator no we are interested in this gas transit we are ukraine we want it its a convenient route incidentally the ukrainian route is longer than the route along the baltic sea it is longer and more expensive for us but nevertheless this route is worked out to central and to Southern Europe its good and were ready to keep it going to we will see. The next hurdle awaits north stream 2 before the weekend u. S. President trump is expected to impose sanctions on Companies Involved in the construction of the pipeline the u. S. Tries to limit russian gas supplies to europe and instead sell its own natural gas to their allies. David stern in kiev and i asked him whether ukrainians trust the word of the russian president. Well i guess you could say they dont really trust him very much but if the deal is signed it obviously will be a positive step forward in the relations between these 2 countries we are now in the 6th year more than 5 years russia and ukraine have been at odds with the russia annexed crimea back in 2014 and then russian supported forces have been fighting Ukrainian Forces in the east of the country and more than 13000 people have died there the relations between the 2 countries obviously because of that and. Further worsened we also have the case that gazprom some 3000000000. 00 to ukraine over odets according to the Stockholm Arbitration Court so you could say that trust in the russians isnt great at the moment but obviously if this deal is in is confirmed were waiting here they say theyve reached it in principle then this will be something that can be possibly built on to improve them in the future and i was david stern reporting from kiev lets take a look now at some of the other business stories making news around the world frances Competition Authority has fined google 150000000 euros for anti can head to behavior and for having unclear advertising on the google ads page European Countries have stepped up scrutiny of major u. S. Take companies and September Google agreed to pay nearly 1000000000 euros to french authorities to settle a fraud probe. German workers have more money in their pockets according to the German Statistics Office in the 3rd quarter of this year gross incomes rose by 3. 4 percent compared to the same period last year prices on consumer goods have only gone up 1. 5 percent even workers with more cash. And australias that record has up held a record breaking 77400000 euro fine imposed on german carmaker folks straight in for it you say v. W. Deceived customers and breached emission standards in a case linked to the diesel emissions scandal. The British Central Bank will soon have a new governor his name is Andrew Bailey and hell take over from mark carney in march 2020. In the past as the Deputy Governor of the bank of england he is currently serving as the head of the financial conduct of foreign t which cracks down on misconduct in the finance industry britain has delayed the appointment to due to brics it which will have a huge impact on the workings of the central bank. And the world banks China Economic update for december shows that growth there continues to be moderate but will begin to slow next year the lend us this china is on target to grow by 6 point one percent this year which is unchanged from its prediction in october the rate of growth is expected to drop to 5. 9 percent for next year though the World Bank Says short term risks remain and spite of the recent cooling and chinas trade war with the United States. Hong kong was formerly a shop till you drop paradise but its once mighty Retail Sectors facing a gloomy christmas the Retail Association says over 10 percent of the territories retailers thousands of shops could close in the next 6 months and that Economic Uncertainty because of the democracy protests. Hong kong is legendary for a shopping but the scenes of mayhem in a hong kong Shopping Mall just days before Christmas Show why there is little festive cheer for the territories retailers this year. Protesters are taking aim at hong kongs key Retail Sector to press home their demands for democracy. District elections last month showed strong support for protests but the demonstrators have disrupted christmas shoppers and clashed with police. And uncertainty about hong kongs future means that the mood among those who do venture out to places like times square is bleak. For the respect and us than before just because they were doing to have a situation says i think some more of us. Know such as christmas was to go by and if it is not saved go out and yes and not happy at all we are not very in a mood and yeah hong kong this is a really hard moment yeah. Pacific place is normally packed with bargain hungry consumers from Mainland China and local buyers getting ready for christmas much of the protesters im sure has been focused on chinas increasing influence in hong kong and mainlanders are staying away. Retail sales fell 25 percent in october the steepest drop on record christmas sales are expected to hit fresh record lows retailers are worried about their future. 7000. 00 shops out of 64000. 00 in the Asian Financial hub could be forced to close down in the next 6 months. And the other year tourists would pack out the star ferry to crowd the shopping bags of gyms out story across hong kong harbor but this yuletide the mood is music. With a wave of closures looming hong kongs retailers fear the writing is on the wall. Its peak season for all those who make a living from christmas especially in one small town in the south of mexico take a look. Its starting to look a lot like christmas and. The town in central mexico is known for its Christmas Tree ornaments especially glass balls. Each sphere is blown after being heated up to 750. 00 degrees celsius. Then comes the color its all done by hand in contrast to the cheaper chinese competition. But just look at that here and. These bubbles are very important to us in that you know i think that about 6070 percent of the population works in this sector. And you could say its the basis of the economy for the people they love us a liquid on the other. The handicraft began to take off in the 1960 s. On a small scale at 1st now the business of boggles provides around 10000 jobs and has made this town wealthy and widely known. Quantity only that it must have with their beautiful. Bodies and they come at a good price considering that theyre handmade by an artisan. You wont find them in just any old shopping center. Right and the variety is really impressive youll never get tired of all that beauty that goes up at the end. If. 50000000. 00 Christmas Tree ornaments are produced and club who follow every year according to the mexican economy the story half of the balls are exported many of them adorned with the famous face that of mexican painter free their kahlo. But thats awful business as a show for me in the team member len thanks for watching. Easily is considered a privilege. Millions of the nations city and moon residents suffer from air pollution. Mississippi is the mother of invention scientists and ordinary people are finding the air pollution with surprisingly simple ideas. 30 minutes w. Much. Indeed the name of climate change. Because most of. Comes. Much too soon people. Want to use to the end of their future. G. W. Dot com the 2nd major city the multimedia. Cutter. The big bang created todays world. 97 enough a historical turning point in politics business illusion come home run up people of the islamic revolution. Opens up making its initial flirtation but those are the strengths and states of emergency purposes into chaos coach john haas the 2nd respondent shams the people the friends the old her. Mom water crisis people. The start of an era that defines overmanaged today 979. 00 the big move to small steps december 23rd to double. The 2. From britain. Is a time together as one. Nation one. January. Also on the program australias Prime Minister responds to public criticism and cut short the face of the crisis