December 1, Friday, 2017 (2:00 p.m.) Read by Ms. Eriko Kojima and Ms. Sara Mcdonald

1. NHK has learned the Japanese government is set to choose April 30, 2019 as the date for Emperor Akihito’s abdication.
2. U.S. President Donald Trump has dismissed China’s diplomatic efforts to rein in North Korea’s missile program.
3. OPEC and other oil producing countries led by Russia have agreed to extend production cuts until the end of 2018.