interest, but it's absolutely vital. the story is told lots of society we pushed as far forward as we can to the front line. now the smells upset. the power and a lot of the stories that we cover a highly complex. so it's very important that we make them as understandable as we can to as many people as possible, no matter how much they know about a given chrisy. so issue, as always, is there a correspondence? that's what we strive to do. the hello, i'm adrian instead of going to this is counting the cost on which is 0. you know, we can look at a lot of business. i think it all makes this week a good deal. for extortion, ukraine agrees to contacts us and revenue from its mineral wells to the us. public guessing were ton little video help. washington reduce its dependence on china.

germany is stuck in start nation manufacturing. the main driver of its economy is faltering. so is the nation's business model. in danger of breaking up and kind of, you government fix it really. and as i'm asked more than the combined wells to the 4th 3rd of the world's population of the dance in just the 1st month of the year. so what's behind the extreme inequality gap kind of the bridge the seeing that as the foundation of the economy of a future critical minerals. a crucial for the production of high tech products including electric vehicles, mobile phones, a on infrastructure and weapons. it's estimated the very 5 percent of the well as well elements are in ukraine. keith has agreed to jointly develop its riches, including oil and gas with the us, instead of an investment fund. so ukraine's reconstruction. ukraine also wants guarantees on security and money for weapons. the us wants to break china is grip

on the wells middle supply chains. but is it a win win deal? or is ukraine being exploited? alexandra buyers reports for decades. ukraine's been known as the bread basket of europe. but it's also one of the continents, most mineral rich nations folding, vast reserves of elements needed to power technology like lithium and titanium. essential for batteries, aviation, and military industries. anything with a micro chip needs a rare earth mineral, and rapid advances are powering a global raise to develop and source these key raw materials. the ground beneath ukraine is believed to hold 5 percent of the world's total reserves, worth an estimated 12 trillion dollars. the u. s. has just a fraction of that. and for years china has been the world's number one supplier

for america, the world's biggest economy, that's become more and more of a problem. and he cannot make a national security risk. they all know so many american companies floor to mine and produce rad, within the us. and in order to avoid the chinese would take over putting in rack of commodities and build up potentials mine. there is an option for the americans, but more than half of those deposits are now in russian occupied territory where the worst of the fighting still rages. last year, the ukranian president presented a victory plan to western partners. foreign firms could gain access to that mineral wealth in exchange for continued support and help bringing an end to the war to meet what on the new might. these deposits are priceless. they with huge amounts of money, huge. that is why we need to protect it. so if we're talking about the deal,

that's what the americans want. then let's do a deal. us president donald trump has been pushing for access, but he wanted it to be in return for aid. he claims the us has already given keith by the way, throwing money around like it's cotton, candy and. busy it's, uh, it's a very big deal. it could, it could be a trillion dollar deal. it could be whatever, but it's rivers and other things. and even to lensky, refused to sign an agreement that would have given the us $500000000000.00 worth of ukraine's resource wealth. but no security guarantees. but then democratic republic of congo and russia made offers of their own looks. that's a good. yeah. you have to be ready to all follow american partners. when i say partners, i mean not certainly governmental and administrative structures, but also companies an opportunity for joint work if they showed interest. we on

file to be have significantly more results of this kind of then ukraine. trump says he'd be willing to do deals with russia to only out into european fears over warming ties between washington and moscow. the minerals deal is at the heart of zelinski, is pushed to win us support. he's made it clear, his priority is peace and security for his country, but any agreement has to benefit both sides and protect the future of generations of ukrainians. alexander buyers, alda 0 for counting the cost, are joining us now from washington, dc is grace and bhaskar. i'm, she's director of the critical mineral security program at the center for strategic and international studies coach happy with a set price. but is this deal a win win for both sides, or is ukraine being exploited somehow? does it have any choice? thank you so much for having me here today. it's definitely a very exciting time in the world of minerals diplomacy. so i think there's one

really big point worth noting, which is that the deal now looks very different to the deal that we're going to initially be negotiated originally. for example, president trump wanted to re be repaid for $500000000000.00 of military and a through you don't mineral resources. however, there was a lot of controversy around and figure pressing zelinski wouldn't agree to it because he said, well, we haven't spent, you haven't given us a 500000000000. we know that figure to be closer to a 128000000000. now present zelinski however, didn't see any fear security guarantees included which he was really hoping for. so the final agreement is a much softer landing spot that you know, a fund will be set up. we're future resources, so not things that are currently being mind. but future resources, 50 percent of the revenue, the generate will go into the find. but again, it can be used for investment in ukraine. personally, while i think that, you know, present to lensky, didn't really have

a choice if you wanted to continue kind of having the support he needs in, in the face of conflict. but i do think that he came out with a much better deal. the us is not going to secure minerals from this in the next year or 2, because he negotiated that it's only for future asset. that means that not only do we sold a lot of mapping to do of ukraine, but on average from the time that we identify a deposit to the time that it's producing is 18 years. so the us is kind of in it for the long run here, but in a shorter term present, lensky has an agree met with support from the us. is the any kind of precedent for this sort of deal hasn't been done before? you know, it's not really a tool out of the us foreign policy play, but, but what we've seen is already that president trump, is it a very aggressively incorporated minerals into foreign policy annex and research canada going after greenland for rent or is ukraine for there is precedent from other countries, however, so when we look at the democratic republic of congo,

back in 2007 after the conflict, trying to negotiate a $3000000000.00 infrastructure deal, whereby they gave the t or c $3000000000.00 in exchange for night, for access to $93000000000.00 a cobol and copper and co lazy. and obviously we've seen that the geography is become of, it's been a very strategic place for china where they've established that dominant. so there's some precedent elsewhere, but it's new for america. what are the implications of the fact that many of these minerals are under territories that is currently occupied by russia? so there's a lot of minerals and occupied land. there's a lot of minerals non occupied land, so there's minerals all around ukraine. ukraine is mineral rich. you have a country that has about point 4 percent of the world land and 5 percent of the world's resources. now it's important to note a couple of things. one of the big, big red flags that you know, we've seen in the last couple days is that present who is looking to cut his own minerals deal, not only with minerals and russia,

but in russian occupied territory. that's not actually his own done, but it has a lot of resources, but we know at least a 3rd of what sits on that land is probably cold, which is a little bit less of a resource that you know are chasing after you know, fiercely at this moment, but more broadly is the resources are across ukraine. the question is, is, will the private sector go and given the challenges on the land? and if the us is able to source these resources from ukraine, what does this mean for china? ultimately, china has, like we're going to, let's look at rear versus an example, because it's, we are a lot of the, the rhetoric is focused in the negotiations. rivers, obviously being vital for, you know, national security because they're in defense technologies. it'd be a semi conductors and energy technologies like wind turbines. china currently hold processing capabilities for 90 percent of the world, 3 errors, but they don't actually have gone much. they have about

a 4th of the world's rivers, and then they strategically source from across the world and process them. a project like this starts to create a comp competitor, rare or is processing facilities are extremely expensive to build. but in the last 5 years, the us government has spent $300000000.00 under trump one invited to build rare or separation facilities in texas in california. however, because we have less than 1.5 percent of those are rare. are we are sourcing them, are looking to source and from other places. what we're hoping to do is have an alternate supply to china. the china will still be dominant for many decades to come price on. it's been great to talk to your accountant, the cost manufacture date for being with us. thank you for having me. the german economy, the wealth, 3rd largest, was once the n v of europe. it's now seeing global rivals waste positive. g d p has very grown since the pandemic and the nation has been a recession for the past 2 years. the manufacturing sector,

which was traditionally considered europe's powerhouse, is faltering exports of folding. and companies are flashing thousands of jobs as they struggle with rising costs. many experts say the german economic business model is broken, but it will discuss start with, i guess, shortly. but 1st on, when it came reports from the city of bites, law, the crowd is continental workers gathers outside the workplace and vets. not many of them have been told the jobs that the composite jobs are going over. they are trying to fight the decision. this is the last year we still felt about $300.00 employees would be transferred to over the occasions button, housing and frankfort event. in january. the decision was made not to do that anymore to completely eliminate over job see effect which means the police outlook. so many of these people look, all the people have a full house is on

a plans people's lives and families depend on it and is hoping wiped out and one stroke because it's like everyone else. i'm losing my job. i started training here and never imagined this. i thought i could carry on working here for a while because i was enjoying it and it was going well of the job losses. here are some domestic of the problems. the oldest and most of industry has been facing in recent times, but it doesn't stop that. many german industries are struggling to remain competitive with millions of people unemployed and millions more worried about the future. as a time when gemini is falling behind in new technologies, while labor costs remain high, many german experts say the economy is stagnating. so what kind of incoming government do about it? so that the great expectation of from german phones is that is a more to the it can with policy. so really look at the past and last months, at least you have seen

a lot of uncertainty among firms and firms are looking forward to see a picture of his perspective policy. that's what firms are looking for. the political policies agree something must be done, but not what dominant came out. his era in western germany. we're joining us now from brussels. is natal spouse. he is director and senior economist at the european center of international political economy. good to have you with us again because the incoming government certainly has a lot on it's plates. what should its priorities be? economically speaking? well, the city you is in the driving seat and you know, having a coalition negotiation with the social democrats, much of what it will be suggesting real, strongly rely on his agenda 20 for t which for sees text cuts. it cuts um a good next ation of pre roll chrissy. a few tweaks here and there is concerns the

single market and it will be very challenging to press through these, the monster with his own democrats in my eyes. we should not so much talk about the medication of the depth rate, but really as to why for cold, potentially unprecedented reforms. the meaning dad's structural reforms should be set on the very up on the priority list of reforms takes costs for workers, takes cards for businesses, reduction, social security contributions, energy security are leading to the lower energy prices compared to what we see right now. all that will be where we cost too small. oh, for the social democrats, but i think this is watch digit them in government. the next german government, if there will be the next german government composed by the conservatives and it's over democrats. needs to to do is to push for some of the ties,

what's going wrong. so john is the german economic model, broken? why has joined the industry failed to remain competitive? a? yeah. okay. i'd be a small company. good morning, economic model. it's of course, a big feeling these days in germany being widely discussed, many germans and my fellow citizens here in germany. they are very much concerned about the state of germany's economy and where it is heading to in the future. i wouldn't say that everything is bad, so we still have many companies that do well. export companies, service and sector companies. smaller, medium sized companies, including large companies that are still leading in global in each market. we still have a well functioning labor market, high employment, rising view of wages, but at the same time, over the past 12 months or so, we've seen many select ship companies, you know,

the big names and it wants to manufacturing the big names in germany's automotive industry. starting to lay off people in germany starting to close down. barnes and not only postponing investments in germany, but also announcing that they will in the future interest more outside bureau then in your own country, off at warner, and many people in germany, hearing these stories, they are increasing the feeling insecure. do you see germany returning to its, its status as the economic powerhouse of, of you or any time soon? the journey will most likely be main economic powerhouse of europe. but it will never get back in a position that, you know, it's it how in the decades full like world war 2,

the growth has changed. so germany will probably manage to main, maintain a solid industrial base. there will be a few industrial leaders here. and there and manufacturer need the automotive industry of the service industry. but global competition is going to intensify for there will be much more internationally competitive companies that will be much more competitive than germany companies alone for the reason that companies in these 2 jurisdictions, china and the united states, they have in front of their doors strip a large single market where companies can scale to competitive nose to international competitiveness. and that's a very different story in germany. we do not have a single marketed to you, but to us manufacturing they've to be with us on catching the cost super. thank you very much. what i mean? well, i'll jump it is economy as faltering portugal is expected to be

a clear out performer in europe. this year. economic growth is accelerating, mainly driven by the tourism industry, the nation's aiming to attract for an investment to grow its economy even further. however, like the rest of the e u, it faces potential us terrace, the portuguese permit us to have slammed donald trump strengths. but how much cloud does portugal really have globally? i spoke earlier with ricardo across the gym and, and see what i said. the portuguese trade and investment agency. i began by asking him the very question we are rising enough terms of our importance on the level stage. indeed, portugal today can be a platform for global outreach. so many different countries may different concepts . we have the traditional sectors which we have specialize over the previous decades. and at the same time we have increasingly use sectors which are more than izing, which are becoming ever more competitive onto the national scene. so at this current time, i think the push to as a no great opportunity to bridge that road from being

a great risk destination into being also a very good place. excellent place to do business. you export more to germany than you. it was how important to portugal is, is germany as an economy. how important do you think germany is still to the you in terms of economic, a gross quote. germany is obviously still a major power house in terms of the economy and will remain. so because the i was gonna say you, you say it will remain. so do you, do you think you really kind of we just have the election? yes. vehicle. so what do you think the priorities which for germany's new government will be well approached in germany is more or less than common seem around europe, europe for the, you know, previous seconds has specialized in so called mid technologies. and the challenge for european countries is indeed to migrate some mis acknowledges into high technology in which the u. s. and china has been able to focus more in the recent sort of past. although when you look at the conceptual condition and background conditions, what you'll see is that in the, in europe,

you have highly qualified people. and you have a borderless market in the u. so it's a huge market. and then you have these countries that provides us, what should i provide, plucking for other customers for other in, you know, regions of the world where they are comfortable affinities, where there is, uh, their passports, the length. and that in that process perspective, i think that to you is a competitive force and who main. so that's obviously we have to have more investments and then these frontier technologies, that's mental technologies. us and synthetic biology such as robotics such as a i, you know, the things that to the public perception today associates more with the us in china . but that indeed in portugal. and now overall across here, we can also do totes, you go, may be a dynamic expanding, growing economy right now. i mean can, can that be said the hold of the you to a certain extent, as you say, it's playing catch up behind the us and china kind of ever, you think being equal in terms of economic talents, of the us and china. well, we all understand that to the admins that says the background,

the deal is different from the west and always it's in china as well. so they are the think s as in europe, that must always be uh, you know, understood. but that said, what we see in portugal is that, you know, the export side of our economy has grown from 30 percent of g d p to you to go to 60 percent the g d p. as of today, you know, the form direct investment is still confused to flow. and indeed in the past, the recent past, we've been able to attract investments from countries that until now we're not, you know, having portugal really on the radar. and that today's the, our president trump seems intent on offending. we'll economic or just political see that as a flight or an opportunity when we see that the current trade between us in europe is very dynamic between the 2 countries. so we have the most favored nation principal. so basically we have very little terrace from both sides. and so there's nothing to reciprocate about. and, but indeed, what you see is that the,

the linkages, economic linkages between the 2 constants are very strong. so you don't see president trump to make america great again, protectionist policies as dangerous in any way. i think that said, well should remain, uh, you know, as cooperative as possible. so free trade benefits all in the and then type of section. and as you read, tells us that as history has told us, is indeed a tax on the companies on consumers. so unfortunately, we strive to remain open very friendly and attract some smart as well. because it's been great to talk to you on counting the cost many things to the for the wireless . thank you. in 2024, on average of newly for new 1000000000 as women to each week, bringing the total to more than $2700.00 super rich people globally. the wealth is ballooning. it searched by $314000000000.00 in january alone. that's an increase of $10000000000.00 a day. that's more than the combined wealth of 2800000000 people who make up

a poor us 3rd of humanity. the tax, the super rich movement says that it would take $15000000.00 work cuz i didn't tie a year to collectively on that same amount of money or more than $50.00 international organizations. a cooling on g 20 of months to follow through on the pledge to ensure the super rich of text. last year, the group's finance ministers agreed to cooperate to tax the wealthy more fairly. the organizations also urging g 20 leaders to invest the billions of dollars raised in factoring poverty, climate crises, and ending extreme in equality south africa, which now hose the g. 20 presidency. that's cool for it. quality reduction to be placed, the costs of economic policy making. joining us now from grand canal aria is alex called him, he's the chief executive of the tex justice. that was good to have you with this alex. why is it the fortunate few have been able to a mass such a huge amount of wealth?

you know, we live in a, a time when compared to 50 or a 2 years ago. we've seen this public narratives pushed by, you know, corporate law this and, and we'll see individuals, particularly controlling loud pumps of the media. but somehow we need very significant extreme wells in order for our economies to work better and thoughtfully evident shows exactly the opposite. our economies would a better deliver stronger gross, better outcomes for us as human beings, when we have low arena quality. and that's why we used to have a very high margin tax rates on extreme wells, on very large and corporate profit rates as high as 1890 percent. even in some countries they've come right that we've had this race to the bottom of a decades, particularly since the 1980s may affect to that is not the we've seen high groves

of course we haven't in front of in growth has slowed them stagnated. over that period, what we've seen is a wrong using run print in a quality used inequalities that are associated with all sorts of worst comes for us as societies, increasing fulls and life expectancy and, and reductions and the rate of progress and things like public education availability this inequality all the sensitivity qualities laid by the extreme wealth of a building as it really damaging the societies. and increasingly now we see that damaging of democracy is to, you only have to look at around the world to see effective countries where that political power associated with the extreme wealth ability. is it really starting to undermine all of our abilities to choose governments and to hold those governments to account? so how do you go about texting the super rich? when wealthy individuals are able to hire the welf across various

jurisdictions and then incredibly complicated financial structures, an, an on tax favorites. how do you get rid of tech savings? a look at all of these issues are about basic transparency. all we able to see who is the ultimate beneficial under the warm blood, each human being behind a company or a trust, or a foundation of a partnership or another legal data. once we have that information in the public domain, then we come through all of this. it's almost impossible for places to operate. he says tax havens, you know, cuz it's not just offering a low tax rate to money that's being brought from somewhere else. it's. it's ensuring secrecy. so the potential thursdays in the countries count, see who the owner is. if we end up secrecy we, we really talk through this. so that means we need public registers of the

beneficial evidence of companies. every company that the set top or trust of the other legal vehicles. and so we need that information in the public domain. and look, we need that obliquely, anybody, because market still work best to win some of the participants in markets. a hiding through. they all. you know, be knowing this is a recipe for corruption and market reading and so on. so both for the market and for the state to work properly for states to be able to tax everybody fairly, instead of letting some of the wealthiest people step out of taxation, even a slight benefit from being talked about societies and simply isn't sustainable. and you know, the rest of the day when you will really address those qualities is by ensuring transparency and making sure that goes across jurisdiction. alex has been great to have you on catching the cost manufacturing the for being with us. thanks very much

. i. and that's a show for this week, if you'd like to comments on anything that you've seen, i'm at a set of goods on x. trying to remember to use the hash tag h a c t c o, you could drop us a line, comes in the cost to l, just 0, don't net is our email address. as always, there's plenty more of your online account 0 dot com slash ctc. that takes you straight to our page. today you'll find individual reports links at a time additions for you to capture. but that's it for this edition of counting the cost. i'm adrian, so they've gone from a whole team here. and so ha, thanks for being with us. the news on al jazeera is next connecting communities. what would you like to see happen for a new syria to emerge? there's no way we could live in a country again where i see it is for displacement is part of our presence. opening up the conversation representation methods. we haven't had the best representation of african. so for us,

it's about solving that positive representation pockets with fresh perspectives from less are heard. voices the stream explores the key issues of our time on algebra for the inhabitants of indonesia is remote islands. health care is home delivered by so 1st nurses and for them to use as a veteran nurse hands over the readings to adult a medical crisis images underlining. the pivotal role of these dedicated cares. amy, now are an island called a, with this documentary on a jersey the agriculture revolution promised abundance, but it's damaging the planet to this system is destroying the habitat that dr. leeway explodes. how sacrificing by diversity, if a maximum view is leading, complete, and security, and threatening of very existence,

leaving me any se, on able to adapt to climate change, the need to rethink what we so full hell. the plan is on. i'll just say era. the, the gauze has ceased, 5 digging in dallas law says no tweaks of onto the 2nd phase of taking place with us right now. the hello on elizabeth for autumn, and this is alger 0 life from door. how is so coming up here right now, not in a very good position. you are allowed to be in the position that he's apples to be right around the world. the beginning of the war, not in a good position. i was i don't have the cards right. now.