this is business briefing. i'm sally bundock. a big pay—out could be on the cards for workers in germany, provided the powerful 2.3 million member ig metall union gets its way. but there may be big crippling strikes ahead before they get there. iam i am sally bundock at the world economic forum in davos. european leaders take centrestage today. and a quick look at the markets. pretty flat as europe's biggest economy, germany, often sets the tone with the industrial manufacturers that are the haired—z, cf the 22—2"

ee gay metall represents about 2.3 million workers and wants an above inflation 6% pay rise. the other key demand is the flexibility of switching to a 28—hour working week. the union is threatening more strikes. but one of the big concerns for companies is that unemployment is at a record low 3.6% so they're worried there won't be enough staff to fulfil all orders if those workers have the option of less hours. unemployment has also been falling across the rest of the eurozone as the global economy continues to pick up, so workers are in a strong position to demand higher wages. if they get them, it could prove helpfulfor meeting the european central bank's target inflation target ofjust below 2%. they've been struggling to do that but moving toward it will help them unwind their stimulus programme. let's get more on this story from damien mcguiness in berlin. welcome. how are the workers

justifying a 6% inflation busting pay rise? the past decade and a half has had a lot of wage restraint. even though the economy has grown in the past few years, we have had tough labour market reform about 15 yea rs tough labour market reform about 15 years ago, leading to a loss of wages. and then with the financial crisis from 2008, that also led to a loss of wage growth. wages have been co nsta nt for loss of wage growth. wages have been constant for a long time. many trade unions say it is time for wages to go up. companies, especially manufacturing companies, where many of these workers are employed, they are getting record profits along with record exports. they are saying it is time to get a share. the other

reason is, as you said, workers feel ina reason is, as you said, workers feel in a strong position, partly because of the low on employment rate. they know that actually employers need to hang on to them. half a million workers downing tools? yes. half a million over about a month and a half. that is because since january mainly we have had many localised small strikes. typically, strikes would not have taken place over more than an hour, a show of strength. today, bosses and rippers and it is will get together. there has been a deadlock. if it stays like that, we will have a better idea whether on

friday, or the weekend, they might start considering nationwide strikes 01’ start considering nationwide strikes or 24—hour walk—outs. that always has an impact, because we are talking many industries. that will have an impact. the problem for employers is if wages go up too much, that will hit germany's competitiveness. so far, there is no sign ofany competitiveness. so far, there is no sign of any side really backing down. for now, thank you. the 2018 world economic forum continues in davos. today the focus is very much on europe, with many political leaders descending on the swiss alpine resort of davos—klosters for the various events. let's get more on this story. give us more let's get more on this story. give us more detail about what to expect today. thank you. it is interesting today. thank you. it is interesting to see what damien had to say about

the day ahead in germany. angela merkel is here in davos. she obviously has has issues at home regarding negotiations between unions and company bosses and try to form a coalition government, but she is here today to try and inspired the leaders here, the company bosses, heads of state listening to her redress this afternoon. following her, we have president emmanuel macron, the president of france. earlier today we have the prime minister of italy. a very european focus today. there is a lot of attention on the us, which preparations for the arrival of president donald trump on thursday. and it is interesting, i was talking to someone who does know president trump and was part of an advisory group that was advising the donald trump administration some time ago. the group did disband in august of last year, as the policy is changed

of the donald trump administration. —— policies. this person is called rich lesser, the head of a global company with many clients in the public and private sector. i wanted his take one year on from donald trump getting elected. this is what he had to say. i was optimistic one year ago, perhaps even two years ago, about the us economy. we will see a lot of momentum in 2018. what is encouraging if it is notjust the us economies around the world are in the best place in a while in 2018. 0n the other hand, the state of the discourse in the us, the divisiveness, it remains extremely challenging and in many cases concerning. so, the economy feels pretty good. 0ther concerning. so, the economy feels pretty good. other parts are quite

challenging. he has managed to get through some changes, for example, us tax reform, which some argue is critical for the us economy and will hopefully spill over into the global economy in terms of growth this year. you mentioned the frustrations and the stalemate on capitol hill. what has he got right and what has he got wrong? i do notjust and business, but other policies.|j deeply believe, and perhaps it is just business people, we are stronger when we moved together. we need more consensus across stronger when we moved together. we need more consensus across the spectrum. we have been dealing with divisiveness for a decade, actually. i think there was hope that an outsider coming to washington would succeed in getting past some of that. unfortunately, that is not where we are right now. the discourse, especially on different topics coming up during the year, some of the comments at other times

in the year, it has really fostered a sense in the year, it has really fostered a sense of divisiveness, which does not help the us move forward. one of the key issues this year is the key issue of gender inequality and empowerment to women. co—chairs are all women who already vocalise their views. that is great. 0n key issues. this is something you look at in your organisation, the future of work, and gender in particular. how will this week make a difference for women who are disempowered around the world? the more we understand what good practices are around the world, the more we commit as a community to make things better, the n'ioi'e we community to make things better, the more we shine a light on places where it is not working in many communities around the world, where won'ien communities around the world, where women do not get an opportunity, with education, with business, anything, until we shine a light on the problems and focus on identifying what are practical and

real solutions people can take, it is hard to make progress. that was the chief executive of boston consulting group. i spoke to him he yesterday. there is so much going on in the days ahead. i will head back to you, but we will keep you up—to—date on the bbc, television, the radio, and on the internet. thank you. some other business stories now. the us senate has confirmed federal reserve governor, jerome powell, as the next head of the central bank. he'll succeed the current chairjanet yellen. the confirmation is widely expected to provide continuity in us monetary policy. the 64—year—old former lawyer will hold the job for a four—year term. walt disney is giving employees a one—time cash bonus of $1,000, joining a growing list of companies handing out awards in the wake of federal tax reform in the us. disney also plans to put $50 million

into a fund to help hourly employees with tuition costs. good news for them that is it for now. before we go, the markets. the markets are now. before we go, the markets. the markets a re pretty now. before we go, the markets. the markets are pretty flat. they have been catching their breath after rate next big. —— break—neck speed. that is it for now. the news briefing coming up. we will look at the global stories making news today. a new inquest opens today on private sean benton, who died at deepcut army barracks in surrey in 1995. private benton, who was 20,

was the first of four young soldiers found dead at deepcut over a seven year period. a brief inquest at the time ruled that it was a suicide. the new inquest was ordered after family lawyers got access to thousands of documents relating to his case, and will examine allegations of bullying at the base. our home affairs correspondent, june kelly, reports. sean benton passed out from his basic army training in the autumn of 1994. he had the field his boyhood dream. he was sent to deepcut barracks in surrey to finish his training. nine months after he arrived here, he was dead. he had five bullet wounds to his chest and a rifle at his side. his sister, tracy, remembers how he changed in the army. that is you and him? yeah. she is clear on what she wants from

the new inquest. let to find out what happened, what were his last moments? the bullying and the culture in that camp, why they let it go on. sean benton, he was found shot... his parents, harry england, did not live to see this new inquest. —— harry and linda. did not live to see this new inquest. —— harry and lindalj promised inquest. —— harry and linda.” promised i would carry on for her, but i feel sad, because they should get somejustice for but i feel sad, because they should get some justice for him. sean benton was the first of four young soldiers to die at deepcut over a seven—year period to be all suffered shotgun wounds. a fresh inquest on one of the four concluded she had taken her own one of the four concluded she had ta ken her own life. one of the four concluded she had taken her own life. sean benton died 23 years ago. now, for the first time, his days at deepcut will be examined in detail in public. gene kelly, bbc news.

this is the briefing from bbc news. the latest headlines: security has been tightened around a court in southern brazil wherejudges will decide whether to uphold the conviction of former president, luiz inacio lula da silva, on corruption charges. the us attorney generaljeff sessions has become the first member of president trump's cabinet to be questioned by the special counsel investigating allegations of russian interference in the presidential election. tens of thousands of people in the philippines have been forced to flee their homes as the country's most active volcano continues to fire huge plumes of ash and lava into the air. now it is time to look at the stories that are making the headlines in media across the world. we begin with time which covers us attorney generaljeff sessions being questioned by a special counsel into links with russia — it asks whether president trump will be next. an investigation leads the financial times — the paper sent undercover reporters to a fundraiser alongside some of britain's biggest

names in business — but they came back with reports of groping and sexual harassment. bloomberg looks at the british regulator halting rupert murdoch's bid to buy all of sky but its take is that the sky news channel could go — to ease concerns that the billionaire would control too much of the media. the making of britain's new name in tennis features in the times. kyle edmund's reached the final four of the australian open — ranked 49, he beat no 3 seed grigor dimitrov to get there. and the daily express here in the uk says there's an outcry over scrapped plans for a statue of former prime minister margaret thatcher. so let's begin. with me is mark davies — founder of strategy consultancy, camberton. welcome to you and thank you for joining us. starting with time's ta ke joining us. starting with time's take on the questioning ofjeff sessions over the russia

investigation and the question is now whether or not president trump will be next. the answer is no. it makes for a good headline but i think there is absolutely no way that the special counsel will jump from jeff sessions street to donald trump. this special investigation has been going on since made. time has been going on since made. time has returned to it over and over again. if the good read and they do interesting analysis of mueller, they are almost reverential. they are they are almost reverential. they a re interested they are almost reverential. they are interested in sessions because he was already controversial. he was controversial when appointed and also he