free—trade arrangements will open new markets for seoul. combine all of these five nations, they have a population of 45 million people. this will certainly boost south korea's market access. the talks started in 2015 in the five separate bilateral pacts will eliminate duties on about 5% of goods and services. the government expects this will drive economic growth in the next decade by improving trade, creating at least 3000 jobs. the government in seoul says that the agreements will provide a third route to enter the north american market amid rising concerns over the protectionist trade practices by the united states. in short the korea to turn the central american nations

muchas gracias for the new arrangement. this comes as the spat between seoul and washington gets worse over steel tariffs. that is right. it is not only rewriting the free—trade arrangement, but now seoul has a wide ranging complaint to challenge the antisubsidy duties slapped on seoul. the tariffs are a whopping 50%. seoul is crying foul as it does not want countries to be hit by this tariff, while other exporters like japan and canada have been included. this ongoing negotiation between the koreans and the united states on free trade is happening now. lots of detail on that story. let's go elsewhere now.

the world's biggest miners seem to be digging up profits by the truck load as well as commodities. with the global economy firing on all cylinders there's resurgent demand for everything from coal to copper and this week we've already seen strong numbers from bhp billiton and anglo—american. and it seems the world's number one mining company glencore willjoin them when it gives us its latest update in about 90 minutes' time. but it's not all plan sailing. the democratic republic of congo is key to its position as a leading supplier of metals to the electric car industry. and it's lobbying heavily against impending legal changes there. it's unclear whether the president will allow new law which would increase the tax bill for glencore and other international miners and limit how much of their profits they can take out of the country. and glencore is also reported to be looking for ways to expand its agriculture business.

any big acquistions would limit the amount of cash the company can return to shareholders through dividend payments. with me is nitesh shah who is a commodities analyst at the investment firm etf securities. nice to see you. we are given a bit of background there. in terms of glencore, hallett fair compared to some of its rivals? —— how will it fare. we see demand for most medals rising, and that comes after a period of relatively slow growth. demand across the globe is rising. the china dominic situation in china —— the situation in china and the us, they grow well. a lot of the miners have not invested a lot in mines in the past few years when

prices were weak. now prices are going up and we hope to see them invest more in the minds so that there is more metal available. —— mines. they should come out with robust numbers like bhp billiton and others have done so far. but what about the future? we mention some of the challenges facing glencore. at the challenges facing glencore. at the same time, they are in a sweet spot. they can afford to reinvest and look at capital expenditure after yea rs of not and look at capital expenditure after years of not feel to do so. you make that is right. across the mining space, we see an increase in mining space, we see an increase in mining investment. but to put it in context, we have had a protracted period of investment destruction. context, we have had a protracted period of investment destructionm has been one of the longest and most deepest periods of destruction since the early 1990s. and i don't think we will go back to the 1990s levels of investment again, just because the large countries like china are

no longer growing to the same extent. so i think miners will be cautious in terms of how much investment they will put back in. but now is a good time to invest, evenif but now is a good time to invest, even if the cycles are somewhat shorter, and we are seeing less. even if the cycles are somewhat shorter, and we are seeing lessm you were an investor and you were thinking about your portfolio, which you think this was a good time to have some key mining stocks in there? even if they don't increase their dividends or give back to shareholders? i think it is a moderately good time because the miners seem to have got their act together at this point in time. but the real time to have got it would bea the real time to have got it would be a couple of years ago, when they have been slashing down their costs. because that is the point in time when the price reacted most to the good behaviour. thank you so much rejoining us. we appreciate that. we will update you and it will be on the bbc business page online as well.

there is one company that encapsulates all of china's ambitions, and that is alibaba. the halo effect of their runaway success have given it confidence to assert its own city as a hub capable of driving innovation. robin brant has been to hangzhou to see how alibaba's aspirations have been influencing other companies there. his base is a third—floor office in a grotty block in hangzhou. a city thatis a grotty block in hangzhou. a city that is now so dominate synonymous

with china's ambition. —— that is now synonymous with china. hangzhou's success is that history. it is at the southern tip of the grain can now. it is a place that has long looked out to what is beyond the horizon. when china reformed its economy, this was one of the first places each age. but a company that has been here for almost 20 years and changed china, one that has changed china, even though you can't see it. and at the helm of a company is a man who could almost walk on water. his name is jack ma, who founded alibaba, an online retail giant that has morphed into finance, with a web that sprawls over china. it has helped

create a multi— colour multi— million—dollar ecosystem. —— billion. and that ecosystem is centred on hunger. —— huns oil. —— hangzhou. very interesting. now let's brief you some other business stories. shares in the world's biggest retailer walmart has seen their biggest one day fall in more than 30 years. they closed down 10.2% at just over $94. it comes after the company reported disappointing online sales figures for the christmas period. walmart says it going to try and drive more traffic to its main website rather than the other brands it owns as it tries to fight off competition from amazon and others. the news briefing is here injust a minute. i will see you in a second.

we will dig deep into some of the stories across the media in a moment. but first, it isjust stories across the media in a moment. but first, it is just six weeks until the deadline for companies to report their gender pay disparities. so far almost a thousand have responded out of an expected nine thousand. and to date it shows 73% pay men more than women. nina warhurst reports. it is time to answer the question — what does every man and woman in your company get paid? and if you like double their salaries, what is the figure in the middle of each sex, and what is the gap between those two figures? of companies,

this figure was higher for men. 15%, it was higher for women. this figure was higher for men. 15%, it was higherfor women. what this figure was higher for men. 15%, it was higher for women. what this data does not look at is any difference in salaries between men and women who were doing the same job. but what it does show is that while there were lots of women lower paid jobs, women aren't only be big salaries in the same way as men. at clydesdale yorkshire bank, men and 37% more than women. there was literally four days of meetings, and there was only one female. there we re there was only one female. there were almost four times as many lower paid women —— women in lower paid jobs. it has been lonely at times. i regularly find myself in positions where there is not nearly as many women. we have set ourselves a target. by 2020, we want to make sure that there is 40% of women in our most senior roles. i think that is quite bold, and i think that ever and financial services should be making those kinds of targets and

progressing towards them. six weeks ago, around 8000 firms still to report, and then come the bigger question is: what exactly do the full figures tell us? and what should and can be done? nina warhurst, bbc news. brea kfast breakfast is in 15 minutes with charlie stayt and naga munchetty. this is the briefing from bbc news. the latest headlines: survivors of the florida school shooting have arrived in the state capital to push for gun control. president trump says he wants to ban ‘bump—stock‘ devices that turn rifles into rapid—fire weapons. washington says north korea pulled out of high level talks with the us at the last minute, stifling hopes for a thaw in relations. there are concerns that the multi—billion dollar project to build africa's biggest hydroelectric dam could provoke a regional conflict. the dam is being built by ethiopia. but egyptians say it could leave their country facing serious water shortages.

now it is time look at the stories that are making the headlines in media across the world. we begin with the gulf news. and syria where under fierce bombardment hundreds of thousands of people are trapped in rebel—held eastern ghouta. it's claimed that at least 250 people have been killed there since sunday night. the times reports staunch government supporters of brexit, led by conservative mp jacob rees—mogg, have written to uk prime minister theresa may insisting that britain must retain "full regulatory autonomy" after it leaves the european union. the telegraph says uk labour leader jeremy corbyn has launched a fresh attack on the city of london by promising to bring financiers to heel as "the servants of industry" if he becomes prime minister.

in the ft one of the city of london's most prominent female executives has accused law firms and other partnerships of presenting a skewed gender pay gap analysis due to the fact some of their best—paid male staff are excluded from the data.