as bloomberg spoke down with the russian prisoner -- former prisoner in one of his first interview since being released or it china's money rate doubled the most since 2011. the move comes as the central bank injects cash. german dinner markets -- grocery mark is taking a seat at your dinner table. backstreet's back -- all right. band's new the boy deal and what it means for the record industry.

welcome to "countdown." i am mark barton. bloomberg reporters are standing by across the world ready to deliver the stories that will drive your day. china's falling money market rate. withe also in berlin german supermarkets appearing in the u.k.. back -- hyde with how the backstreet boys are one example of a change in the record industry. oil tycoon with ex -- after being released from prison.

>> exists apart to the assets of --. he said he would be happy to give you a job. make -- he was joking. maybe he was mocking you. how does that make you feel? >> actually, -- as a joke. i know that right up until the very end, he is trying to convince the country's leadership not to free me. only because he was personally afraid of something. a man who wants to jokes -- joke equal on a podium with

integrity and footing should not use the power of the state to get him. >> some would say that effectively legalizes what, i guess, someone argue what is the extra procreation -- appropriation of the assets. how do you feel about that and bp? >> i agree with the idea but when you are doing business, it you can do anything you want that isn't prevented by the law. what bp did is entirely lawful. and another mentor, whether it was ethical and whether it is a

,hould be concerned with ethics that every company and society has to answer that one for themselves. >> give us a little bit more background to all of this metorkovsky and ross scenario. >> starting with bp, your member that they got a stake -- when different state. it was a joint venture in russia. they got a heil of cash and got this one percent investment in russia's will largest -- russia's largest oil producer. thertling revelation that ceo wanted him left in prison was --

he gave a press conference and said that is nothing to worry about mr. khodorkovsky being a free man. he has no intention of trying to get his assets back. he does not want to go back into business and he does not want what used to own it back in any form. becausen sleep easy khodorkovsky is not interested in recovering these assets? >> i guess so. at the same time, it would be embarrassing if this allegation which we cannot confirm -- they have not responded to -- was actually proven to be true. that would sort of indicate, as mr. khodorkovsky is saying, that he is a true oligarchs. he is able to influence the political environment in russia.

in any case, no. there is no immediate legal officers -- obstacles for bp. >> give us a snippet about the rest of the interview with mr. khodorkovsky. we will play the rest of it later this hour. you ask him about the worst experience he had during his 10 years in prison. twice i did ask him what the worst day was like. he said there had been 4000 of them. mikhail khodorkovsky, when he went into prison, he was russia's richest man in at a fortunate something like eight ou dollars. he was sent to an area of russia 4000 miles from the capital. we talked about his time there and what he liked for christmas. >> stay with "countdown." we will have more from that interview today on bloomberg television.

he will describe his single most difficult day in prison. emperor's earth day has been followed by a a robust economic report and eight cents a rally rallye nikkei -- a sansa for the nikkei. the company is seemingly on a roll. we're joined now from hong kong. good morning, john. >> happy christmas, mark. >> the boj released and the nikkei has reached its highest level since 2007. >> the third hours yet to be shot, but so far, look at 2013 as a fairly, almost progressive -- certainly progressive but almost an achievement. seen it far more detailed as far as the bank of japan revealing true reports today.

the government saying that the first time since 2009 of october they have not use the word deflation. that is quite a breakthrough there. they have also upgraded their assessment of private consumption since april. also reasoning -- raising its view of corporate sentiment. it is all very encouraging. the key one there is that they did not once refer to deflation. in this report, not at all. inflation is more of a watchword now than deflation. fornikkei went above 16,000 the first time since 2007. it is a pretty good encouraging into the air -- and to the year -- end to the year. again, it is under a bit of scrutiny.

plant ishima reactor definitely a big question makr over that -- mark over that. >> let's talk about china. the money market rate is a big talking point today. massive cash crunch. the government will inject money to try to make more money in the system and ease the crunch. the interbank rank in the back -- in the last rate -- we doubled to 8.8%. the most since february of 2011. the central bank is injecting funds into open bank operation for the first time in three weeks. it is now 5.4% up. there is more money sloshing around the system. they have done it again. they had a yield of only 4.1%.

it shows you how aggressive they are to try to ease this cash crunch. central bank has done so. japan and china, active and proactive. in 2013 ilast time will get to ask you about the cricket, so i will make the most of this ernie or 40 seconds. the last time we spoke, england was 2-0 down. they have now lost and graeme swann has retired. what is the perspective in england's ashes in australia. >> i would rather discuss tennis. words, all of these calling england players having their head up their backside and so on. not a great atmosphere. they're trying to salvage pride. this is clearly in massive disarray. this really is quite different.

>> i think you are right. perfectly summarized. happy christmas. see you later. >> happy christmas, mark. u.k. you again -- as choppers shop for dinner, they are turning more to german markets. we have murder -- more on how the german chain stores are attracting customers. what is the retail environment like their? talk about the retail environment in germany, i will tell you a story about mince pies. which magazine did a survey of a pies offered by retailers and the number one mince pie in the u.k. can be obtained at little, a german store. i think that is extraordinary.

it cannot number one. that only is it is the cheapest 79.ne pound you can buy six mince pies. offering six is pies for 12 quit 99. nearly 13 quit. -- quit -- quid. is aight think that this pure freak accident but the german retailer, a hard discount retailer, would end up with the best mince pies and -- in b ritain. it is a strategy. it is working for them. it is a strategy of providing all the goods to win up market, heeledealed -- well- shopper. in the 12 weeks till december

the ninth, the big fall retailers in the united kingdom, they all lost market share and to gain get? the gainers? it is quite a story to tell. the story written by one of our reporters in london, she told me when we were discussing this that she had made a visit to little and nearly got run over by a jagged -- jag. >> i know you have been doing a bit of digging to find the cheapest christmas dinner. bit have just done a little of digging for that one, mark, because you can buy the cheapest christmas dinner, which consists of turkey, potatoes, carrots, chris is putting, all of that -- you can i that you shop around for two pounds 73.

that is a total of 21. 85.- 21. 27 pounds 33. >> shopping in germany, is a bit of a different phenomena to shopping here in the u.k., isn't it? >> i went to visit one here near the office because i had not been to one. i wanted to see what it was like. they have all their setups in boxes. i take the top of the box and you serve yourself out of the box. it is absolutely no-frills. it does not sound like it is the same at the u.k. in the moment. i went there and came out and the one thing i reflected was, i did not even know it was christmas. i don't think they had christmas decorations in their. the other thing i can tell you about shopping generally in here,y, i have just moved

is that you cannot make up a list and go shopping because you cannot be sure that you're going to have whatever it is on that list when you actually go there. i think it is because we are in the former east germany. you go to the shop and then you decide what to have for dinner. i will be back with more than the next hour. >> david tweed. the backstreet boys are back. not only with new music, but a new way of keeping control of their management. caroline hyde is here. wayhave they changed the they are making music tackle this legendary band? likes less taken back to the nine -- old-school. that stock it -- let's talk about "i want it that way." that is when they got really annoyed with their manager, claiming they -- the former manager cheated them out of millions of dollars. now they're coming back. they launched a new album in 2013. >> i will -- "i want it that

way." >> the classic. they're coming back. they're avoiding traditional record company contracts. they want more control and they're going for the label services company. it is much more like having a consultant. it means they get far more money. on average, they get about 75% of the money they rake in. about 15-20%. , potentiallyay with her former contract, they would have only seen but 15%. >> even with the services they have to pay the cost? >> they do. they have to pay all the costs. slightly more dependence on choosing your own team. you hire the management, the talent, they are in control of the marketing and promotion. there is a new -- forming around this. a big one in offering

label services. it is forcing the hand of these older generation labels. warner music, universal music. they are having to set up their label services because older bands are -- >> but you still have to pay to produce the record, you have to have the management team in place. that is forggest the more established artist. >> it is. you need money in your bank if you're going to be able to afford to take this kind of stranglehold on your own career. -- likes of asked the toys peter gabriel used to be in genesis. the petrol always. -- petrol boys. they are able to pay their own recording costs. they're able to pay it without the advance from the record company. the balance of power is shifting. it is being disruptive of the music industry. these older generation companies are becoming far more

transparent, showing where these costs are going because of the light -- the likes of these labels service companies are giving more money to the acts. >> there is another act that is shaking up the music industry but she is not pleasing anyone. -- everyone. >> the self-titled fifth album called "beyoncé" sold direct to itunes. the firstt loans in day. she's getting people to pay $15.99 per cd. whatjay-z has done samsung. -- it with samsung. she disrupted a bit there. what she is disrupting is the retail is getting. he likes of amazon and target -- it is target which is very close. if the second-biggest discount change. that chain. they are not stocking the cd at

all. they said, you should have given it to us at the same time. amazon is only selling it through mp3. walmart is selling and beyoncé can say thank you. every shopper in there got the first $50 of their hopping -- holiday shopping paid for by beyoncé. he'll imagine however that if shopping would have been? >> she is still number one in tens of countries. even though amazon and targets are not stocking it. the album is a massive success. >> album -- amazon is talking about not promoting it. >> up next, you heard about the elevator pitch, but have you ever actually done it in an elevator? we will show you the tel aviv hotel that has made this networking tactic into a real- life scenario. ♪

>> welcome back to "countdown." think you have a million dollar idea? investors are hungry for start ups but short on time. they're building in tel aviv the elevator pitch. if you convince a team of fund your idea before you hit the floor, your life could change forever. >> is the 49th floor. this is the elevator.

this is the elevator pitch. >> his neighbors caught me. >> my start up uses mobile phones to detect cancer. of consumersly 94% all over the world do not buy shoes online. >> thank you. but luck. -- good luck. >> it takes about one minute 20 seconds to rocket to the top and back. that is how long the start ups have two convince a judge's they deserve the $100,000 prize. >> thank you for giving me the time. i have a great idea that i have been dying to tell us. it goes like this -- you know how everyone loves a looks, right? >> some pitches were more polished than others. now, how using e-books do you show what you've read?

i this great idea -- it is a shows the book collection in a way the bookshelves would be. >> it solves a problem that is not worth solving. >> they had a further 10 minutes to flesh out their ideas, it ranged from issues can are to a canine health monitor. scanner to ae canine health monitor. mobile.er was the a we have technology to have mobile phone detect cancer. anywhere, under any conditions that a mobile phone can be used. as for me -- >> do you think i have a chance? >> is back to the drawing board. boomer, tel aviv. elevator pitchs elliott, it looks

like the holographic bookshelf will not be retiring quite yet. >> i still think it is a pretty solid idea. an idea terms, but alas, it i -- in my elevator pitch. imagine trying to show people books.t to show your with a hologram, you could solve that in an instant. >> keep working on it. what was your favorite one of the night? >> there were a lot of amazing ideas. or 100 elevator which is going on. the event took about six hours. the semi finalists had 10 minutes to flesh out their ideas. i did not think the overall winner was going to win simply because he already had seem to have raised funds from other people. there was one which just worked

out, instead of a braille keyboard which can cost houses of dollars, this way of gesturing on your touchscreen and being able to type if you cannot see. that is one that stuck in my mind. there was another one which found a way to dump found, smartphones, to communicate with other phones to pick -- to pay other mobile forms -- phones in a secure manner. but what about your favorite israeli startups in 2013? >> so many to choose from but i had to pick the top two there was the seeing aid which helps the visually impaired. you stick your finger out and point to any text and it will tell you who you have just seen or if the light is green or red if you can cross. the other was the car that runs on air and water. this battery that this company has created to use an aluminum battery. car have a deal going to a

by 17. >> thank you, elliott. ♪

>> i am mark barton in london. these are the top headlines. the japanese nikkei indexes above fixed -- sicking thousand since 2007. 16,000 since 2007. the man who invented the most popular assault rifle in the world has died. invented thehnikov ak-47 in 1941. since then, more than 100 million of the expensive weapons have been sold helping to spread conflict to about 100 copies --

countries worldwide. u.s. president obama has extended the deadline to sign up for health sure under the ash health insurance under the sign up for health insurance under the affordable care act. the thousands rushed to healthcare.gov side, the governor pushed the deadline to midnight tonight. welcome back to "countdown. we sat down with russian oil tycoon mikhail khodorkovsky for his first interview after being refused if released from prison.

>> described your most single difficulty in prison. -- he scribe your most single difficult day in prison. most say which was the difficult was pretty tough. maybe the most difficult thing was when i saw them starting to destroy the company. most -- the did most difficult day is when i found the company possibly will counsel had died. -- wase the toughest day when i got knifed in the face. >> stabbed with a knife? >> it is difficult to choose. >> what is the most difficult thing about prison? >> the most unpleasant part of prison was the feeling of

wasting time completely. food, clothing, even being in a close space. can get used to if you have a little bit of self-discipline. i spent all of those years in prison on the so-called double surveillance. >> a prison within a prison? >> yes. even a third prison within that. the first level is where you are a prisoner to everyone else. the second level is where there is a camera trained on your workstation, bed, table, and only yours. and the third level of security, just to give you an example, is when there are only two other

prisoners reporting back to the authorities on your every move. because president putin was personally interested in how you are treated? >> of course. >> the holidays are head. what you would -- what would you like for christmas? >> i really hope i am getting the present time -- i am waiting for the morrow when i hug my wife. >> at you are released, the head , which to a certain extent parts thanks to the assets of --, said he would be happy to give you a job. he was joking. perhaps he was mocking you. how does that make you feel? i see his comments as a joke.

because i know rht up until the very end, he was trying to convince the country's leadership not to free me. only because he was personally afraid of something. a man who wants to joke around without a podium on equal footing and integrity should not use the hour of the state to get rid of him. >> some would say, that effectively legalizes -- some would argue -- the expropriation of --'s accents -- assets. how do you feel about that and b.p.?

>> i agree with the idea that when you are doing business, you can do anything that you want that isn't forbidden by law. what ep did was entirely -- b.p. did was entirely lawful. been -- it would be another matter if it was ethical and whether business should be concerned with at fixed or it -- with ethics. have every company and society at answer that one for themselves. >> just ahead, the middle east is a different place than it was a year ago. onwill ask a loom review this which country is the biggest immediate political risk going into 2014. ♪

>> time for today's company news. almosts they will pay $400 million to settle lawsuits

from customers. the suits say -- claim the south korean automakers for --. they blamed testing procedural mistakes. until's parliament has passed a so-called google pack on web advertising. it requires a tie-in companies to purpose -- purchase internet ads from local companies instead of units in tax havens like bermuda. it violates euy laws and will face legal challenges. welcome back to "countdown." 6:40 in london. are bringing you some of our video stories of the year.

we went for a ride in a lamborghini. ♪ head.m not a petrol i am not a car fanatic. that being said, i have always wanted to drive a lamborghini. i really did have a picture of a countach on my wall. aventador.s is an ready, set, go. my heart is just racing. the celebration is really something that takes your breath away every time. let's have another go.

some say that the brand has become a little more sanitized. if this is sanitized, i would like to see what it was before. you can feel the underlying brutality with this thing. involvement, maintaining the -- remains critical. luxury still thrives. i am absolutely blown away. if you have the money, i thoroughly recommend that you buy one of these. they don't come cheap. but it is really quite fun. >> from an uprising government in turkey to a new government in iran. the middle east is a new place going into 2000 working.

mark champion joins us now to break down what we can expect from the region. welcome back. what are the big political risks to look out for in the middle east? start with syria just because there is a live civil war going on there. it does not look any better than it did a year ago. if anything, worse or it you have to start there. don't want to intervene but when you have, already more people have died there in the war in bosnia. you have half the population displaced. in jordan, are turkey, lebanon. it is very predictable. -- very unpredictable. >> can anything be achieved in next month's plant peace talks in switzerland? >> short answer -- no. the best thing you can hope out of that is not the you will see

movement on the sides on the ground but you will get some ,ort of framework between iran saudi arabia, because it has become a proxy war. if you can get those two to start putting pieces in place and de-escalate the army, you can make some progress. it looks very difficult. iran, ae subject of six-month interim nuclear deal has been reached. what are the chances of a more far-reaching, concrete, permanent deal he reached in the future? >> again, very tough. a lot more hopeful than it was a year ago. i think you have to count that as one of the big changes over this year. where we were a year ago, i ran was in complete isolation. sanctions were full-on. we had a different government in place. there was no expectation of a deal. now we have a new one. you never know what iran exactly

where the regime stands exactly. who speaks for what. it is certainly a good deal more hopeful than it was. you have six months -- they have a rollover. . they can roll over another year for the talks. you get a four year. i think that is the most likely. >> how will foreign policy of western nations? >> iran remains the number one big issue in the middle east for the obama administration. if you want to be brutal about it, they don't care a great deal about the rest of the middle east. iran is the big thing. they desperately want to make it happen. there are a lot of people in congress who desperately want it not to happen. it will be top or it >> of course, israel called the six- month deal a historic mistake. could a deal be reached that meets its legitimacy --

legitimate concerns? >> i think that is impossible. the concerns which they have, which i think the concerns they have come at it has a red line which cannot be met. that is why they're so upset. another the basis of this deal is that iran would continue nuclear fuel ability. it would be reduced, but it would continue. the israelis don't want iran to have any ability. >> turkey has had a difficult year. out dangerous is it their? >> not dangerous in the same sense. no one is going to war. it is dangerous to the prime minister. it is a huge development. turkey has been an absolute rock in the region for the last decade. you have very strong growth, up to 10% or more. you had a leader who was absolutely unassailable.

you had protests in the summer, which some people that about as the turkish bring. it wasn't, never was, never was a real threat to his ability to stay in power. it was important but not a threat to his power. internalnow, and battle within his religious conservative base. it is conceivable that that will unseat him. i think it is still unlikely, but it is conceivable. >> if he is unseated what happens? >> the good thing about turkey is that it has fairly strong institutions. also, his own party has other parts of the fairly strong elements within it. you have a president who is a popular figure and very competent. you have several others who could take over. it will be messy because he fights.

in his dna, it is all fight. it will be very messy and in the over the --winning isement, which is who he contesting at the moment, in the business of doing that he will have to urge the institutions which will be very damaging. the police have artie started. you would have to purge the prosecution office, the court. those are the most sensitive parts of any democracy and it will be the most damaging. >> bloomberg view columnist mark champion. stay tuned because after the break, i will be asking if you weston from the independent year and quiz. ♪

>> welcome back to "countdown." i am mark barton. they are fulfilled -- committed to fill your wildest party designs. the london-based company started in 2005. sales parties around the world. bloomberg got a plus one for a behind the scenes world -- look.

♪ and we will deliver it -- that is the motto behind one of the world's most stitches event -- prestigious event companies. they have already made that happen. if they request something, we are the ones with the connections and tenacity to find it, get it, committed -- deliver it. >> she is the cofounder and prides itself on being able to do the impossible, including any pop stars to play at your party. >> as soon as we start bringing art is like that, it is always a million dollars or more. what's yes, $1 million on a party. sound extravagant tackle -- sound extravagant? not for everyone.

when it comes to these, they're trying to do -- outdo their neighbor. >> there is an element of competition. it is fairly broad all around and people like to celebrate. in celebrating, it is an escapement from who you are. in some cases, it is an escapement of thomas money you have. >> many of the most extravagant events are not in europe or america. the gulf states and central asia take the ground. azerbaijan -- a >> we are in azerbaijan. in its opportunities economically and privately. >> angus bennett, bloomberg. we will look at today's top picks in today's newspapers. david, take it away. >> i could not resist.

i have got the build. you know it is my favorite newspaper. is the biggest selling newspaper in all of europe, not just germany. they say that today, only good news on the front page. what do we have here? , star on the brother, nine months pregnant. that is good news for you. this is --. she is a favorite with us. she is the new defense minister. she has made a surprise visit to afghanistan which is one the chart -- one the hearts -- won the hearts of the soldier. inside adjuster booze, and it says -- it looks like she has done a lot of walking in them. -- there is a shot inside of just her boots, and it looks

like she has done a lot of walking in them. >> all good news on the front page of the "bild." on our newspaper, it is all grim weather. >> it is. i'm focusing on hyper cars, not just super cars. it is about the new luxury for are you can get your hands on. -- for ari -- n ferrari and mclaurin are making a car. you have to have the thumbs-up youhe chairman of ferrari, have to own five already. apparently cars -- 300 and 75 people can buy them. who is driven at? jeremy clarkson. he says it is a complete aim-

changer. game-changer. >> you can have that ferrari or a pop star. would you choose the car or jay- z for a night? >> jay-z for the night. >> caroline hyde. by the way, an expert on music. embarrassr way to caroline hyde then to ask her some of the big questions that have dominated the music business. the first one is a gimme. who won the mercury prize for the second -- album, overgrown. james blake. which electronic music duo's new album features collaborations with julian casablanca -- casablanca, and for a williams? >> daft punk. >> "i am a god" is a track from a new album released into by which hip harp that hip-hop album.

>> kanye west. >> 343. three.e for ♪ >> what you are about to see is

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