i even got white hair. it's not this gets me and they go but you need to interact with the saying you want to do their story to my friends were fighting and reliable information for margaret. e.u. members reach accord on the controversial gas pipeline project linking russia with germany but only after a last minute compromise will tell you what the deal means for nord stream to. also what would you do with an extra five hundred sixty euros a month with no strings attached finland's government just wrapped its basic income experiment and we'll tell you what they found. and germany's economic outlook for twenty nineteen may have slipped in recent days but the country can always look

back on better times like twenty eighteen new figures show it was another record year for exports. i'm stephen beard zimmer lent thanks for joining me nord stream to germany's controversial gas pipeline project with russia has cleared a critical stumbling block following a new compromise between berlin and paris france had threatened to withhold that support at a critical juncture leading to talk of a fall out between berlin and paris especially after the french president canceled a joint appearance in munich german chancellor angela merkel now says the project is back on the right path is the not the two of us is if we have indeed reached an agreement regarding the gas pipeline regulations and we are in you reached it because germany and france where together very closely and with the remaining e.u. presidency and the other member states of course you have this new you know how often i meet president how often we hold talks we cooperate daily on all important european topics and even if the president said. a few days ago that he wouldn't be

going to munich there will be many other meetings between us where you will be able to see that the spirit of frank or german friendship is very much alive obviously. so what's at stake with nord stream two on both sides of the pipeline and what is this new compromise between paris and berlin mean for the project take a look ships like these have already laid six hundred kilometers of the north stream to gas pipeline a mammoth task and one that's caused consternation at both ends of the line germany's betting on the projects to help it secure its future energy supplies this is what it will eventually look like the pipeline will follow the route of an existing line between russia and germany via the baltic sea it will be controlled by russian state energy firm gas from and is that level of russian control over a key european supply that's made some of germany's allies uneasy france surprised and disappointed beilin on thursday by signaling it would back tighter e.u. regulation of the project putting its future risk wrangling in brussels appears to

frustrate to the kremlin. for issued an important question there's no unanimity of opinion on north stream two in the european union at the moment. which we hope that the nation members of the european union was sort this issue out for themselves. you know we still believe that this project is beneficial to both the european gas consumers interests to cook and also to the russian federation as the gas supplier. clinic has reportedly. despite france's reservations paris and berlin today reached a compromise that was quickly backed by the european parliament responsibility for enforcing the rules on such projects will fall to the first e.u. member state where a pipeline connects in this case that's germany. the u.s. china trade dispute brags that chaos and a weakening world economy all factors behind a rather gloomy global economic outlook but at least germany can look back on

twenty eighteen with fondness new figures show it was a record year. meeting in germany is still selling well around the globe twenty eight thousand was another record year exports increased for the fifth time in a row but towards the end of the year exports started running out of steam a sign that the german economy is not immune to the global trade crisis last year germany exported a total of one point three trillion euros worth of goods an increase of three percent over the previous year and imports rose by five point seven percent to over one trillion euros. and since germany's imports have increased they helped to reduce germany's long standing trade surplus for years germany has been exporting more than it imports something the country's trading partners including u.s. president donald trump have criticized in recent years. let's get out a u.s.

court our financial correspondent new york yes as mentioned there in that piece lower growth projections for germany for the e.u. what does that mean if anything to wall street investors. well first of all germany is the biggest economy in europe and the european union so far is still the bigger trading partner to the u.s. then china is still it is important in that respect and then especially if you look at the this week because of the chinese new year festivities there was no trading in china so therefore investors here on wall street paid even closer attention to what is going on in europe and there are some economists saying that the global economy could derail in twenty and nineteen when you look at the u.s. so far we get mostly still solid numbers from the u.s. economy but one trader actually told me that the u.s. even if it's not everything picture perfect it seems to be the best house in

a bad neighborhood so there are all those various in general that we could see a global slowdown and that would it could also be true for europe and you're talking about trade u.s. china trade talks scheduled to continue next week before that very important march first deadline how is wall street looking at these talks well very nervous but there is a little bit of hope there was at least some speculation here on friday that the white house actually might extend the deadline from march first a little bit further back so that actually could be a good sign and ease some of the very is that we recently had next week the next them u.s. delegation is going to china the u.s. commerce department will come out with their report and the big question is will the call mr parkman suggest to impose tariffs on european car imports and car

parts so that is also a very important report coming out by the end of next week so plenty to keep wall street investors anxious of there for us in new york thanks. it was written finland has an income security net that is a series of benefits to ensure the unemployed can make ends meet but the system is increasingly out of date one problem those who receive social benefits lose a chunk of them whenever they get a job that creates a disincentive to finding work so finland recently tested a basic income that is a no strings attached payment to see if that would free people to look for work today they released the results and here's how the study worked the trial began in two thousand and seventeen and was just concluded in december a period of two years. recipients receive five hundred sixty euros a person no strings attached and tax free those who receive social benefits still

receive them throughout the trial. a total of two thousand participants were chosen at random from across the country and they represent a wide range of working ages. so what were the results and employment go up have a look. tourists who come to helsinki these days end up in the city covered in deep snow with temperatures just above freezing and some might just end up in this restaurant owned by cindy martine and she was one of two thousand unemployed people who participated in finland's basic income experiment that ended in december the basic trial actually. some freedom and a kind of i think the biggest effect with psychological if they kind of got this idea that you have two years you have the security of five hundred sixty euros per month and you have to do something with that money she says the basic income she received gave her the freedom to open this restaurant and contribute to the economy

after this mathematician has to call and if we can afford a system like that but i don't think that there. are system is existence if there is cheap either. in finland's existing system the unemployed receive support from the state but critics like trial participant tumours raia say they're not much more than a number for the unemployment office. if you are all fish only on employed you can't work very much. if you have these kind of system like the trial was you can earn how much you want and you can still keep the money and that activates . now that the first results from the experiment out it seems that only a few of the unemployed finns who took pot found a new job but they all seem much happier and healthier than unemployed citizens who didn't have a basic income over the past two years. an experiment i would have been very happy

to take part in over to japan where the next generation of bullet train has been unveiled the alpha x. made by the tachi will have a top speed of three hundred sixty kilometers an hour it's twenty two meter long nose is designed to reduce pressure and noise as it passes through tunnels it's due to come into service in twenty thirty when the hot and constant line is extended. looks expensive prosecutors and stood guard are considering a possible fine against german auto supplier bosch for its alleged role in volkswagens diesel scandal the firm is accused of providing the software to love volkswagen to cheap vehicle emissions tests folks who are going to paid more than twenty seven billion euros in penalties for the scandal so far which came to light in two thousand and fifteen german magazine der spiegel now reports the carmaker is considering seeking up to one billion euros in damages from bosh.

and that's it for me and the business team here in berlin don't forget you can always find out more about these and other stories on our website w dot com slash business you can also find us on facebook and twitter leaving out this quick check of global markets once again i'm stephen beard zebulon is watching.

let's start with the i'll take a closer look at modern culture from the. culture of. people for information. we want to express d.w. on facebook and twitter coming up today in touch follow us. hey listen up. video game music sounded like thirty years ago.

today's tracks take the experience to another level a sense to him compose a. feature to. his music is bound to. his fans he opens doors to. sounds good. oh sure that's so much more than just background music video game music. starts feb twenty fifth on d w. extravagant didn't. really know their stuff. with me and to finish. the party and chat with stations from around

the world. groups every week. well go along to news from the world about some. robin merrill and here's what's coming up. bright moments on the dark skies in denmark's capital we visit copenhagen spec light festival. german director toby ascribes is shaking up the opera world with his innovative productions. and will be at the taking a look at a german film in competition and. on the scene david levitz. it's winter here in northern europe the days a short the nights are long and it's

dark the further north you go so the danish capital copenhagen has come up with the bright idea of an annual light festival to chase away the winter blues modern technology and talented light designers transformed the city at night into a kaleidoscope of color. lighting up the darkest weeks of the year in winter copenhagen turns into an open air gallery for light art installations by artists from denmark and many other parts of the world turn a danish capital into a tourist attraction in the cult.