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 zimbra 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 it supported 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 hot sauces even we have indeed reached an agreement regarding the gas pipeline regulations and we are and he reached it because germany and france were together very closely and with the remaining e.u. presidency and the other member states of course. you know how often i meet president ma 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 but you will be able to see that the spirit of frank or german friendship is very much and i obviously. so what's at stake with nord stream two on both sides of the pipeline and what does 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 nord

stream to gas pipeline a mammoth task and one that's caused consternation at both ends of the line to me is 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 it's that level of russian control over a key european supply that's made some of germany's allies uneasy france surprised and disappointed bell in 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 sure but the 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. we still believe that this project is beneficial to both the european

gas consumers interests and also to the russian federation as the gas supplier a good. mix of the group particularly. this by 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 see on wall street paid even closer attention to what is going on in a 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 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's wall street looking at these talks. well very nervous but there was 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 little bit further back so that actually could be a good sign and some of the very is that we recently had next week the next the u.s. delegation is going to china and that could be decisive in where we are heading it but we are only talking about china in the past couple of weeks but actually by the end of next week the u.s. commerce department will come out with their report and the big question is will the call mr apartment suggest to impose tariffs on european car imports and car parts all that is also a very important report coming out by the end of next week so plenty to keep wall street investors anxious yes quarter there for us in new york thanks. as we can

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 twenty 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 now 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 in 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 martin and she was one of two thousand unemployed people who participated in finland's basic income experiment that ended in december the basic income trial actually gave them freedom and they kind of i think the biggest effect was psychological kind of got this idea that you have two years you have the security of four hundred six year old 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 there's some mathematician has to call and if we can afford a system like that but i don't think that their. earlier system is or the existence is to miss cheap either. in finland's existing system the unemployed receive

support from the state but critics like trial participant to most say they're not much more than a number for the unemployment office. if you are oafish of the unemployed 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

noses 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 a legit role in volkswagens diesel scandal the firm is accused of providing the software for love volkswagen to cheat 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 bosch. 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 dot com slash business you can also find us on facebook and twitter well even at this quick check of global markets once again i'm

stephen burns in berlin watch a.

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