and we leave the program as tension between nato allies and russia over ukraine, only continue to intensify while the u. s. continues to claim it has evidence that the russian invasion of ukraine is eminent. moscow has called for talks aimed at avoiding military conflict and coming to an agreement. this comes in german, chancellor of shoals kicked off his plan trip to ukraine and russia on monday and with it. he carried washington's warning. while rushes president continues to insist that he has no plans to invade ukraine, he said he wants to carry guarantees from the west that ukraine will not be allowed to join. nato. is just the industry, the ministry of foreign affairs of russia will present us ideas on responses we received about our proposals, sent to the u. s. colleagues in washington to colleague from nato to brussels on the organization of questions linked to security in europe. and on the response to our concerns related to the inlet and very dangerous, in our opinion, nato expansion eastward, at the expense of the former republic of the soviet union, including ukraine's. isn't that right?

we are prepared to have a serious dialogue with russia about the questions of european security, nato, and the u. s. a made proposal to russia that we supported. we now expect a reaction, an answer from russia to many leaders, hint slightly that ukraine shouldn't risk and talk constantly about its membership in the alliance. because these risks are connected to russia reaction. i think that no one hides it anymore. i think we should be sincere. it's our decision to take anyway. yes. so why do these meetings mean for economic relations between russia and germany? well, let's bring in boom bus, co host band swan to discuss. now ben, there's obviously a lot to unpack their german chancellor shoals is planning to meet with president putin this week as well as president zalinski. so, but on friday, the german vice chancellor made the point that final approval of the nordstrom too, will depend on what happens between russia and ukraine. so how much of the discussion between russia and germany will be focused on energy here?

i think very little of it will really come down to energy. i think that germany is going to, for their part is going to talk a lot about it because what they're really going to say is, look, we're in an impossible spot here. the u. s. nato do not want, you know, energy to be flowing from russia to germany at this point. and so they're going to kind of make a stand in regards to that. but at the same time, the talk right now has been ratcheted up to such a high point guys, in terms of the way this is being discussed when you have someone like jake sullivan, the biden administration, national security advisors saying that a russian invasion is days away saying that it's going to time out with the end of the olympics, i mean, statements like that are pushing and ratcheting this to a whole new level. so the fact that there is still a dialogue taking place. the fact that the president of russia putin is able to sit down with him and he's able to sit down with shoals and say, let's,

let's slow things down in terms of the way this rhetoric is going. and let's, let's remember that there's a lot to be lost here if there is a war, a lot to be loss. and it's not just in terms of livelihood and lives. but in terms of the relationship between all these countries, that quite frankly, they are somewhat co dependent on each other. right. and it is interesting how your, of these, by, in ministration officials, not only making these claims, but claiming that they have evidence of exactly what russia is going to do. but of course, they can't show that evidence to anyone else. now when it comes to this dialogue that is taking place shows is worn over the past few days, that there will be consequences if a russian invasion does take place. so what does that do to the relationship between the 2 nations, especially after everything they've come through when it comes to the north stream to pipeline? yeah, why think that at this point shoals is, is saying what he has to say, which is that he's picking aside. right. and clearly, if there isn't invasion, germany is saying we're going to bring about serious consequences with that,

whether it's, you know, partnering militarily with the u. s. and with other countries, whether or not that's economic and cutting off the north stream to and just in the, in the project altogether, there will be consequences. now i believe that that is probably true, but at the same time listen, the news conference today with, with president putting in russia. he also talked about the fact that there will be consequences. his words were, i want to remind my european friends here that if there is a war, yeah, we brush can't stand up against all these countries combined. but that doesn't mean that there is a law for everyone. i think his exact words were there would be no winners. i think that's a very true statement. and you know, i guess when you look at what's happening here, we just came out of 2 years of pandemic. and a lot of these economies are fragile. the economic side or why push this thing forward the way that it's being push forward right now, it doesn't make sense and bad. i got about a minute left, but austria is also opposing, including the north stream to pipeline in

a package of sanctions against moscow that the european union is preparing our other european countries following suit there. when it comes to nordstrom to pipeline. i think they, i think what because of this last winter and the cost of energy across europe had been so severe and it has been very severe that you have a lot of countries that are saying listen, we just don't want to play games with nor stream to the vitamin ministrations but making a big deal about it. as you guys know, last week, president biden came out and said that he would in that and in that pipeline, that kind of talk is not something of the europe want to hear right now. they have struggled greatly as a result of high energy costs, growing energy costs in a very tough winter. they don't want to see that. they want to see energy stability and energy, greater energy independence when it comes to the cost of energy. and they're not going to get that by cutting off the north stream too. absolutely, and i know we've heard a lot about saber rattling it looks like we might have been hearing a lot of pen rattling as well when it comes to economic thanks and boom, but bent on. thank you so much. yeah. and speaking of tension,

oil prices continue to have around 70 or higher with both west texas intermediate and international benchmark. brent crude sitting around $93.00 per barrel on monday . the already fragile markets are weighing the possibility of supply disruptions that the binding administration continues to warn about increasing tensions with russia. this comes with opec plots and struggling to meet its current production quota of an additional $400000.00 barrels per day. despite calls from the us to increase output even more now while summer of course, welcoming the increased profit energy ministers from egypt and cyprus warned on monday that while the reality of oil prices are passing, 100 dollars per barrel is right around the corner. it remains a very scary concept, yet the mark is continue to head in that direction with report sighting warnings from the us and its allies that a russian invasion of ukraine is eminent. however, as we've noted, both russia and ukraine are saying the opposite with moscow calling for diplomatic

talks as soon as possible. and notably, the fear isn't that russia will cut off supplies causing markets to suffer. it's that the us will introduce new sanctions and export controls, which will deal a significant blow to global supply. so joining us now to go further in depth on this are todd bubble, horwitz chief strategist above a training and david towel, president at pro chain capital. great, have you both on the show today, bubble? let's start with you. i know we've watched the by an administration call on opec plus to increase output for months now with no success. but given that the u. s. is the one to claim that a russian invasion is eminent when russia and ukraine say that's not the case, is the u. s. showing how much influence it still has? here? i have the red one brought listen. this is a total. this is almost laughable. let's put the blame where it belongs, on the biden ministration. there will be no attack or invasion of ukraine. i've got sources inside of russia that tell me so,

and the energy problem isn't that the problem from opec? why would opec want to give us more oil? it makes no sense. we have our own oil. we just don't want to go get it. we gave up to be a net export or an oil was going to $100.00 long before this conflict arose. and there's an outside chance that can make all time new highs. listen, oil goes and all those, every product that we use, including driving your car and delivery, which is why we have a horrible supply chain. so the, the blame squarely broad belongs, and this is ministration. and those in power right now decided that this green new deal is more important than taking care of americans and making our inflation go through the roof. this is a totally laughable situation at this moment. absolutely. i mean, as we've discussed many times, it seems so short sighted with the way this policy was going. even if you are pro green energy, it feels like they didn't make the proper steps at least prepare for that. instead, they said, this is the route we're going,

and then all of this kind of compounds and makes the issue even worse. now david, i mean, how much of this comes back to how incredibly flat fragile the oil market is right now, given that oil prices are based on speculation, i mean, is, this is the case where even the prospect of a disruption causes a significant reaction. like we're seeing or is this all kind of baked in from what we just talked about there with other so i'm going to agree with bob in the sense that or was headed to a 100 regardless of this, this is really, i'd say a wrench thrown in and because of this, oil can go considerably higher. i also agree with bob. i don't think we're going to war. but what i think might happen is that the markets may get scared, and oil may go off precipitously. we may have to hang out for a while and have a big question mark surrounding russia and ukraine. this may be an issue that linger is for a considerable period of time that we need to go ahead and get used to as russia in the united states and europe and union. go ahead and maybe have protracted

discussions about all this. and so therefore, i think that the members of opec that are strong and big are really excited about this. i think members are rope x that are small, are actually scared about this because they could lose market share through this. and then frankly, anybody who's a net importer of oils gotta be scared stiff because prices may go really, really high and affect the economy in those countries. absolutely. and barbara, to that point, i mean obviously, opec members, jobs is not to keep oil prices low. their job is to see how much you will pay for that matter. now, with that demand coming back, opec plus it's still struggling to meet it's quote of an additional $400000.00 barrels per day. i mean, what's behind that at this point, is that an effort to effect markets or is it just kind of the nature of the business here? frivolous david male, that bell aramco, that's the deal. they want bigger profits, and they've got it. and they've got biden over a barrel. and because because we refuse to do what the right thing is to take care

of the people here and put our own oil to work, we're going to continue to beg. and i do think that saudi arabia is going to give up one inch to president biden. they could care all laughing at the united states right now, which is a very sad state of affairs when we're looking at what's going on. because we've got control of our own destiny and we're flushing it down the toilet with this guide. it's an office and the rusty administration that continues to fight for something that couldn't be done in 10 years, no matter what, but you're the best of at what cost are we going to go through this? and you're letting saudi arabia take charge. you're laying rush or push you around, and you're creating a narrative of a possible warranty crank when there's not one going to happen. i are so many moving parts there. now david, i mean, what is your response to that? and when it comes to the binding ministration, yes, on one hand, they want to follow up on their campaign promises, especially when it comes to green energy been given the way that they've gone about

it. doesn't it seem like it could do more harm than good in the long run here? i don't think they care in the long run. i think the, our election cycles him is important to point out. our election cycles are really short. bladder, me poo in his playing for decades, he thinks in terms of arrows we in this country think in terms of years, you know, maybe even shorter. ah, because election cycles are so short. so frankly, it's all about the short term for every single government right now. everybody's i in the mid term elections and they want to make sure that their constituents are abby, so that they vote for them. so i don't know, you know, to go to your point, rachel, you know, i don't know what democratic legislators are going to do about this. if oil prices go really high, are they're willing to go ahead and sacrifice their environment to list energy policy for the sake of saying, i've got to see the economy now and they don't know how their voters are going to go ahead and react to that. frankly, i don't either and they're left in a quandary. they don't have a lot of time left to do this. and it may be

a very hot issue going into the mid term elections. certainly be interesting to see what they decide to do and we will continue to cover it, especially as we get closer and closer to that $100.00 mark, david tall approach and capital and talk we're, it's above the trading. thank you both for your insight. you and the going protest days by truckers in canada continued on monday after police arrested around 30 demonstrators and towed a dozen trucks blocking the ambassador bridge, which serves as a crucial supply chain lake between the united states and canada. and it wasn't just in canada while the u. s. has seen plans for cross country convoy to d. c. there were also protest across europe including the capitals of france and belgium. that's where we find our t. charlotte, you've been ski who has the latest for us on the ground in brussels. the convoys, it for a large part failed to make it through the police blocks. not just the belgian buddhist, but also outside brussels. but those that came,

were ready to make some noise. protesters said that they were here to demonstrate peacefully, to demand their liberties back. i can send any more. this is just like a freedom. i would like to leave in a democracy of ultimately it's about the case on closing products. i would like about the future. almost 2 years of covey restrictions have weighed down heavy on populations across europe. many said that they were not anti faxes, but against the tyrannical measures. their words not mine, that were put in place during the cove at 19 pandemic. for the most part, it was peaceful but antics to disrupt traffic and to move from specific areas where they were protesting. with dealt with quickly by the police. this protest may have been inspired by the freedom convoy in canada. but it, so convoys heading to brussels the see to you repeat the power from countries across the continent. a large and vocal movement on social media. today,

he was not there day to show the strength of that movement. here in the belgian capital, the authorities for the most part, keen on keeping a tight laid on a protest movement that was already banned in cities like paris and vienna. missy's though, unlikely to be the end of this type of convoy, while many governments have set out a time table to reduce covey restrictions. for many, it's already too little, too late. charlotte, even ski boom bust in brussels and time now for a quick break. only come back the united kingdom, missing and strongest annual performance in decades on the heels of ease uncovered restrictions for this goes all the way this on the other side. and as we go to break here, the numbers at the close, ah

o, much longer can we take the u. s. u k. seriously. there war of words is dangerous and reckless. the rest of nato and even ukraine are much more restraint. but there's a comp number ukraine, there will be a conflict. washington in london, england promote the democratic republic of congo is among the richest countries in the world and natural resources. but he cannot mclee, it's still one of the poorest cobalt is an essential material in manufacturing batteries for modern devices like electric cars,

mobile phones and computers. 60 percent of the wealth cobalt reserves are in congo 20 percent of it comes from small scale mines. units have figures confirm that in 2017, more than 40000 children worked in cobalt mining in the republic to earn a living and paying for schooling. next time you you as a fancy gant, you have like a smartphone camera laptop. and just remember that there's a chance it works thanks to what child hard labor children like, john michelle henry at o. countless others. like them. look forward to talking to you all. that technology should work for people. a robot must obey the orders given by human beings, except where such order is a conflict with the 1st law show your identification. we should be very careful about our personal intelligence at that point, obviously is too great trust,

rather than fear. a very job with artificial intelligence, real summoning with a robot must protect its own existence with the the news. welcome back. the british economy grew. it's fast paced since the 2nd world war and 2021. according to the office of national statistics, g. d. p in the world's 5th largest economy, expanded by 7.5 percent last year. despite losing a fraction of

a percent in december, as a nation, impose restrictions to quote, protect christmas. i'm in soar. in cases of the alma kron very. and the growth comes after a massive 9.4 percent contraction. 2020 after restrictions. and the height of the pandemic hindered economic activity. arising, prices remain a concern in the u. k. as the bank of england now expects inflation to peak at 7.2 percent in april, prompting the central bank to increase interest rates 2 months in a row for the 1st time since 2004. and as prices rise across the board, the nation's energy regulator will increase its annual price, kept by 54 percent starting on the 1st of april due to surging energy crop. so let's go ahead and take a deeper look at all of this with hillary board, which is present abstract mark, business development consultants, and board member with the british american business association. hillary always a pleasure to have you on. thank you so much. i mean, what pushing things up here. how was the british economy able to weather the storm brought on at the end of the year by the crown barrier?

or pleasure back to you, brent and rachel, fusing. see ashley where she soon act the chancellor of the exchequer. has recently said he's very proud only of the 400000000000 pounds that the government released to support the economy is also talked about as the perseverance and the spirit that has kept everybody going through this rule. so the n h. s. renowned for immensely affective waxing, all that program, i mean over 93 percent of the british public have what they call the job. the 2nd, the many, the 3rd jobs. so the vaccination process, but also the truck and trace that was able to eliminate those that were infected and to keep it under control in the u. k. common economy. so i think it's that resilience and it's also the, the effectiveness and also that the government, as richie shoe neck said, acted at the right time, the right place with the right package. yeah, and i was speaking of that resilience. i mean, it seems like for all of the concerns we've heard about back that the economy was able to grow despite all of those concerns over trade and restrictions. and the

northern ireland protocol. what say you on that? i mean, what does it come down to at the end of the day and what is it looking like as we go into the next year? we might rachel, with these doom and gloom projections. i remember actually there was a projection that hundreds of thousands of jobs would leave the financial services sector and leave london. i'm us. the youngest recently reported that just under 7000 positions of left, the city of london, a few factors here. one of them is the fact of the lack of the political will, the e, you classic obviously hasn't been able to sort of an enact it quickly enough. any regulations that would help that you in terms of the financial markets, you also secondly, have brussels and amsterdam. m power is all competing against each other. and so what the former chief economist at hsbc had said he had said that bricks it was sort of home goal that the u. k. had against itself for the city of london. even he now says, all of that competing against european cities haven't been able to attract the same

kind of investment. and also both hedge funds and derivatives remain as strong as ever in the city of the lots to london. the city of london has persevered. i think again it's part of that or it. busy the people of just how you don't, i mean, haven't worried about that. it's crazy how political rhetoric doesn't quite always pan out the way that everybody says it. well, there, now i wouldn't say this because the northern around protocols that still remains an issue, a negotiator have once again said they will hold quote, intensive talks. and on the matter this week there have been a lot of conversations about it for that matter. do you see any progress being made since foreign secretary list trusts took over the job as the chief associate are here? i mean, the has been some progress in that they keep releasing joint statement. so that's progress. and as we talked about before, you know, it's not as frosty as it was with ross, but a few things they duce, they do project that supposedly the meeting on february 21st. that's sort of the next landmark when there's going to be a joint committee meeting. so i think the parties will come closer together. there

are, there was rumors actually that the discussion of customs was going to be the one that was going to have a big break that list trust was coming up with a package and a and a bigger offer. but there's been nothing that was really transpired from that. i do think the both parties want to get this sorted out. i'm, it's not helping either parties, it's not making you look good because certainly they haven't enacted any of the things that they said they were going to do. the other member states, interestingly enough, looking at this new, recently had the hungarian prime minister talking about the fact that, you know, maybe they believe in the e u 2. so i think there's an immense amount of pressure for the e. you to actually get their act together and to move on this a list just like you just mentioned your has, she may progress all eyes around her too. so both sides are highly motivated and i think hopefully february 21st at this next set of meetings. when there's a joint committee, we will see some progress. and i'll certainly wrench, since they were comes out of that. now one final thing here, we know another factor play has been skyrocketing energy prices. so why did regulators have to raise the price now as people who are paying more for everything

across a board route less than a minute left? well, they're pretty bad in the u. k. yes, you're totally right. rachel. few factors here. they've actually 8 percent of the. the raise is going to be in green taxes and almost 50 percent is going to be an actual cost of natural gas. the cost of natural gas within dramatically across global market. so not just for the u. k, it's just now 29 companies according to off. com. and now either bankrupt or left the market, the whole point $9000000.00 customers would be less stranded. so what they have to do is they have to equalize out by raising price to spread across the whole be okay . so what was the combination of those companies going out of business? the natural gas prices rising, plus the increase in taxes, which actually the wrong time to do it. that's what's gonna happen in april to the u. k. public eller ford, which thank you so much pleasure. and finally, as more and more people get interested in the met averse, they will have to get used to interacting with the virtual environment. well,

of course, wearing a d r has that, in fact, british ensure viva so that in 2021 is saw a 31 percent increase in home content claims involving the r has says, and a 68 percent increase over the last 5 years now luckily they don't seem to be extremely high dollar claims with b, r related accidents averaging about $880.00 per claim. now the majority of these claims had to do with damage to television screens, but the internet is right with the videos of people smashing through lighting fixtures, careening into furniture and destroying ceiling fans while wearing those awesome hats. the company as it is already worked a number of v r claims so far this year. so before you step into the metal birth, make sure you give yourself the space in your living room, i think. yeah, i don't have a v r heads up, but i feel like if i did, i would absolutely be one of those people who just completely lost track broke something or, you know, and then, and then it turns into a whole thing. and you gotta gotta watch out for that. i can't disseminate what's

real and what's not. and so for every is if i see it over here, i want to move. i want to do it and it's just, it's not going to be great once. when do we get special insurance just for those we are, has all the questions i feel like that's covered, and that's it for this time you get both on demand on the portable tv app available on smartphones and tablets. google play in the apple app store by searching portable v v. v. v can also be downloaded on samsung smart tv and roku devices, or simply check it out at portable dot tv will see you next time. mm hm. and the democratic republic of congo is among the richest countries in the world and natural resources, but he can normally it's still one of the poorest cobalt is an essential material in manufacturing, batteries fun on devices like electric cars, mobile phones and computers. 60 percent of the world's cobalt reserves are in congo,

but 20 percent of it comes from small scale mines. unicef figures confirm that in 2017 gold and 40000 children, worked in cobalt mining and the republic to enter living and paying for schooling. next time you use a fancy gadget like a smartphone camera laptop, and just remember that there's a chance it works thanks to what child, how'd labor children like, john michelle, henrietta, all countless, others like them or the monopoly. the semiconductor business would obviously be in taiwan with 80 percent of the market and going forward. the need for diversity in the market is been screaming out loud for decades. but because of the vagaries of theat money that allow for

a concentration of power and wealth in the collected craddick hands of the khaki stock or see the least qualified rule. you have market breakdown supply chains breakdown and economic collapse. wanda makes no sense. you know, born is and is blind to tease and you face as a merge, we don't have a therapy. we don't of actually the whole world needs to take action. that would be ready. people are judgment. 2 common crisis with we can do better, we should be better. everyone is contributing each in their own way. but we also know that this crisis will not go on forever. the challenge is great to response has been met. so many good people are helping us. it makes us feel very proud that

we are in it together with oh, is your media a reflection of reality? in the world transformed what will make you feel safe? isolation or community? are you going the right way or are you being direct? what is true? what is great in the world corrupted, you need to send her join us in the depths or remain in the shallows.

ah, counted as prime minister invokes the emergencies to give his government extra powers down the long going talk a protest against coven monday. then for that still a limb pick committee rules, there won't be any award ceremony for russian figure skater camila valley ever. thus, despite the 15 year old being clear to further compete for the beijing, when the games president putin approve the draft, responds to the us, and on going back and forth on security proposals, admit the crisis in ukraine, la rushes, defense minister says any large scale magic sizes coming to an end what's not coming to an end though is the hysteria over the situation where the western media .